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With five days left on the 12th to negotiate to avoid a federal government shutdown (temporary business suspension), political chaos surrounding the budget continues.

With the 2024 fiscal year (October 2023 – September 2024) already starting on the 1st of last month, if the follow-up budget bill is not passed by Congress by the 17th, when the application period for the temporary budget plan agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties in the United States ends, the United States will face the suspension of some federal government operations.

Shutdown becomes inevitable.

In this situation, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, proposed another temporary budget plan to be used until February next year, but the White House strongly opposed it, and some hardliners within the Republican Party also voiced opposition.

Chairman Johnson unveiled a temporary budget plan on the 11th that covers only the expenditures needed from January to February of next year, rather than the entire budget needed for government operations in fiscal 2024 and explained it to fellow Republican lawmakers.

This is characterized by different timing of budget exhaustion for each government department. Related ministries such as Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Agriculture, Housing, and Energy will allocate the necessary budgets by January 19th of next year, and the Department of National Defence and the State Department will have budgets up to February 2nd in the ‘Phase 2’ budget plan.

American media reported that the purpose of the second phase of the budget plan is to break away from the previous practice of processing a total of 12 expenditure bills for each department as one and encourage individual negotiations on expenditure bills.

Chairman Johnson said, “The Phase 2 budget plan is essential to put the Republican Party in the best position in the fight for conservative victory.” Although this plan did not reflect the large differences of opinion between the two parties, including the large-scale budget cuts requested by the Republican Party, opposing opinions were expressed not only from the administration (White House) but also from some Republican lawmakers.

White House press secretary Carine Jean-Pierre criticized in a statement released on the 11th, “This plan is just a recipe for more Republican chaos and more federal government shutdowns.” “House Republicans must stop wasting time on their political divisions, do their job, and work bipartisan to prevent a shutdown,” Jean-Pierre said. In addition, Representative Chip Roy (Texas), a member of the Freedom Caucus, a hard-line Republican group, said in a post onEven if the Republican Party, which is the majority party in the House of Representatives, passes this budget bill in the House of Representatives through vote control, since the Democratic Party (including pro-Democratic independents) is the majority party in the Senate, if the Democratic Party continues to oppose it, it will be difficult to pass and the budget bill will drift. However, some believe that there is room for negotiation regarding this budget.

Controversial contents, such as the large-scale budget cut plan and the budget plan to support the Israel and Ukraine package, which the Democratic Party resolutely opposes, were removed, and the defence budget with great urgency was placed in the ‘second stage (applied until February 2)’ category, which has a long application period.  In that sense, Bloomberg News pointed out that “Chairman Johnson’s budget proposal did not include the 30% budget cut and amendments to foreign asylum-related laws that Republican hardliners have been demanding,” and evaluated, “Chairman Johnson has improved the prospects for compromise.”

Even at the end of September, when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who stepped down after the dismissal bill was passed on the 3rd of last month, was in office, there was a situation on the brink of a shutdown. In a situation where the ruling and opposition parties are in a tense standoff over demands from some in the Republican Party for large-scale budget cuts, former Speaker McCarthy proposed a compromise 45-day interim budget plan on September 30, the last day of the 2023 fiscal year, and the proposal was submitted a few hours before the start of the shutdown.

However, ultra-hardliner Matt Gates (Florida) of the House Republican Party, who opposed such a ‘compromise’, proposed a bill to dismiss then-Speaker McCarthy, and it was eventually passed, leaving McCarthy as the first Speaker of the House to be ousted by vote in U.S. history.

The renewed shutdown crisis is also casting a shadow on the U.S. economy.

On the 10th, international credit rating agency Moody’s maintained the United States’ national credit rating at ‘Aaa’, the highest rating, but adjusted the rating outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’.

Moody’s cited “political polarization within Congress” as the basis for this measure. He mentioned the shutdown crisis.

The House Steering Committee will hold a hearing on the 13th to consider whether to submit Chairman Johnson’s second phase interim budget plan to the plenary session for a vote.

