Fiona Ma for State Assembly: News

Cash for College

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma encourages you to attend Cash for College, a FREE Financial Aid Workshop for students and parents, which will be available in San Francisco and Daly City. A source of information for students who want to attend college and pursue rewarding careers, Cash for College continues to provide high quality college access opportunities for local youth. At a time when budget cuts are hitting students the hardest, now, more than ever, it is important for youth to expand their awareness of available options for higher education. Assistance to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form required for Cal Grants will be provided.

On-site Services: Presentations, one on one assistance, and translation services will be provided.

What to Bring:

Social Security Card OR Driver's License OR Alien Registration Card
2011 Income tax information OR 2010 tax return
W2s and other income forms
Any records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits, child support payments, etc.
List of colleges you're interested in attending
If undocumented, our AB540 specialists will work with you to find alternative opportunities to pay for college

Attendees can qualify to win $1000 when they complete the workshop and fill out a survey.

Philip Sala Burton High School - 400 Mansell St. San Francisco, CA
Thursday, January 26th, 2012 [Chinese & Spanish Translators]
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
George Washington High School - 600 32nd Ave. San Francisco, CA
Thursday, January 26th, 2012 [Chinese & Spanish Translators]
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Jefferson High School - 6996 Mission St. Daly City, CA
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 [Spanish Translator]
5:15 - 7:30 p.m.

Attendees can qualify to win $1000 when they complete the workshop and fill out a survey.

'Urban Cowgirl' says Sunday time to eat local foods

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Sunday is about to get a new moniker promoting the consumption of local agricultural products.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, wants to designate it as the time to "Eat Local, Buy California Grown on Sundays."

Glenn County Supervisors are supporting that call with a resolution calling Sunday the day to buy and eat local produce and meats grown in the county.

Agricultural Commissioner Jim Donnelly brought the request to the board Jan. 17 and it agreed to join the effort.

Ma, nicknamed the "Urban Cowgirl," is known among North State agriculture interests as a supporter of agriculture and water protection, county officials said.

Donnelly said her Assembly Resolution 42 encourages boards of supervisors statewide to support this cause.

It notes California has a rich heritage of agriculture production and its foods are famous for their "abundance, diversity, freshness and high quality."

Buying locally grown foods also helps California and county farmers and their employees by contributing billions of dollars to the economy every year, officials said.

California's food safety practices ensure a high standard of quality and benefit to consumers whether it is produce, livestock, milk, fish, floriculture, wine, fruits, nuts and more, Donnelly said.

So the Board of Supervisors encourages restaurants, families and grocers "to buy California-Grown floriculture, fiber and foods, such as fresh chicken, flowers and produce because supporting California-grown food products will result in higher food quality, improved food safety, and higher environmental and animal welfare standards, in addition to significant economic benefits," according to Glenn County's resolution.

Supervisor Leigh McDaniel said he has met Ma and that she has worked to understand Northern California agriculture and water needs the last two years.

"North State politicos appreciate her interest and efforts in advocating for the North State," he said. "In gratitude, we thought we'd support her Sunday initiative."

McDaniel added he believes Ma understands North State produce and water resources are important to the San Francisco region as well.

Board Chairman Steve Soeth said there was discussion on the dials about the reason for picking just one day out of seven for this effort - when it would be good to buy all week.

"But it can't hurt," he said. "It gets some press and gets people thinking about it."

Proponents of the resolution also say buying locally produced food goods cuts down on shipping long distances and provides fresher products.

Glenn County's Certified Farmers Markets in Willows and Orland are expected to open again this summer, and there are a lot of produce stands operated by farmers and others around the county.

Grocery stores also feature some locally grown products while a number of local restaurants also feature area produce in season such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, honey and meats.

Domestic Workers Rally at the Capitol

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Today at the Capitol, more than 200 domestic workers and their children marched in cold weather for AB 889. Tom Ammiano and other California legislators took part in "Shadow Your Legislator" sessions where children of domestic workers will get to spend one on one time with their legislators, some of whom are children of domestic workers themselves.

Click here to view a slideshow from the rally.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's Bill to Bring Justice to Incarcerated Victims of Domestic Violence, Passes out of Assembly Committee on Public Safety

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO –Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's (D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) AB 593 got through one of its first hurdles today as it passed out of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety.

As the chair of the Domestic Violence Select Committee, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma has hosted informational hearings to understand the issues and challenges of incarcerated domestic violence victims. One of the cases that became the catalyst behind AB 593 was that of Brenda Clubine's, a domestic violence victim.

"Today is a great success, as we continue the state’s progress to help incarcerated victims of domestic violence seek justice. This bill will ensure other women like Brenda can have a second chance to tell their stories and be judged fairly with all the facts in place."

In 1983, after enduring years of abuse, Brenda was convicted of second degree murder with a 16 years to life sentence. A California prison study found that 93% of women who committed homicide did so in attempt to protect themselves or their children from a violent spouse. As a result of this type of behavior, in 1992 Intimate Partner Battering and its Effects (IPC) also known as Battered Women’s Syndrome, was allowed to be introduced and weigh in as evidence in cases where battered women were charged with crimes relating to their experiences of being abused. However, for Brenda and women like her, this law did not apply retroactively and only effected the cases of domestic violence victims after 1992.

As Brenda stated in her testimony in committee today, "When I went to trial, I was only 20 and scared out of my mind. How did I get here? How did this ever happen to me? I never meant to take my husband’s life… I had piles of evidence, reports and paperwork of my abuse to show what lead up to that night of the crime. Yet, it was not allowed to be presented to the jury… even my expert witness was not allowed in the courtroom to testify on my behalf.”

In 2002, the Legislature passed SB 799 by Senator Betty Karnette which allows incarcerated victims of domestic violence who were convicted of crimes relating to their experiences of being abused, where the crime occurred before August 1996, to submit a petition for writ of habeas corpus. As a result of this bill, in October 2008 Brenda Clubine was retried and released after serving 26 years in prison due to enough evidence of IPC.

There are many cases just like Brenda’s that have yet to be heard or were overlooked due to the inclusion of expert testimony. Judges simply did not have an understanding of what was admissible. AB 593 seeks to address this issue by doing two things: it will allow victims of domestic violence whose expert testimony was limited at their trial court proceedings to re-file for a writ of habeas corpus to allow this expert testimony to weigh in on their defense and it will also give victims more time to receive legal representation by deleting the sunset date currently in statute.

According to the Habeas Project, there are currently 19 women still waiting for an attorney-some of who have been waiting for over five years. There is currently no state or local paid legal representation available for cases like Brenda’s so it falls upon attorneys to volunteer and help women like Brenda.

AB 593 will now head to the Assembly floor for a vote which is yet to be scheduled.

Golden Gate Park bison death sparks investigation

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

A bizarre and tragic incident this week in which a young bison died in the Golden Gate Park paddock hours after at least one small dog was found in the enclosure has prompted the Recreation and Park Department to consider increasing signage about leash rules in the area.

A female dog walker has been cited and fined for violating municipal codes involving leash rules and animal disturbance, Rec and Park said. The historic paddock is marked by at least one sign saying dogs must be leashed, according to the department.

Necropsy results released Thursday revealed that the bison had extensive bruising on its left chest wall and sternum, and blood in the left chest cavity, according to the San Francisco Zoo, which takes care of the bison. The injuries were attributed to blunt force trauma, possibly due to running into a fence post or tree.

A witness, Greg Leonard, said he saw two dogs enter the paddock Wednesday morning and they began to chase the bison.

"They started running around where the buffalo were and so the buffalo just went kind of wild," Leonard told CBS 5. "They were running around and one of them injured itself."

An investigation is ongoing, but Rec and Park said a "toy breed" pooch entered the enclosure by burrowing underneath the fence. A zookeeper found one of the smaller bison with a laceration on its left side. An examination revealed three broken ribs, which were treated.

The 6- to 7-month-old, 600-pound bison was returned to the paddock, but found dead about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, Rec and Park said.

Seven young female bison were brought to the paddock Dec. 6, Rec and Park officials said. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma helped bring the new bison to the park.

Ma said her staff is working closely with park officials to ensure no similar incidents occur in the future. A spokeswoman for Ma said the lawmaker does not have immediate plans for legislation, but would consider action if warranted by Rec and Park’s investigation.

Police arrived on the scene at 9 a.m. Wednesday and found the dog’s handler trying to coax the pooch out of the enclosure. She had with her a total of five unleashed dogs, officials said, and was cited and fined $307.

"This is an on-leash dog area, and this dog handler violated the regulation," Rec and Park spokeswoman Connie Chan said Thursday.

The paddock is located near an enclosed off-leash dog area. The paddock is lined with chain-link fence about 8 feet high. There are brown signs listing the rules at each of the four entrances to the off-leash area, including that dog handlers must carry one leash per pooch.

Two signs indicate dogs must be on a leash outside the dog park, around the bison paddock.

Nancy Stafford, co-director of the San Francisco Professional Dog Walkers Association, said it is rare for walkers to take pooches off their leashes where it is forbidden.

"I’m not condoning that, it’s just a reality," said Stafford.

Baby bison dies after incident with small dog at Golden Gate Park

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

It's hard out there for a bovine.

One of seven new baby bison introduced to the Bison Paddock in Golden Gate Park has died after sustaining injuries from an incident with a small dog Wednesday afternoon, according to the San Francisco Zoo.

Witnesses saw a "toy breed" dog running around the rear of the paddock around 9 a.m. The dog was seen burrowing under a fence to exit the animal enclosure, and it is suspected that it entered in the same manner as well. An investigation into how the dog was able to breach the paddock is ongoing.

Park Patrol identified the dog handler who was trying to coax the dog from the area. The handler was found to have five dogs off leash and was cited for failure to use a leash in a designated on-leash area as well as for animal disturbance.

The SF Zoo was immediately notified and zookeepers were dispatched to examine the herd. A laceration on the left side of one of the smallest, young bison was found.

Further examination by a veterinarian uncovered three broken ribs. The injuries were treated and the animal was allowed to rejoin its herd.

At approximately 5:20 p.m. Wednesday evening, the Zoo received notification that the bison was found dead. The cause of death is under investigation. A necropsy is scheduled for later today at SF Zoo.

The dead bison is one of seven that arrived at in Golden Gate Park on Dec. 6.

The new baby bison were purchased after state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma helped arrange the funding and Richard Blum, the husband of Sen. Dianne Fienstein, chipped in with help.

Golden Gate Park baby bison found dead

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO -- A baby bison in Golden Gate Park died Wednesday night after being found with three broken ribs following an incident in which a small dog got into the bison paddock, officials said today.

Park patrol officers found the dog, identified as a toy breed, running inside the back of the paddock at about 9 a.m. Wednesday, said officials with the Recreation and Park Department. The dog's handler was trying to coax out the dog, which appeared to have burrowed under the paddock fence, officials said.

Zookeepers from the San Francisco Zoo examined the herd for injuries and found a laceration on the left side of a 6-month-old female bison. The bison had three broken ribs, and after it was treated, it rejoined the herd.

The baby bison was found dead a few hours later, at about 5:20 p.m.

It was not immediately clear whether the dog was responsible for the bison's injuries. A necropsy was scheduled for later today.

Park patrol officers said the dog handler had five dogs off their leashes. The handler was cited for animal disturbance and failure to use a leash in a designated on-leash area.

The baby bison was one of seven brought in from a Redding ranch in November, in an effort to rejuvenate the dwindling Golden Gate Park herd, said Connie Chan, Recreation and Park Department spokeswoman. Six of the bison were bought for $1,200 each with the fundraising help of Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. D-San Francisco, and the seventh was donated.

Ma said in a statement today that she was "disheartened by the unfortunate accident. ... This is a sad reminder that we must be responsible pet owners at all times - especially when going out to parks where there are children, pets and other animals."

The young bison are kept in a separate area from the adults in the paddock. A fenced-in, off-leash dog play area is about 50 feet north of the young bison paddock.

Katie Kindt, a 49-year-old dentist who lives in San Francisco, walks her wirehaired vizsla and vizsla twice a day in the park. Today, she had them off leash just outside the paddock fence.

Kindt said she always follows signs for on-leash areas that are clearly marked. "There's one guy who ruins it for everyone else," she said of those who can't control their dogs while off-leash.

Kindt said professional dog walkers should be licensed. A proposal requiring licensing and training for commercial handlers - and capping the number of dogs at a time at eight - is up for approval before the Board of Supervisors this month.

New year, new laws

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

The new year also means a whole new batch of laws in California.

Thanks to San Mateo County legislators, gas pipelines might be safer, buying some cough syrup will be illegal for minors and social studies students will learn in school about the contributions of Filipino veterans during World War II.

All of the laws are based on legislation passed in 2011 and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Unless otherwise specified, each take effect Jan. 1.

A strong theme in the last year was pipeline safety with both Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, and Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, taking aim at preventing another disaster like the 2010 San Bruno explosion.

Yee’s bill requires PG&E and other gas utility companies to install automatic and remotely-controlled shutoff valves on pipelines statewide. The proposal was in response to news that the San Bruno line only had manual shutoff valves leading to the inferno continuing for hours because a technician was not in the vicinity.

Hill has two San Bruno-spurred laws. The first requires remote controlled shutoff valves in high population areas and prohibits utilities from using rate payer money to pay safety violation penalties assessed by the California Public Utilities Commission. Natural gas corporations are also required to meet annually with local fire departments to review emergency response plans.

The second bill exempts San Bruno residents from paying state taxes on recovery money they received from PG&E, the Red Cross and the city of San Bruno.

Hill’s work also means judges can now suspend a driver’s license for 10 years after his or her third conviction for driving while intoxicated. Currently, the limit is three years and the Department of Motor Vehicles is charged with the suspension authority. If every judge now uses this discretion, more than 10,000 repeat DUI offenders could be taken off state roads annually, according to Hill’s office.

Judges also have discretion to recognize paternity for non-biological parents who have an established relationship with a child. Previously, courts could not recognize such a parent even if the biological father had no connection with his offspring.

Lower retirement rates for sheriffs

Hill’s bills will also let San Mateo County implement a memorandum of understanding providing lower retirement tiers for new employees in the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, cracks down on fraudulent solicitations by letting the Secretary of State refuse to process such documents and clarifies that the “real party in interest” named in a California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit as those involved in the project or permit.

California, in conjunction with other states, will now award all of its electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote under Hill’s bill but it does not take effect until a majority of states follow suit.

Another bill is already under way — an emergency measure clarifying the types of financing used for people to install solar on their homes and make the state more competitive in luring solar firms. One example, according to Hill, is Maryland-based SunEdison which relocated its headquarters to Belmont this year.

Hill said he is “honored” the bills are becoming state law.

“My hope is that they improve the safety and quality of life for my constituents and all Californians,” he said in a prepared statement.

Elder protection

Assemblyman Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park, is particularly proud of his law to protect the elderly and dependent adults from financial abuse in conservatorships.

“It’s pretty important and protecting our vulnerable seniors is something cool to do,” Gordon said.

The bill closes probate loopholes and gives the public guardian more power by expanding its scope to include control of assets held in financial trusts and extends from 15 to 30 the number of days for temporary possession of property.

Gordon said his bill on plastic recycling has “potential for some good long-term impact, allowing us to beneficially reuse plastic and create California jobs.”

That bill, refining the plastic market development program, extends the sunset date for the existing law authorizing CalRecycle to pay up to $150 per ton for empty plastic beverage containers. By promoting recycling, Gordon said the bill will grow new jobs in that industry and manufacturing.

Gordon’s priority areas since taking office have been education, the environment and government reform. He said his 2011 bills and his plans for the future reflect that.

His other successful laws include incentives for local governments to develop renewable energy projects to offset energy costs at separate buildings. He also authored a bill to reauthorize the waste tire grant program and require CalRecycle to provide outreach in hopes of diverting tires from state landfills. Another law extension continues exempting work by volunteers, like beach cleanup crews, from the public works wage requirement for another five years. Another bill extends a tax exemption for property used exclusively to preserve natural resources or open space.

A Gordon-authored bill requires schools regulated by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to disclose limitations related to unaccredited degrees to better protect consumers from predatory practices in recruitment and student loans.

Specific to San Mateo County, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is allowed up to 30 years rather than the current 20 to repay debt in form of promissory notes which is estimated to provide up to 20 percent more purchasing funds.

Corporations and limited liability corporations will be able to receive notices from the Secretary of State’s Office via email beginning Jan. 1 and the Healthy Start program will be given grants again once funding is available. Local assessors, tax collectors and auditors will be able to increase the fees for preparing documents and the Local Agency Formation Commission will more easily be able to dissolve obsolete special districts.

The California Building Standards Commission must have at least one member experienced in sustainable design and construction and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is authorized to implement express lanes, courtesy of Gordon.

Another new law lets the state retain unobligated federal transportation funds it would otherwise lose by using them on ready-to-go projects and later use bond revenue to repay the funds to the State Highway Account.

Fight against youth drug abuse

Beginning Jan. 1, California will be the first state banning the sale of over-the-counter cold and cough medications containing dextromethorphan to minors thanks to state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto.

One in 10 minors have reported using DXM to get high and the abuse is growing according to WebMD and the Consumer Healthcare Productions Association. Simitian said his bill will limit how young people obtain medicine that can be as dangerous as abusing alcohol and other drugs.

“By putting age limitations on these drugs, we’re communicating to kids and their parents that when used inappropriately these are dangerous drugs with serious consequences,” Simitian said.

The law was the winning entry in Simitian’s 2004 “There Oughta Be a Law” contest from Wayne Benitez and Ron Lawrence, both with the Palo Alto Police Department at the time. The bill stalled in 2004 but Simitian successfully reintroduced it earlier this year.

Violations will be an infraction and the law provides an exception for minors with a prescription.

Yee also touched on pharmacies, authoring a bill allowing pharmacies to sell sterile syringes to an adult without a prescription in hopes of curbing the spread of blood-borne diseases and viruses.

Simitian’s other bills aimed at establishing California as a renewable energy leader by requiring private and public utilities to obtain 33 percent of their electricity from sources like solar, wind and geothermal by 2020. Other legislation lets counties tap additional federal funds for health insurance without cost to the state and extends the Financial Elder Abuse Reporting Act requiring bank employees to report suspected cases.

Simitian also continued his commitment to consumer privacy protection by requiring state agencies and businesses to notify the Attorney General’s Office if more than 500 Californians are affected by a data breach. Simitian’s privacy protection efforts also extended to electronic content under a law proposed by Cupertino library law consultant Mary Minow in the 2011 law contest.

His remaining laws include expansion of the California Capital Access Program, which encourages banks to make loans to small businesses, spurs investment in California bonds and reauthorizes until 2018 two popular tax check-off funds authorized by Simitian’s 2007 legislation: the State Children’s Trust Fund for the Prevention of Child Abuse and the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Program.

Online voter registration

Yee’s other bills update the California Public Records Act to include auxiliary organizations and foundations that work with the state’s public universities and allows citizens to register to vote via the Internet. Government agencies will need a court order to access consumers’ reading records from bookstores and online retailers because of Senate Bill 602 and an automotive repair dealer who knowingly fails to fully repair and restore an auto air bag faces a $5,000 fine and/or a year in prison. Workers will be ensured prevailing wages on energy service contracts of public agencies and Yee succeeded in declaring Firefighter Memorial Day and Sunshine Week.

“These laws will increase government transparency, protect consumers, safeguard our communities, support working families and get more people involved in our democracy,” Yee said in a prepared statement.

Seven of eight new laws authored by Speaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, kick in next Sunday. Ma said the batch of legislation builds on her previous two terms where she “focused on creating jobs, securing funding for education and public safety and improving the quality of life in San Mateo and San Francisco neighborhoods.”

Sasha’s Law

In response to drug-related teen deaths at dance parties and raves, Ma created Sasha’s Law which requires anyone promoting an event on state property to create an Event Action Plan when a fairground governing board thinks there is a threat to life.

Ma also authored a ban on alcoholic beverage sale at self-service checkout stands so that a grocery clerk must have a face-to-face transaction much like the sales of cigarettes, spray paint and prescription drugs.

Her bill promoting Filipino veteran curriculum will affect children in grades seven to 12. They will learn about this quickly diminishing population as, according to Ma’s office, there are only 17 such veterans alive today. The goal is to keep their contributions alive before they are lost in history.

Retired certified public accountants will get their own designation throughout the California Board of Accountancy to prevent the cancellation or surrendering of their licenses and the Medical Board of California will be required to publish only factual proven information on medical accusations and investigations. Another law provides market certainty for electric vehicle charging stations for the state’s consumer fleet while promoting consumer demand through infrastructure investments. Another extends a pilot program in San Francisco which issues parking tickets via forward facing cameras on buses to double-parked vehicles.

Speaker pro Tem's New Laws Regarding Education, Public Safety, Health Care, Environment, Go into Effect January 1, 2012

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO, CA December 23, 2011 - Seven of eight new laws authored by Speaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties), signed this fall by Governor Brown, will go into effect on January 1, 2012. These new laws build on Assemblywoman Ma's first two terms where she focused on creating jobs, securing funding for education and public safety, and improving the quality of life in San Mateo and San Francisco neighborhoods.

Below is a snap-shot of some of Assemblywoman Ma's legislation which was signed by Governor Edmund G. Jerry Brown Jr. upon the conclusion of the 2011 legislative session:

AB 74 (Sasha's Law)

In response to the growing number of drug-related teen deaths at all night dance parties and raves in California, AB 74 requires a promoter of an event on State property to create an Event Action Plan when a governing board of a state fairground determines there's a threat to life. AB 74 provides law enforcement, public health and local government officials an additional tool to keep public events safe.

AB 183 (Self-Service Alcohol Checkout)

AB 183 bans the sale of alcoholic beverages at self-service checkout stands in order to create a face-to-face transaction with a grocery clerk, similar to cigarettes, spray paint, and prescription drugs. The bill was sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the California Police Chiefs Association and the California Professional Firefighters.

AB 199 (Filipino Veterans in WWII Curriculum)

AB 199 is the first step toward ensuring that children in California learn about the significant contributions of Filipino soldiers during World War II by promoting social science instruction in grades 7-12 curriculum. When this bill was first introduced in 2006, there were 84 Filipino Veterans still alive. Today, there are only 17. This bill remembers our brave Filipino soldiers before they are lost in history.

AB 431 (Retired CPAs)

AB 431 creates a "Retired" designation for Certified Public Accountants through the California Board of Accountancy (CBA) to prevent the cancellation or surrendering of licenses in order to ease re-instatement and reduce stigma. AB 431 was sponsored by the CBA.

AB 536 (Doctors Records)

AB 536 protects doctors and patients by requiring the Medical Board of California (MBC) to publish only factual proven information on medical accusations and investigations on the Medical Board's website within 6 months of the notice.

AB 631 (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations)

AB 631 continues California's leadership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing market certainty for electric vehicle charging stations that is needed to support California's electric vehicle consumer fleet. By codifying a CPUC decision on public utility jurisdiction, AB 631 will encourage businesses to invest in infrastructure to promote consumer demand.

AB 1041 (Muni Cameras)

AB 1041 extends a pilot program that allows the City and County of San Francisco to issue parking tickets using forward facing cameras on buses to vehicles that are double parked in transit lanes to reduce traffic congestion, eliminate traffic bottleneck, and reduce transit travel time in the City.

California To Soon Outlaw Alcohol Sales Through Grocery Self-Check Out

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

One of the new California laws set to take effect on January 1st would make it illegal to purchase alcohol in grocery store self-checkout lines in an effort to prevent minors from buying alcohol.

The new law, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) requires a face-to-face transaction with a grocery clerk.

KCBS’ Mike Colgan Reports:

”I thought something like this was already in place,” said Jessica, a shopper. “That’s why I didn't go through self checkout today. I went to the checker because I figured they’d have to check my ID. To me this just makes perfect sense.”

Sponsors of the bill included Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Everyday Hep B Heroes Calendars Launch

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Over 300 people came to celebrate the launch of the 2nd annual Hep B Free Calendar entitled “Everyday Hep B Heroes” which celebrates 12 remarkable Asian Americans of Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese descent that are all raising public awareness for Hepatitis B on Dec. 16, 2011.

The Hep B Calendar Launch Party was held in conjunction with Assemblywoman Fiona Ma’s Holiday Open House.

The calendar features the alarming statistics of the effects of the disease and its prevalence among the Asian Pacific Islander community. One in 10 Asian and Pacific Islanders are affected by hepatitis B.

Hep B Heroes are amongst us and they are making a difference in the Hepatitis B Free Movement in their daily lives. Each month features a different hero in their element complete with cape or heroic B emblem, along with a personal quote on what they are doing for the cause.

Some of the heroes featured in the calendar include California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma honorary spokesperson for the Hep B Free campaign, Congressman Mike Honda, who has been working on several pieces of hepatitis legislation, and ABC 7 anchor and reporter Alan Wang who has been using his access to the media to inform the public about the disease.

“I’ve lost two uncles and a grandfather to liver cancer, and had no idea they were hepatitis B related until I discovered I was chronically infected with the disease. My mother has hepatitis B and all of my siblings were also infected at birth,” says Wang. “I have been sharing my story to help dispel any cultural barriers and misconceptions people may have about hepatitis B.”

Photographer Shane Sato, Miss May Kris Mizutani, and Miss November Kelly Banh with the Subaru Hep B Mobile.

BUY YOUR CALENDAR TODAY:
Calendars cost $10 each, plus $3 for shipping and handling. All proceeds will go towards ending hepatitis B disease and liver cancer. To purchase a calendar, contact Carrolyn Kubota at (415) 373-4003, ckubota@awfoundation.com or visithttp://sfhepbfree.org/calendar.

CALENDAR SPONSORS:
Chinese Hospital, Subaru of America, California Pacific Medical Center, and Stephen Ng

The AsianWeek Foundation and San Francisco Hep B Free produced the calendar, which was shot by L.A.-based photographer Shane Sato. Make up and hair was provided by Erika Jeziel Eugenio, Flor Corral, Jennifer Toy, and Timothy Perkins while Al Perez provided the creative design for the project.

Keep the holidays happy: Be safe!

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Generally the holidays are happy times. But a moment's carelessness, an open flame, an intrusion by thieves, can steal that happiness away. A list of tips compiled and released by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, the National Fire Protection Association and California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma can deflect tragedies that turn holidays to heartache.

While you shop for those ideal gifts, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office has tips to help you make sure you aren't shopping for thieves too. Those include:

Don't leave personal navigation items in plain view. Cell phones, docking ports or chargers, or other navigation devices should be tucked into your glove box.
Think ahead. Many thieves watch shoppers put parcels in their cars and then walk away, so place items in the car's trunk before driving away.
Lock your car!

To maintain safety at home, the National Fire Protection Association shares tips to guard against something very common at this time of year: fires started by festive lighting, windowsill candles and even Christmas trees.

Fires started from those sources can be more deadly than typical home fires. According to NFPA data, in 2005-2009, holiday and decorative lighting were involved in an estimated average of 150 home fires during that time, causing an average of eight civilian deaths, 14 injuries and $8.5 million in property damage.

"Though decorations such as candles or Christmas trees certainly spread holiday cheer, it is important to follow basic safety steps so celebrations go off without a hitch," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of communications.

Tips include:

Choose flame resistant or retardant decorations.
Keep lit candles away from flammable decorations.
Use lights that have the label of an independent testing lab.
Check packaging to determine whether lights are only for indoor use.
Replace strings of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets or a maximum 50 screw-in bulbs.
Use clips, not nails, to hang lights, so cords don't get damaged.
Keep decorations away from windows or doors.

For Christmas tree safety, the NFPA warns:

Keep your tree well watered so it doesn't dry out.
Never use lit candles on a tree.
Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home.
When the tree is finally dry, get rid of it, ideally through a community recycling program.
Store electrical outdoor lights after the holidays to help them last longer.

In addition, Ma offered the following fire safety tips for the holidays in a presentation she gave Dec. 6 at the Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. A Christmas tree was set on fire during her talk to illustrate the dangers of not taking precautions.

Do not overload extension cords.
Turn off holiday lighting before going to bed.
Keep areas around open flames free of combustible materials.
Never leave candles unattended.
Keep charged fire extinguishers in centralized locations.

Buffalo from Tehama County now dwell in San Francisco

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

When Corning bison rancher Garen Wimer got back from San Francisco this week, he left a bit of Tehama County behind.

"Seven little heifers," he said Tuesday. Their new home is the Golden Gate Park Buffalo Paddock, where they'll be on display for all to see.

The 8-month-old creatures were recruited through the efforts of Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, whose staff has been working with Wimer and Tehama County Supervisor Bob Williams to acquire them. Wimer's animals join a group of three remaining in the park, descendants of animals given in 1984 to then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein by her husband as a birthday present.

"Literally, this is my backyard," said Bob Twomey, Ma's chief of staff, who grew up less than a mile from the site. "This is just so awesome I can't tell you."

The effort dates to 2008, in the wake of a report exploring how the herd might be expanded. Interns from Ma's office took note, ultimately securing funds from the Theodore Rosenberg Charitable Foundation to purchase the animals.

"They were really the driving force in motivating people to make all this happen," Twomey said of the interns. Ma spoke with Williams, who brought Wimer into the picture.

"It's been kind of a hair-pulling experience," Williams said, describing the various hurdles that had to be cleared over the last couple years. Describing the supervisor and rancher as "the epitome of true gentlemen," Twomey hailed the deal as a good example of rural and urban legislators working together.

Wimer quietly delivered his buffalo Monday, deliberately without fanfare to avoid spooking them with crowds and cameras. Still, they had an audience.

"Just the general public who knew they were coming were lined up on the road," said Wimer, who owns Great American Buffalo Co. "The people down there were very excited."

Although Wimer couldn't wait to get out of the city, he's happy with the girls' new home.

"I was amazed," he said. "They have a beautiful spot for them. It's really set up nice."

A public event heralding their arrival will be held, but it hasn't been scheduled yet.

"We wanted to ensure the bison were safe and happy first," Twomey said. The paddock is overseen by the San Francisco Zoo and Recreation and Parks department.

Bison usually live about three decades, said the 65-year-old Wimer.

"They're gonna outlive me there," he said. "I'll be dead and gone long before they are."

Wimer sold six bison for $1,200 apiece and donated the seventh, he said. He's proud of what they represent.

"For the next 30 years they'll be associated with Tehama," Wimer said.

Moreover, he's pleased with how quickly the animals adapted.

"It made me feel real good," Wimer said. "They just kind of stepped out of the trailer and looked around. They're going to have a good life, those buffalo."

Ma named 'Legislator of the Year' by Multiple Sclerosis society

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Northern California Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) honored Assemblywoman Fiona Ma as the 2011 California State Assembly “Legislator of the Year.”

Assemblywoman Ma was presented with the award at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s annual meeting on Nov. 13.

The Northern California Chapter of NMSS recognized Assemblywoman Ma for her hard-fought efforts and dedicated advocacy in addressing the challenges faced by each person affected by MS.

Assemblywoman Ma’s AB 310 serves as landmark patient protection legislation which would make medication that falls into the “specialty tiers” category of health insurance more affordable for patients.

This bill would also prevent insurers from shifting the cost of expensive medication to California patients by placing a cap on co-pays, and limiting the annual out-of-pocket expenditures.

For patients suffering from chronic medical conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, the added financial burden of specialty tiers can be cumbersome.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma named Legislator of the Year

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Small Business Association (CSBA) and the California Small Business Roundtable (CSBR) honored Assemblywoman Fiona Ma as the 2011 California State Assembly “Legislator of the Year”. Assemblywoman Ma was presented with the award at the California Small Business Roundtable’s annual retreat on November 13th.

CSBA and CSBR recognized Assemblywoman Ma for her continued advocacy for important small business issues, and her commitment to engaging small business owners through small business advisory councils.

With California small businesses composing 99.2% of all employer firms in the state, it is imperative that our legislators understand the issues that are most important to these employers.

“We applaud Assemblywoman Ma for her continued support of small business in the California State Legislature,” said Betty Jo Toccoli, President of the California Small Business Association. “The small business community can always count on Assemblywoman Ma to advocate for the members of the small business community.”

Assemblywoman Ma first became interested in politics as a small business owner and a Certified Public Accountant advocating on behalf of other small businesses. She was an elected delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business under President Bill Clinton, which produced a report to Congress on the 60 top policy recommendations to help small businesses grow and prosper in the 21st century.

Capitol Alert: Fiona Ma to run for state Board of Equalization seat in 2014

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma will run for the state Board of Equalization when incumbent Democrat Betty Yee is termed out in 2014.

Ma has opened a campaign committee for the Board of Equalization race and said Monday that veteran Richie Ross will be her political consultant in seeking a seat stretching from the Oregon border to Santa Barbara County.

"It's making my parents very happy that my education is not going to waste," quipped Ma, who received a master's degree in taxation from Golden Gate University and is a certified public accountant.

Ma was forced to make a decision about her political future because she will be termed out of the Assembly next year.

Ma said she had planned to run for state Sen. Leland Yee's seat if he had won the recent race for San Francisco mayor, but he lost this month to acting Mayor Ed Lee.

California's recent redrawing of political districts cost San Francisco a Senate district that would have been attractive to Ma.

Her only viable options for remaining in the Legislature next year were to run for the state Senate seat of incumbent Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, or to relocate and run against Assemblyman Jerry Hill in a Peninsula Senate district, Ma said.

She rejected both options. Leno and Hill are good friends - and the Peninsula is not her home base, Ma said.

Weeks ago, Ma married Jason Hodge, an Oxnard Harbor commissioner who is running for the state Senate. Because Yee's Board of Equalization seat stretches to Santa Barbara, Ma said that winning the post would allow her to spend more time near Hodge's Ventura County roots.

"I think everything just kind of worked out," she said of her decision to seek a seat on the tax commission, which administers the state's sales, property and special tax programs, and acts as an appellate body for franchise and income tax appeals.

Fiona Ma will seek Board of Equalization seat, not Senate

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Facing term limits next year, state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma said Tuesday that she will run for a Board of Equalization seat in 2014.

The San Francisco lawmaker said her background and education as a certified public accountant, plus her past work as a liaison to the Board of Equalization when she was an aide to former state Sen. John Burton, make her a good fit for the job.

"A lot of time — and my parents’ money — have gone into my education," said Ma, who has represented District 12, including parts of San Francisco and San Mateo County, since 2006. "I think this is very important, given the fiscal crisis the state is in right now. BOE brings in 35 percent of revenues."

The board collects state sales tax — as well as taxes on fuel, alcohol and tobacco — and distributes the money to local jurisdictions.

Ma could have sought state Sen. Mark Leno’s seat, but she described him as a friend she doesn’t want to challenge. The assemblywoman said she was hoping she could have taken over the seat of state Sen. Leland Yee if he had been victorious in the San Francisco mayoral race. Yee will be termed out in 2014, but redrawn districts will put Peninsula-area Assemblyman Jerry Hill in a better position to win the district, Ma said.

Ma will be vying for a seat representing a large district from the Oregon border to Santa Barbara County, which is being vacated by Betty Yee in 2014.

Ma also recently married Ventura County firefighter Jason Hodge, who is seeking a state Senate seat there. Although a new job with the Board of Equalization would allow her to be closer to her husband, Ma said she wants to stay in San Francisco and continue a long-distance relationship.

"That’s what we’ve been doing," Ma said. "It works — we’re not going to have kids."

Meanwhile, local politicos are rumored to be eyeing Ma’s Assembly seat, including Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting and Supervisor Carmen Chu.

It only takes a spark for Fiona Ma, Jason Hodge

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

He is a 6-foot-5 American Indian. She is a 5-foot-4 Chinese American. He is a firefighter. She is a politician. He lives in Southern California. She spends most of the week in Sacramento. And they have not spent more than three days together during the 1 1/2 years they've dated except for one vacation shortly after they met.

From the outside, it's hard to imagine how Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, and Jason Hodge, political director of the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association, not only fell in love, but surmounted cultural, professional and logistical differences aplenty and tied the knot Nov. 11 (repeating their vows at a bash for family and friends Nov. 12).

From the inside, it was easy.

"We never argue, we agree on the same things, and we have the same passions - and passionate debates without attacks," Hodge said.

"It's nice to have someone you can talk to about your world and your life and you don't have to explain what you did all day, or why you're going to be home late or get up early," said Ma, who says she works 16 hours a day. "There's never a time when he says, 'Why do we have to go?' or 'Who are we going to talk to?' We both love people."

The pair met at the state Democratic Convention in Los Angeles in April 2010. Ma was at a VIP reception hosted by her boss, Assembly Speaker John Pérez. Hodge was attending the same reception with a friend, Kelly Calkin, then the political director of California Professional Firefighters, and a mutual friend of Ma's.

Hodge remembered thinking Ma was attractive, energetic and charismatic - and wanting to ask her for a date. Calkin remembered thinking that personally, a date wasn't a bad idea, but that professionally, it could spell trouble if things didn't work out.

Ma didn't even remember meeting Hodge that night.

The next night was a different story. "Everywhere I turned, he was standing there next to me," Ma said of Hodge. "He was on a quest."

They went dancing with a group of conventioneers and after midnight, parted ways. He texted her the next morning to say he had had a nice time. "Me too," she replied. "If you're ever in San Francisco or Sacramento, call me."

Hodge liked strong women and found himself charmed; he called her within days. Their next get-together was at a firefighters convention in San Diego a few weeks later, capped by an overnight on Catalina Island.

Three months after they met, they took a 10-day trip to Iceland to watch the girlfriend of one of Ma's colleagues play in a professional soccer match. On one of his visits to San Francisco, Hodge, a poetry buff, asked to visit City Lights bookstore, co-founded by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Ma did one better: She arranged for a coffee and introduced Hodge to Ferlinghetti himself.

About seven months after they'd met, Ma proposed that Hodge accompany her on a political trip to Shanghai. He did, and one night as they walked the city's streets, made a proposal of his own: marriage. The long-distance couple hopes to spend more time together in the future - Hodge is running for state Assembly in 2012 and if elected, would be able to live with his wife in Sacramento during the workweek.

On 11/11/11, California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton, a longtime mentor of Ma's, married the couple in a private ceremony at Ma's home. The couple repeated their vows before co-officiants Bruce Macrae and Assembly Speaker Pérez, the bride's parents, William and Sophia Ma; the groom's parents, Hawk Hodge of Oxnard and Linda Millstad of Tennessee; and 350 friends at a Western-themed party at Long Branch Farms in Half Moon Bay. Ma has served for the past three years on the state's Agriculture Committee and rides horses on range tours.

That is partly why the couple opted for a down-home Texas barbecue where guests could wear jeans, ride mechanical bulls and participate in charitable fundraising poker games in the "saloon" rather than a dress-up affair in a hotel.

"We don't concern ourselves with fancy accoutrements - that's not us," said Hodge, allowing for one exception - the borrowed, 75-year-old native feathered American Indian headdress he wore in a nod to his Cherokee heritage.

"In the past, the guys Fiona dated tended to be intimidated by her or people around her," said longtime friend Alexis Wong. "Jason brings a sense of harmony. She's comfortable doing what she wants to do because he is supportive and understanding."

"Fiona," said the bride's beaming father, "has never been happier."

Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Howard Koh Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Eradicating Hepatitis B at The San Francisco Foundation

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Today, The San Francisco Foundation hosted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary of Health, Dr. Howard Koh, California State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, and Ted Fang of San Francisco Hep B Free for a roundtable discussion with community and industry leaders to focus efforts on making San Francisco the first city in the country to eradicate Hepatitis B. Speakers highlighted the importance of continued public-private partnerships in the regional and national implementation of the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. The HHS National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan is modeled off of the work started here in San Francisco, utilizing health prevention principles and a system-wide approach.

The San Francisco Foundation is proud to be one of the initial funders, and continued supporters, of the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign to combat a disease that disproportionately effects Asian Americans. Hepatitis B is the greatest health disparity for Asians and Asian Americans today. The SF Hep B Free Campaign puts San Francisco at the forefront in fighting chronic Hepatitis B, and is the largest, most comprehensive healthcare campaign for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US.

Secretary Koh also meet with the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force, a community based Task Force supported by the San Francisco Foundation, to discuss the on-going efforts to control Hepatitis C. San Francisco has the largest proportion of people with Hep C of any city in United States that disproportionately effects African Americans, Latinos, parolees and injection drug users.

SF Officials Take On Hepatitis B

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

State and federal health officials joined San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee this morning to discuss a national plan to eradicate a silent killer--viral hepatitis, which causes hepatitis B.

Between 3.5 and 5.3 million Americans are affected by the virus, which is the leading cause of liver cancer, according to health officials. Thousands of people are affected in San Francisco, which has the highest rate of liver cancer in the country.

"We are proud that San Francisco has played such a leading role in the effort to eradicate viral hepatitis," Lee said. "We are wrestling with this in a very good way."

That effort involves creating public and healthcare-provider awareness about the important of testing and vaccinating at-risk populations for the virus, according to the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign, a citywide effort to make San Francisco the first hepatitis B-free city.

Promoting routine screenings and vaccinations as well as improving access to care for chronically infected individuals are the campaign's other goals.

"We will continue to strengthen the partnerships between public health officials, medical professionals and treatment advocates to educate and encourage widespread testing, prevention and treatment among our most vulnerable communities," Lee said.

Without treatment or monitoring, one in four people who are chronically infected with hepatitis B die from liver cancer or liver failure, according to the campaign, which targets Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, a group that is disproportionately affected by the disease.

One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with hepatitis B and, compared with the general population, are four times more likely to die from liver cancer.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the honorary chairwoman of the campaign, is among the chronically infected and spoke this morning about the push to make San Francisco the first city to eradicate the virus.

San Francisco has led the nation in the effort to raise awareness about the virus, Lee said, noting that the campaign seeks "to create not only the best local model ... but to really start a national movement."

Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh launched a national action plan to address the epidemic that was based on San Francisco's efforts.

"We have too much death that could be and should be prevented," Koh said, adding that the way San Francisco has mobilized to raise awareness "has been a source of great inspiration for the rest of the country."

The hepatitis B virus can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer.

Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, treatment can significantly reduce the risk of liver damage.

"This is a major health crisis. This is an epidemic." HHS Region IX Director Herb Schultz said.

Koh is the keynote speaker for the fourth annual "B a Hero" benefit gala and award dinner, which is scheduled to take place today at San Francisco's InterContinental Hotel from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Joins US Health and Human Services in Supporting Efforts to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh to support the national plan from the Obama Administration to fight the viral hepatitis epidemic.

Viral hepatitis, which affects between 3.5 and 5.3 million Americans, is the leading cause of liver cancer. One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with hepatitis B and are four times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population. Accordingly, San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the country.

“We are proud that San Francisco has played such a leading role in the effort to eradicate viral hepatitis,” said Mayor Lee. “We will continue to strengthen the partnerships between public health officials, medical professionals and treatment advocates to educate and encourage widespread testing, prevention and treatment among our most vulnerable communities.”

Dr. Koh and HHS launched a national action plan earlier this year to address the viral hepatitis epidemic. The plan outlines several systematic approaches to combating viral hepatitis, including increasing awareness among providers, patients and at-risk communities, as well as strengthening surveillance and vaccination efforts. The national plan is based upon San Francisco’s efforts to fight the disease.

Many of these initiatives are already in place through work by local groups including “SF Hep B Free,” an organization that has implemented widespread testing and public awareness among vulnerable populations, especially the Asian American community, here in San Francisco.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who is chronically infected with hepatitis B and is the honorary chairwoman of “SF Hep B Free,” emphasized the importance of establishing strong partnerships between public health officials, medical professionals and treatment advocates to educate the public and physicians on the viral hepatitis epidemic.

Herb K. Schultz, Region IX Director for HHS, called for regional and national implementation of the plan by bringing together partners from all sectors and communities. Ted Fang, San Francisco’s leading advocate to eliminate Hep B, served as the master of ceremonies for the event, which was held in a packed chambers at San Francisco’s Health Department hearing room.

Supervisors hear update on invasive mussels emergency lobbying effort

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday got an update on the effort to lobby for a statewide emergency relating to invasive mussels.

In August, the board passed a resolution urging the governor to declare a statewide emergency because of the appearance of invasive mussels – in particular, the quagga and zebra – in Southern California waters, as Lake County News has reported.

Since then, Supervisor Anthony Farrington and Supervisor Denise Rushing have met with state officials, and other jurisdictions – including the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake – have passed similar ordinances supporting a gubernatorial emergency declaration.

Farrington said Tuesday that they’ve had “very positive response” from other counties, including San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Yolo, Madera and Riverside. He said Sonoma also is considering such a resolution.

“We've had a lot of traction with the other counties following suit,” he said.

Farrington and Rushing are scheduled to meet on Thursday with state Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird and California Department of Fish and Game Director Chuck Bonham to discuss the proposal. Farrington thanked Assemblywoman Fiona Ma for her assistance in facilitating that meeting.

Another goal is to get a legislator on board to craft supporting legislation. Farrington said they are seeking a response on that request from state Sen. Noreen Evans, Assemblyman Wes Chesbro and Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, who will represent Lake County after 2013 due to state redistricting.

Rushing added that they’re also still seeking an audience with the governor.

Melissa Fulton, chair of the Clear Lake Advisory Committee, said they want to see the emergency move forward as quickly as possible.

“This is a threat, as we know, to the entire state,” she said, adding that invasive mussels are becoming more of a top of mind concern for people in California and elsewhere.

To keep the process rolling, Farrington told the board he wanted to send out a second round of letters to counties that haven’t responded to Lake’s request to support the resolution.

The board voted unanimously to continue moving forward with the efforts that Farrington and Rushing are spearheading.

Rushing also had asked for a discussion on a work plan from the Clear Lake Advisory Committee. Fulton said the group is planning to meet soon to discuss the 2012 work plan.

Rushing said the board needed specifics from the committee due to the level of complexity surrounding lake protection.

She said different committee members will come to the board with long lists of things that need to be done. “The only way we are going to get ourselves out of this is to put some structure to it.”

Betsy Cawn, the committee’s secretary, told the board that there are very poor communications between the committee and county staff.

Rushing said the goal was to improve communications, and asked for a short list of goals. Cawn protested, stating that the committee already had given the board such a list in June.

Farrington responded that it was the Clear Lake Advisory Committee’s job to advise the board, not set policy. He recounted bringing lake-related issued to the board previously – including an algae harvester – and getting pushback from the committee.

“Ultimately, we set the policy,” he said, adding that the supervisors needed specifics if they were to address the shortcomings in the interactions between the committee and board that Cawn said existed.

Bringing the Haves and Have-Nots Together for Curry and Compassion

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

As the evening light dimmed, Shrawan Nepali greeted each person who stood in a long line waiting for his food: a woman with her butterscotch-colored cocker spaniel, a poet poring over a mystery book, art students, commuters, a homeless woman with crimson sneakers and men wearing black hoods to guard against the cold and conversation.

At United Nations Plaza, a resting place for homeless men, Mr. Nepali thanked each person for coming. The more than 200 “guests,” as Mr. Nepali called them, were there to dine on his steaming brown rice, pungent Nepalese vegetable curry, nine-bean soup, tomato chutney and poori.

San Francisco has a checkerboard of free food programs serving millions of institutional meals annually. But every Tuesday, Curry Without Worry, a boutique soup kitchen, appears under a gold canopy and offers something different: spicy restaurant-quality dishes — what Mr. Nepali calls “soul-pleasing food” — to both the hungry and the well-fed.

For five years, Mr. Nepali has invited people to his festive dinners, hoping to foster “a merging of communities” between the haves and have-nots. Although Curry Without Worry is not well known to the city’s foodies, it is a favorite of many of the city’s less fortunate.

And the need is growing. The San Francisco Food Bank estimates one in five adults struggles to put food on the table. In the last fiscal year, the San Francisco Food Bank and the Marin Food Bank distributed food to 225,000 people, up from 132,000 the previous year.

“People are so unaware of the hunger in San Francisco,” said Jim Illig, government relations director at Project Open Hand, which provides meals to the elderly and the ill. “We’re an incredibly rich city, and yet people in front of us are going hungry every night.”

Mr. Nepali, 51, was raised in an orphanage in Katmandu. He came to the United States for college, becoming an accountant, a controller and a restaurateur. He put aside part of his profits at Taste of the Himalayas, a Nepalese restaurant in San Francisco, to get Curry Without Worry off the ground. “For a man from Nepal to see hungry people in this beautiful world-class city is difficult to see,” Mr. Nepali said.

He sold the restaurant three years ago and now lives on proceeds from cooking and music lessons, and Nepal tours.

“I realized having a traditional business was not how I wanted to live my life,” he said. “My karma was to serve unfortunate people.” Mr. Nepali built an orphanage in Katmandu and last year started a Curry Without Worry there.

“You feel blessed to be in his presence,” said Fiona Ma, speaker pro tem of the California Assembly and a former San Francisco supervisor. Mr. Nepali’s desire to help people, she said, “is very contagious.” Five years ago, Ms. Ma became Curry Without Worry’s treasurer.

Curry Without Worry serves about 250 people in San Francisco weekly. It buys much of its food from farmers’ markets and food banks; everything is fresh and vegan. Its annual $20,000 budget comes from donations.

Jesse Seaver, an entrepreneur and president of Curry Without Worry, said the nonprofit organization mostly feeds the hungry. “We encourage successful people who wouldn’t eat at a soup kitchen to come,” he said. “It makes people realize that they’re not that different from one another.”

In United Nations Plaza, Kristine Eudey, an artist with short, stylish hair, sat on a curb eating curry. “This is such a rich food city, but only a small segment of San Francisco has access to it,” she said. “This is beautiful. They’re giving food to people, which is what we need.”

An hour after people began scooping curry and rice, the sky turned a pigeon gray and City Hall’s gold dome was bathed in light. The metal curry pot was scraped clean. All that remained were the fragrance of ginger, onion, cumin and coriander, and the people at the end of the line who filled their plates with aromatic rice soaked in what was left of the nine-bean soup.

Asphalt conference keynote speaker Ma does her homework

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Fiona Ma, the keynote speaker at Thursday's "California Asphalt Pavement Conference" in Sacramento, has been doing her homework in preparation for the event.

Ma is author of a bill in the Legislature, AB812, which aims, among other things, to increase the utilization of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in California. The bill is likely to be heard by a legislative committee in January.

Ma, a Certified Public Accountant by training and who has relatives in the construction industry, has been visible around California as she builds support for the legislation. She was a featured speaker Oct. 11 at a Monterey conference put on by the California Construction & Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA), and has been exchanging correspondence with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco, also has been touring facilities of prominent construction materials firms, including visiting a Vulcan Materials plant in Pleasanton on Oct. 18. She is expected to be frank in her effort to urge Caltrans to use more RAP in asphalt mixes. Currently the department caps RAP at 15 percent unless special approvals are obtained.

Caltrans Deputy Director Steve Takigawa, who oversees maintenance and operations for the department, will also be a featured speaker at Thursday's conference.

The conference will feature the latest information on asphalt pavement specifications, research, best-practices and trends. The day-long event will be held at the Radisson Hotel, 500 Leisure Lane in Sacramento. Lunch and refreshments will be included. To learn more or to register on-line, click HERE.

The conference is made possible thanks in part to the generous participation of our sponsors: AkzoNobel, Asphalt Consulting Services, Dynapac, Holdrege & Kull, InstroTek, Knife River Construction, MeadWestVaco, National Blending, PQ Corp., RoadTec, Telfer Oil, and Valero Refining.

SF Leaders Unite to Call On Mayoral Candidates to End Hepatitis

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Today on the steps of City Hall, the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force and San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign teamed up with the Asian American and LGBT community to call on the San Francisco mayoral candidates to tackle the issue of eradicating Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C citywide.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Supervisor Ross Mirikirimi join Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C advocates on City Hall steps to call on mayoral candidates to issue statements on how they will end Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in San Francisco, the primary causes of liver cancer. San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the nation and liver cancer is the deadliest cancer in America. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are the primary causes of liver cancer.

“We want to know what the next mayoral candidates will do to end the epidemic,” said Ted Fang of the AsianWeek Foundation and c0-founder of San Francisco Hep B Free.

Fang asked all the candidates to issue a 300 word statement about how their administration would end hepatitis in the city if elected.

Honorable attendees at the press conference included: CA Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi.

Assemblywoman Ma, who recently authored Bill 300 that was passed to help assist the elimination of hepatitis threats in tattoo and piercing parlors, used her time to extend the campaign effort across the nation by “getting everyone on board to eradicate this disease.” She proposed that the community should get President Obama to work on the issue.

Supervisor Wiener stressed how crucial it is to have local leadership on such an important topic that not only affects Asian Americans (1 in 10 Asian and Pacific Islanders is living with chronic hepatitis B) but gay men as well.

Supervisor Scott Wiener calls on all candidates running for San Francisco Mayor to issue statements on how they will end Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in San Francisco, the primary causes of liver cancer. Photos by Angela Pang Supervisor Wiener shared his personal story about how after he came out to the public he “got tested and then got vaccinated” for hepatitis B.

Supervisor Mirkarimi, who is running for San Francisco Sheriff, noted that hepatitis also affects those in the jail system who are sometimes overlooked when it comes to the virus.

“I want to make sure we circle the whole equation in the jail system,” said Supervisor Mirkarimi.

SF Hep C Task Force Co-Chair Andrew Reynolds noted that earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the first ever U.S. National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan, providing a coordinated, nationwide approach to address viral hepatitis. He said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Howard Koh will be in San Francisco on November 4 to make a keynote address on the subject of “Ending ALL Hepatitis” at the 4th Annual “B a Hero” Hep B Free Gala.

The mayoral candidates’ statements on their plans to eliminate viral hepatitis will be published in the Hep B Gala program book, distributed to the media and published online including AsianWeek.com, HepCSF.org and SFHepBFree.org.

Legislation To Ensure Safety At Raves, Large Events Signed By Gov. Brown

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Organizers of raves or other large events held on state property like Daly City's Cow Palace will have to ensure that safety guidelines are met before hosting the event, according to legislation signed Sunday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Assembly Bill 74, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, was formulated in response to deaths in 2010 at large raves at the Daly City venue as well as at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The legislation by Ma, whose district also includes Daly City, requires the governing board of a state fairground to perform a threat assessment prior to hosting an event with an expected attendance of 10,000 or more people.

If the board concludes that there is a strong possibility of loss of life or harm to an event's participants, its organizers must develop an event action plan that will address law enforcement on site, as well as adequate medical personnel and availability of water.

The legislation also requires the plan to determine whether age restrictions should be put in place for the event, and the potential need for educational pamphlets to help alleviate any risk the event might pose.

The legislation is the product of months of collaboration between city and police officials, medical responders, event organizers and others, according to Ma's office.

In May 2010, two people died, several were hospitalized and more than 70 others were arrested on drug-related charges following the "etd.POP 2010" festival at the Cow Palace.

Last October, more than a dozen people were taken from Live 105's "Subsonic Spookfest" at the Cow Palace to hospitals with alcohol- and drug-related illnesses.

In June 2010, a 15-year-old girl also died at a rave at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The Cow Palace's board of directors voted last November to place a moratorium on raves at the venue.

Ma, who attended a rave in March to see the event firsthand, said, "Casualties can be prevented and I've seen what works."

She said her legislation "is intended to prevent the loss of life and make safety a top priority."

New Law Bans Self-Service Checkout for Alcohol

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill on Sunday that bans the sale of alcohol at self-service checkouts — a move that directly impacts Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market as it continues its expansion in San Francisco, including one store planned for the Mission District.

The bill, AB 183, introduced by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, takes effect Jan. 1, 2012. It impacts Fresh & Easy in particular because the market relies solely on self-service checkout systems at its stores. The new law will require grocers to have at least one human-run checkout for all alcohol sales.

Similar bills were vetoed in 2008 and 2010 by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Despite the setback, Fresh & Easy is determined to continue its growth in California, said Brendan Wonnacott, a Fresh & Easy spokesman. Asked how this would affect the company’s new stores, Wonnacott said they are weighing the options.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions right now,” he said. “We’re going to have to examine all of our options going forward.”

Fresh & Easy, a subsidiary of England-based Tesco Corporation, the third largest retailer in the world, sees this measure and one introduced at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as blatant attempts to single out the company for its business practices.

Fresh & Easy uses self-service checkouts as a cost-saving move that allows it to compete with other grocers, Wonnacott said last week. It is the only grocer in California to rely entirely on self-service.

Fresh & Easy, which has already opened stores in the Outer Richmond and Bayview, plans to open one in Potrero Hill and one in the Mission, at 1245 South Van Ness Ave., formerly the site of DeLano’s IGA market.

Several weeks ago, District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar introduced his own legislation that would ban alcohol sales at new stores that use self-service checkouts; Mar’s proposed law is less stringent than Ma’s. The ordinance was co-sponsored by supervisors David Chiu and John Avalos.

It is meant to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors and those who are inebriated, as required by law, Linshao Chin, a legislative aide to Mar, wrote last week.

Minors and others who want to skip the safeguards in place at self-service checkouts can find information online on how to cheat the system, Chin wrote. “Stores should not be making it easier for either of these groups to get alcohol.”

Community and labor groups have expressed concerns about Fresh & Easy’s labor policies — mainly the use of automated machines rather than human beings to facilitate purchases.

The Mission-based People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights, known as PODER, is concerned by the low wages paid by Fresh & Easy, whose workers are not unionized.

“We’re concerned…that will become the new norm” for grocers in the Mission, said Oscar Grande of PODER. “That’s not the road we want to go down.”

Two other major grocers in the Mission, Safeway and FoodCo, are unionized. Rainbow Market is a cooperative.

Fresh & Easy generally hires 25 to 30 workers who work a minimum of 20 hours a week, Wonnacott said, with the entry-level wage $10 an hour — 30 cents more than the city’s minimum wage. The company also offers health care, a 401k and quarterly bonuses.

Wonnacott said that the company has no position on unionization; it’s up to the workers to decide, through a vote authorized by the National Labor Relations Board.

Grande said his organization will be going door-to-door to educate Missionites about the market and gather a list of concerns to bring to the market.

“Be a good corporate citizen is what the community is saying,” he said, adding that if the market isn’t willing to listen, then “maybe you’re not a good fit for the neighborhood.”

Underage alcohol purchases made more difficult

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Sacramento - California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed AB 183, which is now law. AB183 prohibits the sales of alcohol through self-checkout lanes in retail outlets. Was this an assault on consumer choice or a proactive attempt to control underage drinking?

AB 183 is a bill which was authored by California Assembly Member Fiona Ma (D) of San Francisco in response to an apparent ability of minors to purchase alcohol by using self-checkout lanes in grocery stores, big-box stores or any other retail venues which use the self-checkout lanes. The bill, while the work of Assembly member Ma, is also part of a campaign being supported by the Alcohol Justice organization, in an attempt to curtail underage drinking.

This is not the first attempt by the California Legislature to reduce the availability of alcohol sales to minors and intoxicated adults however. In 2008, Hector De La Torre introduced AB 523 and a second updated version in August 2010 AB 1060, which was passed through the legislature but then vetoed by then Governor Schwarzenegger.

The bills opponents had tried to paint the discussion as one of simple union jobs protectionism, but were unable to produce the requisite support against the evidence produced by organizations, and studies performed in defense of the proposed law.

In one research study performed by law students from UCLA, interns and staff from LAANE (Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy) plus additional volunteers, the results of the study showed a disturbingly high percentage of unregulated alcohol purchases occurring.

The study found in a sampling of ninety seven visits to thirty four sites including Ralphs, Albertsons, Fresh & Easy, Superior and The Market at Vons the purchasers were authenticated only (80%) seventy eight times. Leaving nineteen (20%) of the purchases as sales open to any consumer regardless of age or state of intoxication. The participants in the study ranged in age from twenty one to forty one.

In the study, only one third of the participants under the age of thirty were asked to verify their date of birth, while the law in California requires all purveyors of alcohol to verify the age of anyone who appears to be under the age of 30. The study was conducted in Los Angeles and Orange County.

A second study performed by the San Diego State University showed that the failure of checking ID rate in California ranged from 22% to as much as 39% in tests done in 1996.

While the Governor of California has a very busy schedule and a seemingly endless pile of bills from the legislature to consider, this bill, AB183, sat unsigned by the Governor for nearly a full month and was signed today.

Michael Scippa of the Alcohol Justice organization had this to say.

"Until he did it, we really weren't sure what the Governor was going to do,"

This bill had extensive support from disparate groups throughout the state, including MADD, Consumer Federation of California, California Police Chiefs, Alcohol Justice, California's Police Officers (PORAC), California Professional Firefighters, California Council on Alcohol Problems, California Narcotic Officers Association and many of the states religious leaders.

The message which all of the organizations and groups were able to rally behind was the need to control underage drinking and also to solve the problems inherent in persons already intoxicated being able to freely purchase alcohol without being monitored. The costs to society in general and to each individual involved in an alcohol related accident or incident runs high and any available tool used to combat the problem should be a welcome addition to alcohol consumption proponents.

Michael Scippa also had this to say.

"... a last minute demonstration of impassioned support by state religious leaders may have helped him [the Governor] understand that the bill is not just about preserving union jobs as opponents tried to unfairly characterize the measure. AB 183 is about preserving the public health and safety of all California residents and visitors."

In discussing the issue on the telephone today with Mr. Scippa, he mentioned his hope that the rest of the country would be able to accept California's lead in this area and begin to control the access of alcohol to underage drinkers. That is a possibility some will hope for and others will rail against.

While Ralph's and Safeway (not mentioned in the study) were contacted to allow a response to the results of the UCLA study, neither has at this time chosen to offer an official response.

Jerry Brown signs one union measure, vetoes another

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a union-backed bill prohibiting grocery stores from selling beer, wine or liquor using electronic self-checkout lanes, Brown announced this morning.

Assembly Bill 183, by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, was supported by labor and police chiefs, who said it could deter underage drinking.

Business groups and grocers said existing oversight is sufficient and blamed labor interests for trying to block Fresh & Easy, a nonunion chain that uses only staff-supervised self-checkout lanes.

Fresh & Easy said in a prepared statement Monday that "we are disappointed that politics has prevailed over solid judgment."

Brown also vetoed legislation that would have required local governments to study the economic impact of proposed Wal-Mart and other superstores before approving them.

Senate Bill 469 by Sen. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, would have required the studies to be paid for by project applicants.

"While I recognize that the merits of large-scale projects need to be carefully considered, plenty of laws are already on the books that enable and in some cases require cities and counties to carefully assess whether these projects are in a community's best interests," the Democratic governor said in a veto message. "This bill would add yet another layer of review to an already cumbersome process."

Vargas' bill had been assailed as a union-inspired effort to block development of non-union retail stores.

The California Retailers Association praised Brown's veto. "This veto clearly preserves local authority to decide what businesses they want in their communities and empowers them to bring in more jobs, economic activity and revenue.," Bill Dombrowski, the group's president, said in a statement.

Vargas said he was undeterred by Brown's veto. "Research continues to show that supercenters cause business districts to suffer, significantly decrease the net number of jobs and often rely on taxpayer-funded government services, like Medicaid, to provide healthcare for their employees," he said in a statement. "I will continue to work to make sure that our communities know the truth about these supercenters and how they claim to be creating jobs when actually they are destroying them."

State bans alcohol sales from automated checkout counters

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Alcohol sales will no longer be allowed at automated checkout counters after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law Sunday to ban the practice.

As of Jan. 1, 2012, all alcohol sales must be processed by a cashier. The bill’s author, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) called it a protection against minors obtaining alcohol illegally.

The bill received backing from law enforcement groups and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Opponents said it was a transparent effort by grocery workers’ unions to protect jobs against the automated checkout machines.

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill, saying, "It is unclear what problem this bill seeks to address."

Why Is Fiona Ma Such a Killjoy?

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SF Weekly readers can't forget last year when Assemblywoman Fiona Ma quickly cast herself as the state's biggest party-pooper when she tried to outlaw raves across California. She only renegged on her legislation after deciding to do some more "research" and attend a pacifier party herself.

And while Ma introduces herself as a CPA, she is far from a "certified party animal" herself. Last night, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a trifecta of Ma's bills that crack down on the basics of modern day teenage rebellion: Alcohol, tattoos, body piercings, and raves.

According to the bills, tattoo artists will have to follow stricter regulations, and cities are now permitted to create new laws further regulating the industry. In addition, promoters planning raves or any other events that might draw more than 10,000 people will have to undergo a "threat assessment review." And lastly, Ma has put the kibosh on teens sneaking alcohol through the self-service line at grocery stores. For now on, all alcohol sales will have to be conducted by real live people to check for sobriety and IDs.

"Studies overwhelming show that alcohol is getting into the hands of minors through self-checkouts," Ma says. "More and more people are getting tattoos and I was shocked to hear that there are no requirements for safety standards. The intent is to help stop the spread of HIV and hepatitis."

We asked Ma's office why the San Francisco lawmaker, who recently took her donors to see Lady Gaga, is a buzzkill. But she assured us she is no wet blanket when it comes to a good time.

"I'm the last person that wants to stop people from having fun," Ma said in an e-mail to SF Weekly. "These bills don't ban anything. They simply ... recognize that there are people who like to go to raves, get tattoos, and drink alcohol and I am ensuring that these things can continue under the safety of common sense laws."

JCRC Applauds Governor Brown for Signing Legislation Preventing California Cities from Banning Circumcision

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco – In the wake a ballot measure that would have criminalized doctors for performing circumcision in San Francisco, Governor Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 768, which will prevent California municipalities from banning circumcision. The Jewish Community Relations Council strongly supports this new law, which recognizes “a wide array of health and affiliative benefits” in male circumcision.

AB 768 was authored by Assembly Member Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Member Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties). It received near unanimous support in the Legislature. Governor Brown’s signature now codifies the bill, which reaffirms that it is within the State’s province to regulate medical procedures, pre-empting local jurisdictions from enacting a patchwork of local regulations and/or bans. A similar measure, H.R. 2400, by Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) has been introduced at the federal level.

This issue garnered national attention when a small group of anti-circumcision activists placed on San Francisco’s municipal ballot a measure that would have criminalized those who perform male circumcision of minors. A broad coalition of over 200 civil liberties, medical and HIV/STD experts, faith community leaders, and public officials organized to defeat the measure. They were successful in a lawsuit to remove the measure from the November 2011 ballot by a Superior Court Judge, who ruled that the measure would have violated California Business and Professionals Code § 460(b), which affirms that municipalities cannot restrict medical procedures performed by professionals in the healing arts. The bill signed by Governor Brown yesterday reinforces the code’s provision by explicitly preventing municipalities from restricting or prohibiting male circumcision.

Abby Michelson Porth, Associate Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, stated today “Governor Brown’s signature on AB 768 reaffirms that municipalities cannot take away parents’ rights to make medical and religious decisions for their own children.”

The Committee for Parental Choice and Religious Freedom, which led the effort against the proposed ban in San Francisco, can be seen at www.StopCircBan.com.

Governor to decide if booze buyers can use checkout machines

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Customers could not buy alcohol in automatic self-checkout lines under legislation sent Friday to Gov. Jerry Brown.

Supporters say the measure, Assembly Bill 183, would help protect public safety by ensuring that alcohol is purchased in face-to-face transactions in which a clerk can check identification and prevent sales to minors.

But officials of the grocery industry say the bill's real purpose is to minimize self-checkout stands and force grocery chains to hire more union clerks.

Self-checkout machines are designed to "lock-out" and stop if alcohol is scanned, but Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat who proposed AB 183, pointed to a study suggesting the safeguards are not always effective.

The Assembly passed the bill, 43-26, with most Democrats supporting it and most Republicans opposed.

LA City Council passes resolution in favor of Pinoy WWII vets

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Los Angeles City Council, through the sponsorship of Councilmember Richard Alarcon, passed two resolutions supporting Assembly Bill (AB) 199: The Filipinos in World War (WW) II Social Studies Curriculum Act; and, Assembly Resolution (AJR) 6: The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011.

The resolutions aim to recognize the role of Filipinos during WWII in history text books in the US and reinstatement of benefits for Filipino Veterans of World War II.

AB199 is the first step towards ensuring that social science instruction in grades 7-12 to include the significant role of Filipinos in WWII.

AJR6 is a support resolution that encourages Congress and the President of the United States to enact House Resolution 210, “Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011”, authored by Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

Among the many members of the Filipino American community present in the LA City Council Meeting last Sept 6 are widows of WWII Veterans who died before the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Law gave a lump sum of $15,000 to living veterans in 2009. “Our husbands fought as hard as the other veterans and so they deserve to get some benefits as well. They have fought for this for so long. Since the lump sum was given after their death, we, their widows and children, deserve to receive as well,” said Rosita Sanchez. Her sentiment was echoed by other widows - Bonifacia Espiritu, Maria Agbuna, and Jovy Alejandrino, the Vice-president of Seniors for Pilipino American Community Empowerment (SPACE).

During World War II, the Philippines was a commonwealth of the United States. Filipino soldiers in the US Armed Forces were in effect US nationals, and the US government promised them the same health and pension benefits as US soldiers. These Filipino solders fought for the US in the Pacific theatre, joining General Douglas MacArthur in defending against invading Japanese forces. Tens of thousands of Filipino soldiers sacrificed their lives.

However, after World War II ended, President Truman signed Public Law 70-301, known as the Rescission Act of 1946. The Rescission Act states that the service of Filipinos “shall not be deemed to be or to have been service in the military or national forces of the United States or any component thereof or any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges or benefits.” These veterans were forgotten by the US government, and largely, are forgotten in the pages of history books. They were also stripped of all the benefits that should have been due them and their families.

With every passing year, we have fewer remaining Filipino World War II veterans who deserve to have their courageous feats on record along with the American soldiers they served with side by side.

While only Congress can rectify the issue of veterans’ benefits, the California Legislature can help ensure that our children and future generations learn of the contributions and sacrifices made by these brave Filipino soldiers.

To help remedy the situation, AB 199 expresses the encouragement of the Legislature that instruction in social sciences includes the role of Filipinos in World War II.

Specifically, it encourages the instruction to include a component drawn from personal testimony, especially in the form of oral or video histories of Filipinos who were involved in World War II and those men and women who contributed to the war effort on the home front.

AB 199 does not mandate instruction; it simply helps ensure that our children and future generations learn of the contributions and sacrifice of these brave Filipino soldiers before we lose them in history.

The other resolution, AJR 6, urges Congress and the President of the United States to pass the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011 (H.R. 210).

H.R. 210 is an attempt to make up for the terrible injustice that resulted after the Rescission Act of 1946 stripped the benefits of the Filipino veterans who fought united with our soldiers, unwaveringly, to defend the United States. It would restore benefits to those who have been ignored and their families by reinstating the average monthly pension of $1,500, and providing medical care, burial services and all other benefits that are right now only available to American citizens.

Furthermore, the bill would allow for widows of those who are no longer with us to receive, for the first time, the benefits that their husbands bravely earned.

The Rescission Act of 1946 deemed some Filipino veterans citizens, and entitled them to all benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, the Recognized Guerilla Forces, and the New Philippine Scouts were all denied the same benefits, even though they fought side by side.

To support Asssemblyperson Fiona Ma’s effort, City Council member Richard Alarcon introduced the resolution.

It was seconded by Councilmen Tom Lebonge, Eric Garcetti, Jose Huizar,Ed Reyes and Bill Rosendhal, a Vietnam War veteran. All of them spoke to support the resolution to the delight of the crowd, a significant number composed of members of the Filipino American community.

Philippine Consul General of Los Angeles Mary Aragon, LA City Attorney Ed Angeles, Genevieve Jopanda, District Representative with Fiona Ma ’s office, took the floor to speak in favor of the resolution.

Filipino World War II veterans John Aspiras of JFAV, Jack Vergara of SGS, Jovy Alejandrino, Vice President of SPACE, Dr. Jay Valencia of NUHW, Arturo P. Garcia, JFAV National Coordinator and youth leaders Ivy Dulay and Maurus Dumalaog of SIPA, spoke in behalf of the Filipino American community of Los Angeles.

They all thanked the City Council for their gracious and wholehearted support for Filipino Veterans and widows for the 15 years of their struggle for justice and equity.

For the Filipino-American community of Historic Filipinotown, the passing of the two resolutions serves to honor the living heroes of the Philippines and the Filipino-American community in the United States -- most especially the remaining men and women who fought and experienced WWII in the Philippines. There are less than 40,000 living veterans and widows both in the US and the Philippines. Historic Filipinotown and San Francisco have the highest concentration of Filipino World War II veterans to the present.

Wildlife experts: Get used to coyotes in the city

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco -- Four years ago the city was in a tizzy over coyotes. It culminated with two of them getting shot and killed in Golden Gate Park.

Now the message is tamer. At a neighborhood meeting organized by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma in the Richmond District Friday, animal experts kept it simple: They're here. There are more of them than ever. Get used to it.

"The whole nation is having problems with coyotes," said Kent Smirl, a Department of Fish and Game lieutenant who has coordinated coyote-watch program in Southern California.

San Francisco is actually behind much of the rest of the country. Between April 2010 and July of this year there were 122 coyote "incidents," meaning some kind of physical interaction with humans, in Southern California and just 29 here in the north.

San Francisco may be late to develop a coyote population - Project Coyote director Camilla Fox says they've arrived in the last 10 years - but, as usual, we're way ahead in the range of reactions. It starts with whether you say KI-oat-ee or KI-oat and goes from there.

Pet fanciers are horrified that a predator is stalking the public parks. And, says Eric Covington, a district supervisor for USDA Wildlife Services, concerns about pets are not entirely misplaced.

"One of the indicators is looking at street signs and seeing lots of notices for missing cats and dogs," he said. "Somebody says Fluffy is missing and that's where he's gone."

Sgt. Larry Johnson of San Francisco Animal Care and Control says there have been at least two incidents in Glen Park where people were walking their small dogs and a coyote came out of the bush, snapped up the pup, and took off.

Conrad Jones, an associate wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, says one study, based in Malibu, found that 13.6 percent of coyote scat contained the cat remains. (Fox says other studies show a much lower percentage.)

So coyotes are definitely a threat to pets, particularly cats out wandering at night or off-leash dogs crashing through the underbrush in parks.

But as Smirl says, "We don't have a four-legged problem; we have a two-legged problem."

The coyotes first arrived in the Presidio, probably after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Since then they've spread through the city's parks and beyond. They are regular sights on golf courses and Johnson says he's seen them in Fisherman's Wharf.

The reason is simple. The city is a coyote buffet line.

As Jones says, "What's food for a coyote? Everything."

It's not just that food is readily available from unsecured garbage cans. There's also pet food left out in back yards and bird feeders. Worse yet are well-intentioned folks who think they are helping the situation by feeding the coyotes.

They are not only missing the point - coyotes self-restrict their population based on available food, so the feeders are actually increasing the number - but it is dangerous. Coyotes that become dependent on handouts lose their fear of humans.

In 2008 a coyote in the Presidio became so bold he not only threatened dogs and people, it ran at a man and grabbed his pant leg. That was the last straw and the coyote was killed.

The flip side of that situation is that some are so enamored of urban coyotes that they refuse to hear anything bad about them. Those are the people who say that the coyotes who were killed in Golden Gate Park just administered a light nip to a dog. Covington says it was more than that. The vet bill ran to thousands of dollars.

The debate is sure to continue. But as I was telling a colleague, they are in San Francisco to stay.

"Yep," she said. "Next they'll want to get married and smoke marijuana."

August Newsletter

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Download the newsletter (PDF)

August 2011
Newsletter

In this issue:

California High Speed Rail Has Statistics on Its Side
California’s Violent Video Game Law
Domestic Workers Make Big Impact
An Eye Opening Excursion to WOMAN Inc.
Domestic Violence Legislation: "So Much Needs to Be Done"
August is Child Support Awareness Month
New San Francisco Landfill Site Under Consideration S
ervice Saturday: St. Anthony’s Foundation
Sundays Are Now “Eat Local, Buy California Grown” Days
Intern Spotlight: Volunteering For the Bison
First Ma Squad Basketball Game A Success!
World Hepatitis Day: Continuing To Increase Awareness
Legislative Update
Upcoming Events District Meetings
Internship Application
FAQ’s

Download the newsletter (PDF)

Lawmakers push for tough locksmith regulations

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There's a new push under way in Sacramento to crack down on unlicensed locksmiths who gouge unsuspecting customers.

A law authorized by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma raised the fine for unlicensed activity tenfold in 2008 to $10,000 and provided a means for customers to get restitution. Now, there's a new movement under way to give California greater enforcement powers.

Randy Reed looks over the pockmarks left by a locksmith in a door jamb of the Nepomuceno family, who hired a locksmith when Aris Nepomuceno's wife Marisol was locked out on a Saturday morning.

The California Locksmith Association says the basic lockout should have been easy and inexpensive.

"The fact that they used an air wedge is kind of unprofessional on a residential, because it can damage the door and the jamb," Reed said.

Reed said the bill should have run no more than $125 even for a Saturday morning, but the Nepomuceno family said they paid three times that amount.

"I think, for her, it was a little more intimidating," Aris Nepomuceno said. "The fact that there were two gentlemen here, and she probably didn't want to anger them by trying to challenge them and not to pay the price."

Reed says in an emergency, many people tend to hire a locksmith based on an internet or phone book search, but some locksmiths ABC7 found had phony addresses, making them tough to track down if consumers have a complaint.

One locksmith found on Google Maps listed an address belonging to a Japanese dollar store, and another supposedly was at a florist.

Google says it's aware this goes on, but points out the practice predates Google and encourages users to flag a listing by going to its "Report A Problem" tool on the "Place" page.

The Nepomuceno's hired a company called Picksquad using a similar internet search. ABC7 found a promotional video for the company posted on YouTube. In the video, a store front can be seen, but when we investigated the building, what we found was a residence.

A check of public records also found that Picksquad is currently unlicensed. ABC7's calls to them went unanswered.

Complaints about unlicensed and unethical locksmiths to 7 On Your Side have decreased dramatically since our first undercover sting piece in 2007. One locksmith was eventually arrested and pleaded guilty in a plea bargain.

Inspired by a series of 7 On Your Side stories, the legislature increased the fine for unlicensed locksmith activity tenfold to $10,000. Now the state is moving to take enforcement to the next step.

The state is writing new regulations that would allow enforcers to issue fines and citations without going through a district attorney.

"This makes it easier for us to bring people to account on a consistent basis and hit them where it hurts: In the pocketbook," said Mike Heimerich with the Department of Consumer Affairs.

The new regulations should be in place by the end of the year.

ABC7 brought the Nepomuceno's case to the attention of the State Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Nepomuceno will get a full refund and the state says Picksquad is in the process of completing its license application.

Bill would regulate body art shops

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

California’s tattoo and piercing parlors may face statewide health regulations by July of next year.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, is an anti-hepatitis B activist in her district, heading up the city’s “Hep B Free” campaign. She suffers from hepatitis B, and her family and the wider Asian American community suffer disproportionately from hepatitis B as well as liver cancer, which can result from untreated hepatitis B.

Ma’s stake in hepatitis prevention has propelled her legislative effort to stop the spread of hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases at tattoo and piercing shops. That her younger sister sports a variety of piercings and tattoos has also raised Ma’s awareness.

With support from assemblymembers Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, and Elaine Alquist, D-Santa Clara, Ma is pushing a bill (AB 300) to require body artists to register with the state and adhere to procedures to prevent infection. The bill’s allies claim that current regulation is inconsistent or missing between the counties.

The bill has bipartisan support in both legislative houses. Before becoming law, it must be approved on the Senate floor, and signed by the governor.

No opponents are on file. The nationwide piercing and tattoo industry associations, as well as several county public health agencies, support the bill.

Current piercing and tattoo laws assign oversight to counties, through county health officials. But only six of California’s 58 counties register and regulate body artists.

Richard Lee directs environmental health regulation in San Francisco City and County. “There are only a few counties that regulate tattoo parlors,” he said in an interview. This bill would force standards “so everyone’s consistent.”

There is no statewide registry for tattoo and piercing shops. Preparing the bill, aides to Assemblywoman Ma had to resort to the yellow pages to track down body art businesses in California.

Ma’s bill would outlaw establishments that tattoo, pierce or apply permanent cosmetics (e.g. branding) without registration with a Local Enforcement Agency.

For Ma’s hometown, the enforcement agency would be the Department of Public Health for San Francisco City and County.

The policy would require registrants to attest that they are at least 18 years old; have been vaccinated for hepatitis B; understand the regulation; and have completed training in blood-borne pathogens, CPR and first aid.

Specific hygiene procedures would include best management practices for instruments: razors, needles, grommets etc.

The new law would require annual re-registration, with evidence displayed in each body art establishment. Customers’ informed consent would become compulsory.

Under the bill, inspectors would have access to establishments during open hours and “other reasonable times.”

Body artists who interfere with inspection could be prosecuted, with misdemeanor charges leveled at permanent and temporary establishments operating without permission of the local enforcement agency.

The bill also applies to temporary and vehicular body art establishments—such as those set up at craft fairs and concerts.

Most of Assemblywoman Ma’s district lies in San Francisco City and County, where more than a third of the population is of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent.

Hepatitis B-induced liver and bile duct cancer is a leading cause of death among Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Nationwide, only three counties have higher rates than San Francisco, according to figures from the National Cancer Institute.

The Asian Pacific Islander community suffers disproportionately from the hepatitis B virus. One in ten Asian Americans is infected with hepatitis B, according to Ma’s office.

Many Asian countries do not routinely immunize for hepatitis B. Asian Americans with immigrant parents may be infected via mother-to-child transmission in the womb.

When she was 22, Assemblywoman Ma tried to donate blood. She learned then that she was living with chronic hepatitis B, inherited perinatally from her mother, who recently underwent surgery to remove liver cancer. Detected in time, the cancer has now subsided. Originally from China, her mother inherited hepatitis-B from her own mother, the Assemblywoman’s grandmother.

In her district, Ma heads up a citywide campaign to halt hepatitis B through screening and immunization. Ma’s openness and the campaign’s visibility counteract the stigma—in the Asian Pacific Islander community and elsewhere—surrounding the disease.

“I’m the poster child for the hep B campaign,” Ma said in an interview.

This is Assemblywoman Ma’s third body art bill. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the 2009 and 2010 versions.

In 2009, for AB 517, Schwarzenegger penned in his veto message that he did not believe there was “a compelling need for additional legislation.” Counties, he said, have the option to enact suggested guidelines. That “many counties have chosen to do so” was enough for Schwarzenegger.

The next year, for AB 223, Schwarzenegger’s veto message was peppered with censure. “It is a common complaint within the business community that ‘overregulation’ is driving businesses out of California. Look no further than AB 223 for such an example.”

Since last year, authors have toned down the details of the bill’s language. Specifically, body artists would no longer be told precisely how to line their wastebaskets and wash their hands.

Authors have also removed prescriptive language for mechanical earlobe piercing. Studex Corporation, an earlobe piercing gun manufacturer, now supports the legislation. In previous years, the company has opposed Assemblywoman Ma’s body art rules.

The bill would not inhibit new body art business or drive existing business out of state, Ma claimed in an interview. Instead, the proposed law would “make sure that the bad apples don’t ruin things for everyone else.”

Mike Martin owns Flesh Skin Grafix Tattoo and Body Piercing in Imperial Beach, San Diego County. He is vice president of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists and serves on the board of the Alliance of Professional Piercers.

Both industry associations have consistently supported Assemblywoman Ma’s body art legislation. The associations, he said, are “interested in sane and enforceable regulations.”

“I don’t know anybody against this,” he said in an interview. “We’re sending energy to Governor Brown to sign the legislation.”

So far the bill has sustained not a single no vote in the Legislature. According to Assemblywoman Ma’s office, the bill will reach the Senate floor following the summer recess. They expect it to land on the governor’s desk in late August.

Lawmakers want you to eat California-grown on Sundays

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

With all the talk about eating locally grown food, you might think we wouldn't need reminding. But the California Legislature thinks otherwise: It has passed a resolution urging Californians to eat food grown in the state on Sundays.

The resolution, passed Thursday by the Senate and earlier in the month by the Assembly, grew out of an ah-ha moment for Assemblywoman Fiona Ma.

As an urban dweller, she said at a news conference Friday, "I didn't think twice about where we get our food. I just went to the local supermarket." But now that she's on the Agriculture Committee, she has toured more than 50 farms and has become "just blown away and excited about this industry."

She said she hopes many other residents will have similar realizations about what they eat -- and what they drink. She said she always orders California wines in restaurants.

California produces more than 400 commodities, including chickens, avocados, oranges and milk. Friday's news conference was held at the Original Farmers Market in Mid-City L.A., where farmers drove their trucks to sell crops beginning in the 1930s.

