Arambula Focus - March 2008

This past month I had the pleasure to meet with people from all around my Assembly District. I met with local law enforcement at the Law Enforcement Round Table. I talked with many of you over the phone at our first-ever Telephone Town Hall on gang violence prevention. I held a conference with environmental leaders from all over the Valley to discuss budget concerns. I was also privileged to meet with many outstanding citizens from all over the district during our African American Heritage Award Ceremony. I want to thank each of you for your contribution to our community. I look forward to visiting with more members of the 31st Assembly District in the upcoming months and to working together to make our community a great place to live.

This year I have introduced a legislative package that is comprehensive. Many of the proposed pieces of legislation deal with improving our communities and keeping our families and children safe. I have introduced legislation that will improve our children’s education by allowing school district to have more funding flexibility during a state fiscal emergency. I am also carrying legislation that encourages school districts to schedule adult school English language classes at times and days when working parents can attend. Education is an important part of making sure our children and community members become productive citizens. It is my hope these bills, as well as some of my other bills, will enhance the education our children and community members receive.

I have also introduced legislation that will help keep our communities and streets safe. My Domestic Violence Prevention Funding bill will authorize a county board of supervisors to impose a fine of up to $250 on individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes. The additional fine would be used to fund local programs that focus on assisting women who are immigrants or refugees caught in a domestic violence situation. I am also working hard to make sure our roads are safe to drive through a Local Roads Safety bill. The bill clarifies that local road rehabilitation projects can be eligible for state transportation funds. We have to ensure our local roads can compete for state funding while maintaining the safety and efficiency of our local transportation systems.

These are just a few bills from my legislative package that I am proud to sponsor. I am also proud to carry legislation that deal with such issues as clean technology, economic development and air quality. In the coming months you will hear more about the legislation I am sponsoring in an effort to move California forward during these troubling times. It is my hope these efforts will make you proud and will help improve the quality of life for all Californians.

African-American Heritage Award Ceremony

Please join me in congratulating the winners of the 3rd Annual African-American Heritage Award. A ceremony and reception was held in their honor on February 21st at the Hugh Burns State Building in Fresno. People from all over the 31st District gathered to pay tribute to those who have made special contributions to the community and to commemorate African-American History Month.

I am privileged to be representing a district with so many outstanding individuals who help make our community a great place to live and work.

Nominees were selected for the following categories; Community Volunteer, Education, Public Safety, Non-Profit Employee, Public Safety, Youth, Small Business Owner, Medical, Legal/Justice and Special Tribute.

The 2008 African-American Heritage award winners are Dr. Edward Mosley, Community Volunteer; Cheryl Fowlkes, Education; Rey Wallace, Public Safety; Audrey Riley, Non-Profit Employee; Gregory Williams, Youth; Lawrence T. Brookter, Small Business Owner; Willie Whisenhunt, Medical; Judge Alan M. Simpson, Legal/Justice; and Earl R. Meyers, Jr., Special Tribute.

Over 2000 calls from concerned citizens were logged during our first-ever Telephone Town Hall Meeting on gang violence prevention on Friday, February 1st. For more than an hour officers from Valley Police Departments and the California Highway Patrol helped me answer questions and address concerns of Valley residents.

Criminal street gang activity has grown to almost epidemic proportions in some areas of the state. In Fresno County alone 25% of homicides are gang related and in other communities the number is as high as 75%. We cannot let this problem plague our communities any longer.

Our local law enforcement agencies are doing a good job of cracking down on gang violence in our communities. But more needs to be done. I hope the telephone town hall was a helpful tool for local law enforcement agencies to learn from community members. I also hope it provided a convenient way for participants to express their ideas and concerns so that we can work together to end gang violence in our neighborhoods.

If you would like to hear the Telephone Town Hall in its entirety, please click here.

Clean Air Now (CAN), the Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Initiative (ATTEI), Parlier High School and Reedley College are teaming up to help reduce pollutants generated by “out of tune” cars. There are many older cars in the Valley that are unable to pass a smog check. Owners of polluting vehicles may qualify to get money to help repair gross polluting vehicles. The Tune In & Tune Up program helps vehicle owners take steps to help improve air quality by properly repairing their cars.

The 6th Annual Tune In & Tune Up Car Clean Up Event will be held on Saturday, March 29th from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Parlier High School parking lot located at the corner of 3rd Street and Fig Avenue. The event is first come, first serve and only 350 vehicles will be inspected.

The EyeCare America Seniors EyeCare Program provides medical eye care at no out-of-pocket expense to eligible seniors. Call the 24 hour helpline at 1-800-222-EYES (3937) to see if you or someone you know aged 65 or older, may qualify to be referred to one of California’s 596 volunteer ophthalmologists.

California’s 2008 tax filing season has begun and the California Franchise Tax Board has services to help assist taxpayers with their state taxes.

A 24-hour automated toll-free phone service is available at (800) 338-0505. To speak with a customer service representative, taxpayers can call the general toll-free phone line, (800) 852-5711; weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A wide variety of services are also available online at www.ftb.ca.gov. The online site makes it convenient for taxpayers to file a tax return, make a payment or find an answer to a state tax question.

State tax information is available in other languages including Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese. To view forms and information in other languages, taxpayers should visit the Languages tab on the Franchise Tax Board website.

If you need help filling out your tax forms, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs have more than 1,000 centers statewide. They help low-income families and individuals, seniors, non-English speaking and disabled persons complete their returns free. Assistance is available from February 1, through April 15, 2008.

California community colleges and universities face the important task over the coming decade of providing access, improving student success and ensuring affordability of college for all California residents.

The Campaign for College Opportunity Practices with Promises 2008 hopes to duplicate the success of the Practices with Promise campaign conducted last year. California educators are asked to share “Practices with Promises” strategies they used to help expand college opportunities for California students. By identifying and sharing efforts to expand access and success, the Campaign hopes to increase college attendance for all Californians.

Through May 1, 2008, educators may submit a summary of a solution or practice they have used that has improved college opportunity for California’s students.

A teacher, faculty member, staff member, administrator, trustee, student or other person affiliated with any of the following institutions in California can make a submission:

The United Farm Workers (UFW) has launched a new website celebrating the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez and honoring his historic commitment to non-violence and farm worker rights. With the approach of Cesar Chavez’s March 31st birthday, this site is the perfect resource for use by teachers and students, and to share with children, family and friends. You can visit the site, watch a video, listen to a speech, view the photos and even find a Cesar Chavez event they can attend.

For more information on any of these events, please contact my district office in Fresno: