FALL 2007
IN THIS ISSUE A Word from Anna: Healthcare Reform Urgently Needed In the District IN THE DISTRICT Women's Health Forum Set for October 13 San Juan Bautista Moves to Solve Fiscal Challenges Caballero Satellite Offices in Watsonville & Hollister LEGISLATION Soledad Legislation Passes, Awaits Governor's Signature |
Everywhere I go in 28th Assembly District, people talk to me about the health care crisis. Families and children do not have basic health insurance coverage and people are scared and angry. It is critical that the Legislature pass a reform bill to provide health insurance coverage to more children, families and seniors. I strongly support health care reform that provides universal coverage, for all Californians. For that reason, I am a co-author of SB 840, which would create a "single-payer" system to provide universal insurance coverage to all Californians. That bill is still in the Legislature, but appears to be unlikely to pass because the governor has said he opposes it. I was happy, however, that the governor called for a special legislative session to continue negotiations about solutions to our healthcare crisis - even after the Legislature recessed its regular session a few weeks ago. The Assembly and Senate passed AB 8, which is sitting on the Governor's desk, and will likely be vetoed. AB 8 would have expanded insurance coverage to more people who lack insurance, but stops short of universal coverage. I supported that bill. The special legislative session thus takes on enormous importance. As I write this, the administration, legislative leaders and key stakeholders are meeting to develop a compromise approach that the Legislature can vote on this fall or early next year. I will continue to advocate for our residents who work hard to support their families, and who can not afford basic health care insurance.
I am pleased to invite women of the 28th Assembly District to attend a very important health summit on Saturday, October 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Alisal High School, 777 Williams Road, Salinas. This health summit represents a collaborative effort to expand women's knowledge of health issues, including healthy lifestyles, reproductive health and preventing violence. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsoring companies and organizations, attendance at this event is FREE. For information on registering, please call my office at (831) 759-8676.
Congratulations to city leaders in San Juan Bautista for winning a grant that will help pay for a November 2007 citywide election to remove the city imposed cap on new housing! The $19,757 grant was issued by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of the Planning and Technical Assistance Allocation of the State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The HCD grant will allow the City of San Juan Bautista to fund an election in November 2007 that will include a ballot measure to amend the city's existing 1% growth restriction on housing. I strongly support this and other economic development efforts by city leaders. New housing means new property tax revenues to help pay for city services, and more customers for local businesses. It's the first step towards the economic development the city needs to remain viable.
I'm happy to report that I now have a satellite office in Hollister to better serve residents of San Benito County. Hollister: 365 4th Street, The Briggs Building, 831.638.3228 Main Office - Salinas: 100 West Alisal Street, Suite 134 - (The U.S. Post Office Building), 831.759.8676
I'm pleased to report that both the Senate and the Assembly voted unanimously to pass my AB 1253, to help resolve the needs of both the City of Soledad and the nearby Salinas Valley State Prison for expanded sewage capacity. The bill would authorize the state to "sell, lease, convey, or exchange at fair market value" surplus state property at the Salinas Valley State Prison containing the prison's wastewater treatment facility to the City of Soledad. The city's economic development plans and the prison's need to add 400 beds are both stalled, pending the city's ability to acquire the state land needed to expand its treatment facility. The governor has vetoed three previous bills, but we've added language that we hope will address his concerns. Thanks also go to Senator Jeff Denham for his co-authorship and support for AB 1253.
Gang activity is ripping through many of our cities, endangering neighborhoods and tearing families apart. As chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention, I conducted three hearings; one in Los Angeles, Salinas and Oakland, to hear from community groups about programs and approaches that are working to divert kids from gangs and make our communities safer. Our committee also held a joint hearing with the Assembly Select Committee on Foster Care in July, to identify issues and needs of foster youth who cross over from dependent care into the juvenile justice system. There are wonderful programs at the local level - but cities need help. We need to work to prevent gang violence by getting to our kids before they are recruited into gangs. Gov. Schwarzenegger recognized this last spring, when he proposed an anti-gang program. I appreciated his initiative, and I'm pleased that the Legislature was able to work with Gov. Schwarzenegger to provide $9.5 million in state funding available to cities, counties and community-based organizations as matching grants to fund violence prevention and intervention strategies. This approach - consistent with the recommendations arising from the work of my select committee - will bring some much-needed help to cities that are working hard to solve the scourge of gang violence. On October 1, our committee met in Sacramento. We heard from Paul Seave, the governor's newly appointed director of the state Office of Gang & Youth Violence Policy Director, and various state agencies, about the funding and state programs available to help local communities prevent youth violence. While we support the state's new commitment to achieve greater coordination among state programs, we want to make sure that there is ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of state efforts.
Assembly Member Caballero was honored last month when the League of California Cities selected her to receive the League's coveted "Legislator of the Year" award. The award was given in appreciation of Assembly Member Caballero's support for local government on a variety of issues throughout the legislative session. "Assembly Member Caballero has consistently demonstrated her understanding of the importance of preserving local control, and she has worked hard to defend this principle this year as chair of the Assembly Committee on Local Government," said League Executive Director Chris McKenzie. |
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District Office: 100 West Alisal Street, Suite 134 Capitol Office: |
