Pacific Progressive

Donate Used Ball Gowns to Benefit 1/11 Marine Regiment

San Juan Capistrano adopted the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine (1/11) Regiment and has projects and fundraisers to help the troops and their families.  

For Marines, the Marine Corps Birthday Ball is the party of the year.  San Juan Capistrano wants to help the spouses offset the costs of their formal gowns at this very important party just before the holiday season.

Drop off your gently used gowns in all sizes and styles at the San Juan Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano. The center is open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday thru Friday.  Please make sure the gowns are clean, because there is no budget available for cleaning.  

Gowns can be dropped off thru September 4.  If you have questions, please contact Kathy Hooper, a member of San Juan Capistrano's 1/11 Adoption Committee at 949-370-7328.

Low Cost Pet Vaccinations on Wednesday, July 29

Low cost shots for your pooch and kitty will be available at San Juan Capistrano City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto from 6 to 7:30 PM on Wednesday, July 29. This is a not-too-often evening clinic for your critters. The clinic is sponsored by the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA) and Orange County Animal Care Services.

For dogs, rabies, five-in-one (DHLPP) and Bordetella vaccinations are available.  Rabies vaccination are $6 each.  DHLPP are $14 each, and Bordetella vaccine is $11.  If your dog needs all three, you will be out the door for $31.

For cats, rabies, four-in-one (FDRCC) and feline leukemia (FeLV) are available.  Rabies vaccinations are $6 each. FDRCC and FeLV are $14 each.  If your kitty needs all three, you will be done and out the door for $34.

OC Stimulus Money Accounting - See to Believe

Many Orange County politicians at all levels made a big deal about their not wanting to take Obama's stimulus money.  The dislike for a helping hand really hurt Orange County because many municipalities, including the County, did not do everything they could do to help their residents.

A recent item in Supervisor Janet Nguyen's "Janet's Journal" (July 24, 2009)  attempts to make it look like OC's electeds actually worked to bring money back for their constituents. The claim is that Orange County received $200 million in stimulus money.

$122.8 million is the reduction of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) on Private Activity Bonds for the John Wayne Airport Improvement Project - If some one can tell me how the County gets this money as cash to spend to create jobs, please post and explain in detail.  The money saved on bond interest would go out, piecemeal, to individuals as savings on April tax returns when the bonds no longer qualify as taxable under AMT.   The finance department will say exempting these bonds from the AMT saves the County money and lowers debt cost, but that is not creating jobs, putting paychecks in pockets.

Also included in the claimed Stimulus money is either $12 million (Janet's Journal) or $14.2 million (FY 2009-10 Budget Workshop) for the Social Services Agency.  Again, the Stimulus money replaced County money, so there is no real job creation here, just using a different color of money.

For the real money that creates paychecks in pockets:

• $50 million for the Army Corps of Engineers projects in Orange County

The $50 million Army Corps of Engineers projects include $26.5 million for river bank improvements and $5.2 million for Santa Ana River, Carbon Canyon, Prado Dam, and Fullerton Dam maintenance.  Also include $17.3 million for environmental restoration and dredging of Upper Newport Bay.

Central Valley Groundwater Levels Dropping

A recent study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows that the aquifer under California's Central Valley is changing.  The over 400 mile long Central Valley is home to California's agriculture industry.  Under the valley is the nation's largest groundwater basin which contains one-fifth (20%) of all the groundwater pumped in the nation.  

Several sources of data were used for the study:  water well driller logs going back to the early 1900''s, ground water data from 1962 to 2003 and surface water data from 1962 to 2003. 

The USGS study shows the strains California's growing population is putting on the underground aquifer:

•  Groundwater levels are declining in the Tulare Basin portion of the  southern San Joaquin Valley.  More water is being pumped out than is being put into the basin.  The geology of the southern San Joaquin valley, coarse-grained soils and alluvial-fan sediments, make the basin a potential candidate for becoming a groundwater recharge basin.
• Groundwater levels in the Sacramento Valley and the northern portion of the San Joaquin Valley are generally stable.
• Drilling for water, which is driven by the continuing below-average precipitation, is causing groundwater levels to drop.  

