State treasurer and gubernatorial hopeful John Chiang is wading into the increasingly high-profile debate over college affordability with a new push for California to play a role in alleviating the burden of high-interest private student loans.

Chiang is sponsoring legislation that would create a $25-million fund that would offer a degree of protection to student loan providers. With the state assuming some of the risk, the measure’s proponents say financial institutions will be more likely to offer lower interest rates to those carrying student debt.

“We know that unfortunately too many

It’s a lamentable fact of political life that winning an election for superior court judge in California often depends on what job description the candidate chooses to put on the ballot.

The “ballot designation” goes right under the candidate’s name, allowing each contender three little words to squeeze in as much attention-grabbing and persuasive information as the law may permit. So in many cases a deputy district attorney can call himself or herself a “violent crimes prosecutor,” or perhaps a “gang crime prosecutor” in hopes that voters will be impressed by such tough-on-crime

Five years ago, a proposed law banning the use of polystyrene containers to serve burgers, salads and other prepared foods failed in the state Assembly after heavy opposition from the plastics industry and the Chamber of Commerce. The environmental hazards posed by this form of plastic foam haven’t changed since then, but a lot of other things have.

For one thing, dozens more cities and counties have passed ordinances restricting local businesses’ use of containers made from polystyrene (often referred to colloquially, and incorrectly, as Styrofoam). There are about 100 such ordinances now

Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) was honored as Clean Money Champion by the California Clean Money Campaign Sunday. The award is presented to the California State legislator with the highest “Clean Money Score,” as determined by their leadership, votes, and actions regarding campaign finance reform. The award is based on the organization’s scorecard which seeks to highlight legislators who are the “strongest advocates for the Big Idea that regular voters should have more information and power in elections.”

READ MORE: http://westsidetoday.com/2017/03/16/senator-ben-allen-named-clean-money

State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) has been appointed to the governing board of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, his office announced Tuesday.

The Conservancy, established in 1980 by the state Legislature, helps preserve more than 72,000 acres of wilderness and parkland encompassed in the nation’s largest urban park, itself a 150,000-acre swath of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

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California faces a transportation crisis, with gridlock, crushing commutes and significant negative impacts on our environment, economy and quality of life.

The Legislature and governor must step up and significantly fund our public transportation. No more lip service. No more empty gestures. No more cutting ribbons on high-profile transit projects while letting our transit systems overall

CARSON, Calif. – During a special board meeting on September 7, 2016, the West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) Board of Directors presented State Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) with its 2015 Legislator of the Year award. The annual award recognizes legislators who help the water industry and West Basin to provide more reliable water supplies through legislation and advocacy.

“Senator Ben Allen deserves this recognition for his commitment to water issues and an open door policy to discuss and understand local water supply needs,” said West Basin Board President Carol W

Posted Jun. 23, 2016 11:33am

by Santa Monica Mirror Staff

In a gathering Tuesday of over 200 Alzheimer’s advocates representing the entire state of California, Senator Ben Allen  was presented with the 2016 Legislator of the Year award by his constituent in the 26th Senate District, Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns, a former local and national board member of the Alzheimer’s Association. 

As a freshman state senator, Allen distinguished himself immediately as a champion for the 610,000 Californians livings with Alzheimer’s disease and the 1.5 million family members and friends who provide care and

By Gregory S. McNeal

California’s leading position as one of the top markets for aerospace related research and development cannot be maintained without significant attention from the Legislature and the Governor.  California accounts for nearly 9% of the world’s aerospace R&D, but a globally competitive marketplace threatens the state’s leadership role. What California needs is an Aerospace Commission, and that’s why Senator Ben Allen’s SB 1215 is a critically important piece of legislation.

The proposal is as straightforward as it is non-controversial, California needs an Aerospace