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Tag: Commitment

  • UC reaches contract agreement with 21,000 employees, averting a strike

    The University of California and a union representing 21,000 healthcare, research and technical professionals across the UC system reached a contract agreement and averted a strike, the university and union announced Saturday.

    The union, University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), had been bargaining with UC for 17 months for a new contract, and the two sides were in mediation for three weeks. After talks broke down earlier this week, UC said UPTE approached the mediator to re-engage with the university.

    The union was set to strike Nov. 17 and 18 and be joined by more than 60,000 supporters from two additional UC unions, AFSCME 3299 and the California Nurses Assn.

    The unions said it would have been the largest labor strike in UC history. AFSCME 3299 represents patient care technical workers, custodians, food service employees, security guards, secretaries and other workers at UC hospitals and campuses.

    UC and UPTE said details of the tentative contract, which union members must ratify, would be released next week. Prior to the agreement, UPTE workers were seeking investments from UC into retention, pay and ensuring safe working conditions to help address a staffing crisis that the union said “threatens patient care, student services, and the research mission at the heart of the UC system.”

    “The finalized agreement reflects the university’s enduring commitment and UPTE’s advocacy for our employees who play critical roles across the University,” a joint statement from UC and UPTE read. “Both parties acknowledge and appreciate the collaborative spirit that allowed us to move forward and reach a resolution that supports our valuable employees and the University of California’s mission of excellence.”

    UPTE rescinded its strike notice pending a membership ratification vote, according to a statement from Dan Russell, UPTE president and chief negotiator.

    “Our tentative agreement is a hard-won victory for 21,000 healthcare, research, and technical professionals across UC — and one that will benefit millions of UC patients and students, as well as people across the world who benefit from UC’s cutting-edge research,” Russell said. “We continue to stand with AFSCME and CNA members as they fight and strike for a similar agreement for their members.”

    Meredith Turner, the UC senior vice president of external relations and communications, said the agreement was the result of “constructive dialogue and a shared commitment to finding common ground while maintaining financial responsibility in uncertain times.”

    Turner had previously opposed the strike, saying in a video statement posted online Thursday that UC was “disappointed, but not surprised that UPTE has once again chosen disruption over dialog.”

    She said UC had been bargaining in good faith, offering “real improvements, meaningful raises, strong benefits and fair working conditions that reflect how much we value our employees.”

    UPTE previously engaged in three statewide strikes this year in addition to a fourth strike last November, which was limited to UC San Francisco.

    Kaitlyn Huamani, Jaweed Kaleem

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  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits DMZ ahead of security talks with South Korean officials

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas on Monday as he began a two-day visit to ally South Korea for security talks.Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back received a briefing from military officials at Observation Post Ouellette, a site near the military demarcation line that past U.S. presidents, including Donald Trump during his first term in 2019, had visited to peer across the border into North Korea and meet with American soldiers.Hegseth and Ahn also visited the Panmunjom border village, where an armistice was signed to pause the 1950-53 Korean War. Ahn’s ministry said the visit “reaffirmed the firm combined defense posture and close coordination” between the allies.Hegseth did not mention North Korea, which has ignored Washington and Seoul’s calls for dialogue in recent years while accelerating the expansion of its nuclear weapons and missile programs.South Korea’s military also said Monday that the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung and his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Dan Caine, oversaw a combined formation flight aboard South Korean and U.S. F-16 fighter jets above a major U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek.The flight, conducted for the first time, was intended to demonstrate the allies’ “ironclad combined defense posture” and the “unwavering” strength of the alliance, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said.Hegseth and Ahn, who previously met on Saturday at a defense ministers’ meeting in Malaysia, will attend the allies’ annual defense talks in Seoul on Tuesday.The talks are expected to cover key alliance issues, including South Korea’s commitment to increase defense spending and the implementation of a previous agreement to transfer wartime operational control of allied forces to a binational command led by a South Korean general with a U.S. deputy.There are also concerns in Seoul that the Trump administration may demand much higher South Korean payments for the U.S. military presence in the country or possibly downsize America’s military footprint to focus more on China.Hegseth’s visit comes days after Trump traveled to South Korea for meetings with world leaders, including South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju.During his meeting with Trump on Wednesday last week, Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to increase defense spending to reduce the financial burden on America and also called for U.S. support in South Korean efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.Trump later said on social media that the United States will share closely held technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, and that the vessel will be built in the Philly Shipyard, which was bought last year by South Korea’s Hanwha Group. The leaders also advanced trade talks, addressing details of $350 billion in U.S. investments South Korea committed to in an effort to avoid the Trump administration’s highest tariffs.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas on Monday as he began a two-day visit to ally South Korea for security talks.

    Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back received a briefing from military officials at Observation Post Ouellette, a site near the military demarcation line that past U.S. presidents, including Donald Trump during his first term in 2019, had visited to peer across the border into North Korea and meet with American soldiers.

    Hegseth and Ahn also visited the Panmunjom border village, where an armistice was signed to pause the 1950-53 Korean War. Ahn’s ministry said the visit “reaffirmed the firm combined defense posture and close coordination” between the allies.

    Hegseth did not mention North Korea, which has ignored Washington and Seoul’s calls for dialogue in recent years while accelerating the expansion of its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

    South Korea’s military also said Monday that the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung and his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Dan Caine, oversaw a combined formation flight aboard South Korean and U.S. F-16 fighter jets above a major U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek.

    The flight, conducted for the first time, was intended to demonstrate the allies’ “ironclad combined defense posture” and the “unwavering” strength of the alliance, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said.

    Hegseth and Ahn, who previously met on Saturday at a defense ministers’ meeting in Malaysia, will attend the allies’ annual defense talks in Seoul on Tuesday.

    The talks are expected to cover key alliance issues, including South Korea’s commitment to increase defense spending and the implementation of a previous agreement to transfer wartime operational control of allied forces to a binational command led by a South Korean general with a U.S. deputy.

    There are also concerns in Seoul that the Trump administration may demand much higher South Korean payments for the U.S. military presence in the country or possibly downsize America’s military footprint to focus more on China.

    Hegseth’s visit comes days after Trump traveled to South Korea for meetings with world leaders, including South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju.

    During his meeting with Trump on Wednesday last week, Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to increase defense spending to reduce the financial burden on America and also called for U.S. support in South Korean efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

    Trump later said on social media that the United States will share closely held technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, and that the vessel will be built in the Philly Shipyard, which was bought last year by South Korea’s Hanwha Group. The leaders also advanced trade talks, addressing details of $350 billion in U.S. investments South Korea committed to in an effort to avoid the Trump administration’s highest tariffs.

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  • OHA Launches ‘Move Oregon Health Forward’ Pledge, Names Champions Advancing Health Equity Across The State – KXL

    SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has announced a group of statewide “Champions” for its Oregon Health Forward initiative and launched a new Move Oregon Health Forward Pledge, inviting organizations across sectors to publicly commit to advancing health equity and wellbeing for all Oregonians.

    The initiative is part of OHA’s 2030 strategic goal to build a “whole of society” approach to health — encouraging collaboration between public agencies, businesses, education, and community organizations to address health disparities and strengthen community wellbeing.

    “Now more than ever, it is the responsibility of all of us who care about health and wellbeing in Oregon to demonstrate our commitment,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D., MBA. “I hope others see these actions and ask what their organizations can do to help all Oregonians achieve their full potential for health.”

    Champions Leading the Way

    OHA recognized eight inaugural Champions for their leadership and tangible commitments to the effort:

    • Marin Arreola, President, Advanced Economic Solutions Inc. — expanding access to equitable behavioral health services through workforce development and culturally responsive care.

    • Julia Banks, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo — pledging $250,000 to support housing stability and help renters avoid eviction.

    • Dr. Adrien Bennings, President, Portland Community College — advancing a Behavioral Health Career Pathway to diversify Oregon’s behavioral health workforce.

    • David Drinkward, President & CEO, Hoffman Construction Company — implementing a Recovery Ready Workplace substance use prevention program for construction workers.

    • Clarissa Etter-Smith, Executive Director, Genentech — expanding STEM opportunities for underrepresented youth and improving patient access to care through inclusive clinical trials and advocacy partnerships.

    • Peggy Maguire, President, Cambia Health Foundation — committing $200,000 in 2025 to support whole-person primary care models and early interventions for families.

    • Gustavo Morales, Executive Director, Euvalcree — strengthening economic development and health equity in Eastern Oregon through technical assistance for local organizations.

    • Dr. Jayathi Murty, President, Oregon State University — investing in rural health programs, chronic disease prevention, and student placements in underserved communities.

    The Move Oregon Health Forward Pledge

    The new pledge calls on organizations statewide to sign on and commit to five core principles:

    1. Hold firm: Stay the course in advancing community health, even amid uncertainty.

    2. Act where we can: Take steps—large or small—to improve wellbeing among employees and communities.

    3. Consider health in decision-making: Evaluate how policies and budgets affect Oregonians’ ability to live well.

    4. Support solutions: Use influence and resources to help more people thrive.

    5. Stand together: Join a growing network of partners committed to a healthier Oregon.

    Organizations that sign the pledge or make new commitments will be recognized by OHA and honored at an end-of-year celebration.

