Assembly Member Carter in her State Capitol office with LegiSchool participants from Rialto High School: Cesar Patino, Kevin Sar , Eddie Sigalam, government teacher Matthew Carter, Assembly Member Carter, Wafa Rodriguez, Erik Casillas, Stephanie Flores and Michael Garcia.

Seven Rialto High School seniors, four of whom flew for the first time, attended LegiSchool at the State Capitol on Feb. 7 to learn more about the state budget process and Californians' role in the process. Along with their government teacher, Matthew Carter, the students toured the State Capitol, and visited with Assembly Member Carter, their representative in the State Assembly, who discussed her experiences as a legislator.

The LegiSchool Project is a nonpartisan civic education program that brings together high school students from throughout California to engage in the democratic process. The purpose is to meet state leaders and share ideas on public policy issues affecting California and the nation.  The program is a collaboration of the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento and the state Legislature.

The Rialto seniors were joined by students from Global Youth Charter High School in Antelope and Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento. They participated in a town hall meeting that challenged them to set priorities for the state's future by creating a budget that reflects their values and vision while learning more about the process that makes the state budget possible.

Highlights of the day for the students included seeing the swearing in of the District 55 Assembly Member, hearing Speaker Fabian Núñez address the legislature, and being introduced in the Assembly gallery by Assembly Member Carter. At least two students said that the trip has influenced their career plans.

During National Women’s History Month, Assembly Member Carter asks you to join her on March 14 in San Bernardino for the ceremonial renaming of the State Government Center in honor of Rosa Parks, the mother of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Friday, March 14, 2008 – 10 a.m.
Rosa Parks Memorial Building (State Government Center)
464 West 4th Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401

Celebrating Women's Art, Women's Vision

 “It is important that our youth learn the facts and dates about women’s history,” says Assembly Member Carter. “But there is so much more they need to know. They need to understand and appreciate the lasting contributions women have made, especially in the areas of the arts and sciences. I invite you to join me in celebrating the women of our community, our state, our world, and our history. This year, the official theme of National Women’s History Month is ‘Women’s Art: Women’s Vision’ in recognition of the originality, beauty, imagination and multi-dimensional facets of women’s lives.

“To learn more about women’s accomplishments and to help the National Women’s History Project continue its goal of writing women back into history, please visit www.nwhp.org.  Also, contact my district office at (909) 820-5008 to find out what’s happening in the community to commemorate National Women’s History Month.”

Woman of the Year is San Bernardino educator

Lois Carson, a San Bernardino resident who has served as executive director of the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, was chosen by Assembly Member Carter as 2008 Woman of the Year in the 62nd District. Mrs. Carson is an educator and has served for 24 years as an elected member of the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees. She has worked with local, state and national organizations to improve the quality of life for residents in San Bernardino County.

"Education and helping disadvantaged people has been a big part of her life,” says Assembly Member Carter, who will honor Mrs. Carson in a formal ceremony on the Senate and Assembly floors. “She knows how hard she has to work in a position that impacts the lives of so many young people. She is someone that young people can learn from and admire."

Mrs. Carson is a national recipient of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Human Services Award for her efforts to help lower-income families transform their lives.  She has been active in National Council of Negro Women, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and the United Way.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cal State, San Bernardino and two masters’ degrees from UC Riverside.  Both Cal State San Bernardino and UC Riverside have honored her as a Distinguished Alumnus.

Community volunteers honored in spirit of Congressman George E. Brown Jr.

The late California Congressman George Edward Brown, Jr. would have celebrated his 88th birthday on March 6.  In his honor, the San Bernardino County Democratic Party will host the inaugural George Brown Awards Banquet on May 3 to honor grassroots community volunteers in the spirit of Congressman Brown.

While in Congress, Congressman Brown opposed the Vietnam war, fought for civil rights and marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and César E. Chávez as an advocate for racial and economic justice. He fought for the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and he chaired the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.  A new section of the CA-210 Freeway bears his name as does a national science education foundation. 

César E. Chávez Birthday

César Chávez

The birthday of César Estrada Chávez will be celebrated on March 31 this year. Born 81 years ago near Yuma, California, Chávez and his family struggled to make a living picking produce on California farms.  In 1962, he founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became United Farm Workers. Focusing national attention on their plight, UFW grew in numbers and became influential as an advocate for civil and labor rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rallied for economic justice and marched with César Chávez.  Assembly Member Carter encourages everyone to participate in the activities that commemorate this important human rights leader. Contact her District Office at (909) 820-5008 to find out about community events commemorating the birthday of César Estrada Chávez.  

