Pacific Progressive

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

Jose Solorio is Turning 39

Join friends and supporters at a cocktail reception for Jose Solorio on Wednesday, September 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Garden Room of First American Corporation, One First American Way, Santa Ana, CA.  Contributions start at $39.  For more information and to RSVP, contact Denise Peralta at 714-673-0005 or [email protected].

Rush Hour Rally for Health Care - Honks Were Loud and Proud

MoveOn held a second rally on September 22, 2009 to put support for health care reform out in front of rush hour drivers.  Over 150 people held the four corners of Bristol and Sunflower across from South Coast Plaza.  Passing drivers honked their support for health care reform. 

The message of the rally, Big Insurance - Sick of It! - was part of a national day of action organized by MoveOn and other progressive groups to draw attention to the way large insurance companies like Cigna, Aetna, and United Health Care abuse American citizens with refusing to pay claims, rescinding coverage, and denying coverage.  

The rally included parents, grandparents, school age children, medical workers, retirees, all pressing the case for health care reform. Members of the rally represented a cross-section of Orange County.  Some members have been denied coverage for surviving cancer or other pre-existing conditions.  Other members talked about barely being able to afford premiums for plans which don't cover much.  

The rush hour rally was the second rally of the day for the Orange County chapter of MoveOn.  During lunchtime, the group organized a rally outside UHP offices in Santa Ana. 

MoveOn UHP Rally Draws a Crowd

MoveOn held a rally outside UHP offices in Santa Ana, CA which filled the sidewalks to overflowing. And no UHP people came out to address the rally or talk about issues.  UHP is well known for being highly profitable while lavishing high salaries, bonuses and perks on employees while raising premiums, rescinding policies and denying care to insured people.

CSEA, California School Employees Association, had many members turn out.  Other rally members had difficulties obtaining coverage because of surviving cancer or other "pre-existing conditions."  Several members spoke about horror stories: 

•  A young mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed a double mastectomy to save her life. She had the surgery, then found out over $35,000 was not covered by insurance. She had to sell her house to pay the bill and explain to her young son why they were losing their home.
• A man put into a wheelchair by an accident talked about losing his employer coverage as a result of not being able to work and the two year battle to get Medicaid that followed.  He wants to get a van to regain his mobility, but he is being told to use the rapidly disappearing and often late paratransit system ACCESS.
• A retiree received notice his coverage is being changed and there is nothing he can do about it.  

At the rally, the need for a single payer system (the best choice) or a strong public option (second best choice) was loud and proud.  Members also want to go after the Blue Dog Democrats who claim to be Democrats, but won't vote like Democrats.  Blue Dog Democrats are being targeted by groups like MoveOn and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA).  These groups are recruiting candidates to run against Blue Dogs during the primaries.

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?

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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.

Lestonnac Free Clinic Opens in Santa Ana

Lestonnac Free Clinic has opened a new site in Santa Ana thru the generousity of Dr. Dimitri Sirakoff, D.O.  Dr. Sirakoff is allowing Lestonnac to operate their clinic on the first floor of his building at 1206 E. 17th St, Santa Ana, CA (nearest major cross streets are 17th and Grand Ave.)  The clinic will see patients on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  The clinic has eight examination rooms, a comfortable waiting area, and is near public transportation.  

Dr. Sirakoff has a history of giving back to the community.  In addition to giving space to Lestonnac, he has also donated an ultrasound machine which can be used to help diagnose a wide variety of patient health problems.  On the first and third Saturdays of the month, Dr. Sirakoff operates the Santa Ana Food Bank.  In August, Santa Ana Food Bank distributed approximately 40,000 pounds of food to to over 543 people.  The food bank offers fresh vegetables and fruit, which is rare among food banks.  In addition to food, the participants can also obtain clothing, shoes, and toys for kids.  Dr. Sirakoff has been inviting the community to the food bank for 18 months.

Lestonnac Free Clinic was founded in 1979 by Sister Marie Therese and is dedicated to providing free medical and dental care to the poorest of the poor in Orange County. The main clinic is at 1215 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA.  Lestonnac Free Clinic is a non-profit clinic which relies on donations to operate. 

 In 2008, the Clinics small staff, contract professionals, and volunteer physicians and nurses served 1,867 low-income patients thru 11,047 visits.  So far, in 2009, the Lestonnac Free Clinic has served  2,279 patients (63% increase over year to date for 2008) through 9,068 visit (35% increase over 2008 year to date.)  Clinic staff attributes the significant increase in need for services to the recession where many people who had health insurance have lost their insurance because they have lost their jobs.

