SUPERVISOR HILDA SOLIS - ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis is a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board. 

Supervisor Solis, a longtime environmental justice advocate, represents the County of Los Angeles on the SCAQMD Board.

Prior to becoming Supervisor, she served as Secretary of Labor for President Barack Obama. She was confirmed on Feb. 24, 2009, becoming the first Latina to serve in the United States Cabinet.

Her priorities included expanding access to affordable health care, protecting the environment and improving the lives of working families. As a recognized leader on clean-energy jobs, she authored the Green Jobs Act which provided funding for “green collar” job training for veterans, displaced workers, at risk youth, and individuals in families under 200 percent of the federal poverty line. She helped kick-start the study that would eventually lead to the San Gabriel Mountains being named as a national monument. As a supervisor, she has supported funding for parks and “parklets” in urban neighborhoods and other initiatives that promote sustainability.

During her tenure in the California State Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, she worked to reduce emissions from highways, trains, gravel operations, refineries, and other harmful sources in order to protect public health. She believes that such measures can meet the needs of both businesses and local communities, and that positive workable solutions can be found for the air quality issues currently impacting her district. Solis also served two years in the state Assembly.

Solis received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2000 for her pioneering work on environmental justice issues. Her California environmental justice legislation, enacted in 1999, was the first of its kind in the nation to become law.

GAVIN NEWSOM CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR 2018 FRONTRUNNER

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, 50 yrs old, 6'3" tall, is one of the two Democrat frontrunners in the heated race to become California's 40th governor.

As the clout of Latino voters continues to grow in California, the governor's race could hinge on which candidate appeals most to this critical slice of the electorate.

 

The California Professional Firefighters (CPF) endorsed Newsom for governor, praising Newsom’s support for firefighters while he served as mayor of San Francisco.  The CPF union also took a subtle shot at Antonio Villaraigosa. While Villaraigosa served as mayor of Los Angeles, the city fire department underwent a period of steep budget cuts and staff reductions as the city struggled financially during the recession, drawing criticism from the city’s firefighters union.

“At a time when California faces a grave and growing threat from fire and other natural disaster, it’s essential that the next governor offer more than lip service to public safety,” Lou Paulson, president of California Professional Firefighters, said in a statement released Friday. “Throughout his public life, Newsom has built a record of standing up for public safety and the men and women on the front lines, even in tough times. He has earned our endorsement.”

Newsom and Former President Bill Clinton

Newsom's gun control efforts win him big endorsement
Newsom was the force behind 2016’s Proposition 63, which outlaws the possession of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, requires background checks for people buying bullets, makes it a crime not to report lost or stolen guns and provides a process for taking guns from people convicted of a felony.

 

California Nurses Association opens independent expenditure committee to support Gavin Newsom for California governor. The nurses already have endorsed him and are major advocates for a state-sponsored single-payer health care program.

Newsom called on President Trump to resign over his reported labeling of Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as “shithole countries” in an Oval Office meeting.
 

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR 2018 ELECTION

Six major candidates (four Democrats and two Republicans) have emerged as potential successors to Governor Jerry Brown.

The four Democrats are Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, State Treasurer John Chiang and former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin.

 

The candidates participated in a forum at the University of Southern California on January 13th.  All answered questions ranging from health care to environmental and education issues.

 

 

Newsom holds an advantage in major polls, averaging about 25 percent to Villaraigosa’s 15 percent, and Chiang’s, Allen’s and Cox’s high single digits. Newsom’s early campaign unveiling in February 2015 failed to scare off Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor and Assembly speaker, and Chiang, the state treasurer.

Villaraigosa’s campaign thinks more Latino, African-American and low-income voters than usual will turn out in the Trump era’s first midterm congressional election, and that they would favor Villaraigosa over Newsom. Chiang’s campaign has argued that assumptions about Latino turnout have been exaggerated by at least one polling company, inflating Villaraigosa’s edge over Chiang in the battle for the No. 2 spot.

State Assemblyman Allen, Businessman Cox, and former U.S. representative Doug Ose could consolidate Republican voters’ support. Then the lone GOP hope could get into the top two and qualify for the November election. Newsom talked more about his proposals to spur economic development.

