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AUGUST 2007
IN THIS ISSUE Rejecting Dangerous Toys For Our Children Keeping Our Most Vulnerable Safe |
REJECTING DANGEROUS TOYS FOR OUR CHILDREN
On August 16, I held a press conference on the importance of banning toxic chemicals from our children's toys. With all of the recent recall of toys containing lead, I believe we have seen the risks of what happens when we no longer pay attention to products that are being sold to consumers. Children who are exposed to lead at any level are in harms way. We simply cannot let this become another issue where the Bush Administration is asleep at the wheel and allow our children to develop life threatening problems as a consequence of negligence or indifference. These recent events are part of a dangerous pattern. Earlier this year, I introduced a bill, AB 1108, to ban a toxic chemical called phthalates in children's toys. I believe that, like lead, this chemical has been found to be a dangerous risk to our state's children. Therefore, it should be our top priority to keep them away from our kids. To read more about my press conference on this issue, please click here. KEEPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE
Every year, over 225,000 older Californians are victims of abuse. The truly frightening thing is that for every reported case of elder abuse, there are another four cases that go unreported. Mistreatment and abuse may include physical abuse, sexual assault, neglect of essential health or personal needs, and exploitation of the victim's financial resources and income. This past month, I was joined by representatives from Self-Help for the Elderly to discuss the types of elder abuse that occur and available resources for seniors and their families at various retirement facilities around the district. In addition, I visited several senior centers to distribute elder abuse pamphlets, and discussed ways to prevent elder abuse as well as how to handle any cases that may happen. For more information on what to do if you or someone you love becomes a victim of elder abuse, please visit the California Attorney General's website at http://ag.ca.gov/bmfea/elder.php. RAISING AWARENESS OF HEPATITIS B
On August 9-12, 111 young people attended the Asian and Pacific Islander's 5th Youth Leadership Conference at Stanford University. I spoke along with various medical and academic experts on the importance of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) awareness. Hepatitis B is known as the "silent killer" because there are often no symptoms showing that you have this virus. By the time the symptoms do show, it is often too late. The major symptoms of HBV are abdominal pain or jaundice (dark urine and yellow discoloration of the skin or eyes). HBV is transmitted in three ways: a mother-to-child infection, a blood-borne infection, and unprotected sexually transmitted infection. If a mother with HBV gives birth to a new-born, the child needs to get the first shot of the HBV vaccine within 12-24 hours. The HBV vaccine is safe and effective at preventing HBV infection. The vaccine consists of a series of three shots given over a six month period to provide a strong, healthy immune system against HBV. Although most people understand the risks associated with AIDS, few people understand HBV. The virus is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV. One out of 10 Asian Americans is infected with chronic HBV and of that, 1 in 4 persons with chronic HBV will die of liver cancer. One of my district interns, Jennifer Ho was selected to attend the conference. She commented that, "Because of this conference, I told every single one of my family members to go [and] get tested. Before this conference, if I was told about Hepatitis B, I wouldn't pay as much attention as I am giving it now." HBV is extremely common in Asian Americans. As a carrier of Hepatitis B, I know the importance of getting tested early before it is too late. Every 30 seconds, someone afflicted with HBV dies. I encourage everyone who is at risk for contracting this disease to get tested as soon as possible. HONORING A LEGEND
On Friday, August 10, I was honored to attend the funeral of legendary football coach Bill Walsh to honor, remember, and present a memorial Resolution to his family. Although Bill Walsh only spent 10 years on the sidelines for the San Francisco 49ers, his impact on both the team and the game of football was unmatched by any modern coach. Leading the 49ers to three NFL titles and innovating the team's strategy with the "West Coast Offense," Walsh created a legendary team that is widely regarded as the best team of the 1980s and possibly the best in the modern era of football. He will be greatly missed throughout the Bay Area and by football fans around the nation. I believe a democracy works best when our representatives listen to their constituents. The best ideas for new legislation come directly from the people who live and work in the 12th Assembly District. The lawmaking process is by no means easy and requires an extensive process to get to the Governor's desk for a signature. If you have a great idea for a new law, please send your ideas to my Capitol Office. Community Courts are a great way to become involved in making San Francisco the city we all want to live, work, play, and grow! Community Courts in several districts need volunteer panelists especially bilingual panelists who speak Spanish/English or Cantonese/English . Courts meet once a month, usually from 10 am until Noon to hear a variety of misdemeanor cases. Training is provided for panelists. For more information or to volunteer as a panelist, please contact Jackson Gee at (415) 551-9531. The 13th Annual Sunset Community Festival will be happening Saturday, September 29, 2007 from 11 am until 4 pm at the Sunset Playground located on 28th Ave. and Lawton. The festival will include live entertainment, fun activities, great food, and much more! The goal of the festival is to ensure a creation of family friendly environment culturally, socially, and economically and increase communication and awareness between various community stakeholders. The 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love will take place in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, September 2, from 10 AM to 6 PM. There will be free music, political activists, poets, dancers, and performers to remember the summer that made San Francisco a cultural icon that defined a generation. A neighborhood clean up of the Great Highway Berm will take place on Saturday September 8, from 9 AM to Noon, from Santiago Street to Sloat Boulevard. Neighborhood volunteers and the San Francisco DPW will be trimming down the large bushes along the multi use path and cleaning out trash and graffiti. Those interested should meet at Taraval Street and lower Great Highway. Join with Outer Sunset Active Residents in helping to restore this heavily used community asset. The Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN) will hold their Neighborhood Empowerment Summit on Saturday, September 8, at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium from 9 AM to 4 PM. This all day resource fair will feature dozens of agencies and non- profits committed to working with anyone who wants to improve their neighborhood. Additionally, the summit will include break out sessions through out the day featuring real people and partner agencies explaining how they worked together to improve their neighborhood. For more information, please visit the website: http://www.empowersf.org/. The Second Annual Leland Avenue Street Fair is on Sunday, September 9th from 7 am-5 pm at Leland Ave. in Visitacion Valley. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up and tear down, managing the kids area, fair safety, and flyers distribution. For more information, contact Biying Liu either by phone 415-587-7896 ext 100 or at bliu@vvboom.org. Please include your name, address, phone, and time available. The 23rd Annual Polo in the Park will be taking place at the Golden Gate Polo Field on Sunday, September 16th from 10 am - 4 pm. The event will include a polo game, fashion show, classic car show, lunch, musical performances, wine tasting, art exhibitions, "segway" and "donkey polo," and much more. Grandstand seating is free (with donations accepted) and VIP tickets are on sale at www.sfpolointhepark.com. All proceeds benefit the James S. Brady Therapeutic Riding Program for children with disabilities. The 3rd Annual San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day will take place Saturday, September 29, 2007, the will be held at the San Mateo County Event Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/disasterpreparednessday. If you have any questions, please call (650) 363-4572, or the Office of Emergency Services at (650) 363-4790. How can I schedule Assemblywoman Ma to speak at our event? I would like to have Assemblywoman Ma attend my event, what do I need to do? How can I have Assemblywoman Ma acknowledge our event?
You can send this information to my District Office at: 455 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 14600 I am still looking for interns and volunteers from the community to participate in the office in a wide variety of ways both in Sacramento and San Francisco. If you are interested, please contact my District office or Capitol office. We invite everyone to visit our website to keep up to date on district and Capitol news and events. You can also email me at my District Office: Assemblymember.ma@assembly.ca.gov. 455 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 14600 Capitol Office: |
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