On the 10th of November, a U.S. military plane crashed killing five soldiers on board in Mediterranean Sea. The U.S. Military European Command said in a statement on the 12th, “During a routine aerial refuelling operation as part of training, a U.S. military aircraft carrying five people crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on the 10th due to an accident,” adding, “All five people on board were killed.” revealed.

The U.S. military did not officially disclose the model of the accident plane or the affiliations of the dead, adding that it was investigating the cause. President Joe Biden said in a statement, “I offer my condolences to the five American soldiers who died during training,” and added, “Soldiers are risking their lives for their people and country.”

Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin also issued a separate statement, saying, “I am saddened by the tragic death of the accident,” and added, “We are investigating information about the accident, but we are once again reminded that our security is protected through the sacrifices of those who sacrificed their lives for our country.” “I have no choice but to do it,” he said.

The Washington Post (WP), citing two military officials, reported that an accident occurred on a U.S. military helicopter and that the unit’s member had been deployed to the area as part of an emergency plan following the Israel-Hamas war. WP said, “The plan also includes preparations for potential evacuation from Israel and Lebanon. The helicopter crashed on the southeastern coast of Cyprus, and a search and rescue operation are currently underway.”

When the Israel-Hamas war broke out due to a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas on the 7th of last month, the United States dispatched two aircraft carrier groups, including the aircraft carriers Gerald Ford and Dwight Eisenhower, to Israel to suppress the possibility of escalation due to intervention by Iran and other countries. The military posture has been strengthened, including deployment nearby.

Food trucks are gaining popularity in Los Angeles and leading the food truck culture, but the working environment for food truck workers is so poor that they are exposed to serious disease risks.

The food trucks lined up around La Brea on Wilshire Road near town are very popular with Mid-Wilshire office workers and tourists, giving a glimpse into LA’s food truck culture.

Food trucks, where you can enjoy authentic street food at a low cost, have become popular in Los Angeles, and food trucks are scattered everywhere. However, workers working in food trucks have been found to be exposed to serious diseases as they work in cramped spaces and poorly ventilated environments.

According to a report released by UCLA, food truck workers in Los Angeles are at high risk of suffering from diseases caused by high heat because they always work in cramped spaces full of heat, regardless of the outside temperature. Even if the outside temperature is relatively chilly at around 60 degrees, the temperature around the grill inside the food truck rises up to 100 degrees.

The temperature around the truck grill is usually about 35 degrees higher, and the temperature inside the food truck heated up by using the grill increases over time. Even after this, it doesn’t cool down much.

Because of this, employees working at food trucks have been found to suffer from headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, dehydration, nausea, and vomiting while working.

In order to improve the working environment inside food trucks, it is essential to lower the temperature of the food trucks, but it is not as easy as you might think.

According to current regulations, air conditioners in food trucks are installed away from employees because the priority is to prevent food at room temperature from spoiling, so they are of little help to workers. Another problem is that the back door of the truck must always be closed to prevent insects from entering the food truck, so heat is trapped inside the truck and cannot escape to the outside.

There is also a way to install a screen door instead of a door, but this is not feasible because it violates hygiene regulations.

It turns out that low-income workers of colour are suffering the most from the poor working conditions of food trucks.

Recently, as home invasion robberies have become frequent in the Los Angeles area, security concerns are reaching a peak as homeowners armed with firearms are increasingly directly confronting robbers.

On the 4th, a video of the homeowner armed with a gun directly confronting a suspected robber who broke into the home at a home in Central LA, and a video of the robber and the homeowner exchanging gunfire has spread, reminiscent of a lawless area.

Recently, a suspected robber who was trying to break into a home in Los Angeles was shot and killed by the homeowner. As robberies have increased through the pandemic, there has been an increasing number of cases where homeowners confront robbers who enter their homes armed with firearms.

