News

Thursday, May 11, 2017

On the night of Oct. 16, 2015, Social Services officials requested a welfare check for Delylah and Shaun Tara, 3 and 7, who were living in Salinas with their guardian, second cousin Tami Huntsman. Salinas Police knocked on the front door. No answer. Two months later, their bodies were found in a storage unit in Redding.

The killings were haunting enough that former assemblymember Luis Alejo (now a Monterey County supervisor) and Assemblymember Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, both tried legislating preventive measures.

Alejo’s AB 2380 provides more information to incarcerated parents about background checks for guardians of their kids.

Caballero has introduced AB 318, which would mandate independent study students have visual or in-person contact with a school administrator at least once a week. Independent study allows public school students to study in a nontraditional setting, such as their home, for a period of time.

Read more
Thursday, May 4, 2017

SACRAMENTO – It was an uncommon sight in the state Capitol. A group of community organizers and civil rights advocates from across California sat behind the dais in a legislative hearing room in the high-backed chairs normally reserved for legislators, while nearly a dozen members of the Legislature filed in one by one to present their bills, answer questions, and share their thoughts on how grassroots leaders can influence a state policymaking process dominated by inside-the-Beltway interest groups.

Call it a role reversal. Call it a sign of legislators’ respect for the views, and potential influence, of all Californians. Consider it a harbinger of things to come, especially given the subject: For three hours, lawmakers fielded questions about how the high cost of housing is impacting the daily lives of millions of Californians—and what the Legislature can do not just to get more houses built, but to ensure more workers and families can own them.

Read more
Friday, April 28, 2017

Carecen y Chirla entre los principales patrocinadores de un proyecto de ley que avanza en Sacramento para detener el fraude migratorio

Por culpa de un consultor de migración muy conocido en el Valle de San Fernando, el papá de Areli G. no pudo arreglar su estatus migratorio.

​​​​“El consultor de migración hizo todo mal porque no tenía el conocimiento para asesorar a mi papá. El resultado fue que lo mandó solo a una entrevista de migración. No le dijo a qué iba, ni tampoco podía comunicarse. Él hablaba solo español y los oficiales inglés”, recuerda.

Areli dice que el resultado fue que a su padre le negaron su caso y lo metieron en serios problemas. “Cuando fuimos a ver a un abogado, éste le dijo a mi papá que él pudo haber arreglado, pero le llenaron mal las formas y lo aconsejaron mal. Mi papá aparecía ante migración como que quería cometer fraude”.

Read more
Thursday, April 27, 2017

Immigration, housing and a state road in terrible disrepair topped the agenda when elected officials from just about every level gathered in Gilroy to share views on key issues facing city, county, state and federal governments and constituents.

This year’s Fourth Annual South County Legislative Summit attracted two mayors, a state senator and assemblymember and two U.S. Representatives who represent the city in Washington D.C.

“Each year we have seen more and more people interested in the summit. Having all of our region's elected officials attending the summit allows residents and business owners alike to learn about legislation at all levels of government and what the impact is going to be to South County,” said Mark Turner after the April 21 event at the Hilton Garden Inn on Monterey Road.

“We were pleased to see the turnout,” said Turner, President and CEO of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the annual event, that drew 110 people.

Read more
Thursday, April 27, 2017

Experts, community leaders, farmers and political leaders gathered to talk about water supplies and quality

The 2017 San Benito County Water Forum, held at San Juan Oaks Golf Club on April 21, brought together national, state and regional water experts, along with farmers and community leaders to discuss current agriculture water allocations, the drought, local floods, implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and other water-related topics.

The event was coordinated in response to requests from local government, water agency, agricultural, community, land use and business leaders to share facts and resources, identify issues and opportunities and collaboratively form solutions.

Read more
Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Most of the Watsonville City Council attended the 2017 Legislative Day in Sacramento last week. While at the Capitol the council was able to lobby Assembly Members Anna Caballero and Mark Stone, and Senator Bill Monning. Issues discussed were expanding broadband throughout the city, funds for local parks, housing, and water and sewer issues. Pictured, from left to right: Councilmembers Lowell Hurst, Felipe Hernandez, Jimmy Dutra, Assembly Member Anna Caballero, Council Member Rebecca Garcia, Mayor Oscar Rios, and Council Member Trina Coffman-Gomez.

Read more
Sunday, April 23, 2017

California lawmakers are considering several bills to improve and expand access to Denti-Cal, the state’s troubled dental program for low-income people — including ones that would draw from the state’s new tobacco tax to boost dentists’ pay.

Assembly Bill 753, introduced by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), would direct money from the state’s new tobacco tax to broaden access to Denti-Cal, which for years has been faulted in state and federal reports. The bill will be heard in the Assembly Committee on Health on Tuesday.

Read more