Monthly Archives: June 2010

EZ Throwdown!

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I’ve been reporting about the economic incentives cities use to keep employers close: cheap power, cheap parking, payroll tax breaks and the expansion of enterprise tax zones. Today, Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters takes aim and fires at the zones, again. … Continue reading »


Chargers, Chargers Everywhere

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The California Energy Commission has approved three awards that “leverage $15.4 million in state funding with $49.6 million in federal stimulus money and $49.3 million in private funds” to kick start the infrastructure to support electric cars in urban areas … Continue reading »


Bits & Pieces

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Folks in government are beginning to wonder when private industry is going to, um, hire people. 12.4% is better than 12.6%, but I don’t see a lot of Californians breaking out the bubbly.  The Governator’s response: While the decline of … Continue reading »


Bits & Pieces

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What did LA give Baxter? The Los Angeles Business Journal covers the not-leaving of Baxter BioScience, with 1,100 jobs. One part of the deal – the approval of an Enterprise Zone that includes Baxter. Now that sounds familiar…  Back in … Continue reading »


Big Oil in California

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It was inevitable. Oil processing is, technically, manufacturing. And it’s big business in California.  So for the California Report, the oil industry-backed attempt to apply the brakes on the state’s attempt to regulate climate changing emissions constitutes a Shifting Gears … Continue reading »


UAW's Future in Fremont

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At the United Auto Workers 35th constitutional convention, union organizers are talking about engaging young people, fighting corporate power, and unionizing whatever follows NUMMI in Fremont.  The Detroit News offers the full text of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka’s speech, in … Continue reading »


How Berkeley Kept Bayer: A Love Story with Tax Breaks

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Shifting Gears has been heavily focused on how federal dollars are directed to California’s manufacturing sector, either to grow new jobs, maintain old ones or soften the blow of jobs lost. Local politicians vie for these dollars, but they also … Continue reading »


MedTech Involves Science!

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The “mainstream media” (as in non-science-focused) is full of stories about GreenTech. MedTech gets no respect. I’m willing to bet this is because one has to understand a fair bit of science to cover MedTech. So bear with me as … Continue reading »


More Feds in Fremont, Spreading Cash

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Today it was Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis (raised in La Puente, BTW), who announced a $19,042,012 grant to assist some 4,300 workers affected by layoffs at New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. … and several suppliers. “Many of the hard-working … Continue reading »


Are You Watching Falcon 9?

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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is sitting on the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. UPDATE:  It did go up, prompting all sorts of speculation.