A resolution similar to the state's Eat Local, Buy California Grown Day was expected to go before the L.A. City Council.

While it will be hard to track the effects of the resolution (officials say it could mean billions of dollars in sales), we'd like to know what our elected officials are eating for Sunday dinner a few months from now.

Officials want Sundays dedicated to eating California-grown foods

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

State lawmakers, farmers and representatives of California's massive agriculture industry today urged Golden State residents to dedicate Sundays to eating California-grown foods.

"Eat Local, Buy California Grown Day" is a byproduct of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 42, recently approved by the state Assembly and Senate.

Proponents contend that California's economy could be boosted by more than $15 billion annually if Californians pledged to eat all locally grown foods just one day a week.

The resolution was introduced on March 23 - "California Ag Day" at the Capitol - by Assembly members Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, and Cathleen Galgiani, D-Livingston.

The campaign is supported by numerous state agricultural groups, including the Fresno-based California Table Grape Commission.

Californians can support the program and get more information on it by visiting the campaign's Facebook page at

Fiona Ma bill would ban self-checkout sale of alcohol

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma joined a coalition of supporters in Sacramento Tuesday to promote a new bill that would make it harder for teenagers to buy alcohol at the supermarket.

The grocery industry says its customers love self-serve checkout stands and there's no evidence the new technology helps kids buy alcohol, but a growing movement says it does.

More and more grocery stores are using self-serve checkout stands. At Fresh & Easy, the registers are completely unmanned with a worker nearby for help. At certain times, though, minors are able to buy alcohol, even though the self-serve stands are supposed to freeze and alert workers to check the customer's I.D.

"When the store is really busy, it's just impossible to keep track of what's going on with all those registers," says Fresh & Easy customer assistant Lisa Austin.

There are ways to cheat the system by quickly scanning the next item or sliding a credit card for payment before the freeze happens. There also have been instances when a six-pack of soda is scanned, but a six-pack of beer is bagged.

A 2009 UCLA study found 20 percent of young adults were able to buy booze by tricking the self-checkout system. Ma, a Democrat, wants to bring back face-to-face interaction to alcohol sales, just like cigarettes.

"My bill simply requires that alcohol be purchased through a sales clerk and not a self-checkout machine," says Ma. "It is better to be safe than sorry."

The grocery industry says there's no correlation between self-serve checkouts and minors buying alcohol, citing a recent study by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

"Retailers will do anything they can to protect those liquor licenses," says Ron Fong of the California Grocers Association. "They're not going to sell to underage minors."

Critics also point out this bill is backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which is fighting to save jobs threatened by new technology. But the proposal is also supported by law enforcement and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

"What a horrific sight that I have in my mind," says Irene Rubalcaba who lost her granddaughter to an under-aged drunk driver. "I just don't want another child or another family to endure what my family has gone through."

Ma's bill will be up for a Senate committee vote later this month. It's the same committee that killed the proposal once before.

New body art rules sought

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

For more than a decade, Riverside County officials hoped state lawmakers would approve rules regulating tattoo artists, piercers and other body art professionals.

So far, no luck.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a body art law in October, and similar legislation remains pending today.

Instead, the county is going it alone.

Local officials want the rules to help ensure customers -- and body art professionals -- are protected from unsanitary conditions and the spread of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and the HIV virus.

Supervisors in May voted unanimously to introduce a proposed law regulating the more than 220 active body art businesses and practitioners in the county. A revised ordinance, which will apply to cities as well, will come back for consideration later this month.

"The current regulations are missing a lot of details and requirements," said Steve Van Stockum, the county's environmental health director. "We feel we have waited long enough."

Indeed, a county grand jury last year faulted the county for not having adopted rules. State law has authorized counties to adopt their own regulations since 1999, and the county has inspected the businesses under interim standards.

The proposed rules would formalize the oversight and set fees and fines.

The county would require body art businesses and practitioners to obtain permits from the Department of Environmental Health, which also handles restaurant inspections and other duties.

The detailed proposal sets minimum standards for equipment sterilization and requires artists to attend blood-borne pathogen training. It dictates what artists should do to ensure safety while tattooing or piercing.

Brian Foster, owner of Inkaholics in Moreno Valley, reviewed the county's initial draft law. He said sensible regulations are needed and that he was glad to hear the county is taking up the issue.

"We have been doing everything by the book for years and maybe now 'the other guys' will have to do the same," Foster said by email.

Elayne Angel, incoming president of the Association of Professional Piercers, said the industry supports appropriate legislation.

Riverside County's proposal is similar to what is in place in other states.

"In general, I think it is reasonable and appropriate," said Angel, author of "The Piercing Bible: The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing."

Last year, the county grand jury criticized the Department of Environmental Health for how it oversaw tattooing, body piercing and permanent cosmetics.

For instance, the grand jury concluded that the department does not require proof that applicants completed a health and safety class or have an established plan to deal with an exposure to pathogens. The county disagreed with a number of the grand jury's findings.

Van Stockum said the county had been considering a local ordinance for some time but had hoped the state would approve uniform regulations.

Last year, Assembly Bill 223, known as the Safe Body Art Act, passed overwhelmingly in the Legislature and had the support of body art professionals. Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, saying it was an example of how "overregulation" drives away business.

The bill, Schwarzenegger said, tells tattoo artists to use a circular motion to clean the procedure site. "The bill does not appear to authorize a back-and-forth or up-and-down motion," Schwarzenegger said.

The bill's author, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, reintroduced the legislation this year as AB 300. It passed the Assembly in April on a 71-0 vote. The Senate has not taken it up yet.

Supervisor Jeff Stone said the local rules are needed.

Body art not done correctly can cause significant injury, he said.

Stone cited a British Medical Journal report that found nearly one-third of new piercings result in complications.

He spent 20 minutes going over the proposed ordinance section by section at the board's May 17 meeting, asking for additional requirements.

He requested the law mandate sterile gloves, rather than basic exam gloves, for all procedures. If there is a situation requiring medical attention, the case should be reported to the county within 48 hours, Stone requested.

In addition, the supervisor sought provisions banning registered sex offenders from obtaining body art permits.

Stone, a pharmacist, also asked for a requirement that body art practitioners get thumb-printed.

Van Stockum said staff is incorporating Stone's recommendations into the next draft of the law.

The county's ordinance will apply even to incorporated areas, since no cities have their own health departments.

Fees under the proposed law would range from a $50 registration fee for a body art practitioner to an annual $200 permit fee for body art businesses. Penalties range as high as $1,000 and six months in jail for a third offense.

The county's law would not apply to someone piercing only the lower ear lobe with a pre-sterilized, single-use stud and piercing gun.

Tattooing requires inserting pigments, or inks, under the top layer of the skin. A hand-held device moves a needle like a sewing machine to prick the skin. If the needle is not sterile, it could transmit a disease.

Foster, the Inkaholics owner, said he has always stressed a safe, friendly and sterile environment in his business.

"We do not re-sterilize or reuse anything that comes in contact with the client," Foster said. "Everything we use is single use and disposable. This is the best way to be the most sterile, and I think everyone should do this."\

At Inkaholics last week, artists donned exam gloves to begin tattooing several customers. They wrap equipment and other objects they regularly touch, such as lamps, with single-use plastic covers.

Artist James Warf said he opens single-use needles in front of the customer to show them it's sterile and not tampered with. It's a way to boost confidence, he said.

Warf was recently finishing a tattoo for Nicole Locke, of Moreno Valley. She said she was glad Warf showed her the unopened equipment.

Locke said her mother asked her whether it was safe.

"Of course. Everything is sterile," she recalls telling her mother.

Foster's wife, Summer, agreed. "Everyone can see the complete set-up," she said.

All of Inkaholics artists and employees take training in blood-borne pathogens and how to properly handle an emergency. Each studio at Inkaholics' Elsworth Street location has a medical-waste container to dispose of used tattoo needles.

"We have been following the rules since day one," Summer Foster said. "No exceptions."

But Brian Foster said some of Stone's added requirements "seem a little over the top" and will only add costs.

"Sterile gloves would increase the cost of tattooing to the customer and are not needed," Brian Foster said. "Your dentist extracts teeth using the same hospital exam gloves we use."

Likewise, if a hairdresser is not required to be thumb-printed, why should body artists, he said.

Assembly wants folks to eat local food

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Sundays should be for eating nothing but California grown food, the state Assembly agreed Thursday.

It voted unanimously for a resolution calling on state residents to observe Eat Local, Buy California Grown Day each week.

Supporters said the measure, which now goes to the Senate, would boost the state's economy while reducing the environmental damage done by long-distance food shipment.

The resolution was introduced in March by Assemblywomen Cathleen Galgiani, D-Livingston, and Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

It has the support of more than 25 farm groups. The campaign is led by the California Poultry Federation, based in Modesto, and Foster Farms, a poultry company based in Livingston.

Organizers said consumers could add up to $15.6 billion to the annual income of the state's food producers if they took part every Sunday.

The resolution declares that "legislators and public officials should promote buying California grown food products for the benefit of California consumers, California farmers, California employees and California's overall economy."

As a resolution, the measure does not need Gov. Jerry Brown's approval, but the backers are asking for his support anyway.

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/eatlocalbuycaliforniagrown.

Democratic Legislators to Watch

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Last week, we offered more than a dozen Republicans to watch in the nation's state legislatures. This week we turn to the Democrats. We assembled this list by seeking nominations from our network of sources in the states, as well as national experts on state legislatures.

In seeking nominations, we assumed that ambition was a given. We wanted to feature politicians with a long future, particularly with the possibility of winning higher office at the state or federal level.

We looked for leadership qualities, demonstrated either through formal leadership posts or service in junior positions where a legislator showed unusual initiative. The ability to strike alliances across party lines was a plus, as was a record of leading his or her party to noteworthy gains. We gave special weight to those who have a compelling personal story to tell.

California House Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma

Ma, who plans on running for state Senate, is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Ma started her political career as an aide to former influential state Sen. John Burton, a Democrat. She won election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before winning an Assembly seat in 2006 and quickly ascending the leadership ladder. Her legislative agenda has included restrictions on chemicals in toys, tools to fight domestic violence, expansion of high-speed rail and awareness of hepatitis B -- a problem disproportionate among Asian and Pacific Islanders, including Ma herself, who learned at age 22 that she had been infected at birth.

To read more about other impressive Democratic legislators, read the full article here.

Hep B Free Campaign Honored by Asia Society Northern California

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO - Asia Society Northern California bestowed it's Leadership & Innovation Award for Education to the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign at their annual awards gala on May 5, 2011.

In conjunction with the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, luminaries from the fields of Business & Policy, Arts & Culture, and Education were honored for their barrier-breaking contributions and forward-thinking projects.

The SF Hep B Free Campaign received the Education award for its role in raising awareness and educating both the public and healthcare providers about Hepatitis B infection - the greatest cause of liver cancer, and the greatest health disparity for Asian Pacific Islanders. Steve Chen, co-founder of YouTube, received the award for Arts & Culture, and Naren Gupta, founder of investment firm Nexus Venture Partners, was the honoree in the Business & Policy category.

On behalf of Hep B Free, California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma, and Ted Fang, a co-founder of Hep B Free and Executive Director of the AsianWeek Foundation accepted the award.

Ma, Honorary Chairperson for Hep B Free, said, "We are delighted and humbled to receive this prestigious award from the Asia Society."

One in ten Asian Pacific Islanders has hepatitis B, and like so many, Ma herself was infected at birth.

"The Hep B Free campaign is built on raising awareness and action through partnerships and collaborations," Ma said. "This award will further bring attention and new partners towards ending Hep B disease."

"As a partner in outreach and programming, the Asia Society has seen the dynamism and impact of the Hep B Free model in San Francisco. We are particularly pleased that this groundbreaking campaign is now being replicated in other cities around the country. We are proud to work with San Francisco Hep B Free and to recognize them with our annual Award for Leadership in Education," said Bruce Pickering, Executive Director of Asia Society Northern California.

###

About Asia Society

Asia Society, founded in 1965, is a leading global organization composed of 11 centers worldwide dedicated to fostering inter-cultural dialogue and building harmonious communities for those with a passionate interest in Asia. Its Annual Dinner, the group's most prestigious and largest fundraiser, is attended by over 350 guests yearly, including leaders from business and civic affairs, academia, the diplomatic corps, and the media. Featured speakers of past Annual Dinners have included The Honorable Madeleine Albright; US Senator Dianne Feinstein; Mayor Gavin Newsom; George Lucas, director and founder of Lucasfilm; Peter Darbee, President, CEO and Chairman of PG&E; Nobel Laureate and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.

About San Francisco Hep B Free

San Francisco Hep B Free is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between city government, private healthcare community organizations and businesses. The campaign's goal is to make San Francisco Hepatitis B-free by (1) creating public and healthcare provider awareness about the importance of testing & vaccinating Asian and Pacific Islanders for Hepatitis B; (2) promoting routine Hepatitis B screenings and vaccinations within the primary care medical community; and (3) facilitating access to treatment for chronically infected individuals. The SF Hep B Free Steering Committee is made up of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the Asian Week Foundation, and the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University. www.sfhepbfree.org

Checkout bill would hit Fresh & Easy hard

Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On one side, we've got Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the California Nurses Association and a passel of law enforcement agencies, including the San Francisco Police Department.

On the other, the California Grocers Association, the California Retailers Association, various chambers of commerce and NCR Corp. (formerly National Cash Register).

Yes, another alcohol-related measure is working its way through the state Legislature, and this one's causing particular heartburn for the offshoot of a British supermarket chain that is about to open stores in San Francisco.

The measure, AB183, written by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, would ban purchasing alcohol at self-checkout stands, the kind you find at big-box retailers and grocery stores like Target and Safeway and, most notably, at the 126 Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market outlets in California.

Ma says her bill is aimed at combatting underage drinking, which she estimates costs California $1.8 billion annually in law enforcement and health costs. "AB183 seeks to prevent alcohol from getting in the wrong hands and protects the public and our youth," she has said.

In most retail stores where they are used, self-checkout stands constitute a small minority. Fresh & Easy, which has 11 stores in the Bay Area, with two opening in the coming months in San Francisco, relies solely on self-checkout, a significant cost-saving measure, as well as a customer convenience.

But Fresh & Easy, a subsidiary of Britain's Tesco PLC, one of the world's largest retailers, is not being singled out, Ma insists.

"We appreciate Fresh & Easy coming to San Francisco," she said. "But when it comes to buying alcohol, or beverages with alcohol in them, they'll have to have a retail clerk involved, just the same as at Lucky, Safeway, Target or Walgreens."

California gets more money for high-speed rail

Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

California will get another federal grant, this time for $367 million, to extend its high-speed rail route in the Central Valley by another 20 miles and buy next-generation rail cars.

The money is part of a $2 billion grant, including $423 million that newly elected Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida rejected, joining Wisconsin and Ohio in spurning federal funds because of questions about the cost and viability of high-speed rail, a top transportation priority for the Obama administration. California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both Democrats, requested the additional money for California's big-bet on its rail project.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made the announcment today. Last year LaHood redirected $624 million to California after the Ohio and Wisconsin cancellations. The money comes from the 2009 stimulus and 2010 appropriations.

The rest of the $2 billion in grants will go to the New York-based Northeast Corridor for rail improvements, and to high-speed lines linking Chicago with St. Louis and Detroit. About $336 million will subsidize new locomotives and rail cars for California and the Midwest.

California hopes to have the nation's first rail system that can travel up to 220 mph. House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, put out a statement saying San Francisco will have the "Grand Central of the West," in the Transbay Transit Center.

"While other states may ignore the benefits of high-speed rail, California is ready to put investments to work immediately...By investing in our state's infrastructure, we increase mobility options and lower our dependence on foreign oil at a time of rising gas prices, while reducing road congestion and preserving the air...high speed rail holds the promise of smart urban planning, speed and safety, with passengers able to board in downtown San Francisco at the Transbay Transit Center, the 'Grand Central of the West,' and in a mere two-hours and forty minutes disembark in downtown Los Angeles, as established by the voters in state law with Proposition 1A."

An extensive critique published last October by Alain Enthoven, William Grindley and William Warren concluded that the financial projections for the California project "verge on being promotional," and will cost the state dearly by shortchanging more viable investments in education, parks and other transportation.

Public Service Announcement: Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Discusses Perinatal Depression Awareness Month in May

Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO – For Perinatal Depression Awareness Month in May, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) reports that a 15% to 20% of women experience symptoms of depression or anxiety during their pregnancy and after giving birth and discusses how to get help.

Click here for the English language MP3 file. The running time is :30.

Transcript

"The month of May has been designated by the State of California as Perinatal Depression Awareness Month."

"Hi, I'm Assemblywoman Fiona Ma."

"15% to 20% of women experience symptoms of depression or anxiety during their pregnancy and after giving birth."

"If you think you or someone you love might be experiencing these symptoms you are not alone. There is help available."

"For more information, Call 1-800-944-4PPD or go to www.Postpartum.net, don't be afraid to Speak up When You're Down."

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco proposes rave safety bill

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Click here to watch the video report.

SACRAMENTO (KGO) -- Lawmakers in Sacramento are trying to find ways to make rave parties safer for the people who attend them. That action comes after several deaths because of drugs at those events.

A Southern California mom brought her story to Sacramento, and it didn't take long for lawmakers to take her side.

"I'm speaking not as a mother of the victim, but as a voice of a parent who wants something done now. Thank you," Grace Rodriguez told lawmakers. The tragic death of her 15-year-old daughter is still difficult for her to talk about, but Rodriguez has to, to convince lawmakers to make changes.

Last June, Sasha died of an overdose while at a rave at the Los Angeles Coliseum, a property partly owned by the state of California, where her family claims not enough medical personnel were there.

"How can we allow any of these events to happen?" said Rodriguez. "How can we allow for one person to die?"

The month before Sasha's death, two other people died after also overdosing on drugs at a rave, but that one was at the Bay Area's Cow Palace, another state-owned venue.

The Assembly Agriculture Committee unanimously approved tougher safety measures in place for any event at publicly-owned sites, not just raves, where more than 10,000 people are expected. They include prior approval of an action plan that addresses potential need for law enforcement, medical care and risk of drug use. The proposal is a compromise from an all-out ban on raves.

"Opponents criticized me for banning fun without seeing it firsthand," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. "So, last month, I went to Beyond Wonderland in San Bernardino to see for myself what happens."

Ma found raves can be done safely if the right precautions are in place. Still, opponents say the new restrictions might discourage rave promoters from holding events that a lot of young people are demanding.

"These issues of deaths are coming from bad drugs, not from the events," said opponent Liam Shy. "So if you want to deal with the issues, you have to deal with the drugs."

The intention of Ma's bill is to lessen the state's liability if deaths occur during an event. The state is among those being sued for $5 million over Sasha's death.

April Newsletter

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Download the newsletter (PDF)

APRIL 2011
NEWSLETTER

In this issue:

Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Women Fighting Back – Learn Self-Defense
Hepatitis B Vaccinations
Legislative Update: 2011 Legislative Package
Earth Day History
Earth Day: A Billion Acts of Green
April 28th is Workers' Memorial Day
April is National Poetry Month!
A Victorian Evening with SNBC
April is Earthquake Preparedness Month!
Libraries Reopen Across San Francisco
Data Mining: Good or Bad?
New Technology to Help Farmers
Get Active in Your Community
Estate Planning for Pets
Parents! Get Education Tips on the Radio
Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month
Spotlight: Mustang Tennis Club
Upcoming Events
District Meetings
Internship Application
FAQ's
Teens! Apply for a Summer Job

Download the newsletter (PDF)

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY Education panel approves bill remembering WWII veterans

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO, Calif.- The Filipinos in WWII Social Studies Curriculum Act, or AB 199, passed the first step toward ensuring that social science instruction in grades 7-12 includes the significant role of Filipinos and their soldiers in World War II.

Authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley), the legislation will ensure Filipino Veterans who fought side by side American troops are remembered by future generations.

“Filipino WWII veterans have been denied benefits that were promised and are now being denied credit in our school history books,” said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. “Many of the Filipino veterans of WWII are aging and dying. It is important to ensure that their stories are not lost - they deserve our recognition and respect in our history.”

“Many Americans are unaware of the contributions made by Filipino soldiers on their behalf during World War II. Any group of veterans who fought to maintain the ideals of our nation deserves to be recognized in the same manner as the rest,” said Assembly member Cook. “I am honored to be a joint author of AB 199 along with Assembly member Ma, which can help ensure that our children and future generations don’t forget the contributions and sacrifice of these brave Filipino soldiers.”

During the hearing on March 30, the Assembly Education committee members heard testimony from Regino Nacua, a Filipino WWII veteran and Commander Rudy Asercion, who is a Veterans War Memorial commissioner.

“This is part of our American experience, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, America made a desperate plea for these soldiers to delay and battle the Japanese while allied forces are prepared." Asercion said. Noting that President Obama signed the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill in 2009, Asercion wondered “ Why did it take America, a country that is fairer than most, 65 years after service have been rendered in good faith, to acknowledge and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of these veterans.”

There were more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers that aided General Douglas MacArthur in defending the America territory against invading Japanese forces. However, after World War II ended, President Truman signed Public Law 70-301, known as the Rescission Act of 1946. The Act states that “ the service of Filipinos "shall not be deemed to be or to have been service in the military of the United States or any component thereof or any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges or benefits."

A video transcript of the hearing will be shown to survivors of the infamous Death March during the FALL of BATAAN commemoration ceremony on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the Veterans War Memorial and Performing Arts Center on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco.

The need for the NewDEAL

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

As President Obama made clear in his State of the Union address, we can’t just stand still to win the future. To compete in the global economy, we need to find solutions that are both pro-growth and progressive.

Too often in our nation’s capitol, these two ideals are seen as opposed to each other. We reject this false choice. As former mayors, we saw first-hand how solutions that were both pro-growth and progressive could help to grow the economy in a way that expands opportunity for everyone. As we met our fellow leaders of towns and states around the country, we noticed that many of them were getting similar success from pro-growth progressive solutions.

That’s why we have joined with the NewDEAL, a newly launched national network searching the country for pro-growth progressive state and local elected leaders in order to help them share their innovative ideas to win the future.

We believe that in order to build the vision of progressive growth that the President has laid out, we need to look for fresh ideas not just from the top-down in Washington DC, but also from the bottom up, where local leaders are developing and testing their ideas out on the ground.

Finding the best pro-growth progressive ideas is especially important now, as we make tough choices to jumpstart our economy. But make no mistake: to win the future, we can no longer afford to choose between growing the pie and making sure everyone gets a decent slice.

Growing the economy and expanding opportunity are not trade-offs—they feed on each other. Our economy grows stronger when everyone has the tools to get ahead through hard work, no matter where they come from. But it’s not enough just to support people to take risks like going back to school or starting their own business. In order to make room for more people to get ahead through hard work, we also need to help our businesses grow so that there is more work to be done.

This week, we are excited to announce the first ten NewDEAL leaders from across the country, from red states and blue. These leaders are distinguished by their ideas to spur growth we can all share by harnessing competition and innovation to make government smarter and more efficient.

In upstate New York, a region that has seen the loss of many jobs, Assemblyman Joe Morelle has championed a strategy to win them back: a technology seed fund that gives startup companies the boost they need so that they can grow to the point where they can attract private investment. The seed fund is aimed at spurring smart investments that might not otherwise be made in order to jump-start the economy and create well-paid, sustainable jobs. “New job growth in our state and region will depend on precisely this kind of partnership between the public, private and academic sectors,” says Assemblyman Morelle.

In St. Louis, Assistant Minority Leader Tishaura Jones understands that the key to building long-term prosperity for all of us is to ensure that every American has access to a world-class education, no matter where they come from. That’s why Representative Jones – a mother as well as a legislator – is introducing a plan to help the most effective charter schools expand throughout her entire state, so that every parent can provide the same opportunity for their children as she can.

Such schools are allowed more freedom to develop innovative models in exchange for meeting educational outcomes and test scores. Representative Jones is clear that charter schools must be held accountable for results but notes that they could help spur local job growth by having the flexibility to focus on serving the job needs of different areas, be it on science, agriculture, or drop-out recovery.

And in Nevada, Secretary of State Ross Miller has created the Nevada Business Portal to ensure that government provides tools, rather than obstacles, for job creation. America’s first online “one-stop shop” for companies to do business with the government will make government services more convenient and efficient, freeing up sorely needed resources for other priorities.

The first ten NewDEAL leaders also include Arizona State Representative Chad Campbell, Iowa Senate President pro Tempore Jeff Danielson, Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel, Virginia Delegate Mark Keam, California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Ohio’s Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady, and Delaware Representative Bryon Short, whose ideas range from progressive tax reform to fostering small business growth and ensuring transparency in government spending.

Too often in Washington, politicians and ideas are judged by who’s up and who’s down, and by who’s going to win the next election. The NewDEAL is different because it isn’t focused on winning daily political battles—it’s focused on winning the future.

In the months ahead, the NewDEAL is committed to helping more of these pro-growth progressive leaders share their innovative ideas. We hope you will join us in nominating leaders on the NewDEAL’s interactive website, www.NewDEALLeaders.org, and help us find the fresh ideas our country will need to win the future.

Lawmakers honor California agriculture

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

LEGISLATORS CELEBRATE AG DAY. The State Capitol was buzzing under wet skies Wednesday as hundreds of visitors and legislators celebrated agriculture on the West grounds. The day started with a press conference set up by the poultry industry and other agricultural groups to introduce a resolution titled “Eat Local, Buy California Grown on Sundays.” The idea is to emphasize the importance of buying local and how it not only helps local businesses but enhances jobs and our economy. We don’t expect it to have much trouble sailing through and approved by the legislature. The resolution was introduced by San Francisco Majority Democratic Leader Fiona Ma, a member of the Ag Committee, and also Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani (our assemblywoman) who is the Ag Committee chair again this year. They both emphasized the importance of buying locally. Senator Anthony Cannella told the crowd that he would usher the resolution through the senate once it arrived there.

Here is why agriculture is so important to us and to the state:

• California continues to set the pace for the rest of the nation as the country’s largest agricultural producer. More than 90 percent of California farms are family farms or partnerships.

• California is the most agriculturally abundant state in the country, producing more than 400 commodities and generating $34.8 billion in revenues, which represents 12.3 percent of the U.S. total.

• Across the nation, U.S. consumers regularly purchase several crops produced solely in California: almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, grapes, raisins, kiwifruit, olives, Clingstone peaches, pistachios, dried plums, pomegranates, sweet rice and walnuts.

• California produce accounts for $19.65 billion of the state’s $34.8 billion in agricultural sales, amounting to 56 percent.

• California grown livestock and poultry account for 22 percent of the state’s agricultural sales ($7.81billion).

• California produces 12.8 percent of the country’s total exports.

• And if everyone in the state consumed only California products one day a week it would amount to 10 billion pounds and $15.6 billion in sales.

State resolves to eat local at Capital Ag Day

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO -- Two lawmakers Wednesday suggested a new Sunday ritual — eating nothing but California-grown food.

That weekly commitment would help the state's farmers prosper and reduce the harm that distant shipping does to the environment, supporters said.

Assemblywomen Cathleen Galgiani, D-Livingston, and Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, appeared on the Capitol steps to announce the effort. They have introduced a resolution to have each Sunday be Eat Local, Buy California Grown Day.

"In a time of economic distress for our state, the support of California products will help keep critical dollars within the state for the benefit of Californians, strengthening the state's communities, economies and businesses," the resolution says.

The launch was part of the annual Ag Day at the Capitol, which highlights the importance of fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat, milk and other farm products from the state.

The lawmakers were joined by Ira Brill, director of marketing and advertising services for Foster Farms, a Livingston-based poultry company that competes with out-of-state rivals.

"With the budget deficit as it is in California, we need to keep hard-working Californians' money in the state, for the good of all Californians," he said.

Nineteen industry groups have signed on to the campaign, ranging from the Table Grape Commission to the Bean Shippers Association to the Sea Urchin Commission.

Organizers said consumers could add up to $15.6 billion to the annual income of the state's food producers if they took part every Sunday. They cited a Foster Farms survey finding that 85 percent of Californians believe that eating locally is important.

March 2011 Newsletter

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NEWSLETTER

FIONA MA, CPA
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
MARCH 2011 NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

Transportation Plan Call for Projects
California Agriculture Day is March 23rd
City Hall Fellow Applications Open
Hearing to Reduce Teen Dating Violence
California State Income Tax Forms
Free Tax Preparation from Tax Aid
Legislative Update: 2011 Legislative Package
Hepatitis B Testing
Tastes of Taraval 2011
Public Safety Awareness Update
National Consumer Protection Week Starts March 6th
Landscape Your Sidewalk
St Patrick's Day History & Events
Youth – Get Paid to Learn & Make Art!
29th Annual San Francisco Middle School Science Fair
Understanding Human Trafficking
Planning the Future of our Coast
Upcoming Events
District Meetings
Internship Application
FAQ's
SPECIAL EVENTS!

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Fiona Ma invites you to a super colon

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Nope, not a typo. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, sent out a news release this afternoon announcing she’ll co-host a “super colon” on the State Capitol’s North Lawn from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to raise awareness on colorectal cancer (and not – I repeat, NOT – as commentary on the state budget process).

Ma – along with Strides For Life, the California Colorectal Cancer Coalition and radiation oncologist Dr. Dale Hunter – will be calling attention to Assembly Concurrent Resolution 23, which declares March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. On display will be a 10-foot-by-20-foot colon, which visitors can walk through to learn about early detection and to understand how to prevent colorectal cancer.

Ma says cancer is California’s 2nd leading cause of death – claiming an average of 50,000 lives per year – and colorectal cancer is the state’s third most common form of cancer. About 65 percent of colorectal cancer patients have a survival rate of only five years due to low prognostic exams and early detection; studies have shown that early detection has helped decrease the number of new cancer cases over the years.

Opinion: Keeping California farmers on a roll

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Next Tuesday I’ll be back in action defending my championship in the California Rice Commission’s Annual Capitol Roller Competition. I’ll join two of my colleagues, Senators Anthony Cannella and Michael J. Rubio, on stage to find out who in the Legislature is the best sushi roller. The winner gets a framed samurai sword. Last year my co-champion, Susan Kennedy, won custody of the sword but this year, I aim to win it.

It’s a fun event and I hope the Capitol Roller Competition draws attention to one of the most valuable industries in this state – agriculture. I am honored to serve on the California State Assembly Committee on Agriculture, and have learned a lot about the importance of our family farmers and ranchers. The more I learn about this subject, the more my appreciation grows for the families that keep our supermarkets well stocked.

In this challenging economic time in our state, it is especially important to remember that California has had the distinction of being the number one producer of food, fiber and flowers for more than 50 consecutive years. With our Mediterranean climate, California is truly the land of milk and honey – and hundreds of other agricultural commodities. The diversity and vitality of California farming is a marvel that benefits all.

It has been a pleasure for me to champion a number of key issues to help our farmers. Last year, I authored AB 1960 “California Grown,” to require public agencies to purchase fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in our state. In 2008, I authored AB 606, to create the California Blueberry Commission which was subsequently signed into law. I was thrilled to earn the “Cornucopia” Award from California Women for Agriculture and recently spoke at the first inaugural Ag Summit. I am also urging Congress to defer the estate tax specifically for family-owned farms and ranches.

I have toured a variety of farms, to get a firsthand look at our amazing agricultural diversity, which includes more than 400 commodities. My stops have included the Sacramento Valley, where more than 95 percent of the state’s rice crop is grown. Having visited a rice farm and mill, I learned about how California rice farmers not only account for thousands of jobs and America’s sushi rice, their fields also provide unparalleled habitat for 230 wildlife species. Sacramento Valley ricelands provide nearly 60 percent of the winter food for 7 to 10 million migrating geese and ducks. With much of our natural wetlands gone, the value of California rice fields and adjacent wetlands to wildlife is staggering. This benefit to the state is essentially free, as long as our rice farmers remain viable.

This event is an excellent way for us to recognize the contributions of the rice industry to the state’s economy as well. Rice has been an important part of California’s cultural history, having helped to feed thousands of Asian immigrants during the gold rush. Currently, California’s 2,500 family rice farmers produce more than four billion pounds of rice a year, which is not only enjoyed locally in such dishes as sushi, rice bowls, risotto and paella, it’s also in demand in Japan, South Korea, Turkey and many other overseas destinations. About half of the California rice crop is exported and rice was our state's second most valuable agricultural export in 2009, making this a commodity that has an annual economic impact exceeding $1 billion.

For the sake of our farmers, consumers and the economy, I will continue to do what I can to support those in agriculture.

As we try to move California toward a more prosperous economy, I urge my fellow Legislators to seek out ways to give our farmers and ranchers the best chance to succeed. As for consumers, the more they learn about where their food comes from, the better they can keep their diets fresh and local, sustaining a vital part of what makes California great - agriculture.

I hope that serves as food for thought the next time you enjoy a plate of sushi.

Fiona Ma's bill would raise awareness of Filipino World War II veterans in school lessons

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

A bill seeks to raise awareness in California public schools of the contributions of Filipinos who fought under the American flag during World War II.

Co-authored by state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, the bill calls on middle and high schools to incorporate in their social science lessons discussions pertaining to the role of about 250,000 Filipinos in the war.

Introduced in the Legislature in late January, AB 199 would not mandate such instruction.

But it would encourage schools to devote some time studying the service of the Filipino veterans, Ma spokeswoman Gina Frisby said.

That part of the history lesson should include personal testimony in the form of oral or video histories of the Filipino soldiers, Ma's office said.

Not making AB 199 mandatory should give the measure a better chance of passing muster than similar bills introduced in the past few years, Frisby said.

Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger refused to sign those bills into law.

In a veto message in 2008, Schwarzenegger said: "While I respect the author's intent to recognize the role of Filipinos who fought courageously in World War II, I have consistently vetoed legislation that has attempted to include specific details or events into areas of instruction.

The state Board of Education adopted content standards (that) are developed by a diverse group of experts and are intentionally broad in order to allow coverage of various events, developments and issues."

Ago Pedalizo, president of Justice for Filipino- American Veterans, said he hopes the latest bill finds success.

Students should learn about the Filipino veterans and the long-running effort to bring them full military benefits, Pedalizo said.

"If you want healing for the whole community," he said, "everyone should know the whole history."

Ma's bill follows legislation by U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier that seeks to grant full benefits to surviving Filipino veterans.

Speier, D-Hillsborough, introduced her Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011 in Congress in early January, trying to accomplish what has eluded supporters of similar bills that were proposed but fizzled over the years.

Speier's bill would restore the benefits promised to the Filipinos at the time of the war but denied by the Rescission Act of 1946.

Drug plans stick some patients with steep costs

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Several years ago, Melanie Rowen got a diagnosis that plunged her into debt and thrust her into the heart of the debate over how the U.S. distributes and pays for health care.

Rowen, 33, an attorney for a San Francisco nonprofit group, found out she had multiple sclerosis in 2007 and immediately started a drug regimen to try to prevent M.S. attacks that could rob her of long-term neurological function.

The drugs, which typically are produced in small quantities and aren't available in generic form, can help prevent months-long foot numbness that throws off her balance and bouts of low vision that make it impossible for her to read, among other effects of the disease.

But the price of her medication has been higher than she imagined. Since her diagnosis, she's paid at least $25,000, or between $650 and $880 a month, for drugs that promise to cut the number of disabling M.S. attacks she has to suffer. That's because the expensive therapies fall into the last tier of her health plan's drug benefit, known as tier 4 or the specialty tier, and her coinsurance leaves her on the hook for 30% of the cost. She spent through her savings first and then began racking up credit-card debt to stay on her meds.

"I'm paying off my law-school loans and supporting my mother, who's in an assisted-living facility. This is sort of additional rent every month," she said of her out-of-pocket costs.

"My neurologist has been consistent about it's important to avoid stress," Rowen said with a laugh. "This is causing stress…You have this really serious neurological condition you need to deal with, and on top of it you have this crushing financial load that seems really unfair."

Last fall, Rowen finally qualified for a drug company's financial-assistance program that has made the monthly bill for her infusion therapy more manageable. But in six months she'll have to go through another drug change and all the bureaucracy and uncertainty that entails.

Patients in her circumstance have little choice but to pay what it takes, said Dr. Douglas Goodin, medical director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of California at San Francisco, who isn't involved in her care.

"M.S. is a very unpredictable disease," Goodin said. "All of the drugs, which are only partially effective, lower the biological activity of M.S., so they make the attacks less likely and the disability you get from them less."

California takes a stand

A bill introduced earlier this month by California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma seeks to ease the financial burden on Golden State patients such as Rowen. Starting in 2012, the proposal would ban insurance companies from creating specialty tiers that use coinsurance to require patients to pay a percentage of their medication costs as opposed to a flat copay rate. It also would cap out-of-pocket drug costs to $1,000 a year for California patients and $2,000 a year for their covered dependents.

The bill argues that reining in patients' out-of-pocket costs would save money by keeping them from having to go on disability or stopping their medication, leading to poorer health and expensive emergency care down the line.

Specialty drugs are used to treat 5% of the population, including people with hepatitis, neuropathy, cancer, transplants and autoimmune disorders, but that figure is expected to grow as new drugs come on line and existing ones are used to treat a wider variety of conditions, according to the legislation.

"People shouldn't have to make a choice between their medicines or food or going bankrupt or being healthy," Ma said. She noted that New York already has such a law, and seven other states have introduced similar legislation this year.

The use of tiered drug plans has grown in the last seven years. The portion of employer-sponsored health plans that carve out a fourth or higher tier for specialty drugs grew to 13% in 2010 from 3% in 2004, according to annual survey data from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust.

Ma objected to the idea of saddling individual patients with the highest costs rather than distributing them more evenly among the entire pool of insured people, which is how insurance has worked traditionally but often results in higher premiums.

"You're supposed to have a pool and share the risks along the whole pool," she said, "but insurance companies want to take less and less risk. They want to insure the healthiest risks, which is virtually no one these days. They're abdicating their responsibility as insurance plans to keep people healthy as their priority."

Unintended consequences?

The California proposal looks to go a step beyond standards set in the new health-reform law, which gradually reduces health plans' annual dollar limits on benefits until 2014, when certain annual limits will be eliminated. Many regulations in the Affordable Care Act remain unclear, and the Obama administration has been granting interim waivers to companies that say they would have to cut benefits or jack up premiums substantially if forced to comply with such provisions.

Not everyone is convinced California is on the right track because of concern about unintended consequences.

It's not uncommon for cancer patients to incur large out-of-pocket drug costs. But the Washington-based American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network neither supports nor opposes the legislation, said Senior Policy Director Stephen Finan.

"We have reservations because we don't know how that cost ultimately gets paid. The insurance companies aren't going to eat that lost cost," Finan said.

Should the bill pass, would some employers respond by cutting pharmaceutical benefits completely?

"That's a possibility," he said, "at least until 2014."

"We think dealing with reforms through the Affordable Care Act is the best way to go because it's taking a comprehensive look at the system rather than trying to deal with one specific issue at a time and not being able to deal with the secondary effect of that," Finan said.

Health insurers oppose the bill. The legislation would place the cost burden solely on the pool of people who buy coverage, making it "too restrictive," said Patrick Johnston, president of the California Association of Health Plans, a trade group in Sacramento.

The solution to the problem of prohibitively high drug costs should involve more than just health insurers, he said.

"A law that compels minimal copays for expensive drugs that pharmaceutical companies have obtained 12-year patent protection for by Congress ignores the source of the high cost," Johnston said.

"Why not look at the patent length, the need for generics and the decision by the drugmakers to price their products so high?"

Money to stem teen dating violence dwindles

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Twenty percent of teens have been pushed, slapped or hit by someone with whom they're in a serious relationship.

That simple statistic underlines an important fact: Violence too often accompanies teenage romance. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, held a hearing Wednesday in Sacramento to bring awareness to the issue at a time when funding for violence-prevention programs is dwindling because of budget cuts.

"State and federal funding for youth violence prevention has dried up. However, we must not turn a blind eye to unhealthy adolescent behavior," Ma said. "Now more than ever, our state needs new innovative programs and role models to promote healthy relationships that don't rely on state funding."

Ma, chairwoman of the Assembly Select Committee on Domestic Violence, invited experts on teen relationships to address concerns about the issue in connection with Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month.

On Wednesday, she urged educators and counselors to incorporate messages regarding appropriate behavior into their daily lessons, and she encouraged the use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook to help spread the word.

"Love is respect," the online home of the National Dating Abuse Helpline, reports that 1 in 3 girls who have been in a serious relationship say they have been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner. Stephanie Pappas with the State Department of Education said 72 percent of eighth-grade students say they have been in a dating relationship.

Be it emotional or physical abuse, statistics show teen dating violence is a national problem. Local officials say it's prevalent here as well, but the county has no system for tracking the number of teens affected by relationship abuse.

Neither the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office nor Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse can put a number on it.

Headquartered in Burlingame, CORA is the county's only organization devoted to helping people affected by domestic violence and relationship abuse. A year ago, it had a thriving teen-outreach program, featuring a live forum and chat room that offered a safe venue for young people to talk anonymously about dating violence.

Neither of those online tools still exists because of state budget cuts last fiscal year that reduced funding for teen outreach by $400,000, said Cori Manthorne, director of programs. Youth-based efforts were cut by about 80 percent, forcing CORA to eliminate teen volunteer and hot-line training, reduce school outreach and lay off five employees, including a marriage and family therapist designated for teens.

"The funding lately has really gone toward emergency services like crisis intervention and emergency housing," Manthorne said. "Anything deemed as prevention-focused has had a hard time recently."

Although CORA has managed to make up some of the costs to continue doing healthy-relationship workshops in schools, the money isn't secure enough to reinstate the original program, which used funding from the state Emergency Management Agency that is no longer available.

Teens are welcome to use all the adult offerings available at CORA, but the lack of targeted outreach leaves a huge service gap for what's considered a vulnerable population.

The factors that affect teen relationships are typically different adults', according to Manthorne, who listed school, peer activity, parental stress and the Internet as being among those peculiar to teens.

James Wade, the San Mateo County deputy district attorney in charge of the juvenile branch, said jealousy is the No. 1 cause he sees behind teen dating violence cases.

"We do see a lot of situations of teen batteries against boyfriends or girlfriends," Wade said. "It's magnified because they're still in school."

The number of those cases is unknown, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti, who said the district attorney's case management system doesn't track ages of victims.

San Mateo County teens struggling with an abusive relationship can call CORA'S 24-hour hot line at 800-300-1080 or the National Dating Abuse Helpline at 866-331-9474. Their websites are www.corasupport.org and www.loveisrespect.org.

Fiona Ma Targets Domestic Violence Among Teens

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

What we know about the 2009 gang rape of a Richmond High School student at prom is that it's not an isolated event. Domestic violence among teens is on the rise, and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) is attempting to draw attention to this disturbing trend.

Ma has called for a hearing on the issue on Wednesday at the state capitol.

"Sadly, [teen domestic violence] is on the rise throughout the nation," says Amber Stott, director of community relations at WEAVE, a non-profit for domestic violence survivors in Sacramento.

WEAVE's director, Beth Hassett, will speak to this issue at the hearing Wednesday. "We're seeing more of it now because people are becoming more aware of what it is and coming forward and talking about it."

"If kids are living in a violent home, and see that's what a relationship is, they repeat that sort of behavior in their relationship," she said.

UC-Davis Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Elizabeth Miller published a study last year that showed physical and verbal abuse is often accompanied by sabotaging a girl's birth control or coercing pregnancy.

Stott says there are solutions to change teen boys' attitude and behaviors. A program known as Coaching Boys Into Men, in which athletic coaches advise their male athletes to stop violence, is currently being implemented in 16 Sacramento schools. "It's working," Stott says. "Just preliminary data shows boys are more likely to intervene if they go through this training."

A representative of the coaching program and a male student who's participated in it will also be talking at Wednesday's hearing. Ma is the chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Domestic Violence, which will hold the hearing at 1:30 p.m. in the capitol building, room 447.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma stays neutral on shark finning

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

While two of her Asian American colleagues in the state legislature have squared off on shark finning, state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma has so far stayed carefully neutral on the controversy.

Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, last week proposed a ban on the consumption of shark fins, an ingredient in some traditional Chinese dishes. Environmentalists and animal rights activists have decried consuming shark fins, because often, fishermen chop off the valuable fins and toss the rest of the animal — which is much less valuable — back in the water, sometimes still alive. While this practice is outlawed by federal statute, environmentalists say it is still common, and not only has decimated shark populations but changed ocean ecosystems.

While state senator and San Francisco mayoral candidate Leland Yee has sided with environmentalists on most issues, in this case, he is siding with Chinatown merchants and restaurateurs, who say there are humane practices of harvesting the fins, and a ban is too overreaching. Though Fong is himself Chinese American, Yee accused him and other lawmakers of launching an assault on Chinese heritage and culture.

Asked how she feels about the dispute, Ma condemned “the horrific practice of shark finning” but declined to come down on one side of the issue, stating she had not yet read the language of the proposed ban.

“Before proceeding, we need to carefully examine the precedent of criminalizing food and/or a culture who consumes a certain food product,” she wrote in an e-mailed statement.

California considers changing sick day rules

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Workers in California could earn and use paid sick days for personal illness, to care for a sick family member, or to recover from domestic violence or sexual assault under a bill being considered by the state Legislature.

It is patterned after an ordinance used in the city of San Francisco.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, says her AB 400 is supported by a report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research that shows both businesses and workers were generally in support of San Francisco’s paid sick days ordinance, the first such policy in the nation.

“We are not robots. We all get sick, our family members and loved ones get sick,” says Ms. Ma. “This nonpartisan study confirms that paid sick days are good for both business and workers. The evidence is growing that paid sick days is a commonsense policy that’s good for all Californians. ”

AB 400 would allow a worker to use paid sick time for up to 40 hours or five days in each calendar year for workers of small businesses with 10 or fewer employees, and 72 hours or nine days per calendar year for all other workers.

“Millions of California’s workers are forced to go to work sick because they can’t take a day off to rest and recuperate without losing a paycheck or even their job,” says Ms. Ma. “When we go to work sick or send our children to school sick, we put others at risk. AB 400 enhances public health and supports the economic security of California’s families.”

Nearly six million Californians – more than two in five workers in the state – do not get any paid sick days, she says.

Fiona Ma hopes to put a stop to jacked-up medical costs

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Some insurers jack up the prices of some vital medications to “specialty tiers”, a practice that Assemblywoman Fiona Ma hopes to stop.

Ma will today announce legislation that would eliminate the expensive specialty tiers, and also cap monthly co-pays.

Ma will announce the legislation at 3:30 p.m. today in the lobby of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, joined by patients and advocates.

San Francisco sick-leave law working, study says

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

San Francisco's 4-year-old, mandatory sick-leave law has gained wide acceptance among employees and their bosses, a new study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research says.

The voter-approved law, the only one of its kind in California, gives workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours on the job. Workers can accrue up to five days at any given time at companies with less than 10 employees and nine days at any given time at those with more than 10.

Surveys of 700 employers and 1,200 employees by the Washington institute found that two-thirds of employers support the San Francisco law, and only 1 in 7 employers complained that it affected their profitability.

The typical worker covered by the law used only three days per year to stay home sick or to care for children or relatives, the study said. One quarter of employees queried took no time off for illness.

"San Francisco's policy helped parents, workers with chronic diseases, low-wage workers and others with minimal impact on employers," said report co-author Vicky Lovell. "The paid sick leave ordinance serves as a model for the rest of the country."

A bill to expand the San Francisco program statewide is expected to be introduced this year in the state Legislature by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco). Similar bills failed in previous years.

"Nobody wins when workers show up to work sick," Ma said. "The lack of paid sick days is a public health concern. It harms children and families and decreases productivity at work."

It's important for workers to be able to stay home when they are sick, said Daniel Conway, a spokesman for the California Restaurant Assn. But arranging for time off should be left to informal arrangements between restaurant owners and their employees, he said.

"We're looking to give employers and employees maximum flexibility. That's something unique to the restaurant industry," Conway said."Mandates by their very nature negate that flexibility."

Bill aims to stop specialty tier prescription drug costs

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There's a new trend in health insurance to pass along the costs of the highest price medications to patients. Instead of a co-pay, patients are finding expensive drugs for cancer, arthritis and multiple sclerosis can cost them hundreds, even thousands of dollars out of pocket each month, but a Bay Area lawmaker is working to change that.

"My neurologist said, 'You need to let your insurance company know that every day that goes by that you don't take this drug, they are costing you neurological function,'" said MS patient Melanie Rowen.

That drug Rowen needed to manage her MS cost her nearly $700 a month. Her insurance classified it as a specialty tier drug, also known as Tier 4. That means she pays 30 percent of the cost of the drug rather than a simple co-pay.

When asked how she made it work financially, Rowen said, "I went into credit card debt."

"What we're hearing is things such as, 'What do I do? Do I pay my mortgage?' or 'Do I go into debt?' which is a common thing, people are going into debt or they're going without some of the essentials of life," said Stewart Ferry, the public policy director for the National MS Society.

Of the 12 most common Tier 4 drugs, four are used to treat MS.

"They're just so frustrated because they're paying their premiums and this runs completely counter to what insurance is supposed to be about, which is equitably spreading the risk. So this is antithetical to the very nature of insurance," said Ferry.

Specialty tier pricing started under Medicare Part D. Michelle Vogel is executive director of the Alliance for Plasma Therapies and has been tracking the impact.

"Whatever happens with Medicare typically follows in private insurance, so when I was looking at the private plans, and especially in California, you're seeing the majority of plans have put in Tier 4 plans," said Vogel.

There's a wide range of illnesses and diseases impacted by this change: cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, even hemophilia and organ transplantation.

"If you get a transplant, but the anti-rejection drug is too expensive to pay for, then why bother transplanting to begin with? You'll die without that organ," said Vogel.

"Sixty-one percent of Americans take some sort of prescription medication a day. So it is alarming when health plans are reclassifying drugs into a new Tier 4 category," said Assm. Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Ma is proposing legislation in California to prevent health insurers from moving vital medications to Tier 4 status.

"What we're trying to do is make sure that patients are able to afford the medication they need. So we are going to look at a cap system as well as cost containment for the individuals who are on medication," said Ma.

"What the cost is of a given drug starts with the manufacturer. We ought to look there and then both the health plan and the individual have roles to play in contributing to the cost of the drug," said Patrick Johnston, CEO of the California Association of Health Plans.

Johnston is concerned about legislation that prevents cost sharing.

"If we have a drug co-pay that is tiered, then we can control the cost and make it more likely that more people can afford insurance," said Johnston.

But a growing number of patients like Rowen are finding themselves facing a huge financial burden simply to get the drugs their doctors have prescribed.

"The stakes are high and nobody who has any choice about it is going to choose not to take them. It's absolutely out of the question," said Rowen.

Right now, New York is the only state with a law preventing specialty tiers. Ma plans to announce the specifics of her legislation on Thursday. However, state legislation does not impact self-funded health plans which cover about half of all employees with health insurance. Federal legislation is needed to change that.

Protections touted

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger laughed at her Blueberry Commission bill and her legislation requiring state agencies to purchase locally grown produce died in the Senate.

But Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, says she is unwavering in her commitment to California agriculture.

The third-term assemblywoman and speaker pro tempore was one of five speakers at the Family Water Alliance's forum on agriculture perspectives at the Colusa Farm Show on Wednesday.

The popular Farm Show event, which often features people with opposing ideologies on environmentalism, conservation, water, energy and other issues that impact agriculture, was the third forum the powerful grassroots organization has hosted.

Although it was Ma's first official visit to the Colusa Farm Show, it was not her first visit to the area. She said she's use to the cool reception she's given when touring the North State, and the initial unfriendly glances cast her way by North State conservatives — at least until they get to know her.

Ma, after all, was raised in New York and represents one the most liberal districts in the state.

She works to provide quality health care for every Californian, to protect the environment and chairs the California high-speed rail caucus — not overly popular ideologies for the largely Republican communities north of the capital.

But as a member of the Assembly Food and Agriculture Committee, the urban legislator says she has discovered a strong interest in agriculture and a critical connection between farm and city.

"Living in Manhattan, I never thought about where food came from," Ma said. "That changed when I came to California."

With one in 10 jobs in the state connected to agriculture, Ma has become one of the strongest voices in the Legislature on agriculture matters, including protecting the Williamson Act, the tax subvention program aimed at preserving agricultural lands.

She strongly opposes Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to eliminate Williamson Act subvention payments to counties, including Colusa and Glenn.

The two counties receive $1.4 million between them to help balance their budgets, while allowing landowners to keep their land in agriculture production.

A cut to the program would also cost Tehama County about $860,000 in tax funds.

Ma said she will also continue to support federal estate tax legislation that would help farmers and ranchers keep the family farm after the death of a family member by deferring estate tax obligations for as long and the land remains in operation by the same family.

"It is crucial to do whatever we can so (people) can keep their land and farm on it," Ma said.

Ma vows to help end an ageless perception that the agriculture industry wastes water, uses excessive pesticides, or doesn't care about fish or endangered species.

"The agriculture community cares about all of these things," Ma said. "Farming is a business, and farmers are good stewards of the land. It's not always easy with the regulations we have."

Ma admitted she has more to learn, but promises to continue being a strong voice in Sacramento on issues important to agriculture.

Ma is a certified public accountant licensed in California.

PG&E To Share Pipeline Data With Fire Departments

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) — PG&E announced Tuesday that it would share specific information about its natural gas pipeline infrastructure with fire departments in San Francisco and Fremont to protect first responders in the event of a gas-related fire.

The data will be handed over in electronic form at the urging of Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco/ San Mateo, who became aware of the information gap over the course of several legislative investigations into the Sept. 9 San Bruno pipeline explosion and fire, Ma spokesman Nick Hardman said Tuesday.

Eight people were killed and dozens of homes destroyed in the blaze.

“Fire departments do not always have critical pipeline information, like their size or where they’re located,” Hardman said. “Fire departments need to know where those pipelines are, whether they’re responding to a fire caused by a household appliance or a pipeline explosion like the one in San Bruno.”

PG&E has established a pilot program with the cities of San Francisco and Fremont to provide their fire departments with electronic versions of PG&E’s pipeline infrastructure for the first time, PG&E spokesman Joe Molica said.

“In the wake of the San Bruno tragedy, we committed to better coordination with local first responders,” Molica said.

The utility company will need to work out differences in computer software capabilities with the fire departments before the pilot program can be expanded system wide across PG&E’s service area, Molica said.

“We have reached out to San Bruno and are working with them to be a pilot city as well,” Molica said.

PG&E, first responders develop pipe disclosure pilot program

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Utility giant Pacific Gas and Electric has taken steps to share critical gas pipeline information with first responders in a pilot program starting in San Francisco and Alameda counties, the company confirmed yesterday.

While a consumer watchdog group praises the move, it also wonders why PG&E has not taken these steps previously.

Network, a nonprofit agency that monitors utility companies and advocates for consumers.“First responders should not have to beg for information,” said Mindy Spatt, spokeswoman with The Utility Reform

The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 already mandates this type of sharing, according to TURN.
“From our perspective, it is hard to understand why they wouldn’t share this already,” Spatt said.

After a legislative hearing and inquiries following the San Bruno explosion and fire of Sept. 9, 2010, it became apparent that local fire departments did not always have critical information on the location of natural gas pipes, according to the office of Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco/San Mateo.

First responders to the San Bruno tragedy operated under the assumption that a jetliner had crashed in the Glenview neighborhood for 30 minutes or more after the initial explosion because they could not get close enough to the epicenter of the fire due to the extreme heat and fast-spreading fire.

Ma helped facilitate the program with San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White and PG&E to ensure collaboration between the utility company and local fire departments on gas pipeline location and safety. The Fremont Fire Department is also participating in the pilot program.

In October, PG&E unveiled a new program called Pipeline 2020 after the September explosion in San Bruno where a 30-inch natural gas pipeline exploded, killing eight and completely destroying 37 homes.

The Pipeline 2020 program objectives are to strengthen the utility’s natural gas transmission system through a combination of targeted investments, research and development, improved processes and procedures and tighter coordination with public agencies, according to PG&E.

“It is not a brand-new effort,” said PG&E spokesman Joe Molica. “We started this in October. We’ve also reached out to San Bruno to make it a pilot.”

The newest aspect of the program, Molica said, is the ability to share electronic maps that can be assessed by first responders remotely.

“We are working to enhance these partnerships,” Molica said.

The pilot program will allow for PG&E and first responders to work out the kinks and software glitches, Molica said.

“Firefighters on the front line need to know the whereabouts of potentially explosive pipes when responding to any emergency,” Ma wrote in a prepared statement. “While we strive to ensure that future accidents like the one last year never happen again, we are also working with PG&E to make sure that we are prepared to respond in the event future tragedies do happen.”

Locally, fire officials sought information related to the whereabouts of natural gas pipelines on the Peninsula going back almost five years. The inquiries were made to the federal Office of Pipeline Safety.

Fire officials wanted to know how big the pipes were, where they were located and how high the pressure was. The information was sought to help form mutual aid strategies in case of an emergency.

But the Office of Pipeline Safety only provided the general whereabouts of the transmission pipes with no real details, an anonymous fire official said.

As part of its Pipeline 2020 program, PG&E has committed to working more closely with first responders.

“I am pleased that PG&E has committed to enhancing their partnership with public safety agencies through their Pipeline 2020 program, specifically providing electronic versions of their utility infrastructure to first responders,” wrote San Francisco’s Fire Chief Hayes-White in a prepared statement.

Experts Expound

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Wow. Give the man a break. Even this Republican wants to see what happens for a few months before we start digging Jerry's grave.

I wouldn't presume Jerry Brown is a one-termer. That said, Antonio Villaraigosa has to be considered top tier, despite his occasional pratfall and mixed record in L.A.

I do not presume Jerry Brown is a one-termer. His whole, long political history shows that he defies convention - often just for the sake of defying convention - and confounds expectations. Remember, he began the 1992 cycle running for Senate, and ended up running again for president. He got out of politics - a "recovering politician," he called himself -- in the mid-'90s, but has run for and won three different offices since then. If his health holds up, I fully expect him to run for a second (fourth) term.

My pick is Fiona Ma but not sure she will be ready. It is certainly not Steinberg. After one term I would think that if Newsom and Harris were to run against each other it would open up the opportunity for an L.A. candidate to waltz right on in.

It's Harris v Newsom. He has the early advantage, but she has the better office to run from. He'll need to find issues to glom onto without seeming like he's grasping at straws, she just needs to do her job and have a good press secretary. Can't see Chiang overtaking either for top job. He'll just move over and be treasurer and be great at that too.
If Newsom can live down a few problems – all minor – then he seems to have the charisma and gravitas to get it done. Better than the others on the campaign trail. He also has personal money.

Kamala Harris. If she can keep her nose clean and follow through on even part of her goals, she could be a winner.

At this point, John Howard is within 5 points of anyone you might name. So, for the time being, I'm hitching my little red wagon to him.

John Chiang is the clear front runner. He will have the opportunity to set the agenda on the budget and California economic recovery. The other two will not. I am sure one of them will run against him but he will prevail. He has ethos.

The face of a new political era

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

A month into the new term, many plugged-in San Franciscans still can’t believe what Malia Cohen pulled off, beating out lefty fave Tony Kelly by 442 votes—not to mention 20 other candidates—to snatch the District 10 supervisor’s seat (Potrero Hill/Dogpatch/Bayview Hunters Point). She did it the old-fashioned way—by busting her ass—and the new-fashioned way, by figuring out how to make the most of ranked-choice voting (hint: It means shamelessly campaigning to be everyone’s runner-up). With our other stars off to Sacramento, she has arrived just in time.

Let’s start with the basics. How old are you, anyway? Why is everyone so fascinated with my age? Everywhere I go, people want to know. Seriously, help me understand why. I turned 33 in December.

Maybe because you’ve just won this big upset and you look as if you could be 18? I could possibly be 26, but certainly not 18. Let’s see what I look like in four years. Let’s see how many gray hairs I get.

You’ve had your eye on the Board of Supervisors since third grade? Since I met Dianne Feinstein on a school trip. Imagine being eight years old, walking into the city hall rotunda—the majesty of it.

There’s a definite resemblance to Kamala Harris. Kamala absolutely is a role model, but a little bit from afar—it’s hard to catch up with her these days! The person who has been really critical to my development is Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. She’s the one who returns my calls the same day; she’s the one who’s coaching me on how to deal with the media, with sexist comments, with the lies and the rumors that I had to deal with during the campaign. Fiona has also really helped me build strong relations in the Asian community, along with Leland Yee and David Chiu.

Which was key, because although District 10 is historically black, Asian voters are its fastest-growing bloc. At a forum last fall, you were the only candidate besides Marlene Tran to introduce yourself in Chinese. I was successful because I was able to cross over and appeal to both the African American and the Chinese communities. I grew up in San Francisco. I’m not encumbered by ethnicity or race. I’m comfortable whether I’m in a temple with my Jewish friends or in a Baptist church. I can play blackjack and mah-jongg. Most important, I know District 10 through and through. I’ve lived there, shopped there, taken the bus there, worshipped there.

What was the secret to understanding ranked-choice voting? So many other politicians were clueless. It’s a system that favors candidates who build coalitions instead of tearing each other down. Maybe I wasn’t their first choice, because of my age or experience, but I’d tell people, “I’d love to be your second or your third choice.” Instead of pointing out the differences between myself and the other candidates, I’d say, “Tony Kelly and I see eye to eye on these issues; Steve Moss and I see eye to eye on these issues.” I gave them a reason to support me.

Now, suddenly, you’re the highest-ranking black politician in San Francisco. How does that manifest itself? In a lot of demands and requests for me to speak! And I’m not great at it, so I need the practice. No, really, it’s been awesome and very humbling. I understand when I talk to young people the seed that I’m planting in them.

Has Willie Brown given you any advice? Everyone gives me advice—Willie Brown, taxi drivers, homeless people, everyone!

Tell me some other things about yourself. I’m a classically trained violinist. My favorite job in my whole entire life was during college, when I taught gymnastics to toddlers. I have four younger sisters. One of my favorite places in District 10 is Heron’s Head Park—it’s not very well known and a little windy, but gorgeous. Oh, and I love red velvet cake.

Speaker PArez Statement on State of the Union Address

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address:

“President Obama laid out a clear and consistent vision for the country this evening. The President understands that our economy is not performing well enough for the millions of Americans who are still struggling to cope with the recession, and he made a compelling case for the kind of fiscally responsible investments we need to make in order to ensure America remains the most competitive and prosperous nation in the world. The President made an eloquent and thoughtful call for our country to come together and solve our problems not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans, and I hope every member of Congress takes that message to heart.”

Will High-Speed Rail Get Sick with BART Syndrome?

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

BART Syndrome. No, it’s not some virus you catch riding the train.

According to urban planners, it’s what happens when a BART station gets built — but nothing else gets built around it, defeating the purpose of what is known as transit-oriented development, which aims to fight environmental problems by reducing sprawl and car use.

Now a group of lawmakers and planners is trying to make sure the disease of desolate train stations doesn’t spread to California’s ambitious high-speed rail project, which the state hopes will carry passengers at 220 miles per hour from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Gabriel Metcalf, executive director of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, or SPUR, said that the environmental benefits of rail will be lost if there isn’t development around the stations, which are currently planned for both dense urban centers and more sprawling cities like Gilroy, Fresno and Bakersfield.

“Getting the system built is only half the battle, and getting the patterns of growth changed is the second,” said Metcalf, whose organization this week is putting out a report called “Beyond the Tracks,” which identifies “BART Syndrome” along with some possible remedies.

The problem, Metcalf and others acknowledge, is that no one can fix the problem by fiat. Planning is up to local governments, and building is up to developers, not the high-speed rail authority or the state. Local governments have long bristled at the notion of “regional planning,” and developers often find it easier to build sprawling developments far from the cries of opinionated neighbors.

In Sacramento, state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma said she plans to reintroduce a bill — known by the wonky moniker TIF for TOD (tax-increment financing for transit-oriented development) — that she hopes will spur development around high-speed rail stations. Vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ma’s bill would let local governments use a financing tool — much like a redevelopment area — around stations to fund infrastructure in the area.

“We’re going to hopefully have new stations from high-speed rail, and there’s no money in the budget to do any infrastructure improvements,” said Ma. “This money would go to parks, solid waste projects and other infrastructure.”

Ma, who is betting that Gov. Jerry Brown will be more receptive to the bill, said it will entice cash-starved local governments and developers to build around train stations.

But some transportation planners are skeptical. Gerald Cauthen, a veteran Bay Area transportation engineer, said that even these legislative steps won't guarantee development around train stations.

"For the last 40 years, planners have been telling each other about the need for clustering development in order to reduce the externalities of growth," said Cauthen. "The problem is, if you're a local official whose friendly, generous developer is singing the praises of his proposal to further sprawl in your city, … a vague state reminder to consider the externalities may not weigh all that heavily."

Cauthen said that the only way to make sure that developers build around stations is to use a big stick with cities and towns.

“The only leverage is if the High-Speed Rail Authority were to say, ‘We’re willing to give you a station, but you have to give us some solid plans for transit-oriented development,’” Cauthen said.

Rachel Wall, spokeswoman for the authority, said it wouldn’t be playing hardball with local communities in that manner. But she said that the authority is working on a proposal to help fund planning efforts by cities around the stations.

Some BART stations have spurred dense development, like in downtown San Francisco. That hasn’t happened around many of the suburban stations. And in some places, such as Orinda, it hasn’t been possible, because the station was built right in the middle of a freeway.

SPUR's Metcalf said that while those who conceived of BART in the early 1950s hoped stations would create more places like downtown San Francisco, by the time it opened in the early 1970s, local governments weren't that interested in building high-rises.

Tom Radulovich — a BART board member who has been working with Ma to pass the TIF for TOD bill since it would also benefit BART stations — said that the high-speed rail authority appears to be on the right track on this issue.

“The good news is that high-speed rail seems to have learned from BART’s mistakes,” said Radulovich.

Death, Money, and Megaraves

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

When 15-year-old Sasha Rodriguez died from an Ecstasy overdose in June, her mother was in disbelief. "I was supposed to be planning her sweet 16 party," she told a television reporter. How could the teen possibly have died after joining a throng of 80,000 cheering young concertgoers at a rave sanctioned by some of Los Angeles' top elected leaders?

One of Sasha's friends told the Weekly she took only one pill before attending the Electric Daisy Carnival, held in June at the publicly owned Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. While baffled friends and family tried to grasp her death, attributed by the L.A. County Coroner to "complications of ischemic encephalopathy" due to MDMA intoxication — in short, vital oxygen deprivation — a curious phenomenon emerged among young rave participants: They went online to discuss their views that their favorite drug, Ecstasy, or MDMA, couldn't be to blame.

In one online rave discussion group, called Plurlife, a reader named Maler wrote, "Someone sold her bunk shit."

Another commenter, General Rowdy, explained, "Trust me on this she chugged a liter of water while being dehydrated that put her whole system out of whack which resulted in her falling down and hitting her head which then resulted in people walking over her."

Twenty years after the first American raves were organized in California, bringing young people a bright new paradigm outside rock & roll rebellion and hip-hop bravado, L.A. politicians have endorsed supersized versions of the parties. But the huge, uncontrollable crowds have led to an increasing number of deaths and hospitalizations.

As the events have grown from small, illicit — but usually safe — warehouse affairs to massive, officially approved, commercial experiences, mayhem has followed in Los Angeles, but not in the nation's other largest cities.

Raves in New York's Central Park and Miami's Bayfront Park don't send nearly as many young people to the hospital. The Bay Area's deadly experience at the Cow Palace last spring led local authorities to ban megaraves.

The government-hosted megaraves are emerging as a unique Los Angeles phenomenon: vast, officially backed places for young people to party, drop Ecstasy and sometimes die. Four major parties each year rent out the two biggest rave venues in the nation, the Coliseum and the Sports Arena.

The megaraves are nothing like the more modest, nonpermitted warehouse raves, which, ironically, many Coliseum commissioners — including L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks and L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky — oppose. But now all raves, even the smaller ones, might suffer, thanks to the Coliseum Commission's inability to control mobs at the Coliseum and Sports Arena.

Last week, California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat, introduced legislation to ban raves on public property and require that private events be licensed.

Ma cited the deaths at Electric Daisy and the Cow Palace: "In June a 15-year-old girl died and over 100 people were hospitalized. If I was on the [Coliseum Commission], I would not have made the decision to do this again." And she slammed the "big money" that's driving public officials to push for mass events at L.A.'s two huge, taxpayer-owned venues.

Click here to read the full article at the LA Weekly website

Megaraves in the News

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Oct. 27-28, 2007: Michelle Yuenshan Lee, 21, is found passed out and convulsing at the Monster Massive megarave at the publicly owned L.A. Sports Arena. A witness says it takes more than an hour to get proper medical help. Lee later dies and the coroner places most of the blame on Ecstasy overdose.Dec. 31, 2009-Jan. 1, 2010: The Centers for Disease Control reports that a raver died from overdosing on Ecstasy, cocaine and heroin after Together as One at the Sports Arena. The party sent 18 people to hospitals, mostly Ecstasy ODs. One young man suffers internal injuries from E and is hospitalized 28 days.May 29-30, 2010: Two men die from Ecstasy ODs after attending a rave at the state-run Cow Palace outside San Francisco.June 25-26, 2010: Sasha Rodriguez, 15, dies of an Ecstasy OD after attending the Electric Daisy Carnival megarave at the L.A. Coliseum. The event sees 200 medical emergencies. Oct. 23-24, 2010: Monster Massive at the L.A. Sports Arena sees about 40 drug-related arrests, 37 medical emergencies and 16 transports to hospitals, mostly for Ecstasy ODs or related issues.Oct. 29-30, 2010: Despite new "harm reduction" measures at the publicly owned Cow Palace, 17 people require medical attention for Ecstasy ODs or related issues at the Spookfest megarave. Bay Area authorities ban raves at the Cow Palace.Nov. 1, 2010: Jackson Roddy, 18, a USC student who attended the rave-like Hard Haunted Mansion at the Shrine Auditorium, falls six stories from a campus building after reportedly taking Ecstasy. He survives with severe injuries.Dec. 1, 2010: The Coliseum Commission affirms its earlier vote to allow 18-and-up raves at the publicly owned Coliseum and Sports Arena, but orders Electric Daisy to be pre-approved. The event's private promoter begins advertising Electric Daisy 2011: June 24-25 in L.A.Dec. 4-5, 2010: Los Angeles Center Studios pulls the plug on the Winterfresh rave, forcing promoters to spread the huge event over two days at three venues in San Bernardino. Dec. 22, 2010: San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma introduces the Anti-Raves Act of 2011, to ban the parties on public property. Her bill also requires the safer, better-managed private parties to be licensed.Dec. 31, 2010: LAPD assigns 450 officers to the Together as One megarave at the L.A. Sports Arena. As many as 45,000 people are expected.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Statement on AB 74 Next Steps

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO — Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco/San Mateo Counties) issued the following statement on Assembly Bill 74:

"From the beginning, my intent was to find common sense public safety solutions for large entertainment events at state owned facilities," said Assemblywoman Ma. "After hearing from numerous members of the community, I have decided to convene stakeholder meetings to ensure that these tragic incidents don't happen again."

Assemblywoman Ma says the stakeholder group that she will convene starting in January will include representatives of the nightlife entertainment industry, youth, law enforcement, local government, and emergency medical responders.

"I don't believe anyone wants the tragedies that occurred this year to continue happening," Ma said. "The stakeholder meetings will be inclusive and I commit to not moving AB 74 until meeting and hearing from all perspectives. This issue is complicated. We have to find a way to protect young people without compromising everyone's legitimate rights to enjoy themselves in a safe environment. I appreciate everyone's input throughout this process," Ma continued.

Assemblywoman Ma introduced AB 74 in response to recent incidents at the Cow Palace in Daly City and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Los Angeles Sports Arena, 3 publically-owned facilities:

Cow Palace Incidents

In May of 2010, a 23-year-old overdosed and a 25-year-old later died after an event held at the Cow Palace. Five other attendees were hospitalized in critical condition, and additional 68 adults and 5 juveniles were arrested in drug-related charges.
In October, 2010, 17 people were hospitalized with 1 in critical condition after this type of event.
Over 250 drug-related arrests have occurred at these types of events at the Cow Palace alone.

Los Angeles Coliseum and Los Angeles Sports Arena

On New Year's Eve 2009, a 24-year-old died and 18 others were hospitalized after this type of event at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
In June of 2010, a 15-year-old girl died of a drug overdose and an estimated 120 people were sent to the hospital after an event at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
In August, 2010, 80 people were arrested and numerous medical calls were made after an event at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Fur: Faux or Real?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Hepatitis B awareness is key in prevention

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Approximately 1.4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis B. More than half of the 1.4 million Americans infected are Asian/ Pacific islander Americans — I am one of them.

I contracted the disease from my mother via perinatal expo- sure which is a common way hepatitis B is transmitted. I am perfectly healthy and fine today, but hepatitis B is some- thing that should be monitored closely because the disease rarely shows symptoms until it is too late for treatment. This is why I feel it is extremely important for people to get screened and vaccinated.

Chronic hepatitis B is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants. Individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B are at a higher risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Hepatitis B-related liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Asian/Pacific Islander men.

Talking about issues like hepatitis B isn’t particularly “sexy,” but hepatitis B is becoming more and more of a problem within the Asian-American community and we need to do more about it. We need to bring the discussion to the forefront and make sure everything that can be done to promote awareness and prevention of hepatitis B is done.

A lack of awareness coupled with cultural differences and language barriers prevent many Asian-Americans from getting screened and seeking medical attention. Many people who contract hepatitis B will never develop symptoms, but can still transmit the disease to others.

For the last two years, I’ve worked in San Francisco to make people aware of the impact of hepatitis B in California’s diverse communities. Through the Hep B Free campaign (www.sfhepbfree.org), we’ve tested thousands of San Franciscans, provided vaccination and treatment information, and formed a network of groups committed to ending hepatitis B.

I hope you will join me and other organizations in supporting hepatitis B awareness and prevention. It is important that we all do our part to bring hepatitis B to the forefront, and normalize the discussion of this deadly and silent disease.

Gas pipeline queries mount

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

More transparency along with stronger safety testing regulations are needed when it comes to ensuring natural gas is transported safely, according to industry and elected officials who gathered in San Bruno last night.

The legislative forum hosted by Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, drew just over 100 people — many from the media — and was punctuated by outbursts with questions about the lack of review for utility companies. People were curious about the types of testing available, expert opinions on approaching regulation and why utility companies like Pacific Gas and Electric are granted money for infrastructure enhancements that no one double-checks to see if they are implemented. The three-hour conversation on natural gas infrastructure integrity and vulnerability was one of many conversations since the Sept. 9 natural gas explosion and fire that killed eight, injured many and destroyed numerous homes in San Bruno's Glenview neighborhood.

Mayor Jim Ruane was clear about what changes residents of San Bruno, and arguably those watching this investigation up to the federal level, are looking for: the highest level of protection; stringent inspections; easy-to-understand public information; strong regulatory oversight; and a detailed emergency plan shared with emergency response officials.

The meeting's tone was that of a hunger for more information but also frustration.

"We are here to find out what happened, not to point fingers. To make sure safety is the number one priority," said Assemblyman Steven Bradford, D-Gardena. "And to make sure you as the ratepayer aren't held responsible for making these improvements."

Transparency was a big issue, particularly for Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. Ma took particular issue with the California Public Utilities Commission, which oversees utilities like PG&E but does not answer to state legislators and whose members are appointed by the governor.

"There has to be more accountability; transparency; some responsibility to answer these questions. I'm frustrated. I've been frustrated the last four years when we've asked these questions," she said.

Another issue was the relationship between the CPUC and utility companies. While a company like PG&E will come forward with a capital improvement plan and request access to funds, it is not required to complete the projects put forward in the request.

Hill pointed to a portion of line 132, the line which exploded, located in South San Francisco that was said to need $5 million in improvements in 2007, be fine in 2008, and in 2009 once again be too high of a risk.

"Did anyone know what they were doing with the funds? Why aren't those established criteria?" Hill asked.

CPUC Executive Director Paul Clanon agreed it was a hole in the regulation, but that the money was used for other improvements.

"How?" many people from the audience asked out loud without getting any real answer.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, noted there was no real answer given.

"I've heard you worm out of the $5 million question multiple times. I'm distressed by the spin. I would advise you to re-examine what your answers will be. I know we're making you squirm," he said.
The fact that CPUC hasn't issued fines to utility agencies in years was also a concern. Clanon explained not issuing fines encourages organizations like PG&E to come forward when they spot a problem so the two agencies can work together.

"I don't understand. We don't [fine utility companies] because we want them to step forward? You have to have kids; you have to know there's more than discipline and oversight than we're not going to fine them so they step forward. That's Disneyworld. That's not the corporate world," Ammiano said.

A second panel of leading experts was given about an hour at the end of the evening to discuss testing methods and safety. Their points of view at times differed from information provided by Kirk Johnson, vice president of gas engineering and operations for PG&E, who had left by this portion of the evening.

Since the explosion and fire, Johnson listed safety precautions taken to check the rest of the line like leak surveys, reducing pressure, releasing information and reviewing emergency protocols.

Surveying has been done in a couple of ways, but mostly through visual observations like people walking the line or flying over and looking for dead vegetation, a sign of a possible leak.

Rick Kuprewicz, a 37-year energy industry expert who recently testified before Congress on gas infrastructure and safety, took issue with flyovers which were never intended to be used as an integrity assessment.

A number of questions couldn't be answered by PG&E due to the ongoing investigation on the incident by the National Transportation Safety Board, which people estimated could take up to 18 months after it began.

Kuprewicz called for preliminary results to be released soon.

"NTSB needs to release preliminary findings. I have a lot of respect for NTSB, but it's a pipe. It only fails in so many ways," he said.

All involved in the panels cautioned about making multi-million safety changes until it was clear why the gas line failed.

Editorial: Vote for Fiona Ma

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma faces a legitimate challenge in the form of asset manager Alfonso Faustino Jr.

Ma, whose district includes parts of northern San Mateo County, is seeking a third term in the Assembly, where she is speaker pro tempore. The former San Francisco supervisor is a public-health advocate who is particularly proud of a 2007 bill banning chemicals known as phthalates from baby products, a stance that was later adopted by the federal government.

Ma is a hard worker, though if she wins a third term, we encourage her to focus more of her energy on job creation.

Faustino, though a newcomer to politics, makes for an impressive first-time candidate. The Republican is running a vigorous grass-roots campaign, and we are intrigued by some of his ideas on education, from reforming the tenure process for teachers to increasing vocational training.

We disagree with Faustino, however, on his approach to solving the state's budget mess. He is against tax increases of any kind, for example, and this inflexibility on the issue of taxation is one of the reasons why the state has failed so utterly in recent years to right its fiscal ship.

In addition, Faustino's grasp of certain statewide issues is not as strong as we would like. His position on high-speed rail -- he opposes it -- is sketchy, and in a recent meeting at the Times, he did not take a stance on Proposition 23, an effort to cripple California's landmark effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Ma has experience and a leadership position within the Democratic Party in her favor, and we prefer her more pragmatic approach to balancing the budget.

We recommend a vote for Fiona Ma.

California State Assembly welcomes Rajasthan Speaker Shekhawat

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

California State Assembly Speaker John Perez, Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma welcomed Deependra Singh Shekhawat Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, India accompanied by H.R. Kuri, Secretary of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, India to the State Assembly chambers in Sacramento on Thursday, October 7th.

In a reception befitting the stature of the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker, Assembly member Pro Temp Speaker announced his presence on the floor in Sacramento, where the intense California State Budget discussions were taking place. "Speaker Shedkhawat was welcomed by all those assembled and several legislators made it a point to meet and greet the delegates in spite of their busy schedule" said Jaxi "Jay" Bharwad of San Francisco, instrumental in arranging the reception and visit for the Rajasthan Speaker.

On Wednesday, October 6th, San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty held a reception with Singh Shekhawat on the occasion of their visit to San Francisco on Wednesday. The reception by the Office of Supervisor Bevan Dufty San Francisco City Hall was attended by an invited group of community leaders, civic officials and politicos capping off an eventful week for the delegation.

Jay Bjarwad along with Ash Bhatt, Haresh Panchal were in attendance where Speaker of CA Assembly also welcomed the Rajasthan delegation Bharwad added that, "With a significant reception and honored meeting, the Rajasthan politicos were very pleased and already talks are underway to arrange a high power delegation business, civic and culture etc from California to Rajasthan."

Panchal, Bharwad and others are encouraging businesspeople and others interested to come forward and accord this exchange with maturity and dignity and impressed on local community that one has to step beyond the usual Bollywood films and party type atmosphere which pervades even when high-placed dignitaries arrive from India.

Becoming Hep B Free

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Hepatitis B is linked to an increased risk of liver cancer among Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Learn more about this disease and the campaign to fight it.

If San Francisco becomes the first city to stamp out hepatitis B — the contagious liver infection linked to liver cancer and caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) — then a historic coalition of more than 50 Asian Pacific Islander (API) and healthcare organizations, including Brown & Toland Physicians, can rightfully claim to have met its goal.

Dubbed the San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign, this initiative aims to screen, vaccinate and treat all San Francisco API residents for hepatitis B by providing convenient, free or low-cost blood tests at partnering health facilities and events. Already, it has spawned similar hepatitis B campaigns across the country, from Alameda County to Philadelphia.

“As an elected official, I feel it is my responsibility to educate people about hepatitis B,” says state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who is the campaign’s honorary chair. By encouraging the community to take swift action, she adds, “hopefully, we’re saving lives.”

The need to increase public awareness about hepatitis B is fully appreciated by Assemblywoman Ma, who has the virus, passed from generation to generation in her family. Once Ma understood the threat she faced as an HBV carrier (including a one in four chance of developing liver cancer), she consulted her doctor and now gets tested regularly. She urged her mother to do the same. “Last December, doctors removed a cancerous part of my mother’s liver, and now she’s fine,” says Ma. “The message is that you have to catch hepatitis B early. My family is living proof.”

Chilling Statistics, Achievable Goals

Ma’s family exemplifies the virus’ threat to public health: An estimated one in 10 Asians are chronically infected with hepatitis B and are four times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population; San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the nation, due to its high population of Asian-Americans. The campaign’s intense efforts have been likened to the coordinated assault on AIDS and HIV, with an important exception: the imminent chance for success. “We have a safe and effective vaccine, we have good oral medications to slow or prevent liver damage, and we have decent tests to determine what someone needs,” says Janet Zola of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and one of Hep B Free’s cofounders and current leads. “We just have got to get people to know it.”

Getting the Public’s Attention

Effective use of the media to spread the message about hepatitis B has been a vital Hep B Free strategy, owing in no small part to the pivotal involvement of one of the campaign’s cofounders, Ted Fang, director of the AsianWeek Foundation, and its marketing committee, chaired by John Fisher of Brown & Toland. Print and billboard ads have been especially attention getting and feature actual members of the San Francisco API community, not professional models. “The ads have been highly visible, both locally and nationally. They get people talking about hepatitis B,” says Mai-Sie Chan, M.D., a Brown & Toland internist, who’s among a group of physicians featured in the latest ads and practices in the Chinatown community. “It’s a good way to participate in solving a problem that is relevant not only to the Asian Pacific Islander community but to everyone.”

Food Stamp Hunger Challenge: Finale

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Friday, Sept 17th: I was tired of eating toast and fruit bars for breakfast so I had a bowl of cereal which was sweet?! I looked again at the box: "sweetened wheat & rice flakes with oat and honey granola clusters & raisins" but disappointed that I only found 1 raisin.

TGIF: Bob picked me up early to "roll around the neighborhood, just like the good ole days. At lunch time, Bob wanted to eat a healthy meal so we stopped at Safeway. He bought organic spinach, a bag of cherry tomatoes, veggie medley and a block of cheese. Total cost: $14. He was gracious enough to share his cherry tomatoes with me. I ate my peanut butter sandwich. At 5 pm, I was starving so I treated myself to a foot long Subway veggie sandwich and spent my final $5...I ate half and saved half for the next day.

Sat, Sept 18th: I had the luxury of a small bit of time in the morning so I made two scrambled eggs and one slice of toast with peanut butter. My lunch stomach clock went off early at 11:30 so I ate the other half of yesterday's Subway sandwich. We dropped by the Cow Palace Farmers Market which does accept food stamps. The variety of fresh fruits and vegetables again made me appreciate the importance of California's agriculture industry. Vendors came from Merced, Fresno, Petaluma, and Watsonville.