    The early phase of Oregon Health Forward was supported by the CDC Foundation, which mobilizes private-sector resources to strengthen the nation’s public health system.

    For more information or to sign the pledge, click here.

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    Jordan Vawter

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  • High-speed rail project slated to received $20 billion in state funding

    California’s high-speed rail project is slated to receive $1 billion a year in funding through the state’s cap-and-trade program for the next 20 years — a relief to lawmakers who had urged the Legislature to approve the request as billions of dollars in federal funding remain in jeopardy.

    State leaders called the move, which is pending a final vote from the Legislature, a necessary step to cementing investments from the private sector — an area of focus for project officials. And the project’s chief executive, Ian Choudri, said the agreement is crucial to completing the current priority — a 171-mile portion from Merced to Bakersfield — by 2033.

    “This funding agreement resolves all identified funding gaps for the Early Operating Segment in the Central Valley and opens the door for meaningful public-private engagement with the program,” Choudri said in a statement. “And we must also work toward securing the long-term funding — beyond today’s commitment — that can bring high-speed rail to California’s population centers, where ridership and revenue growth will in turn support future expansions.”

    The project was originally proposed with a 2020 completion date, but so far, no segment of the line has been completed. It’s also about $100 billion over the original $33 billion budget that was originally proposed to voters and has received considerable pushback from Republican lawmakers and some Democrats. The Trump administration recently moved to pull $4 billion in funding that was slated for construction in the Central Valley; in turn, the state sued.

    Still, advocates of the project believe it’s crucial to the state’s economy and to the nation’s innovation in transit.

    “We applaud Governor Newsom and legislative leaders for their commitment and determination to make High-Speed Rail a success,” former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Co-Chair of U.S. High Speed Rail Ray LaHood said in a statement. “The agreement represents the most important step forward to date for this transformational project.”

    State Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), who chairs the Senate’s Transportation Committee, said the Legislature “must act quickly to pass this plan and keep California on track to deliver America’s first true high-speed rail.”

    Construction on the project has been limited to the Central Valley. Choudri has said that the project could take decades to connect the line from Los Angeles to San Francisco and it’s unclear when construction would begin elsewhere in the state. A recent report from the authority proposed next alternatives for the project that would connect the Central Valley to Gilroy and Palmdale. In those scenarios, regional transit would fill in the gaps to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

    L.A.-area lawmakers recently requested an annual $3.3-billion investment in transit from the state’s cap-and-trade fund, acknowledging that although high-speed rail is a state priority, L.A. County should not be overlooked when it comes to increasing more immediate transit investments in the state’s most populous county. Citing equity, health and climate needs, the delegation pushed for greater investment in bus, rail and regional connectors.

    According to a recent report from the Southern California Assn. of Governments, L.A. County accounts for 82% of Southern California’s bus ridership. Although public transit use is high, lawmakers and transit leaders have said that expansion and improvements are necessary.

    “Millions of Los Angeles County residents already depend on Metro bus and rail, Metrolink, and municipal operators. Yet service has not kept pace with need: transit ridership is still 25-30% below pre-pandemic levels, even as freeway traffic has nearly fully rebounded,” the delegation’s letter stated. “Without significant investment, super commuters from the Valley, South LA, and the Inland Empire remain locked into long, expensive car trips.”

    Funding commitments for L.A. County transit were maintained from the last budget, but the delegation’s request for billions in cap-and-trade funds has yet to come through.

    “The state budget deal in June 2025 restored $1.1 billion in flexible transit funding from the GGRF, which benefits transit operations statewide, including L.A. County,” Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas’ (D-Los Angeles) office said.

    Smallwood-Cuevas said the point of the request was to ensure that transit needs of the Los Angeles region aren’t lost.

    “We recognize what it means when folks in L.A. County get out of their cars and onto public transit — that is the greatest reduction that can happen,” she said. “We fully intend to see an opportunity where we can address some of that ridership and look at ways to ensure an equitable opportunity that invests in our regional transit public transit, while we also work to build what I call the spine of our transit, a high speed rail program that will run up and down the state and connect to our regional public transit arteries.”

    State Sen. Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) said that the state’s investments toward wildfire recovery in Pacific Palisades and Altadena “does not mean that you should leave the largest segment of drivers anywhere in the world languishing in traffic forever.”