"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.

Potential Post Office Closures - Is Your Local Post Office Closing?

The Post Office has announced potential closures of 677  offices nationwide.  According to the Washington Post, here are local stations which could be closed:

Anaheim - Brookhurst, Canyon Station, Federal Station , Stadium Station

Fullerton - Commonwealth

Huntington Beach - Beach Center

Irvine - East Irvine Station

Loretta Sanchez Introduces Bill to Help Prepare Students for Global Workplace

Foreign language programs and international education are a priority in the US and World Education Act sponsored by Representative Loretta Sanchez.  The act would provide grants to support international education and foreign language programs.  Funding for student programs and professional development programs for educators are included.  Students would be able to learn about world history, international relations, foreign languages and about the global economy.  The world is becoming more of a global economy, and competency in these areas is needed to be able to compete.

"Encouraging our students to learn foreign languages and cultures is not only good education policy - it's good economic policy.  In these tough economic times, it is imperative that we give our children and teachers the tools they need to compete in an increasingly global economy,  By making smart investments in international education and foreign language programs, my bill will help shaped the students of today into the workforce of tomorrow," said Rep. Sanchez.

Tracking Orange County Hate Groups

The Southern Poverty Law Center has a national clearinghouse for tracking hate groups.  In 2008, Southern Poverty Law Center counted 926 active groups in the United States.  California had 84 active hate groups, which is the largest number reported for any state.  The center researches groups using hate group publications and websites, reports from law enforcement and citizens, field reports and news reports.  

The number of groups which operate in Southern California is startling.  Groups range from Newport Beach to Big Bear to Camarillo to San Diego. Does anyone know if any of these groups have donated money to candidates for office?

Anaheim - Traditional Values Coalition (Anti-Gay)

Bakersfield - Aryan Militia (Neo-Nazi)

Big Bear Lake - Coors Family Skinheads (Racist Skinhead)

Lou Correa Invites You and Your Family to National Night Out

State Senator Lou Correa invites local residents for a National Night Out to learn about how communities can work together to prevent crime and drug abuse.  Local events are being coordinated by police departments and community groups.  This year, the National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 4.

The events are free and family friendly.  Law enforcement staff and community groups will be educating families about how to make their homes safer and build stronger neighborhoods. Safety brochures and materials will be available.  Free food, K9 and SWAT demonstrations, and children's activities will be featured.

"National Night Out is an opportunity for you and your family to show criminals that our neighborhoods are organized and determined to prevent crime.  Community participation is crucial to the efforts of local agencies in crime prevention, " said Senator Correa.

Events will be held in Anaheim,Fullerton,  Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. Other cities will have events, check with your city for your event.

Anaheim - 5-8 PM at Stoddard Park, 1901 S 9th St, Anaheim, CA 92802

Fullerton - 5-7:30 PM at Target, 200 W Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832

Garden Grove - 5-7:30 PM at Westhaven Park, 12252 West St, Garden Grove, CA 92840

Santa Ana - 4-7 PM at El Salvador Park, 1825 W Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92703

Loretta Sanchez Talks Hispanic Votes with Rachel Maddow

Representative Loretta Sanchez talked with Rachel Maddow about the GOP not working to build Hispanic votes. 

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Loretta Sanchez Brings Home $6.7 Million for Santa Ana Police Department

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is pleased to announce that the Santa Ana Police Department will receive $6.7 million from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program offered by the Department of Justice (DOJ.) The COPS funds will be used to add and retain law enforcement officers.  The COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) grants provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for entry level office positions for a three year period.  Police departments which receive the grants make a commitment to retain the grant funded position for a fourth year, one year after the initial grant expires.

"The Santa Ana Police Department provides critical law enforcement services to the largest city in Orange County by population, with over 500,000 daytime residents.  This funding will help hire and retain cops at at time when many police departments are facing hiring freezes and cutbacks," said Rep. Sanchez.

She then added, "That being said, I am disappointed that the DOJ did not make additional investments in other police departments in my district.  The Orange County Sheriff's Department and Anaheim, Fullerton, and Garden Grove police departments are all outstanding and equally deserving of funding. In Washington, I will continue to work hard to ensure Orange County's law enforcement community continues to receive its fair share of federal funding."