My Takeaways:

I've been a coordinator at my church's Harvest program (sponsored by the SF Food Bank) for the past 10 years and I've noticed the growing number of people/families standing on line each week, and new faces, especially over the past year. And now I know why...

$28 doesn't go very far especially if you want to eat and drink more than water all week. It's also hard to eat balanced nutritious meals on $28/week without supplementing with free food/meals.

I sat through many meetings at restaurants all week and noticed that the establishments serve a lot of food...no wonder there's an obesity problem. And I was also aware of all the food we don't eat that goes into the trash.

As a member of the Agriculture Committee for the past two years, I have come to really appreciate our farmers and farm workers. This past week made me understand that there needs to be food justice for those who are less fortunate than myself.

Thank you San Francisco Food Bank for encouraging me to do the Food Stamp Hunger Challenge this week.

My thoughts for the week: Appreciation, Preparation and finally....Justice.

Public health specialist works to raise hepatitis B awareness

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Janet Zola, the health promotion specialist at the Department of Public Health and co-creator of “SF Hep B Free,” was part of a week of events to raise awareness about hepatitis B in the Asian and Pacific Islander population (API).

What is Hep B Free? It’s a broad spectrum coalition of people in health care, the Asian-American community, businesses and nonprofits all coming together to stop the spread of hepatitis B and liver cancer.

Why the Asian-American community? In the API population there is a 10 percent infection rate. This is chronic, as it is less than 1 percent in the general population. It is one of the greatest health disparities we’ve seen.

How do you get the disease? The disease is generally passed on at birth. Over half the people infected are unaware of it. When you become affected at a very early age there are no symptoms. Only simple blood tests can tell you.

Can you get it any other way? It’s also a blood borne disease that can be transmitted sexually or through needles. Hepatitis B is about 100 times more infectious than HIV.

What’s the problem with fighting this disease? The great thing is we have all the tools to prevent and fight this disease. The problem is the lack of knowledge, lack of awareness and lack of funding support.

Food Stamp Hunger Challenge: Update

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Sept 14th Dinner: scrambled egg sandwich and half a can of mixed veggies.

Wednesday, Sept 15th: I didn't plan very well before I left my home in the morning. I ate a fruit bar for breakfast (and brought the rest of the box with me) and packed a banana and peanut butter sandwich for lunch. I got hungry around 5 pm so ate another fruit bar. At 6 pm, I sat on a panel for Hep B and got emotional (which I don't normally get) talking about my Mom who also has chronic Hep B but because of our awareness about this disease, her doctors detected her irregular liver xray early and removed part of her liver last December. Had she not been monitoring her liver, she may not be alive today as Hep B is a "silent killer"...by the time you feel any symptoms, it's probably too late as one would be in the last stages of liver cancer or require a liver transplant. Today, she is cancer free and alive. Thank God. I had another dinner event after the panel but did not participate in the meal...however I did eat a bun halfway through. Since I forgot to pack a dinner, I ate another fruit bar on my way home and went straight to bed when I got home.

Thursday, Sept 16th: I was determined to plan better for the day...which I did but also "supplemented" my diet. I had peanut butter on toast and a glass of milk for breakfast. I made/packed a tuna fish sandwich AND a peanut butter sandwich and brought a can of soup and a package of noodles with me when I left home in the morning. I went to a breakfast reception and couldn't resist two glasses of cranberry/orange juice and some scrambled eggs. I was fortunate to be at an event with free food. For lunch, I ate a tuna fish sandwich. I was feeling tired all day so Bob treated me to my favorite Starbucks Vente Awake tea during the day. In the evening, I was the MC for our 3rd Annual Hep B Gala dinner so I gobbled down my peanut butter sandwich at 5:30 pm before the event. When I got home at 10 pm, I ate a bowl of noodles with 2,000 cc of Vitamin C. I hadn't been sleeping well and it's been cold so I was scared of getting sick. Getting enough sleep is important but so is eating well and since I didn't feel I was getting balanced, nutritious meals, I thought I would eat the noodles when I got home (which is not a good thing to do right before going to bed).

My thoughts for the last few days: Preparation.

S.F.'s hepatitis B campaign now a model

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco’s Hep B Free campaign, aimed at eradicating one of the Asian-American community’s biggest killers, is being copied nationwide.

Ted Fang, director of the AsianWeek Foundation and a driver behind San Francisco’s campaign, said as many as a dozen communities, including Philadelphia, “are trying replicate the model here in San Francisco.”

Speaking at an event Wednesday that featured Baruch Blumberg, the Nobel Prize-winning discoverer of the hepatitis B virus and vaccine, Fang said Hep B Free is helping to erase the stigma of a disease that left untreated can lead to deadly liver cancer.

San Francisco, not coincidentally, has the highest liver cancer rate in the United States, according to the group.

Hep B Free brought together city government, private health care providers and businesses. Key to the campaign has been ads on buses and at Muni shelters that show different groups of 10 Asian-Americans and a tagline, “Which one deserves to die?”

That refers to the fact that one in 10 in the Asian-American community is chronically infected with the disease.

(In the attached video, Fang talks about how Hep B Free has tapped the unique characteristics of the Asian-American community — including 90 percent coverage by health insurance, according to Fang — to get San Francisco hospitals involved.)

Hep B Free now is asking every primary care doctor in San Francisco to sign a pledge to test at-risk patients for hep B. Sixty percent have signed up, Fang said, including all physicians at 54-bed Chinese Hospital, North East Medical Services in Chinatown and Kaiser Permanente.

“This is not just an Asian problem,” said Samuel So. director of the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University. “This is a community problem. This is an American problem.”

Hunger Challenge: Day 2

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Food Log:

Sept. 12, 2010: Sunday night (first meal): Fruit bar and banana.

Monday: Cereal for breakfast. Pasta for lunch. Fruit bar for snack. Tomato soup for dinner.

Tuesday: Fruit bar and banana. Lunch: three strawberries, half a bun with lettuce, a tomato, and one slice of cheese and 2 pepperchinis.

Today, I hopped on a horse for 3 hours and strolled through the open space of Sunol with the CA Rangeland Trust members. The tour ended with a BBQ with hamburgers and all the fixings, fresh strawberries, salad, and fudge brownies. I thought about making a peanut butter sandwich or a tuna fish sandwich but the fresh fruit and veggies was a warm welcome. I realized that it's difficult to get the recommended minimum daily allowances on $28/week:

6 servings of grains
3 servings of vegetables
2 servings of fruits
3 servings of dairy
2 servings of meat

My thought for the day: Appreciation.

Hungry for a Cause: The Hunger Challenge Gets Under Way for Third Year

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

For the third year in a row, the San Francisco Food Bank has launched the Hunger Challenge, a week-long opportunity for bloggers and others to walk in the shoes of America’s hungry. The challenge: Eat for $4 per day per person, the current amount of the food stamp benefit provided to recipients.

Participants this year include veterans of the challenge and those brand new to it. In addition, California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma has joined the roster.

Hannah of Project Open Hand admitted that though the Hunger Challenge will provide a solid education in one facet of being poor in America, she’s working from a place of great advantage:

    “As I walk in the shoes of a food stamp recipient, I realize that I will have a hot shower each morning, clean clothes to wear each day, a safe home to return to after a long day work, and a warm bed to sleep in at night. Thus, I will only encounter one of the many hardships endured by the poor every day. However, it is my hope that this experience will help me gain a better understanding of what I call the “food insecurity epidemic” and provide elucidation on ways people like me and you can help to alleviate this societal problem.”

Vinette Gutierrez of Hello Vinette! went slightly over budget during her shopping trip at the beginning of the challenge. “On my list of groceries, I got mostly carbohydrates and starchy items since they were the least expensive,” she said as she embarked on the week.

“I hope I’m not being overly confident and optimistic but I think I can handle this,” said Hello Cupcake. “At the very least, it’s only one week and as it stands now, I am very conscious of my food spending habits.”

Dana of The Food Stamp Diet had already run into a challenge starting on Day 1: she hadn’t gone shopping for her groceries yet, she woke up craving restaurant pancakes that wouldn’t fit in the budget for the week, and her boyfriend gave her a homemade piece of candy that, also, she could not eat while on the challenge.

    “I'm not pleased. So now I guess I'm gonna go to maybe Safeway or maybe some fruterias on mission and see what I can get for cheap. I have $28 for the whole week but I'm not sure I'm going to spend it all today because I'm worried I won't ration properly for the week and then I will run out. I am going to try to have some fruit and veggies this week even though I'm sure that will take all my money.

    It's gonna be a beans and rice kind of week I guess.”

The Day 1 challenge for Kate of Some Dreams Come True and her husband, Mark, was when her in-laws invited them over for dinner.

    “One of the challenge rules is no accepting handouts - after all, you could just set up to be at another friend's house for dinner every night.

    But, it got me thinking about what would happen if we were really living on food stamps. Would that be the end of social eating? I really don't think so. While I really wouldn't think anything less of anyone using food stamps, I don't think I'd be advertising it if I was. So, I did what I'd usually do - asked what I could bring.

    Mark and I ended up bringing dessert. And, in the spirit of the challenge, I wanted to make something that would fit into our $8/day budget. I ended up whipping up another Strawberry Sour Cream Pie. The total cost for the pie was $5.18.”

Learn more about the program, and check out the full list of participating bloggers, at The Hunger Challenge’s site. It’s not too late to sign up and participate!

Hunger Challenge: Day 1

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Hunger is a serious problem in California. Currently there are about 2.9 million Californians participating in the Food Stamp Program. In San Francisco about 30,000 are in the program yet 77,000 are eligible. The San Mateo and Santa Clara Food Banks operate the United States' 5th largest Food Bank, measured by pounds distributed per person in poverty. San Francisco has over 200 food pantries and 400 agencies that offer/distribute food.

Day One: September 12, 2010:

Can I live off $28/week in food? That's a question I've been asking myself.

Last year, my colleague Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada spoke on our Floor about participating in the Food Stamp Hunger Challenge: to live on $20/week (or $4/day or $1.33/meal) and urged others to try it the following year.

The idea intrigued me and when I was approached by the SF Food Bank a few months ago to take on this Challenge for 5-7 days, I said "I would do it"... not fully comprehending some of the difficulties.

I'm out in the community from the time I get up until the moment I get home. Since I normally have events or meetings at the lunch and dinner hours, Assemblywoman Yamada proposed a solution...."just bring your food with you or don't eat at all." Sounded reasonable enough.

As I was preparing for this Challenge, I realized that my typical breakfast at Starbuck's cost more than my day's allotment. One of my favorite lunches is the Subway 6" Veggie sandwich and a drink which also cost more than $4. By Friday, I was worrying and obsessing about food and the prices of items.

So to make my dollars stretch, I thought about going to a Farmers Market (having just started one at the Cow Palace) or an ethnic market (many in SF). Bob Twomey, my District Director, told me that most Farmers Markets and small grocery stores don't accept food stamps.

So I decided to go to Safeway with two of my alibi/assistants, Gina Frisby and Bernadette Lawrence. (FYI, some of my staff have also accepted the Challenge). We asked for the day's coupons, bought a lot of generic brand items and "specials" and checked out the 50% rack.

We purchased:

1 box of raisin bran cereal: $2.79
4 cans of vegetables: $2.95
3 cans of soup: $4.00
1 box of rigatoni noodles: $.99
1 jar of peanut butter: $2.50
6 packages of Top Ramen: $1.69
1 box of fruit grain bars: $1.49
2 cans of tuna: $1.58
1 dozen eggs: $1.49
1 quart of milk: $1.29
1 loaf of wheat bread: $1.19
3 bananas: $.86

We ended up spending a total of $22.82 (with a savings of$9.93 through my Safeway Club Card and $3.55 using the coupons).

And I have $5 to spare this week. Stay tuned....

CA Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Joins the Hunger Challenge!

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Showing her commitment to supporting the issue of hunger in California, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma has stepped up to take the Hunger Challenge.

“I've been a food bank volunteer for the past 10 years," Ma says, "And the lines are longer and the clients are younger. In keeping with my commitment to a hands-on approach, I will take this Hunger Challenge to see for myself how difficult it is to survive on limited assistance in these trying times.”

Any other politicians out there who are willing to live for a week on a food stamp budget?

Area Democrats celebrate Labor Day with picnic

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Labor Day picnicking took on a political edge Monday as the Tri-Counties Central Labor Council along with the Working Blue Democratic Club of Ventura County held their second annual picnic at Freedom Park in Camarillo.

“We wanted to make sure working people had a strong voice in the Democratic Party,” said Jason Hodge, founder and chairman of the Working Blue Democratic Club. Hodge, who is a Ventura County firefighter and political director of the Ventura County Firefighters Association, is also running for a seat on the board of the Oxnard Harbor District. “I don’t want to ask people to get things done. I want to do them myself,” he said. “That way, I’m the only one I have to hold accountable.”

Hodge said he expected a turnout of some 500 people, though by noon, that number was closer to 300. The event ran from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and featured games and activities for kids, live music, food booths and dozens of politicians and their constituents celebrating what has traditionally been the official campaign kick-off time for election year politics.

“I came to bring some of that Democratic spirit down here,” said state Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. The former CPA got interested in politics while lobbying for small businesses, eventually working in the Clinton White House for the Conference of Small Businesses.

Ma said though it is a tough year for Democrats, she believes that on general issues, her party still has a good chance. “History has taught us you can’t buy people’s votes,” she said. “So, we’re coming out and working for each and every vote by getting back to basics.”

Adrienne Rangel, a teacher at Adolfo Camarillo High School and Ventura County chapter chairwoman of the Tri-Counties Labor Council, agreed. “It’s a tough year for any politician,” she said. “But we’re going back to the whole theme of labor which is shoe leather, walking precincts and knocking on doors and phone banks, making phone calls,” she said. “That’s the genesis of any campaign.” The Labor Commission exists under the umbrella of the AFL-CIO.

In keeping with that theme, the picnic also featured a silent auction of items such as a pair of shoes signed by former Speaker of the California Assembly Willie Brown, and several antique phones signed by John Burton, chairman of the California Democratic Party.

“This is labor’s high holy day,” said David Sickler, Southern California regional director for the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. “It’s to acknowledge those who helped build the middle class. Too many jobs have been outsourced,” Sickler said. “Good union jobs that have a pension and healthcare have been sent overseas.”

Sickler, who was the keynote speaker for the event, said union membership in the private sector has admittedly shrunk to about 8 percent nationwide. “It’s grown in the public sector, though,” he said.

“A lot of jobs have left that they say are never coming back,” said Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, who will be termed out of office this fall. “I wanted to come out here and talk to folks in my district about issues facing working men and women,” he said.

Bills Get Ready for Post-Prop. 8 Era

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO - In anticipation of life after Proposition 8, several bills designed to streamline bureaucratic processes for same-sex couples and ensure religious freedom for clergy opposed to gay marriage are on their way to the governor for his signature.

Lawmakers "are trying to anticipate any objections," said Jesse Choper, a professor at UC Berkeley School of Law. "They may be eliminating what they think is opposition to effectuating gay marriage in California."

The most significant piece of legislation preparing for the legalization of same-sex marriage is SB 906, sponsored by openly gay Senate member Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. The bill, which won final Senate approval by a vote of 22-11 on Aug. 24, reaffirms the first amendment right of clergy to abstain from officiating same-sex marriages.

"We saw through the Prop 8 campaign two years ago that there were some faith community leaders who were sincerely concerned in their protestations that if Prop 8 failed, they would be forced to perform marriages contrary to their religious tenets and were even worried about losing their tax-exempt status [if they didn't perform the marriages,]" Leno said. "We wanted to reassure them in statute that would not be the case and that's what this bill does."It passed the Assembly Aug. 19 on a 46-25 vote.

Another bill going to the governor makes it easier for domestic partners who subsequently marry to legally split. Sponsored by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, AB 2700 creates a consolidated form and procedure to simultaneously end a domestic partnership and civil marriage. It received Assembly approval on May 6 by a vote of 47-26. Under the current system, couples have to go through a separate process for dissolving each. The bill applies to both heterosexual and same-sex couples; however, gay rights groups say it will particularly benefit the latter because they are more likely to initially enter into a domestic partnership. The bill passed the Senate by a 26-9 vote on August 19.

While many Democrats are laying the groundwork for the legalization of same-sex marriage, supporters of Prop. 8 say they are worried about threats to their religious freedom if Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker's Aug. 4 ruling striking down the voter-approved ban is not overturned. Prop. 8 supporters have appealed that ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Our principal concern is not that clergy are going to be compelled to officiate at gay weddings, so to speak," said Nathan Diament, director of public policy for the New York-based Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. "There's all sorts of ways where religious institutions might have their benefits or privileges or other things that protect their religious autonomy

Governor signs legislation that will give children a voice in family courts

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO- Assembly Bill 1050, a measure authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) that seeks to give children in domestic violence cases a chance to advocate on behalf of their own interests in court custody proceedings, was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger. The bill passed out of both houses of the State Legislature with bipartisan support.

Last May, as Chair of the Select Committee on Domestic Violence, Assemblywoman Ma convened the first ever legislative hearing on children´s right and family courts. After hearing from numerous litigants and children at the hearing, Assemblywoman Ma committed to work on legislation that would enable children to have a voice in family courts.

"In cases of domestic violence, it is often the lives of the children involved that are most affected," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. "After hearing stories from victims where children were being awarded to the batterers and having the State Auditor investigate such occurrences, I knew it was necessary to address the issue. AB 1050 is an important step in providing piece of mind and strengthening the law for children."

AB 1050 will allow children 14 and older to testify in family court, giving them a much needed voice in proceedings that greatly impact their lives. This is a first-of-its-kind measure and will change the limitations on children testifying.

Over the last year, Assemblywoman Ma has worked with various organizations and has built a broad-based coalition of support. One such group is the California Commission on the Status of Women.

"Equality and justice is at the heart of our mission including promoting safety for women and their families," said Mary Wiberg, Executive Director of the Commission. "AB 1050 is an important measure that will protect children from being placed in dangerous or abusive situations. We are proud to support it."

Anti-pension spiking bill wins final approval

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

A much-amended bill aimed at "pension spiking" by state and local government employees was sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today.

Assembly Bill 1987 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, cleared the Assembly on a 56-0 vote after Ma made late amendments that eliminated opposition from pension reform advocates.

Those advocates supported her bill initially, then backed away from it after amendments they said would make pension spiking easier. They supported the final version after Ma made some more changes.

The measure, if signed, would prohibit pension calculations from including payments that are clearly aimed at increasing -- or spiking -- the retirement pay. It's one of several pension reform bills moving through the Legislature this year in response to demands from Schwarzenegger for reform and to media disclosures about abnormally high pensions granted to some local government officials.

Bodily manipulation gets legislative attention

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Bodily manipulation in one form or another is drawing attention in the closing days of the legislative session.

The Assembly has given final approval to a measure that would create statewide standards for tattoo artists, reflecting the increasing popularity of bodily needlework, and other forms of body piercing. The measure, Assembly Bill 223, by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, was sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on a 65-6 vote.

"Manicurists have more training than tattooists or piercers," Ma said. "They need 400 hours of training before they can cut your nails, yet tattooists and piercers have no training requirements to stick a needle in you."

Legislation that would expand the quasi-public commission that oversees masseuses and masseurs by adding two law enforcement members, meanwhile, is pending in the Senate as law enforcement groups and massage parlors vie for votes.

The former want the bill, AB 1822 by Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, D-Alameda, enacted while the latter say it's insulting to their business, implying that its a nuisance.

California Legislature Passes Bill Eliminating Legal Separation Barriers for Same-Sex Couples

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate passed the Separation Equity Act, AB 2700 authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), by a 26-9 bipartisan vote. Previously approved by the State Assembly, AB 2700 seeks to create a consolidated form and procedure to simultaneously dissolve a civil marriage and domestic partnership. AB 2700 is co-sponsored by Equality California and the Conference of California Bar Associations.

"AB 2700 brings us a step closer towards marriage equality by recognizing that ALL marriages are treated alike, even when it comes to dissolving marriages," said Assemblymember Fiona Ma.

The bill would amend the state's family code, allowing for couples who first registered as domestic partners and who legally married thereafter to dissolve both contracts through a single, uniform procedure. The current system forces couples to go through a separate process for each, which can take an extra one to two years for each case to be resolved and unnecessarily burdens the judicial system. The bill also clarifies that same-sex couples who married outside of California and who have all the rights and responsibilities of, may dissolve those out of state marriages in California.

"Current state law requires same-sex couples who are both married and registered domestic partners to dissolve their partnership and file for divorce, should they decide to separate, in two separate proceedings," said Geoffrey Kors, Equality California´s executive director. "This cumbersome and expensive process is a result of California´s dual system of recognizing relationships and the continuing exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage. This bill brings us a step closer to equality, but until all loving couples can marry in the state of California, they will continue to be unequal in the eyes of the law."

The bill now heads to the governor for signature.

Assembly Sends SB 933 Banning Debit-Card Fees to Governor

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO – The State Assemblyapproved and sent to Gov. Schwarzenegger SB 933, legislation authored by Sen. Jenny Oropeza to ban retailers from imposing surcharges on those who use debit cards. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D- San Francisco), a proponent of the measure, presented the bill on the Assembly Floor. The bill passed with a bipartisan vote of 45 to 24.

"People are sick and tired of getting nickeled and dimed with fees for using debit cards," said Assemblywoman Ma. "When you go to the gas station and you see a price, that´s the price you expect to pay and that is the price all Californians will pay when SB 933 is signed."

Senate Bill 933 would close a loophole in current law by prohibiting a retailer from imposing a surcharge on consumers who elect to use their debit card or prepaid cards when making a purchase. A 1985 statue prohibits a retailer from charging a surcharge on a consumer who elects to use their credit card when making a purchase. Had debit or prepaid cards been in existence when the law passed, those forms of payment would have been included in the statute.

Support for Oropeza´s SB 933 is widespread, including in the Senate, where it also received bipartisan support, 22-9, on June 3. Supporters also include numerous consumer groups, chambers of commerce, the American Association of Retired Persons and the editorial board of the San Francisco Chronicle. Opinion pieces supporting the measure have run in the San Jose Mercury News, the Orange-County Register and more than a dozen other newspapers.

The governor has about two weeks to sign SB 933, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. He has not taken a public position on the bill.

Budget cuts threaten education and healthcare, community groups told

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The message echoed loud and clear at the Pacifica High School gymnasium in Oxnard this afternoon: A better California has to include all of its people.

The 2010 California Shared Prosperity Statewide Candidates Forum at the gym boiled down to deep concerns over looming state budget cuts in healthcare and education programs.

Among those worried was Aracely Preciado of Port Hueneme, a former elderly care provider who wondered how her 84-year-old grandfather is going to make it if the state In-Home Supportive Services program suffers cutbacks, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed.

Her grandfather cannot read nor write, has diabetes and depends on the program for washing clothes, preparing food, trips to the doctor’s office and such.

“The governor has proposed all these cuts,” Preciado, 37, said. “How would my grandfather take care of himself if he doesn’t have this program?”

The keynote speaker, state Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, told Preciado and the audience that the Democrat-backed state budget plan would fund the In-Home program.

The event is part of an ongoing effort to elevate the voices of California families and the less powerful, said Marcos Vargas, executive director of the Ventura-based Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, or CAUSE, one of the groups that spearheaded the forum.

An “endless parade” of budget cuts in recent years is threatening schoolchildren, the elderly, immigrants, minorities and the vanishing middle class, Vargas said.

“We are mobilized, we are powerful and we will be at the ballot box in 2010,” Vargas told the crowd, which consisted almost entirely of representatives of progressive community groups who gathered from across the state.

But the collective message largely fell on deaf ears, at least in terms of invited candidates. Only one, Larry Aceves, who is running for state superintendent of public instruction, showed up in person. His opponent, Tom Torlakson, sent in a tape.

Gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman — for whom the event was originally geared —were no-shows. Brown sent a statement thanking forum leaders for the invitation and that he’s working to solve the state’s problems.

State Controller Jerry Chiang also sent a tape; his opponent in the controller race, Tony Strickland, declined to participate.

State Assembly Speaker John Perez also was slated to appear but canceled late due to what were termed “critical negotiations” over the state’s budget impasse.

High school and college students voiced worries about cuts that have cost them music programs and teachers. They said the state needs money and resources to improve schools, close the education gap for minorities and beef up pre-school programs, they said.

Aceves said “Sacramento has failed our schools.” He cited the importance of pre-school education and said he won’t stand for cuts. He twice said he would support raising taxes, which drew some applause from the crowd.

In his taped message, Torlakson said he has pledged to not cut spending on education and said that early childhood education is a top priority for him. “We should be adding millions of dollars, not cutting,” he said.

The event was billed as non-partisan, but that didn’t stop Ma from urging the crowd to “vote Brown and down,” as in straight down the Democratic ticket. That drew loud cheers.

“This is a very crucial election year,” Ma said. “These are difficult times. The budget crisis in California is unprecedented.”

Like others, she said another key component is for people to get active, call their legislators and participate in policy efforts.

At day’s end, Preciado, who once was an elderly care provider and is now a CAUSE worker, seemed satisfied that she was able to voice her concerns about her grandfather, though she indicated a little disappointment that more elected officials didn’t show up. But those who did seemed to care, she added.

“I think this helped,” Preciado said. “And I’m pretty sure a lot of people came away more informed.”

Public Pensions High In The Bay Area

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) aEUR* California's pension system is broke -- with a capital "b.". If you look at all the money the state owes its retirees in the future, the system is underfunded by a whopping $500-billion dollars. How is that? In California, there are nearly 12,000 retirees who collect over $100,000 dollars per year.

It's a system that's more generous than any other state. The Bay Area is home to thousands of those so-called "100-thousand dollar pension club" retirees. Contra Costa County has the most: 535, up from 432 just a year ago.

"People know it's like winning the lottery. Marcia Fritz isn't talking about a lucky scratcher ticket. She's talking about the pension plans of the state's top paid public employees. "The game is really stepping up," she says.

Her watchdog group "California Pension Reform" has identified some 12,000 public retirees in California making more than a hundred grand a year, and she says most city and county officials are not keeping track. "There's no control. They don't even know what is hitting them until it hits them."

Our analysis of the group's data found 3078 Bay Area public retirees are in the so-called "100-thousand dollar pension club." Four of the top ten all worked at the same agency: The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District: Their 4 pensions alone total more than a million dollars a year.

"It's a huge number, don't get me wrong," says Fire Chief Richard Price. He says firefighters work hard and risk their lives every day. Retirement is their reward. The huge pensions are mostly because the employees spent decades with the agency. "It's not that San Ramon is paying the highest salary by any means. But every single one of those employees started at 20 years old."

But Price admits loopholes in the fire district's pension system allowed excesses. Former chief Craig Bowen for instance was able to pad his final year's salary of $222,500 by $61,000 thousand dollars. Adding in yearly cost of living increases makes him the highest paid public pensioner in the bay area at $291,000.

It's called spiking. By selling back several years of unused vacation and adding in extras like car allowance, sick days and bonuses, public employees can inflate their final year's salary, which is what their pension is based on.

It's a practice Assemblywoman Fiona Ma wants to see stopped. "This current retirement system is not sustainable," she says. That's why she is sponsoring a bill that she says will close loopholes in the state's retirement laws. "My bill is going to empower retirement systems to be able to do their due diligence, audit a person's salary history, salary record, and determine whether a person is eligible for the amount they are claiming," she says. "This bill would directly affect folks like the San Ramon Fire District.

But Chief Price says the elected board that oversees the San Ramon Valley Fire District has already made changes. "They did eliminate everything that they could from a spiking standpoint," he says.

And Chief Price says it's all transparent now: A third party audits all retirement contracts, and everything is posted on the agency's website. So what about all those former perks? "They hired me and gave them all to me, then they took them all away," he says. "They reduced my salary by $38,000 after they hired me."

Something he says he's happy about. "I certainly don't want to be the poster child for retirement abuse or anything like that. I want to be part of the solution."

If Assemblywoman Ma's pension reform bill passes it will affect retirees currently in the $100,000 pension club, as well as any new retirees. There are several other pension reform bills working their way through the legislature. And several Bay Area counties are also looking at ways to trim those enormous retirement paychecks.

Women's Organization awards scholarships

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Watch the video report on this story

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An organization of Asian women awarded $10,000 in scholarship money Saturday afternoon.

Bay area assemblywoman Fiona Ma was the guest speaker at a scholarship luncheon for the Central California Asian Pacific Women's Organization.

The organization gave out ten scholarships to central valley students Saturday and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

"The organization started back in 1980, and we're still going strong. We've had a lot of scholarship recipients that have come back to participate on our board, after they finish their education. They've been with us for a while," Roberta Barton said.

This year's recipients include one of our former ABC30 interns. Nu Vang is studying broadcasting and communications at Fresno State.

Health, Community Leaders in San Francisco Campaign Against Hepatitis B

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Public health officials in San Francisco, and leaders from its large Asian community, are mounting an aggressive campaign to eradicate hepatitis B from the city. They say demographics are largely responsible for San Francisco having the highest concentration of hepatitis B in the U.S, as well as the highest rates of liver cancer, which is usually caused by the virus.

Greg Zhang, 46, is recovering from recent surgery to remove a tumor from his liver...a result of his life-long infection with hepatitis B.

Zhang's surgeon is Dr. Samuel So, director of the Stanford University Asian Liver Center.

"Hepatitis B is the silent killer because most people who are chronically infected may not be aware of the infection," he said. "In fact you know two out of three of them don't even know they're infected because usually they feel perfectly healthy."

The hepatitis B virus is found in blood and bodily fluids. Many people can live with the virus and never get sick, but 25 percent of those infected eventually develop severe liver damage or cancer. The virus can be transmitted by unsafe sex and unsterile needles, but most people who suffer from the disease become infected at birth from their mothers.

Zhang, and his younger brother Haiyang, were born in China, one of several Asian countries where the disease is endemic. Haiyang died of advanced liver cancer shortly after he was diagnosed.

The American Liver Foundation says one in 10 Asian Americans have the virus, a disease that's 100 times more likely to strike Asian Americans than other ethnic groups. And in San Francisco, a full one-third of the population is of Asian descent.

The city's Hep B Free Campaign offers free testing, vaccinations, and treatment. There's no known cure for hepatitis B, although the virus can be kept in check with anti-viral medicines. Those infected need to have yearly ultrasounds and blood tests to screen for early stages of liver cancer.

Newborns need a vaccination within the first day of life to prevent transmission of the virus from their mothers, and babies need two more doses within the first six months for full immunity.

Public awareness is another part of the campaign. A controversial advertisement on television and billboards shows 10 Asian beauty pageant contestants and asks which one deserves to die.

Hepatitis B carries a stigma. And that is something California Assembly member Fiona Ma of San Francisco is working hard to change. She is Hepatitis B-positive.

"My cousin, who was born in China, actually got very upset and said, 'Please don't talk about it. People will think you are sick and they are not going to vote for you.' And my message was, 'I am a public figure and this is my responsibility,'" she said.

But Stanford's Dr. So - whose mother-in-law died from liver cancer - says changing attitudes is just a start. He says other diseases get more public attention and therefore more money.

"This is really tragic on a global scale, there's really major neglect about hepatitis B. About one in 20 people in the world are chronically infected. One in 20. Ten times more than people in the world infected with HIV," Dr. So said.

For now, the battle against hepatitis B is concentrated in communities with large Asian populations. Other cities, including Philadelphia, Washington and Los Angeles, are making plans to use the San Francisco program as a model.

Farmers market coming to Cow Palace

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Fresh fruit and vegetables may not seem like a luxury to many, but they sometimes feel that way to residents of Brisbane and Daly City's Bayshore neighborhood.

Neither area has access to a nearby supermarket with a wide selection of fresh foods, and many locals don't have a car to make the trip.

Starting on Saturday, fresh food will come to them. The Fremont-based Urban Village Farmers Market Association is opening a farmers market in the lower parking lot of the Cow Palace, and founder Ron Pardini hopes residents will help make the market a success.

"I truly believe it is not a privilege but a right to have fresh produce available to you," Pardini said. "And we thought that, because it was such an underserved community, we could bring some local farmers to the area."

The market will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday through Oct. 16, although Pardini has indicated that he would be open to making it a year-round venture if it is popular enough. Parking will be free.

Pardini spends every day signing up farmers and other food vendors, who will sell products including fruit and berries, vegetables, bread, cheese, fresh fish and meat. Taco trucks and other mobile food vans will be on hand to serve a hot lunch or cool ice cream to the crowds. Musicians will perform for the shoppers and face-painters will entertain their kids.

It's the first foray into San Mateo County by the Urban Village Farmers Market Association, a nonprofit corporation that runs markets throughout Santa Clara and Alameda counties. Most of the markets are in more upscale neighborhoods than the one surrounding the Cow Palace; Pardini said the diversity of residents there was one of the biggest selling points for him. Serramonte Mall already hosts a farmers market twice a week, but he thinks this one will be very different.

"We hope to have a lot of Asian vendors — a lot of the Hmong farmers are excellent," he said.

Market vendors will accept Golden State Advantage EBT card and WIC checks.

The push to bring a farmers market to the Cow Palace originated with the office of Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, more than a year ago. San Mateo County Supervisors Carole Groom and Adrienne Tissier joined the campaign a few months ago, spurred by what they perceived as an urgent local need and by statistics showing that a lack of access to healthy foods creates an overreliance on fast-food restaurants and liquor stores, which can contribute to chronic health problems.

Eventually, Bill Chiang, a legislative aide in Tissier's office, started cold-calling farmers market producers to pitch them on coming out to Daly City.

Chiang said Pardini was the only producer who responded with enthusiasm. The pieces came together very quickly after Pardini toured the Cow Palace parking lot June 1. The county issued a permit earlier this month. Cow Palace CEO Joe Barkett wants the farmers market to succeed, so he offered the space for free.

"They make a concerted effort to acknowledge that these markets also need to serve the middle-income families, and that the higher-end farmers markets, such as the one at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, don't fit every neighborhood," Chiang said. "That kind of made me send the e-mail (to Pardini) in the first place."

It's unclear how "local" the produce will be. The new market may open without any San Mateo County farmers represented — Pardini said he hasn't received any interest from them yet in selling their produce in Daly City. He will be reaching out to Coastside flower and vegetable growers in the coming weeks.

San Francisco heads back to the state fair

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

For the first time in years, San Francisco will have an official presence -- complete with cable car -- in the Hall of Counties at the California State Fair in Sacramento.

Getting there wasn't nearly as simple as people might think, said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who helped with the effort to bring the city back to the fair, which opened Wednesday.

"At first it looked easy, but then one barrier after another would come up," she said. "But it got done."

Work started last year when Bob Twomey, Ma's district director, wondered why San Francisco didn't have an exhibit at the fair when most of the state's 58 counties were represented. Interns at Ma's office then worked on determining what was required and finding people who could help. That included finding a way to get an authentic cable car from San Francisco to Sacramento.

In the end, it took the combined effort of groups like the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, the Municipal Transportation Agency, the sign display union and the stagehands union to finance, design, build and transport the exhibit, which will promote the city and its attractions.

Total cost, including transportation, was about $3,500, but some of that money may be coming back if the city's exhibit can win some of the various awards offered by the fair for things like content, marketability, craftsmanship, creativity and use of technology, Ma said.

The county exhibits have been a popular part of the fair since they were introduced in the late 1800s. The fair will run until Aug. 1, with information available at www.bigfun.org.

New scams target would-be renters

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

If you are looking to rent an apartment or home, you need to be on the lookout for more than just great rent. It used to be the landlord would check you out, but now the tables are turned and you must check out the landlord.

KGO Radio's morning news anchor Jennifer Jones was looking for a new home when she found a great place.

"We looked on Craigslist and found this great house. I thought in the beginning, it was a little too good to be true because it was listed at under $1,500: fabulous house, pool and everything. But it was right down the street, so I've got to go check it out," she said.

Once she saw it, she figured something was up, eventually getting in touch with the woman renting the home.

"I was really shocked when I got the call. It was a call that said is your house still available and I said 'no it is not.' I hung up the phone, it was quick and simple. Shortly after, she called back and said 'let me tell you the story here,'" homeowner Carrie Jaron said.

Jennifer told her she had been e-mailing back and forth with a guy calling himself 'David,' who said he was the homeowner.

"He and his wife apparently had to move to West Africa because they had put a bid in on a petroleum company, and right there I thought, 'that's a little odd,'" she said.

Jennifer didn't get taken in by the scam, but plenty of others do. The economy has left many homes sitting empty and the bad guys are now using that to make a buck.

"This particular crime we've seen an increase in it, probably because of the unique housing situation that we have," Laura Peck from Sacramento Police said. "Somebody identifies a vacant home. They go in and go so far as changing the lock, representing themselves as the owner or landlord and actually go so far as renting it out to an unsuspecting victim."

Kristin Prasad called about renting a duplex and was asked if she want to take a tour.

"I ended up meeting him that day and I looked at the duplex. It wasn't in great condition, but he had all the homeowners' papers and was friendly with all the neighbors, so I didn't think twice on whether it was real or not," she said.

She gave the guy $950 in cash and checks. He changed the locks and gave Kristin the keys and the whole thing was a scam.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, has introduced legislation cracking down on the practice, by doubling the punishment for first time rent skimmers.

"Current law right now, you have to be caught five times rent skimming before it is considered a felony. My law, the first time would be a misdemeanor punishable by one year in prison and $2,500 in fines," she said.

It also allows for the prosecution for grand theft, a felony. The bill is making its way through the legislature, but even if it passes be careful went renting. Always meet the owner or agent, check paperwork and ask the neighbors if everything is on the up and up.

Ma: Marrow Registry Needs Minorities

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Assemblywoman, Teen Highlight Need For Greater Minority Involvement

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The second princess of Miss Teen Asia is trying to get more minorities involved in the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Katie Cramer, who needs a bone marrow transplant because of leukemia, was at the Capitol on Wednesday to promote a bone marrow drive. The 16-year-old was adopted from China, so she has no biological family members who can donate to her.

So far, no one on the registry has matched with her, in part because of a lack of minorities on the registry.

"When the Asian American Donor Program started, they had 123 registered Asians in the database. Today, there are about 5,890 Asians in the database, but clearly we need more," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Thursday's bone marrow drive is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Capitol. Anyone is welcome, and it only takes five minutes to register through a cheek swab.

Candidates decided for Assembly, Senate races

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO — The showdowns for the November election have been decided in several state races.

In Assembly District 13, Republican Laura Peter will face Democratic incumbent Tom Ammiano.

Peter, a business attorney who owned and managed a commercial vineyard, said she’s not a career politician but can bring a “wealth of experience from the private sector” that can help solve California’s fiscal woes.

In three decades, Ammiano has served as a teacher, civil rights leader, educator and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

In the primary races for Assembly District 12, Republican Alfonso Faustino Jr. and Democratic incumbent Fiona Ma were both unopposed.

Faustino cites 20 years of experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets for high-profile companies like Union 76, PG&E, AAA and Oracle.

In her second term, Ma, a former San Francisco supervisor, was appointed speaker pro tempore.

In state Senate District 8, which represents San Francisco and San Mateo counties, Republican Doo Sup Park will face Democratic incumbent Leland Yee in November after unopposed races.

Sup Park, a real estate investor, has been a Republican County Central Committee voting alternate delegate for four years. He pledges to beef up codes to protect buildings during earthquakes and halt waste of taxpayer dollars.

Yee, a child psychologist, served four years in the Assembly before being elected to his current post.

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Candidates-decided-for-Assembly-Senate-races-95932814.html#ixzz0qfwoffSf

Asian community takes aim at hepatitis B

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco public health officials and Asian community leaders are trying to eradicate hepatitis B from the city - a tall order, considering the city has the highest concentration of hepatitis B in the country, as well as the highest rates of liver cancer, which is usually caused by the virus.

The key to wiping out hepatitis B - and protecting people from liver cancer - is to make screening a basic part of health care, especially among Asians, say doctors and Asian American health advocates who have launched a campaign to get more people tested.

"We have the potential to wipe this disease off the face of the Earth," said Ted Fang, publisher of AsianWeek, an online news service, who helped create a local campaign called San Francisco Hep B Free. "We're trying to make hepatitis B prevention and screening a standard of care for Asian Americans."

As many as 1 in 10 Asian Americans is infected with hepatitis B, which is usually a benign virus that causes no symptoms. But among those with chronic infections, meaning they carry the virus throughout their lives, 25 percent will develop serious complications that can lead to liver cancer and death. The rate of survival beyond five years for liver cancer is about 26 percent if it doesn't spread outside the liver.

Hepatitis B is widespread in many Asian countries, especially China, and San Francisco has unusually high rates of hepatitis B and liver cancer because of its large Asian population. It's impossible to get accurate infection rates. But hepatitis B is the primary cause of liver cancer, and San Francisco has about 14 cases of liver cancer per 100,000 residents every year, compared with 9.5 cases per 100,000 people nationwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Testing is rare

It's the rate of liver cancer in San Francisco that experts are relying on to determine that the city also has the highest concentration of hepatitis B. Most people aren't tested for hepatitis B, in part because it isn't symptomatic.

Hepatitis B is typically passed like many other viruses - by direct, close contact with an infected individual. It is fairly uncommon in the United States, infecting only about 1 in 1,000 people. For years it was associated with intravenous drug users or people who had unprotected sex with multiple partners. Now most cases are found in immigrants from regions where hepatitis B is widespread.

A vaccine is effective at preventing infection, but few people in China and other countries where hepatitis B is prevalent have been vaccinated. And most people are infected very young - often at birth, when they are exposed to the virus from their mothers. Children who get hepatitis B are more likely than adults to develop chronic infections later in life.

State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma acquired hepatitis B from her mother, who also got the virus from her mother. Ma said she only learned that she carried the virus when she attended a blood drive and was told she couldn't donate. Ma's mother told her not to worry - that she was only a carrier, and the virus posed no health risk.

Two decades later, Ma learned that that wasn't the case when she attended a news conference and a doctor there told her there was no such thing as a safe carrier. Ma started getting regular liver screenings, and so did her mother.

"Last summer, my mother developed some abnormal liver scans, and they had to go in and remove part of her left liver lobe, but because we caught it early and she was monitoring, she's fine," Ma said. "If we hadn't been monitoring, maybe in two years she would have died."

Need to educate

And therein lies the problem, health care providers say. Many people who have hepatitis B either don't know they're infected or believe that it's a harmless virus. Even doctors sometimes will tell patients that hepatitis B isn't something to worry about.

In fact, hepatitis B can become serious and attack the liver if left untreated. Up to 80 percent of all cases of liver cancer in the world are caused by hepatitis B, according to the World Health Organization.

The irony is that hepatitis B is treatable, and liver cancer can be prevented - if patients and doctors know to look for it, said Dr. Samuel So, director of the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University.

"This is a horrible disease that can lead to major complications, but it's also a disease for which we have all the solutions," So said. "We have a vaccine, we have good antiviral drugs, we can screen for cancer. People are dying from preventable deaths."

He, along with a key group of Asian American community leaders and public health officials, helped create San Francisco Hep B Free to raise awareness and work with health care providers to make screening a standard of care for Asian Americans. They're starting with marketing campaigns that encourage Asians and Pacific Islanders to get screened.

Part of the reason it's taken so long to draw attention to hepatitis B - even in San Francisco - is that there is a stigma associated with the virus in China, Ma said, and many Asians are reluctant to talk about the disease.

"Asians do not like to talk about their problems publicly. If you don't have folks willing to be the poster child or talk about the disease or what's happened in their family, we're never going to raise awareness," she said. "But that sentiment is changing. Unless we talk about it, we can't cure it or eradicate it."

Online resource

The program: More at www.sfhepbfree.org.

Hep B Awareness Campaign

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

One in ten Asian Americans is infected with the Hep B virus which is widespread in many Asian countries especially China.

Listen as KCBS' Holly Quan reports

Because of its large Asian population, San Francisco has the highest concentration of the virus in the country. The public awareness campaign known as San Francisco Hep B Free looks to get more people tested for the virus.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma knows all too well how dangerous Hep B can be -- she got it at birth from her mother who got it from her mother.

"By the time you feel symptoms, it's pretty much too late," she said. "You're in the last stages of liver cancer or require a liver transplant."

It's believed a quarter of people with untreated Hep B will come down more serious complications, something that can be avoided with regular liver screenings. Up to 80% of all liver cancer cases worldwide stem from Hep B.

Peninsula seniors scramble after tax program cut

Sun, 30 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

DALY CITY — Dozens of senior citizens in San Mateo County have found themselves in fiscal dire straits after a state program was axed.

About 94 senior citizens in San Mateo County were enrolled in a state-funded program that allowed elderly people on fixed incomes to defer paying their property taxes indefinitely. The program, which functioned similarly to a reverse mortgage, would put a lien on the house, and the outstanding property taxes would be paid once the house was sold.

The $12 million program was killed as part of 2009 budget cuts, but many seniors are only now discovering they’re no longer enrolled, after receiving fines for not paying their property taxes on time.

County Deputy Tax Collector-treasurer Sandie Arnott said many of the seniors may face losing their homes because they hadn’t budgeted for the tax.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking because a lot of the people are on fixed income, they’re disabled, sometimes they’re blind, and now they’ve been hit by this,” Arnott said. “It seems like every single cut has been hitting the people who can least afford it.”

Arnott and state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, highlighted the impact of ending this program — just one of many sacrificed in the fight to balance the state’s budget — at a campaign event at Lincoln Park Senior Center.

Arnott, who is running for tax collector-treasurer in San Mateo County, said she would like to see the county reinstate the program out of its own budget — a move that would require state legislative changes. Ma said she would support the changes.

Senior advocate Marian Mann, an outreach coordinator at Lincoln Park Senior Center, said that if the county does start addressing the problem, it will likely come too late for some seniors. She said she has already seen many seniors on fixed incomes get in “deep trouble” with their houses because they couldn’t make their monthly payment, and the prospect of owing thousands more a year in property taxes will kick many more out of their homes.

“These seniors, they paid their dues, they did their best to improve their community,” Mann said. “But now they’re being short-changed.”

Fighting to eliminate hepatitis

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Fiona Ma doesn't mind being the poster child for a campaign against an infectious disease — if it means saving lives, and even if it means making Asian communities in The City slightly uncomfortable.

Ma, a San Francisco Democratic assemblywoman, learned she had hepatitis B at age 22 while trying to donate blood. She began speaking out against the disease several years ago and is now backing an edgy new advertising campaign that has raised eyebrows in the Asian community.

One advertisement released this month by the nonprofit San Francisco Hep B Free features an image of 10 beauty queens lined up side-by-side, with the aggressive question at the bottom:

"Which one deserves to die?"

The tone of the ad – part of the second phase of a campaign that began three years ago to eradicate the virus - is a far cry from the group's previous slogan, "B a Hero."

The time for softball pitches is over, Ma said.

"Nobody wants to talk about illness or depression or problem gambling," said Ma of the Chinese community. "Once you talk about it, it brings pity and shame."

Ignoring that hepatitis B has become a rampant public health hazard in The City is not going to make the killer disease go away, she said.

The virus, which attacks the liver, has made San Francisco the liver cancer capital of the United States. The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University estimates that 1 in 10 residents of Asian or Pacific Islander descent has the disease.

One in four people will die prematurely due to liver failure or cancer if they are not monitored and treated. The disease is a silent killer, often posing no symptoms until it is too late, and it can be transmitted from mother-to-child, from wound-to-wound contact or by sharing needles, razors or toothbrushes, experts said.

"It is seven times more contagious than HIV," said Dr. Lisa Tang, a Kaiser Permanente practitioner. "But the disease can be prevented and can be treated."

In fact, a hepatitis B vaccine has been available since 1982. The vaccine — a three-shot series given over six months — is "so effective at preventing" the disease that it is called "the first anti-cancer vaccine by the World Health Organization," the Asian Liver Center said.

"We could have wiped out 80 percent of liver cancer 30 years ago," said Ted Fang, co-founder of San Francisco Hep B Free.

Also, those who catch the virus early can live regular lives, he said.

"We have the nexus of drugs to treat this," Fang said.

That's why there's no reason not to break down the walls of cultural sensitivity on the topic of hepatitis B and get people tested, Ma said.

The assemblywoman, who inherited the virus from her mother, said she has no symptoms and pays regular visits to the doctor.

She said her 70-year-old mother had a piece of her liver removed last year due to the disease. Her brother, who is two years younger, is also a hepatitis B carrier. And her sister, who is 28 years old, is not a carrier because she was vaccinated at an early age, Ma said.

Ma said she can relate to Asian community members who neglect to get tested. She said it took her nearly 20 years after learning that she had hepatitis B before she did anything about it.

"I didn't know [about the dangers]," she said. "I'd say, 'I'm just a carrier. I'm fine.'"

At a news conference several years ago, a top Stanford physician warned Ma that her condition was chronic.

"That's where the panic started," Ma said.

That's when Ma decided to become active about her disease — and active about informing others.

"I thought, 'If I didn't know, I'm sure others don't know,' so that's when I started on the campaign to be kind of the poster child," Ma said. "And it's worked. A lot of people have stopped me on the street and thanked me because they got it checked."

Bay Area Campaign Raising Hepatitis B Awareness

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

An edgy new public health campaign, launched this week in the San Francisco Bay Area, aims to raise awareness about Hepatitis B.

Chronic Hepatitis B infections are widespread in Asia, and in Bay Area Asian communities. In a new ad, 10 young Asian beauty queens are asked, "Which one deserves to die?"

The new campaign intends to jar Asian Americans into taking some action to combat the spread of Hepatitis. Roughly 1 in 10 Asian Americans in the Bay Area is infected with the virus.

Hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer, and San Francisco leads the nation in liver cancers.

"By the time you feel symptoms, its pretty much too late...you're in the late stages of liver cancer and will require a liver transplant," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma.

Assemblywoman Ma knows about the virus first hand. She was infected the way most asians are, at birth.

"My grandmother had Hepatitis B, she gave it to my mother at birth, my mother gave it to me at birth," said Ma.

However, among Asians, the chronic infection is stigmatizing.

"It's kind of like AIDS. You know, 20 years ago nobody wanted to talk about it," added Ma.

The hope is that these ads will help remove the stigma, and prompt Asians to get tested, vaccinated, and if necessary treated.

The campaign is available in English, Cantonese, Mandarin as well as in the print ads in Korean and Tagalog

Assemblywoman Ma leads California High Speed Rail forum at April Program

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

AAAE President Kendall Young welcomed over 100 attendees at the organization’s April 2010 event. He cited that one of the AAAE goals is to be an advocate for increasing A/E business opportunities for the small businesses, including minority and woman-owned, in the Bay Area. The Program Chair, Winifred Au, introduced Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and representatives of the prime consulting firms providing Program Management and Regional Design for the California High Speed Rail Project (HSR). Among the speakers were Assemblywoman Ma, Speaker pro Tempore, the California HSR Authority’s (CAHSRA) Deputy Director Dan Leavitt, Jim Bourgart and Dominic Spaethling of PB (Program Management), Brent Ogden of AECOM (Regional Design), Robert Sergeant of Parsons (Regional Design), and Peter Gertler of HNTB (Regional Design).

The speakers described the project as 800 miles long with 26 stations and 150 miles of bridges, viaducts and elevated structures. The project is divided into 2 phases, the first being San Francisco to Los Angeles with a later Phase 2 for the Sacramento to Merced, Los Angeles to San Diego and the proposed Altamont Corridor.

Leavitt stated that Phase 1 has an overall construction cost of $42.6 billion to be financed from state, federal, local and private (P3) investment funds, with federal funds being the largest contributor. The recent $2.25 billion federal stimulus grant sets September 2012 as the deadline to obligate the funds and begin construction.

Leavitt also stated that the CHSRA recognizes California’s diverse mixture of cultures and interests and notes that the proposers need to be sensitive towards reaching and including these populations when developing their teams. The CHSRA will follow state and federal contracting SBE/DVBE and DBE guidelines for design and construction contracts.

Leavitt identified the Principal Consultants currently under contract for the preliminary design as:

    * Program Management                                                                 Parsons Brinckerhoff
    * PM Oversight (PMO)                                                                     T.Y. Lin, International
    * Environmental & Engineering Segments for Phase 1
          o San Francisco – San Jose                                               HNTB Corporation
          o San Jose – Merced                                                          Parsons Transportation Group
          o Merced – Fresno                                                             AECOM Transportation
          o Fresno – Bakersfield                                                       URS/Hatch Mott MacDonald/Arup
          o Bakersfield – Palmdale                                                  URS/Hatch Mott MacDonald/Arup
          o Palmdale – Los Angeles                                                 Hatch Mott MacDonald
          o Los Angeles – Anaheim                                                  STV Inc
    * Environmental & Engineering Segments for Phase 2
          o Los Angeles – San Diego                                                HNTB Corporation
          o Sacramento – Merced                                                   AECOM Transportation
          o Altamont Corridor Rail Project                                    AECOM Transportation

Leavitt indicated that a design-build concept will be used by the CAHSRA to deliver the projects, and that only the Program Management team will be precluded from competing for the design-build contracts.

Each of the regional design teams will be seeking local teaming partners to subcontract A/E design.

Robert Sergeant of Parsons Transportation Group discussed the benefits of the prime teaming with small businesses, e.g. local experience, local relationships and specialized expertise, especially during the permitting process.

In closing, President Young thanked Assemblywoman Ma for arranging the forum and all of the participating panelists. He shared his thoughts that the most successful example in our history of fair and equitable distribution of public contracts occurred at the expansion of the San Francisco International Airport. The selection of A/E primes for the over $1.5 billion expansion program was open and transparent. Subcontracting requirements were extensive and allowed many of our members to participate.   He expressed his hope that a similar process can occur with the High Speed Rail project.

In Ads, Plea for Asians to Get Tests for Hepatitis

Sun, 02 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO — It is an image both shocking and strangely serene: 10 beauty queens, each with a broad smile, sparkling earrings and a beautiful gown. And written across the bottom of the photograph is a simple, stark question.

“Which one,” it reads, “deserves to die?”

The image is part of a provocative advertising campaign by San Francisco Hep B Free, which aims to eradicate the disease with citywide vaccinations against hepatitis B. The campaign debuts here in print and on television this week and is aimed at jarring the city’s large Asian population into confronting the stubborn public health hazard of hepatitis B.

San Francisco health officials estimate that as many as 1 in 10 residents of Asian descent are infected with the virus here, a percentage that contributes to the nation’s highest rate of liver cancer, an unhappy distinction for a city that prides itself on its innovative universal health plan as well as its response to past epidemics like AIDS. In the general population, about 1 in 1,000 people are infected with hepatitis B, which attacks the liver.

A large part of the problem, according to leaders in the Chinese-American community, which is the largest Asian ethnicity here, is the stigma attached to the disease, which is endemic in much of Asia. The advertisements encourage people to get a “simple blood test” because “hepatitis B can be treated, even prevented.”

“We are not a confrontational group,” said Fiona Ma, a state assemblywoman from San Francisco, who is Chinese-American. “No one wants to talk about it. But we know that people care about their families and their friends. And maybe if they know it can affect them, then maybe they’ll talk about it.”

Ms. Ma knows of what she speaks; several years ago, she learned she had hepatitis B, which she apparently contracted from her mother. The virus that causes the disease can be spread through blood or other bodily fluids, said Dr. Edward A. Chow, vice president of the San Francisco Health Commission, who said that the disease often displays few symptoms in its carriers.

“It doesn’t manifest itself until it’s really too late,” said Dr. Chow, who said about 25 percent of patients, if untreated, develop serious ailments like liver failure.

The campaign’s confrontational approach has ruffled some feathers. Vicky M. Wong, the president and chief executive of DAE, the San Francisco firm that developed the ads, said that several of the beauty queen models walked out of the photo sessions because they were worried about its approach.

“There were so many debates as to whether ‘Are we going too far, is this right or not?’ ” said Ms. Wong, whose company specializes in campaigns geared to Asian audiences. “We got a lot of pushback. But there’s a lot of people who loved it.”

Ted Fang, a committee member for Hep B Free, said the high rate of infection among Asians here has been especially frustrating considering that a vaccine for the disease has existed for nearly 30 years.

“We have the medical tools, so long as doctors will test their patients and monitor them,” Mr. Fang said. “We can knock out this disease.”

Mr. Fang and others liken the city’s efforts to the battle against AIDS, which ravaged San Francisco and its gay community in the 1980s and 1990s and also inspired in-your-face tactics. The Hep B Free program began several years ago with a more gentle campaign — the tagline was “B A Hero” — but organizers said it had gone only so far.

“Saying ‘Life is beautiful; get tested,’ doesn’t work,” Ms. Wong said.

For the “Which one deserves to die?” campaign Ms. Wong enlisted volunteers from the Asian community to pose for photographs, depicting families, a basketball team, a group of doctors and office workers.

While the campaign is being published in several languages — including Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese — a target group is English-speaking doctors, outside the Asian community, who might not be aware of the prevalence of the disease.

“Within our ethnic groups, we are all aware of this, because we all have friends and families who have it,” Dr. Chow said. “But if you are a very busy practitioner who has a lot of different types of patients, you may not know to check at first.”

For Ms. Ma, the assemblywoman, who said she discovered she was positive for hepatitis B when she tried to donate blood, her goal was to bring the disease “above ground,” she said. And it is personal: while she is in good health, her mother, who is in her 70s, had part of her liver removed as a result of the disease.

She recovered, Ms. Ma said, but others she knew have not.

“It’s a silent killer,” she said.

California Goes to War Against Fake Faux Fur

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

State bill would require all clothes to label any fur

Do you know how much raccoon dog fur is in your jacket? Supervisor and current state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma wants to make sure you do.

The former San Francisco supervisor authored a bill passed that would require all clothes made with animal fur to carry special labels informing customers. Currently manufacturers are only required to label garments that have $150 or more of animal fur.

The Assembly passed the bill 47-7 to go beyond the federal standard. The bill will now go before the state Senate for final approval.

Ma said she introduced the bill because shoppers fall into the trap of thinking just because something is not labeled as fur it doesn't mean it is actually not fur.

If the senate approves the bill, California would join five other states in requiring fur to be labeled.

Fake landlords could be sent to state prison

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Imposter landlords could be found guilty of a felony and sent to state prison, under a bill that was introduced by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) and one other lawmaker.

The proposed legislation – AB 1800 – could affect criminals who swindle rent or deposits from would-be tenants by incorrectly claiming to own a home or work as its landlord.

Under current law, such infractions are punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a six month stint in a county jail.

If AB 1800 becomes law, the crime would be elevated to grand theft and perpetrators could be sent to state prison.

“With the state’s record foreclosures and economic downturn, more and more scammers are taking advantage of innocent people,” Ma said in a statement. “If stealing a pig or dog is grand theft under current law, it should be grand theft to steal the roof over someone’s head.”

Calif. lawmakers weigh labels for fur garments

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—At Paris fashion week this spring, designer Karl Lagerfeld stunned viewers with the fluffy, ice-age suits he presented for Chanel's fall line. The biggest surprise: every outfit in the show was made with fake fur.

In California, consumers face the same fuzzy confusion: A loophole in the federal law allows many fur products to go unlabeled, so consumers don't know if the soft trim on their jacket is made from synthetic products or raccoon dogs. That could change under legislation scheduled to be heard this week in the Assembly.

"I believe that people would think twice if they knew that they were wearing real animals," said bill author Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Those animals are raised in foreign factories that sell fur at low prices, Ma said. Because the fur price is kept so low, clothing manufacturers don't have to label their coats and sweaters as containing real fur.

Under current law, only garments that contain more than $150 worth of animal fur have to be labeled as containing real fur. Ma's bill would require that all garments containing fur are labeled with the type of animal and the country of origin.

Five other states have passed similar legislation.

Identifying the source of fur can be tricky. Ma this week showed off a jacket in her office that features a pink fur-trimmed hood that she said was made from a raccoon dog, a canine species from Asia. Because of the unnatural color and low price, a consumer may be fooled into thinking it's fake, Ma said.

Real fur garments also can cause problems for people with allergies, not to mention ethical objections. The cost of the raccoon dog fur lining the pink jacket is estimated at 25 cents, Ma said.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that one in eight fur-trimmed garments lack a label explaining the source of the fur, Ma said.

"Knowing that a dog was killed for a piece of garment, I wouldn't want to do that," said Ma, who introduced the bill at the request of The Humane Society of the United States.

Ma's office knows of no opposition to the bill so far.

Six San Francisco women honored on International WomenaEUR(TM)s Day

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Global Arts and Education (GAE) honored six outstanding San Francisco women Monday, March 8, at the Civic Center Holiday Inn. International Women’s Day has been celebrated since 1911. In 1975 the United Nations designated March 8 an official holiday.

As many as 200 guests attended the International Women’s Day Awards Breakfast held at the Civic Center Holiday Inn, March 8.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, recipient of the Extraordinary Public Service Award, was introduced by her brother, Michael Ma, who joked about following in his sister’s shadow. He spoke seriously of her drive for education and lifelong commitment to improving the lives of others. Assemblywoman Ma set the tone for the morning with a passionate speech about her commitment to service.

Former Mayor Willie Brown presented the Unsung Heroine Award to Farah Makras and Michelle Lacourciere of the Sirona Cares Foundation (SCF). For years before the devastating earthquake in Haiti, SCF has been working on the ground in Haiti to help children and their families. Michelle said there was a desperate need for fingernail clippers in Haiti to prevent disease.

“There is no sanitation no running water and they must eat with their hands,” GAE Executive Director Bradford-Bell shared with the crowd. “I think we should pledge right now to donate 1,000 clippers to Sirona Cares.”

Willie Brown raised the challenge to 50,000.

Walgreens, a corporate sponsor of the event, immediately jumped on board and is sending the first 1,000 pairs of fingernail clippers to Haiti. According to Lacourciere, each pair of fingernail clippers can save as many as 5 lives. Reaching the 50,000 goal will save one quarter of a million lives. BART and Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction also provided generous sponsorship for the event.

San Francisco City Administrator Ed Lee presented San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner Zula Jones with the Community Advocate of the Year Award. In the tradition of International Women’s Day, Lee presented Zula with a gift and said it’s “about time” Zula was honored and recognized for her work.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty presented BART Director Lynette Sweet with the Annie M. Powell Community Service Award. Annie Powell, who feared she would not make it to age 25, was gunned down in the Bayview just twelve days after her twenty-third birthday. Supervisor Dufty and BART Director Sweet have vowed to help find ways and create policies to bring an end to the senseless loss of our youth.

Marily Mondejar moved the crowd with an emotional speech after accepting the award for Organization of the Year on behalf of the Filipina Women’s Network. Mondejar was presented the award by San Francisco Entertainment Commissioner Al Perez who sits on the board of the Filipina Women’s Network. The organization received the award for its fight against domestic violence with Mondejar offering that she was a survivor of domestic violence.

Reese Isbell, District Representative for Senator Mark Leno, brought Certificates of Recognition from the Senator. Each honoree and GAE received commendations from the Senator.

“I’m thrilled,” said Bradford Bell. “Senator Leno is a very special person whom I admired greatly.”

Isbell brought his niece, Mariah Isbell-Becerra, to the awards breakfast. Typical of a sixteen-year-olds, Mariah wasn’t thrilled to be up so early during spring break, but it was clear she was having a great time.

“Get use to it. You’re going to attending lot of breakfast events when you get into politics,” Bradford Bell teased from the podium.

“I could not have dreamed of a better event,” added Bradford Bell. “Everybody gave above and beyond what I asked for. The Holiday Inn chef created a special frittata just for us and the guests had only good things to say about the food.”

New legislation targets same-sex divorce

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

You've heard the debate about same-sex marriage. Now one San Francisco lawmaker wants to simplify same-sex divorce.

A new bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a Democrat, would make it easier for gay and lesbian couples to legally separate. The bill, AB 2700, aims to streamline the separation process for same-sex couples who are both registered as domestic partners and legally married. Under current law, two separate legal processes are needed to nullify a domestic partnership and obtain a legal divorce.

Ma's bill would allow one judge to handle both in a single proceeding. Same-sex couples do not have the right to marry under current California law. They were given the right by the state Supreme Court in May 2008, but that was overturned in November 2008, when California voters approved Proposition 8, creating a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

In May 2009, the state high court upheld the legality of Proposition 8 but ruled that the marriages of couples who wed during the months when it was legal in California would be allowed to stand.

Assemblywoman Ma Joins National Movement on Health Disparities

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

"You can not fix what you will not face." James Baldwin

The federal Office of Minority Health (OMH), US Department of Human Services created the National Partnership for Action in 2006 and convened a federal team to address health disparities. From 2007-2009 the OMH met with diverse communities and organizations to develop strategies and actions to systematically address health disparities. These meetings led to the creation of the "National Plan of Action to End Disparities," a unique bottoms-up approached-plan (The Plan).

Health disparities can be based not only on race and ethnicity, but also on geography, gender and socioeconomic status. The Plan provides a road map - a starting point - of the collaborative strategies and collective actions.

I was invited to participate on the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Minority Health Advisory Group to provide input into the draft Plan and more specifically, to raise awareness about health concerns in the Asian American community such as Hepatitis B which affects 1/10 Asian Americans and is the leading cause of liver cancer. It can be prevented via a series of three vaccinations or treated with medication. Go to www.sfhepbfree.org for more information.

Minority populations now comprise 34% of the total US population, are increasing in number faster than the White population, and are expected to represent 40% of the population by the year 2030.

In California, the current population breakdown is as follows:

42.3% White (not including White Hispanic)
36.6% are Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
12.5% Asian
6.7% Black or African American
2.6% Multiracial
1.2% American Indian

In September 2009, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies issued "The Economic Burden of Health Inequities in the United States" which provides insight to the costs associated with NOT eliminating health disparities. The study concluded that the combined costs of heath inequalities and premature death in this country were $1.24 trillion and will rise exponentially in the near future. This is a health and economic crisis that needs to be addressed immediately and collectively.

While there are many underlying social causes for health disparities such as the environment, race or poverty that must be dealt with on a policy level, there are still many things that every individual citizen can do to take control of his or her own health which can be as simple as getting tested for Hepatitis B or modifying your diet to prevent diabetes.

There is nothing more important than our collective health. Prevention and early testing are key factors in securing a healthy future.

To review the Draft "National Plan for Action to End Disparities," provide input, or get more involved in this movement, please log onto http://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov.

Faux fur might not be - labeling law in works

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

That faux fur you're wearing may actually be made out of dog - specifically raccoon dog, a small canine found in Asia.

You wouldn't know it by looking at the label, however, because federal law only requires clothing manufacturers to disclose the inclusion of fur on a clothing item if its value is more than $150. The Humane Society of the United States has been agitating for years to close the loophole. Now, they have a friend in Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, who has introduced legislation requiring the "conspicuous" labeling in California of any clothing that includes real fur. Similar laws have already been approved in five other states, including New York.

"A lot of people are buying fake fur because they don't want to buy the real thing, but they like the look and the feel," she said, noting that some consumers are allergic to animal fur. "There's an assumption when you buy a product at a certain price that it is fake fur, but that's not true. All we are saying is, 'Label it.' ... This is about a consumer's right to know as well as animal rights."

Ma is betting the bill will play well in her hometown, a shopping mecca and famously dog-friendly city. But she doesn't expect much opposition in the Capitol either. The California Retailers Association - whose counterparts in other states have opposed similar bills - has not had a chance to review the legislation yet, said Bill Dombrowski, the group's president.

Ma was joined at a news conference Wednesday by the Humane Society's Pierre Grzybowski, who runs the organization's "Fur-Free Campaign." Grzybowski showed off a number of clothing items - including jackets, a sweatshirt and a pair of boots - that he recently purchased at Bay Area stores. All of the items, he said, had fur trim - some rabbit and most raccoon dog -but none of them listed fur as a material on the labels.

"Raccoon dogs are raised by the millions in China and in smaller numbers in Finland," he said. "A good number of them are skinned alive (in China) because of the lack of animal welfare laws or oversight. Raccoon dogs' fur is by far the most commonly mislabeled and misrepresented, but you also find rabbit, raccoon and coyote fur not labeled."

Grzybowski said it can be difficult to tell what's real and what's fake because the fur is often dyed. He recommended pushing the hairs apart and looking closely at the base of any fur-like material to see if it looks like skin - meaning it's real - or threads, which are used to bond faux fur together. If you already own an item of clothing, he said, you can pluck a few hairs off and light them on fire - if it smells and burns like hair it's real fur, he said, but if it smells like plastic it's fake.

Ma wants to regulate tattooing, piercing

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

When you get your hair cut or your nails done in California, you know that your stylist or manicurist has attended school, received a license and is maintaining the businesses up to legally mandated standards.

You can even check the records online.

But if you decide to get a tattoo or body piercing, you'd have no such reassurance, because California doesn't regulate body art practitioners.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, wants to change that. She also wants to ban the tattooing of anyone under age 18 - regardless of whether a parent consents.

Citing the health risks - dirty needles can lead to such diseases as HIV and hepatitis, plus other infections - as well as the prevalence of body art, Ma has reintroduced a bill that would re-create a regulatory framework for tattoo and piercing parlors. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year and has not yet taken a position on the latest legislation, according to a spokesman.

But this time, Ma said, she hopes to win his support by getting the body art community on board, as well as local health departments. The Association of Professional Piercers is backing the measure, as are individual tattoo artists and environmental health officials, including the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health.

Health risks

Ma has some personal ties to the issue: she has lived with hepatitis B her entire life, after contracting it from her mother, and has cosmetic tattoos on her eyebrows.

"This is one bill that I feel the governor should have signed, due to the tremendous health risks involved with dirty needles, all of the diseases and blood-borne illnesses that can be transferred," she said. "There are practitioners that are not trained, and there are all these young people going in and getting tattoos. For me it's about protecting the next generation."

Current state law simply requires piercing and tattoo shops to register with their county, obtain a copy of local regulations and pay a $25 fee. But, according to Ma's office, only six jurisdictions statewide, including San Francisco, have their own regulations.

The proposed bill both sets some statewide standards and allows for more stringent local rules, as well as setting penalties for not complying.

It would require shops to register annually with a law enforcement agency and pay a fee, set at the local level, to cover the cost of the program. Piercers and tattoo artists would also have to individually register, and show proof of a hepatitis B vaccine, completion of a federally overseen blood-borne pathogen training program as well as first-aid and CPR training. And body artists would be required, like cosmetologists, to post proof of their registration at work. Temporary expositions would face similar rules.

The law would allow police and health officials to randomly inspect body art shops, and suspend a permit if the law is violated. It spells out a hearing process, makes it a misdemeanor to violate the law and sets fines of up to $1,000.

The bill also requires a client to sign a consent form that includes information about how to care for a piercing or tattoo and fill out a medical history form that includes questions such as whether the person has been diagnosed with herpes or is at risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Businesses must keep the information confidential.

Shop owner favors bill

Paul Stoll, who opened the piercing and tattoo shop Body Manipulations 21 years ago in San Francisco's Mission District, is a staunch supporter. He said the proposal will level the playing field for shops like his, that already spend money to ensure a sanitary environment, well-trained workers and high-quality jewelry, and others who may be cutting corners.

Stoll said the current lax rules make it difficult for people who want to do things right.

"They make it an easy business to (open), but don't give any guidance for properly setting up a facility. I don't mind following rules," he said.

And, he added, the proposal would even help in cities that have existing regulations.

"Even here in San Francisco there are unsafe practices ... because the only thing the city can do is take away a permit," he said.

Big fines ahead for disabled parking abuse

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Scamming free parking at a meter or scoring a prime blue-zone space by displaying a fake, stolen or borrowed disabled parking tag could soon cost a lot more.

A state law that took effect Friday allows cities to charge anywhere from $250 to $1,000 for violating disabled parking laws. And San Francisco, where finding a parking space can induce extreme behavior, is wasting no time. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Agency will consider raising its fines for fraudulent use of disabled plates, placards and tags to $825, from $100.

Fines for lesser offenses, such as parking in a disabled space without a disabled parking pass or blocking access to a blue zone, would rise by 10 percent to $330.

The board will also consider allowing parking control officers to issue disabled citations, which, in the past, could only be written by police officers. That change was also enabled by the new state law.

Abuse of disabled parking permits in San Francisco is a serious problem that steals money from the agency's already lean budget and makes it difficult for those needing disabled parking to find available spaces. The state Department of Motor Vehicles has issued 52,600 disabled plates and placards in San Francisco - 1 for about every 15 residents.

"Disabled placard abuse is one of the most significant challenges to parking management in San Francisco," said Judson True, agency spokesman. "It's a fraudulent way of people being able to park free for an unlimited time. It hurts all motorists, disabled or not."

True had no estimate on how many fraudulent placards are on the streets, or how much revenue the increased citations would generate. In the fiscal year that ended in June, police seized 2,099 fraudulent placards, and in the first quarter of the current budget year, which ended in September, 689 fake disabled tags were confiscated.

"If that pace continues," True said, "we will see more than a 30 percent increase."

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, wrote the bill that allows the hefty fines out of concern that the city's streets are filled with drivers abusing disabled parking tags.

"Go down any street that has parking meters, and more than half will have a disabled placard that means they don't have to pay," she said. "A lot of people are misusing it to get free parking."

While the bill was designed to benefit San Francisco, Ma said, she found that abuse of parking permits is a problem in other California cities, including Oakland and Los Angeles.

"Anywhere there are parking meters," she said, "it's a problem."

Fiona's 2009 Legislation

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Legislation authored by Fiona Ma that became the law of the land as of January 1, 2010:

Raise the fine for abuse of disability placards

In 2009, San Francisco law enforcement agencies confiscated over 1,000 disabled parking placards being used illegally. Such blatant abuse not only disrupts parking opportunities for people with real need for them, it makes the already difficult parking situation in San Francisco much worse. Prior to the passage of Fiona Ma's AB 144, the fine for violation was only $100, and citations could only be distributed by SFPD. With the passage of AB 144, the fine will be $1,000 and parking control officers will be able to cite violators.

Click here to watch the ABC7 story about this important legislation

Grow Blueberries, Grow the Economy

Thanks to recent news about the positive health benefits of blueberries, demand for the commodity has drastically increased. California's agricultural community is in prime position to take advantage of this rise in demand. Fiona Ma's AB 606 creates the California Blueberry Commission to help provide programs to educate, promote, market, and provide research relating to blueberries, all at no cost to the General Fund.

Increase safety standards in California pools

Between 1999 and 2007, there were 74 incidents of individuals being trapped by an unsafe pool drain, including 54 involving children under the age of 15, 63 injuries, and 9 fatalities. AB 1020, passed by Assemblymembers Fiona Ma and Bill Emmerson, requires California's public swimming pools to increase safety by installing anti-entrapment drain covers on all drains, preventing accidents and fatalities.

More efficient law enforcement with Mobile Identification Booking

As technology improves, opportunities to make crime fighting more efficient abound. Under AB 1209, California law enforcement will be allowed to use mobile fingerprinting identification devices to identify arrestees without proper ID or arrestees who agree to a field booking. This will streamline the process and allow law enforcement to spend more of their time in the field.

Protecting ferry funds

Fiona Ma's AB 1203 will improve the allocation process for Prop 1B funds distributed to emergency and disaster relief agencies, such as the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency. It will also allow transportation projects to receive up-front allocations rather than reimbursements, protecting our critical infrastructure development and maintenance from bureaucratic delays.

Holiday Safety Tips

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600

While you’re celebrating with your friends and family this holiday season, please take precautions to ensure your loved ones are safe. Here are some friendly reminders that can help prevent fires.

Never leave lit candles unattended – keep them out of reach from children
Keep trees watered and way from open flames such as fireplaces, heaters or candles
Do not overload extension cords – always turn off the decoration lights before going to bed
Recycle your tree – do not burn it in the fireplace
Do not put wrapping paper in the fireplace
Keep a charged fire extinguisher in a central location

Safety first! Thanks for making sure your holiday season is a safe one.

Calif. toys found with illegal lead levels

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO (KABC) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission says some very popular children's toys have high levels of lead in them, a finding that may give shoppers pause this holiday season. California's attorney general is warning retailers that children's products with illegal lead levels should be pulled from their shelves immediately.

A new federal law limits the lead content in children's products to just 300 parts per million to lessen exposure to the potentially harmful substance.

But California Attorney General Jerry Brown found items like the Disney Fairies Water Lily Necklaces, sold by Walgreens, had more than 22,000 lead parts per million.

The Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit, at Tuesday Morning Stores, had nearly 7,000 parts per million, while Paula Fuchsia Shoes, at Sears, had almost 4,000.

"These things come in from China and all over the world. So it's quite a job to test it. It's my office's job that when we find out this stuff, send out the warning, protect the public," said Brown.

Parents like Donica Patchell were surprised stores didn't learn their lesson from the lead scare two years ago.

"As retailers, I would hope that they would be looking out for my children's best interest," said Patchell.

Eyewitness News visited several Capitol-area stores on Brown's list and found many products had already been taken off the shelves. But that may not be the case statewide.

Several reversible Croco belts were found at Target. The cash registers, though, wouldn't ring them up.

Target says it's looking into why the belts are still on the racks.

State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), who tried unsuccessfully to ban lead altogether in California, says this is probably just the tip of the iceberg.

"If this is the sample of the list, I think there are probably more products out there on the shelf," said Ma.

That motivates Jacque McGill to make wiser choices this holiday shopping season.

"I'm going to be doing a lot of reading to find out where the product comes from and what it's made of," said McGill.

A.G. Brown reported his findings to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which could order recalls of the lead-laced items so that people who already have them at home could get rid of them.

Disney is the parent company of ABC7.

Link to article

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Recognized by TechAmerica

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) recently was recognized as a California Regional Technology Leader for 2009 by TechAmerica. The award is given to legislators who strongly support high-tech in California. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma made the following statement of the award.

"I led the effort to pass single sales factor to encourage investment in California by high tech companies, many of whom helped lead the robust economic boom of the ´90´s," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. "If California is to get out of this budget hole, we´re going to need to make sure there is a business climate friendly to high tech. I´m honored to be recognized by TechAmerica and thankful for their strong advocacy work on behalf of an industry that is so vital to California´s economy."

According to TechAmerica´s Annual Cyberstates report, California continues to rank as the nations leading Cyberstate. In fact California ranks 1st in both high tech employment and high tech wages – employing over 900,000 employees at an average wage of over $100,000.

Other legislators recognized by TechAMerica as California Regional Technology Leaders include Assemblymembers Bob Blumenfield (D- Los Angeles), Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego), Jose Solorio (D-Santa Ana) and Senator Rod Wright (D-Los Angeles).

Speaker Pelosi Says Hepatitis B Prevention at Core of Healthcare Reform

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO - In her first public appearance since the health care reform bill rollout last Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the need for community-based health care reform in a press conference at the Chinese Hospital on Oct. 31, highlighting the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign as a model for the nation.

With one in ten Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, Hep B Free is a citywide campaign to turn San Francisco into the nation’s first city free of the disease.

Joined by local, state and federal officials, community and health care leaders, citizen activists, corporate executives and family associations, Pelosi lauded the Hep B Free campaign’s success as an inspiration and blueprint for the national campaign.

“It certainly would not be possible without the local leadership as models for us in San Francisco,” Pelosi said. “The campaign has led thousands of individuals to get screened and treated.”

Hepatitis B is responsible for up to 80 percent of all liver cancers worldwide, and AAPIs have the highest rates of liver cancer for any racial or ethnic group.

“The Hep B campaign hits the core of our national drive for health insurance,” Pelosi said. “The hepatitis B virus is preventable and treatable. Yet too many in the AAPI community across the nation suffer from this disease. We must protect everyone from hepatitis B.”

Pelosi underscored the need for culturally sensitive health care that ends discrimination against individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as hepatitis B. The end of this type of discrimination is one of the proposed bill’s three main principles, along with affordable health care and fiscal responsibility.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma has chronic hepatitis B infection and is a leading advocate for legislation to reduce the disease.

“Hepatitis B is a pre-existing condition,” Ma said. “We desperately need policy reform to make sure nobody gets kicked off health insurance for pre-existing conditions."

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) echoed Pelosi’s sentiment regarding health care discrimination at the press conference.

“It is very appropriate that we send a message to everyone in the city that you have nothing to fear about hepatitis B,” Speier said. “Pre-existing conditions will no longer be a fear for anyone, whether they have hepatitis B, HIV, cancer, or bunions - you name it.”

Additionally, Pelosi discussed how the proposed reforms will remove health disparities among ethnic communities, such as hepatitis B, the greatest health disparity for Asians.

“With reform in place when we pass this legislation, the AAPI community will have access to treatments, the vaccine, screening and care that will help end those disparities, keep families healthy, and ensure our success in fighting hepatitis B and making San Francisco a hepatitis B-free city.”

The spotlight on health disparities affecting ethnic communities, such as hepatitis B for Asian Americans, is part of a growing national awareness from health care reform to the White House.

On Oct. 14, President Obama re-established the advisory commission and White House initiative created by President Clinton ten years ago to address concerns affecting AAPIs. While acknowledging the many contributions of AAPI communities to the country, Obama recognized the challenges faced by AAPIs in health disparities like hepatitis B.

“The more than 16 million AAPIs across our country have helped build a strong and vibrant America,” Obama said. “It’s tempting, given the strengths of AAPI communities, for us to buy into the myth of the ‘model minority,’ and to overlook the very real challenges that certain AAPI communities are facing: from health disparities like higher rates of diabetes and hepatitis B.”

Under the House Democrats’ proposed health care legislation, the government will give new grants for prevention and wellness services to communities with special emphasis on health disparities, expand coverage for vaccines, and eliminate co-payments and deductibles for preventive services such as the hepatitis B vaccine.

“We will have an opportunity in San Francisco and across the country to change our health insurance system for the better, whether it’s making this city as a hepatitis B-free city or expanding access to quality, affordable, accessible health care for all Americans,” Pelosi said.

Dr. Garth Graham, deputy assistant secretary for minority health for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the department supported a national strategy aiming to address the issues of prevention of new infections by promoting screening, immunization, education; promotion of early detection; appropriate follow-up and clinical management of individuals with chronic hepatitis B infection with linguistically and culturally appropriate prevention care and treatment; and increased awareness and support of hepatitis B and liver cancer research among national and state policymakers.

“We recognize chronic hepatitis B’s disproportionate impact on the AAPI community is a national problem,” Graham said.

Since the San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign’s inception in 2007, the campaign has developed significant partnerships with over 50 public and private health care organizations, businesses, and educational institutions, as well as Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants. It has created seven low-cost public access hepatitis B screening and vaccination sites.

“Our goal is to try to get everyone screened and tested in San Francisco,” Ma said. “We wanted to spread the message we can eradicate hepatitis B, just like smallpox. But we had no money when we started, just a goal. Now two and a half years later, all our community partners, public and private hospitals, doctors, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, non-profit organizations and the community have gotten together to ensure that everyone can get screened, tested and treated here in San Francisco.”

The campaign’s success has inspired other communities to follow its model.

“It is a model that is being replicated in San Mateo, San Jose, Orange County and Los Angeles,” Ma said. “We believe that we are on the way to a movement.”

Graham lauded the campaign’s use of community partnerships, academia, community-based organizations and local government to increase education and awareness and recommended adoption of its model as part of a national strategy.

“The San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign is an excellent demonstration of what the Department of Health and Human Services is trying to see happen across the country,” Graham said. “We want to broaden this model, use it as a model of community engagement and go across the country in terms of national strategy.”

Pelosi added that it was no surprise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would look to San Francisco for leadership and to take its success as a blueprint for the national campaign.

Officials and leaders urged the public to get tested, treated and vaccinated for hepatitis B at the press conference.

“We are so fortunate in spite of the extraordinary infection rates that there is a hepatitis B vaccine that the World Health Organization has called the world’s first anti-cancer vaccine,” said Senator Mark Leno.

“It is treatable, it is preventable, we can eradicate it,” Ma said. “We just need everybody’s help.”

David Chiu, San Francisco Board of Supervisors President, voiced the hope that the day will soon come when San Francisco will be a hepatitis B-free city.

“We are all here today united in the Hep B Free Campaign,” Chiu said. “Chinatown in San Francisco is the Asian American capital of not just our city, not just California, but the entire country. Half of the deaths that arise from hepatitis B come from our community. This is our disease, this is our campaign, and this is our cause.”

Pelosi urged everyone to “take the (Hep B Free) campaign theme to heart: B a Hero. See a doctor who tests for Hepatitis B.”

Lawmaker does her homework on agriculture

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A common complaint among farmers is that urban legislators who don't know anything about agriculture or rural life write and pass laws that negatively impact farm and ranch businesses.