As part of the study, the USGS has developed an enhanced computer model, the Central Valley Hydrological Model,  of water flows below ground. The model shows how water flows under ground, in the groundwater basins, and how the flows connect with rivers and other bodies of water on the surface. The Central Valley Hydrological Model provides a new scientific tool to track changes in surface and groundwater availability and make more informed water management decisions.

Breaking Down the California Budget Proposal

This is what is on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk for signature.  

Assumptions in this budget - If these don't happen, the deal can start to unravel.

• $100 million from oil drilling leases off the Santa Barbara Coast
• $1 billion from sale of State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) (aka workmen's comp fund) to a private entity
• $50 million in savings from lower-than-expected health coverage premium rates for state employees
• $850 million from furloughs of state workers
• $1.2 billion in unallocated savings from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
•  $1 billion in federal funds for Medi-Cal expenditures by the state that should have been paid for by the feds

Shifts, Deferrals, Delays, Diversions and Suspensions

•  Shift Prop 99 funds to General Fund - $25.6 million from County Health Services, $6.6 million from Major Risk Medical Insurance Program, $4.9 million from Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) Program, $3.9 million from Expanded Access to Primary Care Program, $438,000 from Asthma Program
• Suspend funding for Children's Dental Disease Prevention Program to save $2.9 million

California Leads Nation in Mass Layoffs in June

In June, California had the highest number of initial unemployment claims caused by mass layoffs.  56,138 people filed their unemployment claims after being laid off.  Other states with high numbers of initial unemployment claims caused by mass layoffs include Illinois (20,576), Pennsylvania (18,363), and Florida (15,785).  

During June 2009, forty-three states had over-the-year increases in initial unemployment claims caused by mass layoffs.  Illinois led with an increase of 15,809.  California (up 11,384), Michigan (up 5,895) and Alabama (up 5,746) led the states in increases.  

Mass layoffs are layoffs of 50 or more workers from the same employer.  Mass layoffs can be difficult for a community to absorb because of the economic impact of having a large number of workers without paychecks and simultaneously looking for work.  

Barbara Boxer Improving Snack Foods in Schools

Sen. Barbara Boxer is concerned about the health and well being of our children.  Sen. Boxer knows that kids in schools today get their meals and snacks from school snack bars, lunch carts, vending machines and other a la carte providers.  It's great that the students are grabbing a snack or meal while at school, but that a la carte food may not be as healthy and nutritious as the food from the lunch program.

School meals have been improved significantly thru the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.  The higher standards for nutrition only apply meals which come from the school lunchroom - school snack bars, lunch carts, vending machines and other a la carte meals in the school are exempt from these standards.  The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 would update the nutrition standards for schools. Science-based nutrition standards for children would be created and applied to all food sold in schools.  There would be exemptions for certain parties and fundraising activities.  

Why We Have No Water - Timeline of the Current California Drought

A timeline showing milestones in the current California drought is posted by the Department of Water Resources.  The drought timeline starts with the latest Delta Smelt ruling.  The increase in development, population, number of golf courses or other large uses of water are not mentioned.  Does anyone know of a city or county which has ever used a lack of available water as a reason to restrict or reduce development?

March 2007 - Snowpack at 70% of average.

December 2007 - Federal Judge Oliver Wanger issues pumping restrictions to protect Delta Smelt.

May 2008 - Snowpack at 65% of average.

December 2008 - US Fish and Wildlife Service ruling to protect Delta Smelt by curtailing pumping.

March 2009 - Snowpack at 80% of average.

 

Breakfast with Loretta Sanchez at Balboa Bay Club

Start your day with breakfast with Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Carol Shea-Porter (NH) and Diane Watson (CA).  Joining Loretta will be Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley, Fullerton Councilwoman Sharon Quirk, Fullerton Mayor Pro-Tem Pam Keller, Irvine Councilwoman (and fellow Congressional candidate!) Beth Krom and Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez.

Loretta has been doing many great things for her district - securing funds for dredging of Upper Newport Bay, supporting border security, and securing funds to improve our state's water infrastructure.

Loretta is one of our great women elected leaders from Orange County, come out and support her for her re-election run.  Call Kelly Martinez at 714-839-4431 or kmartinez(at)lorertta.org to reserve your seat.