The problem is that residents who purchase firearms purchase firearms at random without proper firearm use training, which can endanger surrounding neighbours due to accidental firing.

In particular, illegal gun purchases are rampant as residents neglect gun use education and related licenses and are tempted to buy guns for their own personal safety right away. Also, when looking at the video of the shootout between the homeowner and the robber in Central LA on the 4th, it was revealed that the homeowner did not receive proper gun-related training, raising criticism that he could have put the surrounding neighbours at risk.

Brad Lee, former chairman of the Olympic Police Department Sponsorship Association, emphasized that the general public should not take the use of firearms lightly, saying that reckless use of firearms could cause greater anger. In particular, there is a lot of concern because owning a firearm increases the possibility of wielding a firearm even in situations where there is no threat to one’s life.

The city’s Department of Planning and Permits (DPP) says it is studying the impacts of climate change on Waikiki.

The so-called ‘Adapt Waikiki 2050’ study aims to create a unified outlook for social infrastructure due to sea level rise and lay the foundation for understanding the expected future.

The research is conducted by three companies: engineering company Tetra Tech, SSFM International, and Workshop Green.

The contract deposit is $399,557, and the study deadline is the end of 2025.

The ‘Adopt Waikiki 2050’ study was conducted by the ‘One Water Panel’, which consists of nine city government departments, including the Department of Planning and Permits, the Department of Environmental Management (DES), the Water Department, and the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency (OCCSR). It will be supervised by an audit organization called ‘.

The Planning and Permit Bureau explained that based on the results of this study, state and county governments will be able to more efficiently prepare regulations and administrative procedures to respond to sea level rise.

At the same time as this study, the Honolulu City Council is pursuing legislative activities that take sea level rise into consideration.

For example, on August 31, City Council President Tommy Waters proposed Resolution 207, which seeks to amend the city’s land use ordinance to strengthen regulations on inspection and maintenance of Waikiki beachfront hotels.

Resolution 207 aims to conduct structural inspections on coastal hotels within three years, and then conduct the same inspection once every four years.

According to the resolution, the inspection target is a hotel built on Waikiki Beach, and all related costs will be borne by the hotel owner.

It also empowers the Planning and Permissions Authority to coordinate correction schedules and prescribe penalties when structural problems are discovered.

At the City Council Management Committee meeting on October 18, Chairman Tommy Waters emphasized that sea level rise is not something in the distant future, but is happening now, and explained that practical measures are needed to ensure the safety and prosperity of Waikiki.

Meanwhile, it is known that the hotel industry is opposing Resolution 207 due to the cost burden.

Sean Dee, senior vice president of Outrigger Group, criticized Resolution 207 for replicating existing practices targeting Waikiki beachfront hotels.

He added that Outrigger buildings are inspected for structural integrity every seven to 10 years and undergo extensive renovations, which cost approximately $50 million to $100 million.

There were voices of approval from academia.

Dr. Chip Fletcher, a climatologist at the State University of Hawaii, said that sea water is rising every day not only in Waikiki but also in the Urban Honolulu area, and that this is a factor in corroding artificial structures and infrastructure installed underground.

He then pointed out that the water table in Waikiki is directly connected to the sea, so it frequently changes depending on the tide, and added that since it is an issue directly related to the integrity of the building, regulations such as Resolution 207 are needed.

Mr. Kim, an office worker who commutes from the Fullerton area to LA’s Koreatown every day, says he is afraid to go to the gas station these days. The price of gasoline, which was well over $6 not long ago, has fallen to $5.40 these days, but it is still a high level for the common people.

Even though the price of gasoline in Southern California has recently fallen, it is still being sold at a price that is almost $2 higher than the national average, and drivers are expressing not only incomprehension but also anger. Many drivers say the California government should investigate whether oil refineries are profiteering.

According to the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) and the Oil Price Information Company (OPIS), as of the 27th, the average price of regular self-fueled gasoline in LA County fell for 28 consecutive days, reaching $5.44. The average price in Orange County was found to be $5.26.

