#Bob Wieckowski

[politicaldilfs]

Bob Wieckowski

[melissafoxirvine]

Creating Affordable Housing in Irvine: Read the Irvine Community Land Trust 2019 Annual Report!

Creating Affordable Housing in Irvine: Read the Irvine Community Land Trust 2019 Annual Report!

I am honored to serve as Chair of the Irvine Community Land Trust (ICLT), guiding its mission of providing secure, high-quality affordable housing for the benefit of income-eligible families.  Located in Irvine, California, the heart of Southern California’s most expensive real estate market, there is a tremendous need for affordable housing. Because this is our home, too, ICLT is committed to…

[kotoole21ahsgov]

California Proposition Assessment

1. “English Proficiency. Multilingual Education. Initiative Statute” or proposition 58 from 2016

2. Prop 58 aimed to “[preserve the] requirement that public schools ensure students become proficient in English”. Because prop 58 passed, students with limited English proficiency have the ability to learn English through their school district which is beneficial for their future and all in the community. 

3. There is no notable fiscal effect on school districts nor state government.

4. The election results of Prop 58, of 2016, did surprise me as 73.52%  of persons voted yes on prop 58

5. 

Proposition 58 Sponsors: 

-Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-33)

-Sen. Loni Hancock (D-9)

-Sen. Bill Monning (D-17)

-Sen. Martin Block (D-39)

-Asm. Nancy Skinner (D-15)

-Asm. Lorena Gonzalez (D-80)

-Gov. Jerry Brown (D)[6]

-Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)

-State Superintendent Tom Torlakson

-Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D)

-State Controller Betty Yee (D)

-Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones (D)

-U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-27)

U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-39)

U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-47)

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-28)

Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-24)

Sen. Ben Allen (D-26)

Sen. Jim Beall (D-15)

Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-19)

Sen. Isadore Hall (D-35)

Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-22)

Sen. Jerry Hill (D-13)

Sen. Mark Leno (D-11)

Sen. Connie Leyva (D-20)

Sen. Carol Liu (D-25)

Sen. Mike McGuire (D-2)

Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-32)

Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-30)

Sen. Richard Pan (D-6)

Sen. Fran Pavley (D-27)

Sen. Richard Roth (D-31)

Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-10)

Sen. Lois Wolk (D-3)

Asm. Anthony Rendon (D-63)

Asm. Luis Alejo (D-30)

Asm. Rob Bonta (D-18)

Asm. Ian Calderon (D-57)

Asm. Nora Campos (D-27)

Asm. David Chiu (D-17)

Asm. Kansen Chu (D-25)

Asm. Cristina Garcia (D-58)

Asm. Eduardo Garcia (D-56)

Asm. Jimmy Gomez (D-51)

Asm. Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-59)

Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-7)

Asm. Miguel Santiago (D-53)

Asm. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-13)

Asm. Tony Thurmond (D-15)

Asm. Das Williams (D-37)

Mayor Ed Lee, San Francisco

Mayor Bao Nguyen, Garden Grove

Mayor Robert Garcia, Long Beach

[Parties]

-California Democratic Party[7]

-Green Party of California[8]

-California Peace and Freedom Party[9]

-Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club[10]

-Santa Monica Democratic Club[11]

Interest group endorsements:

N/A

-Financial Backers: 

-California Teachers Association PAC~$1,722,048.00

-SEIU Local 2015 Issues PAC~$104,833.18

-California Federation of Teachers COPE Prop/ Ballot Committee~$100,000.00

-Association of California School Administrators Issues PAC~$100,000.00

-SEIU California State Council~$100,000.00

I was unfortunately unable to find/locate the endorsements although the financial backets are quite understandable as they consist of teachers' organizations/committees or are mostly education related. By understanding the financial backers it is clear what this props aimed demographic is.

6. 

Arguments for Prop 58

“PROPOSITION 58 ENSURES ALL STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.”

