Pacific Progressive

La Habra Teachers Return to Classroom, but Strike Not Settled

La Habra City Schools teachers have returned to their classrooms without a new contract.  Negotiations are continuing at this time.  Neither side has released a statement regarding status of the negotiations.  Teachers walked the picket line over the Board's position that a permanent pay cut was needed to balance the district budget.

Strike Continues in La Habra City Schools

The teacher strike in La Habra City Schools continues amid confusion.  Early reports were that a tentative deal had been reached, but statements from the school district contradicted that. According to a statement released by Dr. Susan Belenardo, Superintendent, "Teachers on an individual basis my return to work if they have decided to no longer be on strike."  To return to work, teachers would have to sign a statement stating that they were no longer on striker.

Download LHCSD Press Release 12-14-10  Superintendent's Statement on December 14, 2010

Union representatives have instructed teachers to not sign the statement because the strike has not been settled even though progress has been made.

 

La Habra Teachers on Strike - How to Help

from David Sanchez, CTA President

Today, our fellow members of the La Habra Education Association are walking the line. I know you, like me, are with them in spirit as they stand up against an unreasonable school board trying to impose egregious, permanent cuts in pay and benefits after no real effort at bargaining.

 We must not allow this school board to set a precedent that could have a disastrous ripple effect throughout our state.

To stay informed about this strike:

• Join the La Habra Education Association’s strike website (similar to CTA’s successful Pink Friday Ning Website) at: http://bit.ly/fKY3CY
• Join the “Support La Habra, California Teachers” Facebook Group Page
• Follow the LHEA Twitter feed: @lahabrateachers. If you are not on Twitter but if you would like to follow the feed on your cell phone as a text message without joining Twitter, here’s how: http://bit.ly/gpTBlH.
• In addition, you can find strike updates on CTA’s website – www.cta.org .  

Numerous CTA chapters and individuals have already contributed to the LHEA crisis strike fund. If you would like to, you can send your contributions to: 

LHEA Strike Fund

c/o NOCUT

749 South Brea Blvd.  Suite 42

Brea, CA 92821

 

In solidarity,

David A. Sanchez

CTA President

 

La Habra City School Teachers on Strike for Capo Unified-Like Reasons

Teachers in the La Habra City Schools (elementary schools) walked off the job today to protest contract talks that had broken off after district officials insisted on mimicing the Capo Unified School District by asking for permanent pay cuts from teachers.  Other districts have asked teachers to take temporary pay cuts and furlough days - both Capo Unified and La Habra City have asked for permanent pay cuts.  The request of a permanent pay cut is not supported by fact finding.  

 3 Letters Requesting a Return to the Bargaining Table Download 101028_supLetterGroup

Crisis Alert 3 - Factfinders Report Summary Download LHEACrisisAlert_3

Links to Factfinder's Report & Recommendations and Complete Fact-Finding Presentation

The permanent cuts include a 2%  salary cut retroactive from Nov. 1, two nonpaid furlough days in the 2010-11 school year and two additional furlough days in 2011-12. The cost for health benefits will also increase beginning July. The cuts will cost individual La Habra teachers – whose average salary is about $63K – will be between $14 and $20K this year.

Supporters can join the picket line at the following schools:

Arbolita Elementary School - 1001 E. Brookdale Dr. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2352, Site Contact: Lisa Claes-Guzman Approx. Teachers: 14

El Cerrito Elementary School - 1051 N. Hillside La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2340, Site Contact: Catherine Arnold Approx. Teachers: 20

Ladera Palma Elementary School - 2151 E. Brookdale Ave La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2348, Site Contact: Tamara Warfield Approx. Teachers: 21

Las Lomas Elementary School - 301 W. Las Lomas Dr. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2353, Site Contact: Leanne Bannon/Libby Miller Approx. Teachers: 25

Las Positas Elementary School - 1400 S. Schoolwood Dr. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2356, Site Contact: Patty Abel Approx. Teachers: 25

Sierra Vista Elementary School - 1800 E. Whittier Ave. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2359, Site Contact: Michelle Arnold Approx. Teachers: 21

Walnut Elementary School - 625 N. Walnut St. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2369, Site Contact: Stephanie Eastland Approx. Teachers: 22

Imperial Middle School - 1450 S. Schoolwood Dr. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2344, Site Contact: Mark Smith Approx. Teachers: 33

Washington Middle School - 716 E. La Habra Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-2374, Site Contact: Shannon Belknap Approx. Teachers: 38

La Habra City Schools board meets on Thursday, December 9 at 7 PM at 500 N Walnut, La Habra, CA.  A rally is planned before the meeting and members of the public are invited to speak at the meeting.

