Greg
RODRIGUEZ
For Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education
NEW LEADERSHIP FOR OUR KIDS! 

PRESS RELEASE: May 13, 2010Contact: Greg Rodriguez at 760-902-9882 or greg@gregrodriguez.com 

Greg Rodriguez Announces Run for Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education. Greg Rodriguez, parent, Palm Springs resident and active education advocate announced his candidacy for the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education today. Rodriguez will be emphasizing a campaign of “New Leadership for Our Kids” focusing on providing a strong parental voice for our kids on the Governing Board.In a statement released today, Greg said, “We all know the problems facing our schools in the Palm Springs School District and throughout this nation. As a parent of two school-aged children, and one with special needs, I offer a unique and qualified perspective on how we can work to make things better. With our current budget problems it is more important than ever that we have at least one School Board Member that has children in the schools that are feeling the direct impact of our budget situation.” Greg went on to say, “The importance of making sure our children are educated to their utmost potential is vital to the growth of our community. I want to offer my personal, professional and political experience to work with the community to make sure our schools are the best they can be. ”Greg has spent the last 11 years as an advocate for his own children’s education as well as being an active PTA and PTG member, President of the Katherine Finchy PTA, Chair of the Katherine Finchy School Site Council, Member of the District’s Alternative Calendar Advisory Committee, Member of the District’s Community and Parental Advisory Committees, Member of the District’s Citizens Oversight Committee for school bonds and a Board Member with The Pinnacle Fund-the District’s non-profit foundation for the arts and technology. Greg’s biography, his vision for our schools, endorsements and the latest news can all be viewed at www.gregrodriguez.com .Greg will officially launch his campaign for the November 2^nd election on June 15^th. Parents, teachers and community activists will join Greg at Wang’s in the Desert at 5:00 pm for the official kickoff event. More details and RSVPs can be found at www.gregrodriguez.com or by calling 760-902-9882.


 

                             
Date: March 22, 2010                                         Contact: Ellie Kurpiewski

                                                                                        Region 19 Director

For immediate release                                                    (760) 328-9425

                                                                                        Betty McMillion

                                                                                        Chair Riverside County Democratic Party

                                                                                        (951) 769-6636

                                                                                        

                        Area Democrats Pick Favored Local Candidates 
 

Riverside County---The Democratic Party held Pre-Endorsement Caucuses throughout the region Saturday, March 20, 2010, to vote for candidates favored in the coming election. Those candidates receiving 70% or more of the local vote are identified as the highly sought after "Pre-Endorsed Candidate." This endorsement will become official at The Democratic State Party Convention being held in Los Angeles during April.

Assembly Member Manuel Perez, representing the 80th District, received the endorsement of 100% of the Democratic State Central Committee Delegates.  Assembly Member Perez is highly respected by all his constituents based on the outstanding legislative work he has performed for his District since elected to office in 2008.

In addition to the Assembly Member the following candidates were endorsed:

Jose Media, 64th Assembly District,

Carl Wood, 65th Assembly District

Doug Dye, 66th Assembly District

Manuel Perez 80th (Incumbent) Assembly District

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Paul Clay, 36th Congressional District

Mary Salas, 40th Congressional District

Pat Meagher, 41st Congressional District

Bill Hedrick, 44th Congressional District

Steve Pougnet 45th Congressional District

More information can be obtained from Ellie Kurpiewski, or Betty McMillion

Submitted by Brenda & David Knight, Co- Chair, Media Relations, Riverside County Democratic Party

On Monday, September 21, 2009, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) and the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee (RCDCC) joined forces to support Intervenors Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and the Petitioners in the St. John’s v. Schwarzenegger case by filing an amicus brief.  The St. John’s case is seeking to overturn Governor Schwarzenegger’s illegal cuts of $489 million from the 2009-2010 California budget.

The brief describes the great human cost of what the Governor has done in his unwarranted cuts in vital services.  LACDP Chair Eric C. Bauman said “The Los Angeles and Riverside Democratic Parties stand with Senator Steinberg, Speaker Bass, members of the Legislature, local government officials, and non-government organizations in the belief that these illegal reductions put the lives of those most dependant on our government for services at great risk.   It is imperative that the courts take immediate action to enjoin these devastating cuts.”

RCDCC Chair Betty McMillion pointed out that “the Governor is hurting many who the Democratic Party endeavors to protect, such as those who are disabled; gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender; undocumented immigrants, workers, seniors, the medically indigent, prisoners, veterans, students, the homeless, hungry, the disenfranchised and victims of domestic violence.”

McMillion went on to comment that “the joint effort is a great example of two local bodies of the Democratic Party working together to protect those Californians most at risk.”

The amicus brief was assembled and processed by LACDP General Counsel Laurence Zakson, of Reich Adell and Cvitan, with help from RCDCC General Counsel Martin Weiss.

The amicus brief is attached to this press release.  To review, please Click Here.




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Amy L. Wilson September 12, 2009 916-319-2080

Legislation by Assemblyman Manuel Pérez Fares Well with End of Session

(SACRAMENTO) – Members of the Legislature worked late into the night to complete its work by the end of session deadline of midnight on Friday. At the close of session, seven bills authored by Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) had made it through the legislative process and now head to the Governor’s desk.

“Though we still have a lot of work ahead of us, I’m quite pleased,” said Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez. “This is what I came here to do --work on the economic recovery, workforce development, and job creation. These are very serious times, and I’ve focused my efforts on legislation that speaks to the needs and realities of the 80th district.”