“Too many California students are being left behind and not given the opportunity to learn English with the most effective teaching methods possible. This is because of an outdated nearly 20-year-old law, Proposition 227, which restricts the instructional methods school districts can use to teach English.Proposition 58 revises Proposition 227 to remove these restrictions so schools are able to use the most up-to-date teaching methods possible to help our students learn.”

Requires local school districts to identify in their annual K-12 Local Control and Accountability Plans the instructional methods they will offer to help ensure all students become proficient in English as rapidly as possible.

Requires schools to offer a structured English immersion program to English learners. But schools also can adopt other language instruction methods based on research and stakeholder input.

School districts must seek input from educators, parents and the community.

“PROPOSITION 58 ALSO EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGLISH SPEAKERS TO LEARN A SECOND LANGUAGE.”

Proposition 58 removes barriers hurting students by discouraging schools from expanding multilingual education. Proposition 58 encourages school districts to provide instruction programs so native English speakers can become proficient in a second language:

School districts must include in their annual K-12 Local Control and Accountability Plans programs giving English-speaking students the opportunity to achieve proficiency in a second language.

District choices of non-English languages must reflect input from parents, the community and the linguistic and financial resources of schools.

Research shows that students participating in programs taught in more than one language attain higher levels of academic achievement.

PROPOSITION 58 RESTORES LOCAL CONTROL TO OUR SCHOOLS.

Proposition 58 allows local school districts to choose the most up-to-date language instruction methods to improve student outcomes free from legal restrictions imposed on them by a decades-old law.

PROPOSITION 58 PROVIDES A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR STATE.

The world economy is changing rapidly. Today, technology allows even the smallest businesses to have a global reach. Students proficient in English and a second language will be more employable, start out earning higher wages, and make California's workforce better prepared to compete for jobs in the global economy.

PROPOSITION 58 HAS BROAD-BASED SUPPORT FROM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND EMPLOYERS.

Giving local schools the tools they need to improve outcomes for students is not a partisan or political issue. Proposition 58 was placed on the ballot by a bipartisan vote of the legislature. Support for Proposition 58's common sense reforms to improve language instruction in our schools is broad-based and includes: Local school boards (the California School Boards Association), Teachers (the California Language Teachers' Association, the California Teachers Association, the California Federation of Teachers), Parents (California State PTA), and Employers (including the San Jose I Silicon Valley and Los Angeles Chambers of Commerce).

Proposition 58's reforms allow schools to adopt the most up-to-date methods of language instruction to improve student outcomes and make better use of taxpayer dollars

Arguments against Prop 58

“THIS BALLOT MEASURE IS A DISHONEST TRICK BY THE SACRAMENTO POLITICIANS”

The official title of Proposition 58 is "English Language Education," But it actually REPEALS the requirement the children be taught English in California public schools. It's all a trick by the Sacramento politicians to fool the voters, who overwhelmingly passed Proposition 227, the "English for the Children" initiative in 1998.

The worst part of Proposition 58 is hidden away in Section 8, which REPEALS all restrictions on the California Legislature to make future changes. This would allow the Legislature to reestablish SPANISH-ALMOST-ONLY instruction in the public schools by a simple majority vote, once again forcing Latino children into those classes against their parents' wishes.

Teaching English in our public schools is overwhelmingly supported by California parents, whether immigrants or non-immigrants, Latinos or Anglos, Asians or Blacks. That's why the politicians are trying to TRICK the voters by using a DECEPTIVE TITLE.

“VOTE NO AND KEEP "ENGLISH FOR THE CHILDREN"---IT WORKS!”

For decades, millions of Latino children were FORCED INTO SPANISH-ALMOST-ONLY CLASSES dishonestly called "bilingual education." It was an educational disaster and never worked. Many Latinos never learned how to read, write, or even speak English properly.

But in 1998, California voters overwhelmingly passed Prop. 227—the "English for the Children" initiative---providing sheltered English immersion to immigrant students and requiring that they be taught English as soon as they started school.

Jaime Escalante of Stand and Deliver fame, one of America's most successful teachers led the Prop. 227 campaign as Honorary Chairman, rescuing California Latinos from the Spanish-only educational ghetto.