A group, Support La Habra, California Teachers has been set up on Facebook.

 

 

Call Vector Control and Tell Them No Private Pest Control Companies

 The Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) helps to control little critters who carry diseases.  (These animals are called "disease vectors" because they move the disease around, hence the name.)  If you have a problem with a dead bird and there is West Nile Virus in the area, you call Vector Control.  Same thing for a neighbor who won't take care of their pool which is now a mosquito farm - call Vector Control and they will work with the neighbor so you don't have to.

A plan is being considered to privatize rat control services. Currently, if you see rats around, Vector Control will come out and give you (for free!) traps and bait and show you how to properly use them. They will also help you find the openings the rodents are using to get into your house and show you how to close them off.

These services are paid by an assessment of about $6.98 per year per residence in the County.  Taxpayers are able to get a lot for their $6.98.

Now, some members of the Vector Control board want to let private extermination companies (Terminix, Orkin, Truly Nolen are some common names) provide the rat control services. The plan is to send the companies out on calls to homes to provide the rat control services to the home owners.  Then, the pest control company can then sell the homeowner services to control pests on the inside of the home.

Smell a rat?  Does turning Vector Control into a marketing company for private pest control companies sound like a bad deal to you?  Call and write your representative on the Vector Control District. Each of the 34 incorporated cities has a representative. If you live in the unincorporated areas, your rep is Supervisor John Moorlach.

The representatives for each area are listed.  If you have a relationship with them, please use that to tell them "No to Private Pest Control Companies."  You can also call, fax and write them at the Vector Control Board.  Sending faxes works very well because it creates a paper trail of who objects and carries more weight than an email.

Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD), 13001 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92843

Phone 714-971-2421 949-654-2421  Fax 714-971-3940

Aliso Viejo - Mayor Phillip B. Tsunoda 

Stopping the Sale of the Fairgrounds - Who is Against the Sale

Who is has signed on against the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds?

Assemblyman Jose Solorio

Assemblyman Jim Silva

Assemblyman Van Tran

Buena Park - 12/22 agenda

Costa Mesa - Mayor Allan Mansoor, Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece, Councilmember Katrina Foley, Councilmember Eric Bever, Councilman Gary Monahan

County of Orange - Supervisor Pat Bates, Supervisor Janet Nguyen, Supervisor John Moorlach, Supervisor Bill Campbell, Supervisor Chris Norby

Cypress - 12/15 agenda

Fountain Valley - Mayor Larry Crandall, Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Brothers, Councilmember Guy Carozzon, Councilmember John Colllins, Councilmember Steve Nagel

Fullerton - Mayor Don Bankhead, Mayor Pro Tem Pam Keller, Councilmember F. Richard Jones, Councilmember Shawn Nelson, Councilmember Sharon Quirk-Silva

Huntington Beach - 12/21 agenda

La Habra - 12/21 agenda

Laguna Hills - 1/8 agenda

Laguna Niguel - 12/15 agenda

Lake Forest - 12/15 agenda

Newport Beach - Mayor Keith Curry, Mayor Pro Tem Michael Henn, Councilmember Steven Rosansky, Councilmember Don Webb, Councilmember Leslie Daigle, Councilmember Edward Selich, Councilmember Nancy Gardner

Orange - Mayor Carolyn Cavecche, Mayor Pro Tem Tita Smith, Councilmember Mark Murphy, Councilmember Denis Bilodeau, Councilmember Joh Dumitru

San Clemente - 12/15 agenda

Santa Ana - Mayor Miguel Pulido, Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, Councilmember Michele Martinez, Councilmember Carlos Bustamante, Councilmember David Benavides, Councilmember Sal Tinajero, Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento

Orange County Sanitation District to Address Cost Recovery and Potential Chemical Shortages

The Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) treats the wastewater from the cities of La Habra, Brea, Fullerton, Anaheim, La Palma, Buena Park, Los Alamitos, Stanton, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Westminster, Garden Grove, Cypress, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Orange, Villa Park, Tustin Placentia, Yorba Linda and Irvine.  OCSD is the agency responsible for maintaing the outfall pipes offshore. and is the third largest wastewater agency west of the Mississippi River.

OCSD is working on an update to the strategic plan to address the potential shortage of chemicals and getting better cost recovery from other agencies.  Both of these issues are key to the successful future operation of the District.

A reliable supply of quality chemicals is a requirement of operating a wastewater treatment facility.  Chemicals are used to mitigate odors, enhance settling of solids, reduce bacteria formation, and disinfect then dechlorinate the effluent prior to discharge.  

OCTA Looking to Eliminate Routes - Give OCTA Feedback on These Proposals

OCTA is looking to restructure bus service to fit the available budget. Staff has prepared several proposals for bus service reductions and have taken the presentations to public meetings to get input.  OCTA has also bought ads and put comment cards on buses to get feedback on proposals.  

If you use one of these buses, please tell OCTA what will happen if the bus is no longer available to you. These routes are targeted for possible elimination.  When you buy a bus pass, drop off a comment card or a letter.  Attend the public meeting on October 26 at 9 AM at OCTA headquarters in Orange. Fill out a comment card and drop it in the mail. But, please, for your sake, let OCTA know if these bus service cuts will impact you.  If your school is impacted, have your teachers, professors, principals and deans call.  If your business is impacted, have the managers and human resources department call OCTA to let them know this is a problem.

The routes listed for elimination are given below, along with the major landmarks along the route.  If implemented, the routes will be eliminated starting in March 2010.

Route 20 - La Habra to Yorba Linda via Imperial Highway - Yorba Linda Middle School, Yorba Linda Community Center, Downtown Yorba Linda, Brea Gateway Center, Brea Promenade, Brea Mall, Imperial Middle School, La Habra Marketplace

Route 21 - Fullerton to Huntington Beach via Valley View St/Bolsa Chica Rd - Buena Park High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Centerpointe, Cypress High School, Cypress College, Hilton D. Bell Intermediate School, Marina High School, Boeing, Huntington Beach Industrial Area, Sunset Beach

Do You Ride the OCTA Night OWL? Your Bus Could be Eliminated

OCTA is facing a very tough budget situation because transit funds from the State have been cut, leaving OCTA without a large chunk of money needed to fund the actual day to day operation of buses. OCTA staff is studying how to make cuts in the bus system and has held a series of public meetings, bought ads, and put service change info on buses.  OCTA really needs to hear from more riders about what the specific service needs are so the cuts cause the least harm.

The Night OWL service is targeted for complete elimination because, it is argued, ridership is very low and the money spent on Night OWL service would be better spent on service at other times of the day.  What many people don't realize is that Night OWL riders have fewer choices for transportation than riders at other times of the day.  For these folks, it's the Night OWL or nothing in many cases.

The four Night OWL routes targeted to be eliminated are the 43 La Habra to Costa Mesa via Whittier Blvd/Harbor Blvd, 50 Long Beach to Orange via Katella Ave, 57 Brea to Newport Beach via State College Blvd/Bristol St, and 60 Long Beach to Tustin via Westminster Ave/17th St.  The service reductions would start in March 2010.

What You Need to Do

You need to talk with OCTA to tell them what will work for you. Staff is trying to figure this out and plans are not set yet.  If your workplace is effected, have your manager or HR department contact OCTA to tell them about the problems losing the Night OWL will cause.  You can drop off a comment card or letter when you buy a bus pass at OCTA, attend the public hearing on Monday, October 26, 2009 at OCTA Headquarters at 9 AM, or send a letter to Wendy Knowles, Clerk of the Board, OCTA, 555 S Main St, PO Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-1584.  If you let OCTA know what you need, they can try to help you.  Now is the time for input.