Barbara Boxer Wants Kids of Active Duty Military to Have One Parent at Home

Senator Barbara Boxer has asked the Senate to pass her amendments to the FY10 Defense Authorization Bill which will work to strengthen the family life of military families.  The amendments include:

•   If both parents are on active duty, the parents could have the option to stagger overseas deployments to allow one parent to stay home as the primary caregiver for the children. Current policy allows both parents to potentially be deployed at the same time, creating problems for both parents and children.  The Boxer amendment also proposes a 90-day period after a parent returns home before the other parent is deployed.
• Military families sometimes must travel from their homes to receive medical care. Currently, a family must travel 100 miles from home before they are eligible for reimbursement.  The Boxer Amendment would drop the travel requirement to 50 miles.
• Military families would become eligible for flexible spending accounts so they can receive tax breaks for spending on medical expenses and child care.  

The Defense Authorization Act is moving thru the Senate during the next few weeks, so track these amendments which help military families maintain their family life.

Barbara Boxer Wants Your Health Care Horror Story

Send Senator Boxer your healthcare horror stories.  Use the submission form on her website.  You can check a box on the form to let her staff know if your name can be used.

 My Health Care Horror

Laguna Beach County Water District Fast Facts

Laguna Beach County Water District (LBCWD)

www.lbcwd.org

306 Third St

Laguna Beach, CA 92652

949-494-1041

Laguna Beach County Water District supplies customers with imported water from the Colorado River or Northern California. Currently, the district does not have any groundwater pumping operations.  The district is looking to find ways to resume groundwater pumping operations in the Santa Ana River Basin. 

LBCWD is the lead agency in a joint powers relationship with the South Coast Water District, Irvine Ranch Water District, city of Newport Beach, and the Santa Margarita Water District.  As lead, the LBCWD operates and maintains the Aufdenkamp and Coast Supply transmission lines.  These are the primary pipelines which provide the District's imported water.

Athletic Fields a Priority for Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo values their reputation as a desirable place to live in southern California area.  Mission Viejo is known for a high quality of life - good schools, nice homes, safe streets, and recreational facilities.  At a time when other cities are hacking and slashing at recreation programs in city budgets, Mission Viejo continues to work to maintain high quality recreation facilities.

Maintenance crews are taking advantage of the short time between sports seasons (soccer, baseball, softball) to work on the fields.  Grass is being fertilized, baseball infield dirt is being replaced, and irrigation systems are being upgraded.  

Public Services Operation Manager Jerry Hill described the effort, "These efforts allow Mission Viejo to boast some of the best fields in the nation."

Come to PDA's 5th Birthday Party!

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) are one of the leaders in the fight to get healthcare coverage for everyone.  PDA understands that healthcare companies put profits before people and has been working hard to educate the public and elected officials of this fact.

PDA, which turns 5 on July 29, is having a birthday party and meeting on Tuesday, July 28 at 7 PM at the home of Dietrich Nicholson at 12692 Poplar St in Garden Grove.  The local PDA chapter is chaired by Dr. Bill Honigman, a local emergency room physician who sees the daily impact of decisions made by healthcare insurers.  

Updates will include the fight for healthcare at the state and federal levels, info on candidates in 2010 elections, and forming new chapters in Orange County.

Do Your Part to Put Shiva Farivar on Irvine City Council

Ben Abadi and Mariam Khosravani are hosting a party for Shiva Farivar, candidate for Irvine City Council.  Join the party on Wednesday, July 29, from 6 - 8 PM at 6265 Sierra Siena, Irvine, CA.  

Shiva is going to be a great addition to the Irvine City Council.  In 2005, she started working as Beth Krom's executive assistant.  In 2007, she was appointed to the Irvine Community Services Commission and is currently the chair.  The structure of this commission is unique to Irvine - the commission advises Irvine City Council members on matters about creating, improving and maintaining the parks, recreational, cultural  and youth facilities in the city.

Join Shiva and her friends Ben Abadi and Mariam Khosravani to support this great candidate for Irvine City Council.  RSVP at 714-878-2904.