Legislative education scholarships awarded to District 62 students

Assembly Member Carter’s 62nd District was selected to be the recipient of three scholarships for high school students to attend a legislative education program March 2-4 in the State Capitol.  She nominated J. Tasha St. Cyr, a 12th grade student at Carter High School, Divya Joseph, a 12th grade student at Colton High School and Betzy Duque-Aceves, a ninth-grade student at Casa Ramona Academy. They will join nearly 100 other students from around California to learn the intricacies of Sacramento politics and state government.  Their legislative education is courtesy of Capitol Focus, a unique civics program created to develop the next generation of young leaders.  The students’ trip to Sacramento is made possible by a grant from ALL Student Loan, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit student lender. 

Black History Month Art Show and Demonstration

Artist Breon Waters II and his neice Kailyn Brown listen as Assembly Member Carter  praises his art work.

I want to thank the participants and guests who attended the Black History Art Exhibit on February 21 at my district office in Rialto. It was an honor to showcase the talents of Derrick Dzine Dargan, Jarrol Taylor Jr., Breon Waters II and Daima Jacocks. Throughout history, people have expressed ideas and culture through art. I am grateful to have artists in the Inland Empire who communicate ideas about the world around us.

With foreclosures on the rise, President Bush signed into law on Dec. 20, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. Known as the “Phantom Tax Relief Bill” it was enacted to provide relief to families hit by the subprime mortgage market. Until last year, if your home value declined and your bank/lender forgave a portion of your mortgage due to a short sale or deed in lieu, the amount forgiven was treated as ordinary taxable income. The passage of this act creates a three-year window for homeowners to either refinance their mortgage or sell, and pay no taxes on any debt forgiven. The “Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007” is retroactive to January 1, 2007. It will extend until December 31, 2009.

The California State Legislature must act on pending legislation so the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act can apply to California homeowners. Now under California tax law, debt forgiven following mortgage foreclosure or renegotiation is considered income for tax purposes and may result in a tax liability for taxpayers. Senate Bill 1055 will conform somewhat to provisions of this federal legislation. Introduced by Senators Michael Machado (D-Linden) and Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), the bill provides that the portion of mortgage forgiven will not be treated as taxable income.

Assembly Member Carter Introduces the "Donda West Law"

The winner of Assembly Member Carter’s “It Ought to Be a Law” contest was  John and Yolanda Anderson, residents of Colton, who proposed a law that would require all people, prior to undergoing elective cosmetic surgery, to have a physical by a licensed physician.   Donda West, the mother of artist Kanye West, was the aunt of Yolanda Anderson.  Dr. West died from complications of elective cosmetic surgery.

“I received many thoughtful legislative ideas, but the proposal from the Anderson’s is timely and definitely needed in order to better protect our citizens from unnecessary bodily trauma, that could result from elective cosmetic surgery, if they are not physically fit to undergo surgery” Carter said.

Carter in the Community

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Jan 21:  San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris, County Supervisor 5th District Josie Gonzales,  “Beyond Boundaries Award” recipient Ray Culberson, Director of Youth Services, SBUSD with son Joshua, Assembly Member Carter, Congressman Joe Baca, San Bernardino Sixth Ward City Council Member Rikke Van Johnson and Cheryl Brown, co-publisher, Black Voice News

At the MLK prayer breakfast: Hardy Brown, recipient of the “Gertrude Whetzel Award” and co-publisher of the Black Voice News with Assembly Member Carter, who presented the award.

Pastor Owusu Hodari, chairman of The Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches, which sponsored the breakfast, Mayor Morris, County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, “Public Service Award” recipients Mike Camber, San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office, Michael Martinez, County DA’s Office  and Assembly Member Carter.

Jan. 17 reception for the Bishop in Sacramento: State Senator Lou Carrea, District 34, Al Hernandez Santana, Director for Hispanic Affairs for the California Catholic Conference, The Most Reverend Jaime Soto, Bishop Coadjutor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and Assembly Member Carter.

Assembly Member Carter meets with the Arroyo Valley High School Democratic Club. Eric Mooney, Erica Chavez, Assembly Member Carter, Chrystal Escobedo, Amber Miller, Jessica Baca, Michelle Williams, Sunalis Phosy, and Priscilla Lopez.

The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) 5th Street Bridge demolition ceremony on Feb. 1. Project Manager Doug Franco, SANBAG Board President Lawrence Dale, Assembly Member Carter, 5th Ward County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, San Bernardino Council members Dennis Baxter and Esther Estrada, San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, SANBAG Executive Director Deborah Barmack, and Caltrans District 8 Director Mike Perovich.

District Office:
335 N. Riverside Ave.
Rialto, CA 92376
Tel: (909) 820-5008
Fax: (909) 820-5098