    “It’s not that there’d be nothing [for transit funding],” Stern said. “It’s just that we think there should be more.”

    The Los Angeles area isn’t facing the same state funding hurdle of the Bay Area, where lawmakers have scrambled to obtain a $750-million transit loan, warning that key services like BART could be significantly affected without the funds.

    Roughly $14 billion has been spent on the high-speed rail project so far, which has created roughly 15,000 jobs in the Central Valley. Theoretically, the train will eventually boost economies statewide.

    Eli Lipmen of MoveLA believes that the investments will help transit in the Los Angeles region by expanding access, long before there’s a direct high-speed rail connection.

    “Wer’e building an incredible transit system with LA Metro, but we need that regional system to get out to Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura County,” Lipmen said.

    “So we’re making those investments even if high-speed rail doesn’t come here right away to improve those connections for constituents. That’s a good thing.”

    Colleen Shalby

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  • Bass cites Harris’ ‘passion’ and ‘fearlessness’ in helping children

    Bass cites Harris’ ‘passion’ and ‘fearlessness’ in helping children

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was met with chants of “Karen! Karen!” after she described Vice President Kamala Harris as a role model who would fight to protect children at Monday’s opening night of the Democratic National Convention.

    Bass told the energized crowd in Chicago that she and Harris worked together on youth homelessness and fixing the child welfare system more than a decade ago when Bass headed the California Assembly and Harris was a state prosecutor.

    “Our bond was forged years ago, by a shared commitment to children,” said Bass, who has known Harris, 59, for nearly two decades. “A belief that it is everybody’s responsibility to care for every child, no matter where they come from or no matter who their parents are.”

    Bass, 70, a well-known advocate for children who created the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth while in Congress, also used her short speech Monday to describe Harris’ work as California attorney general to help youths in the juvenile justice system.

    “I know Kamala,” Bass said. “And she feels the importance of this work in her bones. When Kamala meets a young person, you can feel her passion. You can feel her heart. And you can feel her fearlessness.

    “That is what defines a commitment to children: being willing to fight fiercely for every child. And trust me, Kamala has done that her entire life.”

    Bass grinned at the crowd and appeared to relish her moment in the spotlight. She chuckled as she talked about how she and Harris made history and when Harris, the first female vice president, swore her in after Bass became the first woman to become L.A. mayor in 2022.

    Ahead of the swearing-in, “we knew we were sending a message to young girls everywhere: that they too can lead,” Bass said.

    Also, Harris and Bass have opened up to reporters about their respective families. Harris is a stepmother and refers to herself as “Momala,” while Bass has three adult stepchildren.

    Other Californians who spoke during the convention’s opening night included U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Reps. Maxine Waters and Robert Garcia, and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

    Before Harris was chosen to be then-candidate Joe Biden’s running mate in 2020, Bass was also viewed as a possible pick for the ticket. But some assumed Harris’ political consultants were behind a perceived effort to knock Bass off the list of potential candidates.

    Still, the buzz around Bass being a possible vice president brought her national attention. A year later, Bass launched her campaign for mayor of Los Angeles.

    Dakota Smith

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  • Why Saying ‘Yes’ to Everything Leads to Failure | Entrepreneur

    Why Saying ‘Yes’ to Everything Leads to Failure | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    As people strive more and more for achievement, most of them become workaholics and get too involved. We all know how appealing it is to say “yes” to almost everything that comes your way because, who knows, you might get a promotion or be in the spotlight. However, this tendency often leads to a paradoxical outcome: failure.

    Now that we have examined the danger, let’s consider the following practical approaches to overcome it.

    Related: Overworked? Here Are 4 Easy Steps to Say ‘No’ and Stop Stressing.

    The illusion of infinite capacity

    At the heart of overcommitment lies a fundamental misconception: the understanding that the capacity for improvement is endless. It happens that we, as businesspeople and managers, think that we are capable of taking on more and more work. But in fact, time and energy are scarce goods that limit us in some way. It is important not to spread ourselves too thin across too many things, as this ultimately weakens our presence in everything we are involved in.

    The productivity paradox

    It is evident that doing more does not necessarily mean achieving more in this life. It is generally very unwise to engage in a lot of activities because this can have a very negative impact on productivity. Here’s why

    1. Decreased quality of work: Multitasking is usually characterized by decreased quality in the projects or tasks we have in our hands. We often work very fast, do not pay attention to the fine points and end up making errors. This not only affects the result but reputation as well.

    2. Increased stress and burnout: This is because overcommitment results in increased stress levels. Stress and feeling pressured to meet certain deadlines, for example, may lead to burnout and have adverse effects on the body and mind.