However, this is only an average price, and the reality is that most gas stations sell much higher than the average price.

On the other hand, as of today, the national average price of gasoline is $3.52, which is a whopping $1.92 lower than the average price in LA County. Gasoline prices across the country are maintaining a stable price range of around $3.

Gasoline prices in Southern California are also attracting attention due to rapid fluctuations. It is common for prices to rise by more than $1 in a month or two and then fall.

In fact, LA County gasoline prices hit an all-time high of $6.49 just one year ago, on October 5, 2022. In the case of OC, $6.46 recorded on the same day is the highest price ever.

Mr. Kim said, “No matter how expensive the cost of living in Southern California is compared to other states, I cannot understand why it is so much higher and different from the national average. I must commute more than 60 miles round trip every day, but the prices are still high and the burden of spending on gasoline is high.” He complained.

The reason that the price of gasoline in Southern California is so high is that the wholesale price of gasoline in Southern California is higher than the national average, and various taxes imposed by the California government on gasoline are the highest in the country. According to the New York Times, the tax levied by the California government on gasoline sales is 51 cents per gallon, the highest among the 50 states. In addition, supply instability factors remain due to frequent maintenance and repairs by oil refineries in the Carson area, which are major suppliers. In addition, if supply instability occurs, such as the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas intensifying and international oil prices soaring, the price of gasoline in Southern California may rise sharply again.

Fortunately, as winter approached, demand decreased compared to summer, and a large influx of winter blended gasoline from California resulted in a price reduction effect.

Drivers, including Koreans, are trying their best to reduce gas costs by reducing unnecessary driving, using car rides to and from work, or finding cheap gas stations through smartphone apps. There is also an ironic situation where people don’t mind driving 10 to 20 miles while wasting gasoline to find a cheaper gas station.

Meanwhile, rising gasoline prices are the area of ​​greatest concern not only to Southern California but also to consumers nationwide. According to a recent survey of 4,420 Americans conducted by Yahoo Finance and Morning Consultants, 63% said they were most worried about rising gasoline prices.

Folk experiences such as neolttwigi and jegichagi are also available.

The ‘2023 Korean Festival’, the largest festival in the Korean community in New York to promote the excellence and beauty of Korean culture to mainstream American society, will be held grandly in the middle of Manhattan this weekend.
This event, which will be held by the Korean Association of New York (Chairman Kwang-seok Kim) at Union Square Park in Manhattan on the 29th (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), will be a place to showcase the style, taste, and atmosphere of Korea, including traditional Korean cultural performances, experiences, exhibitions, and education. It is decorated as an exciting festival that can be felt in.

The ‘Korean Festival’ is an event that replaces the ‘Korean Parade and K-Town Festival’, which has been held every year, hosted by the New York Korean Association, and hosted by the New York Hankook Ilbo, and this year is the third event.

This year’s festival begins at 11 a.m. with the ‘Kimchi Mixing’ event, in which about 200 people from other ethnic groups participate to make kimchi. Then, an official event will be held from 1 p.m. with the attendance of many mainstream American politicians and community figures, starting with pungmul performance (Lee Cheol-seon and 6 others) at 2 p.m., followed by the Jindo Drum Dance of the Eastern American Gugak Association and Park Seon-young, a national intangible cultural asset Taepyeongmu inheritor. Stage performances, including Taepyeongmu by traditional dancers, will continue in earnest.

At 2:40 p.m., the ‘Dokdo Flash Mob’ led by Choi Yoon-hee, senior vice president of education and culture at the New York Korean Association and president of the New York Korean Parents Association, will be held, followed by an impromptu Sinawi dance by the Eastern American Korean Traditional Music Association, a Nanta performance by Yedam Dance Academy, and the New York Korean Youth Choir. ‘s chorus, the stage will be set for New York University’s K-pop group ‘KNESIS’. In addition, following the Taekwondo demonstration performance at YH Park Taekwondo Academy, the festival will conclude with Ganggangsoowollae at 4:40 PM for all participants.
At the venue outside of the stage, various experiential events will be held for visitors, including a soccer ball stunt performance by the New York Red Bull Street Team at 3 p.m., neolttwigi, tuho throwing, jegichagi, dumpling making, and calligraphy Korean name writing.
In addition, various booths will be set up, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, aT (Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation) Americas Regional Headquarters, and Jongga House Kimchi, and a prize drawing event with prizes such as round-trip airline tickets to Korea will be held.

