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MONDAY, AUGUST 26- SEPTEMBER 01, 2024
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NO. 186
VOL. 12,
California, tech companies agree on journalism fund By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
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n an attempt to bolster local news organizations, California and Google have agreed to a nearly $250 million five-year partnership, state officials announced Wednesday. The deal is a first-in-thenation partnership with the state, news publishers, major tech companies and philanthropists, unveiling two multi-year initiatives to provide ongoing financial support to newsrooms statewide and launch a National AI Accelerator, according to a statement by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks’ office. The Berkeley assemblywoman authored AB 886, a now defunct bill that aimed to require tech companies to compensate for the news content that is voluminously carried on platforms such as the widely used Google search engine. The deal’s nearly $250 million in public and private funding has the majority of the funding going to newsrooms over the next five years, with a first-year goal of front-loading $100 million into the program, according to Wicks’ office.
| Photo courtesy of Spencer E Holtaway/Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)
The investment amount could rise over the next several years if funding from additional private or state sources becomes available.
A little more than 25% of the funding will come from California taxpayers, with the remainder from Google and possibly other private
donors. The UC Berkeley School of Journalism will administer a News Transformation Fund that will provide money
to preserve and expand California-based news organizations, according to Wicks’ office. Emphasis will be on helping publications
that operate in local news deserts or underrepresented communities and outlets that prioritize California news coverage. “This agreement represents a major breakthrough in ensuring the survival of newsrooms and bolstering local journalism across California — leveraging substantial tech industry resources without imposing new taxes on Californians,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “The deal not only provides funding to support hundreds of new journalists but helps rebuild a robust and dynamic California press corps for years to come, reinforcing the vital role of journalism in our democracy.” Kent Walker, president of global affairs and chief legal officer for Alphabet, Google’s parent company, said in a statement: “We appreciate the thoughtful leadership of Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Wicks, Chair Umberg, and Senator Glazer on these See Journalism fund Page 28
46 ficus trees set for removal on Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
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he removal of 46 ficus trees on Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia is scheduled for next month, city officials announced Wednesday. The large-scale removal is part of the nearly $4 million Baldwin Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project the City Council approved in May. Work on the project began Monday and impacts Baldwin Avenue from Huntington
Drive to Camino Real Avenue. The project will happen in two phases: first from Naomi Avenue to Camino Real Avenue, then from Duarte Road to Huntington Drive. Tree removal will begin on Sept. 16. According to a city statement, while the “trees have brought valuable shade and presence to the Baldwin District for decades, a thorough evaluation by a Certified Arborist has
revealed that their roots have become destructive to local infrastructure, as well as both public and private property. Over the years, root intrusion has necessitated frequent repairs or replacements of water and sewer lines, while root growth has led to uplifted sidewalks and curbs.” Officials also said “many business owners in this area have expressed their ongoing
concerns about roof and gutter maintenance, as well as staining and damage to sidewalks along storefronts.” Those factors led officials to designate the 46 trees as “safety concerns” that are disrupting the city’s infrastructure. “It has become clear that retaining these trees is incompatible with the need to protect local businesses, and
ensure safe streets, accessible sidewalks, and underground infrastructure in this area,” officials said. The contractor hired to assess the ficus trees was West Coast Arborists, according to a city staff report. Officials described the Baldwin Avenue project as “important upgrades to ... roadways, traffic signals, and sidewalks, helping improve a
key gateway into Arcadia.” Citing Arcadia’s designation as a Tree City USA “committed to maintaining a robust urban tree canopy,” new plantings will replace the ficus. The Arcadia Development Services Department Engineering Division is fielding questions about the project at 626-574-5411 or DSD@ ArcadiaCA.gov.