4:20pm | In a very busy week of news around the city, here are two brief notices that deserve a quick mention. We didn’t want them to fall by the wayside as we pursue other stories.

First off, 1st District Councilmember Robert Garcia will visit the State of Israel soon, leaving tomorrow and returning on May 13. Garcia will be part of a regional delegation invited by the Israeli Consulate and the Jewish Federation, which are paying for the trip. Garcia says he hopes to learn from Israeli officials about government, trade and industry to bring ideas back to Long Beach.

“I am honored to have been asked on this delegation and look forward to visiting Israel,” Garcia said in a statement.  “This will be a great opportunity to meet with local government officials and community members to share ideas.”

He’ll also view Holy sites, various cities and farms.

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Back here at home, the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency could once again be open to having its funds raided by the State of California. A Sacramento Superior Court ruling Tuesday makes it easier for the state to use local government funds to fill holes in its own budget.

The Long Beach RDA nearly had millions of its funds raided by the state last year but was spared at the last moment.

The Press-Telegram quotes RDA executive director Amy Bodek thusly:

We took the fiscally conservative approach of budgeting for it but frankly hoping that the merits of the case would still stand since we were successful last year,” she said.

Click here to read the rest of the Press-Telegram article by Karen Robes Meeks.

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