It worked! Within four years the test scores of over a million immigrant students in California increased by 30%, 50%, or even 100%.

All the major newspapers, even the national New York Times, declared the new English immersion system a huge educational success.

The founding president of the California Association of Bilingual Educators announced that he'd been wrong about bilingual education for thirty years and became a leading national advocate for English immersion.

Since "English for the Children" passed, there has been a huge increase in the number of Latinos scoring high enough to gain admission to the prestigious University of California system.

Prop. 227 worked so well in California schools that the whole issue was forgotten by almost everyone except the bilingual education activists. Now they're trying to trick the voters into allowing the RESTORATION OF MANDATORY SPANISH-ALMOST-ONLY CLASSES.

7. I would’ve voted YES on prop 58 as I believe a foundational understanding of English is important and necessary young Americans.

8. I found it interesting that the Libertarian Party of California were opponents of Prop 58.

[eastcountytoday]

California State Legislatures Propose $100 Billion Economic Stimulus Plan

California State Legislatures Propose $100 Billion Economic Stimulus Plan

SACRAMENTO – Key working groups from both houses of the California State Legislature are prioritizing economic recovery in the final weeks of session and have developed a joint $100 billion stimulus plan, building upon the successful collaboration that led to a balanced state budget addressing the $54 billion deficit.

Led by Senators Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), and…

[laconservancy]

Senate Bill 50 Threatens L.A.’s Historic Neighborhoods

Senate Bill 50 (SB 50) is a proposed state-wide bill that is intended to increase density and streamline the production of multi-family housing development in California. If passed, SB 50 would override local land use restrictions, allowing multi-family buildings to go up near “high quality” train and bus stops.

While the intent of providing more housing may be good, we believe the bill and its approach is highly problematic as currently written. It poses a one-size-fits-all solution and a blunt, statewide fix that would outstrip local authority and planning.

As part of a statewide coalition of preservation organizations, the Conservancy has requested amendments to SB 50 to ensure adequate preservation safeguards are added to the legislation. Specifically, we want to ensure that the legislation would allow for a review process and exemptions. We have asked for safeguards that would protect designated historic structures and historic districts.

Preservation and density are not mutually exclusive, or an either/or choice. We believe there can be a healthy balance with thoughtful planning. We want to ensure that the revised bill language will not impose a one-size-fits-all approach and unnecessarily harm California’s unique historic resources and neighborhoods. If passed without adequate safeguards, this legislation threatens L.A.'s older and historic neighborhoods.

How You Can Help

SB 50 will go to the California Senate’s Appropriations Committee this Thursday, May 16.

Please contact your State Senate representative (find your representative here) and the members of the California State Senate Appropriations Committee and urge them to include adequate safeguards for preservation in this bill.

SB 50 is moving quickly, so don’t delay in getting in touch with your representative and the members of the committee!

Appropriations Committee

Email and/or call each of these legislators; they play a key role in the possible passage of SB 50:

Chairman Anthony Portantino, (916) 651-4025

Sen. Pat Bates, (949) 598-5850

Sen. Steven Bradford, (916) 651-4035

Sen. Brian Jones, (916) 651-4038

Sen. Jerry Hill, (916) 651-4013

Sen. Bob Wieckowski, (916) 651-4010

Thank you for your support on this issue!

Learn more about SB 50 »

[mood2you]

CA to choose starvation over drought

Warning: I editted this down, removing context and, quote, “the other side”...

Current readings show about 98% of the state has severe drought conditions as California heads into summer months that rarely produce any significant precipitation. Many areas have begun, (emphasis added by me,) restricting water use for homeowners, largely by reducing outdoor use (end emphasis,) such as lawn irrigation. And farmers have had their allocation from the two major state-owned water systems reduced — in some cases down to zero.

