THE WEEK AHEAD...:

Coming Monday

The Business section asks why the economy feels so weak even after an 84-month recovery, the fourthlongest since World War II. Among the reasons: subpar job creation, disappointing wage growth, high housing costs and troubles around the globe. Still, there is little risk of a recession in the next few years.

L.A.’s latest water effort

Changes to L.A.’s Green Building Code aimed at reducing water use take effect Monday. The changes require that new buildings, additions or alterations valued at more than $200,000 incorporate waterconservation measures. New multifamily dwellings and commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet will now have sub-meters, giving each occupant an incentive to save water.

Issues going before voters

Several California cities will be considering serious pocketbook issues on election day. In San Diego, voters will decide Tuesday whether to increase the city’s minimum wage to $11.50 an hour. Long Beach voters will weigh in on whether to hike the sales tax 1 percentage point to hire police, f ix streets and pay for water-system updates. In Glendale, voters could rescind the utility users tax.

End of Life Option Act

A new era in California begins Thursday when the End of Life Option Act goes into effect. The law will allow terminally ill patients to request prescriptions from physicians for medication to end their lives. A patient must be deemed terminally ill and mentally competent by two physicians to receive a prescription. California joins four other states that have aid-in-dying laws.

New smoking rules to start

Despite resistance from the tobacco industry, new California laws that restrict smoking take effect Thursday. The laws raise the smoking age to 21 from 18, restrict the use of electronic cigarettes in public places and expand no-smoking areas at public schools. The changes were backed by a coalition of groups, including the American Heart Assn. and the American Lung Assn.