The stereotype holds that these folks never get closer to agriculture than the produce aisle at the grocery store, and learn everything they know about farming from environmental lobbyists and animal rights advocates. That might be a bit of an exaggeration in many cases, but we've seen it enough to be skeptical of big-city politicians who find themselves on a statehouse ag committee.

But then there's Fiona Ma, the Democratic whip in the California Assembly.

Ma represents California's 12th District, an urban district that includes about half of the city of San Francisco. It's not a place where conventional farming is always held in high regard.

Ma holds a master's degree in business, is a CPA by trade and doesn't have a background in farming. But when she was appointed to the Agriculture Committee this session, she set out across the California countryside to get a little perspective. In about a dozen trips she's visited dairies, poultry farms, livestock auctions, fruit and vegetable producers and other farming operations. She has been surprised at what she has found. "I never thought it would be as fascinating as it is," she told the Capital Press. "My goal is to see as much as I can."

Ag groups have been accommodating, and are taking the opportunity to show an up-and-comer with a promising future in state leadership as much about California's $36 billion farming industry as she wants to see.

Her fact-finding has paid off. She said she softened her stance against the use of methyl iodide, a soil fumigant, after she found out that farmers didn't have an alternative.

None of this translates into a guaranteed vote for the interests of commercial agriculture, but even a little knowledge can be a good thing when livelihoods are at stake.

We don't mean to suggest that Ma is the only city lawmaker in the West to get a little mud on her boots in the pursuit of perspective about agriculture. There are others, we're sure. But they come to our attention so rarely that when one does, particularly one who demonstrates this degree of open-minded curiosity, we feel obliged to give them a shout-out.

We encourage other urban lawmakers to follow her example.

City lawmaker visits the country

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

PALO CEDRO, Calif. -- In a small office at a bee-breeding facility here one recent afternoon, class was in session.

The student was Fiona Ma, the California Assembly's majority whip. The subject was how bees and pollination enable the state's almonds and other crops to flourish.

For Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco, the visit to Wooten's Golden Queens capped off the latest in about a dozen trips she's made to rural parts of the state to learn about agriculture.

"I never thought it would be as fascinating as it is," she said. "We produce about 500 commodities in California. My goal is to see as much as I can."

Ma's desire to leave the city lights behind and get a first-hand look at commercial farming operations is perhaps unique among urban lawmakers who are often accused of not knowing or caring about agriculture.

With a background in accounting, Ma said she wanted to learn as much as she could about different aspects of California life during her time in the Assembly. She's in her second two-year term and could serve as many as three under the state's term limits.

At the beginning of this legislative session, Ma asked to be assigned to new committees and was put in the Agriculture Committee. To educate herself, she's visited dairies, poultry farms, livestock auction yards and other ag operations.

Before touring Wooten's on Oct. 16, Ma went to the Shasta Livestock Auction Yard in Cottonwood, Calif., where she spoke to ranchers about issues facing the beef industry.

Local industry representatives were only too happy to oblige her.

"She obviously does not come from an agricultural background but is in a leadership position in the Assembly and shows the potential for future leadership in the state," said Ned Coe, an area representative for the California Farm Bureau Federation, who accompanied Ma on her latest visits.

"This is an opportunity that has come our way and we're taking full advantage of it," he said.

Ma said the field trips have given her a new perspective on legislation. For instance, she softened her stance against the use of methyl iodide after realizing that farmers lack alternatives, she said.

Her bill to create a California Blueberry Commission was initially ridiculed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but the governor signed the legislation this month.

Several pressing issues remain for agriculture, she said, including the need to get more water to parched Central Valley farms. She said it's an issue of "food security," noting that food imported from other countries doesn't always meet the production standards that California employs.

Ma said it's a good idea for urban lawmakers to get out to rural areas and become familiar with farmers' work.

"I'm encouraging farmers and Farm Bureaus to invite lawmakers from urban districts," she said. "We all have to vote. If we don't understand the basics, how are we going to vote on it?

"What I love about it is the farmers are just so passionate about what they do," she said. "They're not just making a profit. With many of them, (the farm has) been in the family for generations.

In California, a Fight Against Faux Disabilities and Fake Permits

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO — It is the kind of thing that makes drivers — not always the calmest breed — absolutely apoplectic.

Every day all over California, officials say, untold masses of people are falsifying, misusing and generally abusing special license plates and windshield placards meant to provide easy access to parking for disabled drivers.

In San Francisco, for example, where roughly 55,000 people hold the placards, the authorities seized more than 2,000 in the last fiscal year, for counterfeiting, use by the wrong person and other reasons. And the city is on an even more torrid pace of confiscations this year.

The problem has gotten so bad that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law last week a measure that increased fines for violators — to up to $1,000 for repeated offenses. It also loosened the hands of parking control officers (a k a meter monitors) to hand out tickets.

The move was hailed by transit officials, who say the result of placard abuse is two-fold.

“Disabled placard abuse does more than just take needed revenue from our transit system,” said Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., the executive director and chief executive of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. “It actually makes it harder for people with disabilities to find a spot when they need one.”

Placard pretenders are by no means a uniquely Californian problem. One Web site, www.handicappedfraud.org, contains hundreds of testimonials from drivers across the country who suspect others of not playing by the rules.

“Healthy-looking blond woman carrying bags to car,” said one post from Cheektowaga, N.Y. “Loads them with no problem.”

Still, like with many things car-related, California probably has the most culprits. More than 2.5 million Californians — roughly 10 percent of the state’s drivers — have a disabled placard, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, nearly triple the number that held the privilege in 1994. And while many are no doubt legitimate placards, parking experts say anecdotal evidence also suggests widespread fraud.

Donald Shoup, a parking expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, said most people in his field think cheating is rampant, using the Capitol in Sacramento — which is often ringed with cars with disabled tags — as an example.

“I once asked a state highway patrol officer who was on duty at the vehicle entrance to the Capitol whether he thought many of the placards were fake or misused,“ Mr. Shoup wrote in an e-mail message. “And he replied, ‘All of them.’ ” (Sacramento, in fact, has a special task force on placard abuse, complete with a hot line.)

The Department of Motor Vehicles says the placards are reserved for people with heart, circulatory or lung disease; missing or paralyzed extremities; and specific sight disorders. It also allows for placards for anyone with “a diagnosed disease or disorder that significantly limits the use of the lower extremities.” And the conditions can be certified by a wide array of medical professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, certified midwives and, in some cases, licensed chiropractors.

And that is part of the problem, said John Van Horn, the editor of Parking Today, a Los Angeles trade magazine, who said some unscrupulous medical workers would write a note for a placard for “a sprained ankle.”

“Then they use it for the next five years,“ Mr. Van Horn said of scofflaws.

California law allows those with disabled placards or plates to park at metered spots at no charge, and for an indefinite time. This, critics say, has made placards more than convenient; it has made them a commodity.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat who sponsored the new law, said she had seen placards advertised on Craigslist, as well as fakes.

“They are really hard to identify,” Ms. Ma said. “Only a trained eye could tell the difference.” All of which, she said, has made the law a people pleaser.

“We’ve gotten so many positive responses to this,” she said. “People are saying, ‘It’s about time.’ ”

Time to create a database on domestic violence

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Last year, San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma sponsored a bill that sounded like a great idea. It would create an online searchable database that would identify people convicted of domestic violence.

Ma got the idea from Alexis Moore, a victim of domestic violence and stalking from a town near Sacramento, who was in a relationship with a man whose outward appearance fooled her. When they met, Moore says, he was good looking, drove a nice car and had an impressive college degree.

"Unfortunately, he didn't have on an orange prison jump suit to tell me he was dangerous," Moore said.

Eight years later, after he nearly beat her to death, Moore fled for help and founded the organization Survivors in Action. Like hundreds of others across the country, she had no idea she'd hooked up with a partner who had a criminal history of abuse and violence.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month, and it is a time to reflect on how many people have an experience like Moore's. In 2007, 119 homicides were committed in California as a result of "intimate partner violence," and in 2006, a staggering 43,911 people were arrested for domestic violence, according to the Department of Justice.

It seems impossible that there isn't a way to alert people that their partner has a history of abuse, violence or stalking. After all, there is a national registry for child sexual predators.

There should be something similar for domestic violence. Women (who make up two-thirds of victims nationally) could check up on that new guy. Parents could research the sketchy boyfriend their daughter has been seeing.

Ma's initiative, Assembly Bill 1771, provided that Californians who were convicted of felony domestic abuse or multiple counts of misdemeanor domestic abuse would be entered into an online database. That sounds sensible.

After all, California Penal Code Section 11105 (b) includes a long list of officials, entities and individuals who have access to criminal records. But it does not include ordinary citizens.

"The idea was to make it accessible to everyone, not just those with money or influence," Ma said.

The bill encountered a firestorm of opposition - much of it from organizations devoted to curbing domestic violence. Among those who raised doubts about the bill were the California District Attorneys Association and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Robert Coombs, director of public affairs for the Coalition Against Sexual Assault, says a database gives "a false sense of security," because some abusers may not have been convicted specifically for domestic violence, but are still a threat. Others worried that identifying the perpetrator of domestic violence makes the name of the victim clear, violating that person's privacy.

"It comes down to how much privacy do you lose because you have a conviction," said Scott Thorpe, CEO of the District Attorneys Association. "It is the question of how much you need to know, and how much you have a right to know."

The groups cite an Arizona law that created a database listing those convicted of elder abuse. But reporting actually decreased because families felt it identified them, not just the perpetrator.

Ma dropped the idea, but she said she's interested in letting the proposal "germinate" to see if there is more support.

But there's never been a better time. Coombs even has a suggestion, offering that it might be more acceptable if we returned to the days when ordinary people could check criminal history, but only at a law enforcement office. That idea, which is still in use in some other states, would deter those who are just Internet surfing the list for fun, and would also give police officers a chance to discuss the findings.

That might not overcome the objections - Thorpe questions how much it would cost to staff an officer to handle those inquiries - but there must be a way to make this work. Privacy may be important, but so is the opportunity to keep an innocent victim from domestic abuse.

So when Coombs asks, "How many cases are enough to justify" the database, I have a simple answer.

One.

Fiona Ma to march alongside hotel housekeepers

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and other women leaders will join hundreds of hotel housekeepers Wednesday as they converge on San Francisco hotels.

The housekeepers are members of Unite Here Local 2, the union currently in contract negotiations with San Francisco’s major hotel chains. The group’s 2004 strike and subsequent lockout by employers temporarily hobbled The City’s tourism industry. The two sides have made little progress at the bargaining table so far, according to union leaders. Hotel management says the economic downturn has drastically affected their industry’s bottom line.

Ma, along with students and religious leaders, will carry the 60-foot Hope Quilt in its second leg of a seven-city “Hope for Housekeepers” national tour. Each patch of the quilt represents a housekeeper’s story. The delegation will begin its day in Santa Clara and arrive at San Francisco’s Hyatt Regency at 5 Embarcadero Center at noon. The day will end with a rally and march from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt at 345 Stockton St.

Union leaders say Hyatt housekeepers often clean 30 hotel rooms a day and many forgo health insurance because of the high cost.

California's Growing Water Problem

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Preparing to fly over the Valley with Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea

Over the past year, I have visited dozens of farms and ranches to learn more about the State's $40 billion dollar agriculture industry. No region of the State has been hit harder by our current water deficit than the San Joaquin Valley.

To get a first hand understanding and learn about prospective solutions from local lawmakers, I visited Madera, Fresno and Kings Counties this past week. Flying over the Valley you can see the 300,000 acres of land laying fallow with no water.

The fallow land has caused unemployment to jump as high as 40% and thousands of people across the San Joaquin Valley are waiting in food lines to feed themselves and their families. To make matters even worse, dust from the dry dirt becomes particulate matter in the air, thereby causing some of the worst air quality in recent memory.

As goes California, so goes the Nation. When California suffers from lack of water to irrigate its farms, the country's food supply becomes jeopardized. We will face a National Security Disaster if we cannot grow our own food and feed California and the rest of the nation. Thus, we must act to resolve this water crisis.

California alone is responsible for producing over half of the nation's fruits, nuts and vegetables, much of which is produced in the water-starved parts of the state. Burdened by three years of drought, California's reservoirs are nearing record low levels. If we are not able to bring these farms back to producing food, we may forever lose our food supply and become dependent on foreign imports, similar to our dependence on foreign oil.

California has the highest food and safety regulations that begin the minute the crop is planted and continue to the point when the product reaches the consumer. We cannot guarantee the same level of food quality from oversees products as traceability becomes a problem.

A view of the Valley from the air

Even if "El Nino" returns this year and the situation remains status quo, the State will still inevitably face a drastic shortage of water in the very near future. Our water supply system was built for a population of 18 million people but our population is approaching 40 million. It won't be long before places other than farms go dry. Sooner rather than later, our urban areas will have the water shut off if we do not act. The lack of water has already done enough damage to our economy and is now threatening our food security.

I am committed to a bipartisan compromise that will get our water system back on track, restore the Delta, and provide a stable and secure water supply for all of California — the fuel that keeps California's economy going, and growing.

In the meantime, here are some resources you can use if you would like to learn more about this growing problem:

With Body Art, Safety is a Must

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Once upon a time, branding was for cattle, not people.

But then, there was a time when tattoos were mostly for sailors and the piercing was mainly for women's earrings.

Today, nearly one in four Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 has at least one tattoo, according to the American Society of Dermatology. For Americans between 18 and 29, it's 36 percent — more than one in three.

One step beyond tattoos is a process called scarification, otherwise known as branding or extreme body modification. Unlike tattooing, branding transfers an image through a strike brand or a cauterizing gun.

The Cathedral City City Council this month voted to ban the practice. In the mydesert.com's unscientific poll, 56 percent of those who voted supported the ban.

According to the ordinance, branding can make people vulnerable to Hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

Robert Roberts, manager of Anarchy & Ink Tattoo, expressed concern that the ban would force the practice to go underground, where it would be performed in unsupervised conditions.

Even though Roberts called the practice of branding “barbaric,” he believes keeping it legal will help keep it safe.

“The smarter thing to do would be to go ahead and permit it at the shops because of the likelihood of a licensed practitioner is higher,” Roberts said. “By passing the ordinance, you're forcing it to go underground.”

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, took a different approach with Assembly Bill 517, the Safe Body Art Act. That would require all body artists, except standard ear-piercers, to register annually with counties and complete training in sanitation and the prevention of blood-borne pathogens. The bill has passed the Legislature and awaits the governor's signature.

Tattoos, branding and piercing are risky procedures that need to be performed by professionals under sanitary conditions.

Ten years ago, legislation was passed to make sure the body art industry was regulated and inspected. The state Health Department set standards. Since then, the body art industry has grown 400 percent.

We certainly wouldn't endorse branding. But, if people are going to such extremes, tighter regulation is necessary.

As Assemblywoman Ma says, it is important to ensure safety first. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should sign the bill.

Fighting For Stimulus Funding

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I joined Speaker Karen Bass and other colleagues on a bi-partisan trip to Washington DC earlier this week to meet officials from the new Administration and advocate for more funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill (aka Federal Stimulus Plan).

This year, it was nice to go back to DC and be briefed by familiar faces from California. For instance, I met with Jeff Bleich, a former Litigation Partner in the San Francisco office of Munger, Tolles & Olson and now Special Counsel to the President. I also met with Nancy Sutley, former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor for the Energy and Environment and now Chair of the White House Council for Environmental Quality. Nancy now serves as the principal environmental policy adviser to the President.

I was especially interested to hear from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack since I serve on the Agriculture Committee. Under Secretary Vilsack's leadership the USDA is working to promote a safe and nutritious food supply for all Americans and to end child hunger by 2015. The drought and the conditions of the Bay Delta are another issue on his radar (but not under his direct authority) and he feels that in order to better manage California’s water needs, we need to better maintain our forests to avoid the threat of future fires. Also, the Department will continue to fund research to mitigate invasive species and will work closely with Homeland Security to better train our border inspectors. Further, they are proactively trying to assist dairy farmers in this fiscal crisis and have created both internal and external working groups in an attempt to create price consistency and stability. Finally, they want to strengthen the organics program and continue to help those farmers who wish to transition to organics (good news for my bill AB1401). Secretary Vilsack believes there is a disconnect between food and agriculture and therefore plans to launch a "Know your farmer, know your food" campaign around the country. The Department will continue to grant awards to retrofit bio refineries, expand trade opportunities, and prioritize food safety.

On the subject of water, Undersecretary of Interior David Hayes spoke at length about the vortex of challenges facing the Bay Delta. He spoke about the $1 billion of stimulus funding for the Bureau of Reclamation to provide immediate and short term assistance to municipalities, delta by-pass projects, emergency pumping and the “two-gate” project supported by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (on track for completion next year). Hayes has visited California several times since his confirmation in May and was appointed by Secretary Salazar to be the lead for all California water issues.

I also enjoyed our meeting with Joel Szabat, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Transportation. In his past life, Joel served as principal consultant to the California State Assembly. He reiterated that in the original Stimulus Plan, there was no funding set aside for high speed rail, but thanks to our President and his desire to build a "true world class high speed rail system," $8 billion was allocated for rail projects with the possibility of $4B going to California. Furthermore, and for the first time in history, the Secretary of Transportation has a discretionary pot of $1.5 billion for federal priority projects around the US. The President's new visions include 3 priorities:

High Speed Rail: California is in the process of applying for funds and thanks to the passage of Prop. 1A, the $9.95B Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act in Nov 2008, California is well positioned in our efforts to receive substantial rail funding. (Check out www.hsr.ca.gov for more info)
Livable and Sustainable Communities: there is no definable language at this moment but Joel anticipates working closely with Congress over the next 18 months to develop language to incorporate in the next transportation reauthorization bill. My bill, AB 338 (which is sitting on the Governor's desk as we speak waiting for his signature), allows local governments to use tax-increment financing for transit-oriented development to help create sustainable communities.
Creating a National Infrastructure Bank to fund projects that will generate revenues to repay the loans.

And it was nice to catch up with Bay Area native Rosie Rios, our new US Treasurer (sworn in Aug. 2009). She will serve as an adviser to the current Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and is primarily responsible for matters of currency and coins. Her name and signature will be on the new dollar bill starting next year!

Assemblywoman MaaEUR(TM)s Bill To Prevent Domestic Violence Victims From Being Arrested Is Signed Into Law

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Sacramento – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 258 authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco). The legislation would replace the term “primary aggressor” with “dominant aggressor” to clarify arrest procedure in domestic violence cases.

“Victims who are simply defending themselves should not have to undergo additional emotional stress by spending time in jail,” said Assemblywoman Ma, who serves as the Chair of the Select Committee on Domestic Violence.

In 2000, the Legislature amended California Penal Code 13701 to require police officers to arrest the dominant aggressor instead of the primary aggressor in domestic violence cases. One of the underlying purposes of using the term dominant aggressor is to reduce the number of dual arrests, and instead, have police officers arrest the most dominant aggressor, the person who is the most significant, and not the first person to hit. Penal Code §836 was not amended at the time the other code section was changed.

AB 258 will align the penal code sections and ensure there is no confusion for law enforcement when interpreting the law.

SF legislator promises ag support

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma got a good look — and taste — of Tehama County agriculture on Monday.

Ma, D-San Francisco, and her Capitol director, Nick Hardeman, arrived in Corning at 8 a.m. and was escorted by Tehama County Supervisor Bob Williams on a day-long tour of the county and its agricultural diversity.

"I was sitting by Bob (Williams) at a dinner in Sacramento and was telling him about my goal to visit each county in the state and learn firsthand about its agriculture. He invited me to come to Tehama County and here I am," said Ma, a member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

At the close of the tour, which ended where it began at Corning's Transportation Center, Ma said the importance of water to the agriculture industry was the most critical information she would be taking back to her committee.

"I have found the importance of water to be intertwined in all of my ag tours throughout the state," Ma said. "For the benefit of the farmer and rancher, we have got to find a way for water storage and saving for a rainy-day."

She found the farmers in the county to be "very passionate" about farming and that they truly love what they do.

"Their love of the land was infectious and I loved being around them for that reason," Ma said.

The tour also gave her the opportunity to talk firsthand with farmers and ranchers about the impact the Williamson Act has on their livelihood and how the governor's withholding of Williamson Act funds is going to financially hurt the county.

"The Legislature is in complete disagreement with what the governor has done with the Williamson Act and we are going to do all we can to get those funds back to counties," Ma said.

Her tour started at Maywood Farms, a walnut and organic fig farm owned by Bob Steinacher on Mt. Shasta Avenue in Corning.

"It went extremely well," Steinacher said. "She asked a lot of questions about our water system and ate a fresh fig for the first time in her life."

Ma then traveled to the award-winning Lucero olive oil processing plant on Loleta Avenue in Corning where she was given a tour by the plants owner Dewey Lucero and manager Larry Treat.

Lucero explained to Ma the need to promote and educate the public about domestic olive oil in an effort to compete with imports.

"We provide premium olive oil while there are no quality standards on the imports which come mostly from Spain," Lucero said. "We are trying to capitalize on the new 'Slow Food' movement which supports goods produced by local farmers and ranchers."

Williams told Ma Tehama County is working to become known as the olive oil region much as Napa Valley is known for its wineries.

Next on the tour was a stop at Crane Mills newly planted Arbequina high-density olive orchard where Brian Crane shared the new technology of mechanical olive harvest.

"These are trees grown exclusively for olive oil," Crane said. "Unlike orchards grown for table olives that must be hand-picked, these trees will be kept low and will be mechanically harvested."

He explained how expensive and labor intensive hand-picking is for orchard owners.

"Labor costs can kill a profit for olive growers," he said.

The rest of the tour took Ma to the Lindauer River Ranch where she sat with county officials under a 300-year-old oak tree and ate a lunch provided by the Tehama County Farm Bureau, then on to the Red Bluff Diversion Dam, Sunsweet Dryers and Birk's Red Claw Lobster facility.

Ma said she found the Red Bluff Diversion Dam project to be "inspiring" and solidified her understanding of the importance of water for agriculture in the North State.

"Before this tour, I hadn't realized that the Sacramento Valley produces so much of the nation's food and commodities. Most people just don't understand how important agriculture is to this state," she said.

Ma plans on coming back to Tehama County in October for the Dairyville Festival.

A Small Investment Returns a Safer Home

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Do you have a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in your home? Well if your answer is "no", it may be that you aren't aware of CO alarms. But you probably aren't the only one. A recent survey by Kelton Research found that half of American households don't have a carbon monoxide alarm.

Just as fire alarms detect smoke and alert you to a possible fire, CO alarms detect carbon monoxide and can save you and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that causes poisoning by displacing oxygen in the bloodstream. The most common causes of CO poisoning are fires, heaters, vehicle exhaust, and range-top stoves.

At low levels of exposure, CO poisoning can cause health problems such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizzy spells, confusion, and irritability. Later stages of CO poisoning can cause loss of consciousness, brain damage, and even death. CO poisoning is responsible for over 500 deaths and about 20,000 emergency room visits annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

CO poisoning is especially dangerous for people 65 years and older. Because older adults more frequently have pre-existing health conditions that affect the heart, lungs and circulatory system, the presence of one or more of these conditions lowers the victim's tolerance, and risk of a fatal carbon monoxide exposure. In 2001, 25% percent of the carbon monoxide poisoning death from home related products were adults 65 years and older (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

While these statistics are alarming, the good news is something can be done to prevent CO poisoning. By simply installing CO alarms, you can save you and your family from potential CO poisoning.

Currently, 23 states require CO alarms. Unfortunately, California is not one of them. This is why my colleague, Senator Lowenthal (D- Long Beach) has introduced Senate Bill 183, of which I am a co-author of. SB 183 would require all existing single family homes to have a carbon monoxide detector installed by January 1, 2011. To learn more about SB 183, visit www.leginfo.ca.gov.

California's lawmakers cutting back, voluntarily

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Twenty-four of 120 Senate and Assembly members voluntarily have cut their $116,208 salaries as the state wrestles with a huge budget shortfall.

18 percent cut

• Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria

• Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach

• Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park

10 percent cut

• Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana

• Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo

• Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo

• Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks

• Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City

• Assemblyman Bill Berryhill, R-Ceres

7.75 percent cut

• Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville

5 percent cut

• Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks

• Assemblyman Mike Villines, R-Clovis

3 percent cut

• Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced

• Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego

• Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino

• Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Solana Beach

• Assemblyman Jim Beall, D-San Jose

• Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield

• Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Livingston

• Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Solana Beach

• Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina

• Assemblyman Ted Lieu, D-Torrance

• Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco

• Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada-Flintridge

PER DIEM

Other lawmakers have turned down the $173 per diem payments – totaling about $35,000 a year, tax-free, for most lawmakers:

• Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento

• Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis

• Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills

• Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento

• Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks

• Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis

Note: Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, accepts per diem but says he donates it to charity.

CAR ALLOWANCE

Seventeen lawmakers declined the state car allowance offered to legislators:

• Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks

• Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks

• Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis

• Assemblyman Juan Arambula, D-Fresno

• Assemblyman Marty Block, D-San Diego

• Assemblywoman Connie Conway, R-Tulare

• Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine

• Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield

• Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Solana Beach

• Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point

• Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco

• Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert

• Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada-Flintridge

• Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Moorpark

• Sen. Carol Liu, D-La Cañada-Flintridge

• Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Solana Beach

• Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles

Bill Would Raise Fines for Disabled Placard Abuse

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency have teamed up to fight the fraudulent use of disabled parking placard.

Ma has sponsored a bill in the Assembly that would increase penalties for abuse of the placards. Ma said the number of disabled placards issued in California jumped 131 percent from 1997 to 2007, "and empirical evidence strongly indicates that there has been a significant increase in misuse and fraud as well."

SFMTA Executive Director Nathaniel Ford said abuse of disabled placards costs both the city and the disabled community.

"The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that the limited parking resources in desirable locations are made available to those who truly need the access," said Ford.

The bill, if passed, will increase penalties for some placard violations from $100 to between $250 and $1,000. It passed the assembly in May and heads to a senate committee June 23.

Disabled parking placard crackdown

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

People who misuse disabled parking placards could face a $1,000 fine (10 times the current penalty) under a state bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. Ma said her aim is to take on ''the rampant abuse of disabled parking placards.''

The placards allow people to park in specially designated blue zones and for free at meters. AB 144 sailed through the Assembly May 18 on a vote of 73 to 3, and now heads to the Senate Transportation Committee on June 23. If approved and signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, people caught fraudulently using a disabled parking placard could be fined $250 to $1,000. Local jurisdictions would set the amount.

San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who joined Ma at a press conference on the steps of City Hall, said he favors an initial fine of $250 and then jumping to the maximum for repeat offenders. ''I think high is good,'' said Dufty, hoping that the threat of a big fine would deter errant behavior.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has a special detail of parking control officers to find offenders. In the last fiscal year, 1,088 misused disabled parking placards were confiscated. In the first three quarters of the current fiscal year, 1,520 were taken away from scofflaws suspected of using expired, altered or stolen placards, or placards issued to other people.

By the way, a jaw-dropping 52,600 disabled parking placards were issued in San Francisco, as of February. That's one for almost every 15 residents.

Assembly Approves Ma's Farm Bill

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, to encourage farmers to transition to organic passed the state Assembly, 60-16, on Tuesday. The bill establishes a fund that would offer a maximum payment of $250 per uncertified farm to help cover their administrative and operational expenses if they switch to growing organic produce. A federal program also offers would-be organic growers up to $750.

Lawmakers Push for Safer Drain Regulations

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- The state Senate is set to consider a bill that would protect kids planning to jump into a pool this summer from a hidden danger. The bill already passed unanimously this week in the assembly.

A 7 On Your Side investigation last summer demonstrated the violent and sometimes fatal suction coming from many pool drains. Now a new bill could give our children the same protection given to children in other states.

At just 3-years-old, Ryan Kotschedoff from Mission Viejo learned an important lesson about the force of a drain in a backyard spa.

"Hurt me," said Kotschedoff.

"What happened Ryan?" asked ABC7's Michael Finney.

"It sucked me in," said Kotschedoff.

He recovered, but now his parents are urging passage of a state law mandating protective drain covers or other safety devices in public pools and spas.

"Coping with the near death of my son was difficult, but many other parents are not as lucky as I have been," said Ryan's father Peter Kotschedoff.

Thirty-five children have died in drain entrapment accidents, and another 100 children have been seriously injured.

Last summer, 7 On Your Side randomly inspected the pools of nine hotels in San Mateo County. All nine of them would need to add protective covers or other measures under the proposed new bill.

"Thanks to you and your story, and we found out that California doesn't have any laws regarding this, regarding pool safety drains," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D) San Francisco.

That's why Ma is sponsoring legislation with Republican Bill Emmerson of Redlands.

Their bill would put California in compliance with a federal law named after Virginia Graham Baker, the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker. She died after being trapped by the suction of a drain on the bottom of a pool.

"The funny thing is even though parents are supervising, the entrapment can happen right underneath their eyes. The kid goes down, gets sucked to the bottom, wow, he's down too long, what's going on," said Captain Christian Pebbles from the Sacremento Metropolitan Fire District.

"We believe safety first. We should do whatever we can to prevent unnecessary deaths," said Ma.

It's estimated there are 80,000 public pools in California. That includes pools at hotels and health clubs. The cost of installing a pool drain cover including labor is $200 to $300.

Sacramentans show support for journalists jailed in North Korea

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Two American journalists imprisoned in North Korea likely have no inkling that people in eight cities – including Sacramento, Birmingham, Ala., New York and Washington, D.C. – rallied behind them Wednesday night and called for their release. But it gave their supporters a way to stand together.

"We are helpless," said Pat Laskey, a retired math teacher from Del Campo High School who taught one of the journalists, Laura Ling, at the Fair Oaks campus. "We don't have political clout, but we can use our thoughts, prayers and love. Everybody can make a difference this way."

Ling and Euna Lee are being held on suspicion of illegally entering North Korea and performing what the tightly controlled country has called "hostile acts."

Their trial was scheduled to begin today in North Korea, which is 16 hours ahead of Sacramento time. But as with most matters inside the isolated nation, little is known about how the trial will be conducted, how long it will take, or the reclusive government's procedures.

And with mounting nuclear tensions between the communist country and the rest of the world, the families of the journalists broke a long silence on the pair's March 17 detention. They went on national television this week to plead with the North Korean government to release the journalists on humanitarian grounds.

"If Laura and Euna had been taken at a quieter time, a path out of this might be more clear," said Bob Dietz, Asia program director for the Committee to Protect Journalists. "I don't know what's going to happen in this trial, but I don't expect a good solution."

The journalists, correspondents for San Francisco-based Current TV, were arrested while reporting on the trafficking of women along the Tumen River, a stretch of porous border between North Korea and China. The journalists did not intend to enter North Korea while reporting the story, their families have said.

The families received a round of letters from Lee and Ling through Swedish diplomats who have been able to visit them three times since their arrest. Last week, the families received phone calls.

"My husband and I were sitting at home at 11 at night. I got a call. And I picked up the phone and I heard this little voice say, "Li, it's me. I need your help,'" Ling's sister, journalist Lisa Ling, said Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live." "It was extremely emotional. I'm surprised we were even able to get our words out. But in the course of that four-minute conversation, she said that the only way she may be able to get released is if our two countries communicate."

The United States and North Korea have not had direct communication in the 56 years since the Korean War cease-fire. And North Korea's most-recent nuclear actions have complicated efforts to release the journalists.

The families decided to appeal directly to North Korea this week with appearances on national and international television believed to be monitored by North Korean officials, Dietz said. The families stressed that Ling was suffering from an ulcer and showcased Lee's 4-year-old daughter who simply thinks her mother is still at work.

"What the family wanted to do was not so much get public support, although they're grateful for that, but what they wanted was to send a message to the North Korean government unfiltered," Dietz said. "They clearly apologized if any mistake has been made, and gave the strongest humanitarian appeal they could."

Supporters in Sacramento held signs proclaiming, "Set them free," and "Release our journalists," as they marched Wednesday from the L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen, near 18th and L streets, to the west steps of the Capitol. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and three state legislators – Assembly members Fiona Ma and Paul Fong and Sen. Bob Huff – led a group of about 80.

The most difficult part of the past three months has been the unknowns, said Ling's uncle, Jerry Wang, who was at the gathering. "It's the uncertainty of not knowing how she's doing and how it's going to turn out, especially with these international tensions," said Wang, a Kaiser physician.

The group bowed their heads and counted 60 seconds of silence before collectively sending positive thoughts to the journalists.

The march was a makeshift Del Campo High School reunion, organized by alumni Beth Diebels and Marcus Marquez. It became one of the coordinated vigils around the country with the help of Facebook, where people are going for updates, Diebels said.

"Laura's one of our own," said Ling's former English teacher Jim Jordan. "You've got to support your people, and we want to protect the rights we have here and share with the people of the world the free press we believe in."

Marquez, who served on the Del Campo journalism staff with Lisa Ling, conceded their efforts are not likely to make a difference to North Korean officials, but he does hope they offer a message of hope to the journalists' families.

"You can't help but get a lump in your throat at how all of these people are doing this out of nothing but love," Diebels said. "We hope this will encourage a diplomatic end to this story."

Sacramento Vigil for Laura Ling and Euna Lee aEUR" 6:30PM

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

WHAT: Sacramento Candlelight Vigil and March

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2009

TIME: 6:30 – 8:00 PM

WHERE: Start at L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen, 1801 L Street
End at West Steps of the State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA

NATIONWIDE VIGILS FOR LAURA LING AND EUNA LEE

On Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009, a grassroots effort, which began on Facebook and has grown into a national movement, will hold vigils across the country (see below for time, locations and contacts) to bring attention to the plight of two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who have been detained in North Korea for nearly 3 months.

Friends, supporters and community leaders are joining together to raise awareness in hopes for a safe and speedy return of Lee and Ling. Together, we desperately urge the governments of the United States and North Korea to keep the humanitarian issue separate from the larger geopolitical stand-off. We hope that our two countries can come together to secure the expeditious release of Euna and Laura on humanitarian grounds.

Vigils are scheduled to be held in Birmingham, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

Sacramento Speakers:

Jerry Wang, family member of Laura Ling
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (12 A.D.), Majority Whip
Senator Robert S. 'Bob' Huff (29 S.D.)
Representative of State Board of Equalization Member (Dist. 3), Michelle Steel, highest ranking Korean-American officeholder

Statement from the Families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee:

We, the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee — the two American journalists currently detained in North Korea — are gravely concerned about their well-being. It has been nearly three months since their arrest. We have been holding our breath everyday as we've watched the political situation on the Korean Peninsula grow increasingly tense. Our loved ones sit in the midst of it. We desperately urge the governments of the United States and North Korea to keep our issue separate from the larger geopolitical stand-off. We hope that our two countries can come together to secure the expeditious release of Laura and Euna on humanitarian grounds.

Euna Lee is the mother of a four-year old daughter. And Laura was being treated for an ulcer prior to her departure, and in our limited communication with her we fear it has become more serious since her detainment and requires immediate medical attention.

Furthermore, Laura and Euna are journalists who were simply doing their job. They have been charged with "illegal entry," and "hostility to the Korean nation." We aren't certain of the details of what happened on March 17, but we can say with absolute certainty that when the girls left U.S. soil, they never intended to set foot onto North Korean territory. If at any point a transgression occurred, we sincerely apologize on their behalf.

We desperately hope that at the conclusion of the June 4 trial, the government of North Korea will show clemency and allow the girls to return home to their families.

Our families have been comforted by the unexpected and overwhelming support for Laura and Euna. We would like to thank all of those individuals who are organizing to secure the release of the girls. We are humbled and deeply touched by your well-wishes and efforts.

— The families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee

For more information, contact Beth Diebels at (916) 390-3923, or beth.diebels@gmail.com

S.F. Memorial Day events honor the fallen

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Proud words were spoken and cannon shots fired during a ceremony at San Francisco's historic Presidio grounds Monday as hundreds of people listened to tributes paid to the nation's fallen warriors.

It was a day of praise for World War I doughboys, the all-black regiments of Buffalo Soldiers who protected settlers of the western frontier, GIs whose platoons patrolled in Vietnam, and armed forces now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It was also a day of mourning, as friends and relatives visited the graves of loved ones buried at the Presidio cemetery on a hill overlooking the bay.

And at Justin Herman Plaza, where a veterans group created a unique Memorial Day event, it was a time for artwork, healing and reflection about war and peace.

"It's a wonderful turnout," said Don Reid, who participated in a parade at the Presidio.

"We don't have enough appreciation for the bravery that has been shown by our predecessors," said Reid, who fought in the Korean War as a sergeant in the Marines.

Reid and scores of other veterans, along with vintage Army jeeps and the drums corps from the Lincoln High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, marched from the Presidio's Main Post area to the cemetery, where soldiers from wars throughout the nation's history are buried.

"I feel it's about time that they honor the veterans," said Morning Star Vancil, who said she served in the Philippine Marine Corps as an infantry instructor.

Vancil was one of several members of the American Legion Post 448 who attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the Presidio - and they were intent on making a point.

"We are the only NATO army without gay and lesbian armed forces, and England has a lesbian general," said Richard Manning, vice commander of Post 448, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the U.S. Air Force.

Lisa Buescher of Lincoln (Placer County) wore a World War II nurse uniform as she marched with a Bay Area group whose period costumes helped create historical re-enactments.

"We try to honor the past and those who have come before us," she said, adding that it made her feel "proud of my country."

Dan McAuliffe of Burlingame brought his two sons - Connor, 7, and Jimmy, 4 - to the ceremony at the Presidio.

"They can see all the people who serve and protect them," he said. "I made a point of having them stand up and clap as they marched past."

In her invocation, Kay Fuller of Veterans of Foreign Wars said that "freedom is not free."

State Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat, reminded the crowd that nearly 5,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed and about 31,000 soldiers injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. "The cost of this loss is immeasurable," she said.

Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Bruce Casella said it was important to honor men and women who served the nation because of their "willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves."

San Francisco public relations executive Noah Griffin delivered the Gettysburg Address from memory.

"From these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion," he said, echoing the words of President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

The crowd waved tiny American flags as a chorus sang "God Bless America," a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace," and the Army delivered a 21-gun howitzer salute.

A different dynamic surfaced Sunday afternoon at Justin Herman Plaza, where Swords to Plowshares - a nonprofit group that helps veterans - created an interactive event for the public.

Dozens of adults and children helped paint two mural panels, including one that featured a cemetery that dissolves into agricultural lands, with 12 flags representing wars in the nation's history.

"I'm painting some of these headstones yellow like the sun," said Sean Kilcoyne, a Vietnam veteran. "It conveys life, remembering that the gene pool will live on."

Guest artist Angela Knowles of Oakland, whose sketches formed the basis of the two panels, said: "Memorial Day for many people has become a time of leisure. We're doing this because people have lost their lives - not only combatants, but noncombatants."

Knowles, an Air Force veteran who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as well as in Pakistan, said: "There's a dialogue created, and people may discuss what this means. They can think about what brought them here."

Nation's Largest Pan Asian Street Celebration Draws 100,000 Attendees

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO - Approximately 100,000 people of all ages and races overflowed Larkin Street from McAllister to Ellis Streets to enjoy the sunshine and celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in San Francisco on May 16.

The fifth annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration — the largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation — featured a muay Thai kickboxing ring, delicious pan Asian cuisine, J-cars, tons of arts and crafts booths, Asian American musical artists, martial arts, a cultural procession, carnival rides and games, and more.

Presented by California Pacific Medical Center and Subaru, the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration took place in San Francisco’s Civic Center in front of the Asian Art Museum, leading up to the Little Saigon District.

The city’s three Asian American Supervisors Carmen Chu, Eric Mar, and President of the Board of Supervisors David Chiu, kicked off the street fair with warm wishes and greetings for fairgoers at the Asian Art Museum stage. Chiu told the crowd it was fitting that the nation’s largest Asian street celebration took place in the city because San Francisco is “the heart of our country’s Asian American community.”

Proud San Francisco Unified School District Awards parents surrounded the Little Saigon Stage, in the early afternoon with camcorders and digital cameras to snap footage of their children during the fair’s annual SFUSD Student Awards Ceremony. For excellence in nutrition and fitness, forty-nine students received glass plaques designed by Dave San Pedro and created by Art Crystal, Ltd. The ceremony was part of the annual SFUSD Student Awards Program that the AHSC has hosted annually to recognize the accomplishments of students who are of Asian Pacific Islander heritage in categories not typically celebrated.

Approximately 160 people took advantage of the free hepatitis B screenings presented by California Pacific Medical Center and the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign.

“In the Bay Area, we are so fortunate to have such a rich diversity of Asian cultures and the street celebration gives us the chance to enjoy them all,” said Paula Lykins, community relations manager of California Pacific Medical Center.
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and ABC7 anchor Alan Wang spoke at the Asian Art Museum Stage about the importance of getting screened for hepatitis B. Asian Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of the disease compared to any ethnic group, and it is estimated that 1 in 10 people in the API community have an undiagnosed infection. Both Ma and Wang have chronic hepatitis B and were infected at birth. Wang wore a jade ribbon during his 5pm, 6pm and 11pm newscast that evening, showing his support of hepatitis B awareness and is one of the first Asian American newscasters nationwide to do so.

In the late afternoon, the Asian Art Museum stage became a dance floor, as a crowd formed in front of the stage, bobbing their heads, swaying their hips and arms while jamming to the electric performance by Bay Area rapper Lyrics Born and wife Joyo Velarde.

“The crowd and event was fantastic!” exclaimed Lyrics Born, after his performance. “There aren’t many Asians in the arts so it is important for others to see arts like myself out there performing to change that.”

The AHSC, organized by the AsianWeek Foundation, is the only outdoor event in the Bay Area to rotate its location each year in order to showcase that APIs reside in all San Francisco neighborhoods. The first Celebration highlighted the Japanese community in Japantown, the second showcased the Chinese on Irving Street in the Sunset District, the third paid homage to the large Filipino community in the South of Market area, last year the fair returned to Japantown and this year the fair celebrated the large Vietnamese community in the city’s Little Saigon neighborhood.

“I am very excited and proud that the Vietnamese community that the AsianWeek Foundation chose to host their event in Little Saigon This year. Everyone knows that there is a Chinatown and Japantown, but not many know about Little Saigon for the Vietnamese community,” said Hang Le To, Program Director/The Founder of Au Co Cultural & Leadership Youth Team for the Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center.

This year’s sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Physicians, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling Company, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW 44 Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

The case for paid sick days

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Concerns over the recent swine influenza virus appear to be cooling for the moment, but this shouldn't mean that we stop thinking about how to prevent communicable disease. Influenza is an annual and tragic event: Each year, 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets seasonal influenza (the flu), more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die. Guaranteeing paid sick days to workers is an important step toward preventing spread of illness and promoting public health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructs people who get sick to stay home from work or school to keep from infecting others. For almost half of workers nationally, this is easier said than done. These workers, who do not earn any paid sick days, are asked to make an incredibly difficult choice: follow medical advice and lose pay or keep a job and potentially infect others.

On Monday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., will introduce the Healthy Families Act in Congress to guarantee paid sick days to all workers in the country. In California, lawmakers are already considering AB1000 to guarantee workers the right to paid sick day. The bill is co-authored by Assemblywomen Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, and Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley.

For the nearly 6 million working Californians without paid sick days, taking time off from work can mean the loss of a day's pay or the loss of a good shift. Some workers have reported that they or a family member have been fired, suspended or disciplined for missing work due to illness. Workers should not have to put their jobs and financial security at stake to take care of a sick child or their own medical needs.

Whether we are trying to prevent swine flu, seasonal influenza or food-borne disease outbreaks in restaurants, not guaranteeing the right of all workers to earn and use paid sick days creates serious public health risks for all Californians.

Over the past two years, researchers in California, New York and elsewhere have been studying how having paid sick days affects health. A 2008 health impact assessment of the proposed California Paid Sick Days law found that paid sick days would likely benefit all Californians by reducing the spread of flu and protecting the public from communicable diseases carried by sick workers in restaurants and in nursing homes. With more than a third of flu cases transmitted in schools and workplaces, enabling strategies to help workers stay home when infected could avoid unnecessary heath care costs and save lives.

The potential magnitude of epidemics of influenza and other communicable disease should help us all understand that the right to paid sick days is more than an employment benefit; it is, fundamentally, a strategy to protect the health of all Californians.

When workers can take needed time off without the loss of pay or fear of losing a job, the result is better health for workers and their families, decreased risk of the outbreak of disease and, ultimately, reduced health care spending.

Unfortunately, the United States remains alone among developed and prosperous Western nations in not guaranteeing this basic right for its workers. Let's prevent the spread of disease and enable workers to take care of themselves and their families, before it's too late.

SF Hep B Free Campaign Continues Partnership with San Francisco Giants

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The SF Giants have been a cornerstone in the history of San Francisco for many years and will be celebrating Asian cultures and communities during Asian Heritage Week at AT&T Park.

In partnership with AsianWeek and the SF Hep B Free Campaign, the Giants will hold a number of unique events to highlight the rich traditions and cultures of Bay Area Asian populations. The Chinese, Korean, and Japanese communities will each have their own designated night at AT&T Park featuring promotional items, special ticket offers, entertainment and educational programs.

The San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign will be present at each game to educate fans about the importance of testing and vaccinating Asian Pacific Islanders for hepatitis B. Liver cancer presents the greatest health disparity between Asian Americans and the general population. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Giants first baseman Travis Ishikawa will carry this important message in a public service announcement that will be played at the ballpark and highlighted during homeplate ceremony. Travis Ishikawa will be featured on resource cards containing facts about hepatitis B on the back, and information about SF Hep B Free will be displayed on the scoreboard and on the clubhouse televisions throughout the game.

A special $20 ticket package is available for each of the heritage games and includes a limited edition giveaway and guaranteed seats in the designated heritage seating sections. Tickets for all events can be purchased by calling (415) 972-2298 or visit the links listed below. Partial proceeds of the tickets sold through this website will go to the SF Hep B Free Campaign. Following is the list of games and giveaways (with special ticket purchase):

Tuesday, May 12 - Chinese Heritage Night http://sfgiants.com/chinese

SF Giants vs. Washington Nationals
Fans with a special ticket will receive a Lou Seal themed Lion Dancing bobblehead.

Thursday, May 14 - Korean Heritage Night – http://sfgiants.com/korean

SF Giants vs. New York Mets
Fans with a special ticket will receive souvenir Thundersticks.

Friday, May 15 - Japanese Heritage Night http://sfgiants.com/japanese

SF Giants vs. New York Mets
Fans with a special ticket will receive a limited edition Giants themed Sake Set and a Sake Tasting Punch-Card for five free tastings.

Proposal to Temporarily Close Firehouses Under Fire

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- The city of San Francisco is considering a plan to close neighborhood fire houses on a rotating basis.

The City Controller's Office estimates the move could save $6 million a year, in the face of a $438 million budget deficit.

But some political leaders and firefighters say the rolling firehouse "brownout" could cost lives.

"It means lives, if our emergency personnel do not arrive on a scene in time," said State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-12th District.

But Supervisor Chris Daly says the city may have no choice.

"Browning out firehouses may not be the most politically expedient thing to do... but it may not be the worst choice," said Daly.

The firefighters union Monday launched a campaign to douse rolling brownouts called "Save Our Neighborhood Firehouses."

Pool drain bill introduced in Sacramento

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Two state lawmakers introduced a new bill in Sacramento on Tuesday to make swimming pools safer. It is a measure that all started with a 7 On Your Side investigation.

It was about one year ago that 7 On Your Side told you about a hidden danger in swimming pools all across the United States. The suction from pool drains can be so strong it can literally entrap a young child's body part and hair.

Between 1999 and 2007 there were 74 incidents of entrapment, including the deaths of nine children under the age of 15.

"Suction entrapment will hold the swimmer in its grip, until either the vacuum is broken or the person drowns," says Assemblyman Fiona Ma (D) of San Francisco.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco vowed to sponsor the bill after seeing our story. The bill will bring California in line with a federal law requiring anti-entrapment covers on pool drains.

Sick leave bill returns to Assembly for consideration

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A bill that would mandate every employer in California pay their workers for time off when they're sick could be on track for a vote later this spring or summer after a virtually identical measure failed to pass last year.

The bill has been proposed by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, and it has passed the labor and employment and judiciary committees. It now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, possibly by the end of this month, said Curt Hardeman, Ma's capital director.

Ma's 2008 bill passed the assembly and died in the Senate Appropriations Committee, mostly because it would have cost the state money for sick time paid to home health care worker positions, some of which are state-funded.

While the 2009 version is almost unchanged, both sides of this debate say new conditions in California, both economic and medical, have changed in the past year. They argue that these changes support their respective cause.

Proponents of AB 1000 say it is not only a workplace issue and a way to improve conditions for the working poor but a question of health. According to estimates, there are 5.4 million people in California who do not get paid time off and who could be coming to work when they're sick, risking the spread of illnesses.

That cause has been amplified in the past week by the outbreak of a new strain of flu virus.

"Probably the new awareness of swine flu reiterates the importance of this as a public health issue," Hardeman said.

Opponents say the measure would burden small businesses, already operating on slender profit margins, with additional costs. John Kabateck, California executive director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said the bill could cost the state 370,000 jobs over five years because small-business owners will decide to do extra work themselves and not hire employees.

The bill would give employees of businesses with more than 10 workers, full time and part time, as much as 72 hours of sick leave in a calendar year. Companies with fewer workers would have to provide 40 hours of sick time.

"It's difficult economic times, we realize that, and we don't want this to be about swine flu," said Netsy Firestein, founder and director of the California Labor Project for Working Families, a nonprofit group that supports the measure. "But people aren't in the position to make the right choices (about work and illnesses) because they won't get paid.

"It's just the right thing to do," Firestein said.

Currently no states have a law requiring sick pay, which, like vacation and other time-off perks, are granted at the employers' discretion. AB 1000 is modeled after a 2-year-old ordinance in Ma's home city of San Francisco. Two other major cities, Washington, D.C, and Milwaukee, have similar laws.

A Field Poll released last August found that 73 percent of California voters would support this kind of measure, and 77 percent were concerned that so many people do not currently get paid sick time.

Kabateck said most entrepreneurs care enough about their employees to pay them when they're out sick.

"The problem with AB 1000 is it forces small business owners into a one-size-fits-all situation," Kabateck said. "Perhaps it is a well-intended policy, but it will have the reverse effect on the people it aims to help. Most tell me they simply can't afford it."

At Riverside Patio 'N Pool, workers get three days a year in sick time, said Marc Loeb, the owner. He used to grant more time to workers at his Riverside and San Bernardino locations but it was costing too many man-hours, and Loeb said he thought the policy was being abused by workers who weren't actually sick.

"This is just another stumbling block for small businesses," Loeb said. "It's par for the course."

Fiona Ma on Budget Reform Measures

Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Polls indicate voters are in a disapproving mood, and the Governor's proposed "budget fix" is looking more and more like a non-starter as the May 19th special state election approaches.

Assembly woman Fiona Ma of San Francisco sees a problem. On CBS-5 Sunday Morning, the lawmaker spoke with Chronicle and KCBS Insider Phil Matier about the six budget reform measures and their likely defeat. Ma said items like a 12-cent fee hike on gas would be proposed. "But unfortunately, those fees don't amount to $15 billion." That's the projected state deficit when the new fiscal year begins on July 1st.

The Democrat warned that important repair projects are in jeopardy. "Infrastructures around the state, the principal and the interest is a lot of money in our budget," continued Ma, "and when times are tough we're going to have to look at those projects and see which ones are a priority and which ones aren't."

One special-election measure that is an odds-on favorite to be approved by voters -- a ban on pay hikes for legislators.

Do you LIVERight?

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

5K Run/Walk to Raise Awareness of Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer

1 in 10 Asian Americans is chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus that causes 80% of all liver cancer deaths - and 2 out of 3 don’t even know that they are infected.

San Francisco - April 27, 2009 - San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Park is once again playing host to one of the world’s only large-scale Asian American specific awareness events - LIVERight 2009. Taking place May 2nd in Lindley Meadow of Golden Gate National Park, LIVERight 2009 is a unique 5k run/walk event with a goal of raising awareness and education about the greatest health disparity between Asian Americans and the general population - hepatitis B. Responsible for up to a million annual deaths worldwide, hepatitis B, a vaccine-preventable virus, causes liver cancer and death and infects 1 out of 10 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.

California State Majority Whip Fiona Ma, long-time ally in the fight against hepatitis B, as well as San Francisco Supervisor Carmen Chu will both be in attendance, helping to kick off the race.

The distressing realities about the prevalence of hepatitis B are being brought into a community-wide discourse, thanks to the efforts of the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University (ALC) and Answer to Cancer Foundation. Dr. Samuel So, director of the ALC, Stanford University professor and leading liver cancer and hepatitis B specialist, calls hepatitis B “the most neglected global epidemic.” Over 350 million people are chronically infected worldwide.

The event hopes to increase awareness in the general public about hepatitis B, and strongly encourage all individuals to get tested for and vaccinated against the virus. Eighty percent of all liver cancer cases are caused by hepatitis B, and most liver cancer cases are rapidly fatal. Fortunately, we have the power to completely eliminate hepatitis B - an effective vaccine was developed over 25 years ago. However, no coherent, large-scale vaccination campaign has yet been orchestrated. The Asian Liver Center is working to fight this neglected epidemic - to bring it into the public discourse so it is no longer neglected, and to work towards eradication so it is no longer an epidemic. Through community education and screening events, the ALC works to protect healthy individuals and identify infected individuals. “One-third of the Chinese population is 19 or under, so you potentially have 350 million unprotected kids,” So declares. “You have to protect the kids.”

LIVERight 2009 is on May 2nd, 2009, from 9am to 12pm, in Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate National Park.

Registration for LIVERight is now open! Families welcome! Please visit http://liver.stanford.edu for more information and to register. Advance registration is $25 for individuals, $20 for team members (a team is 5 or more individuals). Includes a free T-Shirt. Prizes and raffle items include passes to Great America, gift certificates to restaurants, and more!

About LIVERight

LIVERight is a 5K run/walk hosted by the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and Answer to Cancer with the goal of raising awareness about hepatitis B and liver cancer. Hepatitis B causes 80% of all primary liver cancer cases, and is considered the greatest health disparity affecting the Asian/Pacific Islander demographic. As many as 1 in 10 Asian Americans and 1 in 20 of all people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B. Nearly 1 million infected individuals die every year. Our ultimate goal is to eradicate hepatitis B. LIVERight 2008 attracted over 600 runners and 100 volunteers, and raised over $100,000 to fight liver cancer and hepatitis B.

About the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University

The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University (ALC) is the first non-profit organization in the United States that addresses the high incidence of hepatitis B and liver cancer in Asians and Asian Americans. Founded in 1996, the center uses a three-pronged approach towards fighting hepatitis B through outreach & education, advocacy and research. The Asian Liver Center spearheads educational outreach and advocacy efforts in the areas of hepatitis B and liver cancer prevention and treatment, serves as a resource for both the general public and health practitioners, and implements clinical and research programs.

If you would like more information about hepatitis B, the Jade Ribbon Campaign, or the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, please visit http://liver.stanford.edu.

About Answer to Cancer Foundation

The Answer to Cancer run was founded by Adrian Elkins, a 20-year old student at Southern Oregon University who was diagnosed with liver cancer in October 2002. Adrian passed away only eight days after the first annual Answer to Cancer Race on August 11, 2003.

The Answer to Cancer Foundation was created to

1) provide funding and assistance to research-based cancer programs and institutions as well as educationally-focused cancer programs, associations and organizations; 2) garner awareness and public focus on the necessity for cancer research, trials and experiments in developing treatments and an eventually finding a cure for cancer; and, 3) educate the public about screening, high-risk factors and potential preventable measures associated with primary liver cancer.

Bicyclist Hit at Market and Octavia Streets

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A bicyclist was hospitalized Monday after being struck by a driver making an illegal right turn at the troubled intersection of Market and Octavia streets.

A 24-year-old San Francisco woman was driving east on Market Street at 8:27 a.m. Monday when she attempted to turn right onto the Central Freeway onramp, despite posted warnings and a concrete barrier to deter motorists, police said.

The driver’s Toyota sedan struck the cyclist, a 28-year-old San Francisco woman, as she pedaled east in the Market Street bike lane.

The victim was thrown from her bike, suffering facial injuries and abrasions to her head. She was able to speak, and is expected to survive, Sgt. Lyn Tomioka said.

The driver immediately called for help and admitted to police she was making a right turn onto the freeway.

“She took complete responsibility,” Tomioka said.

The driver was not cited, but investigators may cite her later, Tomioka said.

The intersection has raised the ire of bicyclists after a string of serious injury accidents. In December 2007, The City built a barrier island to deter scofflaw motorists from making illegal right turns onto the freeway.

While the measure has helped, the heavily-traveled route remains perilous, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition program manager Andy Thornley said.

Last year, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma proposed a bill that would allow for the installation of a traffic enforcement camera to catch those making illegal right turns at the corner. The bill was shot down.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and Supervisor Bevan Dufty have also taken up the cause, but most efforts to make safety improvements have been thwarted due to a court injunction that prohibits such action until a thorough environmental review has been completed.

The injunction also stopped a plan to remove the bike lane.

Legislators Say They're Alarmed About Hunter's Point Shipyard Pollution

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Concerns about the U.S. Navy's commitment to cleaning up contaminants on the polluted Hunters Point Shipyard prompted several state legislators to write city leaders a letter earlier this month.

Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano and Fiona Ma and state Sen. Leland Yee signed the letter, which expressed particular alarm about one polluted parcel on the 500-acre shipyard.

Developer Lennar Corp. is working with the city to remake the former Navy base and Candlestick Point into neighborhoods with 10,500 housing units, retail and commercial development, parks and possibly a new football stadium.

One plot has been cleared for development and condos and apartments could be built there by mid-2011. Another, intended for the potential stadium site, could be done as early as 2010.

Because the shipyard is designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a toxic Superfund site, the Navy must clean individual pieces there before turning them over to the city.

The federal government designated $81.6 million for cleanup for the upcoming fiscal year, but the price tag for making the entire shipyard safe is $300 million to $500 million.

The Navy is reviewing four alternatives for cleaning one very nasty spot, known as Parcel E, which was the scene of repeated underground fires in 2000. They strategies range from completely removing the soil to placing a protective cap over it.

Michael Cohen, who overseas development projects for the city, said that a final choice would have to be certified by state and federal regulators before it was accepted by the city.

In-home care program is worth saving

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The only thing more disturbing than allegations of fraud in the state's in-home care system is the tendency to use that fraud as an excuse for gutting the program.

While fraud is intolerable and must be rooted out, scapegoating is its twin evil. Those who cheat and those who blame the victims pose an equal threat to the hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled Californians who rely on a little government help with their daily lives.

California's In-Home Supportive Services program is one of the state's fastest-growing expenses. More than 440,000 people – older, poorer, more frail than their neighbors – receive help from the program.

IHSS services go to low-income people who need help getting out of bed, or into the bath; Alzheimer's patients, stroke victims, children with severe disabilities; people who can't cook for themselves or clean their home. Recipients hire a caregiver, either through personal connection or through a county-run registry. These caregivers do hard jobs at low pay. They reposition people in their beds, clean bathrooms, change diapers. Although they bargain collectively to set their wages county by county, no one is getting rich.

It costs about $5 billion to cover the meager wages of a veritable army of caregivers – often members of the recipient's family – who do the drudge work that keeps the bedridden, the frail, the mobility impaired out of institutions. The federal government picks up the lion's share of the tab. The rest is covered by the state and the counties.

The cost grows larger each year. Because the need gets larger. Because California's population is getting older. Because the baby boom is now the aging boom. And yet, despite the growing cost, it is still dramatically cheaper to care for someone at home (about $13,000 a year) than to place them in an already overburdened nursing home ($55,000 or more).

Reports of rampant fraud in IHSS are nothing new. It's the same story with all government programs. We've recently seen reports of corruption beyond credulity, even suggesting that one of every four dollars is lost to cheaters. Such a rate is highly unlikely.

Still, no one disputes that there are cheaters, nor that those cheaters should be held accountable. We have enough information to know that fraud exists. But we don't have any kind of reliable data to tell us the extent, nor how best to stop it. It's time to gather that data.

Assembly Bill 682, by Bonnie Lowenthal, which passed its first committee recently, calls for a study of fraud to get a dependable baseline number from which we can make informed decisions on enforcement and investigative policy. We need to be targeted and surgical in our response, because the fact is, every dollar we spend hunting down cheaters is a dollar we can't spend on folks in need.

We believe the response to fraud is to measure it, and then to stop it. We don't respond by gutting the program, any more than we respond to insurance fraud by canceling our insurance policies. We know there are crime rings that specialize in rigged accidents, but we don't spend less on auto coverage because of that.

It's the same with fraud on Wall Street or in the banking system. Not only did we not jettison the system, we spend trillions to shore it up. That's because the risk of losing the financial sector is greater than the burden of fixing it.

The very same is true of IHSS. Yes, there is fraud. We need to find it and stop it. But it is a good system that helps a lot of needy people, and it saves countless billions while doing so. And just like banks, brokers and insurers, it is necessary. Some people literally can't get through a day without it.

The bottom line about fraud in our in-home care system is that we don't have a bottom line. We lack a tally, even a good estimate based on something more than anecdote and innuendo. But we owe it to every taxpayer, recipient and caregiver to get to that bottom line, because without a detailed accounting, we put vulnerable people at the mercy of cheaters and those who would throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Lowenthal represents the 54th Assembly District, which includes Long Beach, Signal Hill, San Pedro, Avalon and the cities of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Saldaña is the speaker pro tem of the Assembly and represents the 76th District, which includes San Diego and surrounding communities.

Yamada represents the 8th Assembly District, which includes Vacaville, Davis, West Sacramento, Fairfield and Benicia.

Acknowledging Alzheimer's

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

One of my favorite movies is “The Notebook” with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. It has the right mix of drama and romance and touches on a very sad yet very real and important issue that is rarely talked about, Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible neurological disorder characterized by severe memory loss. It is the most common type of dementia and can affect anyone.

As many as 5 million Americans currently live with the disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, by 2030 the number of Californians age 55 and over living with Alzheimer’s disease will double. In San Francisco, the number of individuals affected with the disease is expected to increase 54% between the years 2008-2030.

In 2004, Alzheimer’s disease was the 8th leading cause of death in California. Today it is the 6th. However, the disease is often under-diagnosed and under-reported on death certificates because most individuals with the disease also have other serious coexisting medical conditions.

The affects of Alzheimer’s are felt beyond the individual carrying the disease. Caregivers are often adversely affected by the disease because people with dementia often live at home and cared for by family and friends. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, women tend to shoulder this responsibility, as 75% of caregivers are women.

Alzheimer’s disease is not a pleasant topic to discuss - no one likes to be confronted with the scary thought of their loved ones being affected by dementia – but it is an important issue that more people need to be aware of.

I have long supported legislative and other efforts to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, including efforts to find better treatment and care. As we face the sobering news about the increase in the number of patients and the personal and financial costs of their care, we clearly must do more to fight this disease. You can count on me to continue this battle.

For more information - Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures in California

Paid Sick Days Legislation Clears Assembly Labor and Employment Committee

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO – AB 1000 Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2009 authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) passed out of Assembly Labor and Employment Committee with a vote of 2-4. AB 1000 will allow workers to earn and use paid sick days for personal illness, to care for a sick family member, or to recover from domestic violence or sexual assault.

"We are not robots. We all get sick, our family members and loved ones get sick," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. "Millions of California´s workers are forced to go to work sick because they can´t take a day off to rest and recuperate. When we go to school or work sick we put others at risk. AB 1000 enhances public health and supports the economic security of California´s families."

Nearly six million Californians – more than two in five workers in the state – do not get any paid sick days. Going to work sick creates unhealthy workplaces and puts the health of our families and communities at risk. According to a 2008 Field Research Corporation poll, 73 percent of California voters support a law guaranteeing workers a minimum number of paid sick days. In recent years, a movement for paid sick days has grown at the local, state and federal level across the country. If passed, the paid sick days legislation would make California the first state in the nation to allow workers to earn paid sick days.

Prior to the hearing, public health experts and workers rights groups gathered at the State Capitol to emphasize the significant public health benefits of a proposed law that would allow California workers to earn paid sick days. Public health experts shared findings from a newly released study by the Human Impact Partners (HIP) and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPF), which found that that food handling by sick workers contributes to a substantial share of food-borne disease outbreaks in California.

Lawmakers, Veteran Groups Debate JROTC Program in San Francisco

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The fight to keep Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs in San Francisco's high schools is far from over, despite a last-minute push by veterans groups across the country. And who ultimately wins the battle could determine the future of the program in many cities throughout the U.S.

Pentagon officials, calling JROTC "an important academic and citizenship program for high school students," say they're hopeful the program will be saved. But they also say there are 700 schools in the country that are waiting to adopt the program if San Francisco drops it.

Opponents of JROTC programs, meanwhile, say educating students should remain a role for civilians, and not for retired members of the armed forces.

The kerfuffle by the bay began two years ago, when San Francisco's school board voted to phase out JROTC progams by the end of the 2007-08 school year, citing recruitment concerns and the military's policy toward gays.

The program was extended for another year, but last June, under threats of a lawsuit for not enforcing tougher state education standards, the school board voted to stop granting gym credits to JROTC students and to offer JROTC as an elective course only.

Immediately, enrollment in JROTC dropped dramatically.

But a state assemblywoman, Fiona Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco, recently submitted legislation that would reinstate JROTC at seven of the city's public schools and overturn the original decision by its Unified School District to phase out the program.

"Hat's off to Fiona Ma to try and save this program," said Jay Agg, a spokesman for AMVETS, a group of 180,000 U.S. veterans. "We hope she's successful — it'd be a real shame to deprive students in San Francisco or any other city the opportunity to reap the benefits of the program."

Among those benefits, Agg said, are the instruction of several key "life skills," including positive values and morals, strong leadership and community service.

"You're taking advantage of an opportunity to teach morals and honor and discipline and love of country," Agg said. "You want them to learn at a young age to be a good leader."

Ma's bill — which passed out of an education committee last week by a 6-3 vote — now heads to the state's Appropriations Committee. Assembly Bill 223 would then require a two-thirds vote in the Leglislature to take effect immediately. Pentagon officials continue to monitor its progress.

"We are hopeful that the School Board will realize that JROTC is an important academic and citizenship program for high school students, ensuring the students currently enrolled will continue to benefit from the program," Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told FOXNews.com in an e-mail.

"If, however, the Board declines to reverse its decision, there are approximately 700 schools on the waiting list to receive JROTC programs."

State Bill 601, which fortified physical education standards in California and was enacted last January, requires the California Department of Education to monitor to what extent schools provide physical education instruction by gym teachers who hold appropriate credentials.

Last June, facing allegations that it was illegally granting physical education credits for JROTC classes, the San Francisco school board members voted to eliminate the gym credit.

"Since none of our JROTC instructors hold appropriate physical education credentials, that's one factor the board took into consideration," spokeswoman Gentle Blythe told FOXNews.com.

Blythe also noted that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell wrote a letter last April to Col. Michael Johnson, who oversees California's JROTC programs, stating that JROTC classes do not, in most cases, fulfill the state's requirements for physical education.

Enrollment in the city's seven JROTC programs, which had already dropped from 1,600 students in 2006-07 to 1,050 in 2007-08, sank to about 500 this year once the phys-ed credit was removed.

Ma claims the decrease in enrollment has coincided with the school board's decision to eliminate the gym credit. The Department of Education was unable to provide statistics on the number of schools that offer physical education credits for JROTC programs, but at least two states, Florida and Alabama, specifically list ROTC programs as an option for fulfilling the requirement.

In other cities like Chicago, which has at least 34 JROTC programs at city high schools, students receive physical education credit for participation, said Frank Shuftan, a spokesman for Chicago Public Schools. In New York, students do not, according to Department of Education spokeswoman Margie Feinberg.

Established by Congress in 1916, JROTC was an Army program before it was expanded to all branches of the armed forces in 1964. The program is now the Defense Department's largest youth development program, with more than 480,000 students enrolled nationwide in about 3,400 secondary schools. In 2007-08 alone, Lainez said, those students performed more than 7 million hours of community service.

Agg said the programs also provide invaluable health benefits to students.

"At a time when obesity and physical fitness are such important issues in America, this is not the time to be cutting back on physical education," he said. "It's a critical area and an important education piece, and JROTC does have a physical fitness element to it."

For "many years," Lainez said, Pentagon officials have been concerned with the growing trend of obesity among U.S. teenagers.

"As such JROTC has strengthened the [Physical Education], Health and Wellness programs to help combat this national problem," Lainez said in an e-mail.

Vicky Chung, a senior at San Francisco's Lowell High School, told members of the Assembly during an April 1 hearing that the city's school board was not "thinking critically" when it voted to end JROTC programs that she said have taught her the importance of a higher education.

"Please, please, please use your power to intervene on our behalf," Chung said, according to prepared remarks. "I feel as [if] I'm back in the '50s and '60s, fighting for my civil liberties when the suppressors continue to force policies on me, limiting my freedoms, my rights, my choices."

Ma said school board members should "uphold the will of the voters," and cited Proposition V, a resolution that urged the school board to retain JROTC programs. It passed with 55 percent of the vote in November.

"We should be doing as much as we can to get children to stay in school and promote leadership development and community service," Ma told FOXNews.com. "This is about the students' right to choose and about programs that work."

But critics of Ma's proposal, including Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, and members of Veterans for Peace say there's no place for military programs on high school campuses.

"Regardless of how you feel about JROTC, it is unprecedented for the state to mandate that an individual district offer an elective, non-critical program for a small number of students," he said. This is about respecting the rights of local elected school boards to make their own decisions."

Hal Muskat, an Army veteran who refused to serve in Vietnam, said he doesn't want his tax dollars going to what he calls "military training" for high school students.

"This is military training, it's that simple," said Muskat, now a member of Veterans for Peace. "This is about softening up very impressionable, open-minded, young teenagers to the cult of militarism. Military skills have no place in public schools."

Savvy politicos court Bay Area bloggers

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Dennis Herrera is running for re-election as San Francisco's city attorney and loudly rumored to be eyeing the mayor's office down the road. So a few weeks ago, he invited about a dozen influential folks to a local restaurant for drinks (on his campaign's tab) and some face time. Those folks were local bloggers.

Their questions didn't rock him on his heels initially. Instead, Herrera was quizzed about his favorite movie trilogy ("The Godfather") and what he'd write on a cardboard sign if he were homeless ("Wanna have fun?"). Soon the crowd turned serious and interrogated him about more typical topics, such as his shepherding of the same-sex marriage cause.

Herrera is one of a handful of forward-thinking local politicians - such as San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, a candidate for state attorney general; East Bay congressional candidate Adriel Hampton; and Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough - who are reaching out to bloggers as if they were another constituent group.

Political geeks

It's a relationship bloggers and politicos think can be mutually beneficial - particularly for the candidate, as the relationship is largely free of the adversarial pushback pols receive from traditional media. Even President Obama plans to meet soon with liberal bloggers as a way to spread his message to a potentially friendlier audience.

Local and statewide politicians realize that as traditional media outlets cut their staffs and reduce coverage, bloggers can offer a more efficient way to spread their messages - and, occasionally, their planted stories - to a wider audience. Because of the rapid pace of downsizing in mainstream media, these days it is also more frequently the local blogger who is following the minutiae of planning commissions and neighborhood concerns.

While there are bloggers who break news, most do not consider themselves journalists in the traditional sense, but rather opinion-makers who sometimes report. Many are partisans, political geeks who, if they're not tapped into the local political party apparatus, are hardwired into online networks of like-minded people.

And while their audiences may not be large - anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand - the several hundred political bloggers in California are reaching the right demographic audience.

"They're the people who are generally very connected in political circles," said Alex Tourk, Herrera's campaign manager, who gathered the bloggers for drinks. He pulled together a crowd of statewide bloggers last year for Speier's congressional run and plans to do something similar for Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. "They're the people whose friends turn to them to find out how to vote."

More politicians are recognizing that. It is how Sean Mykael McMullen - the 32-year-old Livermore resident who writes the BearFlagBlue blog of East Bay politics ( www.bearflagblue.com) - found himself sitting in a Livermore doughnut shop across the table from congressional candidate Adriel Hampton.

Hampton isn't abandoning traditional media in his quest to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Walnut Creek. But in a continually fracturing media environment, he is reaching out in as many ways as he can.

Passionate volunteers

"These are the people who don't just write about the campaign, but they're volunteering for it," Hampton said. "And I know that some of the (bloggers) I talk to will wind up working, for pay, for other campaigns."

While Hampton, a Dublin resident who is a former political reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, and McMullen agreed on most issues, the blogger found Hampton's position on religious freedom a bit too conservative. (Hampton said in his online platform, "I would not force pharmacists to violate their religious faiths to work at state hospitals.")

"I see myself more as an activist than a reporter," said McMullen, who serves on the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee.

It is not uncommon for political operatives to plant a story - about their own campaign or another - with a friendly blogger.

"It's part of the modus operandi of political communication these days," said Brian Brokaw, campaign manager for Harris' run for state attorney general. "Of course, it would have to pass through the filter of the mainstream media to have a big splash, though."

"It's more 'pitch ideas' than 'plant stories,' " Tourk said. "Just like you'd pitch an idea to a (traditional media) reporter."

Many bloggers see themselves as serving an adjunct function to journalists. Sure, Brian Leubitz regularly breaks news on the Calitics blog he founded ( www.calitics.com). "But then a (traditional media) reporter will pick it up and do the reporting that I don't necessarily want to do," Leubitz says.

Relying on traditional news

Few bloggers or political operatives see traditional journalism going away - or want it to. Besides, said Tourk, confirming media consumption studies, "most people get their news from TV anyways. I don't see that changing."

But as former CBS News anchor Dan Rather told The Chronicle, local TV reporters often take their cues from print reporters.

"If you close down the newspapers, who is going to do the reporting?" Rather said. "I'm a great believer in the Web, but most Web sites don't have any reporting staffs."

n't have any reporting staffs."

Ousting JROTC program in S.F. stirs up patriotic issues

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Known for its anti-war activism, San Francisco is ruffling patriotic feathers by giving the boot to a high school program with ties to the military at a time when the nation is fighting in Iraq.

The issue has split local politicians, voters and advocacy groups, sparking new legislation to bar the San Francisco Unified School District from dumping the program in June, as scheduled.

Controversy rages over the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, taught by retired members of the armed forces to more than 1,000 students in seven San Francisco high schools.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, who proposed Assembly Bill 223, said lawmakers cannot let "renegade school board members play games with the lives of our high schoolers."

But Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, also a San Francisco Democrat, said state legislators have no right to "drop an A-bomb" into one school district by demanding a nonrequired course.

"It's an intrusion on the local democratic process," Ammiano said.

Voter passage of an advisory ballot measure last November to retain JROTC has not swayed the San Francisco school board to rescind a previous order, though trustees tentatively plan to take another vote within weeks.

Ma contends that the Legislature has an obligation to act on voters' behalf.

"The state delegates authority, but we should not abdicate responsibility," Ma told lawmakers this week, urging intervention.

Taxpayers could be forced to pick up San Francisco's nearly $1 million tab for JROTC if Ma's bill passes as a state mandate.

AB 223, which passed the Assembly Education Committee this week, requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to take effect immediately.

The American Legion, American Veterans, or AMVETS, the National Guard Association and the Armed Forces Retirees Association of California are among veterans groups rallying behind Ma's bill.

"I feel as though I'm back in the '50s or '60s, fighting for my civil liberties," said Vicky Chung, a student company commander.

Nobody wants to glorify combat, said John Reece, 69, an AMVETS official.

"But war is there, it's a distinct possibility, and we need to teach the leadership qualities that we're trying to instill in these kids," he said.

Assemblyman Jeff Miller, R-Corona, said there is nothing wrong with being patriotic and learning about the armed forces in a program that teaches discipline and social skills, too.

"It's nice to know that we can have the freedoms we have because of what the military gave us," Miller said. "And some paid the ultimate price."

The San Francisco school board initially voted 4-3 in November 2006 to dump Junior ROTC by the end of the 2007-08 school year. It later extended the program for one year, ending this June.

"The Board of Education finds that the JROTC program is an inappropriate extension of the nation's military into the civilian sphere," reads the 2006 resolution to eliminate it.

JROTC is inconsistent with district policies promoting nonviolence, restricting campus military recruitment, and banning educational partnerships with groups that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, school trustees concluded.

Created by the U.S. Department of Defense, JROTC is overseen by instructors who do not necessarily have the full credentials required of other teachers in academic subjects, the school board found.

"Educating children should remain the job of civilians," Laura Magnani, regional director of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, said in a letter opposing efforts to retain JROTC.

Opponents also argue that schools should focus on academics, not military science, and that JROTC is too closely linked to fighting forces that function under a "don't ask, don't tell" policy that discourages gay participation.

"If a gay kid goes into the Army, they cannot assume any leadership position, so that's still discrimination," said Ammiano, who is openly gay.

Ma counters that JROTC itself neither discriminates against homosexuals nor recruits for the military, noting that only 3 percent of its cadets enlist in the armed forces.

The San Francisco school board has taken no position on AB 223 because there are differing feelings among trustees, spokeswoman Gentle Blythe said.

State law permits school districts to offer "courses in military science and tactics," such as JROTC, but it bans compulsory attendance.

The Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard support JROTC nationwide – and federal funds subsidize such programs.

The creed of Army JROTC targets citizenship, patriotism and hard work. The program promotes fitness, self-motivation and graduation from high school, its national Web site says.

Besides receiving a historical perspective of the military services, cadets can participate in activities ranging from civic service and academic competitions to marksmanship, drilling, rappelling and color guard presentations, the Web site adds.

Combat skills are not taught, and participants are not committed to the armed forces. "However, JROTC cadets from all services may get advanced rank if they enlist in the service or as a Senior ROTC cadet," the Web site says.

Supporters say the bottom line is success: Most participants are from low-income families, many were at-risk youth, and more than nine of every 10 enroll in college, Ma said.

Darlene Hong told lawmakers that her autistic son Terence has learned about structure and routine and "does not feel like an outcast" in JROTC.

"He comes home every day very enthused about it," Hong said. "He wants to be a part of it. … We've been very, very blessed, quite honestly."

Bill to keep JROTC in S.F. clears committee

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A proposal to force the San Francisco Unified School District to keep the Junior Reserves Officers' Training Corps program cleared its first hurdle Wednesday as it passed through an Assembly committee.

The legislation, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, would specifically require San Francisco public schools to offer JROTC to students in grades nine through 12 and would overturn the decision of the school board to eliminate the program.

"We acknowledge that, in the general course of events, state government should not dictate programs to local districts, but we have plenty of case law that tells us the state is legally responsible for our schools and that the locally elected school board members are caretakers," Ma told the Assembly Education Committee.

She placed significant emphasis on the passage of Proposition V in November, a resolution urging the school board to retain JROTC that passed with 55 percent of the vote.

Ma said the school board members who will not reconsider are "refusing to uphold the will of the voters."

"Three renegade school board members are playing games with the lives of our students," she said at the hearing, where scores of students from San Francisco high schools testified in support of the measure.

The San Francisco Board of Education voted in 2006 to phase out the JROTC program because of opposition to military recruitment and the military's "Don't ask don't tell" policy for gays and lesbians. The phase-out is scheduled to be complete in June.

The proposal faces an uphill climb, though, because it will require the state to reimburse the school district for the costs of the program. Approval of any measures that cost money will be difficult as California faces ongoing budget deficits, and the bill still must pass through the Appropriations Committee.

The school district currently pays just under $1 million a year for the program, while the U.S. Department of Defense pays the remaining cost of about $600,000.

The bill also is an "urgency" bill, which means it would take effect immediately if approved and requires two-thirds support in both the Assembly and the Senate.

Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, the other San Francisco lawmaker in that chamber, sits on the education committee and strongly opposes the measure. At the hearing, he called the bill "irresponsible" and said it amounted to the state trying to "bully a local school board."

"This bill is divisive; it does not show consensus and it does not show respect for the democratic process," Ammiano said. He noted that nearly 60 percent of city voters passed a proposition in 2005 calling for military recruiters to be barred from schools and said duly elected school board members should decide the issue.

Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, a former school board member, also opposed the measure.

If the bill makes it to the senate, it is likely to face split support from San Francisco lawmakers. Senator Mark Leno opposed Prop. V last November, while Senator Leland Yee supported it.

Seven San Francisco high schools have JROTC programs, though enrollment in the program has dropped from 1,600 students in 2006-2007 to about 500 this year, according to the school district. The school board eliminated the physical education credit for JROTC last year. The program has been in San Francisco schools since 1916.

The school district opposes the bill, but does not take a position on JROTC.

"Regardless of how you feel about JROTC, state law shouldn't proscribe whether an individual district offers an elective program," said Gentle Blythe, spokeswoman for the district.

Vicky Chung, a senior at Lowell High School and a JROTC member, told the committee that the program has motivated her to be more involved at school and in the community.

"We really feel like victims and we really need your help," said Chung, fighting back tears. "Our school board is not listening to us."

For further coverage, please watch the following report from KTVU News:

Bill would aid organic transition

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, has proposed aiding farmers in the effort to transition to organic production and marketing.

The bill would create a state fund, with separate accounts for each county, from which the Secretary of Agriculture would dispense aid to growers transitioning to organic markets.

The question of where the funds would get their money has yet to be worked out, said Nick Hardeman, spokesman for Ma. Foundations or individuals might donate, or the state and federal money, including aid dispensed through the federal farm bill last year, might feed the funds. Last year's farm bill offers more organic aid than any previous farm bill.

Hardeman stressed that no money would be sought that hasn't already been set aside for organic aid.

"It's not our intention to take away from or use any existing money that's not already going to organic," Hardeman said.

The public investment required by Ma's proposal is also unclear, Hardeman said. The agriculture secretary's office would administer the funds, along with the grant programs by which aid would be distributed.

Ma's district is made up mostly of the San Francisco area. The market for organic agriculture there is strong, with chain grocery stories offering extensive organic sections, Hardeman said.

"There are farmers out there that are willing to try it on at least a portion of their crops," Hardeman said. "The market is appealing, but it's an expensive thing to do."

Judith Redmond, a co-owner with Full Belly Farm, a diversified, 250-acre organic operation in Guinda, says there may be resistance within the industry for the proposed subsidy. But in the bigger picture, Redmond says, growth in organics is good for everyone.

"Sometimes I get the impression that the large farms, especially in the organic sector, may not feel like their interest would be in reducing the barriers" to entering markets, Redmond said. "People in organic are happy about having figured out how to get organic certification."

Small farmers, including immigrants who run low-income operations, might find success in organic production, but the regulatory hurdles are high and the investment is large, Redmond says.

"So there's I think potentially an argument that some public-sector support for that transition is justified," she said.

"I feel there's a need for all of us, for farms of any size, to streamline these barriers," Redmond said. "There is still huge room for the market to expand."

Congressman Seeks Probe Into School 'Quiet Rooms'

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― A year-long CBS 5 investigation into the practice of locking school children up in closet-like "quiet rooms" is going national.

Over the past year, CBS5 Investigates uncovered numerous incidents in which children in classrooms all over the state were being forcibly pinned down to the ground and locked up in closets, just for misbehaving. Now, East Bay Congressman George Miller has asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to conduct a nationwide investigation.

The latest incident involved a chair, set high up in a gymnasium at a middle school in Bryan, Texas. That's where school officials put a school student who misbehaved.

"I'm surprised they put a kid in a crawlspace," the boy's mother said. "I mean that's something you might expect in a juvenile facility at the turn of the century, not in a school today."

The discovery of the attic used as a so-called "quiet room" in Texas echoes what CBS 5 Investigates uncovered last year in California: School children shut into small rooms or closets when they misbehave, a practice advocates told us is extremely traumatizing.

"They have a fear that they are going to be left in the room and forgotten and these fears haunt them for years," said Leslie Morrison with Disability Rights California.

The investigation found teachers also using dangerous restraint techniques, duct-taping children to chairs, pinning them to the ground, causing injuries. CBS 5 Investigates found often, parents weren't even told.

After seeing CBS 5's reports, Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez) said: "I am embarrassed because its my home state.

Miller authored the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 35 years ago to protect children and chairs the House Education and Labor Committee. But Miller said even he had no idea until now about these problems in schools, especially public schools.

"What your investigation pointed out is that these practices continue," he said. "It's surprising, it's also outrageous."

