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| Assemblymember Nava (left) and CHP official examine charred remains of gasoline tanker truck. |
As soon as the fire died out, Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee and Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security, was on site inspecting the damage and its aftermath. Joined by the California Highway Patrol Captain Scott Howland and Caltrans District Director Bijan Sartipi, Assemblymember Nava toured the site and met with officials to discuss HazMat licensing and comprehensive planning of appropriate travel for HazMat vehicles on state roadways.
Assemblymember Pedro Nava is considering legislation that would require tanker drivers in California to demonstrate proficiency hauling liquids before they're allowed to haul hazardous materials.
"The public would be better served if a driver would have to operate a similar truck for three years," Nava said. "We know the physical properties of a truck with 8,600 gallons of liquid are different than 8,600 basketballs. Before you haul gasoline, maybe you have to haul milk."
The California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the accident.
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Assemblymember Nava Relays Lessons Learned from Riviera Evacuation Drill to Sacramento |
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Santa Barbara - About two dozen agencies, including the American Red Cross, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies, participated in a full scale evacuation drill of the Riviera on Saturday, April 28.
Residents were notified in advance and received a reverse 911 call from the police dispatch prompting them to leave their homes, some with their pets, to simulate the mass exodus that would accompany a fire in the area. Nava attended and promised to take the lessons learned during the drill and apply them in his role as Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security. Photos Right top: Assemblymember Nava joins MERRAG volunteers. Right bottom: State Farm Insurance contributed to the success of the event. |
| Safe Routes to School Law Scheduled to Sunset Assemblymember Nava Wants it Extended |
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Sacramento - The Safe Routes to Schools law is scheduled to expire in 2008. Knowing how important this law is to school safety, Assemblymember Nava co-authored AB 57 to keep the program alive.
AB 57 deletes the January 1, 2008 sunset on the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) construction program administered by Caltrans. This bill will allow for the continued allocation, starting in 2008-09, of tens of millions of dollars of federal transportation safety funds through the SR2S program as local assistance for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects. Recently, Nava's office met with Caltrans for a site visit on February 22, 2007 to examine the stretch of State Highway 192 between Barker Pass and Ashley Road. At Nava's urging, Caltrans has taken several actions to make this route safer for children walking or bicycling to Cold Springs School. Actions already taken by Caltrans include extending limit lines and moving parking signs for increased visibility as well as moving school speed limit signs to provide improved warning for drivers to slow down. To learn more regarding the Safe Routes to School programs please visit this website: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoute2.htm. |
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| Assemblymember Nava (center) with families in front of the renovated Eastside Public Library. |
Project Chair Beth Bailey thanked the Eastside Library staff as well as community partners for their assistance over the last 10 weeks at the unveiling ceremony April 28, 2006. In that short time, the Junior League raised over $25,000 in cash and over $40,000 in donated goods and service for total benefit to the library of close to $70,000. The renovation project included the addition of over 100 new books, 6 new computers, a story time, toddler and teen areas, a landscaped patio and revamped multipurpose room and entry way.
Assemblymember Nava presented the Junior League with a Resolution from the California State Assembly for their efforts at the Eastside Library as well as their commitment to the community for over eighty years. "By providing a "Happy Place for Kids' where literacy and learning are encouraged in a safe and positive setting the Junior League and its supporters are investing in our youth and strengthening our community," said Assemblymember Nava.
For more information about the Junior League visit their website at: http://www.jlsantabarbara.org.
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Assemblymember Nava Plants Trees at El Camino Elementary School with Goleta Valley Beautiful |
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Goleta - Assemblymember Pedro Nava joined Goleta Valley Beautiful (GVB), Southern California Gas Company, Goleta Union School District and the American Lung Association on Saturday, April 21, 2007 to plant sneezeless trees at El Camino Elementary School.