    3. Missed opportunities: When you are constantly agreeing to everything, you may not see any valuable opportunity coming. As we continue to be consumed with the low hanging fruits, our ability to capture the right opportunities is reduced.

    Consequences of not saying “NO”

    For instance, let’s consider a tech company called XYZ. The founder of XYZ startup may accept every invitation for a meeting, partnership and speaking engagement. First, this may appear as an effective way to develop the brand and expand the network. However, the founder is often left overwhelmed, struggling to manage and unable to adequately attend to the business.

    The product development cycle is slowed down, customer satisfaction levels decrease, and the overall growth of the company comes to a standstill in the end; the startup exits, not because there are no opportunities but because it cannot utilize them properly.

    Related: 8 Ways to Say ‘No’ So You Say ‘Yes’ to What Matters Most

    The art of saying “no”

    The ability to say “no” is essential for any manager to learn. It is not that one has to be unhelpful or discouraging — it means that one is smart enough to understand that he cannot do everything or be everywhere and do everything at any given time. Here are some tips that will guide you toward the realization of this noble goal.

    1. Define your priorities: First, analyze your needs and define your main aims and values. That way, you get a better perspective on the opportunities available according to your priorities and which ones do not meet your priority list.

    2. Evaluate the impact: First of all, one should determine how much that task is worth pursuing in terms of results that it can bring. Even if a study aligns with your research aims, will it move you forward substantially in achieving them? To analyze this, we need to decide whether it is worth the time and effort required. If the answer is no, it is most likely better to refuse whatever is offered.

    3. Set boundaries: Boundaries are important for ensuring that there is no interference with the progress of the work or goals to be accomplished. Be clear with the people around you, your team members, colleagues and partners when conveying your limits to them. Make the time you’re able and willing to be available for others clear, as well as the time when you have to focus on important things.

    4. Delegate wisely: It is not a rule that you have to do everything yourself. Try to transfer routine duties that can be performed by other people to them so that you will be able to focus only on the most important operations. Be confident in your people and give them full authority to do their work.

    5. Regularly review commitments: Try to analyze from time to time what you are busy with and what is really important and effective. Are those tasks aligned with your goals and purpose? If not, do not be afraid to go back and think about what you committed yourself to and perhaps alter the plans.

    Prioritizing effectively: The Eisenhower Matrix

    The Eisenhower Matrix is one of the most widely known and effective tools for sorting out tasks by their priorities. This basic framework allows you to sort tasks carefully due to their urgency and significance.

    1. Urgent and Important: Activities that are urgent and strategically relevant to your objectives and priorities. These should be your top priorities.

    2. Important but Not Urgent: Activities that are important for achieving long-term goals but do not need to be executed soon. Organize these tasks and ensure they have a time slot.

    3. Urgent but Not Important: Chores that need to be accomplished soon, yet will not contribute much to helping you achieve your objectives. If possible, these tasks should be delegated by the person in charge of the project.

    4. Not Urgent and Not Important: Activities that you think are not relevant to the achievement of your objectives. Avoid or reduce them to allow time for other, more significant chores.

    When using the Eisenhower Matrix, one is able to avoid getting lost in a plethora of things to do, which ultimately leads to overcommitment.

    Related: The Art of Ruthless Prioritization

    Lessons learned from my personal experience

    Reflecting on my own experience, I know how dire the consequences of overcommitment can be. In the earlier stage of my career, I used to think that the say-yes approach was the way to go. I became a participant and member of every project, meeting and invitation that I received. Before I knew it, I was submerged in distress and concerned about my ability to deliver high-quality papers. Some vital projects faced some slippages, while my efficiency took a massive hit.

    It took a little while to finally knuckle down and start prioritizing and know when to simply say “no.” Thus, I maintained high productivity rates by prioritizing the most critical activities, offloading assignments and defining expectations. This change not only benefited me in terms of effectiveness in the workplace but also the quality of the work produced as well as my personal health status.

    Overcommitment is something that often happens to many leaders and entrepreneurs. You need to learn what can go wrong if you are going to avoid the pitfalls and attain more success with proper prioritization.

    Chris Kille

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  • Inglewood people mover gets $1-billion commitment from federal officials

    Inglewood people mover gets $1-billion commitment from federal officials

    Federal officials have pledged up to $1 billion for an elevated train connecting SoFi Stadium and other venues to the Crenshaw Line, marking a major milestone for a marquee project that could open ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.

    The Federal Transit Administration commitment would finance half of the project’s $2-billion price tag.

