Friday, March 1, 2013

Chula Vista Democratic Club Endorses Lorena Gonzalez

Pro-Jobs Democrat’s Longtime Work in South Bay Earns Her Second Endorsement By A Local Democratic Club in AD 80 Race


CHULA VISTA – (Thursday, February 28, 2013) – The Chula Vista Democratic Club has endorsed pro-jobs Democrat Lorena Gonzalez in the Assembly District 80 special election, the club announced this evening.

The Chula Vista Democratic Club is the second Democratic club to endorse Lorena’s campaign, following the San Diego County Young Democrats’ vote to endorse her at their Tuesday meeting.

Every Democratic elected official in the South Bay who has endorsed in the race has pledged support for Lorena, including San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, Congressman Juan Vargas, Assemblyman Ben Hueso and dozens of city councilmembers, school board members and other elected Democrats.

Registered Democrats in Chula Vista will make up the largest voting bloc in the upcoming special election.

Chula Vista Democratic Club President Jose Preciado said the club is excited to campaign hard for Lorena in Chula Vista.

“Chula Vista Democrats support Lorena because of her longtime work to jumpstart redevelopment of the bayfront, preserve the natural resources of the South Bay, and stand up for living wage jobs and good careers for local workers,” Preciado said. “We are supporting Lorena because she has delivered for Chula Vista.”

Throughout her professional career, Lorena has worked on the preservation of the South Bay wildlife refuge;advocating for the decommissioning of the now-defunct South Bay Power Plant; and organized agreements between business, labor, environmentalists and government agencies that have paved the way for the redevelopment of Chula Vista’s bayfront.

“Chula Vista Democrats expect results and aren’t going to crown candidates just because they’ve held office before or recognize their name,” Lorena said. “I am very proud to have won the endorsement tonight and appreciate the club's confidence in my track record."

Lorena is a candidate to replace Assemblyman Ben Hueso in the 80th Assembly District, which includes Chula Vista, National City and the City of San Diego neighborhoods of San Ysidro, City Heights, Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, Otay Mesa, Paradise Hills and Golden Hill.

Learn more about Lorena’s campaign at www.VoteLorena.com  or by e-mail VoteLorena@gmail.com.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Labor Council Approves Resolution Supporting Roadmap to Citizenship for Aspiring Americans





SAN DIEGO - San Diego Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Lorena Gonzalez made the following statement after Labor Council delegates approved a resolution supporting a roadmap to citizenship:

“Tonight, the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council passed a resolution that makes it loud and clear:  We will be at the forefront of demanding common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform that includes a clear pathway to citizenship for all aspiring citizens who have worked hard and played by the rules.

“The working families of San Diego and Imperial Counties know that all American workers will benefit when 12 million immigrants can finally come out of the shadows and assert their rights to a fair wage and a voice in the workplace.

“Locally, we will continue working with political, business, faith, and community leaders to make the vision of our members a reality, and guarantee that we achieve common sense reforms while remaining inclusive of everyone in our communities.”
The full text of the approved resolution states:

San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO Resolution 
Supporting a Road map to Citizenship for Aspiring Americans

WHEREAS: 
Every day, more than 11 million immigrant aspiring citizens contribute to our communities, our economy and our country—yet they are denied a voice in the workplace and essential rights in our society;

WHEREAS: 
A strong and vibrant democracy cannot function unless all men and women, regardless of their skin color or where they were born, can participate meaningfully in the political process with full rights and equal protections;

WHEREAS: 
The union movement recognizes that the way we treat new immigrants reflects our commitment to the values that define us;

WHEREAS: 
Working people are strongest when working together and the union movement is strongest when it is open to all workers, regardless of where they come from;

WHEREAS: 
The creation of a road map to citizenship for aspiring Americans would improve wages and labor standards for all workers by giving immigrant workers a voice in the workplace and halting employers who take advantage of our failed immigration policies to pursue a race to the bottom;

WHEREAS: 
The dreams of young immigrants to have access to quality education and the hopes of millions of immigrants to reunify their families reflect core American values;

WHEREAS: 
America’s unions remain committed to working together on the side of justice for all, along with our community partners, including civil rights, human rights, faith and immigrant rights organizations, to pass fundamental reform that encompasses these principles;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 
That the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council AFL-CIO, which represents the voices of more than 200,000 working families in Southern California, calls upon Congress to pass common-sense immigration reform that includes a practical and inclusive road map to citizenship and that reflects the principles outlined in the unified union movement’s framework for comprehensive immigration reform, “Immigration for Shared Prosperity: A Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform”;

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: 
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO will continue to work with allies to promote comprehensive immigration reform based on the principles outlined in this resolution and will communicate this position to [State]’s congressional delegation.