(emphasis) Legally, all of the water in California is the property of the government. (End emphasis,) But farmers have “water rights” that let them take water for agriculture. Farmers have used those rights — governed by a complicated system based on seniority and other factors — to turn (emphasis) California's Central Valley into an agricultural powerhouse that provides much of the nation's fruits, nuts and vegetables, (end emphasis.)

“It's like (emphasis) we're taking a page from corporate America (end emphasis,) and we're buying back stock,” said state Sen. Bob Wieckowski, a Democrat who represents the San Francisco Bay Area and is chair of a budget subcommittee overseeing environmental spending.

(Emphasis) “For many farmers ... their children simply are not interested in continuing to farm,” (end emphasis,) Birmingham said.

But state Sen. Brian Dahle, a republican running for governor whose family has been farming in California for 92 years, said the only reason farmers would be willing to sell is because state officials are driving them out of business with burdensome regulations.

(Emphasis) “This makes my blood boil. It's ridiculous,” (end emphasis,) Dahle told his colleagues during a legislative hearing on the proposal. “You are forcing them into a corner where they have no other option.”

But he is hopeful the program will work because he said there are about (emphasis) six native fish species (end emphasis,) that are “on life support right now because we don't have enough water flowing through the Delta."

abcnews.go.com/Politics/

I saw the headline, thought it was stupid, read an article, not sure what to think. I wish there was a way to do both! Oh boy do I.

[quyqyart]

Imagine description for way for US citizens to help Phi:

Call Script Gov. Gavin Newsom (916)-445-2841 and Senator Bob Wieckowski (916) 651-4010

My name is-- and I represent ---- (organization, or city/county where you live). I am calling in strong support of Phi Pham #AU9597 who is being held at Folsom State Prison Firehouse. Phi will be eligible for parole on June 16th and instead of reuniting with his family, he will be turned over to ICE. Phi was born in a refugee camp in the Philippines and has no ties to Vietnam. He has aspirations to continue his firefighting training after his release. But that is being overlooked. Recently, Governor Newsom pardoned two other community members, Boun & Kao, to protect them from deportation.

[If call is for Gov. Newsom] I urge Gov. Newsom to protect incarcerated firefighters like Phi from being transferred to lCE. Please intervene in Phi's direct transfer to ICE!

[If call is for Senator Wieckoski] Phi Pham and his family are your constituents. I urge you to support Phi by calling on the Governor to intervene in his transfer to ICE and protect him from deportation! In addition, an important bill called the VISION Act, AB 937 authored by Assemblymember Carrillo just passed the Assembly. This bill will protect our most vulnerable community members from the double punishment of being turned over to ICE after they are deemed eligible for release from prison. Will Senator Wieckoski support the VISION Act?

[melissafoxirvine]

We Just Opened a New Affordable Housing Community in Irvine and Made it Easier to Create Affordable Housing Throughout California!

We Just Opened a New Affordable Housing Community in Irvine and Made it Easier to Create Affordable Housing Throughout California!

I am honored to serve as Chair of the Irvine Community Land Trust (ICLT), guiding its mission of providing secure, high-quality affordable housing for the benefit of income-eligible families.  Like all Irvine Community Land Trust Board Members, I serve as a volunteer, without compensation.  

Since I joined the ICLT, we’ve built two below-market rate apartment communities, Parc Derianand Doria,…

[ethn104-blog]

Governor Gavin Newsom

The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, signed the following legislation to protect Californians from predatory financial practices and create greater control of taxpayer dollars.

AB 539 by Assemblymember Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) promotes affordable and accessible credit for consumers and encourages responsible lenders to offer safer loan alternatives. The bill bars payday lenders from charging high interest rates – sometimes as high as 200 percent – on loans between $2,500 and $10,000.

AB 857 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) creates a process for localities to establish public banks, subject to approval by the Department of Business Oversight and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This allows public banks to leverage taxpayer dollars to address pressing local needs like affordable housing, small business loans, and public infrastructure projects such as rebuilding after wildfires. ​

SB 616 by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) prevents debt collectors from emptying bank accounts by establishing an automatic exemption, equal to the minimum basic standard of adequate care for a family of four, ensuring a minimum balance to pay for necessities.