    To lock down the award, the city of Inglewood and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority must clear several more hurdles, including securing the other half of the money and making substantial progress to prepare the project for construction.

    “It’s going to improve the fan experience,” said Inglewood Mayor James Butts, who has championed the project. “Fans, our residents and the employees deserve affordable and efficient transit options. This system will be good for the environment. It will again create jobs.”

    Known as the Inglewood Transit Connector, the fully automated three-stop people mover will roll through Inglewood’s downtown and ferry fans to the city’s growing list of entertainment venues, which include the Kia Forum and the soon-to-be opened Inuit Dome. It’s expected to ease traffic during major events.

    The city and Metro, which together form the project’s joint powers authority, say they have secured about 85% of the total $2-billion tab, counting the federal commitment. Although that commitment is not finalized, officials say it signals the viability of an ambitious project they aim to open before the 2028 Olympic Games.

    “This federal support is a force multiplier on our momentum and an endorsement of all levels of government working together to benefit the public. We will get the next step done,” said Lisa Trifiletti, who is overseeing the project for the authority.

    And although officials hope the people mover will be running by 2028, Federal Transit Administration documents show that it isn’t expected to open until 2030 and will cost $33 million a year to operate.

    If the connector does open in time for the Olympics, Inglewood, a city of about 104,000, would be center stage, starting with the opening ceremonies at SoFi Stadium. Transit officials plan on creating a car-free Olympics and have been using events at SoFi, including Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, as a testing ground for not only the Olympics but how to deal with changing ridership patterns.

    Backers say the elevated people mover and the tourists it brings will also help revitalize downtown Inglewood. But dozens of business will be forced to relocate to make room for it. And transportation experts question whether the people mover, which has increased in price by more than half a billion dollars over the last few years, is worth the cost and will deliver on its promises.

    On a busy weekday, hundreds come through the door of Fiesta Martin Bar & Grill at Florence Avenue and Market Street. Esaul Martin, who runs the downtown Inglewood restaurant with his sister, is among those who will be forced to relocate.

    “We don’t have a choice in what to do,” he said. The outside patio is teeming on weekends, and he has a steady local clientele.

    Though his family owns several restaurants in town, he said, this is the most successful.

    “Most people aren’t happy about it,” Martin said about other businesses nearby. “The options that they are giving us doesn’t come close. Either it doesn’t have parking, it’s too small, or the rent is four times this.”

    Martin has hired a lawyer. But, he said, no relocation fee can replicate what he has created here. And he worries about his 45 employees.

    Butts said change is hard, but the relocation packages are generous.

    “This is major progress in the evolution of the city. Things are not going to be the way they are,” he said. “The benefits of this project far outweigh the angst of displacement, because everyone in Inglewood wins.”

    Transit experts say the other big winners are people like Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

    The $5-billion SoFi Stadium, home to the Rams and Chargers, opened in 2020. It had bypassed the lengthy environmental review process typically required in California, which would have quantified the traffic, pollution and noise that would come with a 70,000-seat stadium. Often, the developer must mitigate those impacts.

    Instead, the project was approved six weeks after it was announced.

    “There is definitely a good case to be made that at least there should be some financial contribution from the stadium owners,” said Jacob Wasserman, a research project manager at UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. “It is going to serve the customers there who pay money to go see events and games. All transit serves businesses, and it’s a public service, but I think that this is disproportionately focused on these event venues.”

    Butts said providing transportation is the job of municipalities.

    The authority estimates that the people mover will have 4 million boardings in 2028 and nearly 8 million by 2078, which Wasserman said is likely overly optimistic.

    Environmental studies show regular weekdays will be much quieter, bringing 414 passengers during peak hours and carrying 11,450 riders the hour after games.

    Three pre-qualified teams are now preparing bids for the project, and the authority expects to choose one this summer.

    Is it worth it?

    James Moore, founding director of the USC Transportation Engineering Program, said it probably isn’t. He pointed to the half billion dollars it cost to connect the Oakland Airport to BART, which, he said, ended up having no measurable effect on either airport traffic or BART ridership.

    “The bus was doing just fine,” he said. “If the goal is to connect riders from the event generator to the rail line, this is an expensive way to do it.”

    Rachel Uranga

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  • The Mindset You Must Develop for Long-term Success | Entrepreneur

    The Mindset You Must Develop for Long-term Success | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Long-term success requires a specific mindset that supports you in taking the actions necessary to accomplish the goals you set for yourself. The truth is, it’s not enough to believe that you can do something. Being capable is one part of the equation. The other part is your commitment to the goal and the action steps to get there.