"I am honored to participate in this special sneezeless tree planting at El Camino Elementary School sponsored by Goleta Valley Beautiful," said Nava. "Not only do trees help beautify our community, and help the environment, these trees were selected because of their low pollen count." For the past several years GVB has been planting over 500 trees each year. Over 1000 volunteers have been assisting GVB each of these years, including many local high school and college students. Each month a residence and a business are recognized by GVB for beautification efforts. For more information about GVB log on at www.goletavalleybeautiful.org or call 805-252-1952. |
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| (Courtesy of Russell Stiger)Bernd Simon (right), seated on the Assembly Floor with Assemblymember Nava. |
Mr. Simon was selected by Assemblymember Nava for his selfless and courageous sharing of his life's story to further a cause that is vital to our future and our children's future. "It is a great privilege for me to honor Bernd Simon for his work in sharing and preserving his story for future generations," said Assemblymember Pedro Nava. "We must never forget the horrors that can come to pass if we are not vigilant. The way to do this is to be good stewards of history and by preserving every person's story. It takes great courage to share these stories and I commend him for his bravery."
In addition to the ceremony, the California State Assembly produces a book of essays each year with the stories that have been collected across the state. Over 60 Holocaust survivors were honored from throughout California. An Assembly Resolution was presented declaring April 16-20, 2007, "California Holocaust Memorial Week."
| Assemblymember Pedro Nava Authors Assembly Resolution Declaring April 2007 as "Autism Awareness Month" |
Sacramento - Assemblymember Pedro Nava passed an Assembly Resolution that names the month of April, "Autism Awareness Month" in California. The number of persons with autism in California has doubled between 1998 and 2002, and approximately 3,000 individuals with autism are newly diagnosed every year. Autism is a developmental disorder that is typically diagnosed during the first three years of life and limits an individual's ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls, but can affect anyone, regardless of race, and ethnicity.
"By dedicating April as Autism Awareness Month in California, I want to raise awareness of the need for continued research, treatments and early intervention," said Nava. "Additionally, I want to highlight the struggles faced by the many families who have an autistic child, and that we all recognize their sacrifice and dedication in providing for the special needs of their children." Current research being conducted into the biological causes and treatment regimens for autism, like that being undertaken at the Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (M.I.N.D.) Institute at the University of California, Davis, is showing great promise and should be encouraged and supported. Early intervention behavior analysis programs have shown that a program of intensive early intervention treatment that focuses on a multidisciplinary approach, relying in large part on family and community participation, can produce a positive outcome for children with autism. The Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now, the National Alliance for Autism Research, Unlocking Autism, and numerous other organizations commemorate April as National Autism Awareness and the State of California now joins this special group. |
| Assemblymember Pedro Nava Hosts Business Resource Expo in Ventura | ||
Ventura - Assemblymember Pedro Nava hosted his second annual Ventura County Business Resource Expo on April 20 at the Four Points By Sheraton in Ventura. The Expo was co-sponsored by the California Small Business Association and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, the Oxnard and Gold Coast Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. More than two hundred people attended the event representing every segment of the business community.
The Expo focused on bringing resources to the Ventura County business community on how to do business with the federal, state and local governments. Many public and private organizations were on hand to provide information and resources to businesses and prospective entrepreneurs. Nava said, "Every year, millions of dollars in opportunities are awarded to qualified businesses in our state. This is my way to help local business owners. I look forward to working with our sponsors and partners for an even better Expo next year." If you would like more information regarding the Expo or on any other business related matter please contact Mr. Nava's District Office. |
| Assemblymember Nava Welcomes Community Groups to Capitol | ||||
Sacramento - Last month, Ventura County community organizations, the Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA) and the Oxnard Police Activities League (PAL), visited the State Capitol and toured the Assembly Floor with Assemblymember Pedro Nava.
The VCLA, founded in 1994, is an initiative of United Way of Ventura County. The purpose of VCLA is to create opportunities to develop leaders who will enhance the quality of life in Ventura County. The group was in Sacramento to learn about state government and special interest groups. The theme was, "Understanding the mechanisms of the state government, its impact on the agenda of state leaders and options for the future." Oxnard PAL, established in 1994, is a city-wide program that provides outreach to local at-risk youth to build positive relationships between youth, police officers and the community. Educational, cultural and recreational activities are offered to the youth with emphasis placed on reaching those "at-risk". For more information on VCLA, call: Susan Lefevre at 805-485-6288, ext. 260 or vcla@vcunitedway.org For more information on Oxnard PAL, call: Terrel Harrison at 805-385-8230 or kenklopman@oxnardpd.org.
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Assemblymember Pedro Nava Representing Assembly District 35
Please Visit: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/nava |
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