Info About Proposed March 2010 Service Reductions

43 La Habra to Costa Mesa via Whittier Blvd/Harbor Blvd

La Habra - Whittier Christian High School, La Habra Square, La Habra High School, Washington Middle School, Sonora High School

Fullerton - St. Jude Hospital, North Court, Fullerton College, Fullerton Union High School, Fullerton Transportation Center, Metro Center of Fullerton, Orangefair Mall

Anaheim - Anaheim Cultural Arts Center, Anaheim Library, Anaheim Resort Area, Anaheim Convention Center, Disneyland, Anaheim High School

La Habra Goes to College - Oct 24

Learn about applying, paying and attending college at a free event sponsored by Advance! and the City of La Habra.  La Habra Goes to College will be on Saturday, October 24 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the La Habra Community Center, 101 W La Habra Blvd. 

Advance! is La Habra's free college counseling center which provides information about higher education to residents of La Habra and surrounding communities. Advance! is located between Cypress and Euclid, on La Habra Blvd.  Services available at Advance! include college advisement, college admissions information,and  help filling out college applications and financial aid forms.  Advance! also helps students find scholarships and loans for college.

For more information, call Advance! at 562-691-2117.

OC Register 2nd Worst Person in the World for Sports Column Mocking Jaycee Dugard's Captivity and Rape

Here is the original post by Mark Whicker. This never should have been printed, never. Baseball is more important than the kidnap, rape and years long captivity of a child. Whicker should resign or be fired.  And the Hoile family wonders why people don't want to read their paper?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

.  

Mike Duvall Needs 3 Women to Share His Family Values

http://cbs2.com/video/[email protected]

KCAL 9's Dave Lopez broke the story.  You should watch the report because you find out Mike Duvall likes spanking women and his sex talk makes colleagues uncomfortable.  Dave Lopez went to Sacramento and tried to get Duvall to answer questions, but Duvall refused all of his questions and openly dodged reporters.

In 2007, Duvall received a 100% grade from the California Republican Assembly.  On the California Republican Assembly website, core beliefs are listed, which include family.  From the website, "We believe that the traditional American family, defined as any persons related by blood, marriage of a man and a woman and/or adoption, is the cornerstone of our American society, and the government is duty bound to protect the integrity of the family unit through legislation and taxation policies."

Capitol Weekly is reporting that Duvall has been stripped of his leadership positions in the Assembly - vice-chairmanship of the Utilities and Commerce Committee, seat on Assembly Rules Committee and ranking seat in GOP caucus. One of the three women Duvall is involved with is a lobbyist for Sempra Energy, a company subject to legislation developed by the Utilities and Commerce Committee.

Duvall is currently married and has two grown children.  Duvall currently represents the 72nd Assembly District which covers parts of La Habra, Brea, Yorba Linda, Placentia, Fullerton, Anaheim, and Orange.

September 19 is Coastal and Inner-Coastal Watershed Clean-Up Day

Saturday, September 19, is the statewide Coastal Cleanup and the 13th Annual Inner Coastal and Watershed Cleanup Day. Many cities, agencies and organizations participate in this yearly event to build awareness of how trash and debris clog our local creeks, beaches, ponds and watersheds.

Local organizers for the event include the Ocean Conservancy and Trails4All.  Trails4All has a list of clean-up activities on the website.  Sign up thru your city or the OC Parks and Recreation department.

Local cities and areas participating in include Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Black Star Canyon, Brea, Buena Park, Canyon View Park,  Costa Mesa, Dana Paoint, Fullerton, Glenwood/Glenbrook Park,  Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hill, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, La Habra, Lake Forest, La Palma,Long Beach, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, O'Neill Regional Park, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Silverado-Modjeska Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Westminster, Yorba Linda, Yorba Regional Park.  

Keeping trash and litter out of the water makes the areas more user friendly and saves the lives of animals. Many animals die each year after consuming trash which they think is food. Take a few hours on Saturday, September 19 and help clean up Orange County beaches, creeks, parks, and canyons.

"The History of Health Care in Orange County has been a Series of Crises"

Curtis Crocker, a patient of Lestonnac Free Clinic, talk about his problems getting health care in Orange County.  Ninh Nguyen, client of VNCOC Asian Health, and Alondra Campos, client of Latino Health Access, are on either side of Curtis.