SB 455 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) creates the Financial Empowerment Fund to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that offer financial education and financial empowerment programs and services to at-risk Californians.

[eastcountytoday]

CA Bill Allowing Commercial Tenants to Renegotiate, Break Lease Advances Fails to Advance

Last week  a bill that prohibits commercial landlords from evicting businesses and non-profits during the COVID-19 State of Emergency was held in committee.

The bill was introduced by Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) after SB 939 did not pass the Senate Judiciary Committee.

If passed, SB 939 would have enacted a moratorium on commercial evictions…

[cavoicesfor100percent]

Bob Wieckowski, State Senator, District 10

“Warming temperatures and historic wildfires are just two examples of how our deteriorating climate conditions are having devastating social and economic impacts on our state.  Without bold actions today, California will suffer more ill effects of climate change in the long run. Transitioning to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 will improve our environment, clean our air and provide better health for all Californians.  We must move forward and not let special interests delay the changes that are necessary to protect our lives and livelihoods.”

[rcloxley]

PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE TWO PHONE CALLS in the morning ! for bill AB 1788 (the bill that bans the most dangerous rat poisons) which will be voted on tomorrow, Wednesday June 19 at 9:30 am at the California Senate Environmental Quality Committee hearing. AB 1788 is in danger. Please call these two senators TODAY/NOW, even if you are not in their district, and urge them to support AB 1788. We need to flood these offices with phone calls NOW. Call (not email) THIS AFTERNOON: 1) Senator Jerry Hill 916-651-4013 San Mateo, Santa Clara 2) Senator Bob Wieckowski 916-651-4010 Alameda, Santa Clara All you need to say is "PLEASE VOTE FOR AB 1788 against the rat poisons that are poisoning are wildlife." That will do it. These two senators are hold-outs that we are very concerned about. Native Animal Rescue 1855 17th Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062-1861 https://www.instagram.com/p/By4RqdngtSo/?igshid=1l1dac0ncx0te

[ittybittytatertot]

No Muslim Registry!

To any and all of my followers registered to vote in California, there is a bill in the state senate called SB 31: California Religious Freedom Act which would essentially prohibit California from participating in a Muslim registry.

Please call your Senators & tell them to vote YES on SB 31!

List of California Senators’ phone numbers+websites by District

Ted Gaines ( R) -- (916) 651-4001 (x)

Mike McGuire (D) -- (916) 651-4002 (x)

Bill Dodd (D) -- (916) 651-4003 (x)

Jim Nielsen ( R) -- (916) 651-4004 (x)

Cathleen Galgiani (D) -- (916) 651-4005 (x)

Richard Pan (D) -- (916) 651-4006 (x)

Steve Glazer (D) -- (916) 651-4007 (x)

Tom Berryhill ( R) -- (916) 651-4008 (x)

Nancy Skinner (D) -- (916) 651-4009 (x)

Bob Wieckowski (D) -- (916) 651-4010 (x)

Scott Wiener (D) -- (916) 651-4011 (x)

Anthony Cannella ( R) -- (916) 651-4012 (x)

Jerry Hill (D) -- (916) 651-4013 (x)

Andy Vidak ( R) -- (916) 651-4014 (x)

Jim Beall (D) -- (916) 651-4015 (x)

Jean Fuller (R ) -- (916) 651-4016 (x)

Bill Monning (D) -- (916) 651-4017 (x)

Robert Hertzberg (D) -- (916) 651-4018 (x)

Hannah-Beth Jackson (D) -- (916) 651-4019 (x)

Connie Leyva (D) -- (916) 651-4020 (x)

Scott Wilk (R ) -- (916) 651-4021 (x)

Ed Hernandez (D) -- (916) 651-4022 (x)

Mike Morrell ( R) -- (916) 651-4023 (x)

Kevin de León (D) -- (916) 651-4024 (x)

Anthony Portantino (D) -- (916) 651-4025 (x)

Ben Allen (D) -- (916) 651-4026 (x)