    If you’re not fully committed to the process of achieving your goals, you either won’t reach them or it will take far longer than necessary (this is stated in studies over and over again). The challenge is that some people confuse being involved with being committed, and there’s a big difference between how these two words play out in life.

    As a former Marine, the level and application of commitment are extreme, but they deliver extreme results. The level of commitment to the task will outweigh almost any other factor: size, strength and experience. This works the same in the business world. If two people get in a ring for combat, I’d bet on the one who is the most committed to victory. The most committed party, in my experience, will prevail 99% of the time.

    I learned this in my time as a Marine because the system intentionally washes out “involvement mentality” — that part of you that leaves room for failure. Once you go through basic training, it’s gone. In its place is “commitment mentality,” which says you work until the goal is accomplished. This is a powerful mental switch.

    This is why former military officers are overrepresented as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies (and why those companies regularly have higher rates of performance). Sustainable success is about mastering your mindset and holding yourself accountable — releasing involvement and learning how to activate your commitment mentality.

    Related: If You Want Great Results, You Need to Be Committed

    Getting committed instead of involved

    Commitment is the fixity of purpose binding oneself intellectually and emotionally to a given task. That is the secret to success in any endeavor because it’s a critical whole mental, emotional and physical devotion to the objective.

    The reason this is so effective is because you’re not simply setting your mind to something and moving forward. Your mind is only one part of you. To be committed, you need to enroll your emotions so that your body can carry out the necessary steps even when it’s challenging. Without the emotional component (or worse, with a negative emotional state attached), you will resist, procrastinate and struggle to follow through in a timely manner.

    When you’re involved in something, instead of committed, you’re taking the actions and being involved in the project or task — but you’re not emotionally invested. Think about that meeting that you don’t really want to go to, but feel you have to. You might accidentally show up five minutes late or involuntarily stop listening halfway through, and it’s because this meeting is not a whole-state priority.

    Your ability to achieve with the utmost integrity, discipline and optimization is dependent on your commitment, not your involvement.

    Related: How a Personal Commitment Helps Your Business Grow

    Commitment makes you a better, more reliable leader

    People instinctively follow leaders who make them feel safe and come across as stable. The way commitment shows up in your actions — being fully present, knocking out tasks, optimizing the process, etc. — gives people the subconscious signal that you are a leader. True commitment also increases self-trust, confidence and satisfaction, making it easier to get more done.

    This is part of how you lead from the front — or leading yourself first. It’s in leading from the front with authenticity, kindness and a relentless commitment to the goals of our partners, our clients, our team and self that has created the most significant achievements of my career.

    When you’re in business, especially a service-based business, it’s not about just your goals anymore. You have to consider the goals of your clients, partners and team and be just as committed to those goals as you are to your own. That means being emotionally connected to the outcomes you provide.

    The deeper your commitment, the more you think and act differently.

    Related: Why Mindset Mastery Is Vital to Your Success

    Evaluating on the front end

    When you are committed, whether that be in business or your personal life, it means that you do what you say you’re going to do. You move heaven and earth to honor your commitments. When you become a person that habitually does what you say you’re going to do, it causes you to evaluate much more deeply and carefully in advance so that you don’t commit to the wrong things.

    And let’s be clear, people who aren’t committed aren’t necessarily bad people. It’s more of an indication of future performance than anything else. People miss or ignore commitments all the time, and doing so doesn’t necessarily speak to the person’s quality of character. But what it does represent is someone’s ability to depend on your word. In business, your word needs to be impeccable in order to lead powerfully and create the highest rate of success possible.

    When you learn to evaluate a task, project or situation appropriately before getting into it, then you have an easier time making commitments that you keep. Before making a commitment, you learn to see the possible holes, pitfalls and challenges that can crop up and account for them in your estimations. That is an entirely different mindset orientation to simply being involved and trying your best.

    Consider these questions before making a commitment to properly assess the situation:

    • Where are you?

    • Where are you headed?

    • What are the necessary actions that need to occur to accomplish the mission?

    • What are the possible incidentals that you could encounter?

    • Are there any hidden costs associated with those potential issues?

    Once you teach yourself how to think this way, your ability to be fully committed, honor those commitments and become a strong leader creates the foundation for long-term success.