Felix Schwarz, Executive Director of the Health Care Council of Orange County summed up health care in Orange County at the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics forum on August 22, 2009.  The forum, Community Health Centers on the Frontlines:  Orange County Health in a Growing Crisis, discussed the growing problems community clinics face having to serve more clients which severely reduced budgets. 

The Coalition is asking for the public to support keeping the clinics funded.  The Coalition is collecting names and stories of people hurt by the cutbacks in clinic funding as part of The List Project.  Additionally, the Coalition is asking people to send postcards to Gov. Schwarzenegger with details about how clinic cuts will hurt them, their children, and their neighbors. The postcards are available thru the Coalition offices. 

Orange County is the second most populous county in the state and one of the largest counties in the United States without a public hospital or a primary care public health system.  The Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics is a group of 19 clinics which provide a primary care safety net for the over 600,000 uninsured residents of Orange County.  

 Clinic clients, clinic staff and advocates were on the panel. Three clients, Curtis Crock, helped by Letsonnac Free Clinic in Orange, Alondra Campos helped by Latino Health Access and Ninh Nguyen helped by VNCOC Asian Health Center, told how they were not able to get health care before finding the clinics.

•  Curtis Crock, who has worked all his life for employers who sponsored health insurance, found himself out of work and uninsured.  His wife was recovering from cancer and needed continuing treatments.  Curtis has a cardiac condition which requires regular care.  Curtis went to Lestonnac Free Clinic in Orange, which is able to offer specialty care.  His wife was able to obtain care from Share Our Selves in Costa Mesa.  Curtis felt frustrated by the system because he had always been employed, at a good job, with medical benefits until recently.  "People find themselves without the resources to receive health care," is how Curtis summed it up.  He added, "It's startling to see the number of people at the Inglewood clinic", referring to the recent clinic in Inglewood by Remote Area Medical (RAM).
• Alondra Campos, a client of Latino Health Access, is a young vibrant woman who is slowly going blind from complications of juvenile diabetes.  If Alondra had been born into a family living in an Orange County gated community, losing her sight due to diabetes would never be an issue.  Alondra has not been able to get reliable and consistent care for her diabetes because she does not have insurance.  Her history of getting what care she could get has been heart breaking.  At a time when she was able to pull together enough money for a doctor visit, that doctor gave her hormones and steroids instead of actually treating her diabetes.  When a telemarketer called and promised her insurance that would cover her condition, she sent in the money and never received the promised level of coverage, only more statements for premiums.  Finally, Alondra went to Latino Health Access, who is working with her on managing her diabetes and saving her sight.  Alondra has been diagnosed with a detached retina and cataracts, something that is rarely seen in a young woman like her.  Latino Health Access has her scheduled for eye surgeries.  She describes her remaining vision as being only as far as her arms can reach.  "Eight months without seeing my mother, eight months without seeing my family, eight months without seeing anything," is how Alondra describes her life now.  She added, "Are we going to let some one else lose their vision because they don't qualify for insurance, because they're too high risk?"
• Ninh Nguyen, a client of VCNOC Asian Health Center, and a recent immigrant from VietNam, spoke of his frustrations in getting care.  Ninh first lived in Nevada after he immigrated and said, "Health care in Nevada is very hard,"  in describing the language, access and affordability problems he faced.  He then moved to Orange County to join the large Vietnamese community.  Once in Orange County, Ninh still had trouble getting care because he did not know how to find the right doctors or find ways to pay for care.  VCNOC Asian Health Center helped Ninh access MediCal and find doctors who can care for his needs.

Rose Espinoza Fundraiser on August 11

Join Rose Espinozaand her friends at a fundraiser for her run for Orange County Supervisor on Tuesday, August 11 at Cafe Hidalgo, 305 N Harbor #11, Fullerton, CA, from 5:30-7:30 PM.  Rose won the Harry S Truman Award in 2008 and Points of Light Presidential Service Award from President Bill Clinton in 1994.  Rose has served as the Mayor of La Habra and on the City Council.

RSVP to 562-694-1557 or [email protected] or www.electrose.com.