Henry Stern (D) -- (916) 651-4027 (x)

Jeff Stone (R ) -- (916) 651-4028 (x)

Josh Newman (D) -- (916) 651-4029 (x)

Holly Mitchell (D) -- (916) 651-4030 (x)

Richard Roth (D) -- (916) 651-4031 (x)

Tony Mendoza (D) -- (916) 651-4032 (x)

Ricardo Lara (D) -- (916) 651-4033 (x)

Janet Nguyen (R ) -- (916) 651-4034 (x)

Steven Bradford (D) -- (916) 651-4035 (x)

Pat Bates (R ) -- (916) 651-4036 (x)

John Moorlach ( R) -- (916) 651-4037 (x)

Joel Anderson (R ) -- (916) 651-4038 (x)

Toni Atkins (D) -- (916) 651-4039 (x)

Ben Hueso (D) -- (916) 651-4040 (x)

[hockeydraw3-blog]

7 ways you can help the homeless in Los Angeles

In January 2018, the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count counted an estimated 31,516 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the city of Los Angeles. Those numbers are down slightly from the year before, but it’s still a daunting statistic for a city that is home to the largest unsheltered population in the country.

Thanks to the passage of Measures H and HHH, the city has more tools than ever to tackle the crisis, and there are finally some signs that efforts to house LA’s most vulnerable residents might be working. Earlier this year, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced A Bridge to Home, an effort to build emergency shelters in each council district, and issued an executive directive to fast-track their construction.

To help monitor the city's progress, the United Way launched the Everyone In campaign, where Angelenos can advocate for new housing solutions in their neighborhoods, and urge elected officials to address the problem. Councilmembers each made a pledge to create 222 new supportive housing units in their districts, and loosened restrictions to speed up their delivery. Several of these projects have already broken ground.

We asked experts and local homelessness advocates what else Angelenos can do. Their answers and solutions are below.

1. Volunteer

Many Angelenos have made serving food at a shelter or kitchen part of their holiday season traditions. But homeless organizations need year-round support, including a wide range of ongoing, lesser-known skills like tutoring, resume-editing, and child care.

Many Skid Row shelters, including the Downtown Women’s Center and Los Angeles Mission have new volunteer orientations every month. You can even sign up for “group serve” events where you’ll volunteer as a team with friends or coworkers. Or check out opportunities on Volunteer Match, which are located all over the city.

2. Build an ADU to house someone

After the state relaxed local ordinances that make it easier for homeowners to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or granny shack on their properties, applications skyrocketed.

Now LA County has launched a pilot program where qualifying homeowners can receive up to $75,000 in funding—as well as a streamlined permitting process—to construct ADUs if they rent the units to formerly homeless individuals. The prefab company Cover built a new tool so homeowners can see what size ADU is allowed on their property.

State Sen. Bob Wieckowski, who sponsored the original ADU bill, is working on more legislation to help clear hurdles for property owners. “The power should go to the homeowner, not the government, if they want to help with the housing crisis,” he told Curbed. “We should let them chip in.”

New bridge housing for people experiencing homelessness is located in a parking lot alongside the El Pueblo de Los Angeles historic monument.

Elijah Chiland

3. Donate in-kind goods

Many local homeless organizations accept donations, both monetary and in-kind. “Unrestricted general funds go directly to the women we serve, and donating is a quick, simple way to make a big impact,” says Ana Velouise of the Downtown Women’s Center. But the center needs in-kind goods, too.

“We’re always in need of clean socks and underwear, sleeping bags, and travel-sized toiletries,” says Velouise.

Check out the center’s Amazon wish list for an quick way to purchase additional items that can be shipped directly to the center. Most missions and shelters have similar lists to make donating easy.

Neighborhood support can help get housing projects approved, like this Skid Row Housing Trust development in Westlake.

Skid Row Housing Trust

4. Advocate for affordable housing

Voters have approved several ballot measures to give money to more homelessness solutions, but there are still roadblocks in the way. Your participation in public meetings could help sway lawmakers to change city policies.

