LA to spend $1 billion to fix sidewalks

THE Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, April 1, agreed to spend more than $1 billion to repair the city’s sidewalks as part of a lawsuit settlement filed by residents who say the walkways are inaccessible to disabled individuals. “Despite its awareness for the past several years of the city’s broken system of sidewalks and…

Read More

$25-billion Sacramento-San Joaquin delta tunnel project reconsidered

CALIFORNIA Governor Jerry Brown’s administration is overhauling its proposal for a controversial tunnel project in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta, despite public doubts on whether water exporters can meet the stringent federal conditions for operating the system over a 50-year period. The $25-billion Bay Delta Conservation Plan is intended to lessen the environmental harm of delta…

Read More

PACCAL: Reaching further heights, accomplishing valuable services

“The best way to find your self is to lose yourself in the service of others.”  – Mahatma Gandhi AFTER having meticulously assessed all possible resources, conscientiously brainstormed the brightest of ideas, mapped out fundamental schemes and options, totally completed paper and people chases, thoroughly rehearsed-to-perfection slated live performances, and acutely attended to the finest…

Read More

LA to spend $1 billion to fix sidewalks

THE Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, April 1, agreed to spend more than $1 billion to repair the city’s sidewalks as part of a lawsuit settlement filed by residents who say the walkways are inaccessible to disabled individuals. “Despite its awareness for the past several years of the city’s broken system of sidewalks and…

Read More

Exemptions to inadmissibility bars for employment-based adjustment applicants

Foreign professionals wishing to immigrate to the US (as permanent residents) may do so under 3 general classifications: • 1st Preference (EB1) – extraordinary ability foreign professionals; outstanding researchers and professors; and multinational executives and managers known as “priority workers” • 2nd Preference (EB2) – foreign professionals with advanced degrees and professionals of exceptional ability…

Read More

USCIS warns about immigration scams

The USCIS recently issued warnings to the public about potential immigration scams. This is especially important in connection with President Obama’s November 2014 announcement of executive action, including expanding eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the creation of a new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA). Among the warnings are: On February…

Read More

3 types of endorsements to use for your business

How much would you pay Manny Pacquiao to endorse your business? Envision this. Manny would be in all your advertisements: TV, Radio, Billboard, and Internet. He would be available for publicity events endorsing your company and products. These can be tradeshows, charitable functions, or conferences. How much attention and excitement would he draw to your…

Read More

Health and air travel

How safe is air travel? There are more than 4000 accidents, mostly non-fatal, that occur around the world each year in general aviation, varying in degree of gravity, mostly involving private recreational aircrafts and are often related to alcohol and/or use of drugs by the pilots. Commercial aviation safely transports almost 3 billion passengers all…

Read More

The riddles of life 

I don’t know the answers to the big questions of life. But everything is relative, everything has a story. Yes, I’ve met amazing souls, and the lights fill me—flattering lights that shine on my face and I confront myself in the mirror to take a deep howling look into the troubles that have lined and…

Read More

Observing Holy Week 

Lenten season is the time when Christians — Catholic and other religious denominations — remember Christ’s passion (his suffering and death) and resurrection. Ash Wednesday (40 days before Easter Sunday) marks the beginning of this season, it is when you will see Catholics with ashes smudged on their foreheads in the shape of a cross….

Read More

Insurgent

ALTHOUGH modernization demolishes geographical barriers and moves the world toward an amalgamated economy, clashes among cultures continue to have a damaging impact on world peace and security. Grim news of insurgency and terror attacks make international headlines every day. Because of cross-cultural ignorance, the essence of civilization is compromised. The international community has valiantly dealt…

Read More

Cheerleaders suffer wage theft, recover back wages

LAST year, we discussed the lawsuit filed by the Raiderettes, the cheer squad for the Oakland Raiders, who sued their employer for back wages and reimbursements. The lawsuit claimed that the employer withheld pay from the employees until after the football season ended and did not pay for hours worked outside the games. The cheerleaders…

Read More

Are you lost in a ‘money fog’?

MAYBE you’ve experienced this before: You’re driving down the road one cold, chilly day and before you know it, you find yourself surrounded by a thick white wall of dense fog. How did you react?  If you’re like most people, perhaps you felt momentarily lost and confused or perhaps even panicked, not knowing what was…

Read More

Mortgage interest deduction

1. QUALIFIED Residence Interest includes your principal and second homes. The homes could be a house, condo, mobile home, motor home, time share, or even a houseboat, as long as it has sleeping quarters, toilet and cooking facilities.  You don’t have to occupy your second house (vacant house is OK). 2. Acquisition Debt is incurred…

Read More
Back To Top