###
San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO includes 135 affiliated labor groups in the region with a membership of more than 200,000 working families.  Founded in 1891, the Labor Council advocates for more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all of San Diego’s workers – union and non-union.
www.unionyes.org

Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) will convene a public forum to discuss the impact of AB 109, the California Public Safety Realignment Act, on San Diego County




(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) will convene a public forum to discuss the impact of AB 109, the California Public Safety Realignment Act, on San Diego County as well as explore programs that help former offenders reintegrate back into the community.  The event, which will include input from law enforcement professionals, re-entry specialists, community leaders and other stakeholders, will take place on Friday, March 1st from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the conference room of the La Mesa Police Department (8085 University Avenue, La Mesa, 91942). 

"The implementation of criminal justice realignment has been underway for about a year, so it is important for us to engage in structured dialogue  on its challenges and opportunities so that we are proactive in achieving greater efficiency and better outcomes, " said Assemblymember Weber. "It is also important to continue collaboration and communication between elected officials, law enforcement agencies, and the community so that we are as supportive as possible as we execute our varying roles," she said.

Assembly Bill 109 shifts housing for lower level offenders from prison to local jail, and transfers supervision of designated parolees from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to local probation departments. This shift requires counties statewide to more effectively and efficiently manage offenders while maintaining high standards of public safety.
Panelists participating in the discussion will include Bill Gore, San Diego County Sheriff; Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego County District Attorney; Mack Jenkins, San Diego County Chief Probation Officer; Susan Bower, Director of Operations, Behavioral Health Division, San Diego County Department of Health and Human Services.  Also participating is Kevin Henderson, a former Commissioner of the City of San Diego’s Gang and Intervention Commission, who founded Leaders of Change, a program that works with community members and youth who have transitioned out of gang life. Time will also be provided for public comment.

For information and to RSVP, please contact George Gastil or Lee Hernández at (619)462-7878 or via email: George.Gastil@asm.ca.gov or Lee.Hernandez.asm.ca.gov.



Monday, February 25, 2013

Assemblymember Weber’s Legislative Package for the 2013 Legislative Year

SACRAMENTO, CA- Today, Assemblymember  Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego)  announced her legislative bill package for the 2013 legislative year. The package, developed in the State Capitol over the past few months, reflects the Member's dedication to education as a 40 year educator, her unwavering dedication to community advocacy, and commitment to being an agent for social justice.  Her bills cover a variety of topics including: economic development, government efficiency, small business and microbusiness expansion, education, and public safety.

LEGISLATION 2013
AB 56
Carbon Monoxide Detectors in K-12 Schools-Would require new and retrofitted K-12 schools to install carbon monoxide detectors to ensure school safety.  This bill also encourages schools built prior to January 1, 2013 to install carbon monoxide detectors.

AB 149 Inform Former Offenders of Voting Rights-Ensures that individuals who have completed parole or probation are made aware of their voting rights.

AB 172 Increased Preferences for Microbusinesses- The State has adopted several mandates to ensure these businesses, which are driving California’s economy, are awarded a fair share of public contracts.  This measure ensures microbusinesses, that are typically owned by ethnic minorities and women, are awarded a fair share of public contracts.

AB 173 Small Business Procurement Act for Universities and Colleges- This measure streamlines the award of contracts for goods and services applicable to the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges.  Called the “SB/DVBE Option,” these contracts only require two quotes from either small businesses or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises.  The SB/DBVE option authorizes for contracts valued under $250,000, that State agencies may exempt themselves from formal contracting requirements of advertising, protests, and bidding.  This bill simply allows universities and colleges to utilize this SB/DBVE option.

AB 785 Unions Blind Mailing- This bill would authorize an organization that provides employee representation or membership services to members of CalPERS to submit a request to the board for assistance in performing direct mailing. The bill would require the board, upon receiving a request, to provide a direct mailing to the annuitants of the system who are members of the organization or eligible to become members of the organization.

AB 832 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards at Universities and Campuses-The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that low income students at universities are able to utilize all their financial benefits, which includes the use of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to purchase food while on campus. This bill will reduce discrimination on the low-income student who has been denied access to use their stipends on campus and increase revenue for the school.