“It is crucial for residents who support [building] more homes to turn out to hearings and to contact decision makers about proposed housing developments,” says Mark Vallianatos of Abundant Housing. “Otherwise only NIMBY voices will be heard.” Sign up for Abundant Housing’s weekly action alert to find out where you can advocate for new homes.

Currently there are groups working to block the opening of emergency shelters, also known as bridge housing. Find out where shelters are being proposed in your council district, and contact your councilmember to find out how to show your support for these projects.

A homeless encampment on Spring Street, photographed on May 1, 2017.

Photo by David McNew/Getty Images

5. Sign up for the Homeless Count

“The annual Homeless Count doesn’t just give us an accurate picture of how many people we can help, it gives us the information we need to find and fund real, supportive solutions,” says Elise Buik, CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “We need everyone in to get everyone into homes and the Homeless Count volunteers are key to achieving that goal.”

With reporting centers all over the county, you can sign up for a location near you each January. Beyond helping the city learn where to target its efforts, it’s a good way to get to know your neighbors and serve your community.

6. Take a walking tour of Skid Row

With almost 60,000 residents, LA’s homeless community could be its own city. Thinking about it that way can help Angelenos cope with the crisis, says Adam Murray, executive director of Inner City Law Center.

In a Los Angeles Times op-ed, Murray vividly describes the demographics of “Homeless City,” which includes about 5,000 local children. Inner City Law Center offers a real-life way to understand the scope of homelessness in LA with walking tours through Skid Row, led by local residents.

“If we stop for a moment and consider what is around us, we see what will make Homeless City a smaller and healthier place: more affordable housing, higher incomes, more healthcare and social services and earlier interventions,” Murray writes.

The monthly walking tours take place at 10 a.m. on Fridays. Sign up here for details.

Homeless veteran Kendrick Bailey outside his tent on a street corner near Skid Row.

Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

7. Just say “hello”

“It sounds simple and that you may not be making a difference, but when you make eye contact with someone who is often ignored, someone who has been struggling to maintain their dignity, you are telling them that in that moment you see them,” says Jackie Vorhauer of Skid Row Housing Trust, which provides permanent supportive housing for 2,000 people in 26 buildings throughout LA County.

“They are not invisible. So say hello. It may help them hang on to tomorrow when an opportunity for housing presents itself,” says Vorhauer.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy.

Source: https://la.curbed.com/2018/1/22/16911052/homeless-count-volunteer-donate-housing

[thedawgsblog]

Will another tax hike drive up fuel prices in California?

Will another tax hike drive up fuel prices in California?

A customer prepares to pump gasoline into his car at an Arco gas station in Mill Valley, Calif.

A little more than a year after raising California’s gas tax by 12 cents per gallon, lawmakers are considering a levy on oil production that Republicans say will further increase prices at the pump.

The bill from state Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) would set an extraction tax at 10% of the average…

[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

The December calendars of Santa Clara City Council Members have been out for over a week, and there’s still something missing: all meetings with Banner Public Affairs from previous months. As the Weekly reported back in November, Peter Hillan and Banner Public Affairs had multiple meetings with members of council and those meetings were not disclosed within their monthly public calendars. During that same month, City Attorney Brian Doyle said the biggest repercussion for a Council Member omitting meetings outlined by the ordinance was that the calendars be rectified.

As Santa Clarans wait for Council to abide by its own rules, which include calendars being posted by the tenth of each month—a rarity—the Weekly will continue to report the facts and meetings outlined within the calendars each month.