CBS 5 investigates found those practices aren't limited to California and uncovered incidents across the country.

The most recent report from an advocacy group showed at least 4 children have died from the use of restraints and seclusion in schools, including a 7-year-old girl from Wisconsin.

"She was bubbling milk in her class and wouldn't stay still," said Jane Hudson with the National Disability Rights Network. She said that girl was held in a seclusion room.

"Some are like coffins and some are 3.5 by 5 foot rooms. It's just a horrible thing that is happening to our children," Hudson said.

Rep. Miller said the government will now be investigating as well. "We've asked the GAO to give us assistance in that. They do these kinds of forensic investigations," he said.

None of the California schools involved in the incidents we reported were willing to go on camera. State education officials also turned down CBS 5 Investigates request for an on-camera interview.

So Congressman Miller told CBS 5: "I know a lot of people declined to discuss it with you. We'll be happy to have them discuss it with the Congress of the United States, because we are very, very interested. We spend a lot of money, federal dollars, in school systems. But we do not spend it to have children treated in that fashion."

A bill that would have restricted to use of restraints and seclusion in California schools made it through the state legislature last year, but Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Just this month it was re-introduced by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco.

Lobbyists spend millions -- and rarely lose in Legislature

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Special interests spent a record $553 million lobbying California state government in the past two years.

For them, it was money well spent.

Makers of chemical fire- retardants poured in more than $9 million to kill a ban on fire-proofing chemicals in furniture that consumer groups say cause cancer.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians used $4.39 million to muscle through a gambling deal to let the tribe add thousands of lucrative new slot machines to its casino.

The oil industry spent more than $10.5 million to influence the Legislature and state agencies. A 2007 industry association report touted that even in a Democratic-controlled Legislature, "of the 52 bills identified as priorities (in 2007), only three that we opposed were approved by the Legislature."

Of those three, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed two.

A Bee analysis of this past two-year session found the 10 highest-spending employers of private lobbyists shelled out a total of more than $70 million working the halls of state government. They rarely lost.

"You're fighting a mountain of money," said former Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View. "You have an idea, and they have enormous amounts of money. Who's going to win?"

Top lobbyists and their employers use the millions to amass armies of advocates to build alliances and cultivate relationships to influence their agenda. They buy meals and gifts and treat policymakers to Disneyland or Kings games. They amp up external pressure by blanketing their targets' constituents with mailers and radio ads.

Lobby fuels growth industry

In the past two decades, the amount spent on lobbying in California has increased with each two-year legislative session, rising from $193 million in 1989-90 to more than $550 million last session, state records show.

The number of groups hiring professional advocates has also grown, from 682 in 1975 to 2,365 at the start of the 2007-08 session.

With term limits capping how long legislators can serve in the statehouse, the lobby corps is largely the keeper of the Capitol's institutional knowledge.

Indeed, advocacy groups insist their success comes with earning lawmakers' trust and disseminating accurate information.

"You're either trustworthy or you're not," said Don Burns, the dean of the lobbying corps, who has represented an array of interests – from pool manufacturers to nuclear waste dumps – in a half-century of advocacy.

The California Chamber of Commerce's Allan Zaremberg put it this way: "The first thing is we have to ensure that we provide the appropriate level of knowledge and education, because I think that translates eventually into influence."

Strength found in numbers

The corps of lobbyists truly is California's third house – and a bigger one at that. Registered lobbyists outnumber lawmakers in Sacramento 8-to-1.

That ratio allows the richest interests the luxury of swarming the Legislature for key policy battles.

The California Teachers Association, the No. 4 lobbying spender, and the California Chamber of Commerce, ranked No. 8, each deployed nine full-time lobbyists last session.

AT&T had three staff lobbyists – and contracts with nine outside firms.

Frustrated lawmakers taking on a moneyed interest often describe the lobbying ranks aligned against them in military terms.

"I was outgunned," said Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, who estimated that 30 lobbyists were working against her 2008 bill to ban perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, from food packaging.

Her bill passed the Legislature, but Schwarzenegger vetoed it.

"I would see them in the hallways meeting, outside the chambers, at committee hearings," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, recalling her 2007 fight with the chemical industry. "They were all over the place."

Ma's bill – banning phthalates in plastic toys – became law. But it was the only successful chemical ban of a dozen attempted over two years.

Graffiti judged low priority in S.F.

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Five years ago, Gideon Kramer was thrilled to be appointed to San Francisco's graffiti advisory board.

"I really thought I could make a difference," the graphic designer and 30-year city resident said Friday.

Three years into it, he resigned in disgust. He said he'd rather spend his time volunteering to help landscape local schools, as he does now. It wasn't just that graffiti was popping up faster than it could be painted over - it was that people had given up.

"People would say, 'Why do you bother? It's just going to be back tomorrow,' " he said.

San Francisco doesn't have a graffiti problem. It has a commitment problem. It isn't enough to get a few residents riled up about neighborhood taggers, or to get the police and district attorney's office to commit resources. This is an issue that extends all the way to the bench of Superior Court.

David Chiu, president of the Board of Supervisors, is among those who think local judges don't see graffiti cases as very important.

"Where I think the battle is now," said Chiu, a former city prosecutor, "is that, when dealing with a crushing case load, there are judges who still look at this as not a high priority. Judges are not pushing for more sentences."

Instead, local judges seem more likely to strike concessions that will clear their calendar for more-serious cases. Taggers like the idea of "civil compromise" in which a tagger pays for the damages. Until recently, with a cash payment they not only avoided a misdemeanor vandalism charge, there was no community service requirement.

Presiding Superior Court Judge James McBride said the judges are willing to take the blame "if people are being convicted and we are not meting out appropriate punishment." He concedes that "the system in general tends to diminish property crimes compared to crimes of violence." But he doesn't think the judges are seeing that many graffiti cases.

Until recently that was true because the civil compromise option allowed offenders to bypass the court system. In response, state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, crafted a bill that established a city pilot project requiring offenders to perform at least 24 hours of graffiti cleanup if they opt for community compromise. The pilot program will be in effect until January 2012.

But, like everything else involving graffiti enforcement, getting Ma's bill approved was a long, difficult process. The fact is, taggers have a huge advantage in this battle. Scrawling on a wall is easy. Stopping it is a Sisyphean task, particularly in San Francisco.

It begins with catching someone in the act.

"Unless you are right there, at that moment, you can't charge someone," Chiu said. "So most people don't get caught."

But even when they do, there are plenty of hurdles. This week a couple wrote to me about their experience in the South of Market neighborhood. Spotting four taggers in the process of marking a wall, they called 911 and the police caught two people in front of the ink-stained wall, markers in hand.

The couple (who asked not to be identified) said the police told them that one of the suspected culprits was a previous offender. Great, right? Then police told them there was a catch.

The cops didn't see the crime happening, so it would have to be a citizen's arrest. That meant the couple would have to help direct the case through the D.A.'s office. Also, the officer said, if these guys are found innocent, and there are liability issues - if the taggers file a false arrest lawsuit, for instance, the couple could be responsible.

That did it. The possibility of being sued for turning in the taggers was too much. They told the cops to let the two suspects go.

There is a school of thought that says graffiti is just a sign of the times, that all major cities are having the same problems. But that really isn't true. This city is consistently more lenient. In fact, one of the objections to Ma's bill was that this was a statewide solution to San Francisco's problem.

The idea of a "graffiti judge," who would hear all the tagger cases, is a step in the right direction. So is making Ma's bill more than just a pilot program. We should also look at Los Angeles, where the city attorney and a councilman are pushing an ordinance that would have the city taking the taggers and their parents to civil court to demand payment for damages. Also, Chiu will be introducing a bill he said will toughen the requirement that owners of vacant buildings keep them up and remove graffiti.Those are all good ideas, Kramer said, but after arguing for the graffiti judge idea for years and getting nowhere, he's not optimistic.

"San Francisco does not have a history of sticking with anything for long," he said. "We see a big photo opportunity and two or three months later it is gone."

Only the graffiti remains.

NCSL in the House

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Join us in our fight for California on Facebook.

How exciting to get invited to the White House! It wasn't for a social occasion, but to advocate for California's fair share of stimulus funding.

As an Executive Board Member of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), I and Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez represented California at a White House briefing with President Obama, Vice President Biden, Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood, and Administration staff to ensure that our voices were heard and California’s needs were known. We met with the Administration as part of a comprehensive effort including governors, mayors and local elected officials to better understand our needs and allocate the $787 billion as part of the 1,000 page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, HR1, which President Obama signed on February 17, 2009.

As the first NCSL alumni to become President, Obama articulated that the federal government's role is to be a good partner with state and local governments, and his goal is to get everyone on the same page. In his prepared remarks he spoke about the importance of accountability and transparency in the spending of all stimulus funds. The President elaborated by saying that any petitions for stimulus funding have to be in writing and those requests along with information regarding all meetings with his administration about the stimulus funding will be posted on the Internet. Vice President Biden has also been called upon to take charge of the execution of the ARRA to ensure its transparency and accountability. To find out more information please click here

After his prepared remarks, he opened the floor to questions from state legislators. He reiterated his commitment to renewable energy with ideas such as using plug-in electric vehicles to provide surplus energy to our electric grids; he asked states to work cooperatively by helping to site new power lines to expand capacity for various renewable energy sources; he expressed concern over increasing healthcare costs and alarming unemployment numbers (esp. California at 10.3%).

Secretary La Hood elaborated on President Obama’s personal commitment to long-term investment and substantial improvement of our infrastructure by announcing:

$27.5B for highways and bridges
$8B for transit districts
$1.3B for airports
$1.5B for discretionary projects (i.e. Ports)
$8B for high speed rail (music to my ears)

It was an exciting day in D.C. and one that reminded me of the importance of high speed rail to our future transit system. I will continue to work for high speed rail in California, and I hope that someday we will turn this into a nationwide network. For more information, please click here.

After 24 hours on the east coast it is back to California I go. That was fast.

JROTC Gains Support From New Board of Education

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A controversial high school military program could be brought back to San Francisco public schools by fall, the result of new membership on The City’s Board of Education.

The national Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or JROTC, program had a 90-year history within the San Francisco Unified School District until the school board voted in 2006 to eliminate it.

JROTC was to be phased out two years from then — which would have been this June — while district officials worked to create a replacement leadership program. To date, another program has not been selected.

If passed, the resolution introduced by school board members Rachel Norton and Jill Wynns would ensure that JROTC continues to be offered.

“The school board needs to take action,” said Norton, who was elected to the board in November. “It’s a very emotional issue, but it’s a worthwhile program.”

Opponents say JROTC’s connection to the military’s violence and discriminatory policy against gays and lesbians has no place in San Francisco public schools.

Supporters, however, have said the program offers beneficial leadership and community-
service skills.

The resolution appears to have the four votes needed to pass.

Veteran school board member Norman Yee, along with Hydra Mendoza — who also serves as Mayor Gavin Newsom’s education adviser — told The Examiner they would join Norton and Wynns in supporting the continuation of JROTC.

Commissioners Sandra Fewer, Jane Kim and Kim-Shree Maufas said they do not support overturning the previous decision.

“If I went back and tried to overturn every ruling I didn’t care for, that’s all I’d be doing,” Maufas said.

Fewer, who is also new to the board, said the program could be costly at a time when the district faces a budget shortfall.

Roughly 1,600 students were enrolled in JROTC when the board voted in 2006; participation has dwindled to 500 this year, according to district officials.

Enrollment has declined in part because the board voted in June to discontinue giving physical-education credit to those who participate in JROTC. Two commissioners that supported ending the P.E. credit — Mark Sanchez and Eric Mar — are no longer on the school board.

State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, however, introduced state legislation in February that would allow JROTC participants to fulfill their P.E. requirement for graduation. AB 223 is being heard by the Education Committee, according to Ma’s office.

Yee said although he supported ending the P.E. credit for JROTC, his vote was due to legal concerns.

Touring the Delta

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I went on a helicopter tour of the Delta yesterday.

Hidden behind I-5 with thousands of acres of waterways, islands, wildlife reserves and levees, the Delta is home to dozens of fish species, including the endangered Chinook Salmon, and a popular water recreational area for weekenders.

As the gateway to the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers, the Delta is the hub of California's water supply system, supplying water to the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California farmers, and urban users. The health of the Delta is critical to the California economy.

In the past, the Delta irrigated 45% of the fruits and vegetables produced in the US. However, California is in the midst of a severe two-year drought due to below average rainfall and snow pack from the mountains. If conditions remain the same over the next few months, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will recommend mandatory rationing beginning this July.

Due to the shortage of water, there are over 464,000 acres going unplanted in California. In 2009, this will translate to a loss of 40,000 jobs in the San Joaquin Valley alone, and farmers have lost $300 million to date with an estimated $3 billion total economic loss by year’s end.

Our water supply system in California was built to serve 18 million people and currently serves more than 38 million people (with an estimated 40 million population by 2020). The levees at the Delta are over 100 years old and need to be seismically upgraded. We also need to ensure that California has a water supply fund moving forward.

We cannot wait any longer. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am focused on finding a multi-faceted solution to the very serious issues facing the Delta.

Women Gather in San Jose to Support Paid Sick Leave

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) -- An organization representing working women gathered in San Jose Saturday in support of paid sick days for all workers.

The group, 9 to 5, a National Association of Working Women, is encouraging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would provide have employers provide one paid hour of sick leave for every 30 hours of work to all workers, including temporary.

“They should have the right to stay home, take care of themselves, get better, and especially if they’re working in the health or food sector,” said State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco who is sponsoring AB-2716, the paid sick-leave bill.

A similar bill was killed last year amid opposition from business groups that estimated the bill would burden employers with $4.5 million in new costs over the next five years.

The association will be in Sacramento Monday to lobby for the bill.

Lawton Principal Kong Named Woman of the Year

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D- San Francisco) presented the Woman of the Year award for the 12th Assembly District to Beverly Kong on Mar. 16. Kong, the current Principal of Lawton Alternative School, has a career in education that spans thirty-six years in teaching and administrative roles in Bay Area Schools.

A trailblazer in the community, Kong’s achievements include: participating in school reform initiatives including the Coalition of Essential Schools-Brown University, Annenberg Institute for School Reform-National Reform Faculty, and Bay Area School Reform Collaborative, serving at the California Academy of Sciences on the Advisory Board of the recently formed “Teacher Institute of Science and Sustainability,” and initiating the California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP). CAPP forged a partnership between the “Step to College Program” at the San Francisco State University and Daly City’s Jefferson Union High.

“Beverly performs one of the most honorable professions in our community,” said Assemblywoman Ma. “Her passion for education and commitment to students and teachers alike serves as an example to all Californians.”

A life-long San Franciscan, Kong is a graduate of the San Francisco Public School System. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley. A teaching credential followed from the University of San Francisco. She also attended San Francisco State University where she earned a Master’s Degree in Education and her administrative credential. In 2001, Kong returned to her home district, San Francisco Unified, to become the Principal of Lawton Alternative.

Kong’s story is the California immigrant story. Her grandfather and mother left an impoverished and war torn China for the city known as “Gold Mountain” or San Francisco. Her mother worked as a seamstress in San Francisco’s Chinatown to support her four children and an aging father-in-law. Kong was the first in her family to obtain a college degree.

Each March, the Assembly commemorates Women’s History Month through a ceremony in which each state legislator chooses an extraordinary woman in his or her district for special recognition. Honorees participate in a ceremony, hosted by the Legislative Women’s Caucus, on the Assembly Floor and spend the day with legislators.

Woman of the Year

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

March is Women’s History Month, and I am honored to announce that Beverly Kong, the current Principal of Lawton Alternative School, is this year’s Woman of the Year awardee for the 12th California Assembly District.

Beverly Kong is a trailblazer in the community. She has made significant contributions to her community through her thirty-six years in teaching and administrative roles in Bay Area Schools.

Some of Ms. Kong’s accomplishments include:

Initiating the California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP), which has helped more than 300,000 students since the program began in 1984
Coordinating the CalService-Learning Program in Jefferson Union High School District
Chairing WASC teams as they visited schools for accreditation
Participating in school reform initiatives including the Coalition of Essential Schools-Brown University, Annenberg Institute for School Reform-National Reform Faculty, and Bay Area School Reform Collaborative
Mentoring first and second year science teachers through the Teacher Institute of the San Francisco Exploratorium.
Serving at the California Academy of Sciences on the Advisory Board of the recently formed “Teacher Institute of Science and Sustainability.”

She will be honored on the floor of the CA State Assembly on March 16, 2009.

Congratulations Beverly Kong!

About Woman of the Year:

The Woman of the Year event was started in 1987 by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R) and Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D).

In celebration of the contributions to society made by remarkable women throughout California, Hansen and Tanner arranged to invite one woman from each Senate and Assembly district to come to the Capitol and be honored for their accomplishments.

Woman of the Year awardees are recognized in a formal ceremony on the floors of the CA Senate and Assembly. This yearly event, sponsored and organized by the Women's Caucus, is greatly anticipated by all Legislators today.

Bills would help protect public

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Two San Bernardino County legislators have introduced sensible bills to protect the public health.

State Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Montclair, has a bill that would establish accreditation standards and guidelines for the operation of fertility clinics.

And Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Rancho Cucamonga, has a bill that would require public swimming pools to install anti-entrapment drain covers to prevent children from drowning.

McLeod's Senate Bill 674 is a response to the well-publicized saga of octuplet mom Nadya Suleman of Whittier, who gave birth to six boys and two girls on Jan. 26. Suleman already had six children, and she has said Dr. Michael Kamrava of Beverly Hills helped her conceive all 14 of her children through in vitro fertilization treatments.

McLeod's bill would redefine fertility clinics and surgical centers as "outpatient settings," which would put them under the jurisdiction of the California Medical Board and its approved accrediting agencies. Her bill would also require the establishment of standardized procedures and protocols to be followed in the event of serious complications or side effects from surgery at a surgical center and to govern emergency and urgent care situations.

Fertility experts say their industry is self-regulating and does not need such oversight. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine had guidelines for appropriate in vitro fertilization, which recommend just two embryos for women under age 35, and more for older women. Suleman is 33; clearly in her case the guidelines were not followed.

McLeod's legislation could help protect not only public health, but also the public purse. Suleman has no husband, no job, lives with her mother and has depended on public assistance to take care of her brood. Any doctor who would implant eight embryos in her calls his ethics into question.

Emmerson says the public pool bill he and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, introduced "is just common sense."

His office says there were 74 incidents of "circulation entrapment," 54 of them involving children, reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission between 1999 and 2007. Nine were fatalities.

Circulation entrapment refers to a person, usually a child, becoming stuck to a swimming pool's or spa's drain due to water suction, or when a limb gets caught in a drain with a broken or missing cover.

"I'm surprised these anti-entrapment devices aren't already required by law," Emmerson said.

His bill would require one of a number of kinds of anti-entrapment devices be installed in any public pool built or altered after Dec. 19, and retrofitted on all existing public pools within two years of that date.

Both these public health bills should pass the Legislature.

California High Speed Rail Moves Forward with Help from Feds

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Last November, Proposition 1A passed, paving the way for the state to issue $10 billion worth of bonds to create a European/Japanese-style high speed rail system for California. Okay. What now? Some good news for its supporters: passage of the bill put California on the top of the list to receive monies from the Federal stimulus package, which contains $8 billion for high speed rail projects. Bad news: residents of Palo Alto are fuming about plans to widen an existing commuter rail corridor to accommodate the bullet trains. Still, detailed planning continues and trains could start zooming at 220 mph up the Central Valley as early as 2015.

Click here to listen.

Emergency Legislation to Save JROTC in SF Schools

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600

The school board’s decision to eliminate physical education credit for the military’s JROTC program faces a possible override by an emergency bill in the state legislature.

The measure introduced Wednesday by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma requires two-thirds approval to save what has become a lightning rod of controversy in the city.

“The voters have spoken,” Ma said, referring to the failure of a non-binding measure on November’s ballot that would have urged the Board of Education to reverse it’s decision.

“I just believe this is about our kids, their future and about opportunities for them,” she said.

San Francisco schools will phase out the Junior Reserve Officer Training Program from their PE curriculum in June unless Ma’s bill passes.

What Ma and many parents hail as a valuable way to teach leadership and instill discipline has been criticized as little more than a tool for military recruiters.

Nelson Lum, a parent of a JROTC student at Washington High School, said it would be horrible if his daughter were to to lose the program.

“She would be devastated because she considered that her second family. It would be a big impact,” he told KCBS reporter Barbara Taylor.

The polemic against JROTC in city schools has been fueled by opposition to the Iraq war.

Emmerson Introduces Safety Bill

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO - Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Redlands, and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, introduced Assembly Bill 1020 to require California's public swimming pools to increase safety standards by installing anti-entrapment drain covers to prevent unnecessary deaths as a result of drowning.

"As a health care provider, ensuring the public's safety is of the utmost importance to me and this legislation is just common sense," Emmerson said in a statement. "I'm surprised that these anti-entrapment devices aren't already required by law. Pools and spas without proper safety devices put our children's lives at risk and I believe that this is a critical and necessary measure that is long overdue."

Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1 to 14 in the United States. Circulation entrapment occurs when a person becomes attached to a drain due to the suction of the water circulation system of a pool or spa, or when a limb is caught in a drain with a broken or missing cover.

Bill would make SF district continue JROTC

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

A bill that would force the San Francisco Unified School District to continue offering JROTC to school students has been introduced by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance).

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps has been the subject of heated debate in the city, and the school board has voted to phase it out by the 2009 school year.

In November, city voters passed Proposition V with 55 percent. That nonbinding measure declares as city policy that students in public high schools have the choice to participate in JROTC.

Opponents' claims include the program violates the city's non-discrimination policy by its hiring practices. Supporters dispute that, and say the program teaches valuable leadership skills.

Ma, who said that five of the seven San Francisco schools that have JROTC are in her district, introduced Assembly Bill 223 on February 4.

Asked if she was telling the school board what to do, Ma said, "As elected officials we are supposed to listen to our voters, and when there are controversial issues in San Francisco, what we do is put it on the ballot to have the voters decide ... and the voters still overwhelmingly supported this program."

Ma explains her decision to go forward with the legislation in this week's Guest Opinion (see page 4).

Because the bill is an urgency statute it will need support from two-thirds of the Legislature to pass. Ma said the bill was her idea.

The bill would make it so that students enrolled in JROTC would be exempted from taking physical education, even though none of the district's JROTC instructors possess PE credentials.

Students have to have two years of PE credit to graduate. In June, the school board voted 4-1, with two absences, to eliminate the provision of the PE credit for JROTC classes offered in 2008-09.

According to the school district, in the 2006-07 school year there were 1,600 students enrolled in the program. Former school board President Mark Sanchez, one of Prop V's main opponents, said last year there were only 500 students.

People opposed to JROTC have said the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on gays serving openly affects which instructors are eligible to work in the program. Instructors are retired military officers, but opponents say LGBT officers wouldn't make it that far, at least not if they're out.

And although Prop V passed in November, school board Vice President Jane Kim said, "I don't think 55 percent is a mandate."

Ma's move "really sets bad precedent, to have the state change the state education code to mandate just one district has to institute a program," Kim said.

School board President Kim-Shree Maufas wrote in an e-mail, "I would have hoped that Ms. Ma would focus her policy directive toward state Superintendent Jack O'Connell's office, which could officially sanction P.E. credits for the JROTC course taken by all students in California."

Hilary McLean, O'Connell's communications director, said, "We don't have a position on the bill. We're watching it, but it really is at this point a local issue."

The bill may be heard in committee March 7, according to the state's legislative Web site.

For more information on the bill, go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html and search for "223."

Students want a choice

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

All they are asking for is a choice.

I have met hundreds of students who have benefited greatly from the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program in San Francisco. This program has been a great resource for kids seeking self-assurance and leadership development and provides a safe environment for before and after school activities. I have met cadets from all parts of San Francisco life: Chinese and white, gay, lesbian, and transgender, those on free or reduced lunch, and those from middle-class families.

JROTC has been in the San Francisco Unified School District for over 90 years and has made a difference in the lives of many, bringing students together with a shared purpose and teaching the discipline necessary for future success not just as students, but also as future parents and community leaders.

I feel that the members of the San Francisco school board believe that JROTC is a successful and beneficial program. Unfortunately too often in San Francisco an issue becomes politicized, not on its merits, but on how it might play in the press or fit in an ideological structure.

During a time of economic collapse and the reality of significant budget cuts throughout our educational system, is this really the right time to cut a leadership program with immense popularity amongst its students? Now is a time to strengthen programs that work, to provide additional opportunities for our kids to build self-esteem and gain the type of skills that will prepare them for college and the workforce. When so many programs are being cut, now is not the time to voluntarily deplete student choices.

At first, I had similar concerns as the school board members. I, too, disagree with the war in Iraq. I, too, am against allowing military recruitment in our schools. I am 100 percent opposed to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and would be deeply against any program that was not inclusive or that discriminated based on sexual orientation.

But after talking to the cadets and the instructors for the program, all of my fears were alleviated.

The program is inclusive and supportive of all students, including openly gay, bisexual, and transgender student participants and cadet staff. The program does not allow for military recruitment in our schools. What I have seen is the great camaraderie amongst the students, teachers, parents, and administrators. What I have seen is the great diversity of the cadets, 90 percent of whom come from minority communities and 88 percent of whom are women. What I have seen is that over 90 percent of JROTC participants go on to pursue higher education, while less than 3 percent join the armed forces. Those are hard numbers that, as a CPA, I cannot ignore. Allowing JROTC as an option for students to achieve physical education credit just makes sense.

Like many of you, I feel like we have been discussing JROTC for years. The issue has been in front of the school board, yet often in San Francisco the voters are asked to make a final decision on various issues of significance to our community. When the voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition V last November, I had the utmost confidence that the school board would follow suit in reinstating this clearly popular program as an option in our schools. If the program is not restored by June, we cannot be certain that the funding will ever return.

The board's silence is deafening.

Since the board voted to eliminate the program in 2006, I have met with and heard from hundreds of students who have personally benefited from the program. With a lack of action from the school board and the June programmatic deadline quickly approaching I felt the need to act. Two weeks ago I proposed Assembly Bill 223, which would require the San Francisco school board to provide JROTC as an option that meets the physical education graduation requirement.

Some will criticize my legislation as circumventing local control, yet I disagree. As elected officials, it can be easy to forget that we work for the voters. My bosses are the people of the 12th Assembly District, many of whom are parents and homeowners that strongly support this program. In November, I believe the people of San Francisco spoke loudly, and it is my responsibility as a public servant to protect the program that they so clearly supported.

We are all dealing with shrinking budgets – at the state, at City Hall, and in our personal lives. Over the next two years, we will likely see programs and social services cut or even ended. Yet the money for JROTC is partially covered by federal funds, and has a 90-year history with a proven track record of success. Sometimes, a program is not about Republican versus Democrat or "moderate" versus "progressive," but about the hundreds of children it helps day in and day out. JROTC is that program – the children and voters have spoken, and as elected officials it is our job to listen.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D) represents most of the western part of San Francisco and the northern edge of San Mateo County.

Blueberry growers weigh status of commission

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

TULARE, Calif. — Grower-shippers representing California’s burgeoning blueberry industry have taken the first steps leading to the creation of a state blueberry commission.

Legislation to authorize the commission is nearly complete, and San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma plans to introduce the bill, said George Soares during the annual meeting of the California Blueberry Association Feb. 17.

Soares is a partner in Kahn, Soares & Conway LLP, a Sacramento law firm that specializes in lobbying. The deadline to introduce the bill is Feb. 27.

In 2007, California ranked among the top five blueberry producing states, but it dropped to No. 7 in 2008 when Georgia and North Carolina significantly boosted production. California grew 14 million (12.5 million for the fresh market) of the 147 million pounds of blueberries in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Acreage is on the upswing, at 2,500 acres in California, up 500 acres from 2006, the first year the USDA reported on the state’s blueberry production.

The proposed bill provides for assessments of up to 2.5 cents per pound, said association board member Tom Avinelis, but the assessment in the commission’s initial years would likely be closer to 1.5 cents per pound. At 14 million pounds, growers would pay $210,000 with a 1.5-cent assessment.

Creation of the commission could push California up in the rankings, Avinelis said.

In California, legislation is required to establish commissions that assess grower-shippers and lobby for and promote agricultural products. Should the bill pass the full Assembly, it will go to the Senate, Soares said.

If the enabling legislation is signed into law, it will become effective Jan. 1. After that, Soares said, a grower referendum is required.

The pending creation of a blueberry commission is not likely to mean the dissolution of the California Blueberry Association. Because private associations enjoy freedoms that fall outside the purview of governmental entities, Soares urged grower-shippers to keep the association in force.

Get Real. Eating Disorders Are Illnesses, Not Choices.

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

In honor of Andrea, and millions of others, I authored a resolution declaring Feb 22-28 National Eating Disorder Awareness Week in California (co-authored by Senator Patricia Wiggins).

Andrea was an outgoing teen, spoke three languages, trained in opera, loved to dance, and wanted to save the world. According to her mother Doris, Andrea began dieting as a freshman in college despite having an athletic, healthy appearance. She called her mother the first time she threw up and agreed to seek counseling. One year to that day, Andrea died in her sleep of electrolyte imbalance from purging which stopped her heart. She was just 19 years young, and was a bright star that never got a chance to fully shine.

Doris Smeltzer, who dieted and talked about dieting throughout Andrea's childhood (the #1 predictor for eating disorders), started Andrea's Voice Foundation to provide insights and guidance not only to parents, but also to any young woman who is struggling with an eating disorder.

In California, more than 4.1 million people suffer from anorexia, bulimia, binging, or some other unclassified eating disorder. In fact, anorexia is the 3rd most common disorder amongst teens, behind obesity and asthma. For females between 15 to 24 years old who suffer from anorexia, the mortality rate associated with the illness is twelve times higher than the death rate of ALL other causes of death, and the real number is even higher because "heart failure" or "dehydration" are commonly listed on their death certificates.

A recent poll showed that 91% of women on college campuses had attempted to control their weight through dieting. I remember starting college and wanting to lose a few pounds. I went completely vegetarian, consumed lots of bran and high fiber foods, cut out most carbohydrates, exercised excessively and even took an occasional laxative. My wakeup call: my hair started to fall out in clumps. I realized my obsession and started to adjust my eating habits.

Americans love Hollywood and celebrities, and the media zooms in on what they're wearing, who they're dating, and how much they weigh. Jessica Simpson is ridiculed for wearing high-waist jeans and vows to drop 10 pounds. On vacation, Jennifer Love-Hewitt is tormented wearing a bikini showing her full figure. Oprah is mad and embarrassed about her weight and tries to camouflage her figure.

We need to focus more attention on this serious issue; we need more funding for research and prevention; we need to work with families and schools to talk to young people. We also need to challenge the assumptions that eating disorders are just a vanity issue in young girls, a passing phase, or one that afflicts spoiled rich kids.

Other resources:

Sari Shepphird, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, Eating Disorders Specialist and author of 100 Questions and Answers About Anorexia Nervosa.

Connie Sobczak, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Body Positive, an organization that challenges young people to "not conform to hating their bodies."

Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program

Academy for Eating Disorders

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)

Info and Referral Hotline Helpline: 800-931-2237

Reinstate JROTC

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

As a co-chair of Choice for Students/JROTC, I was involved for the passage of Proposition V this past November. Additional development has taken place at the California Department of Education regarding the issue of physical education credits for the JROTC program that has clarified the local school board’s authority to grant such credits. Some of you may remember the school board voted to take away PE credits from JROTC fearing the granting of such credits would be in violation of state law under the education code. The California Department of Education has opined and issued a written clarification stating local school board does have authority to grant PE credits to programs such as JROTC and Marching Bands.

JROTC is sponsored and partially paid for by the Department of Defense. Fifty percent of the instructors’ salaries and the cost of 100% of all program related materials are paid by the Department of Defense. When the program was granted PE credits toward graduation, the program had enrolled over 1,600 students. Our district is facing an unprecedented financial shortage this coming school year. Reinstating JROTC will give our district some welcomed financial relief. The San Diego School Board recently voted to grant PE credits to its JROTC participants citing its acknowledgement of California Department of Education’s clarification.

Now that San Franciscans have spoken and Prop. V has won. What kind of message are we sending to the students who are learning the values of democracy if the school board does not act? Proposition V was approved by a large majority of San Franciscans and we are governed by the ideal that government entities must follow the will of the people. If the school board does not reinstate JROTC, it illustrates their lack of acceptance for the principles of our constitution, and exemplifies a lack of respect for the will of the people.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma recently introduced legislation at the state level to grant PE credits to JROTC participants and to compel the San Francisco Unified School District School Board to reinstate JROTC. Her legislation simply put forth what the San Francisco School Board has failed to do thus far, which is to obey the wishes of the people.

When the State of Alabama refused to allow “Negroes” to attend an all white school, it took the actions of the Federal government to forced Alabama to accept integration. When a City School Board refuses to implement the will of its voters, it is perfectly appropriate for the State to compel such school board to act in accordance with the will of the people. I simply don’t understand why the school board has not taken any actions to resolve this issue. Regardless of how we feel about JROTC personally, it is a voluntary program. What gives us the right to deny others the chance to participate in a program of their choosing?

The SFUSD School Board needs to reinstate JROTC immediately. San Franciscans have stated the abolishment of JROTC was a mistake and needs to be rectified. Addressing this issue locally without being compelled by the State is the reasonable course that our school board must take.

Corporate tax change will encourage companies to grow in California

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

A key component of the state budget approved last week was a long-needed and much-debated reform that will allow California to compete for jobs and investment against 21 other states that have adopted the "single sales factor" apportionment method for corporate taxes. For too long, California held on to a tax policy that rewarded companies for moving jobs elsewhere. We have paid the price as homegrown companies shifted jobs and operations to other states that utilize this method.

Until now, California's corporate tax has been figured on a combination of sales, payroll and facilities in the state, meaning that adding jobs and facilities increased a company's California tax bill. Worse, companies could decrease their California tax by moving payroll and property out of state. Shifting to a corporate tax based only on sales, the "single sales factor," reverses those incentives to benefit California.

In a Feb. 18 editorial, the Mercury News expressed support for California's adoption of the single sales factor method, but criticized the absence of thresholds of investment that a company would have to make before qualifying for the new incentive.

This criticism, however, misses the mark. Though such provisions were debated as part of legislation that I authored in 2007, the proposal approved on a bipartisan vote last week represents a more robust economic development strategy that responds to current economic conditions.

The economy is in shambles, and California is bleeding jobs. According to the Economic Development Department, California lost 257,400 jobs from December 2007 to December 2008 and lost more than 78,000 jobs in December alone. Announcements by major employers in 2009 indicate that this trend will worsen.

Taking a baby step, by limiting tax reform to companies in a position to grow their operations by $250 million in a year's time, as was proposed previously, would severely limit the effectiveness of the incentive. Such limits ignore industries with the greatest promise to lead California out of this recession. In green technology and biotechnology, California has a few large companies and many small but growing companies that we want to keep in state. These startups won't grow by $250 million in a single year. We can't afford to lose them, as they look to expand manufacturing or research, to the 21 other states that do not require minimum investments.

Critics point to an estimated decline in state revenue. But they are looking at only at one side of the ledger, in effect telling us only how revenue might be reduced. The state has not evaluated the dynamic impacts, as companies respond to good incentives, from this reform.

More jobs bring additional personal income, sales and property taxes to California. It's common sense. We know the experience of New York, which accelerated its phase-in of this reform because of the benefits being generated for the state. We know that our neighbors Oregon and Arizona are enjoying billions of dollars in new investment and associated jobs from California companies. Arizona changed its corporate tax structure to lure a multibillion-dollar investment by Intel. Intel also recently announced an investment of nearly $1.5 billion in Oregon, a single-sales factor state.

The shift to single-sales factor was supported by leaders of both parties in the Legislature. Its inclusion in this budget is the culmination of thorough discussions, not a last-minute maneuver.

California is faced with a choice: Keep providing companies incentives to expand elsewhere and accept the job loss and decline in tax revenue, or increase our ability to compete by providing an economic incentive for them to grow in California.

Fiona Ma represents the 12th Assembly District serving San Francisco and Daly City. She serves as the Assembly Majority Whip and as a member of the Revenue and Taxation Committee. She wrote this article for the Mercury News.

Scantrons and Science Projects

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

I thought my job was tough...try being a Principal!

My mom was a public school art teacher for 20 years, and growing up I often got to play "Teacher's Assistant." As part of the annual "Principal for a Day" hosted by San Francisco School Volunteers, I finally experienced what it is like to be a principal by shadowing Principal Judy Dong of Hoover Middle School. The rules seemed simple enough: no hats, no gum, no cell phones, no spaghetti straps.

She starts her day greeting students in front of the school each morning. Early rising neighborhood kids arrive way before the yellow school buses appear from around the corner close to the first morning bell at 9:10AM. Today, two of the buses pulled up late and caused a flurry of walkie-talkie warnings just before a wave of children surged past us on their way to Home Room.

At the end of each period, STAND ASIDE, as the students magically flood the hallways for the four minutes before the next class bell rings. Hoover Middle School receives kids from 50 elementary schools and has a very diverse student body with both Chinese and Spanish Immersion Programs. While classified as a "high performing" school complete with a band and singing classes, 40% of the students qualify for reduced/free lunches. More students would apply if the stigma was removed by upgrading to a debit card system...but that is only one of a number of technological upgrades that schools want to implement.

As a product of public schools, I tried to recall being 11-13 years old again: 2 foot lockers; oversized back packs; pimples, bed-head, cellos bigger than the players; girls watching the boys play basketball in gym class; adding/subtracting fractions; Atticus, Scout and Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird"; creative science projects on three panel cardboard canvases on such topics as Household Germs, Flaming Wood, Greedy Minds (Does Greed Affect Memory?); and handmade posters illustrating examples of "Abstinence and Love" (my favorite: "Sing karaoke".)

After spending the day there with Principal Fong, I had fun, but I was exhausted. 1,200 students...active, anxious, wide-eyed, confused, troubled, motivated, growing, learning...under the leadership and watchful eye of the "Big Fish," Principal Fong.

I for one am glad that our kids' future is in good hands!

High-Speed Rail Funding Gets Large Boost in Conference Negotiations

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

High-speed passenger rail was a clear winner in stimulus conference negotiations, securing more than four times the funding that was included in either the House or Senate bill, according to preliminary information released on the stimulus agreement.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., pushed to add $8 billion for high-speed rail to the final bill, a sum that people familiar with the negotiations saywould largely benefit construction of a magnetic-levitation, or "maglev," train between Las Vegas and Southern California.

Bruce Aguilera, chairman of the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission, said he spoke to Reid last month about including money for the project in the stimulus bill. At the time, Reid told Aguilera that he was a big supporter of maglev but would have to see how talks progressed.

Jon Summers, a spokesman for Reid, said the $8 billion is for competitive high-speed rail grants and that all states would have to apply for the funding. He said the maglev is just one project that would be eligible.

He also said Reid supported the funding increase because high-speed rail is a priority of President Obama. In a speech Feb. 10 in Florida, Obama said he wanted to see more "high-speed rail where it can be constructed."

But critics said the additional funding looks suspiciously like an congressionally directed earmark, which Democratic leaders and the president have promised to keep out of the financial recovery bill (HR 1).

"This has got to be one of the few items that dramatically increased in price," said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. While the money may not be specifically for one project, Ellis said this may be a case where the language is written in such a way that there is only one right answer.

The California-to-Nevada maglev project was first earmarked in the 2005 highway law (PL 109-59). But a drafting mistake inadvertently subjected the earmark to appropriations, instead of mandating funding.

Congress approved a technical corrections bill last year that guaranteed $45 million to pay for environmental studies and other planning in connection with the project.

Aguilera said any additional money from the stimulus could be used to finish up studies on the project and even start construction. He said the technology fits all of Obama’s criteria for the stimulus -- creating jobs in two states, helping to wean the country off of foreign oil and building 21st century infrastructure.

The conference also added language to make more states eligible for high-speed rail bonds, at a projected 10-year cost of $288 million.

Under current law, states are allowed to issue tax-exempt private-activity bonds for high-speed rail projects where trains travel at more than 150 miles per hour. Since no current U.S. trains run at those speeds, the bonds currently can only fund new projects.

The language was tweaked to allow the bonds to be issued for projects involving trains capable of attaining speeds of at least 150 miles an hour. The change is designed to give more states flexibility to build new lines, but it would also benefit Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

Acela trains operating on the line between Boston and Washington have the capability of running at more than 150 miles an hour, but the tracks will not accommodate such speeds.

Highways and Aviation

Although high-speed rail did well, funding for transportation in other areas received less than what the House passed.

Highways and bridges would receive $27.5 billion, compared with $30 billion in the House bill and $12 billion in the Senate bill. Public transportation would get $8.4 billion, compared with $27 billion in the House bill and $8.4 billion in the Senate-passed bill.

Aviation would receive $1.3 billion, compared with $3 billion in the House version and $1.1 billion in the Senate version. Other rail investments, including Amtrak and intercity rail, would receive about $1.3 billion, compared with $1.3 billion in the House bill and $3.1 billion in the Senate package.

Conferees also cut competitive grants for surface transportation projects that are not ready to go but could be finished within three years, to $1.5 billion from $5.5 billion in the original Senate bill.

Several bills seek to reform family courts

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Democratic lawmakers are crafting a package of bills to reform family courts in California. One Assemblymember is seeking an audit of the family court system, while another has submitted a bill that would limit the types of testimony that can be used in custody proceedings.

Several other Democratic legislators are currently evaluating whether to introduce bills addressing other facets of the family courts. The legislation is being pushed by a variety of children and family groups, notably the Marin-based Center for Judicial Excellence (CJE), which has also submitted 20 unbacked bills to Judicial Counsel.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said she’s asking the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) to conduct an audit of family courts in Marin and Sacramento Counties. This follows a similar request submitted last June by now-termed out Assemblywoman Sally Lieber. On Thursday morning, the office of Senator Mark Leno, D-San Franciso, confirmed they were signing on as a Senate co-author on the request.

Lieber’s request sought audits of eight counties. It also sought answers a wide variety of questions, from mediation procedures to appointment of counsel to minors and other issues. Ma said she trimmed back her request from that submitted by Lieber to focus on two counties that many family law advocates say have the most troubling track records on inconsistent behavior.

But after meeting with a dozen family court litigants recently, she said she felt it was important that she do something. Ma said she hopes the audit, and a hearing she plans to hold before the end of March as the chair of the Select Committee on Domestic Violence, lead to ideas about how to improve the courts, especially for lower income parents.

“It’s very sad that some of these folks have been tied up in the courts for decades,” Ma said. She added, “It’s not set up for people who don’t have representation. There is no public defender in family courts.”

Ma also said she wrote her request to allow more flexibility to JLAC because of the complexity inherent to auditing a court system. Lieber’s request languished in JLAC, partially due to an extended health-related absence by former JLAC chair Nell Soto, also now termed out. But Ma said cost may also have been a factor. While she said she did not yet know how much the audit might cost, she said she wrote the request in order to limit the potential expense.

The request specifically directs JLAC to focus on custody disputes in which children were placed in the custody of caregivers who may have been sexual or physical abusers, or who have criminal records. It also asks for the Committee to look into how abuse claims are handled in different courts, and how custody evaluators are appointed.

Ma said she wants JLAC to look at inconsistencies between courts in different counties. For instance, there is a wide disparity in cost of court appointed custody evaluators. The average is $15,000 in Sacramento County, according to figures from the CJE, while the average in well-heeled Marin County is $60,000.

Assemblyman Jim Beall, D-San Jose, has introduced a bill that would ban the use of “non-scientific theories” in court cases. This bill would prevent the use of a theory called “parental alienation syndrome,” or PAS. This is the idea that one parent seeks to alienate a child against the other parent, leading them to level untrue accusations of abuse or neglect.

“We want to change a harmful family court practice that apparently has gone unchecked for some time, resulting in innocent children being improperly placed,” Beall said. “This legislation requires family courts to follow the legal principals of accepted evidence. The bill ensures pseudo ‘syndromes’ are not used in custody determinations.”

While both mothers and fathers have leveled charges of PAS in custody cases, widespread anecdotal evidence suggests that it has more often been argued by fathers. Several fathers’ rights groups say PAS is real. However, it is not generally accepted by the psychiatric community.

Assembly majority leader Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, said that he also may carry legislation. While he said budget negotiations have been taking up most of his time, he has submitted language to Legislative Counsel which would establish statewide standards for family court custody evaluations.

“That’s something we’re looking at to make sure we’re placing kids in the best, safest environment.”

Several other unbacked bills would seek to address other problems with family courts, said Kathleen Russell, staff consultant with the CJE. Among these ideas: allowing children to testify on their own behalf; removing the immunity of judges and court employees from being sued for misconduct; changing the law so court employees are subject to the California Whistleblowers Protection Act; charging courts, rather than parents, to pay for custody evaluators in order level the playing field between ex-spouses with disparate resources; and mandating that custody evaluators receive the standard 24 training curriculum on child sexual abuse put for by the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law.

“Children are being placed in dangerous homes without protection,” Russell said. “It’s reached epidemic proportions. We couldn’t be more please to have legislators step up to the plate.”

Russell just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where she and other advocates met with legislators, including members of the California delegation. She said she expects federal legislation to be coming soon. Because the federal government heavily underwrites family court costs in the states, it has a great deal of leverage to impose greater standards and consistency. “We’re looking at the federal flow of funds to the state courts,” Russell said. “That is where the feds can intervene.”

Judges tentatively approve prison inmate reduction

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

A panel of three federal judges tentatively ruled Monday that California must reduce its prison population by up to 58,000 inmates in two to three years, saying that "the present state of overcrowding" makes it impossible for the state to deliver health care at a constitutional level.

The judges clearly said there are many avenues available to the state and counties other than an early-release program – like parole reform, increased good time credits and programs to reduce recidivism. They all fall under the federal Prison Litigation Reform Act's definition of a "prisoner release order."

They will review the evidence presented at a 14-day non-jury trial and issue a final opinion, but the tentative ruling is meant "to give the parties notice of the likely nature of that opinion, and to allow them to plan accordingly," the judges said.

Inmates' attorneys expressed hope that, in the wake of the ruling, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his administration, legislative leaders, county representatives and all other affected parties will work out a settlement.

Reaction by Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Matthew Cate made that seem unlikely. Cate correctly said the 10-page tentative ruling calls for 37,000 to 58,000 fewer inmates within two to three years.

Speaking for himself and Schwarzenegger, the secretary said they "disagree with the panel's ruling," and with the release of that many convicts "onto California streets," which he called "a significant threat to public safety."

Attorney General Jerry Brown labeled the tentative ruling "a blunt instrument that does not recognize the imperatives of public safety, nor the challenges of incarcerating criminals."

If the ruling becomes permanent, Cate declared, it will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. An appeal from the specially-convened panel bypasses the federal appellate level and goes directly to the high court, which could accept the matter for review, or let the ruling stand without review.

"This is not about overcrowding," Cate said. "We are providing a constitutional level of care now; so we have the right to keep these inmates in prison."

By contrast, the three judges said inmates' attorneys "have presented overwhelming evidence that crowding is the primary cause of the underlying constitutional violations."

They said conditions have "substantially increased the risk of the transmission of infectious illnesses among inmates and prison staff."

"It is our present intention," the panel said, "to adopt an order requiring the state to develop a plan to reduce the prison population to 120 percent or 145 percent of the prison's design capacity (or somewhere in between) within a period of two or three years." The judges noted the 33 adult prisons, with nearly 160,000 inmates, are operating at close to 200 percent design capacity.

The judges are Lawrence K. Karlton of Sacramento, who has presided for 19 years over an ongoing class-action lawsuit on behalf of mentally ill inmates; Thelton E. Henderson of San Francisco, who has presided for eight years over an ongoing class-action lawsuit on behalf of physically ill inmates and who put prison health care into receivership in 2006; and Stephen Reinhardt of Los Angeles, a judge of the 9th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. They are considered three of the most liberal judges in the nine-state appellate circuit.

"The state has a number of options … that would serve to reduce the population of the prison … without adversely affecting public safety," the judges said. "It could also use the savings that will result from the implementation of a population cap to provide for any increased burdens on the counties."

The judges acknowledged the state's $42 billion budget deficit and the fiscal implications of their final decision "are of the most serious order. There are simply no additional funds … being made available by the state to deal with the critical problem created by prison overcrowding."

California legislators expressed mixed views Monday about releasing inmates, but declined to specifically address the tentative ruling because they had not read it.

"I don't think we should be releasing prisoners early," said Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville. "I think they're in prison because they created a threat to society. And I think we should do everything we can to keep them behind bars."

But Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, who sits on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, said that some prison inmates can be rehabilitated and released, thus relieving prison overcrowding without impairing public safety.

"I know there is a percentage of inmates who are in for less serious offenses who would not endanger the public directly, but there are always exceptions, and that's where we get in trouble," Ma said, adding that early release deserves scrutiny.

Inmate lawyer Michael Bien said the ruling "sends a message to the state to … work out a solution that is win, win, win – that is good for public safety, good for sick prisoners and helps solve the budget deficit.

Steven Fama, an inmate attorney, pointed to proposals by Schwarzenegger in the past two years – "parole reform," "release of about 20,000 inmates over about 20 months."

He said of the 140,000 inmates released each year, most served only a few months.

"It's just a matter of finding the ones that would create the least risk if released a couple of months early," Fama added.

State budget cuts would hit GOP areas hardest

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Solutions to the state's $42 billion budget gap remain elusive as Republican lawmakers rebuff proposals for new taxes, arguing that California spends too much. But parts of the state that the GOP legislators represent would be hurt most by deep cuts, according to a Chronicle analysis of state data.

Counties in far Northern California and the Central Valley, where both Republican leaders of the Legislature live, receive far more state money per capita for education, health, welfare and prisons than the Bay Area or the coastal region, according to a report by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

Modoc, Kings, Tulare, Yuba and Fresno counties consume far more state dollars than they contribute, the report found. Modoc County, for example, contributed $768 per capita in taxes to the state's general fund while receiving $2,216 from the state.

Marin County was the biggest tax donor among the state's 58 counties, contributing $4,793 per person to the state's coffers while receiving just $606 in state services. San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties rounded out the top four donor counties, while four other Bay Area counties were in the top dozen contributors to the state's coffers on a per capita basis.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said she was "shocked and surprised by these figures."

"I think it stands to reason that we should look at these expenditure numbers (to counties) again," she said. "This should be part of the budget discussion as well."

The numbers show the irony of Republican lawmakers' insistence on cutting state spending while refusing to support tax increases to help close the state's widening budget hole, said Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, who requested the state report that was completed in December.

"My Republican colleagues from these counties are the ones who want to propose an all-cuts budget (even though) the burden primarily falls on their own constituents," she said. "And that they oppose new revenues (even though) the burden falls primarily on Democratic constituents."

But Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines of Clovis, whose district includes Fresno County, said, "You can't pick winners and losers, you just have to solve the (budget) problem overall.

"I'm very sensitive to make sure that rural counties don't take a disproportional hit, but there has to be cuts across the board as a component of the budget."

Republican Assemblyman Jim Nielsen of Gerber (Tehama County), whose district includes Modoc County, agreed that cutting state funds affects small, rural counties like those in his district more severely because they often lack large reserves that bigger counties enjoy. Still, he reiterated that raising taxes is not the way to solve the state's fiscal woes.

"Raising taxes to cover this deficit only feeds a broken budget," he said. "That's why a spending cap is a must to get spending under control."

But limiting spending will be more problematic for regions of the state that rely heavily on state funds, experts say. Cuts in Medi-Cal, for example, would hit rural counties the hardest because hospitals and clinics that serve those areas rely more on such assistance to keep their doors open for the rest of the community, said Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, a nonpartisan Sacramento think tank.

"I think it draws into question if certain elected officials are acting in the best interest of their communities," she said.

Chris Schneider, executive director of Central California Legal Services, said he is angry and frustrated that his representatives are out of touch with how the budget crunch can affect so many people.

The number of people coming through his doors asking for help applying for unemployment or other social services has drastically increased in recent months, he said.

"One of the hardest things for us is having to tell someone who qualifies for a benefit that we can't help because there's no resources," he said.

But Villines' spokeswoman Jennifer Gibbons said Republicans don't like cuts either.

"It's not easy for Republicans to make cuts because making cuts does hurt our constituents," she said. "But we are in a crisis and we're a family, and everyone's going to have to share in the pain if this will ever come to a resolution."

About the data

The Legislative Analyst's Office collected personal income tax data from the Franchise Tax Board, while sales and use-tax figures were obtained from the Board of Equalization. Both sets of numbers were from 2006, the latest complete figures available, said Michael Cohen, a deputy legislative analyst.

The analyst's office obtained actual county-by-county expenditure figures in the 2007-08 fiscal year, which ended in June, from various state agencies that administered those programs. The categories were K-12 schools, State Supplementary Program, In-Home Supportive Services, Medi-Cal, prisons, parole and mental health.

Those categories represent more than 50 percent of the state's roughly $100 billion general fund budget, Cohen said. The expenditures don't include higher-education funds and about one-third of the K-12 expenses earmarked for specific programs such as special education because those categories were difficult to track county-by-county, he said.

The Chronicle analyzed the data by aggregating the taxes and expenditures on a per capita basis and ranking them.

Bay Area gives more, spends less

Counties in the region contributed the most taxes per capita to the state's coffers in 2006 while those elsewhere in Northern California and in the Central Valley spent the most state funds per capita for health, welfare and other services in the fiscal year that ended in June.

Biggest taxpayers

Marin County: $4,793

San Mateo County: $4,232

San Francisco County: $3,578

Santa Clara County: $3,264

Placer County: $2,540

Biggest spenders for services

Tulare County: $2,223

Modoc County: $2,216

Lake County: $2,055

Yuba County: $2,049

Fresno County: $2,030

Source: Legislative Analyst's Office

Assemblywoman Ma Introduces Legislation to Save JROTC

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

AB 233 introduced as time begins to run out for JROTC program in San Francisco Schools
Download PDF versions: Press Release — Fact Sheet

San Francisco – Flanked by hundreds of cadets and elected officials today at Lowell High School, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma introduced legislation, Assembly Bill 233, in support of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). AB223 requires that San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) provide JROTC as an option in meeting the Physical Education (PE) graduation requirements. Without any action, JROTC will be eliminated from San Francisco's public schools in June, 2009.

Related News

"Fiona Ma Plans End-Around Bill on JROTC Issue"
San Francisco Chronicle

"Emergency Legislation To Save JROTC in SF Schools"
KCBS

"This program works -- It's a leadership development opportunity for thousands of students and a valuable resource for minority women," said Assemblywoman Ma. "Last November, San Francisco voters emphatically supported JROTC and the time for the School Board to act is now."

The mission of the JROTC program is "to motivate young people to be better citizens." Along with this mission of civic responsibility, the program also fosters character development, leadership skills, and physical fitness. Students of all genders, races, and sexual orientations participate in the JROTC program, and openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender pupils are among the cadets and cadet leadership.

In November 2008, the voters of San Francisco overwhelmingly passed Proposition V, which urged the San Francisco City Unified School District to support the JROTC program by continuing to make it available to students of the district.

"The JROTC program in our San Francisco public schools has provided leadership training and community service opportunities for countless high school students, and I commend Assemblywoman Fiona Ma for her efforts in preserving this invaluable program," said Supervisor Carmen Chu.

For More Information: Contact Alex Tourk, Tourk@gfpublicaffairs.com, (415) 291-9501 or (415) 215-1199.

Fact Sheet
AB 223 – Assemblywoman Fiona Ma
Joint Author: Assemblymember Lieu
Principal Co-Author: Assemblymember Cook
Reinstating JROTC & P.E. Credits

Summary:

AB 223 (Ma) will require the San Francisco Unified School District to reinstate JROTC and grant JROTC participants P.E. credit for graduation.

Background:

For over 90 years, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has participated in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program, providing high school students, particularly from low income families and communities-of-color, the option to participate in the before and after school leadership program that fosters teamwork, health and physical fitness, self-esteem, and community service. With half the funds from federal dollars, the program has been known to be very inclusive and supportive of all students, including many openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) student participants and cadet staff. The rigorous physical education component allows many students to waive their State Physical Education (P.E.) requirement, allowing students to graduate on time, like many athletic programs. Over 90% of the JROTC participants go on to pursue higher education, and only 3% join the armed forces.

In 2006, the San Francisco School Board narrowly voted to eliminate JROTC as an option for students. Although JROTC instructors are prohibited from recruiting, as defined in JROTC regulations, and the program does not abide by the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, the School Board claims that the program is used as a military recruitment tool and discriminates against LGBT students. The school board's decision created a huge public outcry, which led to a public initiative in the 2008 election:

Proposition V. Prop V declares that the School Board should provide San Francisco public high school students the option to participate in JROTC. Proposition V passed with an overwhelming 55% of the vote.

Problem and Solution:

Although Proposition V has passed, the Board has not enacted or indicated the enactment of any measures to reinstate JROTC programs, which will expire at the end of this school year, June 2009. AB 223 will require the SFUSD to reinstate JROTC effective immediately.

Due to the State's unprecedented budget situation, local jurisdictions are in a greater need for funding. The complete elimination of JROTC will force students to find other avenues for P.E. credit, which will require more state dollars. Reinstating JROTC will keep federal dollars in our local school districts, provide students with more choices and save the SFUSD possibly thousands of dollars. To ensure these savings, AB 223 will also require that participants in JROTC be granted P.E. credit.

Contact:

Eric Dang at 916-319-2012

Emergency Legislation To Save JROTC in SF Schools

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO -- The school board’s decision to eliminate physical education credit for the military’s JROTC program faces a possible override by an emergency bill in the state legislature.

The measure introduced Wednesday by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma requires two-thirds approval to save what has become a lightning rod of controversy in the city.

“The voters have spoken,” Ma said, referring to the failure of a non-binding measure on November’s ballot that would have urged the Board of Education to reverse it’s decision.

“I just believe this is about our kids, their future and about opportunities for them,” she said.

San Francisco schools will phase out the Junior Reserve Officer Training Program from their PE curriculum in June unless Ma’s bill passes.

What Ma and many parents hail as a valuable way to teach leadership and instill discipline has been criticized as little more than a tool for military recruiters.

Nelson Lum, a parent of a JROTC student at Washington High School, said it would be horrible if his daughter were to to lose the program.

“She would be devastated because she considered that her second family. It would be a big impact,” he told KCBS reporter Barbara Taylor.

The polemic against JROTC in city schools has been fueled by opposition to the Iraq war.

Fiona Ma Plans End-Around Bill on JROTC Issue

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

A San Francisco assemblywoman plans to step on, over and around the city's school board with legislation that would require the district to keep the controversial Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps in its high schools.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, is expected to announce her bill at a press conference at Lowell High School today.

On split vote in November 2006, the school board decided to ax the program, arguing it is operated by the U.S. military, which not only seeks new recruits, but bars gays and lesbians from openly serving. The issue has been among the most controversial and divisive education issues in the last few years.

The program is scheduled to end in June.

Ma said she was motivated to introduce the bill by voter passage in November of Proposition V, an advisory measure urging retention of the JROTC program. In addition, Ma said, she has seen benefits from the course - leadership training to minorities and women, opportunities for teamwork, and a support network to students.

"I've been to many of the programs over the years," she said. "I've seen the benefits of the programs ... I've met the kids."

She also noted that five of San Francisco's seven high schools with JROTC are in her district.

JROTC is a federally sponsored program, paying half the salaries of the instructors, who are retired from the military.

It is also a voluntary program for districts - but Ma's legislation would require San Francisco - and only San Francisco - to keep it.

"The voters have spoken," said Ma, a former San Francisco supervisor.

But then, so had San Francisco's elected school board officials. Ma's move is being questioned, even by some who want to see JROTC stay.

"For me this sets a precedent," said school board member Hydra Mendoza. "Do the state people now tell the district, which has made a local decision, right wrong or indifferent ... that they have to change a policy?"

Legislators often given deference to each other's district-only bills, but Ma's measure - expected to be introduced as an urgent bill - would require two-thirds support.

Former school board member Eric Mar, now a city supervisor and longtime opponent of JROTC, said he questioned the legality of circumventing local control.

"That doesn't sound right to me," he said.

School board member Sandra Fewer, who also opposes JROTC, said she wished Ma had consulted with her and the board before taking the issue to Sacramento.

"The school district is our jurisdiction," Fewer said.

Several supporters of the program said they initially thought Ma's legislation would only restore the physical education credit to the program - making it more palatable to the school board.

Without receiving PE credit, many students don't have time in their schedule to take the elective JROTC courses. After the school board eliminated gym credit for the military classes, enrollment dropped this year to about 500 students, down from about 1,500 the previous year.

Ma is requesting that the bill - which also restores the PE credit - be put on the legislative fast track, given the impending demise of the program.

Local JROTC instructors have said that if the district loses the program, it will be difficult to bring it back because there is a backlog of high schools across the country waiting to get federal funding for the program.

Public Meetings to be held on Prop 11

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

All persons interested in the implementation of the Voters First Act, which calls for the selection of a Citizens Redistricting Commission that will draw new boundary lines for State Assembly, State Senate, and State Board of Equalization districts.

Representatives from the California Bureau of State Audits will be conducting public meetings to solicit comments about the processes that should be established for individuals to apply to become members of the Commission and for the selection of an Applicant Review Panel to assess the applicants and create an applicant pool of 60 qualified members. The meetings will be conducted on the following dates, at the times and locations specified below:

Sacramento – Monday, January 26, 2009
Location: Department of Health Services
East End Complex
1500 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. *

San Diego – Monday, February 9, 2009
Location: Caltrans Building
4050 Taylor Street
San Diego, CA 92110
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. *

Fresno – Friday, February 20, 2009
Location: State Agencies Building
2550 Mariposa Mall
Room 1036
Fresno, CA 93721
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. *

Los Angeles – Monday, February 23, 2009 (pending approval)
Location: Central Branch Library
Mark Taper Auditorium
630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. *

San Francisco – Friday, February 27, 2009
Location: Office of the Courts
Milton Marks Auditorium
455 Golden Gate Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. *

* All meetings will conclude earlier if the participants in attendance have completed
their comments.

Parking availability and cost will vary by location. The State Auditor’s office cannot guarantee the availability of parking and is not responsible for any costs incurred as a result of participation in these meeings.

The facilities to be used for the meetings are accessible to persons with mobility impairments. Persons with sight or hearing impairments are requested to notify Barbara Paget at (916) 445-0255 at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting to make special arrangements.

The Act is California’s new law for drawing boundary lines for State Assembly, State Senate, and State Board of Equalization districts. The Act became law when voters approved Proposition 11 at the November 4, 2008, General Election. As part of the Act, a redistricting commission will be appointed to draw new boundary lines following each United States Census. The next Census is in 2010.

The State Auditor is responsible for implementing an application process for individuals interested in serving on the Commission and the State Auditor will also select a review panel, through random selection, to assess the qualifications of the applicants and establish an applicant pool of 60 qualified individuals. The Act specifies that the pool be comprised of three subpools based on the applicants’ political party affiliations. Once the applicant pool is established, the State Auditor will randomly draw eight names. Three names will be randomly drawn from each of the subpools that represent the largest and second largest political parties in California and two names will be randomly drawn from the subpool for the applicants who are not registered with the largest or second largest political parties in California. The newly appointed Commission members will then select the remaining members of the Commission. The State Auditor will repeat this process every 10 years (each time a United States Census is conducted). However, the State Auditor may need to establish a new pool for commissioner selection sooner if a vacancy on the Commission occurs and there are no qualified applicants remaining in the pools established for the current census.

The State Auditor is seeking your comments regarding the processes that should be established for individuals to apply to become members of the Commission and for the selection of an Applicant Review Panel to assess the applicants and create an applicant pool of 60 qualified members. The comments received during these meetings may be used to guide the State Auditor and her staff at the Bureau of State Audits regarding the processes that should be established and any regulations that may need to be adopted to direct these processes. Although participants may comment on any aspect of the State Auditor’s role in the implementation of the Act, the State Auditor is particularly interested in comments regarding the following:

The application process for the selection of members of the Commission as discussed in Article XXI, Section 2(c)(3) of the California Constitution and Section 8252(a)(1) of the California Government Code.
The creation of the Applicant Review Panel to screen Commission applicants as discussed in Section 8252(b) of the California Government Code.
The removal of individuals from the applicant pool based on conflicts of interest identified in the Act as discussed in Section 8252(a)(2) of the California Government Code.
The publication of the names in the applicant pool as discussed in Section 8252(c) of the California Government Code.
The random selection of eight members of the Commission as discussed in Section 8252(f) of the California Government Code.
The creation of a new pool of qualified applicants in the event of a vacancy on the Commission with no qualified person left in the pool previously established by the State Auditor to fill vacancies as discussed in Section 8252.5(b) of the California Government Code.

Participants should be prepared to present comments during the meetings. The meetings will be recorded.

Representatives from the Bureau of State Audits reserve the right to establish and control the manner and order in which comments are received. Participants should be prepared to present their comments at the time the meetings are scheduled to commence. Since the State Auditor is unable to anticipate the number of participants, the meetings will be adjourned before the scheduled end time if all participants in attendance who wish to comment have provided their comments, but under no circumstances will the meeting be extended beyond the scheduled end time. The length of time each participant has to comment may be limited. In the event that there are more participants than the meeting facilities allow, the State Auditor may schedule additional meetings to enable all who wish to participate to do so.

Participants are encouraged, but not required, to submit written statements to the address listed below, by no later than ten (10) days prior to the date the meeting is scheduled to commence. The prior submission of written statements is purely voluntary and you may attend and participate in the meetings even if you do not submit your comments in writing beforehand. You may also provide written comments only, without attending the meetings, by submitting them to the address listed below.

Important Note: Please be advised that participation in the meetings will be in addition to, and not in substitution for, participation in any formal rulemaking process that may be initiated to adopt regulations related to the State Auditor’s responsibilities in implementing the Act. This Notice of Interested Persons Meetings (Notice) is not a Notice of Proposed Action under the Administrative Procedure Act. Consequently, comments (oral and/or written) received in connection with the meetings (or this Notice) will not be included in any rulemaking file that may be established if a Notice of Proposed Action is issued. Similarly, the State Auditor is not required to respond to comments made at the meetings (or in response to this Notice). For this reason, if you wish to have comments included in any rulemaking file that may be established at a later time, or to require the State Auditor to respond to comments as part of any process that may be initiated to adopt regulations to implement sections of the Act, you must present your comments according to the procedures outlined in any Notice of Proposed Action that may be issued, regardless of whether you have provided comments in connection with the meetings (or this Notice).

All inquiries should be directed to:
Barbara Paget
Bureau of State Audits
Telephone: (916) 445-0255
Email: barbarap@bsa.ca.gov

Campaigns & Elections magazine gives four CA awards

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Two California political strategists pulled in Reed Awards from Campaigns & Elections' Politics magazine this week.

The "Best Earned Media Around a Single Event" went to GOP strategist Kevin Spillane of the Stonecreek Group for his event opposing Proposition 5, where five current and past California governors together announced opposition to the measure.

The best "Website: State Legislative & Local Races" went to Blackrock Associates for its Web site for Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

We'll assume Ma's account on the site of being on the same flight as Paris Hilton had nothing to do with the award.

UPDATE: Someone from Stearns Consulting writes to say that the San Francisco-based firm won for "Direct Mail - Local Candidate" and "Yard/Outdoor Signs."

See the full list of winners here.

From OC to DC

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Excitement for this trip had been slowly building since Election Day last November, and now it was finally here. My trip started last Friday night when Governor Schweitzer of Montana enlightened the packed house at the Orange County Democratic Dinner. He recounted the journey of his own family and his grandmother, who immigrated by herself, starving and penniless from Ireland, and went to Montana because she was offered free train tickets to homestead the frontier. He also shared real-life stories about how progressive Montana has been under his leadership, especially in education where they're working towards the goal of mandatory daylong kindergarten and free preschool.

The next day, I left sunny California bound for the complete opposite side of the US, where temperatures hit a chilling 19 degrees. (I definitely felt safe as Leon Panetta, our CIA Director nominee, and his wife boarded the plane before me.) From the moment I landed, there was definitely a thrill of excitement in the air. The streets were filled with vendors selling all sorts of Obama paraphernalia, and a buzz was about as nearly everyone was proudly wearing their Obama pins, hats, and scarves.

The same excitement charged the air Inauguration morning. The sun was out, and the air was crisp and cold. The Metro train and Union Station were packed. Reverend Jesse Jackson and his entourage passed us on the streets as millions of people maneuvered to get to their gates, stand in line, and become part of history. People cheered "O-ba-ma, O-ba-ma, O-ba-ma" and waved American flags on the Capitol Mall. It was great to hear the familiar voice of our own Senator Dianne Feinstein officiate the proceedings and the music of my "cousin" Yo-Yo Ma's performance. (A part of me wondered if his fingers were cold).

As we waited for the Man of the Hour, I felt grateful for all the freedoms that we have, including the right to choose our leaders. I definitely feel a strong sense of pride in being American because Barack Hussein Obama represents the realization of an American Dream where one can work hard, dare to dream big, and succeed. For my own father, Obama's election represents a major step closer to a colorblind society. As a daughter of immigrants, I remind others that democracy is not only a right, but a privilege that needs to be cherished, honored, and protected.

In the words of our 44th President, "All are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." God bless our new Commander-in-Chief!

And don't forget, January 21st is National Hugging Day so go out and hug a few people today!

Legislature has done its part; now it's the governor's turn

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

The Legislature on Tuesday sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a deficit reduction package that closes the state's $41 billion budget hole by nearly half.

As expected, the governor has vetoed the package, because it didn't contain everything he wants – despite an impending cash crisis that will prevent the state from financing infrastructure projects, force IOUs on companies that do business with the state and delay Californians' tax refunds.

Put simply, the governor appears to be getting cold feet about the only solution – including any of his – to muster enough votes to pass the Legislature.

It doesn't have to be this way.

The two-thirds vote requirement for budgets and taxes has led to perpetual struggle in Sacramento. As legislative leaders, we took an innovative approach to increase the state's revenues by majority vote. Our strategy avoided the wrangling with legislative Republicans over taxes.

The great comedian Milton Berle once said, "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." Opportunity wasn't knocking, so we built the door. Now it's up to the governor to seize the opportunity and walk through.

Schwarzenegger should recognize that our solution is the only game in town.

This is not the time to miss opportunities. This is the time for decisive leadership. A fiscal and economic emergency that started with home foreclosures and spread to Wall Street and the credit markets shows no sign of slowing.

Leveraging this economic crisis for unrelated political gain is inexcusable. Now that the governor has decided to veto our deficit reduction package, he will no doubt use the excuse that the Legislature failed to send him a plan that reduced the deficit and created jobs.

This is simply not true.

The Legislature's proposals create more than 367,000 good-wage California jobs – if Schwarzenegger signs them.

Not only does our plan advance nearly $3 billion in voter-approved bond funds to improve streets and roads, public transit, housing sites, parks, levees and water quality projects, it also includes $3 billion more for additional job-creating transportation projects.

The package includes some of the governor's proposals to expand public-private partnerships and streamline California's environmental rules and construction techniques.

The governor has balked at our economic stimulus plan, even saying publicly that he will only sign a plan that is exactly what he proposed.

Beyond the unreasonableness of that position, we have serious policy concerns with parts of the governor's proposal. His plan would completely waive landmark environmental laws for certain highway projects and hand over taxpayer money to private contractors for construction projects with little or no oversight.

The Legislature has been more than willing to meet the governor halfway on his proposals, but we cannot in good conscience back an "anything goes" approach to California's environment and a privatization scheme that would make President George W. Bush blush.

Next week we will vote on additional bills that are even closer to the governor's requests. While we can't keep chasing the governor's elusive goalposts, we can and will pass proposals that reflect the compromise this crisis requires.

We should be clear that like all of the governor's "stimulus" proposals, the additional bills we will pass do nothing to resolve California's real and immediate emergency – the cash crisis. But the comprehensive, compromise package of solutions now before the governor does.

Schwarzenegger must put the cash crisis, as we have, above all else. The state's small businesses and taxpayers deserve nothing less.

If you look at the governor's record – whether it's AB 32 or the infrastructure bonds – his success has come as a result of partnership with Democrats in the Legislature. The $18 billion budget deficit reduction plan provides him with yet another opportunity to be an effective partner. By taking these key steps to address California's fiscal emergency, we can show the people of California that we can get their work done – and we can put more Californians to work.

My Walkabout Down Under

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

If you're looking for no crowds and hassle free air travel, try flying on Christmas Eve! And if you're looking to skip Christmas Day and get right to the after holiday shopping deals, hop on a plane to Australia to partake in Boxing Day...the biggest shopping day of the year! Also, you can be one of the first people in the world to welcome in the New Year. Obviously, Paris Hilton had the same idea as she was behind me on my flight from the States.

Melbourne is the perfect city to unwind in. It’s the summer in the Southern hemisphere and the weather is in the 70's. The people are super friendly, and the city is very pedestrian friendly and clean. The Yarra River divides the city and the architecture blends the old with the new. I walked around Flinders Station and Federation Square, St. Kilda and Chapel Street where I paid tribute to home grown locals Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in the film, "Australia," and experienced the "Gold Class" treatment in huge comfy recliners with full food and bar service before and during the movie. We need this in the US!

By contrast, San Francisco’s sister city, Sydney, is more metropolitan and buzzing. The topography is hilly (similar to SF) and both the air and streets are clean. Various buildings dazzle the skyline and the historic preservation of the buildings and piers create unique live/work masterpieces (IE the Taj Hotel and the restaurants at Woolloomooloo Pier). There were lots of fabulous outdoor eateries and pubs. Ferries are a major means of transport around this water city...which amazingly never smelled like the sea/ocean. During these summer months, people head for the beaches. Bondi Beach is the favorite for tourists while the locals head for Manley, Shelly and Balmoral beaches. I hopped the ferry to check out the koalas and pygmy hippo (Minofa the baby hippo was no where in sight) at the Taronga Zoo which had million dollar views of the landmark Sydney Opera House, the Harbour and the downtown city skyline. Chinatown was one of the larger ones I've been to, complete with an indoor market for souvenir shopping. And the grand finale....New Years' Eve! Since Sydney is 19 hours ahead of SF, I've watched many a snipets of fireworks displays on TV over the years however nothing compares to seeing things first hand. I marveled at the colorfully lit Parade of Boats that sailed around the Harbour all night and the midnight extravaganza of fireworks that was set off from the Harbour Bridge, seven city rooftops and seven barges. The entire 12 minute experience was mesmerizing and an once-in-a-lifetime experience!

I was grateful to have a clear beautiful night to see the fireworks in Australia but was also reminded that we need to change the way we live or risk losing these beautiful vistas forever. California is the world's 12th largest producer of green house gases. Although we're leading the nation in setting CO2 reduction goals, I'm afraid we're not going to hit our targets unless we dare to be different (IE high speed rail), especially in the commercial building sector. On the other hand, Australia is emerging as one of the leaders in the Green Tech revolution. I had an opportunity to visit Australia's first commercial/condo development built to a 5-Star Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (similar to our LEED Platinum). This "Sustainable Evolution" model consists of solar panels, harvested rainwater, motion sensors, lots of natural lighting and cross flow ventilation (versus a central cooling tower), fiber optic network and waterless urinals (using vegetable oil). The goal is to move workers to a "node versus hub" system designed around the needs of people. This method empowers choice and flexibility in the consumption of energy and water and how, where, and when people work or "Lifestyle Working," as coined by Ed Horton, CEO of Stable Group (www.lifestyleworking.com.au). If California is serious about reducing CO2 and meeting our AB32 (The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) goals, we need to encourage and provide incentives for responsible and sustainable advances in the commercial property sector.

So in this New Year, may all your dreams come true in 2009!

Men Gain Right To Take On A Spouse's Last Name

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Any man who registers for marriage or domestic partnership in California will now enjoy the option of adopting his wife or partner's last name.

The Name Equality Act of+ 2007, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October 2007 to be made effective Thursday, eliminates any discrepancy in civil rights enjoyed by men and women with respect to the use of a marriage license or domestic partnership certificate to legally change the last name of one, or now both, parties.

"This legislation treats both parties in a committed relationship equally,'' according to the bill's author, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Couples will now have access to a gender-neutral marriage license or domestic partnership certificate, one that provides space for both parties to declare any changes to last names "upon solemnization'' of the union. The options include taking the current last name of the other spouse or partner, taking the last name of the other given at birth, combining portions of both last names to form just one, or using a hyphenated combination of both.

"No couple should be penalized simply for wanting to validate their union as a family,'' Ma said in a prepared statement. "This legislation is about equality, flexibility and common sense.''

Websites Break Down Violent Games for Parents

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Despite the downturn in the economy, video game sales remain high this holiday season, which is why one San Francisco lawmaker wants to remind parents to pay attention to the violence ratings on the box.

"Gears of War 2" was one of last month's biggest sellers, a rapid fire shooting and occasional chain-sawing game to defend humanity against locusts. It's dark and not for kids, which is why its rated "M for Mature," but San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma wants to make sure parents don't just run out and buy it blindly.

"I just think it's very important for parents who don't want their kids to see violence, blood or guns, or even drugs to take a closer look at these content descriptors," said Ma.

She encourages parents to use the gaming industry's web site "ESRB.org" or San Francisco based "What They Play.com" which goes even deeper into describing what's in a game.

"As soon as kids get into the mid-teens the line starts to shift a little bit," said President of What They Play, John Davison. "Every family is different, and some moms are fine with the kids seeing violence, but they don't want to see sexual content, others are really sensitive to strong language and they want to know what words their kids will be hearing coming out of the game. So what we try to do is explain the context of the content."

That way, the parents can decide for themselves.

Incredible India

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600

As I'm learning in my job, the world is getting smaller thanks to technology. For the past 10 years, I have taken delegations to China where I have witnessed the Sleeping Tiger transform magically before my eyes. In California, India is becoming our back-of-the house "Silicon Valley" and so I was intrigued to finally see India, the land of 1.2 billion people living in an area that is 1/3 of the US, and how I could learn here and bring back useful information to help the State of California. Although we didn’t travel to Mumbai, my thoughts were constantly straying towards that tragedy and all the people it affected.

Four nights in India is definitely not enough time.....I got called back to Special Session on Tuesday to try to resolve our budget crisis. Although I am saddened to go, I am looking forward to lending a hand in solving California’s budget problems.

I found myself in planes for approximately 20 hours (one way). Upon landing at both airports in India, I noticed that people lived right beside both sides of the runway as if the airport was built around them. I am told that although these people have been offered new homes, they don't want to move away from their jobs.

I landed in Ahmedabad, in the center of Gujarat State, grabbed a quick bite with my new favorite Chai drink, then off to the Rann Utsav, a 3 day festival hosted by the Chief Minister of Gujarat. We set off on Mr Toad's Wild Ride, a 6 hour tour of the country where ox, bulls and cow walk freely about and lay on the side of the roads; dogs roam the streets belonging to no one and everyone; no cats in sight; camels pull the heavy loads; flocks of goat are led about by villagers and young boys; trucks dominate the roadways; people travel in buses, cars (many are CNG), took-tooks or taxis (also CNG), motorcycles and scooters (carrying from 1 to 5 family members), and bicycles..... All of these people and machines share the road...giving each other courtesy passing honks ...everyone busy, trying to get to where they're going. People are everywhere: on the sides on the road, waiting for rides, manning small stores, working in the fields, and women in different colored saris carry pots/jars on their heads with kids in tow. Donkeys and monkeys can also be seen if you look hard. This is how I pictured India.

Our travels take us through Kutch, the largest district in Gujarat, which is even larger than some of the states of India, and is the area that faced a 8.0+ devastating earthquake in Jan, 2001 where 20,000+ people died. The City and County of SF donated $100,000 to help with the earthquake relief efforts. Also, Indo Americans from California wanted to establish closer ties with Gujarat, the home state for many Indo Americans in the Bay Area. Senate Concurrent Resolution No 4 (Burton) passed the Legislature in March 20, 2001 establishing the official California Gujarat Sister State Relationship so I was to going to bring good tidings from California. I met several members of the Indian Parliament who represent Gujarat and look forward to bringing more of my colleagues back to strengthen the sister-state relationships that we have been building.

At 6:00 am the next morning, we watched cricket on the TV as we waited for our morning Chai. We hired an "official guide" to be our much needed GPS system. The roads are surprisingly quiet at 7:00 am. The air is clear and crisp. As the red sun rose behind us over the mountains, we took bets on how long it would take to get to our destination, given our driving challenges. For the most part, the land is flat and desert-like and we see patches of white resembling early morning snow, but really salt....

Mahatma Gandhi began his legendary march in March 1930 from Ahmedabad to Dandi with a band of followers that kept swelling as he headed to a coastal point near Surat in protest against the unfairness of the act that gave the monopoly of salt production to the British. On reaching Dandi, he picked up a handful of salt in protest and gained national attention and support for his freedom struggle effort. By day, the white desert looked like a big ocean; however by night, under the full moon, the salt sparkled liked crystals.

We traveled next to the beautiful lake/mountain city of Udaipur. The signature property is the White Lake Palace made famous in the James Bond movie "Octopussy". I am reminded that the gap between the "Haves" and the "Have Nots" as I walked from the former Maharajah palaces through the old town. This place was one of the most beautiful places I've been to yet I am deeply saddened that the city is not cleaner than I had expected (there is no national garbage collection system in India so the streets, lakes, and fields feels like a dumping ground). As I was lamenting on this public health and nuisance issue over lunch, a large group of people caught my eye. I found out that earlier that morning, this group marched through the old town to the lake front to raise awareness for their inaugural cleanup effort. A dynamic woman named Deeksha Bhargava led the group of 150 volunteers who share a common vision for a cleaner society. These wide-eyed, gaunt individuals were putting their own individual needs (poverty, food and water) aside for a day. It was heart warming as they responded to my words of encouragement. The volunteers were not being paid and Deeksha asked us for potential sponsors to help provide some minimal food and water for the volunteers for their monthly cleanups. She explained that the lake was also the drinking supply for the town yet people bathed in the lake, washed their clothes, and it was full of construction debris and other garbage. My group watched in awe and disbelief as the group work together to pull the algae and garbage out of the lake. Deeksha was living proof that one person can make a difference in this world and be a catalyst for change.

I cut my trip short to return to Sacramento and address the growing budget crisis. The Taj Mahal will have to wait until another day....

Bass rounds out Assembly leadership team

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass rounded out her leadership team this week, adding newly elected legislators to two posts and filling other spots with returning lawmakers.

New Assemblyman Isadore Hall (D-Compton) was named Assistant Majority Whip, and returning Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) was named Assistant Majority Floor Leader.

Second-term Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) was named Majority Whip, newcomer Assemblyman John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) as Democratic Caucus Chair and sophomore Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) as Rules Committee Chair.

Bass had previously tapped Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) as Speaker pro Tempore and Assembly member Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) as Majority Floor Leader.

Audit of state agencies reveals improper disposal of hazardous electronic waste

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600

A State Auditor´s review of five large state agencies has discovered improper disposal of hazardous electronic waste contrary to state requirements.

The audit was requested by Assembly Members Fiona Ma (D-San Franciso), Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) and Jared Huffman (D- San Rafael). All three lawmakers have sought legislative remedies for the burgeoning problem of hazardous waste and toxic materials in California.

The State Auditor´s report included a review of the disposal practices of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Highway Patrol (CHP), Caltrans, the Calfornia Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Employment Development Department (EDD).

According to the report issued November 18th, the Department of Motor Vehicles Employment Development Department, Caltrans and the Justice Department indicated that they discarded e-waste in the trash. One unit of the CHP is also reported to have thrown 354 electronic devices, including stereos, fax machines and cameras in the trash.

Assembly Member Saldaña said that these devices are manufactured using hazardous materials such as lead, chromium and mercury that contaminate soil and groundwater if disposed of in landfills.

"Because of the hazard to public health and safety – including serious risks of cancer and birth defects - the state has set guidelines for the proper disposal of these devices," Saldaña said ."It goes without saying that the our state government has a duty to protect the public and abide by these requirements."

"State agencies cavalierly tossing these hazardous devices into dumpsters sets a really disappointing example."

"Clearly, some state agencies need to clean up their act when it comes to the proper disposal of electronic waste," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of the audit report.

"As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to make sure everyone knows how to take care of e-waste. If it isn´t clear, we need to make it clear."

"Most people assume they can just throw electronic devices in the trash when they are finished using them," said Assemblymember Huffman.