Villaraigosa and Chiang would be happy if the big topics were Newsom’s support for Senate Bill 562, which would create a government-run “single payer” health care system in California, and the performance of San Francisco schools under Newsom’s influence. Opponents charge that the single-payer health care proposal that Newsom supports would dramatically raise taxes; Newsom dismissed the cost factor, saying the current system is “insolvent.” They also sought to undercut Newsom’s claims about San Francisco schools’ achievements when he was mayor, citing that a study shows African-American, Latino and Pacific Islander student performance in San Francisco lagging behind other counties; Newsom’s campaign said minority students’ academic achievement improved during his eight years as mayor.

Newsom campaign communications director Nathan Click said opponents “making desperate attacks and trying to pile on” shows they know Newsom is the “clear leader in the race.”

PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS 2017 YEAR END CELEBRATION

Los Angeles County PHIS employees celebrated the year end on December 14, 2017 at the Golden Skewer Restaurant with contests and prizes. 

 

The Chairs Contest

  

 

The Joker's Hat Contest

   

 

Application Development and Business Solutions Delivery Team

 

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

The SEIU 721 Environmental Justice Action Team thanks its members, families and friends for their service and dedication to the residents and communities of LA County.  Your hard work and kindness translate to improved health and well-being for so many.

                                                                                                                                          

EJAT is proud to be part of the SEIU team that fights hard against oppression and injustice, and looks forward to bring lasting environmental changes.

KEVIN DE LEON GUEST SPEAKER AT AGENDA '18

Kevin De León was the Guest Speaker during the Los Angeles County bargaining conference that took place on December 2, 2017.

De Leon was elected Senate President Pro Tempore on June 19, 2014, and was sworn in on October 15, 2014. A member of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, he is the first Latino to hold that position in over 130 years. Prior to being elected to the State Senate in 2010, de León served in the California State Assembly.

In 2018, Los Angeles County workers will be bargaining a new contract. At Agenda ’18, union issues and bargaining conference, members came together to answer the most important questions facing LA County’s working families:

What are the key issues that we should fight for?
What is the County’s financial condition and what is the political landscape?
What is our strategy to win the best possible contract?

Bargaining issues presented during the conference were: Bargaining time line and process; Key issues in 2018 discussion; Lessons rom campaigns; LA County's financial condition; The Political landscape for bargaining; Bargaining committee nominations; and How will the upcoming Supreme Court decision impact bargaining?

The conference also included: Issues Workshops; Bargaining Team Nomination Forms; and Bargaining Strategies.

Together We Win

MIKE GARCIA A WARRIOR OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT

Mike Garcia served as the President of SEIU United Service Workers West between 1988 and 2014. He was a warrior in the labor movement, organizing janitors to stand up for better wages, working conditions, and just immigration policy.

 

Garcia was one of the key leaders in the Justice for Janitors movement. He was the Padrino of the Labor movement and a fierce champion for education and education reform.

 

Reflections on the Life of Mike Garcia

By: SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry

Mike was a driving force in the Justice for Janitors movement, longtime president of SEIU 1877 and USWW, fellow Board member and strong national leader in our Union. 

I've known Mike Garcia since the 80s. His drive and passion were ever present—holding a megaphone, in Hardy Hall at the 7th Street office in Los Angeles, but most especially when he was in the street leading a strike, march, civil disobedience—the times when I often saw a smile on his face and a glint in his eye. He led from an unshakeable belief of the power of people to prevail.

Mike led a historic strike in Los Angeles in 2000—with workers at 500 worksites walking off the job for three weeks—that restored the lost power to the janitors, and later used that power to win organizing rights for the janitors in Orange County.

I was working across the street at the Healthcare Action Campaign at that time and Mike and I would most often catch each other between 9-10pm in the parking lot to figure out how to support each other's organizing efforts.

Mike Garcia was a union warrior and a fierce advocate for immigrant workers—linking the fights for economic and immigrant justice. He was an early leader in our Union who understood the need to speak against anti-black racism and link the fights for racial justice, economic justice, immigrant justice and environmental justice.

I am blessed to have walked with and learned from Mike Garcia. The Union is better, bolder and stronger thanks to his tireless efforts and Sí Se Puede Leadership.

When I spoke to his wife Gloria last week about Mike's transition to hospice, I thanked her on behalf of our 2 million members for the sacrifices she and his children made for his leadership in our Union. We laughed about how Mike would tell us to "fasten our seat belts" because we were in for a wild ride. My heart goes out to Mike’s beloved family—his wife Gloria, daughters Suzanna and Estrella and son Henry and his grandchildren—and his brothers and sisters at USWW. The SEIU family grieves his loss with you. 

Mike’s leadership, passion and dedication made SEIU a better, bolder and stronger union. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of SEIU members everywhere.