JULY 2007
E-NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE

Save The Date

Don't Go Hungry this Summer

Beat the Heat

Help Preserve the Environment

Welcome to my summer edition. The purpose of this month's newsletter is to provide you summer tips and resources.

Please join Chairman of the California Assembly Select Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Jim Beall, for a special presentation on Understanding the Science of Addiction. The presentation provides research-based evidence that drug addiction is a biologically-based chronic disease characterized by fundamental and long-lasting changes in the brain. 

Special guest presenter Mark Stanford, PhD, Medical and Clinical Services Manager, Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System

Date: July 17, 2007
Time: 10:30 to 12:00
Location: State Capitol, RM 127
Sacramento, CA

Please call 408-282-8920 for more information.

Santa Clara is one of the most affluent counties in the nation.  However, the high cost of living creates challenges for many hardworking families - not the least off which is the choice of whether to eat or pay rent.  This problem is more prevalent than one might think.  According to a study conducted by Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (SHFB), which was completed in 2005, forty-six percent of the food needs of Santa Clara County are unmet.  The study also indicated that some 40,000 individuals, 15,000 of them children, suffer from chronic hunger and another 60,000 individuals, 22,000 of them children, struggle to find enough food to eat.

As Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee, I actively work to improve access to food assistance for California families.  As part of this effort, I authored Assembly Bill (AB) 433, which uses a federal option to allow low-income families that receive Medi-Cal to qualify for food stamps without duplicative and unnecessary paperwork.  This bill will provide food for another 160,000 people, generating almost $200 million in federal food dollars for California.  AB 433 passed both the Assembly and Senate Human Services Committees and is awaiting approval in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Additionally, I am working to improve access to food assistance through my work on the Assembly Budget Committee.  I have given high priority to proposals that reduce wasteful paperwork, eliminate duplicative reporting, and eliminate both unnecessary and counterproductive fingerprinting requirements for those households that use food stamps.  The fate of these issues awaits final action in this year's budget.

I would also like to take this opportunity to share with you information about SHFB's Summer Feeding Program.  Summertime offers a unique challenge to families whose children receive free or reduced cost breakfast and lunches through their school.  When classes end for the summer, these meals are no longer available and parents must scramble to come up with additional food in order to feed their children.

To help alleviate this strain, SHFB is working with partner agencies to provide pre-made, healthy, and nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks for distribution during the summer months.  In addition, SHFB is participating in the Federal/State Summer Feeding Program.  Locations have been finalized for two sites:  King Center in San Mateo, and Sacred Heart in San Jose.  SHFB has coordinated efforts with select school districts that will be "open" feeding locations.  Participating school districts are providing lunch meals for approximately five weeks to non-profit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs.  In San Jose, the Parks and Recreation Department is providing transportation from the school district kitchen to the non-profit distribution sites.

If you or someone you know is in need of food visit SHFB's Web site at www.2ndharvest.net or call the Food Bank's Food Connection referral hotline at 1-800-984-3663.  The Web site offers information on where summer feeding program locations can be found and the Food Connection hotline can also can provide food referrals to the families should they need additional resources.  No one should go hungry.

Everyone enjoys Santa Clara Valley's warm summer nights. However, sometimes the heat can pose a serious health risk to residents. It is important to recognize the signs of dehydration and other symptoms of heat stress. Some of the symptoms include severe thirst, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms of heat exhaustion can include profuse sweating, clammy or pale skin, dizziness, and a rapid pulse. Sometimes the affected person mistakenly believes he or she has the flu. 
  
Children and older residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat conditions. The heat can affect children who are outside playing.  While playing outside make sure your child periodically drinks water even though they may not feel thirsty. Games played in the heat should be shortened and more frequent breaks should be instituted.
 
Older residents are also more likely to experience symptoms of heat stress, including dehydration. The City of San Jose Office of Aging monitors the weather to determine if the temperature for the day is likely to rise above 95 degrees. On such days, the City of San Jose opens Heat Respite Centers for the community at designated Senior Centers. The centers provide an air conditioned environment with readily available drinking water, and sedentary activities, such as games and reading. I will update you on which centers will be open during the hot spells as they are designated by San Jose.

This year Santa Clara County endured one of the driest seasons on record. The Santa Clara Valley Water District is asking residents to voluntarily reduce their water use by 10 percent. Here are ten simple tips that can be used daily to making saving water a habit.

1. Do not keep water running while shaving, brushing your teeth, or doing dishes.
2. Only use the dishwasher and washing machine when full.
3. Check for water leaks, pipe breaks, or clogged sprinklers. To check for leaks turn off all water taps inside and outside your home. If the meter is still moving, you have a leak.
4. Take shorter showers and only fill the bath 1/3 full.
5. Make sure your pool and spa are covered.
6. Use your garbage disposal less.
7. Make sure not to water paved areas. Use a broom to clean sidewalks and driveways.
8. Step on your grass, if it bounces back it does not need water.
9. Do not use your toilet as a waste basket.
10. NEVER put water down the drain; find another use for it.

Santa Clara Valley Water District also provides a Water Conservation Hotline at 408-265-2607 ext. 2554. The Hotline connects you to a live operator who can talk to you about ways to save money on your water bill, conservation programs, and referrals. Some of the most popular education and money saving programs are Water-Use House calls, washing machine rebates, and access to free showerheads, aerators, and toilet leak detection tabs. For more information on these programs please visit www.valleywater.org or contact your local water company to see what kind of programs they provide.

Water conservation is one of the simplest ways you can help preserve our environment. Taking small acts such as the ones mentioned above will help keep our environment beautiful for future generations to enjoy.

District Office:

100 Paseo de San Antonio
Suite 300
San Jose, CA 95113
Tel: (408) 282-8920
Fax: (408) 282-8927

Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0024
Tel: (916) 319-2024
Fax: (916) 319-2124