AB 3 establishes the Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Initiative for green collar career training, placement, and advancement opportunities within California’s renewable energy sectors. The Initiative is geared to target and involve populations such as at-risk youth, displaced and incumbent workers in transition, and veterans of past or present military service. “Our rural counties are primed for the green economy, yet a shortage of a skilled and trained workforce has been a barrier,” said Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez. “AB 3 will not only help bring economic stability to our rural areas and will also create opportunities for struggling people to gain access to education in order to become competitive candidates in the workforce.”

AB 1079 facilitates the clean up of the New River, which flows through Calexico and up the Imperial Valley farmlands to the Salton Sea and is considered the most polluted river in the United States. The bill initiates the New River Improvement Project and requires the California Mexico Border Relations Council, a state body comprised of six agency secretaries, to develop a strategic plan to guide the implementation with partners on both sides of the border. “Cleaning up the New River is an investment in the Valley’s future,” said Assemblyman Pérez. “The pollution in the New River has taken a serious toll on health and has impeded the economic development of the Imperial Valley. It has been a top priority of mine to rally the necessary stakeholders to address the problem.”

AB 1318 enables the construction of an ultra-clean burning, natural gas power plant to be sited adjacent to a 600 MW wind energy farm in Riverside County. The construction will result in a standby or “peaker” power plant designed to complement wind and solar generation facilities in the area by backstopping energy shortfalls due to changing wind patterns or rapid changes in customer demand. Revenue estimates and economic benefits of the Sentinel facility alone include $900 million in new investment, the creation of 350 union jobs, a $50 million dollar payroll, $2.6 million in new business taxes, $25 million in sales tax, and $6.4 million in annual property taxes. “This facility will benefit the local economy and support regional energy sustainability,” said Assemblymember Pérez. “Not only does it create jobs, but it is also a critical piece for the development of clean and green technologies in our region.”

AB 1404, authored jointly by Assemblyman Pérez with Assemblyman Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), clarifies aspects of the implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act, passed in 2006. The bill limits the percentage of offsets that may be obtained by greenhouse gas emitting industries as they work toward achieving their 2020 greenhouse gas reduction targets. “Limiting offsets spurs the development of clean, green technology and benefits California communities through jobs, economic activity, and improved air quality,” said Assemblyman Pérez.

Earlier this week, two other bills, AB 904 and AB 1435, passed through the Legislature and are now at the Governor’s desk. AB 1435 creates a means for better monitoring the progress of English learners. AB 904 provides a tool to local municipalities to provide capital investment incentives to attract manufacturers of component parts for renewable energy generation to their regions. In late July, the Legislature approved and the Governor signed AB 1555 into law to help the state to compete for billions in federal broadband funding.

Still alive is AB 1009, a technical bill that makes changes to California law necessary for the state and local communities to leverage $2.3 billion in two new federal tax credits through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These bonds focus on two areas – for the development of public infrastructure to promote economic activity and job training and for projects that reduce energy consumption and promote renewable energy resources and green community programs.

“This bill fits squarely in my agenda to ensure that our state maximizes the benefits of the federal stimulus in our communities for local economic development and the green economy,” said Pérez.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Amy L. Wilson , 916-319-2080
July 30, 2009

New Law Will Help State to Leverage Federal Stimulus Funding
Access to $85 million fund opens door to $7.2 billion for broadband in rural areas

(SACRAMENTO) – Legislation that will help the state to compete for billions in federal broadband funding was signed by the Governor yesterday. Authored by Assemblymen V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) and Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar), AB 1555 increases the number of applicants seeking federal funding for broadband infrastructure projects in areas of the state that currently don’t have access to high speed Internet. 

“I’m quite proud that this is the first of my bills to become law,” said Pérez. “This law makes a small change to a definition that results in a big impact, opening the door to funding that rural communities can use for broadband infrastructure projects. High speed Internet makes it possible for communities to access a wide range of resources and services that improve quality of life. At the same time, building the necessary infrastructure brings jobs and local economic development – precisely what we need right now.” 

More than $7 billion in federal stimulus money is now available for infrastructure projects in such areas, yet the funds are distributed through competitive grant programs that require a 20 percent match. The types of providers most likely to initiate projects in remote and rural areas – nonprofit cooperatives and municipalities – are hard pressed to secure that level of match funding. 

The new law expands a definition so that these types of providers are eligible to apply to a state source of funding called the California Advanced Services Fund. The Fund has approximately $85 million available to support broadband projects in rural and un-served communities. By expanding the definition of eligible applicants, these smaller providers can secure the match necessary to make them competitive for federal funds. 

High speed Internet service is a regular feature of life for many, but not for Californians in rural and remote areas. According to a 2008 California Broadband Task Force Report, 1.4 million mostly rural Californians in nearly two thousand communities lack Internet access of any speed. Noted Assemblyman Pérez, “With $7.2 billion in federal stimulus funding available, this is a major opportunity our communities cannot afford to miss.” 

The new law takes effect immediately, so that interested applicants will not miss out on the opportunity to apply for funding during the first round of grant making, currently underway. A fact sheet about the law is included. More information about the broadband funding programs can be found at the following web sites: 

California Advanced Services Fund: 

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Information+for+providing+service/announcingcasf.htm 

Federal Stimulus programs: 

http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/ http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants/ 

For more information, please contact Amy Wilson or Jose Carmona at 916-319-2080.