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Community News
Open dialogue among community members is an important part of successful advocacy. Take Action California believes that the more information and discussion we have about what's important to us, the more empowered we all are to make change.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Happy National Voter Registration Day!
Labels:
get out the vote,
gotv,
make a difference,
National Voter Registration Day,
vote,
you matter,
your voice matters
Friday, September 18, 2015
Los Angeles Record Change & Resource Fair
Labels:
California,
cj reform,
community,
conviction,
employment,
felony,
jobs,
Prop 47,
public safety,
record change
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Bill to restore Inland cities' funding on governor's desk
Same issue. Different year.
A bill that would restore funding diverted in 2011 from the state’s four newest cities – all in Riverside County – has landed on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. Again.
Officials in Eastvale, Wildomar, Menifee and Jurupa Valley, stung by Brown’s two previous vetoes of bills that would have restored state funding to them, were pragmatic about whether the governor would sign SB 25 into law.
“I hold out very little hope, but I pray every night that he does,” said Wildomar Mayor Ben Benoit.
Brown has 30 days from Sept. 8, the day SB 25 got to his desk, to either sign the bill or veto it. If he takes no action, SB 25 becomes law.
SB 25, which was introduced by state Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside, is virtually identical to SB 69, which was Brown vetoed in September 2014. Roth also sponsored SB69.
In his veto message, Brown cited concerns about the “long-term costs to the general fund that this bill would occasion.”
Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen said the state’s financial picture has improved markedly over the past year.
“Now he’s got a revenue surplus,” Nissen said.
Eastvale and Jurupa Valley have written letters signed by their respective mayors urging the governor to sign the bill to ease the four cities’ financial hardship.
Eastvale, Menifee, Wildomar and Jurupa Valley have lost millions annually since June 2011, when state legislators voted to divert vehicle-license fee revenue from cities to law enforcement grants.
All California cities lost vehicle-license fee revenue, but the four newest cities received a greater share to make up for property taxes that cities formed after 2004 don’t get.
All have had to cut back on services, including law enforcement, but none have been affected as badly as Jurupa Valley, which became a city two days after the vote.
SB 25 would return the estimated $16 million per year to the four cities in property tax money that normally goes to education.
Because state law requires full funding for education, that money would have to be repaid from the general fund.
Jurupa Valley has lost an estimated $25 million over the past four years and has taken an initial step toward disincorporation.
Although Jurupa Valley’s financial situation has improved, the city still owes more than $18 million to Riverside County in unpaid transition year costs, law enforcement costs and revenue neutrality payments.
Menifee Mayor Scott Mann said Brown has had multiple opportunities to restore vehicle-license fee funding rescinded as part of his public safety realignment plan in 2011. And there has been no indication from the governor, or his staff, that he will approve it this time either, Mann said.
Despite that, Mann said, he has written a personal letter to Brown asking him to sign SB 25.
A bill that would restore funding diverted in 2011 from the state’s four newest cities – all in Riverside County – has landed on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. Again.
Officials in Eastvale, Wildomar, Menifee and Jurupa Valley, stung by Brown’s two previous vetoes of bills that would have restored state funding to them, were pragmatic about whether the governor would sign SB 25 into law.
“I hold out very little hope, but I pray every night that he does,” said Wildomar Mayor Ben Benoit.
Brown has 30 days from Sept. 8, the day SB 25 got to his desk, to either sign the bill or veto it. If he takes no action, SB 25 becomes law.
SB 25, which was introduced by state Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside, is virtually identical to SB 69, which was Brown vetoed in September 2014. Roth also sponsored SB69.
In his veto message, Brown cited concerns about the “long-term costs to the general fund that this bill would occasion.”
Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen said the state’s financial picture has improved markedly over the past year.
“Now he’s got a revenue surplus,” Nissen said.
Eastvale and Jurupa Valley have written letters signed by their respective mayors urging the governor to sign the bill to ease the four cities’ financial hardship.
Eastvale, Menifee, Wildomar and Jurupa Valley have lost millions annually since June 2011, when state legislators voted to divert vehicle-license fee revenue from cities to law enforcement grants.
All California cities lost vehicle-license fee revenue, but the four newest cities received a greater share to make up for property taxes that cities formed after 2004 don’t get.
All have had to cut back on services, including law enforcement, but none have been affected as badly as Jurupa Valley, which became a city two days after the vote.