Kim Gwang-seok, president of the New York Korean Association, said, “As this is the largest festival for the Korean community in New York, I hope that many people will enjoy it together and enjoy the essence of Korean culture.” Inquiry: 212-255-6969

According to the new fiscal year budget of $2.62 billion approved by the New Jersey Turnpike Transportation Corporation’s board of directors on the 24th, tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway will increase by 3% from January 1 next year. As a result, New Jersey highway toll increases have continued for four consecutive years since 2020.

This is because the New Jersey Turnpike Transportation Corporation passed a toll increase plan in 2020 and decided to increase the toll fee by up to 3% annually in line with the inflation rate starting from 2022. The Port Authority’s position is that an increase in toll fees is necessary to expand employee labor costs.
However, as tolls rise every year, residents’ dissatisfaction is increasing. Political circles, aware of the negative public opinion, also began to voice criticism, and in particular, State Senate Speaker Nick Scurratti and Assembly Speaker Greg Coughlin issued a statement requesting Governor Phil Murphy to withdraw the toll increase.

Their position is, “Investment in transportation infrastructure is important, but it is necessary to ease the economic burden on residents suffering from high inflation rates.”

Since Governor Murphy has the power to veto the Turnpike Authority’s decisions, he can cancel this toll increase. However, Governor Murphy is not taking a special position on the request from the state legislature.

The New York State government has warned that fraud targeting subscribers is rampant as it approaches the renewal period for government-provided health insurance such as Medicaid.

According to New York state government authorities, there is a series of scams targeting state health insurance subscribers, such as Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Essential Plan, that seek to charge fees or steal personal information by approaching them with the promise of help with renewal.

Health insurance provided by the state verifies subscriber eligibility for insurance renewal every year, and fraud abuse is rapidly increasing.

The state advises not to disclose personal information to anyone other than a state health department certified registration assistant or customer service representative.

A state government official said, “Government agencies do not threaten subscribers or request money or credit information through text messages or phone calls,” and added, “If you suspect fraud, please report it to the Public Health Department by phone.”

The official also added, “The New York State Department of Health is helping subscribers renew their health insurance for free,” adding, “You can receive free help in signing up for or renewing health insurance through helpers such as navigators or agents certified by the Department of Health.”

Concerns are rising after a survey found that driving while smoking marijuana is on the rise in New Jersey.

According to a survey conducted by Stockton University on 600 New Jersey adults on the 11th, approximately 40% of respondents answered, “I know people who drive while intoxicated with marijuana.”

In New Jersey, recreational use of marijuana will be legalized for people over 21 years of age starting in 2021, and legal sales will begin in 2022. In this situation, indicators have emerged suggesting that marijuana use while driving is becoming more frequent.

Moreover, awareness of marijuana use while driving was found to be low, adding to concerns.

In this survey, 90% of respondents thought that drunk driving was dangerous, while only 51% thought that using marijuana while driving was dangerous. This means that residents lack awareness that marijuana use can lead to serious accidents like drunk driving.

In this regard, the state government announced plans for a public campaign for the safe use of marijuana. One of the key points is that using marijuana while driving is dangerous.

Meanwhile, according to the results of this survey, 57% of respondents said that they often or occasionally smell marijuana in public places. Additionally, 30% said they smell marijuana being smoked in their neighbors’ homes or in other units of their apartments. 52% of respondents said they were not bothered by the smell of marijuana, but 19% said the smell was very bothersome.