"This report highlights the need to educate people about proper disposal of their electronic materials, and underscores the reasons why recycling is critically important. Recycling not only protects our environment and public health, it helps prevent the dumping of e-waste in developing nations where workers, often times children, are exposed to toxic chemicals and heavy pollution."

The Auditor´s report cites the lack of communication from oversight agencies and state employees' lack of knowledge about e-waste as contributing to these instances of improper disposal. It also makes recommendations for better communciation between and within agencies about e-waste disposal responsibilities and protocols.

The future is on track

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Voters narrowly approve high-speed rail bond measure after a perilous run-up to the election

On the day after the election, retired judge Quentin Kopp was finally able to exhale and enjoy his martini, even though there's still much work to be done in the coming years creating a high-speed rail system for California.

"I feel relaxed for the first time since June," Kopp, the proud father of high-speed rail in the state, told the Guardian at the Thirsty Bear brewpub in San Francisco shortly after arriving to an enthusiastic ovation from the large crowd of project engineers and contractors who had gathered to celebrate on the night after the election.

Proposition 1A — the $10 billion bond measure that finally launches high-speed rail in California, the most expensive and ambitious public works project in state history — got the nod from about 5.4 million voters, or a too-close-for-comfort 52.3 percent of the total. Combined with federal, state, local, and private funding, the measure will finance the San Francisco-to-Anaheim segment of a system that is eventually planned to stretch from Sacramento to San Diego.

The previous few months had been an emotional roller coaster for Kopp and other high-speed rail supporters. "It was like The Perils of Pauline," said Kopp, who sponsored the project as a state legislator representing San Francisco in the mid-90s and now chairs the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the agency charged with building the project.

Last year, Kopp had to overcome the resistance from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who sought to delay the bond measure for a third straight year (see "The silver bullet train," 4/17/07). This year, Kopp had to fight through many setbacks, starting with Schwarzenegger-allied CHSRA board member David Crane's insistence on the creation of a detailed business plan before the project could go before voters.

To incorporate that plan into the bond measure required new legislation, Assembly Bill 3034, which replaced the former Prop. 1 with the new Prop. 1A and included new fiscal standards. Meanwhile, the CHSRA in July voted to choose Pacheco Pass over Altamont Pass as the preferred Bay Area alignment, triggering controversy and a lawsuit (see "High-speed rail on track," 7/16/08).

Although high-speed rail still appeared to enjoy strong support in the California Legislature, AB 3034 was stalled by partisan bickering and appeared doomed to miss a key legislative deadline. Kopp and supportive legislators, mostly notably Assembly member Fiona Ma, managed to get the legislation through, only to again be stymied when Schwarzenegger announced he would sign no legislation until a budget was approved.

Kopp persuaded the governor to make an exception for AB 3034 and things started to look good, with the measure ready for voters and polling data showing a healthy margin of support. "Then the financial markets collapsed and we lost 10 points," Kopp recalled. That apparent voter anxiety over big-ticket expenditures was compounded by campaign fundraising drying up and newspapers in regions outside the initial project area urging readers to vote against the measure.

"From there, it was tight all the way," said Kopp, noting that by election night, "I didn't think it would pass."

But on the positive side, the campaign against the measure was weak, particularly after the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association blew its wad in June on an ill-fated ballot measure which attacked eminent domain laws and rent control. The closeness of the poll numbers caused the thousands of contract employees who will work on the high-speed rail project to take active roles campaigning for Prop. 1A.

Peter Gertler, national transit director for HNTB Corp., the engineering firm working on the peninsula section of the project, helped organize his colleagues to hit the streets and phones. "We were very nervous. I didn't go to bed until 4 a.m.," he told the Guardian. After doing street-level campaigning, Gertler said he learned, "Overwhelmingly, everyone thinks this is a good idea."

Gertler said voters in California approved almost all the public transit measures on the ballot, signaling a new recognition of its importance: "Something fundamentally has changed."

He said the combination of high land values and the narrow corridor on the peninsula will present challenges in getting the section up and running — challenges that abound through the project area — but they're confident in the project's ultimate success.

"There are always going to be problems. This is the largest project in the history of the state," Kopp said. "The hard work is just beginning. But this was a foundational step."

The bond sales will likely be delayed by the current turmoil in the financial markets, but Kopp expects to get $50 million in the next state budget to complete the engineering work on the project. Construction could begin as soon as late 2010 and be completed in 2018, with some segments ready even earlier. The segment between San Francisco and San Jose could be operational by 2015, allowing trains to travel at speeds of up to 150 mph and complete the trip in just 30 minutes.

"It'll come in pieces, but at some point it'll really come together," said Brent Ogden, vice president of AECOM Transportation, one of the project's contractors, who is working on the regional rail connection over Altamont Pass. While not part of the main project, for which Prop. 1A set aside $9 billion, the Altamont connection is eligible for part of the $1 billion in the measure earmarked for regional connections.

"The first job for the Altamont is figuring out what it's going to be," Ogden said, adding that it could upgrade existing Altamont Commuter Express Rail lines and come on line even before the larger project.

Even if California and the rest of the country are in for a prolonged economic recession or even a depression, Kopp said the project would still likely move forward, noting that all the great public works projects — from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Hoover Dam — were built during the Great Depression and helped to revive the economy by creating jobs and stimulating economic activity.

"We need projects," Kopp said. "We need to rebuild and expand the infrastructure of America."

HIGH-SPEED RAIL FACTS AND FIGURES

•About 230 trains per week will travel between Transbay Terminal in San Francisco (where there will be about 9 million annual boardings) and Los Angeles' Union Station (about 10.8 million boardings). Trains will reach 220 mph and the trip will take two hours and 38 minutes.

•Fares will be about half that of air travel and generate about $2.4 billion in revenue to cover $1.3 billion in costs by 2030, thus generating about $1.1 billion in annual profits for the state once the project is paid for.

•The project will generate about 160,000 construction jobs and is projected to create 450,000 permanent jobs by 2035, including those indirectly created by the project.

•Even if there are unforeseen problems obtaining the full $33 billion in funding for the project, Prop. 1A could be a major boon for the Bay Area, funding improvements in Caltrain's peninsula corridor and possibly a new rail line over the Altamont Pass.

•"The high-speed train system will reduce California's dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil — a reduction of 12 billion pounds of CO2 and 12.7 million barrels of oil per year by 2030."

•"High-speed trains will alleviate the need to build — at a cost of nearly $100 billion — about 3,000 miles of new freeway plus five airport runways and 90 departure gates over the next two decades."

Calif. high-speed rail bond approved

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600

California voters are green-lighting the nation's most ambitious high-speed rail system, approving a nearly $10 billion bond to speed bullet trains capable of topping 200 mph between the state's major metropolitan areas.

Proposition 1a passed with 52 percent support even as voters rejected most other high-cost initiatives on Tuesday's ballot. It will fund the first phase of what is projected to be a $45 billion project built with state, federal, local and private money.

Backers sold the long-delayed proposal as an innovative alternative to soaring airfares and gas prices. In the closing weeks of the campaign, they touted estimates that it would create nearly 160,000 construction-related jobs and 450,000 permanent jobs.

"They (voters) may be looking at this as a public works program," Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo said Wednesday. "That might have pushed this over the top."

The measure survived even as voters rejected two costly proposals promoting clean energy and two aimed at altering crime fighting. However, they approved measures borrowing money for veterans and children's hospitals.

"In our state, transportation is always a big issue," said Mark Baldassare, president of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Public Policy Institute of California. "A lot of people have a sense that maybe that (bullet train) is something I can use at some point. It's something they can relate to."

The 800-mile rail line would link Anaheim, Los Angeles, Fresno and San Francisco. Planners eventually want to include Sacramento, San Diego and Oakland.

"Californians decided to reduce our oil dependence, to build alternatives to traffic and long airport lines, and to help solve global warming. Californians were also voting to boost the economy," Emily Rusch of the advocacy group CALPIRG.

The $9.9 billion proposition includes $9 billion for bullet trains and $950 million for conventional commuter and intercity rail, including trains to connect travelers with the high-speed train system.

"The citizens of California have put the 21st century golden spike in the ground," Quentin Kopp, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said in a statement referring to a long-gone era when trains were the primary mode of long-distance transportation.

The plan still could be derailed, however.

Proponents are counting on the federal and local governments and private investments to help with the estimated $45 billion total cost.

One environmental group, the Planning and Conservation League, already has sued over plans to route trains through the coastal mountains from the Central Valley to the San Francisco Bay area through the Pacheco Pass southeast of San Jose. The league wants the rail line to follow more urban route through the northern Altamont Pass east of San Francisco.

Opponents also fear the measure might not pay for itself and require ongoing subsidies.

But with enough money, supporters say the first trains could be running in six years and the entire system could be completed by 2020.

Florida and Midwestern states are among regions waiting to follow California's lead, CalPIRG's Rusch said in a statement.

California's effort has been 14 years in development, since it was first recommended by a commission in 1994. Two years later, lawmakers created the nine-member authority to oversee planning for the bullet trains. Legislators approved a bond measure for the November 2004 ballot, then delayed it until 2006 and again until this year in deference to other construction borrowing measures.

The long delay may have played in the measure's favor, said Baldassare of the public policy institute.

"It's an idea, a concept, that Californians were familiar with," Baldessare said.

The measure passed without support from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor supported the concept in an opinion piece, but concentrated in this election on promoting a legislative redistricting measure and opposing a drug rehabilitation initiative.

National Leaders for Hep B Free

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As representative for the 15th Congressional District of Calif., Mike Honda is well aware of the cost that hepatitis B has on the nation as a result of expensive treatments for liver cancer, hard-to-come-by liver transplants, and the lost productivity to the economy as the disease hits working people in the prime of their careers.

At the same time, because the HBV vaccine is so effective it is being hailed as the “anti-liver cancer vaccine,” Honda is also confident that the fight against hepatitis B can be won.

“We’re talking about a disease that is preventable and treatable if it’s diagnosed in its early stages,” Honda says. “This is about preventing human suffering.”

Recognizing that the tools necessary to stop the spread of hepatitis B and prevent HBV-related deaths were already at doctors’ disposal if only organized properly, Honda embarked on a crusade to increase awareness of the disease among APIs, for whom hepatitis B and liver cancer are the greatest health disparity.

Honda’s first attempt to break the silence surrounding the disease happened in 2006, when the congressman submitted to a hepatitis B test at a public- screening day held in San Francisco.

In 2007, Honda and fellow congressmen from New York and Pennsylvania introduced a resolution to support the very first National Hepatitis B Awareness Week. The program’s goal was to educate communities across the nation about hepatitis B and promote the benefits of screening, vaccination and early treatment.

“We must educate ourselves and our loved ones about this devastating disease,” Honda explains. “Testing and vaccination are critical to stemming the tide of this health crisis. And treatments are available. Hepatitis B diagnosis does not have to be a death sentence.”

Later that year, Honda co-wrote a bill calling for the development of a national plan for the prevention, control and medical management of hepatitis B. The bill, the first ever to address hepatitis B at the national level, sought to boost immunization rates nationwide and increase federal funding for hepatitis B research, as well as provide funding for the education of high-risk populations, including Asian Americans.

State Rep. Fiona Ma admits that she knew practically nothing about hepatitis B before becoming involved in the SF Hep B Free campaign.

Like many people infected with the virus, Ma never exhibited any symptoms of the disease. She was shocked when, after submitting to a routine blood test administered as part of a job application process, she learned that she is chronically infected with hepatitis B.

Ma contracted the disease from her mother via perinatal exposure, a very common means of transmission for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Ma’s brother later tested positive for hepatitis B as well. But their younger sister, who was born after the hepatitis B vaccine became available, was safely immune. All in Ma’s family remain healthy, and with regular monitoring to detect signs of potential liver damage, they expect to remain so.

“I’m perfectly fine today,” Ma says. “But it’s one of those things that you and your doctor have to monitor very closely because this disease rarely shows symptoms until it’s too late for treatment.”

Ma became aware of the impact of hepatitis B on the Asian and Pacific Islander American community: An estimated one in 10 APIs is infected with chronic hepatitis B, compared to one out of 1000 in the general population. After learning of the challenges that lack of awareness, cultural differences and language barriers present in efforts to screen, vaccinate and treat APIs for the disease, Ma set out to increase public awareness within her community.

In 2006, shortly before vacating her seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Ma wrote a resolution calling for the screening and vaccination of all API residents in San Francisco. The resolution was passed and signed into law by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in Nov. 2006, laying the groundwork for the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign.

As a state assemblywoman, Ma has since written a similar bill calling for the creation of state-funded pilot programs for hepatitis B prevention and management in Los Angeles and the S.F. Bay Area.

“This disease is treatable and preventable,” Ma explains. “But many people are unaware that they may be infected with hepatitis B, like I was. Through raising awareness and directing resources, we can end the disproportionate impact that the disease has on Asian Americans.”

High-Speed Rail on California Ballot

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Ten other countries have successful high-speed rail systems — France, Great Britain, Japan, Russia and even Finland — and yet high-speed rail is still foreign to the U.S. Now, the country's most populous state is hoping to take the lead. In California, a 220-mph train could zip from San Francisco to Los Angeles in about two-and-a-half hours. But first voters must decide if they want to approve a $10 billion bond for the project.

Click here to listen to the report at NPR.com

California Democratic Party Endorsement

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Click here to read the California Democratic Party's endorsement of candidates including Fiona Ma.

Taking On Toys

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Click here to download the article in PDF format.

Fiona Ma, Executive Search Firm VP Honored at Asian Women Leaders Gala

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO - Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Kyung Yoon, vice chairwoman of executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, were honored at the Society of Asian Women Leaders’ second annual awards banquet and charity auction on October 11 at the Hilton Hotel.

Every year the Bay Area-based organization honors a woman who has made an impact in the community as well as a woman who has influenced the business professional world.

Yoon, who came to the United States from Korea when she was eight years old, joined Heidrick & Struggles in 1994 and has been one of the key drivers in the firm’s Asia Pacific expansion, with management responsibility for the Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Seoul offices.

Yoon recalled the difficulties of being an Asian American woman in the workforce after graduating from business school. “There weren’t that many role models,” said Yoon, wearing an elegant, floor-length, silk embroidered Korean hanbok. “There were not that many women in the work force. And there were definitely not that many Asian women, so I found myself kind of doing things I thought were appropriate and kind of figuring my own way.”

Before her political career, Ma had worked for Ernst & Young but said she left when she saw the glass ceiling. “There were no women partners or senior managers,” she said to the audience at the gala.

Ma started her own business and became president of Asian Business Association, which helped minority and female business owners. “To be here to talk about how business and my career impacted where I am today comes full circle for me,” Ma said.

The event was emceed by the enthusiastic Thuy Vu, CBS 5’s Emmy-winning television reporter.

Proceeds from the event benefited C.E.O. Women, an organization devoted to assisting low-income refugee and immigrant women starting their own businesses.

SAWL and C.E.O. Women have partnered together this year to create a venture fund award program to support those of Asian descent in the Bay Area. The $2,000 award provides capital for a woman to launch her business.

Prop. H offers San Francisco a path to energy independence

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

With global climate change and increasing energy costs, Americans are finally demanding energy independence. In San Francisco, we have long known that charting our own energy future is sound public policy. That is why we are supporting Proposition H, the Clean Energy Act.

In 1913, Congress passed the Raker Act and gave San Francisco the power to determine our own destiny. Since then, we've shown that we are "the city that knows how," successfully running water, power and sewer programs. The Clean Energy Act builds on this track record and adapts for a changing planet.

Despite the extensive advertising campaigns, the sad truth is that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. provides less clean energy today than it did in 2003. On March 26, PG&E filed compliance reports with the state showing that a paltry 11.4 percent of its portfolio meets renewable standards today, compared with 12.4 percent three years ago.

Prop. H puts us on the path to energy independence by requiring that 100 percent of San Francisco's energy come from clean sources by 2040. Prop. H would require expert study and public input to determine whether San Francisco should control more of its energy delivery or maintain the status quo. The choice is: Should San Francisco establish a mandate to switch on clean energy, or continue the failed policies of the past? Opponents of Prop. H - funded by PG&E - argue that the measure allows the mayor and Board of Supervisors to issue revenue bonds, and eliminates your right to vote on them. However, Charter Section 14.102 empowers voters to nullify any ordinance, fiscal or otherwise.

Prop. H updates provisions approved by voters in November 2002 that allow the mayor and board of supervisors to issue water and sewage revenue bonds. This updated approach is an industry standard, allowing the cost-effective issuance of bonds when ratepayers get the best deal. Bonds under Prop. H come with stricter safeguards, because they can be authorized only after expert study, public hearings and fiscal analysis by the San Francisco's budget analyst, currently Harvey Rose. The unelected executives at PG&E never face voters, yet have the authority today to issue revenue bonds. Perhaps that's why they filed a 6.5 percent rate increase in June, just as Californians were paying more at the pump and PG&E executives were taking home millions in compensation. It could also explain why PG&E paid its executives $83 million in bonuses while filing for bankruptcy in 2001. Meanwhile, municipal utilities all across the state, including Sacramento, Los Angeles, Alameda, Santa Clara and Palo Alto all provide cheaper power. The next time you receive a mailer expressing PG&E's concern about voter oversight, consider this. Without any input from ratepayers, PG&E has already spent more than $5.4 million against Prop. H attempting to turn back the clock on renewable energy. Just imagine the difference a similar investment could have made in meeting renewable goals, undergrounding utilities in our neighborhoods, stopping blackouts or increasing energy efficiency. Are hefty fees for campaign consultants and millions in executive compensation among your priorities?

Voters always have the final say when the government runs a public works program in an honest, transparent and accountable manner. That's been the vision since the Raker Act in 1913, and it can continue in our "cotu that knows how." For our energy future, we encourage you to vote yes on Prop. H.

Once a victim herself, Gary woman creates domestic violence database

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

GARY -- As Myra Spearman lay unconscious on the floor of her Chicago home, her abuser called Spearman's mother and said, "I think I killed her."

Spearman, who suffered permanent nerve damage from the beating, survived, but the violence was the last straw in a 14-year relationship of physical, verbal and emotional torture, she said.

Only later did Spearman find out that her abuser had a history of violence.

"Had I known, I never would have dated him to begin with," said Spearman, who now lives in Gary.

It was that frustration that led Spearman to create an online database -- at theweaker

vessel.org -- that lists the names of Lake County residents who have been convicted of domestic violence or who have had protection orders or restraining orders filed against them in court.

Patterned after Internet sites that identify sex offenders, The Weaker Vessel identifies domestic abuse offenders and lists the person's name, city and county of alleged offense, case number and description of offense -- all public information gleaned from court records provided by the Lake County Sheriff's Department.

While imperfect -- not all entries include full names and birth dates, for example -- it provides enough information for interested parties to find out more.

That alone may save a life, Spearman said.

"I just want to let you know that they have hurt people in the past and if you're dating them you should ask questions," Spearman said.

Sheriff's Department Administrative Deputy Chief Patti Van Til, who coordinates the department's Domestic Violence Task Force, said programs like Spearman's can help stem the cycle of abuse in Northwest Indiana.

"I support whatever method we have to protect potential victims," Van Til said. "It give an individual a heads-up to assess a relationship."

"That's one of the focuses of having a database available," Van Til said. "If it can save one person's life, we've done good work, and she's done good work."

Working with a Gary-based data systems and design firm, Data Mine, Spearman already has input the names of 400 Lake County offenders and now is indexing names of offenders in Marion County and parts of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Lake County domestic violence advocates believe theweakervessel.org is the nation's first online database of domestic violence offenders.

Earlier this year, a California assemblywoman introduced a bill allowing people to access criminal background information on a potential partner or spouse. A portion of that bill proposed creating the nation's first domestic violence database.

"Obviously, knowledge is power," Assemblywoman Fiona Ma said at the time. "If you encounter someone who you think is a little bit creepy, you would have the ability to check."

The portion of the bill creating the online database, however, was dropped because of opposition from victim advocacy groups concerned over privacy issues.

Spearman says the Web site is intended to empower women, not embarrass offenders.

A domestic violence advocate who helped create the California bill -- Alexis Moore of California-based Survivors in Action -- applauds Spearman's action in northwest Indiana.

"Myra and I have to be vigilant," Moore said. "The public records are there, but most victims don't know how to research those county by county and state by state."

Spearman said she hopes to get a grant to create a national database that will "contribute to the prevention of domestic violence and sexual abuse of women and children worldwide."

Local Transit Agencies Say High-Speed Rail is Good For Economy

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Representatives from several Bay Area transportation agencies said at a meeting in San Francisco today that they support California's high-speed rail project because it is in the best interest of the local economy.

The State Assembly Select Committee on Rail Transportation met in City Hall with representatives from transit agencies such as San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Bay Area Rapid Transit. They explained the project, which would eventually travel from San Diego to Sacramento at 220 mph, would pump money into transit stations in the Bay Area.

One of the main focuses was on constructing the Transbay Terminal, a "Grand Central'' of San Francisco, that is supposed to be finished by 2014 and serve as a connector to all mass transit in the city.

Initial money would come straight from Proposition 1A, a $19.9 billion bond measure on the November ballot to fund the first construction phase of a high-speed rail system connecting the San Francisco Transbay Terminal to Los Angeles Union Station.

SFMTA Executive Director Nathaniel Ford said the rail would thrive in a San Francisco because it would help boost the market with retail and more housing and also provides $65 million for the agency to make connections to the rail.

"Metro areas drive this economy,'' Ford said. "Are we providing the best service to our customers?"

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, sits on the committee and said the high-speed rail is the future of transit. Ma said accommodation for commuters starts with building the Transbay Terminal, because it would make the commute shorter and more pleasant.

University of California, Berkeley professor at the Institute of Transportation Studies Robert Cervero said BART is the "lifeblood of the economic flow between San Francisco and the East Bay.'' Cervero said the transit systems are necessary and the high-speed rail would help California become more globally competitive in the transit system world.

"By global standards, (California) is still an auto-driven environment,'' he said. "The Transbay Terminal would make the connection, with huge market and real estate abilities.''

New laws aim to slow metal theft

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

For at least the last three years, farmers have suffered through a sharp increase in thefts of anything metal. Now, newly signed legislation should bring relief to those farmers and others who have lost thousands of dollars' worth of brass valves, copper wire, aluminum pipes and other metal.

In response to the rising rate of metal theft, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed several bills last week that provide law enforcement with new tools to fight thieves stealing scrap metals from agricultural equipment and utilities, as well as items such as manhole covers, fire hydrants, guardrails and more.

The bills include Assembly Bill 844 by Assembly Member Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, and Senate Bill 691 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello.

AB 844, co-sponsored by Farm Bureau, puts an end to a pattern of quick cash for metal thieves by requiring recyclers to hold payment for three days, take a thumbprint of anyone selling scrap metal, photograph the metal and document its origin. It also requires anyone convicted of metal theft to pay restitution for the materials stolen and for any collateral damage caused during the theft. Recyclers who break the law face suspension or revocation of their business licenses, and increased fines and jail time.

SB 691, which Farm Bureau also supported, is identical to AB 844.

"Combating metal theft has been a top priority for Farm Bureau on behalf of our members," said California Farm Bureau Federation Administrator Rich Matteis. "The success of these bills is very gratifying and shows how grassroots work by Farm Bureau members and staff can bring meaningful improvements in state law."

Matteis noted that both bills include urgency clauses specifying that they take effect on Dec. 1.

"We expect these bills to bring real results, real soon," he said.

Metal theft has created serious impacts statewide, but farmers have especially been targeted, mostly for irrigation equipment such as brass fittings and copper wire. San Joaquin County grower Jeff Brown, who grows winegrapes and melons near Lathrop, has been hit multiple times.

"We've had issues where we've been irrigating and we'd arrive in the morning and find that the pump is off. We realize right away that someone has come in during the night and ripped out all of the wires," Brown said. "These metal thieves not only cause an incredible amount of damage to the equipment, but these thefts result in downtime because the pump is off and out of operation."

In one instance, one of the disabled pumps had been providing irrigation water to 50 acres of melons.

"The timing of irrigations is critical and once you go away from that it can affect the quality of the crop and result in crop losses," he said. "You have to call the pump company and sometimes you have to sit a couple of days. You get behind on irrigations and then you have a lot of anxiety of whether you are going to have a crop or not. So this has been a real problem."

Merced County farmer Bill Weimer said he's glad a statewide solution for the problem of metal theft has been found.

"I think that the governor signing these bills is excellent," Weimer said. "I've been a victim of metal theft many times. I would suspect that so far this year we've had well over $12,000-$15,000 in expenses, most of which were metal theft-related. In total, the product that they stole from us probably only amounted to a few hundred dollars' worth of recycled material. But during these thefts they destroy all of the irrigation parts attached to the valves, which costs us much more to repair."

The damage that metal thieves cause goes way beyond broken equipment. Sometimes the destruction causes harm to crops, such as when thieves steal copper wire from irrigation pumps or leave water running in the field.

"One night they took valves off of one field. The system was still running and water was flooding into my row-crop field," Weimer said. "I came out the next day and had two acres of flooded ground."

As the owner of Atwater Irrigation, Weimer knows the impact that metal theft has had on his fellow farmers.

"In the spring and summer, growers continued to come in and buy valves. They said their brass valves were disappearing. I had the folks in the office track it and we had over 45 customers during that period who had one or more incidences of metal theft and had to replace valves and broken PVC," Weimer said. "From our standpoint, I sold a bunch of irrigation parts, but was that enjoyable? No it wasn't, knowing the reason why it was happening,"

Sgt. Walt Reed of the Kern County Sheriff's Department Rural Crime Investigation Unit has been dealing with the issue of metal thefts for a number of years and said he's pleased that the governor approved the bills.

"We are very excited and looking forward to being able to have a tool to combat this large problem of metal theft we've been fighting," Reed said. "It has been a problem for my entire career but it's really come to the forefront in the past three years with the high price of copper."

In the height of the summer months, Reed said he and his fellow detectives were spending 90 percent of their time on metal theft cases.

"These new laws will produce a stronger paper trail needed to catch these thieves," Reed said. "It is going to require that payment be held for three days, which takes away the instant cash that thieves now have access to. It is going to cause more work for the recycling yards, which we hope makes these businesses not as quick to receive the stolen property."

Fresno County Farm Bureau Executive Director Ryan Jacobsen said AB 844 enables local jurisdictions such as cities and counties to adopt even stricter regulations.

"The basic statewide policy got tougher, but at the same time it is still going to allow the local jurisdiction to set an even tougher policy," Jacobsen said. "The statewide law requires a three-day payment hold but now a local jurisdiction can say, 'Three days doesn't give our sheriff's department enough time; we need five days.' This will allow local jurisdictions to play a bigger role than what they've been able to play in the past. So this is an excellent deal."

The governor also signed three other bills to address metal-theft concerns:

SB 447 by Senator Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, assists law enforcement officials in quickly investigating stolen metal and apprehending thieves by requiring scrap metal dealers and recyclers to report on a daily basis what materials are being scrapped at their facilities and by whom. These rules already apply to pawnshop dealers.

AB 1778 by Assembly Member Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, deters the theft of recyclables by requiring recyclers to obtain identifying information of individuals who bring in more than $50 worth of California Redemption Value recyclables and newspapers. It also requires that payments of $50 or more be made by check.

AB 1859 by Assembly Member Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia, discourages the theft of fire hydrant fittings and fire department connections by creating a fine of not more than $3,000 for any person who knowingly receives any part of a fire hydrant, including bronze or brass fittings and parts.

Joe Enos, who farms almonds in the Livingston and Atwater areas, said he's happy that Gov. Schwarzenegger approved the metal theft laws.

"We did our own sting," Enos said. "We took good stuff, smashed it and hauled it to one of the recyclers in Merced. They didn't even ask."

Reed said sheriff's detectives will continue to conduct reverse stings on the recycling yards, "to make sure that they are following the law."

Reed reminds farmers and ranchers to be vigilant and protect their properties.

"Anything that is out in the field, keep an eye on it and try to secure it," he said.

Gov. Schwarzenegger signed five bills that restrict recyclers.

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Five bills meant to make a dent in metal thefts statewide were signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week.

The bills are important for Merced County, where law enforcement officials say metal thefts are frequent, especially at farms.

One of the bills, AB 844, is crafted to help law enforcement officials track stolen metals sold to scrap recyclers by forcing recyclers to keep identifying information about sellers on file, such as their photos, thumbprints and pictures of the metal they're turning in.

Sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, the bill would also require anyone convicted of stealing metal to pay restitution -- not just for what he stole but also for any collateral damage the crime may have caused.

Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin said the requirements contained in AB 844 will help law enforcement fight metal thefts, which have become a "plague."

Although the county already has an anti-metal theft ordinance, supporters of the bill believe a California law could help deter thieves from selling their wares in other counties. "Thankfully, now we have a statewide law that is a new umbrella that helps law enforcement and will also help mitigate thefts," Pazin said.

County Supervisor John Pedrozo said he was glad the governor signed the bills because he knows many who've been affected by metal thefts. Pedrozo said thieves in Merced County have targeted foreclosed homes, stripping them of copper and other metals for money.

Metal thefts also burden farmers with large expenses. For example, an average brass valve stem can cost between $20 and $40. "If you have 15 or 20 valves in a field, figure it out," Pedrozo said.

Under the provisions of AB 844, recyclers would have to turn the seller's identifying information over to law enforcement officials each month. The bill also includes a provision that would require recyclers to withhold payments from sellers for three days.

In addition to AB 844, Schwarzenegger signed several similar metal theft bills:

SB 691 requires recyclers to take thumbprints of individuals selling copper, copper alloys, aluminum and stainless steal. The bill was authored by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello.

AB 1859 imposes a fine of not more than $3,000 for any person who knowingly receives any part of a fire hydrant, including bronze or brass fittings and parts. The bill was authored by Assemblyman Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia.

SB 447 requires scrap metal dealers and recyclers to report what materials are being scrapped at their facilities and by whom on a daily basis. The bill was authored by Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria.

AB 1778 requires recyclers to obtain identifying information on individuals who bring in more than $50 worth of CRV recyclables and newspapers. It also requires that payments of $50 or more be made by check. The bill was authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.

Cracking down on unlicensed locksmiths

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

OAKLAND, CA (KGO) -- A bill awaiting the Governor's signature would crack down on unlicensed locksmiths gouging vulnerable residents locked out of their home or cars. Supporters of the measure credit a 7 On Your Side investigation with inspiring the bill.

Most of us would feel threatened if our house or car keys got into the wrong hands. That's what happens every time someone hires an unlicensed locksmith.

Christopher Chew knows how vulnerable you can become when you get locked out of your house.

The Emeryville man claims 24 Hour Locksmith told him the bill would be no more than $200. the final bill was $613.

The locksmith demanded immediate payment in cash and drove him to an ATM to withdraw it.

"It was a very implied threat. He said I know exactly where you live. My bosses are going to get their money some way or another. We obviously have access to your place," said Chew.

We attempted to reach 24 hour locksmith for comment, but their phone is disconnected.

This summer, the state legislature passed AB 2592 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma with the support of the California Locksmith Association.

"The consumer in the new law will have the ability for restitution upon prosecution. They can actually get their money back from the individual that did the wrong against them," said John Brueggeman, President of the California Locksmith Association.

The bill increases the fine for unlicensed locksmith activity tenfold to $10,000.

"This is a public safety issue, it is also a huge underground economy issue and it's also helping the legitimate small businesses," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D) San Francisco.

7 On Your Side researchers last year found only two percent of the 2,300 locksmiths listed in www.yellowpages.com had legitimate licenses.

Our investigation also found that at least 75 percent of those locksmiths don't have permits to collect taxes. Those uncollected taxes are believed to be costing the state untold millions every year.

But Ma says this is primarily a safety issue.

"Nobody knows who these people are and what they're doing with copies of your keys to your home and car. I believe if the governor signs a bill, people will feel more secure about calling a locksmith," said Ma.

Co-owner Randall Reed from Reed Brothers Security is so frustrated by unlicensed activity, he conducted his own sting. Reed lured a suspected unlicensed locksmith to his shop, and held him until police arrived.

Oakland Police cited him for unlicensed business activity and driving with a suspended license.

"The cops, they cuffed him, put him back of the car. They verified he didn't have a license," said Reed.

Most locksmiths agree the key is enforcement.

"Some of the people like the DA who would say they can't spend the money on it. Now if they raise the fine to $10,000 per event, maybe they'll be able to go after them," said Steve Hess from All City Locksmith.

Hess is cautious with his support of the bill. Others are more enthusiastic.

"KGO7 has been at the forefront in the state of California of bringing this to the attention of the consuming public," said Brueggeman.

"I just thank KGO for bringing this to our attention. I think this is a very important consumer safety issue," said Ma.

We'll stay on top of this and let you know what the Governor does.

CDC Announces New Testing Recommendations

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO - With the S.F. Hep B Free’s “B a Hero” ad encouraging people to get tested for the disease as a backdrop, members of the campaign joined Dr. John Ward, director of Viral Hepatology for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, at the Chinatown Public Health Center on Sept. 18 to announce the CDC’s new treatment recommendations.

The national recommendations, primarily for health care providers, are designed to increase routine testing in the United States for chronic hepatitis B, a major cause of liver disease and liver cancer.

The new testing recommendations reinforce prior recommendations to test all pregnant women, infants born to infected mothers, household contacts, sex partners of infected individuals and people with HIV. Along with these groups, testing is now recommended for persons with abnormal liver function tests and who require chemotherapy, men who have sex with men and drug users who use injections, a group that has a higher prevalence rate of chronic HBV infection than the general U.S. population. Individuals born in Asia, Africa and other geographic regions are also recommended to get tested; these groups have a 2 percent or higher prevalence of chronic HBV.

Ward said these new recommendations are critical to identifying people who are living with the disease.

“Testing is the first step to identify infected persons so that they can receive lifesaving care and treatment, which break the cycle of transmission, slow disease progression and prevent deaths from liver cancer,” said Ward.

The CDC advises that those already infected with the disease seek a specialist for ongoing monitoring and medical care. Healthcare providers are directed to offer culturally sensitive ongoing patient education and to begin lifelong monitoring for the progression of liver disease.

With jade ribbon pins on their lapels, supporters in attendance included Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Franchise Lead of Hepatolgy Allan Brooks, the Chinatown Public Health Center’s Albert Yu and San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Director Dr. Mitch Katz, who sported the campaign’s royal blue “B a Hero” wristband.

“The S.F. Hep B Free campaign has done a great job of spreading awareness of this disease,” said Ma, a chronic hepatitis B carrier. “If you have not been screened, go out and do so today.”

For more information about hepatitis B, visit cdc.gov/hepatitis. For more about the S.F. Hep B Free campaign sfhepbfree.org.

Hepatitis B plan seeks to aid high-risk groups

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Federal health officials Thursday made public new recommendations designed to reduce the toll of chronic hepatitis B, particularly among Asian Americans and others considered at high risk for the disease that's known as a silent killer.

For the first time, government guidelines will focus on treatment, education and long-term care of infected patients. Until now, recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have centered on screening and testing.

Hepatitis B, which affects an estimated 25,000 Asians and Pacific Islanders in San Francisco alone, is a major cause of liver cancer, cirrhosis or liver failure - and often strikes without apparent symptoms. It is preventable with a simple vaccine.

The CDC's new guidelines recommend testing all people in the United States who were born in Asia and Africa. Additionally, testing should be done for "at-risk" people, including men who have sex with other men and injection-drug users.

"There are better treatments (available) than ever before," said Dr. John W. Ward, director of the CDC's division of viral hepatitis, during a news conference Thursday at the Chinatown Public Health Center.

San Francisco was chosen as the site for the announcement in part because of the effectiveness of the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign, which was started in April 2007. So far, 4,000 people have been vaccinated through the project, a collaboration of the city, private health care and community organizations. The program, the goal of which is to eradicate the virus in the city, is considered a model nationally.

San Francisco, like other Bay Area cities, is a gateway for immigrants from China and other Asian countries where there is a high prevalence of the infection. The city has the nation's highest rate of liver cancer.

Nationally, health experts believe that as many as 1.4 million Americans may unknowingly be infected by hepatitis B. About 2,000 to 4,000 people die each year in the United States from cirrhosis and liver cancer, and chronic hepatitis B is the underlying cause.

According to the CDC, 1 in 12 Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States is infected.

The new guidelines "will offer that much more oomph," said Dr. Mitch Katz, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. "This is a disease that is both preventable for many and treatable."

State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, learned when she was 22 that she had the infection, contracted from her mother as an infant. But only in the past two years, she said, has she learned much about the disease and taken steps to slow its progression. She quit drinking and started getting an annual sonogram of her liver.

Now she's trying to destigmatize it for others.

"Our culture is not to talk about disease," she said. "People should not keep this a secret. I was walking around for 20 years not knowing what to do about my own health. I have a 1 in 4 probability of developing liver cancer. I'm hopeful that the disease won't affect me in my lifetime."

Hepatitis B

-- It is caused by the hepatitis B virus. If untreated, it can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.

-- It can be passed from a mother to her child during childbirth, the most common way that Asians and Pacific Islanders acquire the disease. It also can be spread by unprotected sex and contact with razors or toothbrushes or other items that harbor infected blood.

-- It can be detected through a simple blood test.

-- A highly effective vaccine is available.

-- 350 million to 400 million people in the world are chronically infected.

-- 1.4 million of them are Americans.

-- 1 in 10 San Francisco Asians and Pacific Islanders have the disease.

For more information go to: links.sfgate.com/ZEWN or links.sfgate.com/ZEWM

Source: San Francisco Hep B Free and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

SF: Aseemblywoman Ma Wants to Eradicate Hepatitis B from the City

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said at news conference in San Francisco Chinatown's Public Health Center today that she is the one out of every ten Asian-American and Pacific Islanders that carry the Hepatitis B Virus and dreams of eradicating the disease from the United States.

At the conference that was laden by supporters and stakeholders of the campaign SF Hep B Free to rid the virus in the city, the U.S. Center for Disease Control released more strict testing recommendations to help further the Ma's goal. The center collaborated with consultants and experts to recommend ways to rid the potentially fatal disease that is passed through genetics and blood.

It recommends testing people who were born in Africa, Asia and other geographic regions with 2 percent or higher prevalence of chronic Hepatitis B Virus infections. Before today, the center had the same recommendation for regions with 8 percent prevalence.

It also recommends men who have sex with men and injection drug users get routine testing because they have higher prevalence of chronic Hepatitis B Virus than the overall population.

Ma passed a resolution two years ago to test and treat Pacific Islanders in San Francisco for the disease that can lead to liver cancer for a quarter of infected people.

"It's about saving lives,'' she said.

Many other groups such as Stanford University, Kaiser Permanente and a younger community outreach group, B a Hero, supported Ma today for the same reason.

A 17-year-old girl named Stephanie Shan, who was wearing a blue shirt with a Superman logo that replaced the "S'' with a "B,'' said she joined an advocacy group when her father died from liver cancer, provoked by Hepatitis B one year ago.

"I was 16 and I didn't even know what the disease was,'' Shan said. "Now I'm here because I think it's really important that people get tested to prevent it from happening to other families.''

Stanford University Global Community Health Coordinator Alena Groopman said the goal is to make policies and campaigns in San Francisco global.

"A lot of people who have it don't even know they have it,'' Alena said. "The first step is getting tested.''

SF Hep B Free provides free testing and low-cost treatment for any Pacific Islanders living in San Francisco.

Calif. Senate Passes Bill Cracking Down On Free Paper Thefts

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO A divided California state Senate is sending to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger legislation intended to prevent the mass theft of free newspapers, a lightly punished crime now that's growing in frequency in parts of the state.

By a 21-16 vote, the Senate passed a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma that requires recyclers to pay by check, and record the identity information of anyone bringing in more than $50 worth of newspapers, about 840 pounds.

Free paper publishers in the San Francisco Bay Area have been alarmed by brazen thefts pulled off by people who follow delivery trucks and steal the bundled newspapers or all copies in a newsracks. They bring them to recycling centers, which pay in cash.

The bill, AB 1778, was supported by the California Newspaper Publishers Association, and opposed by recycling companies which did not like the record-keeping requirements.

The law, which if signed by Schwarzenegger would take effect next Jan. 1, also applies to aluminum cans, and glass and plastic bottles.

"These recycling raiders must be brought out from the shadows," said Assemblywoman Ma. "Assembly Bill 1778 restores order to neighborhoods that are trashed in the middle of the night. With the price of recycled materials on the rise, recycling theft has become a lucrative business."

Calif. law aims to halt recyclcing thefts

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The California Senate has approved legislation that would help police track down people who raid recycling bins or steal newspapers from newsstands.

The measure by Democratic Assemblywoman Fiona Ma would require recyclers to collect identification from people who bring in more than $100 in recyclable bottles and cans or more than $50 worth of newspapers.

They would also be paid by check instead of cash.

The San Francisco assemblywoman says the bill is aimed at stopping people from making late-night raids on curbside recycling bins and stealing newspapers.

A 21-16 vote Friday sent the bill to the Assembly for a vote on Senate amendments.

Bodies Exhibitions Face Possible Ban in California

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

In an unprecedented victory for human rights activists, California legislators have passed a new law that would ban the display of unclaimed bodies from China for profit in the state.

Majority Whip Fiona Ma of San Francisco who introduced the legislation said its passage shows that California does not accept the commercial exploitation of the deceased.

"This bill will end the practice of unwilled dead-body trafficking," said Ma after her bill recently passed in both the Assembly and the Senate by an overwhelming majority.

ABC News 20/20 interviewed Ma during a four-month investigation of Premier Exhibitions, a publicly traded company that displays the remains of "unclaimed" Chinese people across the country and around the world for about $25 a ticket.

The investigation found that the bodies on display could have been those of executed prisoners.

Ma told ABC News she became suspicious about the exhibitions when she realized that all of the bodies on display were Chinese.

"As an Asian American, I know that few people from my community would voluntarily donate their organs or bodies due to the strong cultural preference of leaving their body intact for burial after death," said Ma. "I am hopeful that the bill will receive the Governor's signature and the practice of unwilled body trafficking will be put to a halt."

Ma's bill is on its way to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but a spokesperson for the Governor said he does not have a position on bills until they reach his desk.

The bill will prohibit the commercial display of human remains after the start of 2010 unless exhibitors file an affidavit to the Attorney General attesting that the donors consented to being put on display, and requires that the exhibitors maintain a paper trail for public inspection.

The state will fine any exhibitor $50,000 per violation if the company fails to maintain the consent forms, and will prohibit the company from continuing to display bodies for profit.

Up until 2010 the bill requires that exhibitors post clear and conspicuous disclosure statements to inform consumers whether or not the bodies on display came from consenting donors.

Premier is currently exhibiting nine "BODIES…the Exhibition" shows around the world, which the company says displays unclaimed bodies from China.

In Redding, Calif., Premier is exhibiting "Bodies Revealed," a show which the company says displays bodies and specimens from consenting Chinese donors.

Ma said she doubts that any Chinese person would voluntarily agree to have his or her remains put on public display.

"I find it hard to believe that 'Bodies Revealed' has the proper permission from the deceased or next of kin," said Ma.

Two weeks ago Pennsylvania state lawmakers debated a similar bill that would require companies that exhibit the remains of human bodies to obtain consent forms from body donors.

Penn. State Rep. Mike Fleck (R), who introduced the bill, echoed Ma's concerns. "In America you can't sell your body. To use someone's body against their will in life or death is exploitation."

Brian Wainger, Premier's general counsel, testified before the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee that while it was impossible to prove that none of the bodies were from executed prisoners, the company's supplier in China, Sui Hongjin, has "never supplied to Premier any specimens with evidence of trauma or bodily injury."

Wainger dismissed the 20/20 report as "sensational" but added, "We cannot be 100 percent sure that a liver didn't come from the body of an executed prisoner. What we can do is rely on credible people who are associated with credible universities and institutions."

In an interview for 20/20 in February, former Premier Chairman Arnie Geller, who resigned following the report, told ABC News he was appalled at the allegations that some of the bodies from his Chinese suppliers might be those of executed prisoners.

He said his own medical staff had seen no such evidence and that his suppliers have assured him that "these are all legitimate, unclaimed bodies that have gone through Dalian Medical University."

In the wake of the 20/20 report, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launched his own investigation and found that Premier could not prove that the bodies on display were not those of executed prisoners. Cuomo and Premier reached a settlement that requires the company to post a disclaimer at its New York exhibit and on the exhibit's website stating the attorney general's finding. The settlement also requires that the company obtain documentation "demonstrating the cause of death and origins of the cadavers" as well as written consent from the donors.

Premier says in its promotional material that it gets the bodies from Dalian Medical University plastination laboratories. Corporate records show that Premier loaned the bodies from Sui, a professor at the university.

When 20/20 called Dalian Medical University in February, the university's president said that the institution had never supplied any bodies to any American company, although the university did at one time supply bodies to Gunther von Hagens, the German doctor who invented plastination. Von Hagens says he no longer uses Chinese bodies for plastination because of the country's controversial human rights record.

ABC News traveled to Sui's plastination laboratory, about an hour's drive outside the city of Dalian, and found that bodies were being plastinated out of a private company's warehouse on a back alley in an industrial zone.

Legislation to Regulate Dead Body Exhibits Moves on to The Governor

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Legislation to regulate dead body exhibits, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), passed the Assembly Floor today with bipartisan support and a vote 62-5 and will now move to the Governor's desk. On Wednesday, the legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 24-10. Assembly Bill 1519 makes California the first state to prohibit the commercial profit and public display of human bodies or remains, unless exhibitors provide documented informed consent of the deceased or next-of-kin.

"These displays do have important educational benefits, but using bodies against a person´s will is unacceptable" said Assemblywoman Ma. "This bill will end the practice of unwilled dead-body trafficking."

The "Bodies Revealed" exhibit, which was on display in Sacramento earlier this year and is currently on display in Redding, came under intense scrutiny earlier this year when a 20/20 report raised alarming concerns over the use of "unclaimed" Chinese bodies. Atlanta-based Premier Exhibitions, who puts on the Bodies Revealed exhibits obtains bodies from China that are infused with silicone through a process called "plastination" for display across the nation. The report concluded that displays were unwilled human remains.

"As an Asian American, I know that few people from my community would voluntarily donate their organs or bodies due to the strong cultural preference of leaving their body intact for burial after death," said Assemblywoman Ma. "I am hopeful that the bill will receive the Governor´s signature and the practice of unwilled body trafficking will be put to a halt."

Specifically, AB 1519 will prohibit the commercial display of human remains beginning on January 1, 2010 unless exhibitors of human remains file an affidavit to the Attorney General, detailing the bodies and specimens on display, and attesting that the bodies received have provided full informed consent, while maintaining a paper trail for public inspection.

The bill sends a message to exhibitors that California appreciates learning about the human body but does not accept the commercial exploitation of unwilled bodies.

Calif. Assembly rejects chemical ban in baby items

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

California lawmakers Monday rejected restrictions on a chemical used in baby bottles and canned formula despite consumer safety concerns that have led retailers to remove products containing the chemical from their shelves.

The state Assembly voted 31-27 on Monday to turn down a bill by Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, requiring that food and beverage containers designed for children 3 years and younger contain no more than trace amounts of bisphenol A.

The vote took place days after the federal Food and Drug Administration declared that low doses of bisphenol A are not a threat to infants or adults. However, the agency acknowledged that more research is needed to fully understand the chemical's effects on humans.

"I think the evidence is just not clear enough," said Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Granite Bay. "If we do switch to a different chemical, has that chemical been thoroughly vetted and are there side affects that impact people and children?"

Animal studies have shown that bisphenol A can disrupt the hormonal system, but scientists differ on whether the very low amounts found in food and beverage containers can be harmful to people.

The FDA's finding followed a report earlier this year by the National Toxicology Program, a partnership of federal health agencies, that found there was "some concern" that the chemical can cause changes in behavior and the brain, and that it may reduce survival and birth weight in fetuses. The conclusion was based on animal studies.

Canada has announced it intends to ban the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles, and several major retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys "R" Us Inc. have said they would stop selling baby bottles made with the chemical next year.

Supporters of the bill said lawmakers should be following manufacturers' cautious lead to protect young children.

"In the end this bill is about a synthetic hormone that is in our children's food," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Bisphenol A is found in dental sealants, the linings of food cans, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses and hundreds of other household goods. The chemical industry, grocery retailers, bottled water companies and food processors say it has been used safely for more than 50 years.

Several California lawmakers said they wanted to wait for more conclusive studies and urged a more comprehensive, science-based look at chemicals in consumer products.

They also turned down a bill by Sen. Elaine Corbett, D-San Leandro, that would have banned perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, a chemical used to keep food from sticking to packaging. The Environmental Protection Agency considers PFOA potentially carcinogenic and says businesses should voluntarily stop using it by 2015.

"I'm not in a position to be able to evaluate the science and it's frustrating," said Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Whittier. "My colleagues say better be safe than sorry. I can't make that decision."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who last year agreed to a ban on another potentially dangerous chemical, phthalates, in baby products and toys, has not said whether he will sign the bills if they pass out of the Legislature. Both lawmakers plan to request another vote on their legislation.

Linda Adams, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, said the governor would consider each bill on its merits, but he favors a more comprehensive approach.

That kind of approach is included in separate legislation moving through the Legislature. As lawmakers rejected the Corbett and Migden bills, Adams and several lawmakers announced that they had struck an agreement that could position California as the first state to regulate chemicals in products.

"I think we're very excited about the idea of having a science-based approach to looking at these chemicals rather than a political fight over each and every one," Adams told The Associated Press in a phone call.

The bill Adams and the lawmakers negotiated would set up a process to regulate products that might contain dangerous chemicals beginning in 2011, said the author, Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles. It would also create a public information clearinghouse on the thousands of chemicals found in everyday products.

While Feuer favors the comprehensive approach in his bill, he urged his Assembly colleagues to pass the immediate chemical bans on bisphenol A and PFOA.

"Ideally soon we will be out of the business for handling measures like this," Feuer said of the individual chemical bans. "But for today our kids rely on us to do the right thing."

With no paid sick leave, workers face grim choices

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

In every war there is collateral damage, and in the legislative battle to pass the long-delayed state budget, one of the casualties last week was a bill that would have provided paid sick leave to workers.

What that means is that for the next year, at least, millions of California workers will face two choices when they're sick: go to work and risk spreading their disease to their co-workers, or stay home and risk losing their pay or even their jobs.

It's not a pretty choice.

Nearly 40 percent of California's work force, totaling 5.4 million workers, do not have the right to take paid time off work when they are sick, according to data from the Institute for Women's Policy Research, or IWPR, in Washington, D.C.

“People are losing their pay, losing their jobs or being penalized in some other way because they had to stay home sick or to take care of a sick child,” said Vicky Lovell, acting director of research at the IWPR.

As with so many other things regarding worker health and safety, the United States stands virtually alone in not guaranteeing workers paid leave when they get sick.

In 145 other countries – including Japan and the top economies of Western Europe – employers are legally required to provide paid sick days or short-or long-term leave for illnesses. In 127 countries, employers must provide at least one week of paid sick leave per year. In contrast, outside of San Francisco – which recently passed its own law on paid sick leave – there is no such requirement in the United States.

True, many U.S. companies provide sick leave, including The San Diego Union-Tribune. If you're employed by a big business, chances are you're entitled to take paid sick days for yourself or, if you're a parent, to care for your sick children. The IWPR study, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, found that 99 percent of businesses with 5,000 or more employees provide such benefits.

But that's voluntary. With no legal requirement, many small and midsized businesses do not provide sick leave. As a result, 85 percent of food service workers in California lack paid sick days, as do 82 percent of construction workers, 78 percent of security guards and 63 percent of personal care workers, according to the IWPR study.

“I have spent many years earlier on where I went to work sick because I couldn't afford not to work,” one respondent said in a survey conducted for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. “It was really miserable for everyone involved: my co-workers, my customers and myself.”

Another respondent said, “I would like to get paid sick days so I can stay home without the fear of being fired.”

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill requiring employers to give workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of labor, though the workers could not use the leave until they worked 90 days. For full-timers, that would total more than eight days of sick leave per year.

The bill passed the Assembly and went to the Senate despite strong opposition from such organizations as the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the California Chamber of Commerce, which called it a “job killer.” Marti Fisher, a lobbyist for the chamber, said the bill “would cause employers to make tough decisions that would hurt California workers and cost jobs.”

A legislative alert put out by the chamber charged that “the ever-increasing burden of costly mandates on employers can cumulatively lower wages, reduce health insurance, limit training and produce job loss.”

That's an old argument and has been used against such reforms as the minimum wage, overtime requirements and the 40-hour workweek. But when you consider that 145 other nations have implemented paid sick leave without their businesses going belly up, you have to wonder what there is about American businesses that makes them so fragile that they can't provide sensible protections for their workers.

Nick Hardeman, Ma's legislative aide, argues that paying for sick workers to stay home is not some bleeding-heart humanitarian cause. It also makes business sense.

“For one thing, the public health benefits are tremendous, because co-workers of the sick employees are less likely to catch infectious diseases,” Hardeman said. “And studies also show that you also improve employee morale and reduce turnover by offering those kinds of benefits.”

The Schwarzenegger administration opposed the bill on the grounds that it would add costs to the state budget. The Department of Finance estimated that paying for the sick leave would add $600,000 to the budget, because the state would have to pay for sick leave for nurses who provide health care to elderly, blind and disabled patients in their homes.

If such nurses were state employees, they would be entitled to paid sick days. But because they are working for private agencies – which are in turn compensated by the state – their sick pay would be an added expense to the budget.

It was ultimately the nursing issue and not the business lobby that killed the bill, since the state Senate Appropriations Committee has put a moratorium on passing any bill requiring new spending. A number of other bills also have fallen by the wayside.

The Chamber of Commerce wasted little time in claiming credit, however. In a news release, it boasted that it had blocked the bill, working with “businesses up and down the state.”

Nevertheless, similar measures are being debated in 10 other states, from Rhode Island to Alaska. With 73 percent of the California public supporting paid sick leave – according to the latest Harris poll – it seems that a bill will pass sooner or later, provided we don't run into another budget mess.

Paid Sick Days Legislation Delayed Due to Significant Budget Deficit

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 2716, the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act, was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday as a result of California´s budget delay. Authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), AB 2716 would have made California the first state in the country to provide all workers with the ability to earn paid sick days to take time to recover from illness. The bill had costs associated with providing paid sick days for some state employees and for enforcement.

"Working Californians deserve a state government that works," said Assemblywoman Ma. "The Republican budget delay is a clear assault on California´s working families, already resulting in low-wage state employees being fired. At the same time working families are losing out on their chance to gain an important new benefit, Republicans are helping oil companies and yacht owners avoid paying their fair share."

A Field Research Corporation Poll conducted earlier this week found that 73% of California voters are in favor of a law allowing all workers to earn paid sick days. Support for such a law crosses party lines and includes 56% of Republicans.

"The overwhelming support for AB 2716 crosses party lines and voters recognize how important this bill is for public health," said Assemblywoman Ma. "I will continue to work every day I am in office to ensure that California´s working families have the ability to take a day to recover from illness without the fear of being fired or losing a day´s pay."

Co-sponsored by the California Labor Federation and California ACORN, AB 2716 is supported by a statewide coalition of over 70 organizations including local governments, health professionals and civil rights organizations. Assemblywoman Ma will work with these groups to determine next steps, which could include a state ballot measure.

Herdt: Ray of hope for workers?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Fair Labor Standards Act, passed 70 years ago, embodies all the humane workplace standards by which civilized societies abide: a ban on child labor, the 40-hour workweek, minimum wage, overtime pay.

But those fundamental worker rights do not include one that most Californians believe ought to be among them. Nothing in the law says that if you're up all night vomiting Tuesday and stay home in bed Wednesday, you'll still have your job Thursday — let alone get paid wages for the day you missed.

The Legislature is on the verge of expanding the rights of workers by guaranteeing the right of paid sick time, a bill that would make California the first in the nation to mandate that right.

Supporters of the bill Tuesday released the results of a poll conducted by the respected Field Research Corp. It showed lopsided results the likes of which are seldom seen in today's polarized politics. By a 3-to-1 margin (73 percent to 23 percent) California voters support the idea of a state law.

White people like the idea, Latinos like it, young voters like it, senior citizens like it. Republicans, Democrats, independents, men, women, rich folk, poor folk — everybody likes it.

Voters like it even when told the argument that paid sick days would increase costs of doing business and that some businesses would likely respond by cutting back hours or laying off some workers.

Strikingly, 76 percent agree that "paid sick days is a basic worker right, just like being paid a decent wage."

The fact is, an estimated 5.4 million California workers cannot call in sick without losing a day's pay or risking their jobs. That's about 40 percent of the work force.

It was a different world back in 1938, when President Roosevelt was signing those sweeping workplace regulations. Sick pay wasn't much of an issue then. The great majority of households had two parents; dad went to work and mom stayed home. If a child had the stomach flu, there was already a full-time day-care provider in the house.

Today, if a child shows up at a day-care center with a hint of green mucus leaking from his nose, the provider will send him directly home — and properly so.

The poll comes on the heels of a study released last week by the group Human Impact Partners that detailed the public health benefits such a law would have.

More than a third of flu cases are transmitted in schools and workplaces. The organization calculated that if people stayed home when they had the flu, it would reduce by as much as 34 percent the number of people infected by a flu pandemic.

Furthermore, the study noted 70 percent of food service workers in the state do not have paid sick days — a fact of life that substantially increases the risk foodborne diseases will be spread in restaurants.

The underlying issue, beyond the polls and studies, is what used to be known as the social contract — something Assemblyman Sandré Swanson, D-Oakland, described as "that very important social and economic partnership that's supposed to exist between employers and workers."

That kind of thinking, California Labor Federation lobbyist Angie Wei told me Tuesday, has become almost quaint in the 21st century American economy.

"We no longer have a social contract that says if you work hard every day you get taken care of," she said.

The bill, AB2716 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, may be the most groundbreaking piece of legislation to emerge from Sacramento in 2008.

It is vigorously opposed by employer groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, which has placed the bill on its annual "job killer" list — a list that in the past Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has paid close attention to.

The opposition is understandable; the change would be a radical shift in the status quo, opening uncertain questions about costs and scheduling.

To date, Schwarzenegger has not closed the door on the idea.

Given his close relationship with the business community and his free-market instincts, it would be a difficult bill for him to sign. It may the kind of issue that has to build some momentum over time.

Still, there won't be much encouraging news for working people to come from Sacramento in this year of out-of-control gas prices, record mortgage foreclosures and grocery bills that keep on climbing. Maybe this bill could be one hopeful message to working people that their lot will get better.

"During these tough times," Wei said, "we need to get these rays of hope."

Muni operators who shorten runs given warning

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

For years, some Municipal Railway light--rail vehicle operators would decide on their own to cut short their runs to the Outer Sunset -- booting off the passengers on their trains with little or no notice -- and head back downtown.

They were told on Tuesday that if they do that again without getting official approval, they could be fired immediately.

The unauthorized practice only recently got Muni management to take action amid complaints from Supervisor Carmen Chu, who represents the Sunset District on the Board of Supervisors, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D--San Francisco, and neighborhood activists.

The shortened runs have meant that some passengers had to wait for the next streetcar to show up -- which Muni regulars know can be a long wait -- or walk the rest of the way to their intended destination.

''It's been a real problem -- not one isolated incident,'' said Chu. ''The service being promised by Muni was not being delivered.''

Late last month, Muni management removed the hand tools, known as switch irons, carried in each streetcar that allow Muni workers to operate the switchbacks and move their trains to tracks heading in the opposite direction. The idea behind taking away the switch irons was to force operators to call for assistance if they wanted to reverse course. That meant, however, that a supervisor would have to be called to the scene to work the switchback, a potentially time--consuming process.

On Tuesday, Muni managers announced they worked out a deal with the operators union and would return the switch irons to the streetcars beginning today.

''We wanted to get their attention,'' Ken McDonald, chief operating officer for the city's transit agency, said of the temporary confiscation of the switch irons. ''They know we're serious.''

Irwin Lum, president of Transport Workers Union, Local 250--A, said he understands management's concerns. But taking away the switch irons, he said, ''was treating the operators like they're children.''

A bulletin jointly crafted by Muni management and union leadership, issued Tuesday, said the ''importance of obtaining prior authorization before any use of switch irons is mandatory. Unauthorized use directly affects the safety of passengers, rail personnel and equipment.'' Violation of the policy, the bulletin stated, could lead to ''immediate termination.''

It's unclear how often renegade operators took it upon themselves to alter their scheduled runs. But it was frequent enough to not go unnoticed.

Anna Chung said it happened to her earlier this summer when she was taking the L--Taraval to her mother's house near Ocean Beach from her accounting job downtown.

''We were riding along, and I think it was around 19th Avenue that the driver told everyone they had to get off and catch the next train,'' she said. ''We waited about 10 minutes for the next L to come. We all piled on. People were mad.''

Operators contacted by The Chronicle wouldn't talk for attribution about why they sometimes felt the need to abort their runs before the end of the line, but two who spoke on condition that their names not be used said some operators felt under pressure to keep to schedule.

''If they were running behind, they could play catch--up on the return trip,'' said one veteran operator.

Nathaniel Ford, executive director of the Municipal Transportation Agency, said running behind schedule is no excuse for the renegade action, especially at the expense of passengers whose rides are cut short without warning. He said it is the job of street inspectors and central control to take command of the runs. ''You can't just have operators making those decisions on their own,'' he said.

Pesticide use is a local issue

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Over the past few months, local communities across California, especially in Marin County, battled the state of California to stop aerial pesticide spraying for the light brown apple moth (LBAM).

Ten local governments in Marin passed resolutions in opposition to the state's spray program, joining a grassroots movement of tens of thousands of people across the state who opposed the spray. Aerial spraying is off the table over urban areas for now, though many questions remain about the future of the LBAM eradication program.

The question that must be posed is: What happens when the next pest, real or exaggerated, comes along? What happens when state officials again refuse to listen to local community concerns and impose dangerous and insensible pest and pesticide policy?

As was made clear by the LBAM struggle, local governments deserve the tools to better regulate pesticides to protect the health and safety of their communities.

We do know that history repeats itself. In the 1980s, Mendocino County stood up for the health and safety of its citizens by passing an ordinance to restrict the use of aerial pesticides, after aerial pesticide spray applications drifted a significant distance onto school buses. Industry representatives sued to overturn the ordinance, but the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mendocino's right to protect its residents. Unfortunately, pesticide industry lobbyists soon undid that ruling by fasttracking special-interest legislation which divested local government of the authority to address toxic pesticides. Since 1984, the state government has used that statute to quash local efforts to restrict the use of toxic pesticides.

Assembly Bill 977, recently introduced by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, will ensure the right of local government to have some degree of control over pesticide use in our communities.

Seven years ago, Fairfax passed a Neighborhood Notification ordinance so that residents could protect their health and property from toxic pesticides.

Despite intensive legal threats from the state of California, the town of Fairfax stood up for the right of its residents to protect themselves from toxic pesticide use in their community. Assemblywoman Ma's legislation will restore the right of all California communities to enact similar pesticide regulations.

Fairness and reason dictate that local residents should be free to make their own decisions regarding pesticide use and exposure within their communities. Whether pesticides are used on our lawns to control invasive plants on Tam, or at our schools and places of work, they pose severe health and environmental risks that are in need of serious study and legal reform.

Progress only can be made if we encourage and protect the right of local communities to protect themselves when higher levels of government refuse to do so.

In the face of the Bush administration's failure to address global warming, Gov. Schwarzenegger and our state Legislature passed landmark legislation to protect the Sierra snow pack and the California coastline.

There is no less of an urgent need to protect the health and safety of our communities from toxic pesticide pollution by granting local government the authority to act.

CA Bill Pushes for Extended Sick Pay

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCBS) -- A state Senate committee is set to take up a bill Monday that would grant paid sick days to every worker in California. The bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma is modeled on a law that's already in effect in San Francisco.

''For large employers who have 10 or more employees, workers can earn up to nine paid sick days. For smaller businesses they can earn up to five paid sick days,'' said Ma.

Ma estimates some 5- to 6- million Californians, or about 40 percent of the state's workforce, are currently not entitled to any paid sick leave at all.

Business groups opposed to the bill say many companies simply cannot afford the additional overhead.

''Some employers have said that they'll have to forgo raises for their employees, there won't be bonuses, they may have to cut back on vacation time. In very severe cases, we might see some job losses, and cutting back on hours,'' said Marty Fisher, a policy advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce:

The bill, formally known as the California Healthy Families, Healthy Work Places Act, has already been approved by the Senate. Ma hopes to get the legislation on the governor's desk in about a month.

Schwarzenegger Signs Graffiti Vandalism Legislation

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation on Wednesday to hold offenders accountable for crimes of vandalism and to remove graffiti from California's streets and neighborhoods. AB1767 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) mandates community service for a person who has committed a criminal act of graffiti vandalism, and AB2609 by Assemblymember Mike Davis (D- Los Angeles ) requires defendants convicted of graffiti vandalism to clean up or repair the defaced or damaged property.

''As Governor, I have made the safety of our communities my top priority,'' Governor Schwarzenegger said. ''By cleaning up graffiti and holding offenders accountable for their actions, this legislation will make our streets and neighborhoods a safer and cleaner place to live.''

AB 1767 authorizes the courts in San Francisco to launch a pilot program where violators of graffiti vandalism are ordered to participate in a minimum of 24 hours of community service, when available, if they have reached a civil compromise with the victim. This law targets graffiti abatement service programs as the community service outlet for offenders and remains in effect until January 1, 2012.

Similarly, AB 2609 requires the court to order offenders paroled for a graffiti violation to clean up, repair or replace the damaged property. Defendants would also be required keep the damaged property or another specified property in the community free of graffiti for up to one year.

Bill would require paid sick days for most

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As many as 5.4 million working Californians don't get any paid sick days -- and they tend to be both sicker and poorer than employees who do receive sick leave, according to a report released Wednesday.

''The more you need paid sick days, the less likely you are to have them,'' said Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, director of occupational and environmental health for San Francisco and a contributor to the report.

The report was released by supporters of a bill that would require all California employers to provide paid time off for workers to care for themselves or family members.

That bill -- AB2716 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco -- was modeled on the paid sick leave law that took effect last year in San Francisco. The bill passed the state Assembly in May and is scheduled for a hearing next week in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Business groups led by the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the sick leave bill, saying it is a complicated and costly mandate that could force companies to cut wages or lay off workers.

''In this economy, money is stretched pretty thin for California employers,'' said chamber spokeswoman Marti Fisher. ''It's a bad idea to mandate benefits. This could force employers to cut back on hours, raises or even lay people off.''

But backers said the public health benefits will outweigh any costs to employers.

''It's important for policymakers to see paid sick days not only as a labor policy but as a public health policy,'' said Bhatia. ''One-third of seasonal flu is transmitted in schools and workplaces. Workers without sick days are less likely to stay home and more likely to contribute to the spread of the flu.''

The report, prepared by an Oakland nonprofit called Human Impact Partners with funding from a Unitarian Universalist group, used data from existing health surveys to paint a picture of who does and doesn't receive paid sick leave:

Better-paid workers are more likely to get paid time off. Among the highest-paid quarter of U.S. workers, 72 percent receive paid sick time. But among the lowest-paid quarter, only 21 percent get paid sick time.

Healthy workers are more likely to have paid sick leave than workers in poor health. Seventy-seven percent of California workers who described their health as good to excellent received paid sick time -- versus 55 percent of those who described their health as fair or poor.

Thirty-eight percent of California workers with heart disease don't receive paid sick leave, and 41 percent of those with diabetes don't receive paid sick leave, according to the report.

Like the San Francisco law it's modeled on, AB2716 would require employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked by an employee.

Small businesses of 10 employees or fewer could limit sick leave to five days per year; other employers would have to allow at least nine days per year.

Employees could use the time for their own illness or medical appointments, or to care for a sick spouse, domestic partner, child, grandchild, grandparent or sibling. In a slight variation from the San Francisco law, they could also use the time to deal with recovery from domestic violence or sexual assault.

New law would force taggers to clean up after themselves

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco will establish a pilot program that will require graffiti offenders to clean up graffiti -- even if they settle their case out of court -- under a new state law.

Many offenders are escaping misdemeanor vandalism charges by settling cases outside of court and agreeing to pay a property owner the costs of removing the graffiti, without ever appearing before a judge or performing any graffiti cleanup, according to the office of Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, who authored the legislation.

The City of San Francisco spends more than $20 million annually to clean up graffiti, according to Ma’s office.

''The signing of this law is a win for San Francisco neighborhoods,'' said Ma in a press statement. ''Graffiti is blighting bus stops, Muni, store fronts, and other properties across The City.''

The former San Francisco supervisor added that she hopes the law -- which was signed into effect by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday, will prove to be a success in San Francisco and then replicated statewide.

The San Francisco Graffiti Advisory Board and the California Business Properties Association co-sponsored the bill, which received unanimous bipartisan support throughout the legislative process.

''AB 1767 is a very important bill that will reduce graffiti vandalism in San Francisco,'' said SFPD Officer Chris Putz, who helped draft the legislation as a graffiti-abatement officer with the department. ''This bill is a victory for every taxpayer and business owner who has been victimized by graffiti vandalism in The City.''

Paid sick days a public-health bonanza

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

A new study makes a compelling case for a pending bill that would require all California employers to provide their workers with paid sick days, researchers say.

The report -- produced by Human Impact Partners (an Oakland-based nonprofit project of the Tides Center) and the San Francisco Department of Public Health -- says the proposed law ''would help reduce the spread of flu; protect the public from diseases carried by sick workers in restaurants and in long-term care facilities; prevent hunger and homelessness among sick low-income workers; and enable workers to stay home when they are sick or when they need to care for a sick dependent,'' according to its findings summary .

The summary also notes that about 70 percent of California's accommodation and food service workers don’t have paid sick days right now, so they’re apt to come to work sick rather than lose that pay. I know I'll think about that the next time a server coughs while taking my order.

This is ''not only a labor policy but also a sensible and effective public health policy'' which could save the state significant healthcare costs, said Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, the San Francisco Public Health Department’s director of Occupational and Environmental Health, told reporters on a conference call today.

His office provided much of the research from this report -- data it had gathered when San Francisco was considering such a law. The city’s law has now been in effect since early 2007.

AB 2716, the California Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act of 2008 -- authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, and co-authored by assemblymen John Laird, D-Santa Cruz; Sandre Swanson, D-Oakland; and Alberto Torrico, D-Newark -- would guarantee that all workers in the state accrue at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours. A small business (having 10 or fewer employees) would be able to limit an employee’s use of this accrued sick time to 40 hours or five days in each calendar year; larger employers would be able to limit it at 72 hours or nine days in each calendar year.

Dr. Jody Heymann, founding director of both the Institute for Health and Social Policy at McGill University and the Project on Global Working Families at Harvard University, said the idea that such a law would make California less competitive is a fallacy. ''If we just look at the 10 countries that have been ranked by businesses as the most competitive countries, nine out of 10 have guaranteed paid sick leave -- the United States is the only one that doesn't.''

The bill, which the Assembly passed May 28 on a party-line vote of 45-33, is pending before the state Senate Appropriations Committee.

Report Released on Benefits of Paid Sick Leave Bill

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

A report released today by Human Impact Partners and the San Francisco Department of Health on a paid sick leave bill currently in the state legislature said the bill would improve the health of Californians with no discernible negative economic impact on the state.

The report estimated that 40 percent of the state's workforce, about 5.4 million workers, do not have the right to paid time off of work when they are sick.

AB 2716, the California Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act of 2008, authored by Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, would change that by guaranteeing all workers in the state at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.

The bill was approved by the state assembly by a 45-33 vote, and will go before the senate appropriations committee on Monday.

One of the co-authors of the report, Dr. Rajiv Bhatia of the San Francisco Department of Health, said that the benefits of paid sick days far outweighs medical costs due to worsened illnesses or the infection of coworkers or customers of a business.

"It's important for policymakers to see sick days as a sensible economic and public health policy," Bhatia said.

Dr. Jody Heymann, a founding member of the Institute for Health and Social Policy at McGill University and of the Project on Global Working Families at Harvard University, said that the bill was "one of the simplest measures that any state could pass."

Heymann said that her studies have shown that paid sick leave has a tremendous impact on families. She said that when parents have sick leave, they are five times more likely to attend to sick children at home, shortening the length of hospitalization by 30 percent.

Her research also showed that the most productive countries in the world are usually the ones that offer paid sick leave. Of the top 10 most productive countries, the U.S. is the only one without some sort of guaranteed paid sick leave for its workers.

"Around the world (countries with paid sick leave) are competing, and if you also look at countries with low unemployment rates, it's the same ones," Heymann said.

The report pointed to restaurants as a business that has a large impact on public health. It said more than half of food-borne illness outbreaks in the country occur in restaurants, yet 70 percent of food service workers do not have paid sick days.

Alicia Hershey works at a restaurant in San Francisco and said that it's nearly impossible for a restaurant worker to find the time or money to seek health coverage.

"People do what they can to get by, and a lot of time that ends up endangering coworkers and customers that come into the restaurant," Hershey said.

Restaurant workers were one of many groups of low-wage workers most affected by a lack of paid sick leave. According to the report, 79 percent of the lowest-paid workers do not have paid sick days.

California would become the first state to have a paid sick leave law if the bill passes through the legislature and is signed by the governor.

San Francisco is the only county in the state to enact such a law after 61 percent of voters approved Proposition F in 2006. The law became effective on February 5, 2007.

Bhatia said that it is too early for a complete assessment of the San Francisco law, but that there had not been a noticeable effect on the opening or closing of businesses since its passage.

From Opposition to Proposition

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Netroots Nation is winding down here in Austin and I'm headed back to the West Coast later this evening. Outside the convention center the road is closed for construction of the Cap MetroRail Downtown station. Texas High Speed Rail is revived and planning their "t-bone" system, including an Austin stop. Inside the center, however, is where the real action was.

The speakers and the panels showed an increasing emphasis on energy and the environment. For a group of people who became bloggers primarily to react against the Bush Administration and the Democrats' failure to respond, it was a striking shift. If this weekend produced anything it was not just recognition that our country faces a major crisis, not just that it is time to begin solving those problems. What we are beginning to recognize is the linkage of democracy and public action to deal with the energy and environment.

Obviously Al Gore's surprise visit was one of the highlights. Gore emphasized the need for the public to hold elected officials accountable on the climate crisis -- politicians can't be allowed to put parochial and short-term concerns to distract us from the larger tasks at hand. We can surely relate, as California politicians have been slow on the high speed rail uptake. Whether it's Mike Machado casting a spite vote against AB 3034 or Roy Ashburn using 11th hour objections to rally Republicans against the same bill, we in California are plagued by politicians who don't seem to grasp the need for bold and dramatic change.

It's not that we have no leadership at all -- Fiona Ma, for example, has done some crucial work on this. But if high speed rail, or action on climate change, energy, the environment is going to be successful, we need to get Californians informed and involved. WE are the ones who are rallying the public to that end. This blog isn't going to achieve that alone on high speed rail, but we have built a bottom-up network of supporters, particularly at the Facebook group where we have over 33,000 supporters.

Debbie Cook, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 46th district (Huntington Beach and environs) gave an excellent presentation at the Energize America panel. She reviewed the public's understanding of peak oil, that we still have a long way to go. But she also made some deeply insightful points that nobody else made.

First, that America functioned just fine without reliance on oil. She showed a series of images of urban American life from the early 20th century, including communities that were dependent on rail, and explained that people living in those days were quite functional. We have become so used to cheap oil that we have a hard time envisioning a life without it. But it wasn't so long ago that we were able to live that way. Of course we've made enormous technological strides in the last 100 years, and that enables us to build a rail network that outclasses anything we had prior to 1950, as well as maintaining some amount of automobile usage.

Second, and much more important, was her point that we need to craft solutions that help Americans change the way they live to be more energy efficient. It's not enough to put LED lights on city streets or give everyone a hybrid, useful as those can be. Nor is it enough to have a "new Apollo Program" or a "new Manhattan Project." We don't need some government project where only scientists are involved, we need long-term solutions that get EVERYONE involved.

High speed rail is just such an example of that program. It will help make major reductions in carbon emissions and reduce our oil consumption by around 22 million barrels a year. And it does so by providing a form of transportation that all Californians can participate in daily, monthly, annually -- whenever they want to. Getting people to be participants in change and not just passive recipients of change is key.

But the moment that brought the house down was Van Jones' speech this morning. Jones runs Green For All, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice and green jobs.

Jones was on fire talking about what we as a nation need to do to change the politics around energy, the environment, and the economy. He rightly pointed out that conservatives and the right frequently claim to be acting to the benefit of the poor and the middle class by opposing new spending and taxes -- but that this is an outright lie. Providing green jobs and green technologies HELP these people in extremely significant ways, providing jobs, a healthy environment, and long-term stability in transportation and energy costs. He specifically targeted the right's ridiculous push for oil drilling -- a solution that will do NOTHING to lower prices at the pump and would merely provide oil in ten years' time to China and India at a massive cost to American jobs and health.

He also exhorted the audience to become more assertive in their goals and their activism. He hit a crescendo when he said we need to "move from opposition to proposition" -- to reclaim the initiative and the agenda in this country from the drillers and those who would have us continue the failed policies of the 20th century. We know those policies have failed. It is time for us to propose something better -- not just better for some, but better for everyone.

It was a stirring speech and even though he did not specifically mention it, Proposition 1 is a great example of what Jones told us. High speed rail's critics are not the friends of California's working people. Working people in LA and San José and Fresno need good, green jobs. They need cleaner air. They need affordable transportation. Even if the bonds cost them each $750 that would be more than made up for by the impact of new jobs, higher wages, and fast affordable transportation that, as we have repeatedly discussed here, is essential to this state remaining competitive in a global economy.

California is poised to lead a significant breakthrough in how our country deals with the environmental, energy, economic, transportation crisis. Passage of Prop 1 would be a signal to the rest of the nation that it is possible to take bold yet sensible action within our existing and largely broken political system. It offers Californians hope that there is a way out of this crisis, that we are not going to be permanently stuck with the consequences of 50 years of bad decisions.

High speed rail is just the start. But it's a necessary start. The journey begins in November when we pass Proposition 1.

SF: SUPERVISOR CALLS FOR LOCAL CONTROL OVER PESTICIDE USE

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco supervisors Wednesday will consider a resolution calling for the removal of a state law prohibiting local governments from banning pesticides in their jurisdictions, an effort that also has support at the state level.

The resolution, introduced by Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier and co-sponsored by supervisors Ross Mirkarimi, Sophie Maxwell and Aaron Peskin, mirrors legislation introduced by state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco/San Mateo County.

Ma's AB 977, currently making its way through the state legislature, urges the repeal of a state Food and Agriculture Code law that would give the state final say over regulation of pesticides, including their sale, transportation and use in any local jurisdiction.

Alioto-Pier's resolution echoes Ma's legislation, but is non-binding.

According to Cammy Blackstone, an aide to Alioto-Pier, the supervisor's resolution came out of a recent effort by some city leaders to ban aerial chemical spraying for the light brown apple moth, which had been planned for this summer in parts of the Bay Area.

The plan, which received vociferous criticism from residents, as well as some local and state officials, was abandoned by state agriculture officials in June in favor of the release of sterile male moths to inhabit population growth, though aerial spraying will still be used in rural agricultural areas that are inaccessible by road.

But Blackstone said there was some apprehension the plan for aerial spraying in urban areas could be renewed in the future.

Other potential concerns Alioto-Pier wished to address in San Francisco, according to Blackstone, were the use of arsenic-treated wood and toxic chemicals known as phthalates, which have been found in toys and children's products.

"We really want to just be able to say, you can't do it in San Francisco," Blackstone said.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on Alioto-Pier's resolution at its 2 p.m. meeting Wednesday at City Hall.

Ill feelings on paid sick leave bill

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The measure is likely to clear the state Senate this summer. Business lobbyists may urge a veto from the governor.

For maybe five times in the last 15 years, Manuela Mendez has had to drag herself to work at a fast-food restaurant in La Mirada, coughing and congested.

"I go to work because we need the money," she said in Spanish. "It's difficult to work. I carry microbes that contaminate my work mates, and that's a problem for the customers."

The 40-year-old mother of two does not think it is fair that she and an estimated 6 million California workers -- about 40% of the state workforce -- do not have the right to take a day of paid sick leave to recuperate from an illness or injury, see a doctor or care for a family member who is ill.

Mendez, an activist with the Assn. of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is part of a broad coalition that includes labor unions, health advocates and women's groups backing a bill that would give all employees in the state at least five paid sick days a year.

The bill, AB 2716, has passed the Assembly on a 45-33 vote and is expected to clear the state Senate this summer.

If that happens, business lobbyists are expected to ask Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for a veto. He has a solid history of siding with the California Chamber of Commerce when it comes to vetoing bills on the chamber's self-styled list of "job killers."

The measure by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) is modeled on recently approved municipal laws in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and is similar to proposals being considered in a dozen other states and in Milwaukee.

"People shouldn't have to worry that if they get sick, they'll lose their job," Ma said. "Paid sick days are good for a healthy economy."

Most California business organizations disagree. Ma's bill is near the top of the chamber's list of alleged anti-employer legislation. Granting paid sick leave would hurt workers more than it would help, chamber lobbyist Marc Burgat contends.

"If you increase some costs to employers, they'll have to decrease other costs by cutting hours or the number of employees," he testified at a recent hearing on the bill.

An in-house study released last week by the National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business association, said that granting paid sick leave to all workers would during the next five years destroy 370,000 jobs and cost California companies $59.3 billion in lost sales.

"When California faces an unemployment rate of 6.8%, it is absolutely outrageous to impose more mandates on small business," said John Kabateck, the federation's state director.

Although business lobbyists say that granting California workers paid sick leave will cause widespread economic dislocations, that hasn't been the case in San Francisco, the only place in the state that currently mandates such a benefit.

"I can only say that the sky has not fallen in San Francisco because of the sick leave law," said Greg Asay, a senior analyst with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. "San Francisco's economy has been very strong. It's striking how relatively unscathed we've been with the recession or probably recession."

The labor standards office reported getting only about 75 sick leave complaints from workers during the first year of the new law. All the cases were resolved informally, the office said.

Small Business California, a San Francisco-based advocacy group, said it had gotten negative reactions from about 35 employers. Most of the problems involved changes in how payroll records are kept, the organization said.

But restaurateurs, probably the city's largest class of small-business owners, support paid sick leave.

"Sick leave, especially for people who handle food for a living, is an important public policy," said Kevin Westlye, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Assn.

"The mandate is affordable, considering the public benefit," Westlye said.

Golden Gate's parent group, the California Restaurant Assn., is fighting the bill in Sacramento and is a lead member of the business coalition that is relying on Schwarzenegger for a veto, if needed.

The governor so far has taken no stance, spokesman Aaron McLear said.

"Obviously, he understands the merits of the bill," he said. "But he does have concerns about the effect it could have on business during this tough economy."

Tough is having to go to work with a headache and fever, countered Juana Pablo, 48, who has spent the last 14 years sewing garments in South Los Angeles to support five children, ages 7 to 17.

"I have to go to work when I feel sick," Pablo said. "If I stay home, I'd lose my job."

Ethnic Media Unites to Spread S.F. Hep B Free Message

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Over 15 Bay Area Asian ethnic media outlets are collaborating with the S.F. Hep B Free campaign in an unprecedented and united effort to educate the San Francisco public and community about hepatitis B.

Starting this month, these publications will run advertisements promoting awareness of the disease and the need to be tested and vaccinated for the virus that affects one in 10 Asians. Due to a lack of symptoms, awareness and testing, most Asians are unaware of their infection.

The ads featuring Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Mayor Gavin Newsom will promote local testing sites and the campaign’s message, “B Sure, B Tested, B Free!”

Chinese newspapers running the ads include World Journal, Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao Daily News, China Press and International Daily News.

“China Press is always committed to doing community work, and we believe the (S.F. Hep B Free campaign) is good way to educate our readers, who are mostly Chinese immigrants, about this disease,” China Press Bay Area General Manager Helena Ren said.

Philippine News, Ang Panahon, Manila Bulletin, Pinoy Today and Philippines Today are the Filipino publications participating.

“Philippine News believes that any information devoted to health education - and finding ways for our community to avoid, prevent or manage illnesses - is always worth any amount of media space,” Philippine News Managing Editor Cristina Pastor said. “The Filipino American community will benefit greatly from the information-sharing and educational articles on hep B.”

The Japanese newspapers involved include Nichi Bei Times and Hokubei Mainichi, while the Vietnamese publications include Thoi Bao and Mo Magazine.