SB 25 would return the estimated $16 million per year to the four cities in property tax money that normally goes to education.
Because state law requires full funding for education, that money would have to be repaid from the general fund.
Jurupa Valley has lost an estimated $25 million over the past four years and has taken an initial step toward disincorporation.
Although Jurupa Valley’s financial situation has improved, the city still owes more than $18 million to Riverside County in unpaid transition year costs, law enforcement costs and revenue neutrality payments.
Menifee Mayor Scott Mann said Brown has had multiple opportunities to restore vehicle-license fee funding rescinded as part of his public safety realignment plan in 2011. And there has been no indication from the governor, or his staff, that he will approve it this time either, Mann said.
Despite that, Mann said, he has written a personal letter to Brown asking him to sign SB 25.
Via: http://www.pe.com/articles/cities-780038-brown-bill.html
Labels:
eastvale,
financial hardship,
Gov Jerry Brown,
jurupa,
menifee,
riverside county,
senator richard roth,
vehicle license fee,
wildomar
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Effort to repeal California ‘welfare queen’ law done for the year
State Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, has suspended her latest bid to reverse a law barring families that conceive additional children while on welfare from receiving increases to their grant.
Mitchell said she would not continue forward this year with Senate Bill 23 to repeal a law Mitchell contends perpetuates the negative concept of the “welfare queen,” a woman who has babies while on welfare to collect more cash assistance. Mitchell’s bill is currently awaiting a vote on the Assembly floor, and she said she would instead push to get the policy into next year’s budget.
“How would we pay for it?” Mitchell said. “Because of the huge price tag, I’m going to continue working with the administration during the interim.”
Overturning the “maximum family grant” would cost an estimated $205 million in the first year. SB 23 passed the Senate this spring, but its prospects dimmed when Gov. Jerry Brown left it out of the final budget deal in June.
Mitchell said she had not changed tactics out of concern that the bill would fail in the Assembly or be vetoed by Brown.
“I’m confident that they agree with the policy,” she said. “I will be waiting with bated breath for January 10,” she added, referring to the date by which Brown must release his budget proposal.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article34058808.html#storylink=cpy
Mitchell said she would not continue forward this year with Senate Bill 23 to repeal a law Mitchell contends perpetuates the negative concept of the “welfare queen,” a woman who has babies while on welfare to collect more cash assistance. Mitchell’s bill is currently awaiting a vote on the Assembly floor, and she said she would instead push to get the policy into next year’s budget.
“How would we pay for it?” Mitchell said. “Because of the huge price tag, I’m going to continue working with the administration during the interim.”
Overturning the “maximum family grant” would cost an estimated $205 million in the first year. SB 23 passed the Senate this spring, but its prospects dimmed when Gov. Jerry Brown left it out of the final budget deal in June.
Mitchell said she had not changed tactics out of concern that the bill would fail in the Assembly or be vetoed by Brown.
“I’m confident that they agree with the policy,” she said. “I will be waiting with bated breath for January 10,” she added, referring to the date by which Brown must release his budget proposal.
Via: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article34058808.html
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article34058808.html#storylink=cpy
Labels:
calfresh,
calworks,
children,
Gov Jerry Brown,
maximum family grant,
MFG,
SB 23,
Senator Holly Mitchell,
welfare
Friday, September 4, 2015
Strong Communities Forum Inland Empire
Strong Communities Forum
Saturday, September 26, 2015
9: 00 am - 5:00 pm
The Hyatt Place
3500 Market Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Labels:
alternatives to jail,
community,
community based organization,
incarceration,
Prop 47,
reentry,
strong communities
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Reach International Gender Responsive Conference
On September 23rd, Reach will be
hosting the First Inaugural Conference on Gender-Responsiveness in Richmond,
California. To promote this event, our newsletter will highlight a
different conference presenter throughout the entire month of September.
This first week, we are honored to
present a publication that highlights our Conference Guest Speaker, the
Founder and Executive Director of the Time for Change Foundation, Ms. Kim
Carter. She was recently named a 2015 CNN Hero for the services she provides
to both homeless and formerly incarcerated women. Read the article
below:
|
2015 CNN Hero
Published: Time for Change
August 27,
2015
Time for Change Foundation
(TFCF) under the leadership of Kim Carter has been named a 2015 CNN Hero! The CNN Heroes
initiative is a year-long initiative that honors everyday people for their
selfless, creative efforts to help others. The campaign is now in its
ninth year. In the past eight years, CNN Heroes has received more than
50,000 nominations from more than 100 countries. Since 2007, the campaign
has profiled more than 200 CNN Heroes. They're working in more than 80
countries around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of people.