AB 899 English Second Language Common Core Standards- California has taken several steps to revise its K–12 accountability program. Beginning in 2014, the state will switch to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a set of high-quality standards in subject areas like English and mathematics developed by and for the states. California recently joined a number of other states in adopting the Common Core State Standards for English and math.  Under this legislation, California will adopt the Common Core Standards for English as a Second Language (ESL) and ensures that students are receiving a high quality education consistently, from school to school and state to state.

AB 938
Realignment Offenders Voting Rights-Ensures that former offenders who have satisfied their jail or prison term and are under the new classification post release community supervision established as a result realignment are able to vote. The bill would also require courts to provide more information to county elections officers to prevent these individuals from accidently being purged out of the system.

AB 979 Port of San Diego Peace Officers-This bill would help to ensure the safety of our ports and provide adequate training of peace officers whose jurisdiction includes a port or other waterborne environment.

AB 1238 Cal-YOR Program-Assembly Bill 1238 would provide authorization for the continued operation of a cost-effective, innovative program that targets youthful offenders who are reentering society, the California Youth Offender Re-Entry Program.

AB 1241 Cal Grant Extended Years of Eligibility-This bill would extend the period of eligibility a high school student has to apply for the Cal-Grant Entitlement Programs by 3 years. Students would be required to submit a complete financial aid application no later than March 2 of the 4th academic year after his or her high school graduation or its equivalent for an award the academic year following the application.

Real Questions Produce Real Answers: Polling Shows Lorena Gonzalez with 32-point Lead Over Opponent

SAN DIEGO – (Monday, February 25, 2013) – Pro-jobs Democrat Lorena Gonzalez leads opponent Steve Castaneda by 32 points in polling conducted in the Assembly District 80 special election.

When provided summaries of the two candidates’ biographies and asked which candidate they prefer, respondents of a survey conducted by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research, Inc. preferred Lorena over her opponent by a 49-17 margin.

“Anyone that assumes that name identification alone will determine the outcome of this election several weeks before voter contact begins is barking up the wrong tree,” said Evan McLaughlin, campaign manager for the Lorena Gonzalez for Assembly campaign. “The impacts of a well-resourced campaign, the strong support from local leaders and organizations that have endorsed our campaign, and the natural appeal of Lorena’s experience to voters are going to matter more than whether Steve Castaneda is better known in Chula Vista than Lorena in February."

The poll, conducted Feb. 1-4 from 350 likely special election voters in the 80th Assembly District, included the following question:

“I am going to read you some additional information about the candidates for state Assembly and get your reaction.

“Lorena Gonzalez is a non-profit C-E-O and mother of two. The daughter of an immigrant farmworker and a nurse, Gonzalez learned the value of hard work at an early age. She worked her way through Stanford University and UCLA Law School, and as a labor leader where she has helped find compromise between businesses and workers. Because of this, she is endorsed by both the labor community and members of the business community, and respected leaders like Congressman Juan Vargas and Mayor Bob Filner. In the legislature, Gonzalez will bring a pragmatic approach to solving problems like improving education and creating jobs.

“Steve Castaneda is a Chula Vista city councilmember, small businessman and father of two. Castaneda is a moderate voice, working to make our communities safer and healthier. As a former police officer, Castaneda says public safety is his highest priority, and has been a fighter against domestic violence. And, he is working with state and local officials to reduce childhood obesity and ban tobacco use in public places. In the legislature, Castaneda will bring his successes in Chula Vista to state government, balancing the budget and making the economy stronger.

“Now that you have heard more information, if the special primary election for state assembly were held today, for whom would you vote: Democrat Lorena Gonzalez, Democrat Steve Castaneda, or another candidate?

Lorena Gonzalez ....................................................................................................................... 45%
Lean Gonzalez ............................................................................................................................ 4%
Total Gonzalez .........................................................................................................................49%
Steve Castaneda ........................................................................................................................ 16%
Lean Castaneda ......................................................................................................................... 1%
Total Castaneda ......................................................................................................................17%
Another candidate or undecided...........................................................................................34%

Lorena is a candidate to replace Assemblyman Ben Hueso in the 80th Assembly District, which includes Chula Vista, National City and the City of San Diego neighborhoods of San Ysidro, City Heights, Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, Otay Mesa, Paradise Hills and Golden Hill.

Learn more about Lorena’s campaign at www.VoteLorena.com  or by e-mail VoteLorena@gmail.com.