At the Nov. 21 Council meeting, Doyle made a note that calls were not required reporting material, but soon thereafter then-Vice Mayor Dominic Caserta began listing phone conversations relating to City business as a showing of his attempt at being more transparent. This month, Mayor Lisa Gillmor followed suit, listing a phone call with Related Executive Vice President Steve Eimer regarding the City Place project on Dec. 11 and a second on Dec. 27. Other notables from the Mayor’s calendar include a Dec. 4 introduction meeting with Council Member Teresa O’Neill and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Chief Executive Office Nuria Fernandez, a Dec. 11 meeting with Menlo Equities’ Jane Vaughn about the development at Tasman and Great America Parkway, a meeting on Dec. 12 with Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant’s Lou Mariani and Linda Leca about the Mariani project on El Camino Real, a meeting with Andy Ratermann of the Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees on Dec. 15 regarding a potential school district bond, and a meeting with San Jose Council Member and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors candidate Donald Rocha about “Santa Clara civic issues.”

Newly appointed Vice Mayor Kathy Watanabe had a Dec. 15 meeting with Judi Muirhead of SCUSD’s Board of Trustees and her husband, WVMCCD Board of Trustees Member Karl Watanabe, regarding the aforementioned bond; a Dec. 13 meeting with O’Neill and retired engineer and Mountain View resident Robert Holbrook about “south flow air traffic;” and a meeting with Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors candidate Pierluigi Oliverio regarding Supervisor Seat 4 on Dec. 26.

Caserta’s calendar continued to list phone conversations, showing just how much of Council’s meetings regarding developments and other issues occur over the phone. To close out 2017, he had four phone calls regarding affordable housing, one with Eimer on Dec. 5, four calls regarding the new Nob Hill store in Santa Clara and labor issues, a call with former City Attorney Ren Nosky regarding City Attorney issues on Dec. 18 and one with former City Manager Rajeev Batra about his retirement benefits issue on the same day, three with the Santa Clara Weekly, another with Eimer on Dec. 19 and a call with communications consultant Shawn Spano on community engagement for Levi’s Stadium on the same day, and finally, a call with David Neale of The Core Companies on 90 North Winchester on Dec. 20.

Caserta had only two in-person meetings to note in December, one with Bob Mendholson of Republic Metropolitian and attorney Robert Mezzetti about the Santa Clara University housing project on Dec. 5 and one with Slater Construction’s Chris Pellecchia regarding “City business.”

O’Neill’s calendar showed a briefing for governance discussion with VTA and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) with Fernandez and VTA staff members Angelique Gaeta, Carolyn Gonot, and Dennis Ratcliffe and Board Members Jeannie Bruins, Supervisor Cindy Chaves. and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. Ironically the Dec. 4 meeting happened two and a half hours prior to the introduction meeting O’Neill had with Gillmor and Fernandez. O’Neill is currently the Vice Chair of VTA’s Governance and Audit Committee.  Other finds on O’Neil’s calendar include a meeting with Ratermann about the SCUSD bond on Dec. 15, a lunch meeting with former City Council candidate and current Parks and Recreation Commissioner Tino Silva “to discuss career developments, charter review recommendations [and] Santa Clara [sic] future direction” on Dec. 15, an introduction with Senator Bob Wieckowski’s staff liaison to Santa Clara Alexandra Gallo on Dec. 20 and Rocha regarding Santa Clara and Santa Clara County District 4 issues.

Council Member Pat Kolstad’s calendar was light again, with only six public meetings and one public event listed, while Council Member Debi Davis’ calendar contained all public meetings and public events less two holiday lunches with Gillmor and Watanable and Gillmor and O’Neill on Dec. 18 and Dec. 20 respectively, and a social lunch with Gillmor and O’Neill on Dec. 30.

Lastly, Council Member Patricia Mahan, attended only one public meeting and one public event before announcing on Dec. 5 she would be taking the remainder of the month off to undergo surgery and treatment for a tumor in her spine.

Since the current council took office in November of 2016, Related Companies or its lobbyist Jude Barry has publicly recorded 40 meetings regarding City Place or other topics. Although most developers did not have any recorded meetings with Council Members in December, the tally of 34 meetings between SummerHill and City Council and 11 meetings between Council and the Irvine Company or its lobbyist Jim Cunneen remains.

View Santa Clara Council Member calendars at http://santaclaraca.gov/government/about-santa-clara/public-calendars-of-certain-city-officials.