"We
are most humbled by this prestigious international recognition and realize that
it has truly been a joint effort in this region to address the societal issues
that homeless women and children encounter. Based on my experience
working at TFCF, after having been a successful graduate of the TFCF program,
when I think of Kim Carter it reminds me of the 'little engine that could' ...
All the people that we serve and the people whose lives this agency touches
leave knowing that they too have the ability to strive for seemingly
insurmountable goals." commented Nicole Wolfe, Communications Coordinator
at TFCF.
"I'm
happy that CNN is shining an International spotlight on our organization."
says Phyllis Scott, TFCF Case Manager.
Kim Carter,
Founder and Executive Director of TFCF stated, "I am so grateful that I
answered God's call on my life. My homelessness, substance abuse and
incarceration experiences fuel my passion to help others succeed. It's
that calling that started Time for Change Foundation."
It is Kim’s
belief that by providing these women with training and the opportunity to
develop life skills, in a nurturing and supportive environment, they will
become independent, active, participants in their communities. In addition to
being the conference's guest speaker, Ms. Carter is also a Soul Panelist for
the event.
Labels:
CNN,
CNN Hero,
Dr. Barbara Bloom,
gender responsive,
Kim Carter,
reach international. time for change foundation
Black Lives Matter protesters demand Jerry Brown’s support for police profiling measure
Chanting “Black lives matter!” and staging a massive “die-in,” scores of people rallied Wednesday at the state Capitol in support of legislation that seeks to stamp out racial profiling by law enforcement.
Protesters marched through the streets and then crowded the halls outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown, demanding his signature for Assembly Bill 953, which still must clear the state Senate before it reaches the governor’s desk. It would require law enforcement to gather and report data on stops, something advocates hope will illuminate the extent of racial profiling.
The bill, by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, was one of several police-focused measures introduced this year amid tensions and violence between officers and communities. Critics, in urging its defeat in the Legislature, have derided the proposal as too costly.
Though demonstrators chanted for an audience with Brown, he was not in Sacramento. Instead, Weber called on Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, to accept a petition from the demonstrators.
“You’re making your voice heard today. That’s your right, your responsibility,” Atkins said. “We’re going to keep working on this.”
After addressing the crowd outside the Capitol, Weber said her bill was necessary because of California’s comparatively high death rate at the hands of police.
“When we look at the issues of racial profiling we discover that African Americans and Latinos are stopped two and three times more than anybody else, and yet have a lower arrest record,” she said, as activists read the names of victims. “So, obviously you’re stopping them without a cause to arrest them.”
The stop, Weber said, becomes the foundation “for other things happening” after.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article33543921.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article33543921.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article33543921.html#storylink=cpy
Protesters marched through the streets and then crowded the halls outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown, demanding his signature for Assembly Bill 953, which still must clear the state Senate before it reaches the governor’s desk. It would require law enforcement to gather and report data on stops, something advocates hope will illuminate the extent of racial profiling.
The bill, by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, was one of several police-focused measures introduced this year amid tensions and violence between officers and communities. Critics, in urging its defeat in the Legislature, have derided the proposal as too costly.
Though demonstrators chanted for an audience with Brown, he was not in Sacramento. Instead, Weber called on Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, to accept a petition from the demonstrators.
“You’re making your voice heard today. That’s your right, your responsibility,” Atkins said. “We’re going to keep working on this.”
After addressing the crowd outside the Capitol, Weber said her bill was necessary because of California’s comparatively high death rate at the hands of police.
“When we look at the issues of racial profiling we discover that African Americans and Latinos are stopped two and three times more than anybody else, and yet have a lower arrest record,” she said, as activists read the names of victims. “So, obviously you’re stopping them without a cause to arrest them.”
The stop, Weber said, becomes the foundation “for other things happening” after.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article33543921.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article33543921.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article33543921.html#storylink=cpy
Labels:
AB 953,
Assembly member Shirley Weber,
black lives matter,
communities of color,
racial profiling,
social justice
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