Also participating as media partners are Korea Daily, The Korea Times-San Francisco, Asian Journal and AsianWeek.

“A lot of Koreans do not know the facts or risks about this disease,” Korea Daily Senior Account Executive Richard Choi said. “As a media outlet, we are obligated to help inform the community about hepatitis B, which is a serious risk for all Asians and Asian Americans.”

As a media partner of the S.F. Hep B Free campaign, these publications, brought together by AsianWeek, will provide ongoing editorial support about the Hep B Free campaign and the need for testing and vaccination for the hepatitis B virus, run public service announcements on a space available basis, and provide paid advertising space at a discounted rate.

Battle Brews over Raiders of Recycling Bins

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

A recycling war is breaking out on the Bay Area's curbsides.

Those ubiquitous, colorful recycling bins people set out each week for pickup stand squarely on a battle line between growing numbers of organized crews who snag cans and bottles and the official waste haulers who say "poachers" are increasingly hostile and dangerous.

Caught in the cross fire are residents. Reports about noise, litter and trespassing have risen so dramatically in the past couple of years that a state lawmaker has written a bill that would make it illegal for recycling centers and salvage yards to buy goods totaling $50 or more without asking for identification and paying by check.

"Ten years ago, you'd see homeless people or a little old grandma going through the garbage and putting cans into a bag to get a couple dollars," said San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who introduced the recycling theft bill. "But now it's more organized, no one is enforcing (theft laws), and it's a way to generate cash."

For those on the economic fringe, however, the recycled goods can bring in needed cash amid a faltering economy, a shortage of jobs and the soaring costs of food, gas and rent. Prices for aluminum run more than $3,700 per ton, glass $210, plastic $180 and cardboard $130, according to Sunset Scavenger, a division of giant Norcal Waste Systems Inc.

Typically, recycling theft works like this: Small groups converge on a neighborhood on the night before the regular weekly trash and recycling pickup. Runners go from bin to bin, gathering glass bottles, plastic and aluminum, which are thrown into a pickup truck - often rickety and modified with tall wooden boards to carry bigger loads. When the truck is filled, the drivers take the cargo to a recycling center or scrap yard.

In some instances, the recycling crews have unwritten agreements with commercial businesses such as restaurants or produce markets to collect their bottles or cardboard.

On Sunday evening near Glen Park's busy main drag, Diamond Street, several groups trolled the streets collecting bottles and cans. In one instance, a man drove a red, graffiti-covered truck while two men walked on opposite sidewalks, gathering bottles and cans from blue bins set out for the next morning's official pickup, and dumped them into the truck.

Though the men didn't knock over the bins or leave other trash in their wake, some San Francisco residents say they know when the recycling bandits are on the march when they see tipped-over cans and litter strewn on the ground and hear clanks of bottles and cans at 3 a.m. One waste company says it has received 20,000 complaints of curbside recycling theft in San Francisco.

Jo Cangelosi's home office sits at the front of her Potrero Hill house with a view of Mississippi Street. The recycling squads have gotten so bad that she puts her recycling out at the very last minute - when she can hear the regular truck rumbling down the road.

"One day, I saw six or seven people going through the trash," she said. "It was ridiculous. They started at 4 o'clock, and they went that night and until the next morning."

Cangelosi, who worries not just about noise and litter but also the potential for identity theft, has gone so far as to confront some of the scavengers.

"Lately, it's gotten a lot more aggressive," she said. "I know it's probably stupid, but I still do it anyway - I go out and tell them not to go through the cans. Some get really angry and yell and cuss or do it anyway." Cangelosi has called the nonemergency police dispatch number but has never received a response; several waste companies contend that recycling theft is a low priority for police because it is considered a minor crime.

Robert Reed, spokesman for Sunset Scavenger, said one customer reported that a man grabbed her wrist, twisted it and pushed her to the ground after she approached and asked them to stop taking the recycling.

Curbing poachers

Recycling theft is illegal. As soon as customers put their beer bottles and soda cans in the recycling bin of the city-authorized firm and take it to the curb, those recyclables becomes the waste company's property. In San Francisco, fines for stealing recyclables run from $20 to $500 and can result in up to six months' imprisonment. In Union City, the fines start at $100.

It goes far beyond California. New York City approved legislation that increases the penalty for unlawfully removing or transporting recyclables from $100 to $2,000 for first-time offenders and $5,000 for repeat offenders. The city can also impound vehicles involved in the theft and can arrest those who receive stolen recyclables.

In California, Ma's bill, which is in a state Senate committee, aims to curb recycling theft by calling on the recycling buyers to do more.

But some waste contractors say added paperwork could hog-tie their operations. They also note that poachers often sell them the recycling they would normally collect themselves.

"I'm not a policeman, I'm a garbage man," said Joe Garbarino Jr., whose family has been running Marin Sanitary Service since 1955. Ma's bill "would make the lines four times longer. We wouldn't be able to move."

"If they make it a crime to us," Garbarino said, adding that recycling thieves are taking 50 to 70 percent of the recycling in his service area, "at that point I would consider closing my doors."

But customers, Ma and the waste contractors say, bear the biggest costs.

Sunset Scavenger and sister company Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling say the total tonnage of recycling collected from their blue bins is up 9 percent over the past two years. The total for aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, however, is down by one-third. That loss translates to about $500,000 in San Francisco each year, which is passed on to customers, the company said.

Norcal, whose trash hauling arrangement with the city extends back to the 1930s, has been criticized for its monopoly status and cozy relationships with the Teamsters union and City Hall's pro-union establishment. But the firm says it is a good corporate citizen, and the recycling money it collects goes back into the program, helping to boost recycling rates and make the city more eco-friendly.

While residential customers are responsible for the bulk of the recycling complaints, some businesses say the unauthorized crews fill a niche and gain crucial income.

Helping businesses

Bottles from Glen Park Station, a watering hole on Diamond Street, usually overflow the recycling bins, said manager Tom McAvoy. So he counts on Luis Gomez to handle the extras.

Around 8:30 each Sunday night, Gomez, his wife and brother-in-law load bottles from the bar into their pickup truck. Each week, two full truckloads from the neighborhood bring in between $400 and $500, Gomez said. Though he's collected recyclables from restaurants and bars in the area for five years, he said his family relies more heavily on the cash now. He doesn't collect from residences, he said, because homeowners are more apt to protest, and he's seen others receive citations.

"I work in construction, but now it's only five or six hours a day," Gomez said, down from about eight hours a day two years ago. "I do the bottles now because it's difficult, there's not much work. And gas is very, very expensive."

Keeping your recycling safe

Ways to prevent and report recycling theft:

-- Place recyclables on the curb by 6 a.m. the day of pickup.

-- Shred paper with personal information before disposing of it.

-- Observe and report recycling theft. Take detailed notes on the vehicle license number and description, time of theft, description of the people involved and the direction they were heading. San Francisco police can be reached at (415) 553-0123.

-- Call Sunset Scavenger at (415) 330-1300, Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling at (415) 626-4000, or your local scavenger company during business hours to report a theft.

Source: San Francisco SAFE

California Bill Would Restrict Recycler Payments For Stolen Newspapers

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO -- Recyclers and junk dealers would be prohibited from paying more than $50 in cash to anyone who brings in large amounts of newspapers, under a bill approved Monday by a California Senate committee.

The bill is a response to a rash of massive thefts of free newspapers from racks in the San Francisco Bay area. The thefts were the subject of an article in E&P's February issue.

The measure, sponsored by San Francisco Assembly member Fiona Ma, would permit recyclers to pay more than $50 for newsprint -- but only by check or electronic transfer, and with the recording of the seller's driver's license or other government-issued identification document.

The law would apply to recyclers in any municipality that provides curbside pickup of old newspapers.

The California Newspaper Publishers Association, which supports the proposed law, said it is expected to move to a vote by the full Senate within the next few weeks.

State Senate Committee Passes Paid Sick Days

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO-Two days after Senator Barack Obama unveiled a national push for paid sick days, California State Senate Democrats today passed Assembly Bill 2716, the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act, out of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, putting California on track to becoming the first state in the nation where all workers can earn paid sick days.

Authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat, AB 2716 allows workers to earn one hour for every 30 hours worked that can be used to recover from illness, care for a sick family member, or recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. The bill moves next to the Senate Appropriations Committee and is expected to be heard by the committee in July. If signed into law, AB 2716 would make California the first state in the nation to ensure paid sick days for all workers.

"In these tough economic times, Californians should not worry about being fired or demoted simply for being sick," said Assemblywoman Ma. "Protecting the public health means increased productivity for employees, lower turnover for employers and fewer instances where a sick employee infects a customer."

Co-sponsored by the California Labor Federation and California ACORN, AB 2716 is supported by a statewide coalition of over 50 organizations including local governments, health professionals and civil rights organizations. Nearly 6 million working Californians, or about 40% of the workforce, currently receive zero paid sick days through their employers.

A recently released study conducted by Dr. Vicky Lovell of the Women's Policy Research Institute concluded that AB 2716 will save California nearly $1 billion annually. These cost savings are primarily due to reduced turnover and the spread of illness in the workplace.

In 2006, San Francisco voters passed Proposition F, an initiative measure supported by Assemblywoman Ma, that provided all workers in the city with the ability to earn and use paid sick days. Shortly after the one-year anniversary of the law, AB 2716 was introduced, modeled after the San Francisco ordinance, to allow a worker to use paid sick time for up to 40 hours or 5 days in each calendar year for workers of small businesses, and 72 hours or 9 days per calendar year for all other workers.

A recent poll conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles shows overwhelming support by Californians from all walks of life for paid sick days legislation. A large majority - 88 percent - of California adults surveyed indicated that they "agreed" or "agreed strongly" that there should be a law guaranteeing paid sick days for all California workers.

Calif. bill removes jail threat for victims

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Domestic violence victims who refuse to testify against their abuser would no longer be threatened with jail time under legislation sent Monday to the governor.

The bill by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, instead would allow judges to order victims to attend counseling or fulfill community service.

It was passed by the Assembly on a 42-22 vote, after an emotional debate in which lawmakers were asked to decide whether domestic violence victims should be punished as a way to put their abusers behind bars.

"The important thing to remember is these are victims of a heinous crime," said Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge. "These are victims who oftentimes have young children. To say to these victims you can face incarceration and time away from your children because you yourself (have) been a victim is just wrong."

Supporters of the bill said victims are less likely to report abuse if they think they might be locked up for failing to testify in court.

Instead, advocacy groups asked lawmakers to change the law so domestic violence victims are given the same rights as victims of sexual assault. Since 1991, sexual assault victims have been shielded from jail time if they decide not to testify in a criminal case.

"If they don't want to testify against their batterer, they should not have to be re-victimized, to be forced to do something against their will," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. "I know this is a very difficult issue for many folks."

Current law allows a court to lock up a domestic violence victim on a second contempt charge. It's a tool prosecutors say is sometimes needed to force testimony critical to win a case.

Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, a former prosecutor who has tried domestic violence cases, said victims could put themselves in more harm by not testifying against their abuser.

"Do I have a hard time of government thinking it knows better than the victim? Absolutely," said Spitzer, R-Orange. "You, us, may take a very important tool away, and then she's going to end up killing him or he's going to kill her and the children."

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill, spokeswoman Rachel Cameron said.

Yes, I Vote

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Editor - I never gave much thought to Woody Allen's saying that "80 percent of success is showing up," until I was in one of California's toughest and most expensive primaries for state Assembly. During that campaign, votes I made on the Board of Supervisors were taken out of context and misleading attacks landed in voters' mailboxes.

Yet, for me, not voting was never an option in local government. As a member of the Assessment Appeals Board, and then as a San Francisco supervisor, I've always cast a "yes" or "no" vote. My votes earned me supporters and detractors, but everyone knew where I stood. As a result, The Chronicle endorsed my campaign, and more than 30,000 Democrats supported me because of this experience, figuring it was better to know where someone stands, even if you don't always agree.

In the Assembly, nearly all Democrats vote "aye" on the vast majority of bills presented to the Assembly. But it's not just approving legislation that matters. I have voted "no" on legislation supported by powerful interests when the public interest matters. Last June, I was called to jury service, but I completed my civic duty and drove two hours back to the Capitol to vote. As it turned out, I was one of just nine votes against the gambling expansion deals that denied casino workers the right to organize.

Yet, the Assembly's breakneck pace and inflexible deadlines create a perfect storm for missing votes. The Chronicle printed out that I missed a vote to protect consumer privacy. Last year, I earned a 100 percent score from the Consumer Federation of California because of my pro-consumer voting record and I voted in favor of the bill: AB 3011, which requires cell phone companies to get customer permission to share private information. When the first votes were tallied, however, I was attending to other duties. Since the measure did not secure the needed votes right away, it was put "on call," meaning that the author could bring it up later. When Assembly Member Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, took his bill "off call" I voted "aye."

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass is taking meaningful steps to reform this process by ensuring that legislators are present when votes are cast. As a member of the Assembly leadership, I accept responsibility for recent events and pledge to use my position to urge real change. I am proud to support Speaker Bass in her process to better define and consistently enforce the rules.

I trust that together, Assembly Democrats and Republicans will work on a bipartisan basis to improve the Assembly's practices. I also invite readers to share their thoughts through my Web site at www.fionama.com, where I will be sure to post my ongoing efforts and the results of the Assembly's collective work to restore the public's trust.

Assemblywoman FIONA MA
San Francisco

Movement To Build High-Speed Train Network Continues

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO, CA. -- Rep. Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said in a press release Thursday that the movement to build a network of high-speed trains in the California has moved one step closer to becoming a reality.

According to the press release, the house rail transportation bill passed with overwhelming support Wednesday. The bill includes $1.75 billion available to states to help fund high-speed rail across the country.

"High speed rail is the answer to so many problems faced by California," Ma said, according to the press release. "With this vote, the Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and the House made a statement that California will have a partner in funding a project that will ease congestion, improve air quality and create jobs."

Rep. Jim Costa, D-California, played a crucial role in ensuring California would be eligible for grant money specifically for the high-speed rail, according to the press release.

Pelosi helped to secure the passage of the bill, which passed by a vote of 311-104. The bill would make $350 million available annually for high-speed rail projects through 2013, according to the press release.

In November, California voters will have the opportunity to approve a $9.95 billion bond measure that will begin construction on a high-speed rail system from San Diego to Sacramento including stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to the press release.

"With no foreseeable end to the rising cost of gas at the pumps, Californians are looking for a more reliable and cost efficient mode of transportation," Ma said, according to the press release.

UCSC commencement speakers bow out, citing union battle

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SANTA CRUZ -- Several high-profile speakers scheduled to address graduating students at UC Santa Cruz commencement ceremonies this weekend have said they will cancel if the university fails to reach a contract agreement by the weekend with a union representing nearly 20,000 workers statewide.

Monday, aides for Assemblymembers John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, and Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, confirmed reports made by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 last week that the lawmakers will not deliver keynote addresses at ceremonies for UCSC's Kresge and Steveson colleges, respectively.

Union leaders say UCSC professors and nationally known social justice activists Angela Y. Davis and Paul Oritz also have declined to make scheduled speeches at Oakes and College Ten ceremonies. Former President Bill Clinton and former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez have also declined to show up for their scheduled addresses at UC ceremonies in Los Angeles and Davis unless there an agreement is reached, the union said.

Nicole Savickas, a spokeswoman with UC's Office of the President, said Monday there was no systemwide contingency plan for how to deal with cancelled commencement appearances, though individual colleges and schools may be devising back-up plans.

"It's unfortunate that union has called for these public figures to boycott commencement ceremonies because the students are suffering," she said. "They are not really involved in our bargaining process."

UCSC is scheduled to graduate 2,242 undergraduate, 210 graduate and 88 doctoral students in ceremonies Friday through Sunday. In the fall and winter quarter, 1033 undergraduates also earned bachelor's degrees, 73 students earned master's degrees and 41 students received doctorates.

UCSC spokesman Jim Burns said he could not recall another time UCSC graduation speakers have pulled out over ongoing labor talks.

"Our commencement speakers, of course, have the right to decide whether they will actually participate in graduation ceremonies," Burns said Monday. "If some speakers choose not to come, we hope that their absence will not significantly impact celebrations that are designed to honor our students."

In a statement, Laird said, "I'm really hoping this will get resolved before commencement ceremonies, and I'm working hard with representatives on both sides. It would be a major disappointment for graduating students and their families to have commencement affected by this issue."

However, he said, "If by Saturday there is no agreement, and AFSCME asks that I not participate in the commencement, I will honor that request -- just as I have never crossed a labor picket line."

Lakesha Hamilton, the union's president, said Monday that AFSCME contacted lawmakers and other speakers, asking them not to participate. But she said others took their own initiative to tell the university they would cancel if there wasn't an agreement.

Although the union is not on strike, it would still view a UC speech by lawmakers as "crossing the picket line," she said. "These high-profile people knowing about our fight, that helps UC see that they should do the right thing."

She acknowledged that the union, which is part of the AFL-CIO, has made contributions to some of the lawmakers campaigns, but said the request for Laird and Ma to back out of their commitments was not coupled with a threat to pull political support.

"We haven't threatened to do anything," she said. "We just asked people to support the workers."

University negotiators met Monday with AFSCME leaders who represent 11,000 patient care workers in the UC system, but no agreement was announced over wage and job security disputes. The university has no meetings scheduled with union officials who represent about 9,000 service workers, such as custodial, maintenance and dining workers. About 550 of those workers are employed at UCSC.

Although it looks unlikely that the service workers could reach an agreement by Saturday, officials for both sides said they are not counting it out.

"It depends on what the two parties bring to the table," Savickas said.
Contact J.M. Brown at 429-2410 or jbrown@santacruzsentinel.com.
A total of 2,242 UCSC students are candidates for bachelor of arts, music or science degrees; 210 are eligible to receive master of arts, fine arts or science degrees; of these students, 79 will complete UCSC's Department of Education master's program in late summer. In addition, 88 UCSC students are candidates for doctorates. A small number of students will receive graduate certificates.

Forum: Paid Sick Leave, AB 2716

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Click here to listen to this interview on the KQED website.

We talk about a bill making its way through the California legislature that would require businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees.

Host: Dave Iverson

Guests:

Fiona Ma, state majority whip and assemblywomen representing California's 12th district
Michael Shaw, legislative director of the National Federation of Independent Business in California.
Roger Niello, assemblyman representing California's 5th District
Sharon Terman, staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center

Assembly Passes First in Nation Bill to Provide Paid Sick Days to Working Californians

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As a nationwide conference convened in New York City to discuss the need for paid sick leave and heard from San Franciscan’s about the city’s groundbreaking ordinance in this area, the California Assembly passed legislation that would make ours the first state in the nation to ensure paid sick days for all workers. Around the world 136 nations—with the notable exception of the United States--guarantee at least a week of paid sick leave.

AB 2716 (Ma), the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act, passed the Assembly yesterday in a 12 hour marathon session on a party line vote of 45 to 33, with Democratic Assemblymember Juan Arambula the only Democrat to join all Republicans in the chamber in voting against it.

AB 2716 allows workers to earn paid sick days that can be used to recover from illness, care for a sick family member, or recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. The bill moves to the Senate, where its author, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, has indicated it will be heard in June. It should pass our Democratic state Senate.

“Simply put, workers should not live in fear of being fired when they take a day off when they or their children are sick,” said Assemblywoman Ma. She hailed the vote as “a victory for public health and sound public policy.”

AB 2716 is co-sponsored by the California Labor Federation and California ACORN, and is supported by a statewide coalition of over 50 organizations including local governments, health professionals and civil rights organizations. Nearly six million working Californians, or about 40% of the workforce, currently receive zero paid sick days through their employers.

“Going to work sick creates unhealthy workplaces and puts co-workers and customers at risk – but many workers have no choice,” said Ma. “AB 2716 is long overdue and will eliminate the difficult choice that many workers face every time they get sick.”

A recently released study conducted by Dr. Vicky Lovell of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research Institute concluded that AB 2716 will save California nearly $1 billion annually. These cost savings are primarily due to reduced turnover and the spread of illness in the workplace.

In 2006, San Francisco voters passed Proposition F that provided all workers in the city with the ability to earn and use paid sick days. Shortly after the one year anniversary of the law, AB 2716 was introduced, modeled after the San Francisco ordinance, to allow a worker to use paid sick time for up to 40 hours or 5 days in each calendar year for workers of small businesses, and 72 hours or 9 days per calendar year for all other workers.

A poll conducted in 2007 by the University of California at Los Angeles showed overwhelming support by Californians from all walks of life for paid sick days legislation. A large majority – 88 percent – of California adults surveyed indicated that they “agreed” or “agreed strongly” that there should be a law guaranteeing paid sick days for all California workers. 76% of Republicans agreed, but that did not make a difference with Republican legislators yesterday.

You can view some of the discussion in New York on paid sick leave from the Drum Major Institute’s “Marketplace of ideas” event. Californian Sara Flocks told participants about a cheesecake factory worker whose employer wouldn't let him stay home, so he had to wear sunglasses to work because he had pinkeye. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney spoke on how the U.S. rhetoric of being a "family-friendly country" doesn't line up with our policy.

At the conference, a memo opposing paid sick leave written by the ultra conservative Heritage Foundation was read. (Ironically, despite being against the policy, the Heritage Foundation does offer paid sick leave to its employees.) You can also check out the liveblog of the event for more details and photos.

The Drum Institute has released an “Injustice Index” on sick leave. Here are just a few of the statistics they cited in that index:

• Rank of “stay home when you are sick” on the list of Centers for Disease Control recommendations for preventing the flu: 2

• Proportion of employees without paid sick leave who worry that taking time off when they are sick would jeopardize their job: 1 in 3

• Percentage of employees without paid sick leave who say they cannot afford to take unpaid time off work when they become ill: 58

• Number of countries that require employers to provide a week or more of paid sick leave annually: 136

• Number of days of paid sick leave guaranteed by the United States: 0

• Number of private sector employees in the U.S. without a single paid sick day at work: 46 million

• Proportion of U.S. employees who say they have contracted the flu virus from a sick co-worker: 3 in 10

• Maximum number of hours the flu virus remains alive on an inanimate surface like a door knob, office desk or telephone: 8

• Percentage of food and accommodation workers who don’t have paid sick leave: 86

California has an opportunity to lead the nation, but it won’t be easy. There is a major push behind AB 2716, which has the distinction of making the CalChamber (formerly the California Chamber of Commerce’s 2008 “Job Killer List". All 33 bills on this distinguished list are by Democratic authors. The Chamber has had good luck with Governor Schwarzenegger who has vetoed just about all bills on their annual list that have made it to his desk. We’ll need lots of work on this one which is on its way.

Calif. Assembly Votes to Limit Lead in Children's Products

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The California Assembly has approve a bill to limit the amount of lead that could be used in products designed for young children.

The measure by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco, was sent to the state Senate on Thursday by a 56-6 vote.

Starting in 2012, the bill would ban products designed for children 12 years and younger if they contained more than 100 parts per million of lead.

Childhood exposure to lead has been linked to decreased intelligence, short-term memory loss, reading problems, limited vocabulary, lack of fine-motor skills and health problems, including cancer.

Calif. Assembly bill requires paid sick days

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO—Every worker in California would be eligible for paid sick leave under a bill approved by the state Assembly.

The measure goes to the Senate over the objections of Republicans, who say not all businesses can afford to pay employees for time they don't work.

The bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco, passed Wednesday on a 42-25 vote.

Ma says five million Californians now have to work while they are sick or lose pay and risk being fired if they take time off.

Her bill requires larger companies to pay employees for nine sick days each year. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees would have to provide five sick days annually.

Opponents say the measure punishes small businesses.

Ma says her bill will help prevent the spread of illnesses. The legislation also covers employees recovering from domestic violence or a sexual assault.

Locksmith Scam Bill Passes State Assembly in Sacramento

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- The State Assembly today passed a bill cracking down on unlicensed locksmiths preying on unsuspecting consumers.

Assembly Bill 2592 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D. San Francisco) and inspired by a 7 On Your Side investigation passed by a 42-27 vote. Most democrats supported the bill. Republicans mostly opposed it.

The bill would increase fines for unlicensed locksmith activity tenfold to $10,000. It would also place restrictions on misleading ads and require licenses to be prominently displayed.

A 7 On Your Side hidden camera investigation originally aired in February 2007 and uncovered exactly how the scam works.

Consumers locked out of their home call a locksmith desperate for someone to pick the lock. The locksmith pretends the lock is pick proof and then proceeds to drill the lock. The unsuspecting homeowner is then charged as much as $5,000 to replace the lock. Legitimate locksmiths say the normal charge would be $75 to $125.

If the consumer complains about the charge, the locksmith sometimes threatens to leave without replacing the broken lock.

A 7 On Your Side check of locksmiths advertising in the San Francisco phone book found 98 percent of them were unlicensed. Many listed phony addresses or no addresses at all. Many of their phone numbers automatically forwarded to a central call center. Sometimes that call center is as far away as New York.

The bill now goes to the full senate. Nick Hardeman, a spokesman for Assemblywoman Ma, says his office would work with the California Department of Consumer Affairs to gain their support. He says the Department is concerned that some of the provisions in the bill would be too burdensome and impractical to enforce.

He is confident that if that Department can support the bill, the Senate will pass it and the governor will sign it.

We called the Department of Consumer Affairs for comment, but a spokesman says the department cannot comment publicly on any pending legislation.

Fiona Ma: It's Now or Never

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As you probably know by now, we here at the California High Speed Rail blog are HUGE fans of Fiona Ma. She has taken the lead on high speed rail in the state legislature, and her trip on the record-breaking TGV journey in April 2007 was the turning point in public awareness for high speed rail in our state.

Last month Ma attended the Ecocity 2008 conference in San Francisco, and gave a powerful speech explaining the environmental and economic benefits of high speed rail. Among the points she mentioned was that transportation is the largest source of California's carbon emissions, and that the only way we will meet our AB 32 targets is to build high speed rail. The video below covers the speech, at around 10 minutes long (Ma's remarks begin at 00:45).

[click here to watch the video]

One of the key points she made was that California's leadership is crucial for the rest of the country to embrace high speed rail. "If we do not pass it in November, we will never have high speed trains in the US," she told the audience to loud applause. She is probably right - California is seen as a national leader, especially on technology and global warming action. But if California doesn't pass the bonds this November, it will embolden HSR deniers and discourage HSR supporters - and even more importantly, might derail the momentum currently building in Congress to drop billions of dollars on HSR. And even if momentum continued in DC, we might find that places such as Texas, the Northeast Corridor, and the Great Lakes states will move ahead on HSR while California is left behind. A defeat of the bond this November WILL kill our chances for HSR for the next ten years.

But Fiona Ma was confident that we will win in November. As she told the audience:

I think this is the perfect storm. The high cost of gasoline, the congested roadways, the long lines at the airports, and now with the airline crisis, I really believe that this is the time that Californians will pass this bond in November.

The HSR deniers don't want to discuss any of these problems - but Californians understand these problems very well. No wonder 58% of voters back the high speed rail bonds. They get it, just as Fiona Ma gets it.

Fiona Ma also called on the bloggers to help publicize high speed rail - and we've been doing exactly that for two months now. The California High Speed Rail Blog: We Do Our Part!

Free blood test for widespread hepatitis B

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Anton Qiu plans to roll up his sleeve this morning and have a blood test technician slip a needle into his arm. Within two weeks he will learn whether he is a carrier of hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver cancer in the world.

A quarter century after the first hepatitis B vaccine became commercially available, rates of acute infection with the liver-scarring virus have plummeted in the United States, but the disease remains endemic in Asia - and 1 in 10 of the estimated 10.3 million Asian adults living in the United States are believed to be chronically infected.

About 1 in 4 of those chronically infected people - known as hepatitis B carriers - will eventually die from scarring of their liver tissues, or from liver cancer. San Francisco, where one-third of the population is of Asian descent, has the nation's highest rate of liver cancer.

"I've had cousins and distant relatives who died of this," said Qiu, 48, a real estate investor who came to the United States as a student from Shanghai in 1980.

Today, he'll join at least 1,000 others attending the Asian Heritage Festival in Japantown who are heeding a call from civic leaders in their communities to get tested.

Among those leaders is Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, who learned when she was 22 years old that she is a hepatitis B carrier.

The silent epidemic

"In the Asian community, it is taboo to talk about any flaws, to talk about anything health-related," Ma said in a recent interview. "But this is a silent epidemic. You don't have symptoms until it is too late. The more we talk about it, the more we can share stories, and encourage their families and friends to talk about it."

Two-thirds of the estimated 1.25 million hepatitis B carriers in the United States do not know they are infected and are unlikely to find out until they show signs of potentially life-threatening illnesses. Ma was infected at birth, but didn't know she was a carrier until she took a blood test during a job application process.

She was born in the United States, but her parents are from China. Her mother is a hepatitis B carrier, as is her brother. But their youngest sister, born after the vaccine became available, is immune. All in Ma's family remain healthy, and with regular blood testing to find any signs of liver damage, they expect to remain so.

The hepatitis B virus is about 100 times more infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Like HIV, it can be transmitted sexually, during childbirth or by the sharing of needles. Unlike HIV, it is preventable with a vaccine. It is also treatable.

The hepatitis B vaccine, initially derived from human blood but now produced in yeast through genetic engineering, has the potential to eliminate the disease among the youngest Americans. Since 1991, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all newborns be vaccinated against the virus, and state law requires it - although parents can seek a waiver to opt out of the requirement.

The vaccine has helped to lower the number of acute hepatitis B infections - a condition marked by fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eye. In San Francisco, where hepatitis B was circulating among gay men as well as in the Asian community, the rate of new infections has fallen nearly 90 percent since it peaked in 1987.

In addition, treatments using immunoglobulin and vaccine have reduced the risk of mothers transmitting the virus to their babies in childbirth by up to 95 percent, said Dr. Sandra Huang, director of communicable diseases for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Tracking and treating chronic hepatitis B infections is a more difficult challenge, because the disease does not reveal itself in most chronic carriers unless and until they become ill. Newborns and children are most susceptible, yet show few if any symptoms of infection. Huang said that, for now, San Francisco health officials can make only a rough estimate that there are 20,000 residents living with chronic hepatitis B infection in the city.

Bay Area concentration

The Bay Area has a high number of hepatitis B chronic infections because the region is a gateway for immigration from China, where an estimated 120 million are carriers. "China alone accounts for 50 percent of liver cancer deaths in the world," said Dr. Samuel So, a surgeon and director of the Asia Liver Center at the Stanford University School of Medicine. "Every day, over 1,000 people in China die of this disease."

So has been working with the federal Office of Minority Health on development of a nationwide strategy to control hepatitis B. Currently, the agency is spending $500,000 of its $50 million annual budget on hepatitis programs for Asians and Pacific Islanders.

"A lot of folks just don't know how important this epidemic is," said Dr. Garth Graham, director of the agency. "Half of the 1.5 million affected in the United States are Asian Americans."

So is also trying to drum up interest at the World Health Organization and other international bodies to develop a comprehensive strategy to roll back this vaccine-preventable disease. Hepatitis B is also a major health problem in Africa, Southeast Asia and India. Worldwide, an estimated 370 million are infected with the virus, and each year 700,000 die of its complications.

If signs of liver disease begin to emerge, there are drugs that can reduce the amount of virus circulating in the bloodstream and tests that can spot liver cancer before tumors become almost invariably lethal.

"A lot of people who are walking around with hepatitis B have a very treatable disease," said Dr. Alex Monto, director of the liver clinic at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco. "There are medications that are quite new and very effective, and a lot of people do not know about them."

Killers Among Us: San Francisco - help us make it hep B free now

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Awareness campaigns for health issues and social causes are as numerous as tourists at Fisherman's Wharf, and it's hard not to feel awareness campaign fatigue. But one of them has special meaning to me as a California official, an Asian American and a person living with chronic Hepatitis B. May is Hepatitis B awareness month, shining the light on a condition that affects 2 million Americans.

Chronic hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus, a pathogen that is up to 100 times more easily transmitted than HIV. The disease is often called a "silent killer" because it can cause liver cancer, cirrhosis or liver failure without producing symptoms. This may be one reason the Bay Area has the highest liver cancer rate in the nation.

As many as 1 in 10 Asian/Pacific Islanders in America, particularly those from China, Korea and Vietnam, are chronically infected with HBV. This disproportionate impact reflects the high prevalence of the disease in Asia, where HBV immunization is not yet standard practice.

My own experience is typical: I contracted Hepatitis B at birth from my mother, who was born in China, but didn't discover this until I tried to give blood at the age of 22.

In a recent study conducted here in San Francisco, a shocking two-thirds of Asian Americans with chronic Hepatitis B were not aware they were infected. Clearly, we need to ramp up screening efforts in the city, and I am proud to support the "San Francisco Hep B Free" campaign in its unprecedented effort to screen and vaccinate all at risk. Routine screening and vaccination is a critical first step, but there is much more we can do to address HBV, including educating ourselves about this disease.

HBV was once thought only to affect people who had unprotected sex or shared needles. Today we know better - not least is the fact that the virus is often passed from mother to child at birth.

We can also encourage those who are infected to seek treatment. While there is no cure for chronic Hepatitis B, the number of available treatments has grown steadily in recent years. Today, convenient once-a-day medications can help to combat the disease, potentially preventing fatal liver damage. Finally, more should be done to ensure that all people who need treatment actually get it, because the direct and indirect financial burden of chronic Hepatitis in the United States reaches $1 billion annually.

In January 2008, the California Assembly passed Assembly Bill 158, legislation that is vital to increasing access to quality health care for Californians living with HBV. The bill is in the state Senate for approval and I urge its speedy ratification.

This month is an important opportunity to raise awareness of a deadly, but preventable disease. We can wipe out this disease as long as people know to get vaccinated and we treat those already infected. However, it will take more than an awareness month to stop the devastating impact of chronic Hepatitis B. Until viral hepatitis is broadly recognized as a serious public health concern, it will continue to threaten the health of Americans in San Francisco and across the United States.

Free hepatitis B virus screening

One day only

Where: Asian Heritage Street Celebration (Post St. from Laguna to Webster), San Francisco

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 17

Regularly scheduled free screening

Where: Asian Pacific Wellness Center, 730 Polk St., 4th floor. Call (415) 292-3400 for appointment.

When: No fee on Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., or on the first Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 2330 Post St, 1st floor. (415) 885-3580.

When: No fee on the first Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to noon.

Regularly scheduled sliding-scale fee

Where: Chinese Hospital, 845 Jackson St., 1st floor, laboratory. (415) 677-2303.

When: Monday through Saturday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more about San Francisco's efforts, please visit www.sfhepbfree.org and get tested today.

Working moms speak out about sick days

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- On the day before Mother's Day, working moms are speaking out about paid, or in this case, unpaid sick days.

A group of working mothers held a forum in downtown Los Angeles.

They're trying to build support for a new bill authored by San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma.

Ma says it's unconscionable that six million California workers do not have paid sick days.

The Los Angeles City Council voted nine-to-one to support Fiona Ma's new measure on Friday.

ACE train updates designed to draw valley support for high-speed rail

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

High-speed rail supporters, having shunned San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties in a contested December routing decision, are trying to mend fences with the promise of faster ACE trains to East Bay stations.

The carrot is partially designed to lure valley votes for a $10 billion statewide bond measure in November needed for 220-mph bullet trains from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Political wisdom suggests passage might be difficult without support from people along the Altamont Pass route rejected five months ago, plus voters around Stockton, Modesto and perhaps Sacramento. The rejected alignment could have dropped riders at Disneyland two hours and nine minutes after leaving downtown Modesto, for the price of a $49 train ticket.

Democratic Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani is pushing a bill that could win about one-tenth of the bond money, or $950 million, to upgrade Altamont Commuter Express trains taken by some valley workers to the East Bay. Bullet trains could use improved ACE rails to zip from the valley to the Bay Area in a fraction of the time required by cars, Galgiani said.

"This is a huge, huge argument to make to our folks in the Central Valley," Galgiani said Tuesday. Her bill, co-authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, is scheduled for hearing today in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

The bill also prohibits a depot stop near Los Banos -- a nod to environmentalists' demands for protection of nearby wetlands that could be endangered by rail-inducing sprawl.

Bullet train fans say they use one-third the energy of airplanes and one-fifth that of cars. The 800-mile system envisioned by state authorities would cost at least $40 billion but could eliminate nearly 18 billion pounds of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to removing a million vehicles from California's roads.

Private-public partnerships

Gov. Schwarzenegger is pushing "P3" funding, or private-public partnerships. One scenario would split one-third obligations among business, state government and federal coffers. Detractors note huge government budget deficits in a sour economy.

Galgiani is from Livingston, a geographic winner whether or not rail officials had chosen the Altamont Pass over the Pacheco Pass for California high-speed rail's first phase. That they picked the latter "in essence infuriated the valley," acknowledged Modesto's Kirk Lindsey, a minority voice on the California High-Speed Rail Commission.

Commissioners endorsed Galgiani's bill last month.

Galgiani's district runs north through parts of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties to include a significant chunk of Stockton. ACE commuters pick up trains there and in Lathrop and Tracy.

"My bill reflects the realization that both (Pacheco and Altamont) passes are complemen-tary to one another," she said.

Opponents are not impressed.

The $950 million carrot "was in the bond from the start," said David Schonbrunn, president of Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund. He said his group will sue to force reconsideration of the Altamont route, which was rejected, he said, because land along the Pacheco alignment is much cheaper.

"This is a real estate deal," Schonbrunn said, "not transportation. We think high-speed rail is the future of California, we think it's crucial and we think they're screwing it up badly."

Some environmentalists, however, are appeased by the amendment to Galgiani's bill prohibiting stops from Merced to Gilroy, to protect expansive waterfowl habitat. The Sierra Club of California continues to negotiate for resources to help valley agencies plan for transit-oriented development, or growth focused around depots to reduce vehicle trips.

"The role high-speed rail will play will push the valley either toward being more sustainable or less sustainable," Sierra Club advocate Tim Frank said.

He acknowledged that Galgiani's bill makes no promise for ACE money, but simply allows ACE to compete for the $950 million with other corridors looking to boost connections to high-speed rail.

But Galgiani notes that a recent bill amendment "elevates the focus" of Altamont trains. She envisions ACE adding tracks and grade separations, or running rails over or under roads where vehicles now wait for trains to pass.

"Essentially, we're preparing the ACE system so that it could share tracks with high-speed trains," she said.

ACE trains carry about 3,500 riders daily, including about 350 from Stanislaus County, spokesman Thomas Reeves said. Delay complaints because of conflicts with Union Pacific freight trains could be reduced if ACE had money to build more and longer "sidings," or turn-out spurs, used to let other trains pass, he said.

Lindsey said Galgiani's bill is "very good" if it furthers valley interests. "This needs to be for the whole valley, not just part."

Tracks through Modesto?

High-speed rail supporters say eventually they'll run tracks north from Merced to Sacramento, passing through Modesto. That could happen by 2020, assuming the Bay Area-Anaheim line is done by 2014, Galgiani said.

Modesto City Councilman Dave Lopez said downtown could experience another revival with business from bullet trains. He's even more intrigued at the thought of his son, who attends California State University, Sacramento, commuting from Modesto on a 31-minute train for $22, figured in 2005 dollars. Other students might live at home and make similar trips to universities in Merced and Fresno, he said.

It won't happen soon enough for his son, Lopez said -- but could for his 5-week-old daughter.

Plastics Set Off Alarm

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO - Responding to an unusually large number of consumer product recalls last year - many of them involving lead in everything from toys and candy to clothing and lunch boxes - several Bay Area lawmakers are pushing for better state regulation of chemicals believed to be toxic.

One bill, labeled the "Toxin-free Toddlers and Babies Act" by Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, would ban the chemical bisphenol A from toys and child-care products sold in California, such as baby bottles. Another measure, by Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward, would prohibit several ingredients used in deodorants, hair dyes and acrylic nails. Yet another, by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, would bar a toxic grease-resistant compound found in pizza boxes, which she said can get into heated food, and, when ingested, can become a carcinogen.

More than 25 bills have been introduced - an increase from previous years - some of which will be presented to the full membership of the Assembly and Senate in the next two weeks.

"We're seeing more bills in the Legislature dealing with toxic chemicals, largely in response to the number of contaminated products that have been found to be on the market," said Sierra Club California Director Bill Magavern.

"There's a growing realization," he said, "that the government does not have an effective system to keep these toxic products out of our homes."

The measures are pushed by pro-environment Democrats eager to protect the public's health, and opposed by business-friendly Republicans, who say that science doesn't prove the chemicals are that bad.

Both sides support their claims with dueling scientific and governmental studies from all over the world.

Opponents of the bills complain about a lack of detailed information on whether a chemical being banned is better or worse than the chemical that replaces it.

Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, said that when MTBE was added to gasoline in the 1990s to reduce pollution, it was later linked to adverse health effects. Then ethanol became a replacement, and studies have since blamed it for respiratory illness.

"If the science warrants a change or warrants a ban, I am willing to support that, and to be very aggressive in supporting that," Smyth said. "However, I think we have been moving ahead of the science, and again, in putting up replacement chemicals."

The effort to ban bisphenol A, or BPA, from shatter-proof plastic baby bottles, cites Canadian regulators who deemed the chemical so dangerous that stores in Canada pulled children's products from shelves.

Yet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration calls the chemical safe. "Clearly, they haven't found a risk," said Steve Hentges of the American Chemistry Council.

Even if the bills pass the Democratic-controlled Legislature, it's unknown if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would sign them into law.

Schwarzenegger likes to be known as an environmentalist, but he's also a champion for business, a sector that financially supports his political campaigns.

Lawmakers behind this year's flurry of bills, though, are hopeful because the governor last year agreed to ban the chemical phthalates from infant toys, a measure carried by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Now Ma is proposing AB 2694, which would prohibit lead in amounts larger than "trace levels" in children's toys, because it's said to harm the central nervous system.

Another measure, AB 1860, by Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, would allow state regulators to order mandatory recalls of unsafe products. Compliance with the federal government's recalls is voluntary.

"If the federal government refuses to act," Ma said, "then states will."

Ma Discusses Calif. High-speed Rail

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO — Several thousand people from more than 70 countries attended the Ecocity World Summit on April 22 to 26 at Masonic Auditorium and the U.C. Berkeley Extension in SoMa.

The conference highlighted what cities throughout the world are doing about climate change and environmental issues.

California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma spoke on an April 25 panel about the future of transportation and city structure concerning California’s proposed high-speed rail, which would eventually link San Diego to Sacramento and would potentially enable travelers to go from San Francisco to Los Angeles in fewer than two and a half hours. Supporters hope the train will result in an overall reduction of fuel consumption from automobiles and planes.

Ma, a leading advocate of the high-speed rail, said she had just returned from Japan where she rode on the Shinkansen, the first high-speed train in the world. Shinkansen began operating in 1964 and has an outstanding safety record of no passenger fatalities due to derailments or collisions.

California’s high-speed rail will be on the ballot in November, requesting authorization by California voters for a $9 billion bond measure for the construction of the core segment from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

California High-Speed Rail

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Fiona Ma was nervous about getting on a train that was about to set a world speed record. Just before Easter 2007 in the countryside outside Paris, she saw the people lining the green and flowered route. The French were flying flags, waving, and cheering. Less reassuring were those of faith who crossed themselves as the new train accelerated past 200 miles per hour. The people blurred into a collage of spring time colors. The train vibrated much as when a jet plane roars down the runway and starts to ascend. Fiona hoped that this train would not leave the tracks.

At three hundred miles per hour, the train was still on the tracks, accelerating. Out the window, only one image was distinct. A plane that was filming the historic event flew along side the train. Surrealistically, Fiona and the eleven other dignitaries could see what was filmed from the plane on a screen inside the train. Another LCD displayed their world record - 357 miles per hour on a train. Everyone cheered. The train slowed over the next few miles. Fiona took a deep breath, exhaled, and smiled; she took part in history.

These days, Fiona Ma, needs to find new courage every day. As California Majority Whip, she takes on the tough issues and is a force in making things better. For every important issue, there are vested interests on all sides whether it is better health care, better transportation, stopping global warming, or keeping California’s $1.7 trillion economy moving forward. Among her many responsibilities, Assemblywoman Ma chairs the Legislative High Speed Rail Caucus.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) believe they just may have the answer — an 800 mile statewide high-speed rail system that would serve more than 32 million passengers per year by 2020. Because the rail will be powered by electricity, and because of the efficiency of moving up to 1,200 people per train, CO2 emissions may be reduced by 12 billion pounds per year by 2020, and 18 billion pounds by 2030.

If you have ever been stuck in gridlock trying to get to work between Orange County and LA, or between San Jose and San Francisco, you will appreciate that the high-speed rail would add the equivalent of a 12-lane superhighway. Express high-speed trains will take one hour and fifteen minutes between San Diego and Los Angeles, and a little over two and one-half hours from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

CHSRA is upgrading their 2020 forecast to 68 million, from 32 million, and 94 to 117 million passengers by 2030. As Hall of Fame baseball great Yogi Berra observed, "It is difficult to forecast, especially about the future." 2020 annual passengers will depend on California voters approving the November bond, matching funding, and regulatory approval. CHSRA forecasts are achievable. By comparison, Europe already provides 250 million annual rides, and Japan over 300 million.

High-speed rail systems, using the new grade-separated high speed lines planned for California have not had one fatality in 41 years. Neither automobiles nor airplanes can match the safety of high speed rail.

California high-speed rail addresses a number of goals. Our current highways cannot support the planned growth to 50 million people. Only the USA and China use more oil than California. If there are more price hikes, or if supply is disrupted by war or terrorism, where will California get its needed billions of gallons of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel? Draughts, likely caused by climate change, are already hurting California agriculture and industry. California is unlikely to meet its targeted reduction of greenhouse gases without high-speed rail. Especially damaging are the greenhouse gas emissions from short-haul air travel. The per passenger greenhouse gas emissions of flying from LA to SF are equivalent of each person driving solo in a large SUV. Carbon Calculator

Although California faces rush-hour gridlock without high-speed rail, a project with a starting price north of $33 billion is certain to face some opposition.

With HSR, it’s about money. Proposed is that Californians approve a bond of $10 billion for one-third of the cost. One-third would be matched by federal funds and one-third by private investment. Although some anticipate cost overruns, more are worried that the price of not acting will be much higher. Because California is implementing AB32, the high-speed rail may be able to sell carbon credits to help finance the project and operations.

Since high-speed rail will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18 billion pounds per year, you would think that all environment groups would support the measure. While there has been some support, the Sierra Club opposed disrupting environmentally sensitive areas and areas of wildlife migration, specifically in the Los Banos area. Beyond some local opposition, however, the national Sierra Club strongly supports high-speed rail.

Southwest Airlines successfully sued and stopped high-speed rail in Texas in the 1990s. Texas is now staring at a $183 billion price for the Trans Texas Corridor as a 4,000-mile-long stretch of 10 auto lanes and six railroad tracks for high-speed freight and commuter trains. This is over twenty times higher than if they had not been stopped from implementing high-speed rail years ago. Opponents of high-speed rail carefully follow Mark Twain’s advice, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”

Airlines may not oppose high-speed rail. Today, Southwest cannot get the expanded gates and routes in California due to lack of airport expansion everywhere from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Francisco. Some airlines may support high-speed rail as it will more easily bring people to SFO and be part of bringing passengers to other airports more quickly.

Most are optimistic that voters will approve a bond issue for high-speed rail. Voters are faced with record gasoline prices and concern about California’s economic future. More people are commuting longer distances as they are unable to sell their homes in today’s difficult real estate market.

The major concerns are addressed in new legislation proposed by Assemblywomen Cathleen Galgiani and Fiona Ma - AB 3034 “Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century.” The governor wanted more private funding of the rail. The new bill allows for private rail funding provided by law. The Sierra Club does not want a Los Banos station. The new bill provides: “Preserving wildlife corridors and mitigating impacts to wildlife movement, where feasible as determined by the authority…” Also the bill, “Prohibits a high-speed train station between Gilroy and Merced.”

On April 14, the legislative committee approved the bill with 10 voting yes and no one opposing. It is expected to get the approval of the full Assembly and Senate and the Governor. Read the Bill and Post your Comment

Even if voters approve the bond, high-speed rail will not move forward unless there are matching federal funds. Congressman Jim Costa believes that will happen. As he states in his op-ed: “Congress has begun to take action to help make the idea of high-speed rail in California a reality. Two bills I introduced, HR 4122 the American Investment in Safe, Reliable High Speed Rail Act and HR 4123, the High-Speed Rail Authority Development and Formation Act, will help bring federal dollars to California to invest in the proposed high-speed rail system. The Senate also passed S. 294, which will help high-speed rail development in America…. Overall, for every dollar invested in this system, we will see two dollars in return.” Capitol Weekly Article

Will Californians park their cars and ride the rails? Last year, LAMTA carried 64 million riders. In the Bay Area, BART carried 47 million riders. With gasoline prices rocketing, Amtrak ridership on the Capitol Corridor is up 16% this March over a year ago; on the San Joaquins it has jumped 27%. Although Californians will not exclusively ride rails and rapid transit, but they will ride more and drive less. In fact, high speed rail will integrate with public transportation. All 25 HSR stations will be multi-modal. For example, to get to Sacramento I currently take BART to Richmond, then get on Amtrak in the same station.

As a manager covering several states, I used to travel weekly on airplanes. Point-to-point always required at least four hours to get to the airport, get thru security, taxi in the runway, fly, taxi in the runway, then rent a car. In contrast, when taking a train from Washington D.C. to New York, I found that train travel was faster than airlines and better integrated with public transportation. With high-speed rail, airline travel to cover a few hundred miles would never be a personal option.

Travel between Washington D.C. and Boston is now even faster with speeds of up to 150 miles per hour on Amtrak’s Acela, the only high-speed rail in the United States. Now you can get from the nation’s capital to downtown Manhattan in less than three hours; an impossibility with airline travel and the fastest taxi driver in New York history. Over ten million passengers road this Northeast Corridor in 2007, making it the most popular train route in the U.S. Acela is now profitable.

In 12 years, 32 to 68 million passengers may be riding on an even faster system in California. The high-speed rail will keep California’s economy moving forward, with more jobs, more energy security and far less emissions.

Rigidity of surplus-property funds spending may loosen

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The San Francisco Unified School District would have more spending options with money gained from selling its surplus property under state legislation that is moving through Sacramento.

Under current law, school districts must use all sales revenue from such property sales for building and other capital improvements, such as structural maintenance projects.

The proposed bill, authored by Assemblymember Fiona Ma, whose district includes San Francisco, would allow the SFUSD to fund one-time purchases, such as new computers.

Of the district's 177 properties, 20 percent are deemed surplus spaces because they're no longer required for instruction, according to SFUSD documents. Although district officials have not quantified a value for those properties, one building at 700 Font Blvd. -- the former site of the district's School of the Arts -- was auctioned off for $20 million in November.
Because Ma's bill specifically details a six-year period stretching from July 2006 to June 2012, the district could use proceeds from the Font Boulevard sale under the new proposed capacities.

The district is interested in using some of the money from the property sales to fund technological enhancements, such as installing wireless Internet setups and purchasing more computers, district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe said.

The bill would not act as a panacea for the district's woeful budget outlook, Blythe said.

The district is looking at a $40 million projected shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year due to education spending cuts proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mayor Gavin Newsom has pledged to spend as much $31 million from The City's rainy-day fund to help make up the district's deficit, but the actual dedicated amount won't be determined until mid-May.

"This bill is not a stop-gap fix," Blythe said. "We can't go out and use this money to pay teachers' salaries."

Blythe said the state regulates spending from property sales because it doesn't want school districts dependent on revenue that could fluctuate from year to year.

SFUSD board President Mark Sanchez said it's always in the district's best interest to hold on to all its assets, but if faced with a daunting budget shortfall again, selling off properties may be the only option.

Approved unanimously by the Assembly Education Committee, AB 1934 will now move on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. "I think it's unfortunate that we're always fighting for Prop. 98 funding," Ma said, referring to a 1998 measure that requires the state to maintain minimum funding levels for education. "It would be nice if it wasn't on the chopping block every year."

wreisman@examiner.com

California Suspends Day Care Licenses, Linking Its Action to Sex Offenders

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO -- California authorities have suspended the licenses of 10 home day care and foster homes after a state audit found evidence that convicted sex offenders might be residing in them, state officials announced Thursday.

In two of the 10 cases, inspectors visited the homes in the Los Angeles region this week and found sex offenders living at addresses where children were regularly present, said John A. Wagner, director of the California Department of Social Services.

In both cases, children were removed and no evidence of abuse had been found, though Mr. Wagner said that "we'll continue to interview those children." In the other eight cases, all but one in Southern California, the inspectors found sex offenders at the addresses, but no children present.

The inspections were made after a state audit, requested by state lawmakers last year, found 49 instances in which registered sex offenders had listed addresses in a state law enforcement database that matched those of licensed day care centers or foster homes.

Lawmakers reacted to the report with concern.

"In most cases, you have a lady who wants to have day care out of her home, and she can advertise, and people can drop their kids off," said Anthony Adams, a Republican assemblyman who asked for the audit with Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a Democrat. "But maybe her brother or her husband or her uncle are offenders and living there, too."

The report did not indicate whether the sex offenders had been convicted of crimes involving children or adults. The Social Services Department said the 10 suspended homes had violated state licensing law, which requires day care and foster care licensees to disclose anyone living at the sites and to submit to criminal background checks.

Gordon Hinkle, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said that his office had investigated three cases of paroled sex offenders whose addresses matched child care facilities and that in only one case did an offender had access to children.

Released from prison four years ago, the unidentified offender was living with his 80-year-old mother, who was a foster parent, but was relocated as a precaution after the corrections officials reviewed the state audit, Mr. Hinkle said.

In another case, corrections officials found that the address had previously been classified as day care, but was no longer operating.

The audit, which also found instances of sex offenders living together in violation of state law, shed light on the complex and often overlapping problems of housing sex offenders, who are often limited by state law as to where they can live.

A 2006 state law prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or public park. Even as the audit was made public on Thursday, the state's sex offender management board reported that the number of transient sex offenders has increased 50 percent since August.

Suzanne Brown-McBride, the chairwoman of the board, said although the audit was worrying, it was important to check the accuracy of the findings "before we start running through and making huge policy changes."

Ms. Brown-McBride added that although no one wanted sex offenders living near a day care center, "we should not only be identifying the inappropriate places for these people to be living. We should be identifying the appropriate places, too."

Lawmakers vow crackdown on sex offenders near day care

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Two California lawmakers vowed to crack down Thursday after a state audit discovered 49 sex offenders registered as living in facilities that provide day care to children.

"Parents who go to work, drop off their kids in the morning, pick them up -- they should not have to worry about the safety of their children," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Ma and GOP Assemblyman Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia, vowed to jointly craft legislation aimed at ensuring that such living arrangements, already illegal, do not go undetected.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised through a spokeswoman to "work with the Legislature to prevent this from happening again."

The Department of Social Services did not dispute the accuracy of the audit's database check but found that some records might be outdated.

The 49 sex offenders cited by the audit were registered to 46 child-care facilities, all of which were investigated in the audit's wake, said John Wagner, state social services director.

The result is that nine of the child-care facilities have been targeted for license revocation, but only two were caring for children -- seven were not, Wagner said.

No problem was discovered at 24 of the 46 addresses, meaning the facility was no longer in business, the address was inaccurate or the structure was unoccupied, Wagner said.

No immediate conclusions could be reached for the remaining 13 addresses. Additional follow-up is planned, Wagner said.

"We have no information that any crime was committed" against children at the licensed care facilities, Wagner said.

Criminal background checks are required of anyone who lives or works in licensed child-care facilities. Owners must report newcomers to the Department of Social Services.

Wagner said breakdowns apparently occurred because his agency was not notified.

Wagner said he could support the notion of strengthening data sharing between his agency and the Department of Justice, which maintains sex offender files.

"It's an area we're very seriously interested in and concerned about," he said.

Discovery of the 49 sex offenders registered to child-care facilities was part of a much larger state audit that found:

Sex offenders housed in at least 352 licensed residential facilities, designed to serve at-risk adults.

More than 500 instances in which two or more paroled sex offenders were registered to the same address. A total of 332 were hotels or apartment complexes, accommodating 2,038 offenders.

State Auditor Elaine Howle said the audit involved analyzing and cross-checking databases of state-licensed social service facilities and registered sex offenders.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation submitted a response to Howle that noted several areas of dispute.

The corrections department noted, for example, that the audit cited eight counties where multiple sex offenders were registered to a single residence.

"An Internet Google search, in fact, determined some of the facilities were county jails, detention facilities, hospitals and other large residential facilities," the corrections agency said.

Lawmakers say Calif. needs tighter scrutiny of sex offenders

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO—State lawmakers on Thursday said California needs better long-term supervision of sex offenders after an audit raised concerns that some may be living in homes used for child daycare and foster care.

The audit found that the addresses of 49 registered sex offenders matched those of 46 child care facilities throughout the state.

The state Department of Social Services has suspended licenses for nine of the homes. Officials said there is no immediate indication that any children were abused.

Nevertheless, the report angered the two lawmakers who requested the audit, Assembly members Anthony Adams, a Republican from Hesperia, and Fiona Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco.

"My biggest concern right now is the number of sex offenders that are in child care facilities," Ma said during a Capitol news conference. "Parents who go to work, drop off their kids in the morning, pick them up, should not have to worry about the safety of their children."

The audit also showed that about 51,000 registered sex offenders in California have little supervision because they have completed parole. Another 8,000 sex offenders are currently being supervised by parole agents.

"What we found is shocking," Ma said. "There is not a good monitoring system in place."

State auditors matched the addresses of 75,000 licensed facilities, including foster family homes and in-home daycare centers, with the state's database of registered sex offenders.

Auditors recommended that the state departments of justice and social services share their databases to ensure that sex offenders are not living at licensed homes.

Adams said he will seek legislation requiring agencies to cross-check their databases.

"Government has absolutely failed in this regard," he said. "They don't speak to each other at all."

Some of those who had their licenses revoked reacted angrily.

Dorothea L. Morris was among those whose licenses were suspended because her address matched the one given by her son, a registered sex offender. She had operated Morris Family Child Care in Pacoima, north of Los Angeles.

"He's not living here," her husband, Jimmye Morris, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "He's not even in the state. He's back East. He hasn't lived here in over seven years."

The Department of Social Services also suspended the license of Harriett J. Hunter, who had operated Hunter Family Child Care in Los Angeles.

Hunter said she obtained her license in 2002 but had never cared for a child other than her niece for a few hours each day. That stopped before her fiance, Raymond Carreon, moved to the home in 2005, she and Carreon said.

Carreon was convicted in 1996 of committing a lewd act with a child under 14, according to the audit. He told the AP that he properly registers as a sex offender each year as required by law and has no contact with children.

"I'm not even well," said Hunter, 65, who said she suffers from arthritis and other ills. "I haven't done child care, I don't do child care, I don't intend to do child care."

Of the 46 address matches identified in the audit, 25 were in Los Angeles, eight in the Central Valley, seven in the San Francisco Bay area, four in San Diego, and one each in San Bernardino and Sacramento.

Only nine licenses were suspended because in most cases inspectors for the Department of Social Services could not verify that a sex offender was living at the location. In other cases, no children were present where the offenders were living.

Under state law, those with daycare and foster care licenses must report the names of any adults living in or associated with their facilities. Ma said she will seek legislation stiffening penalties for licensees who violate that law.

The audit also found cases in which multiple sex offender parolees were living at the same address. Under most circumstances, state law prohibits a sex offender from living with other offenders while on parole.

The locations matched by state auditors often turned out to be drug treatment programs, hotels and apartment complexes. In some instances, they were hospitals or jails.

State Auditor Elaine Howle said some parolees were living in a hotel two to a room, a violation of state law. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Gordon Hinkle, however, denied that any of the sex offender parolees had living arrangements that were illegal.

Howle called for the Legislature to clarify the residency restrictions. Adams said his bill would close a loophole that allows up to six sex offenders to live together in group homes.

———

Should California require small businesses to offer sick days?

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Hundreds of small businesses in California say they can't afford to offer paid sick days to employees, but Assemblywoman Fiona Ma believes businesses actually could save money by doing so.

The San Francisco Democrat's Assembly Bill 2716 would let workers earn paid sick days that could be used to recover from illness, care for a sick relative or recover from domestic violence or sexual assault.

Small businesses and groups representing them vigorously oppose the bill, calling it another example of government trying to impose a financial burden on businesses already struggling to survive in a shaky economy.

The California Chamber of Commerce said the proposal would "unreasonably expand employers' costs and liability." Those cost increases could result in lower wages, reduced health insurance availability and reductions in worker-training programs, the chamber said.

Bill Reed, owner of Reed's Ribs and More in Sacramento, said he's sympathetic to workers getting ill, "but there's really nobody you can pick up to fill in. And you would have to pay that person to fill in. I only have three employees.

"And on top of that, I have workers' compensation (to pay), so, yeah, it would be tough."

To counter such arguments, Ma cited a new study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research in Washington, D.C. It contends that universal access to sick days would actually create cost savings.

"The study says businesses will save money, mostly by reducing turnover," Ma said.

The IWPR study projected that workers covered under Ma's proposal would use fewer than two sick days annually for their own medical needs, excluding maternity leave.

It also predicted that if the pending legislation became law, workers would use just one day of sick time per year for family care and doctor visits.

The study forecast an annual employer savings in California of $2.3 million from reduced employee turnover. In turn, workers and their families in the state would experience lower expenditures for health-care services, saving $7 million annually, according to the study.

Beyond fiscal reasons, Ma said she wants to protect workers who are punished for taking time off when they or their loved ones are sick.

"Employees are reporting that they get fired if they take a sick day off, or they get demoted," Ma said.

Under AB 2716, workers would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours of paid work. Workers in small businesses (10 employees or fewer) would be able to take up to 40 hours or five days of leave per year, and all other workers would be able to take up to 72 hours or nine days of leave per year. Carry-over language is being negotiated. Workers would not be allowed to get pay in exchange for unused sick days.

Ma said she does not have an exact breakdown of California business segments not offering paid sick leave, but she said indications are that high percentages exist in the food industry, farming and retail.

"It's not just small businesses. I think it's businesses across the board," she said.

The issue is close to Ma's heart. As a San Francisco supervisor, she pushed for citywide sick leave that was approved in 2006 and became effective in mid-2007. San Francisco became the first city in the United States to implement paid sick days, and the District of Columbia has since passed its own law.

Jim Lazarus, senior vice president of public policy for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, noted that the chamber opposed Ma's proposal in San Francisco. On Wednesday, he said the jury is still out on the ordinance's effect.

"It went into full effect last summer. It's too early to say what the overall effect has been," he said. "The bottom line, in most cases, is that people have not accumulated enough sick leave to see whether or not it's being abused."

Lazarus said he has observed recent increases in sick leave in some business segments, including the parcel delivery industry, but it's unknown whether those are a direct result of the San Francisco ordinance.

No state has enacted legislation on paid sick days, but proposals are pending in Massachusetts and Ohio. Federal legislation has been proposed by U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

Ma said her efforts in San Francisco prompted her to propose her bill, plus U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that about 40 percent of California workers are not eligible for paid sick leave.

"That's between 5 and 6 million workers," she said. "That's about the same number we were talking about last year who do not have affordable health (insurance)."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of the nation's private-sector work force lacks paid sick leave – about 60 million workers.

AB 2716's opponents, however, characterize it as a one-size-fits-all mandate on businesses and sharply questioned its projections of savings to employers and workers.

Panda Morgan, director of the Greater Sacramento Small Business Development Center, called the proposal potentially "disastrous" to small business.

"It's too bad that government feels it has to dictate to business what they can afford or not afford," she said.

As for the projected cost savings cited by the IWPR study, Morgan questioned how thoroughly the report examined the illness-based absence trends at diverse businesses statewide.

Morgan speculated that the bill, if passed, could actually limit business growth.

"If we have a one-sided issue, the employer is going to say: 'Instead of hiring, I'm going to elect to keep my business small and never hire anyone.' "

AB 2716 advanced Tuesday through the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not yet taken a position on the proposal.

The bill is co-sponsored by the California Labor Federation and the California Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

Bill requiring paid sick leave in Calif. passes committee

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO (AP) - A bill requiring paid sick leave for California workers has been approved by a state Assembly committee.

The measure by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma cleared the Labor and Employment Committee on Wednesday with a 6-2 vote.

It would enable workers to qualify for up to nine days of paid sick leave a year. Employers with fewer than 10 employees would have to provide up to five days annually.

Ma, a San Francisco Democrat, says nearly six million California workers do not have paid sick leave now, forcing them to choose between going to work ill or losing pay.

She predicts the bill will save businesses money by reducing turnover, preventing co-workers from becoming ill and increasing productivity. But the National Federation of Independent Businesses opposes the bill, predicting it would cost jobs.

The measure now moves to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

On the Net:

Read the bill, AB2716, at http://www.assembly.ca.gov

Paid sick leave best for workers, employers

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Here's a number nearly as depressing as the dropout rate or the size of the national debt or the price of diesel: The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that more than 40 percent of the nation's workforce isn't eligible for paid sick leave.

In other words, when they get sick, they either go to work and make their co-workers sick or they stay home and worry about how they're going to pay the rent. It isn't a coincidence that people in low-wage jobs are far more likely to be working without a sick-leave net than people in higher paying jobs.

Fortunately, cities and states across the country are waking up to the issue, albeit slowly. So far, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are the only jurisdictions mandating paid sick leave. Now, California is one of several states finally considering legislation to bring this bit of labor practice in line with civilized society worldwide.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, has introduced a bill that would guarantee employees up to nine days of paid leave annually to care for themselves or a sick relative. The legislation is scheduled to be taken up this week by the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

Expect much opposition. Creating such laws has proved to be a remarkably difficult process coast-to-coast because of understandable but ultimately short-sighted resistance from business, particularly champions of small business.

The ultimate argument against paid leave is, of course, that it is expensive — just like it's expensive to provide heat and running water, restrooms, lunch breaks, worker compensation, liability insurance and safety gear. Businesses, especially small businesses, have to pay someone to do the work when someone doesn't show up. There's no getting around that, and the prospect of even one more mandated expense must be frightening to many small businesses, especially in such difficult economic times.

But paid sick leave has won support not only from unions but also from some business leaders who understand that spreading illness around a work place can be more expensive than letting someone take a day or two to recover, and who understand that providing simple benefits can help businesses retain trained employees.

Another argument is that the expense, or what seems to be an expense, could cause some businesses to move out of a city or state that imposes sick leave regulations. The answer to that is to make it a federal requirement.

Would that drive more business out of this country? Probably so. Will they be missed? Yes, but probably not for long.

Don't some employees abuse sick leave? No question. Most work places have people notorious for calling in sick only on Mondays or Fridays. They should be weeded out, not used as leverage to deny basic benefits to others more deserving.

Expenses aside, complications notwithstanding, establishing paid sick leave for all workers, not just those at the high end of the economic ladder, is the right thing to do.

Sick leave bill to get California Assembly hearing

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO - Assemblywoman Fiona Ma wants to provide some relief for the millions of California workers who face losing pay if they stay home sick.

The San Francisco Democrat has introduced legislation that would guarantee employees as many as nine days of paid sick leave a year to care for themselves or an ill family member. It also would apply to those recovering from domestic violence or a sexual assault.

"Healthy workers are productive workers," Ma said. "Studies have found that having paid sick days actually saves money for businesses by reducing turnover, by reducing the spread of illness in the workplace and improving workers' morale and productivity."

But at least a dozen business groups have lined up to oppose the bill, contending it would increase costs and liability. Business leaders also warn it could lower wages and reduce available health insurance.

In the worst-case scenario, the mandate could lead to job loss or reduced work hours, said Denise Davis, a spokeswoman for the California Chamber of Commerce.

"In an already troubled economy, California should be seeking ways to stimulate job growth and avoid forcing costly mandates on employers," she said in a statement.

Ma said about 40 percent of the state's work force, between 5 million and 6 million workers, do not get paid when they stay home sick.

Her bill, which is scheduled to be considered Wednesday by the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, would enable workers who had been on the job for at least 90 days to use paid sick leave accrued at the rate of at least one hour for every 30 hours worked.

Companies with 10 or more workers would have to provide up to nine days of paid sick leave a year. Smaller businesses would have to give their employees as many as five days annually.

Employees taking sick leave would receive the same wages they are paid while at work.

Rail System Speeds Closer to a Reality

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Dozens of international investors are poised to float a proposed high-speed rail system that would take San Francisco and Peninsula residents to Southern California in 2½ hours, officials said Wednesday.

More than 60 international investors were interested in helping bankroll the $42 billion train system, said Rod Diridon, a member on the California High Speed Rail Authority Board. About $10 billion in private investments is needed for the train system to be built, officials said.

“We don’t have a project unless we have a private component,” Diridon said. “These private investors are ready to go.”

The authority’s financial firm, New York-based Lehman Brothers, met with about 80 investors representing 50 different firms from around the world last Thursday. The investors included train operators, construction firms and financiers. Before Thursday’s meeting, the level of serious interest from private investors was relatively unknown, rail authority Executive Director Mehdi Morshed said.

“The level of interest from private finance people from all over the world was amazingly good,” Morshed said.

Rail proponent and state Assemblymember Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said the reaction from private investors was very encouraging.

“It kind of signals to the world and California that it’s finally happening and that this is a reality,” Ma said.

The project is slated to be completed by 2020. The network would link all of the state’s major population centers, including Sacramento, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, Southern California’s Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego.

Electric-powered trains on the 700-mile rail system would travel up to 220 mph and the trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles would take 2½ hours and cost $55 for a one-way trip.

Voters are being asked in November to support the state in taking out a $9.95 billion bond to fund the first phase of the project. Strong private financing increases the likelihood of voters approving a $9.95 billion bond for the November ballot, Morshed and Diridon said.

A recent poll indicated 58 percent of Californians would support the bond, which could then be used as leverage for another $9 billion in federal funds, Diridon said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declined to formally endorse the bond, citing a lack of guarantee in private financing. He could veto the bill for a bond if passed by the Legislature.

5th annual Strides for Life auction raises nearly $120,000

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

STRIDES for Life Colon Cancer Foundation's fifth annual Dinner Dance and Auction, held March 1 at the Marriott San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, was a spectacular fundraiser attended by 480 people, the event's largest turnout to date! Attorney Rolando Pasquali was emcee and auctioneer.

Nearly $120,000 was raised in memory of Dylan Lawrence Cappel, a 1992 graduate of St. Dunstan School in Millbrae and a 1996 graduate of Serra High School in San Mateo, who died at 23 from colon cancer.

"The funds go toward providing the residents of San Mateo County, who are either uninsured or underinsured, the ability to receive colon cancer screening," said Dylan's father, Lawrence Cappel, Ph.D., president and chief executive of Pacific Health Alliance in Burlingame.

Cappel founded Strides for Life, a nonprofit, in 2004 after he and his wife, Barbara, lost their son in January 2002. Dylan, a 2000 University of Wisconsin graduate and a world-class rower, died while training at the university for a berth on the 2004 U.S. Olympic rowing team.

"Everyone needs to become more aware of the disease and understand that screening and early detection of colorectal cancer saves lives," said guest speaker Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. "What makes screening so important is the fact that in its early stages, colorectal cancer usually has no symptoms. However, when it is discovered at an early, localized state, the survival rate exceeds 90 percent. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in California among men and women combined."

"We are extremely excited to announce an expansion of our partnership with Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, again recently named one of our nation's top 100 hospitals," Cappel said. "While last year we focused on raising awareness of colon cancer, this year, with the participation of the outstanding physicians from Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group, we will be rolling out a community-wide effort designed to provide colon-cancer screening, primarily in the Hispanic and African-American communities of our county.

"Our goal is to ensure that everyone has equal access to colon-cancer screening regardless of their ability to pay. As Martin Luther King said, 'Of all the forms of inequity, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.'"

HSR at the Democratic Convention

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

So I spent the weekend up in San José at the California Democratic Party Convention. It was my first convention and a great experience overall. And in between some of the official meetings, I got a chance to talk to some present and future Democratic elected officials about high speed rail and our state's energy future.

As you saw above, I spoke with Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who has taken a strong leadership role on this issue. We had a good conversation about high speed rail, and she told me about her recent trip to Japan to tour the Shinkansen. She pointed out the Japanese trains' phenomenal on-time record - averaging within six seconds of the scheduled time - and mentioned the Spanish AVE trains' guarantee of a full trip refund if the train runs more than 5 minutes behind schedule (which rarely happens). She has a clear grasp of the necessity and the value of the project, and is a very good public advocate for what is too often seen as an "esoteric" idea. Fiona Ma is definitely one of our most important allies in the Legislature on high speed rail.

This morning I met with Debbie Cook, who is running for Congress down in Orange County, challenging right-wing incumbent Dana Rohrabacher. Debbie Cook is the mayor of Huntington Beach, and she is also active in the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO), perhaps the world's leading group of experts and activists dealing with our looming energy crisis - she is planning their September meeting up in Sacramento. Debbie Cook made it clear that one of the driving forces behind her campaign will be sustainable transportation - Orange County, like the rest of the state, remains dependent on oil-based transportation systems, and she did a great job of explaining why that must change. Her candidacy for Congress will help give this state a much greater awareness of peak oil, and will also help spotlight another advocate of high speed rail.

HSR did not otherwise have a very high profile at the convention, which was mostly focused on endorsement fights, the presidential campaign, and the usual schmoozing. But it was good to encounter these two Democratic officeholders who will be likely playing important roles in our high speed rail campaign this year.

Many of my fellow bloggers, especially those from Southern California, expressed the wish that we had high speed rail up and running. The San José stop will be just one mile from the convention center, connected to it by the VTA's light rail line, and HSR would have made it a lot easier for folks to travel to and from the convention. Especially on a Sunday afternoon, exhausted from the weekend's revelry.

Cadaver provenance

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Showing plasticized cadavers is fine, so long as exhibitors can prove the bodies were properly donated.

With two temporary exhibits of plastic-infused, partly dissected cadavers in California, the Legislature is poised to consider a bill that would ensure that these popular shows are legitimate. It would require operators of the touring displays to provide evidence that the bodies were properly donated.

The exhibits are unquestionably riveting and educational. Depending on the viewer's tastes, they might be seen as macabre or beautiful, or both. Either way, they should have to follow commonly accepted norms for decent treatment of the dead.

Body Worlds, whose exhibit recently opened at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, has no problem with Assembly Bill 1519. Spokesmen say they already have signed permission from the deceased people whose cadavers or organs are on display. Premier Exhibitions, whose "Bodies Revealed" show in Sacramento is scheduled to end April 27, opposes the bill. The company said it legitimately acquired cadavers from China but doesn't know the identities of the donors, relying instead on authorization from Chinese medical and scientific organizations.

That's exactly what arouses suspicion, according to the bill's author, Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), who is of Chinese descent. Chinese culture traditionally rejects body donation, let alone donation for this kind of exhibit. There have been unproven allegations that Premier obtained its cadavers via the global black market in bodies and organs. But the company's defense isn't completely reassuring, considering China's human rights record and suspicions, also unproved, that Chinese prisoners have been used as unwitting organ donors.

At this point, Premier is asking for the bill to be amended so that it would not apply retroactively. Company officials say that the exhibits are now so old that a search for proper documentation would probably prove futile. But that doesn't mean the company should continue to pull in profits indefinitely, using cadavers of people who may or may not have been willing donors. Polymer-infused bodies have long lives, so to speak. Premier should be given a couple of years to create exhibits that meet ethical standards.

Aside from that concession, the Legislature should pass Ma's bill and insist that those standards not be weakened for a flashy, if informative, new way of showcasing the human body.

From the mouths of babes: Ban phthalates in kids' toys

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Starting in January, California will become the first state to ban toys and other child-care products that contain more than trace amounts of phthalates.

The prohibition of this chemical - used to soften plastics - is hardly radical. Phthalates have been linked to cancer, interference with the natural functioning of the hormone system and reproductive abnormalities.

Even if the science is still evolving, most parents would not want to have phthalate-softened teething rings or toys anywhere near their young children. As we said at the time, the California ban (authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year) must become the template for a national law. A mother in Santa Rosa should not have to worry about whether a rubber duck sent by a grandparent in Missouri contains potentially dangerous chemicals.

Fortunately, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is on the case. She recently wrapped a ban on phthalates into the Senate version of a Consumer Product Safety Commission bill.

In a recent interview, Feinstein said she "was kind of appalled" to learn of the pervasiveness of phthalates. In her Senate presentation, she showed a slide of her communication director's 8-month-old son sucking on his favorite book, which she described as "loaded with phthalates." She also cited a 2006 Chronicle investigation in which 16 common children's toys were sent to a Chicago lab for testing. Several were found to contain levels of phthalates at several times the upcoming limit.

"This is really a problem," Feinstein said. The continued use of a suspect chemical is especially outrageous in view of the availability of alternatives. Mattel began phasing out the use of phthalates in teething toys in 1999.

As the senator noted, major retailers that have taken phthalate-softened children's products off their shelves include Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target and Toys "R" Us. The chemicals are outlawed in the European Union, Argentina, Japan, Fiji, Korea and Mexico.

Our children deserve no less protection.

"Now is the time to end the practice of the United States being the dumping ground for toys banned in the rest of the industrialized world," Ma said by phone from Japan, where she is studying high-speed rail.

The fate of Feinstein's amendment (which has been co-sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.) now rests with a House-Senate conference committee, which must reconcile conflicting versions of the consumer-products legislation.

The House conferees should incorporate the Feinstein amendment into the final bill that will be sent to President Bush. All American children deserve this protection.

Bill seeks to modify high-speed rail bond on California ballot

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO—Two Democrats have introduced legislation sought by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that could broaden voter support for a twice-delayed, $9.9 billion high-speed-rail bond on the November ballot.

The bill by Assemblywomen Cathleen Galgiani of Tracy and Fiona Ma of San Francisco would allow the bonds to be used for all segments of the proposed 700-mile rail system. The bond's current language dedicates the money only for the proposed segment between the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.

Their bill also would put a 10 percent cap on the amount of state bond money that could be spent on studies, planning and engineering work instead of construction. In addition, it would require the state's high-speed rail board to have a detailed funding plan in place for each segment of the system before awarding a construction contract for that segment.

The board has recommended that California link its major cities with trains running at top speeds of more than 200 mph as a way to ease increasing congestion on freeways and at airports.

In addition to Los Angeles and San Francisco, the trains would reach Sacramento, Fresno, San Jose, Oakland, Irvine, Riverside and San Diego. The $40 billion rail network would be built over a 20-year period.

Schwarzenegger has been hot and cold on it. He twice supported legislation that postponed the bond measure from going to the ballot, but last May wrote an op-ed piece saying high-speed rail would be a "tremendous benefit" for California.

In January, when he released his state budget proposals, Schwarzenegger dropped a request that lawmakers delay a vote on the bonds a third time. But he said he wanted legislation requiring the rail board to identify federal and private funding to help finance the project before moving ahead with construction.

A spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger, Sabrina Lockhart, said Thursday that the administration worked with the rail board to draft the Galgiani and Ma bill.

"As it stands today, it addresses the concerns the governor outlined in his budget proposals," she said. "We are happy that this legislation has been introduced and will be monitoring the bill as it makes its way through the Legislature."

Ma and Mehdi Morshed, the rail board's executive director, said the bill could broaden public support for the bonds by allowing all areas served by the project to compete for money.

The bill would require the board to give top priority for bond funding to segments of the project that could attract the most federal, local government or private financing and that also could be used by other passenger trains.

But those commuter train systems would have to use the same equipment as high-speed rail to mesh with the faster train service once it began, Morshed said.

"Everyone has a fair shot at it," Morshed said. "If they can come up with more money or a better proposal, then they get to the head of the line."

Quentin Kopp, a former state senator who chairs the rail board, said he had been told by Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, that the Republican governor supports the bond proposal.

But Kopp said Schwarzenegger had not agreed to a request that he serve as a co-chair of the campaign to pass the bonds. He hopes to line up a "dream team" of current and former public officials to persuade voters to approve sale of the bonds.

Lockhart said she had no comment about whether the governor would eventually agree to help lead the campaign.

Paid Sick Leave Bill Introduced at State Level

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma announced a bill yesterday which, if passed, would require all California employers to provide paid time off to their employees when they are sick or need time to take care of their sick family members.

AB2716, introduced in the State Assembly last week, would make it possible for each employee to take one hour of paid time off for every 30 hours of work. San Francisco voters passed a similar measure at the local level in 2006.

“Six million working Californians today, representing 40 percent of our workforce, do not have any paid sick days off and this is unacceptable,” said Ma. “We here in California want to make sure that when they are sick they do not have to worry about losing their jobs, they do not have to worry about losing a day’s pay.”

Dr. Mitchell Katz, Director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, emphasized the value of such legislation that extends beyond the interests of sick workers.

“Many of the illnesses that beset people, including influenza, viral gastroenteritis, viral meningitis, are easily spread in the workplace, on Muni buses, in schools and daycare centers and restaurants,” Katz said. “From a public health point of view, people who are sick need to stay home.”

The bill closely mirrors San Francisco’s Proposition F, which was approved by voters in November 2006. The proposition established an ordinance that made it mandatory for employers in the city to provide paid sick leave to their workers.

The law’s success in the city was one of the reasons for a similar bill’s appearance on the state level, according to Ma.

“We have not heard of any businesses or business organizations that came out and said, ‘Prop F hurt our businesses,’” Ma said.

Although the proposition has not inflicted any substantial damage to his business so far, Phineas Ng – a co-owner of Tad’s Broiled Steaks on Powell Street – is worried by its potential to hurt the restaurant in the long run.

Ng said he was afraid that the law left too many opportunities for employees to abuse it by taking paid time off when they are not sick. In case such abuse does take place, the owners’ hands would be tied, according to him, since the law does not require employees to produce documentary proof of their illness.

The restaurant did not provide paid sick leave to its employees before the city ordinance was enacted, Ng said.

Eric Halladay, owner of SF Moto, a scooter and motorcycle shop on 8th Street, said that the only major inconvenience the ordinance caused for his business was having to augment the payroll process in order to keep track of sick-leave hours his employees accrue and spend. Instead of taking on an extra business expense, the store uses money that was normally designated for other employee benefits to cover the cost of sick time.

“You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip,” said Halladay. “A bigger Christmas bonus or a two-week paid vacation have to be eliminated or reduced significantly to be able to have this allowance available for the sick leave.”

SF Moto also did not provide paid sick leave to its employees before the city made it mandatory, according to Halladay.

Ma’s State Assembly bill, if passed, would mandate paid time off not only when a worker is sick but also when he or she has been a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Someone who works in California would be able to use the sick time he or she has accrued after 90 days he or she has been on the job.

The new bill would charge the state’s Department of Industrial Relations with enforcing the law it describes.

San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi underlined the possibility of an impact the bill’s passage would have on the national level.

“California, like San Francisco, is very much a bellwether for cutting-edge and forward-thinking policy,” Mirkarimi said. “Washington hears California quite soundly. If California moves in this direction, this will begin to sweep the rest of the United States.”

Paid Sick Time Proposed For All California Workers

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Click here to watch CBS 5's Video Report

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma announced legislation on the steps of San Francisco City Hall Wednesday that would guarantee all California workers paid sick days to stay home and take care of themselves and their families.

Assembly Bill 2716, sponsored by Ma, D-San Francisco, and co-sponsored by the California Labor Federation and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, was modeled after a San Francisco law put into effect about a year ago.

If passed, the Healthy Families, Health Workplaces Act of 2008 would allow workers paid sick days to care for themselves or family members or to recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. The law would make California the first state in the country that guarantees paid sick days, according to Ma.

"Nobody wins when people have to go to work sick," Ma said Wednesday. "This is just the right thing to do."

If the bill passes, workers would earn no less than one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and would not be discriminated against for requesting sick leave. A limit of nine paid sick days per year could be enforced by most employers, and small businesses with a maximum of 10 workers would be allowed to limit employees' paid sick days to five per year.

Ma said the legislation would address the estimated 6 million workers who don't receive paid sick days. Voters would likely support such a law, according to sponsors, who cited a University of California, Los Angeles poll that shows 88 percent of California adults surveyed "agreed or agreed strongly that there should be a law guaranteeing paid sick days for all California workers."

Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation said workers are being asked to choose between their health, the health of their families and their jobs, a no-win situation for everyone.

"No worker should have to choose between losing a day's wages or maybe even their job to stay home to take care of themselves or their children," Pulaski said.