    Jarrett Preston

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  • Austin Pets Alive! | Our Mask Protocols Aren’t Changing

    Austin Pets Alive! | Our Mask Protocols Aren’t Changing

    Mar 04, 2021

    Austin Pets Alive! will continue to require staff, volunteers, shelter visitors, and APA! Thrift store shoppers to wear masks when on site at any APA! location, which includes its Town Lake campus, Tarrytown shelter, and all four APA! Thrift stores. We will not be loosening our safety protocols that have been in place for the foreseeable future, so please mask up when you come to see our pets and our people. We appreciate our community’s kindness, understanding, and commitment to keeping each other safe.

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  • As Dilma Rousseff Struggles to Save Her Career, an American Author Worries About Brazil’s Smartest Woman

    As Dilma Rousseff Struggles to Save Her Career, an American Author Worries About Brazil’s Smartest Woman

    Book News: For Steven Carter, the current political turmoil in Brazil is an opportunity to re-focus his writing, and dedicate his new book to President Dilma Rousseff.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 2, 2016


    Los Angeles, California, May 2, 2016 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​​​​Steven Carter never expected his writing would bring him face to face with the president of Brazil.  And, flipping through a copy of “What Smart Women Know” at a local bookstore, a typical reader wouldn’t know they are reading one of the most successful American books ever published in Brazil.  “What Smart Women Know” soared to the top of Brazil’s bestseller lists in 2008 and held its place for 110  weeks — regularly holding the #2 position — joined later by its celebrated sequel, “Men Like Women Who Like Themselves.”  Brazil was changing quickly, and the women of Brazil were embracing that change.

    For American author Steven Carter, those were dizzying times. First came the highly publicized appearances at the Bienal do Livro. Traveling from city to city, often talking to sold-out crowds, he met Brazil’s most revered authors and artists. He viewed the panoramas of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo with Marcos and Tomas Pereira, founders of the publishing giant Editora Sextante.  And twice each year he would return to Brazil, ultimately joining President Dilma Rousseff at the Rio Bienal to celebrate the ‘Year of the Woman.’

    It was all very heady stuff, often thrilling.  “Rousseff was smart, powerful and inspiring,” Carter recalls. “Meeting President Rousseff reignited my passion for writing.”  After their meeting, more books would follow.  “I feel I owe her so much,” he added, “and today I have the chance to thank her in my work.”

    As new titles were released, international praise for Steven Carter’s work kept building. But after five years of uninterrupted success, the world suddenly turned, leaving Carter to helplessly watch the Brazilian juggernaut stall. As Brazil’s economy slumped, book sales faltered.  “I could feel the might of Brazil begin to disappear,” Carter remembers. “I feared the need for a scapegoat — economic decline is a bitter pill.”

    Back in the United States now, Carter worries about Rousseff’s future — he knows too well from his research and writing the risks and rewards of being a strong, smart woman.  He also wonders if there will ever be another “Brazil Story” in his lifetime. Will there ever be another great nation with an emerging middle class filled with working women who eagerly embrace his message? The author watches and laments as Dilma Rousseff struggles to hold on to her power and her position. Within the pages of “What Smart Women Know” there is a gentle wisdom that seems to predict the fate of successful women who have the courage to lead.

    Today, on his cluttered desk, there sits a copy of “Love & Self-Esteem:  What the Smartest Women Know.”  Steven Carter hopes that this book — a book inspired by the smart women of Brazil, and now dedicated to their leader — will soon find a new audience, even if that audience is far from his home in Los Angeles.
     

    Source: C.A.S. Publishing

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  • Jamal Watters, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, “Keeps It Real” on Relationships in His Stylishly Hip and Insightful New Book, Just Keepin’ It Real, Ladies

    Jamal Watters, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, “Keeps It Real” on Relationships in His Stylishly Hip and Insightful New Book, Just Keepin’ It Real, Ladies

    OAKLAND, CA native, Jamal Watters pulls no punches with his refreshing and witty approach to telling it like it is in his book, Just Keepin’ It Real, Ladies. As a licensed therapist, Jamal draws from his experience counseling couples and combines this with insight from real life experiences and being married seventeen years. He breaks down relationships in a way that is relatable and empowering.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Oct 29, 2015


    Benicia, CA, October 27, 2015 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Readers that are single and wanting to find a good man or woman, or already in a relationship and wanting to strengthen their relationship, will appreciate the “back to basics” theories and concepts in Just Keepin‘ It Real, Ladies.  Book is available on Amazon in print and Kindle version. You can also find book at Marcus and Laurel book stores in Oakland, Ca. If you would like more information about Just Keepin‘ It Real, Ladies or to schedule an interview with Mr. Watters, please call the Author direct at 510-847-3500 or email jwatters572@gmail.com.

    “Healthy Relationships Equal Healthy Families”

    Jamal Watters, Author

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