Pulaski also pointed out that the workers without sick days spread illness to other employees and can infect customers in the restaurant, child care and retail industries.

"This is so crucial to protecting the health of all Californians," Pulaski said.

"One person, on average, can infect one to five people," San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Mitch Katz said. "From a public health point of view, people who are sick need to stay home."

San Francisco Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval also offered support for the bill Wednesday.

"I am so proud that San Francisco has led the way and shown what we can do," Sandoval said of the city's paid sick days law. "San Francisco has shown that it works and that it makes sense."

State governments in Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio and Washington, D.C., are also considering paid sick leave legislation, according to Ma's office.

California employers would be forced to offer sick time under proposed bill

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

California could become the first state in the nation to require paid sick leave for all workers under a bill introduced last week by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco).

"Nobody wins when workers show up to work sick," Ma said. "The lack of paid sick days is a public health concern. It harms children and families and decreases productivity at work."

Ma, who is running for the position of Assembly Speaker, plans to showcase the bill at a San Francisco press conference today. Its political prospects are iffy, and even Ma concedes the bill will difficult to pass.

Ma's bill, AB2716, would extend paid sick leave to any employee who works for seven or more days each year. Employees would "earn" sick time at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Sick time would carry over from year to year, but medium-to-large employers could limit annual paid sick days to nine days, small employers to five days.

Sick leave also could be used to care for a sick family member or to recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. Employers who flout the law could face fines of up to $250 per incident.

There are no exemptions for small business. Even people who employ housecleaners, nannies or other caregivers in their homes would be required to offer paid sick leave, although a spokesman for Ma conceded that it would be difficult for state regulators to enforce sanctions against them.

The bill is modeled after a San Francisco law that requires the city's employers to offer paid sick leave. The law, the first of its kind in the nation, went into effect last February. Eleven other states, the city of Milwaukee and the District of Columbia are reportedly considering paid sick leave laws, and Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both support the idea.

Supporters of AB2716 say that six million California workers do not receive paid sick leave, about 40 percent of the state's workforce. Nationally, about 66 million American workers do not get sick leave, about 54 percent of the U.S. workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Labor, health and work-family groups support paid sick leave, but some business interests oppose it, citing cost concerns. Employers may choose to offer paid sick leave as an employee benefit, like health insurance, but it's not required by law.

The California Chamber of Commerce and the California Restaurant Association have not taken positions on Ma's bill. But the National Restaurant Association publicly opposes the concept of requiring paid sick leave, decrying a "one-size-fits-all" mandate that they say could force small businesses to lower wages.

Employers who offer sick leave already are required to allow employees to use it to care for family members. Most California workers also are eligible for paid family leave to care for a newborn, adopted child or family member. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a number of extensions of paid family leave, such as taking leave to care for a grandchild.

Promoter Insists "Bodies Revealed" are Donated

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

An ABC News 20/20 investigation challenges the source of human bodies provided to the company behind public displays in Sacramento and other cities.

Premier Exhibitions, which brought the "Bodies Revealed" show to Sacramento in December, claims all the plasticized corpses come from individuals who donated their bodies to medical science.

The company says, however, bodies used in its other exhibits were unclaimed or unidentified bodies provided by a medical university in the Chinese city of Dalian.

ABC News 20/20 reporter Brian Ross travelled to China to speak to the president of the medical school, who denied a relationship with Premier Exhibitions.

"They don't give any bodies, they say, to anybody connected with putting them on display in the United States. They don't know about Premier Exhibitions," Ross said in a satellite interview with News10.

Ross said he found evidence that at least some of the bodies are those of executed prisoners bought in a thriving Chinese black market.

Assem. Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, has authored legislation that would require exhibitors of human bodies to prove the corpses were donated.

"We need to better regulate these shows to make sure that these bodies are, indeed, donated," she said.

Ma's Assembly Bill 1519 has been approved by the state Assembly and awaits action in the state Senate.

In an e-mail, a spokesperson for Premier Exhibitions insisted, "All of the bodies and organ specimens in 'Bodies Revealed' came from individuals who chose to donate their bodies to accredited medical universities... for the purpose of study and education. All individuals died from natural causes."

The spokesperson goes on to say that 20/20's report only pertained to "Bodies...The Exhibition" which is also run by Premier Exhibitions.

Campaign's Success Brings New Challenges

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO — Just one year after its creation, the S.F. Hep B Free Campaign has accomplished more than expected by its constituents.

Utilizing limited resources and relying heavily on community in-kind support, the campaign has developed into a citywide collaborative that currently consists of more than 150 community supporters and 32 actively participating health-related organizations. With the help of these partners, the campaign was able to establish seven low- or no-cost public access testing and vaccination sites throughout San Francisco. The campaign also facilitated eight Continuing Medical Education events that reached 230 primary care providers and one community education workshop that targeted student leaders at the City College of San Francisco.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the campaign's honorary chairwoman, authored hepatitis B legislation (AB 158) that recently moved to the Senate. At the beginning of the year, Mayor Gavin Newsom declared that San Francisco would be the model for hepatitis B prevention and treatment. Furthermore, S.F. Hep B Free partners have raised close to one million dollars through grants and other developments.

However, achieving the campaign’s overall goal of testing and vaccinating all Asian and Pacific Islanders for hepatitis B in San Francisco will require more centralized development and funding. Along with searching for these resources, the challenges for the S.F. Hep B Free Campaign in 2008 include generating large scale public awareness through multi-level media outlets, improving primary care clinician and grassroots knowledge through education, and improving access to care for uninsured persons with chronic hepatitis B.

If you are interested in participating in the S.F. Hep B Free Campaign or becoming a community partner, visit sfhepbfree.org or contact Thanh Huynh, administrative coordinator, at thuynh@awfoundation.com.

Legislative Scorecards are Out

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

The 2007 legislative scorecards are out, and Fiona Ma has received perfect scores from several important progressive organizations:

California League of Conservation Voters: 100%
California NOW: 100%
California Labor Federation (2007 scorecard not yet online): 100%
Consumer Federation: 100%
Equality California: 100%
Planned Parenthood California: 100%
NARAL Pro Choice California: "Pro Choice Legislator"

Ma: "Time has come" for woman speaker

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's drive to become leader of the lower house has begun much like a traditional political campaign, with a two-page letter to colleagues that pitches her assets and asks for their vote.

Ma's missive is unusual, because jockeying for the speaker's job typically involves more personal appeals, such as private conversations outside the office or over a meal. Her letter lays the groundwork for such meetings.

In her two-page appeal, sent along with a summary of her career highlights, the San Francisco Democrat argues the "time has finally come" for the Assembly to elect a female Democrat as its speaker.

Ma is one of more than a half-dozen candidates to replace Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, who is termed out Dec. 1.

The following is Ma's pitch to colleagues:

"As you know, it has become necessary for the Assembly to elect a new Speaker who will build upon our successes in improving California's quality of life, and that election will occur at the Democratic Caucus meeting on March 11th. I wanted you to know that I will be a candidate for Speaker and to personally ask for your help.

"It is more important than ever that we elect someone with the judgment and experience to hit the ground running from day one. With our current term limit system, it is also crucial that we elect a leader who will be able to serve long enough to bring stability to the house and ensure that the Assembly's concerns are given equal weight to those of the Senate and Administration.

"The three qualities I bring to this campaign are:

** Twelve years of state and local government experience.
** Fiscal experience as a certified public accountant with a master's in business administration.
** The ability to work with diverse groups and reach across the aisle to gain consensus.

"As Assembly majority whip, I have worked with every member of the Assembly to enact legislation important to Californians. In my first year, seven of my eight bills that reached the governor were enacted into law.

"In addition, my Assembly Bill 1108, to protect children from dangerous chemicals, gained worldwide attention as California became the first state in the nation to take a bold step that protects our youngest children. This year, I have worked with a number of members to develop legislative proposals and support priority bills.

"But the institution isn't only about legislative success. It's about how we treat each other, the services we provide to Californians, the recognition of California's diverse communities, and much more.

"Since California was founded, the Assembly has never had a Democratic woman as its speaker, and I believe that time has finally come. Together, we will renew Californians' confidence in the Assembly and forge a path toward a brighter future.

"I will contact your office to arrange a time when we can meet in person to discuss the challenges that face our state and your hopes for the future....

"I look forward to the opportunities in the days and weeks ahead."

In Peace and Friendship,
Fiona Ma
Assembly Majority Whip.

Cameras may focus on Illegal right turns

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO - One of the most dangerous intersections in The City may become equipped with an automated camera that would catch motorists who make an illegal right turn, much like cameras throughout The City that nab red-light runners.

A bill by Assemblymember Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, would allow The City to post an automated camera at the intersection of Octavia Boulevard and Market Street. Since the intersection opened in 2005 after the Central Freeway was torn down, 13 people have been hit, according to Supervisor Bevan Dufty, whose district includes the intersection. In 2007 alone, at least 30 pedestrians have died in one of the deadliest years for city strollers.

Last year, a truck carrying cement made an illegal turn at the intersection and hit Margaret Timbrell. Timbrell survived the collision but sustained 24 broken bones throughout her body, a collapsed lung and fluid in her chest cavity.

The intersection has undergone several safety improvements since. The city placed extra signage at the corner and installed plastic dividers to discourage people from making a right turn off Market Street onto the freeway.

Leah Shahum, director of The City’s Bicycle Coalition, said officials have had to make many late improvements because planners didn’t realize how dangerous the intersection, which is the entrance and exit to U.S. Highway 101, would be. “We didn’t get it exactly right,” she said.

Installing the camera requires approval from the state Senate and the governor. It might not actually start taking pictures until 2009, but Ma said the improvement is much needed.

“We have done as much as we can here in The City to try and prevent people from taking the right turn, but it is still one of the most dangerous intersections in this city,” she said.

San Francisco has become a camera-rich city in recent years. In addition to dozens of cameras installed in high-crime areas, The City currently uses 23 red-light cameras to bust drivers who blow through intersections. Muni is planning to put cameras in the front of buses to catch motorists who double park on The City’s thoroughfares in legislation also authored by Ma.

State law is unclear about which specific violations can be enforced by an automated camera. The existing law implies that cameras are meant to catch motorists who run a red light, but the Octavia Boulevard camera would enforce an illegal right turn.

'Painful' year ahead

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

California's elected officials may quibble about how best to deal with the state's looming $14.5 billion budget deficit, but there's one thing they seem to agree on: We're in for a rough year.

"It's going to be very, very painful," predicted Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, during a legislative panel discussion Wednesday in Sacramento. "We've got to get creative with how we do our (legislative) bills. Anything that costs money, I'm not going to be able to do this year."

Ma, who stepped into her District 12 seat last year, was one of nine legislators appearing before an audience of newspaper publishers, editors and reporters at the California Newspaper Publishers Association's 12th annual Governmental Affairs Day.

Though the event's program listed the fiscal crisis as just one of a half dozen topics of discussion - including education, health care and immigration - budget matters quickly became the day's main focus. And according to members of both parties, things are looking bleak.

If the state continues down its current path - spending $400-$600 million more per month than it takes in - the budget deficit will reach an estimated $14.5 billion by the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year.

On Jan. 10, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of fiscal emergency and unveiled a budget for the coming year most notable for its proposed 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts to nearly all General Fund departments and programs, boards, commissions and elected offices.

In practice, the new cuts would take nearly $5 billion away from public schools, close four dozen state parks and allow the release of tens of thousands of prisoner inmates.

Democrats have largely criticized the new budget, saying across-the-board cuts are impractical at best.

"The governor took dysfunction and laid over it a formula that's dysfunctional," Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, said at Wednesday's CNPA event.

But the governor's fellow Republicans have praised the plan as a bold and necessary approach to reigning in state spending. Key to Republican support was the absence of new taxes.

"Hard-working Californians should not face higher taxes and fees because the big spenders in Sacramento refuse to reform," said Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa, R-Butte County, the day the budget was proposed. "The California Legislature must finally learn to live within its means."

"Part of the problem is we spend all of the money that's available," Assemblyman Roger Niello, a Sacramento Republican, said Wednesday.

Niello and LaMalfa, whose district covers Yolo County, acknowledged that solving the budget crisis would be a difficult, uphill trek, but they expressed optimism it would all be worth it in the end.

"This crisis creates the opportunity to do things differently," Niello said.

Schwarzenegger vigorously defended his proposals Wednesday, participating in a sit-down interview with Los Angeles Times editorial page editor Jim Newton.

He said he believed fiscal realities would ultimately bring Republican and Democratic lawmakers together.

"Everyone agrees that the economy here is not the villain," he said. "It contributes to the problem, but the problem really is that this state has not yet gotten its act together when it comes to the actual budget system. The system that we have right now I would not wish on any family, or on any business anywhere in California - that I can guarantee you."

One solution, Schwarzenegger said, is to restore California's so-called "rainy day" reserve fund, which would hold surplus revenues for times when revenues fall short or for unexpected events such as natural disasters.

The governor noted that - thanks to a 2004 voter-approved initiative dealing with fiscal emergencies - the Legislature now has about a month to pass and send him legislation to address the crisis. Until they do so, state lawmakers are prohibited from acting on any other bills or adjourning in joint recess.

"And then after that, the second challenge is to really make decisions over the next year's budget," Schwarzenegger said. "In order to really start the year, the fiscal year of 2008-2009, I think we ought to make those decisions within the next month or two."

Amid the doom-and-gloom budget talk, there were some lighter moments Wednesday. Asked who he supports among the remaining candidates in the 2008 presidential race - where economic woes have been a major topic recently - Schwarzenegger declined to name names, but did put a price tag on his much coveted endorsement.

"I will go as far as saying that anyone, any candidate that writes a $14.5 billion check to the state of California, I would endorse," he said. "It's as simple as that."

Cadaver exhibit: Who said OK?

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

California Assembly approves legislation to ensure prior consent

SACRAMENTO -- Cars packed the parking lot of a shuttered CompUSA store one recent weekday afternoon as schoolchildren, health professionals and the just plain curious paid $24 apiece to stare at a score of plasticized, dissected human cadavers and roomfuls of preserved body parts.

The cadavers are displayed dramatically, with layers of skin and muscle peeled back to reveal internal organs, bones, blood vessels and nerves. The exhibition, with bodies posed as if playing a violin, swinging a golf club or performing other tasks, provoked plenty of hushed comments.

"Where do they come from?" a young woman asked a guide dressed in a white lab coat.

"They're elderly Chinese men who donated their bodies," the docent said.

Now, California lawmakers are asking similar questions about the traveling exhibits of so-called plastinated bodies. On Thursday the state Assembly voted 50 to 4 to approve legislation to ensure that the people whose remains are on display consented to be gawked at by the public. The bill next goes to the Senate.

"Although plastination was intended to advance medicine and science, many entrepreneurs are using plastination to make outrageous profits by dissecting, mutilating and parading unwilled bodies around the world and in our state," the bill's sponsor, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), said during Assembly debate. "Asking for consent and verification is not too much to ask."

The two major anatomy exhibitors are divided on the legislation. Industry pioneer Body Worlds said it has no problem providing donor documentation. The other exhibitor, Premier Exhibitions Inc., which operates the Sacramento show, said it obtained all the remains legally from Chinese medical and scientific organizations but does not know the identities of the donors.

Ma, a Chinese American, said she became concerned about the use of Chinese remains after viewing a 2005 anatomy exhibition when she served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

"Chinese people are very superstitious about death. If someone dies in a house, they won't buy the house," she said. "They believe in full-body burials. They don't believe in organ donations, and some people don't even believe in giving blood. So, automatically, I thought that something was wrong with the show."

She sponsored a successful ordinance requiring exhibitors to provide documentation that bodies had been willfully donated by the people or their next of kin. The ordinance became the basis for the bill in Sacramento.

The bill would require exhibitors to get a county permit; to do so, they would have to prove to county health officials that the people whose cadavers were on display -- or their next of kin -- had consented. Infractions would carry a fine of as much as $10,000.

The legislation targets "a legitimate area for discussion and for public policy," said Ben Rich, a bioethics expert at the UC Davis Medical School. An exhibitor's failure to receive informed consent from a donor or next of kin "does not necessarily mean they obtained the bodies in an illicit way," he said, "but it could be a cause for concern that they did."

Arnie Geller, the chairman of Atlanta-based Premier, said he is confident he can convince the Legislature that the identities of the bodies in his shows -- called "Bodies Revealed," "Our Body: The Universe Within" and "Bodies: The Exhibition" -- are known to Chinese authorities.

"All of the bodies and organ specimens" in two of his three shows "came from individuals who chose to donate their bodies to medical science for the purpose of study and education," Geller said. A third show, he said, uses "unclaimed" bodies. All died from natural causes, he added.

Geller said the proposed legislation is vague and gives too much power to local officials.

"It could, in our opinion, deprive the public from having the opportunity to be educated by these dissected and polymer-preserved specimens," he said.

Premier said that its 10 traveling human anatomy exhibits have been a major profit center. It reported that nearly 80% of the company's revenue for the first nine months of last year came from its shows and that the shows' revenue rose by 121% during that period compared with 2006.

The other major exhibitor, Body Worlds, is a privately held German corporation and does not issue financial filings. Body Worlds' founder, Gunther von Hagens, said his organization is "prepared to show informed consent by donors for specimens on display" to county public health officials.

Spokeswoman Georgina Gomez said Body Worlds displays its bodies only at established museums and does not use bodies from China.

Body Worlds, which held its first U.S. plastination show at the California Science Center in Los Angeles in 2004, is scheduled to return to the Exposition Park museum in March.

Jeff Rudolph, the center's chief executive, said he was satisfied with Body Worlds' donation procedure after having it reviewed by "a very prominent group" of medical and religious ethicists.

"I'm personally quite aware of it because I am a body donor to the exhibit," he said.

Rudolph said he can't vouch for the other exhibitor.

"They finesse where the bodies come from," he said.

Although the ethics of the exhibits worry some lawmakers, they don't appear to matter to some visitors at the "Bodies Revealed" show in Sacramento.

"Hey, you're dead. What's the difference what they do with your body?" asked Dan Rose, a retired Malibu firefighter, who said he doesn't want the government to regulate such educational exhibits.

Database of domestic abusers proposed

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

MA SEEKS DATABASE OF DOMESTIC ABUSERS

SACRAMENTO - California would become the first state in the nation to provide an online database of domestic violence offenders, under a bill proposed Wednesday by a Bay Area lawmaker.

AB 1771, by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, would require the Attorney General's Office to develop an online database that would report the name, date of birth, county, and date of offenses for individuals convicted of felony domestic violence.

The database also would include those convicted of multiple counts of misdemeanor domestic violence. The idea is patterned after the sex offender online databases created by "Jessica's Law."

Victim advocacy groups and law enforcement officials generally support Ma's bill and believe greater disclosure could protect potential victims.

Alexis Moore, a member of the advocacy group Survivors in Action and a victim of domestic violence, appeared at a Capitol news conference Wednesday to support the bill.

"If I had known that my abuser had a domestic violence conviction prior to our relationship," Moore said, "it might have saved me from permanent nerve damage."

Ma cited a case handled by former San Francisco prosecutor Jim Hammer as an example of the need for her proposed law.

The legislator said Nadga Schexnayder and her mother were shot to death in 1995 by a former boyfriend of Schexnayder who had a 20-year history of violence against women.

A law such as the one proposed by Ma, Hammer said, would "give people the information to do something" to thwart tragedy.

But one major victims advocacy group, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, said it had some concerns and has not taken an official position on the proposal. The group said it wanted to ensure that creating the database would not divert funds from existing domestic violence programs in these lean state fiscal times.

"The second concern," said group spokeswoman Camille Hayes, "is that domestic violence victims who have been wrongly accused and convicted of battery could potentially end up on the registry, which would constitute a further mistreatment of these victims by the criminal justice system."

In other action Wednesday in the Legislature:

• A separate bill by Ma, AB 1519, which addresses human-body exhibits, passed its first legislative test on a 7-0 vote by the Assembly entertainment and tourism committee.

Exhibitors say the shows have proven highly popular and educational. One is currently on display in San Jose at the Tech Museum of Innovation. In the displays, skin on the bodies is peeled to varying degrees to show organs, muscle and other parts, then sealed in plastic and placed in differing poses.

Ma's bill would require exhibitors of human remains to provide written evidence of consent from the person or from next of kin. Violators would face a $10,000 fine.

Ma is especially concerned because most of the cadavers are Asian.

"As an Asian-American, I know that few people from my community would voluntarily donate their organs or bodies due to the strong cultural preference of leaving their body intact for burial after death," said Ma. "This is more than dead-body trafficking. This is grave-robbing and abuse."

Representatives of exhibitions dismiss the assertion.

Republican Assemblyman Tom Berryhill of Modesto, a bill supporter and an organ donation recipient, said full consent of family members is needed when organs are donated.

• The Senate Health Committee, on a 7-2 vote, advanced SB 107 by Sen. Elaine Alquist, D-San Jose, which would establish statewide safety standards for wave pools.

The bill was prompted by the death of 4-year-old Carlos Flores in July at Great America's wave pool in Santa Clara. Though that park has voluntarily complied with standards in the Alquist bill, there are 19 other wave pools in California.

New rules at the parks would include free use of life vests, requirements for better supervision and mandatory rest periods for participants.

• Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, said he plans to introduce a bill that would bolster a successful plastic-bag recycling program.

Under Levine's AB 2449, which went into effect in July, all 7,000 large grocery and retail stores must take back plastic bags for recycling. The new bill would allow stores to charge up to 15 cents a bag given to consumers, with the money going to cities for trash cleanup.

At the same time, stores would be barred from dispensing plastic bags to customers unless they reduce and recycle at least 35 percent of bags by 2010 and 70 percent by 2012.

Bill Proposes Database of Offenders to Aid Dating

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

LOS ANGELES -- Web sites that promise to give the dirt on prospective dates abound. A guy has a roving eye? Look him up on DontDateHimGirl.com.

But a California lawmaker says the background checks can be far more serious. The lawmaker, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the San Francisco Democrat who is the majority whip, introduced a bill last week to create an online database of men and women convicted of domestic violence in California.

Other states like Florida have databases used by law enforcement officials. Her proposal, Ms. Ma said, would be the first available to the public.

"If you're online, Googling and looking for information on someone you met in a bar or on MySpace, this would provide a tool for people to go and look to see if someone who is suspicious and a little creepy has a history of violence," Ms. Ma said.

The database would log the names of domestic violence offenders convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors, dates of birth, locations of convictions and other information. Unlike public registers of sex offenders, the database would not list addresses. It would, however, indicate how to obtain a restraining order.

"The site gives people knowledge," said Jim Hammer, a former San Francisco prosecutor who worked with Ms. Ma on the bill. "To enable people to get restraining orders is giving them the power to do something about it."

Mr. Hammer took the database idea to Ms. Ma last year. It came to him in the late '90s, he said, after he prosecuted Ronnie Earl Seymour in the killing of Nadga Schexnayder and her mother during a domestic dispute in 1995.

Ms. Schexnayder's parents had suspicions about Mr. Seymour, with whom she had a child, but they did not have the tools to check his background, Mr. Hammer said. Mr. Seymour had three felony convictions for attacks on former girlfriends when he killed the two women. He was sentenced to life in prison.

"They didn't have the means to hire a private investigator to go to courthouses and pull documents," Mr. Hammer said. "They had feelings, but no evidence."

The bill would impose higher fines on domestic violence offenders to pay for the Web site, which the attorney general's office would run. Ms. Ma said that she was optimistic about its prospects for passage, but that it was too early to gauge support in the Legislature.

Ms. Ma said the measure singled out domestic violence offenses because national statistics indicated that those crimes had a high rate of recidivism.

"Domestic violence is a cycle, and it's hard to break," she said. "But knowledge is power, and this is public information that's already out there. This site would make it easily accessible."

Exhibits of Corpses Under Fire

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

SACRAMENTO - When Assemblywoman Fiona Ma toured the exhibit, she became disgusted by what she saw: the posed and preserved remains of Chinese corpses, their flesh removed to expose their organs, muscle, sinew and veins.

These touring displays of human remains, such as the "Body Worlds 2" exhibition currently at the San Jose Museum of Tech Innovation, are touted as educational and artistic, and have prompted strong public reaction.

Now they have spurred proposed legislation, aimed at curbing what Ma calls a "freak show" that defiles a culture that values the sanctity of the human body and prohibits even autopsies.

"All the bodies are clearly Chinese," Ma said Tuesday in an interview. "To see these plastinized individuals dismantled in various stages, for display in a commercial setting for profit, really disgusted me as an Asian."

In response, the San Francisco Democrat has written AB 1519, which would require exhibitors of human remains to provide written evidence of consent from the person, or from relatives after the death. She wants violators to face a $10,000 fine for each undocumented body or body part. Undocumented fetuses, which have begun appearing in such displays, would count as a violation.

Cities would have to review exhibitors' documentation before granting a permit.

The bill is scheduled to face its first legislative test in the Assembly entertainment committee today.

"There is much speculation and many suspicions," said Ma spokesman Bill Barnes, "about the origin of the bodies and parts."

"Body Worlds" spokeswoman Angelina Whalley, however, insists its displays have been made possible by donors who have consented to have their bodies used in the displays.

Whalley and representatives of other similar exhibits said the displays operate within the law and are intended to be educational.

In some cases, when visitors see the benefits of exercise or the maladies of smoking, they are "inspired to make healthier and more educated lifestyle choices," said Bruce Eskowitz, a spokesman for "Bodies Revealed," a similar exhibit showing in Sacramento.

Within the past few years, the number of traveling exhibitions has grown to more than a half-dozen, drawing millions of visitors worldwide. Body Worlds, whose exhibit is on display at the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation through Jan. 26, bills itself as the originals in this emerging art form.

The company hails its founder, Gunther von Hagens, as the pioneer of the "plastination" technique of preservation. The process involves extracting bodily fluids from cadavers and replacing them with silicon rubber and epoxy, which results in pliable forms.

Real-life poses are intended to emphasize various parts of the human body or muscle positions during such activities as pitching a baseball, or riding a bike or skateboard.

Ma's bill is just a step toward what she would prefer: banning such displays. She's been counseled, however, such an attempt would fail on constitutional grounds.

Ma also fears the bodies, which enter the country labeled as art objects, may contain diseases. And she is also concerned that some exhibitions won't properly perform plastic embalming, allowing leakage and a health threat.

But in its current form her bill focuses on what she believes is a human rights issue.

She would like international cooperation to investigate the veracity of documentation exhibitors would have to submit under her bill - but she also knows that's unlikely. Human rights organizations have alleged that the bodies are obtained illegally through the Chinese government.

"There's plenty of questions about how these bodies from Asia got here," Ma said. "These people deserve dignity after death."

Schwarzenegger Wants Guarantess of Support for High-Speed Rail

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has dropped a request that lawmakers remove a $9.9 billion high-speed rail bond from the November ballot but wants legislation that could tie spending the money to guarantees of support from the federal government and private sector.

Such a requirement could delay the project indefinitely even if the bond measure is approved by voters.

Officials with the authority charged with overseeing the high-speed rail line say they expect the state, federal government and private investors to each cover about a third of the cost of building the project. But they say private companies will not commit until they see the state making a significant investment.

"I have been talking to a lot of high-speed rail folks and, yes, they would love to invest in the project or be a partner with the state," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat who is a leading supporter of the project.

"But they need to know the state is committed to this project and we have done certain things to minimize the risk by, for example, doing engineering studies, environmental studies and buying right of way."

A Schwarzenegger spokesman, H.D. Palmer, said administration officials were drafting legislation to spell out "the things we have to have in place in terms of commitment from the federal government and non-governmental entities in terms of funding."

"How that language is going to look I can't tell you right now, but that's the goal," he said Wednesday.

The changes would "basically fulfill" what the governor talked about in an op-ed piece he wrote for The Fresno Bee last May. In that article, Schwarzenegger extolled the virtues of high-speed rail but said he wanted the state's high-speed rail board to develop a financing plan that would "identify with confidence" where the rest of the funding would come from.

Palmer said he did not know whether the change sought by the governor would force the state to delay selling the bonds — if voters approve them — until it gets financial commitments from the federal government and private investors.

"That's getting ahead of the people who are going to be drafting it," he said.

The legislation would need to be approved in both houses of the Legislature before the ballot measure language would be changed.

Some supporters of the high-speed rail project said they think Schwarzenegger really wants to pull the bond measure off the ballot, as the state has done twice before and the governor asked lawmaker to do last year.

Schwarzenegger wants the November ballot to include many of his own spending proposals. They would include a $14 billion health care reform plan and $38.3 billion in new borrowing for school and university buildings, water projects and courthouse construction.

In addition, the state is facing a $14.4 billion budget deficit over the next year-and-a-half.

State Sen. Dean Florez, a Shafter Democrat whose mother is a member of the high-speed rail board, suggested Schwarzenegger is trying to kill the bond proposal despite his claims of supporting high-speed rail.

"The governor recognizes that he doesn't have the two-thirds vote necessary to pull it off the November ballot, so he's attempting to put a poison pill in this to say, in essence, if you don't have the federal or private funding for this, it's null and void...," Florez said. "Those kinds of modifications won't fly past the Legislature."

The state's high-speed rail board is recommending that California build a 700-mile rail system that would link the state's most populous cities with trains running at top speeds of 220 mph.

The bond measure would help pay for the first segment of the $40 billion project — a line between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area.

Mehdi Morshed, the rail board's executive director, said legislation that put the bond measure on the ballot already imposes a limit on the state's involvement by allowing the bond funds to cover no more than half the cost of building the Los Angeles-to-San Francisco segment.

"We don't get to spend the money until we match the bond money, dollar for dollar, with other revenue, whether it's private or federal or something else," he said.

Rep. Jim Costa, a Fresno Democrat who has introduced legislation in Congress to finance high-speed rail, said he takes Schwarzenegger at his word that he supports the project. But Costa said spending on high-speed rail should not be held up until all funding is secured.

"This effort should not be treated any differently than other forms of transportation," he said. "When we're talking about financing and authorizing a freeway project, we never wait until we have all the funding, do we?" he said.

Wary Daters May Get Help

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Bill would create a web site to check abuse records

Here's a new twist to the dating game – instant background checks.

Asked out? Not so fast.

Before saying yes or no, you could do a push-button check of domestic violence records under a new bill being considered by California lawmakers.

The measure, believed to be the first of its kind, would set the stage for mixing high-tech gadgetry with crime prevention to create a different kind of sexual revolution.

A woman who meets someone interesting in a nightclub, for example, could adjourn to a restroom and use a text messager to determine instantly whether her suitor has a history of dating violence.

Parents or friends wary of a loved one's paramour could confirm or ease their suspicions, at no cost, with the push of a few buttons.

A live-in lover whose mate suddenly explodes in anger would have somewhere to turn for key information about character.

"Obviously, knowledge is power," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. "If you encounter someone who you think is a little bit creepy, you would have the ability to check."

Ma's proposal, Assembly Bill 1771, would require the state attorney general to create a searchable Web site to identify people convicted of one felony or two misdemeanor domestic violence crimes.

The goal is to provide a resource similar to the state's existing Megan's Law Web site, which identifies sex offenders.

A key difference between the two, however, is that AB 1771 would not display photographs or addresses of offenders.

Francisco Lobaco, of the American Civil Liberties Union, said he has not read AB 1771. But if the goal is to protect the public, he asked, why single out domestic abuse rather than crimes that target victims randomly?

"Why not assault with a deadly weapon? Why not robberies?" Lobaco asked.

Others fear that AB 1771 might produce some unintended consequences by unfairly tainting someone whose name was posted by mistake, or by providing a false sense of security if a violent person were left off the database because past offenses went unreported or victims recanted.

"There also might be a privacy risk," said Lisa Ikemoto, a law professor at the University of California, Davis. "If you identify the person who was the perpetrator, then you can infer who the victim was. I think that's a serious problem."

AB 1771 would require publication of the names of domestic violence offenders, their ages, and the dates and counties of their convictions, which is basic information that could be used to request county court files.

Offenders' names would be removed from the Web site if they did not commit similar crimes for 10 years.

Technical details have yet to be fleshed out, such as whether searches could be done by geographic area or only by name, and if the latter, whether a full name or birth date would be needed.

Students and others interviewed randomly Monday at California State University, Sacramento, had mixed views.

Aisha Wright, 32, said that a former boyfriend was physically abusive and that she wishes a Web site had been available when she met him.

"Definitely, without a doubt," she said.

Kortny McCarter, 24, applauded the concept of AB 1771 but said she doubted many women would be guided by it.

"Most women trust their instincts," she said.

Jim Sweet, 41, said the legislation should apply only to multiple offenses, because someone conceivably could be convicted of felony domestic violence in a fight that he or she didn't start.

"I'd have to say I have mixed feelings," he said of AB 1771.

The size of the database that would be created is unclear. More than 17,300 people were convicted in California on felony domestic abuse charges in 2006, records show. But the number of misdemeanor convictions, or repeat offenders, is not readily available.

Attorney Jim Hammer, a former San Francisco prosecutor who now practices civil rights law, pitched the concept of a domestic violence Web site to Ma in response to a double murder he once prosecuted.

Nadga Schexnayder and her mother were shot to death in 1995 by Ronnie Earl Seymour, a former boyfriend of Nadga's who had a 20-year history of violence against women. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the double homicide, Hammer said.

"The family had suspicions that he was a bad character and might have a history, but they could never really find out," Hammer said.

"The reality is, if you're rich, you can hire a private investigator to go to courthouses across California and just pull up records," he said. "They're public records. But working people and poor people don't have the resources."

Attorney General Jerry Brown has taken no position on AB 1771, which has not yet been subject to public hearings or cost analysis.

Funding for AB 1771 would be generated by imposing higher fines on domestic violence convictions. The bill also would make it easier to obtain restraining orders based on past offenses and would require counties to provide details about court cases at no charge to the public.

Cameras to nab illegal parkers in S.F. bus lanes

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Aided by video cameras mounted on buses, San Francisco has launched an initiative to punish drivers who illegally park in transit-only lanes.

The goal is to clear traffic lanes for Muni buses, which are operating at an average speed of 8 mph, making the Municipal Railway among the slowest transit agencies of any major U.S. city.

The cameras will attempt to catch motorists parked in traffic lanes reserved for buses. For now, offenders will be let off with a written warning. But starting in the next month or so, if all goes according to plan, they'll be hit with a $100 fine - one of the city's stiffest parking penalties.

The cameras, mounted behind bus windshields, will be focused on the license plates of vehicles in transit-only lanes. The images will be reviewed daily by parking-control officers, who will determine whether a violation has occurred. The registered owners of the offending vehicles will be mailed a citation. They can pay or protest the ticket.

City officials, who needed special permission from the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to emplace the cameras, hope the program will help unclog streets and improve the on-time performance of the Municipal Railway.

"This should translate to faster, more reliable bus service, and that's what will attract even more people out of their cars and onto transit," said Nathaniel Ford, executive director of the Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees both the city's transit system and parking and traffic-control operations.

That's a lofty goal for Muni, which averages nearly 700,000 boardings a day but is consistently hammered by riders for chronic unreliability. The agency has never met a 1999 voter mandate that Muni vehicles show up on schedule at least 85 percent of the time; instead, on-time performance has tiptoed around the 70 percent mark.

Mayor Gavin Newsom and city transit officials say that in order to make significant improvements, Muni would need at least $100 million more a year to pay for increased staffing and equipment upgrades - on top of the current annual budget of about $670 million. They also are calling for operational changes, such as reconfiguring routes, schedules and bus stops. Details of such changes are under review.

The onboard camera test began this week with two buses on the 14-Mission line, to be followed soon by two more buses on the 38-Geary, and it will be ramped up over the next three months, Newsom said. If successful, the program - already endorsed by the union representing Muni drivers - will be expanded to all routes that use specially marked bus lanes.

Parthex Inc., which supplies surveillance cameras on Muni vehicles, is providing the initial set of traffic cameras - worth about $30,000 each - for the trial period at no cost to the city.

The new cameras won't solve all of Muni's woes, officials concede. "But this is going to be a lot bigger than some people may think when it comes to improving on-time performance," Newsom said. "When a bus comes down the street, people are going to look at it very differently - as not just a bus but as a traffic-control vehicle, too."

Newsom and some transit advocates point to the city of London as a success story in using steep fines to alter behavior. Officials there say traffic violations in bus zones dropped 92 percent since a similar camera system was installed a decade ago.

The city's trial program, which was permitted in legislation carried by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, was pared back from one originally envisioned. Initially, city officials also wanted to place enforcement cameras on street-sweeping vehicles to cite cars parked illegally when the streets are being cleaned. But the idea was dropped over privacy concerns because many of the street-sweeping zones are in residential areas.

The privacy issue also surfaced during state Senate debate on Ma's legislation. A number of privacy safeguards were included in the final legislation. Among them: The images must be kept confidential - although the cited vehicle owners have the right to review them - and the cameras should not "unnecessarily capture identifying images of other drivers, vehicles and pedestrians."

The program is not the first time officials in San Francisco have relied on electronic eyes to aid in traffic enforcement. The city rotates cameras among 23 intersections to nab drivers who blow through red lights. Also, the Municipal Transportation Agency began a pilot program last year in which parking-control officers use license-plate scanners to find stolen vehicles or those associated with multiple parking tickets.

And under Newsom, the city has installed dozens of surveillance cameras in public areas with a high prevalence of violence, although their efficacy has been called into question. Muni buses and streetcars were fitted with cameras years ago to catch riders in illegal acts.

San Franciscans shouldn't take the expansion of electronic surveillance lightly, said Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties director for the Northern California office of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"The question people need to ask is, what costs are we paying and what benefits are we getting?" Ozer said.

For those intent on seeing Muni improve, the cameras zooming in on illegal transit-lane parkers have their boosters.

"They're a cost-effective way to reduce delays and improve service," said Andrew Sullivan, chairman of the riders advocacy group Rescue Muni.

If a bus driver can save even a minute by not having to maneuver out of the transit lane to get around a parked car or truck once or twice on each run, the time savings can add up over the course of the day, he said. And the faster the buses move through the streets, the more runs can be made without relying on extra vehicles and drivers to make them.

SF Lawmaker Targets Lead in Children's Products

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, whose toxic toy bill was passed into law earlier this year, is now turning her attention to lead found in all children's products.

"I, like you, probably thought lead was something in the past that all of our products, all of the paint that goes into these products are lead free, given all of the past scientific studies and precautions about lead," said Ma.

Ma has fired off a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to get members to enact policy that would prohibit toxic lead from making it into products used by kids. "If they don't get their act together by December 31st that's going to be one of my first pieces of legislation," she said.

Ma's latest effort comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Jerry Brown that claims 20 U.S. toy companies failed to warn consumers about the dangers of lead found in their products.

Following Up: Safer Toys for U.S. Children

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

What we said: To his credit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stood up to an intense industry lobbying campaign in signing AB1108, by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, to ban the use of chemical plasticizers called phthalates in children's products. The passage of that measure was an impressive first-term accomplishment for Ma, who had successfully pushed a similar local ordinance when she was on the Board of Supervisors. The establishment of a ban in the nation's most populous state should provide the momentum for national action against these chemicals which have been linked to serious liver and reproductive-system problems." - Editorial, Oct. 16, 2007

What happened: U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein last week introduced legislation to establish a federal ban on phthalates in children's toys. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House by Reps. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Darleen Hooley, D-Ore.

Quote: "Simply put, products that pose a danger to children's health should not be in the mouths of children." - Feinstein.

What you can do: Encourage senators to support the Feinstein bill. You can get contact information by going to senate.gov and clicking on "senators." Or you can reach any member of the House or Senate through the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121.

No Child's Play: Calif. first state to ban chemical often found in toys

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

SACRAMENTO -- Challenging the Bush administration's record on protecting children from dangerous chemicals, state Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma hailed California's recent ban on toys and baby products containing more than a trace amount of a chemical used to soften plastics that scientists have linked to health problems.

"There is not sufficient oversight from the federal government in terms of trying to protect kids from chemicals," said Ma, D-San Francisco, the bill's author. "This chemical has been banned in other countries, and this is the best course of action we can take to start bringing attention to chemicals in the [American] market. I have a young 5-year-old niece, and toxic toys are an obvious concern. I hope this will cause manufacturers to start producing better and safer products."

The ban on phthalate makes California the first state to impose severe limits on a chemical that is widely used in baby bottles, soft baby books, teething rings, plastic bath ducks and other toys.
"I think parents will be comforted that when they buy one of these chewy products it will be safe," Ma said on Oct. 14, after the bill was signed into law.

Beginning in 2009, any product made for children under age 3 that contains more than one tenth of one percent of phthalates cannot be made, sold or distributed in California.
Oregon, Maryland and New York are also considering bills that would ban phthalates in certain products. Ma announced that she will work with national organizations and other states on a national campaign to remove toxic toys from store shelves across the entire country.

"California continues to lead the nation in protecting children from dangerous chemicals and in safeguarding our environment," Ma said. "AB 1108 sends a clear message to the Consumer Product Safety Commission that if the Bush administration won't act, states will."

Representatives from the toy industry have said the amount of toxic chemicals and exposure periods for children's toys are so low that they aren't a health hazard.

Phthalates, which are chemicals added to plastic to make it soft and flexible, have been banned by the European Union and at least 14 other countries, after studies found that the chemical interferes with hormones and might lead to early puberty, reproduction defects and other health problems.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.

Ban Signals Awakening

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

In the here and now, Assembly Bill 1108, passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, appears to be far from a big deal. But it may be a harbinger of change.

Written by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, AB1108 bans a class of chemicals called phthalates used in cosmetics and to soften and increase the flexibility of plastics.

It's used extensively in toys, teethers and bottles commonly used by children, who put them in their mouths, enabling the chemical to accumulate in the body.

California is the first state to pass a law prohibiting the use of these chemicals, but it's unlikely to be the last. Research has found such chemicals to be toxic. They can accrue in the body, causing reproductive and developmental damage.

Children are particularly susceptible and may be born prematurely if exposed as a fetus to phthalates during pregnancy. They also have been linked to lower testosterone and sperm counts, genital defects and testicular cancer among males.

Phthalates are banned or restricted by the European Union and at least 15 nations. Until now, however, neither the United States nor individual states had restricted use in products manufactured or sold here -- an exception being a 2006 ban passed by San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, when Ma was a member.

Her state legislation mirrors that law, prohibiting manufacturers from selling products with phthalates for use by children younger than 3. Manufacturers and the American Chemistry Council disagree with California's law, warning that a "politics of fear" will force businesses to "take products off the shelves that their customers need and want."

Once again, California is at the forefront of public policy, and lawmakers in at least nine other states hope to follow suit.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein may introduce similar legislation at the federal level. In terms of addressing chemicals that enter our bodies and pose threats to our health, however, AB1108 is but a beginning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began cataloguing our bodies' chemical burden in the 1990s. The "Body Burden" series published by the Oakland Tribune in 2005, noted that 82,000 chemicals had been identified and 1,000 new ones are added annually. But the effects on our bodies of only 148 had been studied and defined.

We're on the frontier of a research process aimed at determining how the chemicals we consume, touch, inhale, wear and otherwise contact affect our health.

Our nation, medicine, science and business have been slow to study the chemicals that our bodies absorb in everyday life. AB 1108 moves us in that direction.

It, along with increased awareness and wariness about consumer products manufactured and imported from overseas, pose another question.

How do we identify and assess potentially harmful chemicals used in toys and other everyday products that we import?

It's a problem that's received much attention this year. And, as with the recent episode of lead paint being used on children's backpacks, it should be noted that backpacks, rain boots and other common plasticized products often contain phthalates and other potentially harmful chemicals.

Conducting such research is upon us. It's a scientific field destined to grow. AB1108 may be its start.

A nationwide toxic toy ban likely to follow state lead

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

One day after California became the first state in the nation to ban toys containing toxic plastic softeners, supporters of the measure announced plans Monday to help at least nine other states - and perhaps even Congress - enact similar laws.

The movement to ban phthalates began in San Francisco last year when the city's Board of Supervisors imposed the nation's first restrictions on consumer products that contain the chemical compounds, which have been linked to hormone problems in laboratory animals.

On Sunday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the state law, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2009.

Lawmakers in Texas, Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, Maine, Connecticut and New York are expected to introduce similar legislation in the coming months, according to environmental and breast cancer groups that sponsored the California measure.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., wants to replicate the California prohibition nationally, although no time frame has been established, a spokesman for her office said Monday.

"We've been looking at this and saying, 'If we can get this passed in California, can we get the ball rolling in these other states?' " said Dan Jacobson, legislative director for Environment California, a nonprofit advocacy group that was a key supporter of the state's phthalates ban. "It's the same pattern that we've seen with the global warming bills that have been passed."

Widely used in a variety of consumer products, phthalates are a family of chemicals most often used as a softener of plastic. Some critics say the chemicals can make up as much as half of the material used to make plastic toys and are also used to make baby teethers.

Researchers say regular contact with phthalates - chewing on plastic toys containing the chemicals, for example - may cause hormonal damage in young children and increase the chances of serious illness later in life.

Phthalates are banned in 14 nations and the European Union, and alternative materials are being used, according to marketing experts. McDonald's, for example, makes toys for its meal packages that have complied with Europe's ban on phthalates, and some hospitals in the United States are removing IV bags that contain the chemicals.

The California ban, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, will prohibit manufacturers from selling products containing phthalates in California in any item intended for use by children under the age of 3.

Industry groups continue to maintain that phthalates are safe.

"This law is the product of the politics of fear," Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, said in a statement Monday. "It is not good science, and it is not good government.

"Thorough scientific reviews in this country and in Europe have found these toys safe for children to use," he said. "California businesses will now be obliged to take products off the shelves that their customers need and want."

Ma said Monday that the governor's signing of her bill, AB1108, sends a clear message to Washington that states are ready to act.

"California continues to lead the nation in protecting children from dangerous chemicals and in safeguarding our environment," she said. "AB1108 sends a clear message to the Consumer Product Safety Commission that if the Bush administration won't act, states will."

Gretchen Lee, spokeswoman for the Breast Cancer Fund, said there is growing evidence linking phthalates to diseases including breast cancer - a good reason for other states to follow California's ban.

"Phthalates are a problem no matter where you live," she said. "We hope that AB1108 will serve as a model to other states so that they will have the same protections as Californian's children."

With the passage of the California law, it is unclear what is next for the San Francisco ordinance.

Although the ordinance was the first of its kind in the nation, officials said Monday that they expect the state law will take precedent.

San Francisco was in the process of testing child products for evidence of illegal levels of the chemicals, in order to provide a list of illegal products that could be given to retailers in the city.

Phthalates manufacturers sued San Francisco in an attempt to overturn the program, saying the city lacked regulatory authority. The suit could become immaterial with the enactment of the state law, although officials in San Francisco and Sacramento said Monday they were studying the legal issues.

California Bans Chemical Found in Toys

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

California has banned toys and baby products containing more than a trace amount of a chemical used to soften plastics that scientists have linked to health problems.

The ban on phthalate makes California the first state to impose severe limits on a chemical that is widely used in baby bottles, soft baby books, teething rings, plastic bath ducks and other toys, said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, the bill's author.

"I think parents will be comforted that when they buy one of these chewy products it will be safe," Ma told The Associated Press on Sunday after the bill was signed into law.

Beginning in 2009, any product made for young children that contains more than one tenth of one percent of phthalates cannot be made, sold or distributed in California.

Oregon, Maryland and New York are also considering bills that would ban phthalates in certain products.

Phthalates have been banned by the European Union and at least 14 other countries after studies found that the chemical interferes with hormones and might lead to early puberty, reproduction defects and other health problems.

Representative from the toy industry have said the amount of toxic chemicals and exposure periods for children's toys are so low that they aren't a health hazard.

Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the phthalate ban, he said in a signing statement that he did not believe a "product by product" ban was the most effective way to craft state chemical policy.

Schwarzenegger signs bill banning toxic chemical in toys

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma will ban products from being made, sold or distributed in California if they contain more than one tenth of one percent of phthalates.

Phthalates is a common chemical that is used to soften and smooth plastics in baby bottles, soft baby books, teething rings and other toys.

Scientists fear the chemical interferes with hormones and leads to early puberty, reproduction defects and other health problems. Opponents say scientific research is lacking.

Schwarzenegger has until midnight to sign 151 bills still pending.

Source: Associated Press

Editorial: Schwarzenegger should sign toxic-toys bill

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

San Jose Mercury News

Here's a familiar picture: You give a rubber ducky, bath book or other soft plastic toy to a toddler. Within minutes, it ends up in the child's mouth.

That's why Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should sign legislation on his desk that would ban chemicals called phthalates (pronounced THA-laytes) from toys intended for children under age three. The chemicals could be harmful if ingested over time. AB 1108, the "toxic toys" bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, would offer toy-safety protections that the youngest children deserve.

Starting in January 2009, it would prohibit the production and sale in California of toys or child care items for kids under 3 that contain certain phthalates in concentrations of more than 0.1 percent. It also would require manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing phthalates, which are chemicals that soften plastic. The bill is supported by Environment California, the Breast Cancer Fund and the California Nurses Association.

Phthalates have been linked to hormonal disruptions, reproductive and genital defects, premature birth and early puberty. The risk is that they can leach out over time as children suck or chew on their teethers or toys.

To be sure, the scientific debate around the health risks of phthalates isn't settled. Urging a veto of AB 1108, the chemical industry has mounted a campaign, including print and TV ads, asserting that the main phthalate found in toys has been used safely for years and pointing to a Consumer Product Safety Commission study concluding that the chemical didn't pose a risk to children's health.

But even if scientific opinion is divided, prevention should trump, in the case of toys and children. Babies and toddlers are the most vulnerable since they're always chewing or sucking on things.

Already, the European Union plus 14 other nations, including Japan, Mexico, Argentina and Fiji, have banned or restricted phthalates. Four of the six phthalates targeted in AB 1108 are on California's Proposition 65 list of harmful chemicals.

Getting the governor's signature may be a long shot. In previous years, proposals to ban phthalates have died in the state Legislature. This year, AB 1108 squeaked through by the slimmest majority vote in each chamber amid intense debate and heavy lobbying.

Toy safety concerns have mounted recently because of massive recalls of Chinese-made toys with lead paint. Banning potentially toxic chemicals from toys would be a prudent step toward giving parents peace of mind and providing safeguards that young children need.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

Muni may start catching double parkers on film

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Alexandria Rocha
The Examiner

San Francisco could soon follow London’s footsteps by using bus-mounted cameras to nab drivers who double park in transit-only lanes.

It is the latest attempt to help Muni buses meet on-time performance targets mandated under a voter-approved proposition by clearing the roads of drivers who illegally park in transit-only lanes.

In the last few years, Muni has implemented a variety of programs and measures to make the transit system that carries 700,000 daily riders on more than 1,000 buses, trains and trolleys faster.

A three-month pilot on the 1-California bus route included additional police enforcement, improved fare collection and extra supervisors and resulted in an on-time performance increase from 81 percent to 88 percent.

A similar pilot is being conducted on the J-Church metro line.

The City has 19 streets with more than a dozen miles of transit-only zones, including the major thoroughfares of Geary Boulevard, Market, Mission, O'Farrell, Post, Potrero and Sacramento streets. When it comes to double parking in transit-only lanes, the fine in San Francisco is $250.

Details on how many cameras will be used and which buses they will be piloted on are nil, as Muni says it is still developing a "draft concept of operations that will define the technology and how it will be implemented," Muni spokeswoman Maggie Lynch said.

City officials, however, have cited figures from London's program, which resulted in a 92 percent reduction in transit-only zone citations because of the video enforcement.

A bill, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, that would allow the camera enforcement passed the state Senate this week and is now waiting for the governor's signature.

"If the governor signs this bill, Muni service will be improved," Newsom said in a statement released this week. "Double parking significantly impacts on-time performance and delays hundreds if not thousands of San Franciscans on public transit citywide every day."

Source: The Examiner

Bill Allowing Domestic Partners to Choose Family Name Passes Senate

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Press Release
By Equality California

The full Senate on Thursday passed the Name Equality Act, legislation that would give domestic partners and married spouses the option to choose a family name, regardless of their gender, when they register as domestic partners or marry. California senators approved AB 102, with a 24-15 vote. The bill is authored by Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, and co-sponsored by Equality California and the three California affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The Name Equality Act will be heard in the Assembly one more time for a routine concurrence vote before going to the governor's desk for final action.

California domestic partners have faced costly and lengthy court proceedings in order to change their last names after registering with the state. Similarly, state law makes it difficult for a husband to take his wife's last name upon marriage, forcing couples to request a name change in court. AB 102 would remove gender bias from both domestic partnership and marriage applications, allowing each spouse or partner, regardless of gender, the same opportunity to select a new name.

"All loving couples should have the option to choose a common last name to recognize their commitment to one another and honor their decision to become a family," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "As long as same-sex couples are excluded from marriage, EQCA and its coalition partners must pass these kinds of laws every year to clarify the rights of domestic partners. The Name Equality Act is yet another reminder that domestic partnerships will never be truly equal to marriage, and they continue to function as a way to exclude same-sex couples from the respect, dignity, rights and responsibilities that come with marriage."

While Massachusetts allows same-sex couples who are legally married to change their surnames, California would become the first state to allow domestic partners to change their names on the domestic partnership registration form if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs Ma's bill. Seven states, including Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, and North Dakota currently recognize a husband's right to take his wife's last name upon marriage.

"AB 102 will have a positive impact on the lives of countless Californians, both married spouses and domestic partners," said Assemblymember Ma. "No couple should be penalized simply for wanting to validate their union as a family. This legislation is about equality, flexibility and common sense."

The ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit earlier this year in federal court on behalf of a married client, Michael Buday, who tried unsuccessfully several times to adopt his wife's last name after they married. Several local and state government offices prevented Buday from changing his name.

The Assembly passed the Name Equality Act on May 7 with a 45-20 bipartisan vote.

Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. Please visit our website at eqca.org.

Calif. bill would ban chemical in toddlers' toys

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Liz Szabo
USA Today

California could become the first state to ban controversial chemicals from children's products. The state Senate approved a bill Tuesday that bans six types of phthalates. The chemicals soften plastic products such as baby toys and have been shown to interfere with the human hormone system.

TOXIC TOYS: Feds focus on lead in kids' jewelry

In animal studies, the chemicals have been found to increase the risk of certain birth defects and cancer. California lists several phthalates as reproductive toxins.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has until Oct. 14 to act on the bill, has not announced his decision. The bill would take effect in 2009.

The measure, which would ban the chemicals in most products intended for children under 3, such as teething rings and rattles, comes at a time of heightened concern over toy safety. Manufacturers have recalled thousands of toys this year because of safety concerns over lead paint, magnets and other hazards.

Success in California could reignite campaigns to restrict phthalates in other states, says California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat and author of the bill. She says 14 countries and the European Union have banned phthalates in toys or are phasing them out.

Ma says she narrowed the focus of her bill on children because their developing brains and hormonal systems make them especially vulnerable.

Studies show virtually all Americans have been exposed to phthalates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found phthalates in everyone tested.

The bill has support from groups such as Breast Cancer Action, the Breast Cancer Fund, the National Environmental Trust and the California Nurses Federation.

But it faces vigorous opposition from some industry groups.

"It's a terrible bill that doesn't have any basis in science," says Marian Stanley of the American Chemical Association.

Phthalates, which are found in vinyl, aren't used in pacifiers, which are usually made from silicone, Stanley says. Most of the phthalates included in the bill rarely are used in baby toys, says Joan Lawrence of the Toy Industry Association. One of the chemicals, DEHP, is used in toys for older children, such as beach balls. Another phthalate, DINP, is used to make baby toys less brittle. Lawrence says an analysis commissioned by the toy association has found DINP to be harmless for children.

Dan Jacobson of Environment California says parents want to know their children's toys are safe.

"The question is, 'How much poison is OK to be in a rattle?' " he says. "Chemical companies will say it's such a small amount that it doesn't matter. Our argument is, 'If it's toxic, get it out.' "

If the California bill becomes law, Lawrence predicts manufacturers would remove phthalates from all toys sold in the USA rather than make two versions of their toys. "It would push companies to move to materials that are less tested," she says.

Link to article

Gay rights groups pursue legislation

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

By Dan Walters
San Jose Mercury News

As the 2007 California legislative session begins its final throes, the annual duel between gay-rights groups and their conservative foes is being rejoined.

The former have already scored one victory in the much-delayed budget that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed last month, a first-ever appropriation for aid to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) victims of domestic violence.

"These types of government and non-profit partnerships have for many years kept many Californians healthy, safe and self-sufficient, and for the first time the California budget includes such funds for LGBT-specific services," Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, declared after the budget was signed.

There's no shortage of other issues to fuel the perpetual battle between pro- and anti-LGBT rights groups in the dying days of the session. If history is a guide, the pro side will pretty much have its way in a Legislature dominated by liberal Democrats, but the final decision will rest with Schwarzenegger, who sometimes supports the LGBT agenda and sometimes does not.

The American Civil Liberties Union dispatched letters to its activists last week, urging them to pressure Schwarzenegger on this year's batch of bills and noting that during the last biennial legislative session, "Our top five pieces of (LGBT) legislation were vetoed by this governor."

The biggest casualty was a bill to allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses and marry. Schwarzenegger said in his veto message that he was upholding the expression of popular sentiment in Proposition 22, enacted in 2000 and aimed at restricting marriages to opposite-gender couples.
The measure is back as Assembly Bill 43, again carried by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and is one of the most fiercely contested LGBT measures awaiting final action.

Both sides, however, are also gearing up on Senate Bill 777 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, which would add sexual orientation to the conditions that schools must protect by prohibiting instruction or other action that "promotes a discriminatory bias."

Kuehl and other proponents characterize it as protecting the civil rights and safety of LGBT students, but opponents such as the California Family Council see it as discriminating against those with religious opposition to homosexuality.

"Passage of this bill would essentially silence students and teachers from the free expression of any beliefs and opinions contrary to a total and complete acceptance of all forms of sexual behavior," the council says in one of its call-to-action bulletins. The Capitol Resource Institute brands SB 777 as "homosexual indoctrination in schools."

Another flash point is Assembly Bill 14 by Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, which expands the reach of the 4-decade-old Unruh Civil Rights Act, including sexual orientation. And still another is Senate Bill 11 by Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, which would expand "domestic-partner" rights now held by same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples over 62 years old to all opposite-sex couples over 18 years of age.

Assembly Bill 102 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, would, among other things, allow same-sex couples registering as domestic partners to change their names, and anti-gay rights groups say it's another step toward legalizing same-sex marriage. Those groups may, however, be fighting a losing battle, regardless of what happens on this year's bills, the court battles over Proposition 22 and same-sex marriage or pending ballot measures.

Gay rights advocates, recent polls indicate, appear to be winning the battle of public opinion on same-sex marriage, which is the most symbolically important of the LGBT issues.

DAN WALTERS (dwalters@sacbee.com) is a columnist for the Sacramento Bee.

Link to article

Measure banning compound in toys advances

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Geissinger
San Jose Mercury News

SACRAMENTO -- State lawmakers sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger controversial, landmark legislation Tuesday that would make California the first state in the nation to ban what scientists are calling dangerous chemicals used in baby toys.

AB 1108, by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D--San Francisco, would prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of toys and child care products that contain certain phthalates. The ban would apply to products for use by children under the age of 3.

Aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he will not make a decision until he has studied the legislation, which follows the recent recall of lead--contaminated toys.

"The United States has become a dumping ground for chemical--filled toys that are banned in much of the industrialized world," Ma said. "Gov. Schwarzenegger has a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate California's leadership in the world, and I strongly urge him to sign this bill."

Phthalates are a group of chemical compounds, mainly used to add flexibility to plastics, that are being linked to diseases and disabilities.

Though there was little debate on the bill Tuesday, the measure squeaked through 21--18 in the state Senate, mostly along party lines, reflecting the heat of the debate between industry representatives and consumer and public--health advocates in earlier committee hearings.

Organizations such as the California Chamber of Commerce have joined in suing San Francisco, which enacted an earlier ban on the chemical, when Ma was a county supervisor.

The industry maintains that not only does federal law trump state and local regulations in this case, but also that the chemicals have been used safely for four decades.

But proponents, including the California Nurses Association, cite an increasing number of studies they say reveals greater connections between exposure to the chemical and human disabilities and developmental diseases.

Some studies say that phthalates interfere with the hormone system and have been linked to reproductive defects, premature birth, and the early onset of puberty, which is a cause of breast cancer.

Supporters also note that other countries, such as Canada and Mexico, have already banned the chemical and other nations are moving in that direction.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

State Senate passes measure to curb, ban toxic materials in 'tots' toys

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Haley Davies
San Francisco Chronicle

Democrats in the state Senate mustered the majority vote needed to pass a measure on Tuesday that would ban or curb some toxic chemicals in children's toys, sending the measure to the governor.

"I am extremely happy," said the bill's sponsor, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. "This has been an extremely tough bill to get through both houses."

The bill, AB1108, passed in a 21-18 vote almost entirely along party lines. Senator Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County), was the lone Republican who voted to curb the use of phthalates, which soften polyvinyl chloride in toys that are intended for children 3 years old or younger.

Ma's bill mirrors a San Francisco law that would ban the manufacture, sale and distribution of the children's products in 2009 if they contain bisphenol A, which is used to make hard, polycarbonate plastic.

"The U.S. has become the dumping ground for phthalates," said Ma, adding that she wanted the same standards for California that the European Union and 14 other countries already have, which ban the use of the chemical.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has until Sept. 14 to veto the bill or sign it into law. According to a spokesperson for the governor, he will take no official position on the bill until the final version reaches his desk.

Ma credited the bill's last-minute passage to the efforts of Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland. But Ma cautioned that the battle is not over as the governor will be facing intense lobbying from the chemical industry groups that oppose the bill.

"They've been effective in killing any and all chemical bans to date," said Ma of the chemical industry's influence.

Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman, R-Irvine, who voted against the bill on the Senate floor Tuesday, said he did not think the measure is necessary. A spokesperson for the Toy Industry Association, which also opposes the bill, said phthalates do not pose a serious risk.

"There's a federal agency that examines these kinds of things," said Ackerman. "They've determined this one to not be an issue."

He added that not enough research has been done on the chemicals at this point, and he will recommend that the governor veto the bill. "It's OK to want to protect your kids. ... But you've got to have some scientific evidence to do it"

Ma said she and other supporters are "hoping that the governor will prioritize children and their welfare."

Dan Jacobson, legislator director of Environment California, the nonprofit group sponsoring the bill along with the Breast Cancer Fund of San Francisco, said he's "never been in a Senate fight where the opposition has been so strong, and senators had to work so hard to get to 21 votes. But we finally won with bipartisan support."

The recent recall of toys containing toxic lead raised awareness among senators and assemblyman about the importance of having safe toys, Jacobson said.

"The governor can take action by signing the bill that would ban the use of phthalates from children's toys sold in California."

E-mail Haley Davies at hdavies@sfchronicle.com.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Fiona Ma Pushes To Ban Toxic Chemical Found In Toys

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Lawmakers voted to ban another potentially dangerous chemical from toys sold in California. San Francisco lawmaker Fiona Ma pushed the bill through Tuesday afternoon, but it's unclear if the governor will sign it.

Despite the recent headlines of major recalls of lead-tainted toys, a proposed state ban of a different chemical used in toys was a hard sell on the State Senate floor on Tuesday afternoon.

Phthalates are used to soften plastics and have been linked to reproductive damage in lab animals.

"There are countries in Europe, 14 other countries that have banned this chemical. We're simply asking for an 'aye' vote," said Senator Dean Flores (D) Shafter.

Most Republican Senators and some moderate Democrats voted 'no' because the last study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded the most common phthalate, DINP, is safe and that few children were at risk.

"The Feds have a lot more resources to put into this thing, than we do. And if they studied it and said it's not a problem right now, I think we got to go along with that," said Senator Dick Ackerman (R) Irvine.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma wrote the bill and desperately worked the floor to save it. But even though she finally got the last two votes she needed, the San Francisco Democrat isn't sure Governor Schwarzenegger will sign it because she wouldn't make changes.

"We've been working with the administration on some amendments. However, talks broke down," said Assemblyman Fiona Ma from San Francisco.

No matter the fate of the phthalates ban, Assemblywoman Ma will introduce a ban on lead-tainted toys next year.

Parents like Kathi Miller just want some help in keeping their kids safe.

"You think this is safe. This is safe. It's got to be. And then you find out it's not. It's scary," said concerned parent Kathi Miller.

Until more scientific work is done, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission asked the industry to remove phthalates from soft rattles and teethers as a precaution. So, at this point, it's voluntary.

Assemblywoman Ma wants City College bond spending audited

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Lance Williams
San Francisco Chronicle

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who has criticized City College of San Francisco for its expansion plans in Chinatown and expressed concerns about its political fundraising, wants the state to audit the college's spending of more than $441 million in bond funds.

In a letter made public Thursday, Ma, D-San Francisco, asked the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to investigate how the college has spent the proceeds of a $195 million bond measure approved by voters in 2001 and a $246.3 million measure approved four years later.

"Numerous news reports of questionable spending have fueled calls for performance audits," Ma wrote to the legislative committee. Among other things, she said she wants to track whether there was effective oversight of how money generated by the big bond measures was being spent.

If state lawmakers order an audit, that would mark the third official probe of financial issues at the college since April, when The Chronicle reported on a series of suspected political fundraising abuses in the 2005 bond campaign. In one case, the newspaper reported, a college official diverted a $10,000 lease payment owed to the college to the political committee promoting the bond measure. Experts said the transaction appeared to violate state law. The college said the official made an honest mistake.

Since then, the district attorney's office has reviewed thousands of pages of documents regarding companies that obtained contracts from the college and also made political contributions to the bond campaign, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

In addition, the college has hired Sacramento lawyer Steve Churchwell, a former general counsel for the state Fair Political Practices Commission, to conduct an investigation into political fundraising in the bond campaign.

Chancellor Philip Day said Ma had not consulted him before requesting the state audit of the college.

"If the committee honors her request, we will be cooperating," he said. "We have nothing to hide."

Earlier this year, Ma criticized the college's plan to build a 16-story, $122 million satellite campus in Chinatown near Portsmouth Square. Opponents, including owners of the nearby Hilton Hotel, say the project is too big, millions of dollars over budget and fraught with environmental problems. But supporters, including many Chinatown leaders, say it would bring needed educational opportunities to the neighborhood.

E-mail Lance Williams at lwilliams@sfchronicle.com.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Ma Calls On Bush to Take Lead Out Of Toys

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

AsianWeek

Last week, days after Mattel recalled 253,000 lead-contaminated toy cars, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) said the Bush administration is not doing enough to protect the health of children.

In front of the Children's Council of San Francisco, Ma called for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to take immediate steps to implement a ban of lead in all products intended to be used by children.

Ma, author of the toxic toys legislation AB 1108, vowed to take a strong arm approach if the Bush administration fails to act within 90 days.

"Toxic toys need to be removed from our store shelves immediately," said Ma. "It is time for policy makers to step up to the plate."

In a letter to the safety commission, Ma wrote that she will introduce a California ban of toys and other products containing lead intended to be used by children, if action is not taken to update regulations to remove all lead from these products.

"We now know that lead exposure, at any level, presents a clear and present danger to young children," Ma's letter reads. "While the CPSC attempted to deflect blame by noting that these toys were made in China, it is my view that lax national standards have resulted in children being put needlessly at risk, regardless of where products are made."

The letter highlights the need for immediate action, and points out that the commission could encounter gridlock because the president has failed to appoint commission members. A little over a year and a half ago, the commission chair resigned and a new chair has yet to be appointed.

"Children who are exposed to lead at any level are in harm's way," said Ma. "We can not let this become another issue where the Bush administration is asleep at the wheel."

Source: AsianWeek

Lawmakers urge Schwarzenegger to spare money for high-speed rail

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

By Steve Lawrence, Associated Press Writer
San Jose Mercury News

SACRAMENTO--Two Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to stand by his previous statements of support for California's high-speed rail project and spare its funding when he trims $700 million from the new state budget.

"We want to make sure the governor knows we're watching, that Californians are watching, and that we expect the governor to be futuristic, to be optimistic and to keep a project on line that makes a lot of sense in terms of getting people out of their cars," said Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter.

The state's high-speed rail board has recommended that California build a 700-mile system linking its biggest cities with trains running at top speeds of more than 200 mph.

The overdue state budget that lawmakers approved Tuesday includes $20.7 million to continue engineering and environmental work on that project. But Florez and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said they were concerned Schwarzenegger might veto the money before he signs the budget into law.

Schwarzenegger promised Republican lawmakers he would use his line-item veto power to cut $700 million to balance the $145 billion budget. A spokesman for the governor's Department of Finance, H.D. Palmer, would not say whether the high-speed rail money would be among the cuts.

"We have never telegraphed in advance what we will or will not veto," Palmer said. "That remains the case today."

Eliminating the high-speed rail funding from this year's budget could undercut efforts to convince voters to approve a $9.9 billion bond measure that is on the November 2008 ballot, Ma and Florez said.

Most of the bond money would be used to help pay for a first leg of the high-speed rail project between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area.

Keeping the $20.7 million in the budget would give voters a better idea of what the system would look like and where stops would be instead of asking them to back a "nebulous high-speed rail system," Florez said.

Removing the funding from the budget would be damaging, Ma said, in part because the authority has pending contracts for environmental and other studies.

Mehdi Morshed, the high-speed rail board's executive director, said the $20.7 million would be enough to continue doing some environmental and engineering work on the project, but it would fall far short of the $104.2 million the board requested for the fiscal year that began July 1.

"It keeps us from having to close up shop," Morshed said.

Schwarzenegger had been cool toward the high-speed rail project, which was begun before he took office. But in an op-ed column he wrote in May, he said high-speed rail would be a "tremendous benefit" that would help relieve freeway congestion, improve air quality and create greater mobility.

The budget proposals he made that same month included $5.2 million for the project, far below the amount requested by the authority.

The governor supports high-speed rail but wants the board overseeing the project to do more to line up federal and private funding, said David Crane, Schwarzenegger's special adviser for jobs and economic growth.

"We want to see it done and would like everyone focused on the steps to actually getting it done, not just spending more money on consultants," said Crane, who also is a member of the rail board.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

SF Lawmaker Pushes for Lead Ban in Children's Products

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma is calling on the Consumer Products Safety Commission to implement a ban of lead in all products used by children in the wake of massive recalls involving toys made with lead paint in China.

"We hopefully have a piece of legislation that will go to the governor's desk in the next couple months that will start the ban on these toxic chemicals, raise the awareness. But the federal government really should be the ones that are focused on this, taking a serious look at all the chemicals," said Ma.

Not only toys are of concern. Bibs with vinyl backings, lunch boxes and jewelry have also been found to have high levels of lead.

Click here to hear the radio report on Ma's push to ban lead in toys

Source: KCBS News

S.F. lawmaker demands ban on lead in toys

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Jane Kay
San Francisco Chronicle

A Bay Area legislator who is already sponsoring a "toxic toy" bill in the state Legislature told a federal agency Thursday that if it doesn't step up and ban lead in children's products as promised by the end of the year, she will introduce a measure to protect Californians in January.

Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, sent a letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the agency responsible for regulating harmful chemicals in consumer products, demanding a speedy prohibition of toxic lead in products used by children, the most vulnerable of the population.

Lead is toxic to the brain and the entire neurological system, and can impair cognitive and physical development even at low levels, scientists say.

Agency spokeswoman Maryanne McGerty-Sieber said Tuesday, in response to a huge recall by Mattel of toys found to contain high levels of lead, that a rule was being prepared to ban the toxic metal in children's products. She couldn't give a timeline for adoption. Critics of the Consumer Product Safety Commission have accused the agency as not having rules strict enough to protect the public and not enforcing the ones they have.

"If the Consumer Product Safety Commission fails to act, I will introduce legislation in California that is similar to an Illinois law to eliminate lead in children's products," Ma said at a press conference Thursday in San Francisco.

Ma has authored AB 1108 in the Legislature which would curb plastic softeners, or phthalates, in toys and child-care products intended for children under 3 years old. Phthalate has been linked to reproductive damage in lab animals. The bill has passed the Assembly and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.

She said she was "shocked that there is so much lead in the products."

Ma referred to the recalls of millions of toys and other products worldwide in the past two weeks by Mattel and its company, Fisher-Price. Some products, including the "Sarge" car recalled on Tuesday, had paint with lead over permissible federal limits. In the Tuesday recall, other products were pulled off the shelves because of magnets that could come loose and endanger children.

"These recalls by the manufacturers show that nobody has been watching and monitoring the products that are coming into the country and being sold," she said. "Obviously, there's some loophole, and faulty products are on our shelves."

Nancy Nord, acting chairwoman of the federal agency, to whom the letter was sent, couldn't be immediately reached for comment.

At the press conference, Caroline Cox, research director at the nonprofit Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, displayed jewelry containing high levels of lead as well as bibs with vinyl backing and vinyl lunch boxes. Using lead as a stabilizer can be a cheaper way of making vinyl, experts say.

Cox's group has used California's anti-toxics law known as Proposition 65 to sue and gain settlement agreements with retailers and manufacturers to eliminate jewelry, bibs and lunch boxes containing illegal levels of lead.

E-mail Jane Kay at jkay@sfchronicle.com.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Bill would end double standard on name changes

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

When Kinna Patel and Ashle Crocker exchanged their vows and registered as domestic partners in September, the lesbian couple also decided to have the same last name for their new family.

Patel, who wanted to change her last name to Crocker, had to jump through a series of legal hoops, take out a newspaper ad announcing the pending change of her name, and pay hundreds of dollars in fees to legally become Kinna Crocker.

"And it's a good thing I'm an attorney. If I had to hire a lawyer, it would have cost thousands more," said Crocker, of Sacramento. "Still, I would much rather have wanted to spend my $700 plus my time on something else."

Women who get married to men, by contrast, can change their last names simply by checking off a box on the marriage certificate application. A bill pending in the state Legislature would extend that right to domestic partners such as the Crockers and to marrying men.

The measure, AB102, would require applications for marriage licenses and certificates of registered domestic partnerships to include a line for name change for all parties.

Seven other states -- Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and North Dakota -- allow a man to take on his new spouse's family name.

But if the bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, becomes law, California would be the first state to allow domestic partners to have that same right. The issue has been a point of contention among many conservative groups, who argue that the legislation is another step toward legally recognizing same-sex marriage.

While same-sex marriages are not legal in California, the state began recognizing domestic partnerships in 2000. To qualify, couples must either be the same sex or one partner must be at least 62 years old. Domestic partnership is not legal among more than two people, and they cannot also be legally married to anyone else.

"We think this is just another way for domestic partners to get the privilege of marriage without actually marrying," said Karen England, executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute. "It's just another incremental move to equate homosexual marriage with traditional marriage."

Although the bill passed the Assembly in a 46-26 vote this month, opponents such as England are hoping the legislation will have a tougher time gaining support in the more moderate state Senate, where the Judiciary Committee will hear the bill in a few weeks.

In the Assembly, the vote was largely along party lines, with most Republican lawmakers voting against the bill. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill.

"Name change is a big, symbolic, important step for a marrying man and a woman. And it's one of the longest held traditions for the woman to take the name of her husband's family. ... I just don't see any hard, compelling reason to change that," said Assemblyman Van Tran, R-Costa Mesa (Orange County).

But Ma argued that her bill isn't about just same-sex couples but is about giving everyone the same ease of access in changing their legal names that marrying women have.

"It's about equality, getting with the times," she said.

A part of that has to do with men wanting to either adopt their wives' names or, in the case of Thomas Howard and his fiancee, Tess Cain, creating a new family name.

After a seven-year engagement, the north Santa Cruz County couple are planning to officially tie the knot in the fall. But one of the difficulties they're facing in preparing for the wedding is changing their last names to Summerfield.

The couple made that decision because both were adopted as young children and didn't feel connected to the families that raised them.

"In a nutshell, it comes down to neither of us are really attached to our last names. So this seems like a good point, naturally, to change it, because this is when people change their names to create new families and new identities," said Howard, 35, an engineer at Cisco Systems.

So Cain came up with Summerfield, and Howard decided to go along with that idea. But all Cain has to do is to note the change in the marriage license application, while Howard will have to embark on the much longer legal process.

"It's a double standard," he said.

Both Howard and Cain said they hope AB102 will become law, making 2007 that much more memorable for the couple.

"Tess and I would love to have a family, just with this new name," he said. "I don't understand why the government makes it so hard. Just collect your taxes, and move on."

Bay Area Lawmaker Aboard French Record-Fast Train

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

A Bay Area lawmaker got a firsthand look Tuesday at the potential of high-speed rail as a double-decker train raced through the French countryside at a record 356 mph.

State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco said she was the only American on board when a train operated by the French high-speed rail system surpassed the previous mark for conventional rail of 320.2 mph, which was set in 1990 by another French train. A magnetically levitated Japanese train holds the ultimate speed record of 361 mph.

Ma said the approximately 15 minute-ride was "pretty amazing."

"It felt like we were ready to take off on the runway in a plane," the California Democrat said in a telephone interview. "That steady acceleration ... feeling and force."

Ma is part of a delegation of a half dozen lawmakers who are in France this week, in part to examine the French high-speed rail system as California considers building a 700-mile system of its own to carry passengers at speeds of more than 200 mph.

Ma said she ended up on the record-setting run after the legislators met Monday with representatives of Alstom, a company that makes trains for the French high-speed rail system, TGV.

She said company officials were "all excited about setting the world speed record" and offered to take a member of the California delegation on the ride. "I kind of chimed up and said it would be great to be on there. ... I jumped at the chance," Ma said.

While she was on the record-setting ride, the other lawmakers Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and Assemblymen John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, Joe Coto, D-San Jose, Michael Duvall, R-Yorba Linda, and Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar had a meeting with the French transportation minister, Ma said.

Ma's experience was probably more memorable.

"It's something that is going to go down in my history book," she said. "How many times does one have an opportunity to do that, to be part of history?"

She said the ride made her even more convinced that California needs to develop high-speed rail, which has been in the planning stages for more than 10 years.

A nearly $10 billion bond measure that would help pay for a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and the San Francisco area will be on California's 2008 November ballot. Plans also call for links to Sacramento and San Diego.

But a vote on the bond measure has been delayed twice already, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants lawmakers to bump it from the 2008 ballot.

Ma said she and other high-speed rail supporters hope to persuade Schwarzenegger to support the 2008 vote and to increase funding in his proposed budget to allow the state's high-speed rail board to do engineering work and begin buying right of way for the bullet trains in the next fiscal year.

"Our highways are congested," Ma said. "We're not going to be able to put more runways at our airports. The only way to move people around efficiently and effectively is a high-speed rail system like we have in Europe."

A spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger, Sabrina Lockhart, did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Editorial: The Chronicle Recommends Ma for state Assembly

Sun, 21 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500

San Francisco Chronicle

ON THE ISSUES, the differences between Fiona Ma and Janet Reilly are relatively small. In fact, they even agree about the three matters in which they most disagree: the death penalty, homeowner rights and high-school exit exams.

Reilly flatly opposes the death penalty, while Ma supports it "to see justice done" in certain heinous cases in which there is no doubt about guilt. Reilly wants to amend the Ellis Act to peel back the ability of landlords to evict tenants for condo conversion; Ma would prefer to preserve the act as a way to promote home ownership while finding other ways to buffer the effects on tenants. Reilly embraces the exit exam as a way to assure rigor and standards in public schools; Ma opposes the use of such tests as a condition of getting a diploma.

Beyond that, no major-policy differences have emerged between the two Democrats in the intensely competitive primary for the 12th Assembly District, which encompasses the western half of San Francisco and northern edge of San Mateo County.

Despite the platform similarities, the Ma-Reilly race has become one of the most intense -- and expensive -- legislative primaries in California this year.

Ma is the relative veteran of San Francisco politics, joining then-Assemblyman John Burton's staff in 1995 and serving on various boards and commissions until her election to the Board of Supervisors in 2002.

Reilly, a former broadcast journalist and public-relations executive, has proved to be a formidable candidate. She has done her homework on the issues and is very good at articulating them.

This race comes down to a choice between a candidate with a world of promise and a supervisor with a solid track record in elective office.

In our view, that gives the edge to Ma. Experience in local elected office is a great asset for a new legislator in Sacramento. As a supervisor, Ma has first-hand knowledge of the impact of state decisions on city and county budgets and operations. Also, there is nothing like a stint on the San Francisco supervisors to test a politician's temperament and ability to balance competing interests.

Ma has been a voice of reason on a board that all too often lacks it. She has shown a commitment to social-justice issues as well as the legitimate concerns of businesses that produce the jobs and tax revenue that expand prosperity. She gets our endorsement in the District 12 Democratic primary on June 6.

(This article appeared on page E - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle)

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Fiona Ma for State Assembly: News

Cash for College

'Urban Cowgirl' says Sunday time to eat local foods

Domestic Workers Rally at the Capitol

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's Bill to Bring Justice to Incarcerated Victims of Domestic Violence, Passes out of Assembly Committee on Public Safety

Golden Gate Park bison death sparks investigation

Baby bison dies after incident with small dog at Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park baby bison found dead

New year, new laws

Speaker pro Tem's New Laws Regarding Education, Public Safety, Health Care, Environment, Go into Effect January 1, 2012

California To Soon Outlaw Alcohol Sales Through Grocery Self-Check Out

Everyday Hep B Heroes Calendars Launch

Keep the holidays happy: Be safe!

Buffalo from Tehama County now dwell in San Francisco

Ma named 'Legislator of the Year' by Multiple Sclerosis society

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma named Legislator of the Year

Capitol Alert: Fiona Ma to run for state Board of Equalization seat in 2014

Fiona Ma will seek Board of Equalization seat, not Senate

It only takes a spark for Fiona Ma, Jason Hodge

Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Howard Koh Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Eradicating Hepatitis B at The San Francisco Foundation

SF Officials Take On Hepatitis B

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Joins US Health and Human Services in Supporting Efforts to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis

Supervisors hear update on invasive mussels emergency lobbying effort

Bringing the Haves and Have-Nots Together for Curry and Compassion

Asphalt conference keynote speaker Ma does her homework

SF Leaders Unite to Call On Mayoral Candidates to End Hepatitis

Legislation To Ensure Safety At Raves, Large Events Signed By Gov. Brown

New Law Bans Self-Service Checkout for Alcohol

Underage alcohol purchases made more difficult

Jerry Brown signs one union measure, vetoes another

State bans alcohol sales from automated checkout counters

Why Is Fiona Ma Such a Killjoy?

JCRC Applauds Governor Brown for Signing Legislation Preventing California Cities from Banning Circumcision

Governor to decide if booze buyers can use checkout machines

LA City Council passes resolution in favor of Pinoy WWII vets

Wildlife experts: Get used to coyotes in the city

August Newsletter

Lawmakers push for tough locksmith regulations

Bill would regulate body art shops

Lawmakers want you to eat California-grown on Sundays

Officials want Sundays dedicated to eating California-grown foods

Fiona Ma bill would ban self-checkout sale of alcohol

New body art rules sought

Assembly wants folks to eat local food

Democratic Legislators to Watch

California House Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma

Hep B Free Campaign Honored by Asia Society Northern California

About Asia Society

About San Francisco Hep B Free

Checkout bill would hit Fresh & Easy hard

California gets more money for high-speed rail

Public Service Announcement: Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Discusses Perinatal Depression Awareness Month in May

Transcript

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco proposes rave safety bill

April Newsletter

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY Education panel approves bill remembering WWII veterans

The need for the NewDEAL

Lawmakers honor California agriculture

State resolves to eat local at Capital Ag Day

March 2011 Newsletter

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NEWSLETTER

FIONA MA, CPASPEAKER PRO TEMPOREMARCH 2011 NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NEWSLETTER

Fiona Ma invites you to a super colon

Opinion: Keeping California farmers on a roll

Fiona Ma's bill would raise awareness of Filipino World War II veterans in school lessons

Drug plans stick some patients with steep costs

California takes a stand

Unintended consequences?

Money to stem teen dating violence dwindles

Fiona Ma Targets Domestic Violence Among Teens

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma stays neutral on shark finning

California considers changing sick day rules

Fiona Ma hopes to put a stop to jacked-up medical costs

San Francisco sick-leave law working, study says

Bill aims to stop specialty tier prescription drug costs

Protections touted

PG&E To Share Pipeline Data With Fire Departments

PG&E, first responders develop pipe disclosure pilot program

Experts Expound

FIONA MA, CPA
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
MARCH 2011 NEWSLETTER CONTENTS