Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 14, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
1 in 10 California workers is an illegal immigrant, study suggests by Jennifer schlueter
VOLUME 1, NO. 19
High school scholarship applications open Port supports students pursuing higher education
Immigrant march -Photo by Erika Paz
Last Wednesday, the Pew Research Center released a nationwide study on immigrants. A simultaneously published report by the University of Southern California (USC) on the same subject focused solely on California. USC and the California Immigrant Policy Center joined forces and based their
study on data from the census, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor. Their research explored “a variety of ways the estimated 2.6 million immigrants living in California without permission participate in state life,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Co-director of USC’s Center for the Study of Immi-
grant Integration and USC sociology professor Manuel Pastor describes the illegally working immigrants’ integration into California’s workforce: “It’s a population deeply embedded in the labor market, neighborhoods and social fabric of the state.” The study found that Please see page 4
First death in Long Beach from West Nile Virus in 2014 Dr. Mitchell Kushner, Public Health Officer for the City of Long Beach, today announced the first death this year due to complications associated with West Nile Virus (WNV). The resident, who was in his mid-70s and lived in east Long Beach, was hospitalized in August. In 2014 to date, nine human cases have been reported to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services;
seven cases were reported in all of 2013. One death was reported in Long Beach in 2013; prior to that the most recent death occurred in 2004. In the State of California, 181 human cases have been reported so far this year, a significant increase from 101 human cases reported at this same time last year. “The death of a Long Beach resident due to West Nile Virus is a sad and sobering reminder of the risk posed by mosquito bites,”
Dr. Kushner said. “We need to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and minimize risk of WNV infection especially at this time of the year when the risk of infection is at its highest.” West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. For most people, the risk of serious illness is low. However, some individuals Please see page 2
For many high school seniors, the thought of college can be financially intimidating. That’s why the Port of Long Beach is committed to supporting students by providing scholarships to those pursuing careers in international trade, goods movement or other portrelated industries. Scholarship applications will be available for high school seniors starting Tuesday, Sept. 2 through Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. The scholarship awards range from $1000 to $8000, which will be disbursed over four years of college. “We are dedicated to supporting our community’s youth. By investing in them now we can assure that we continue to have the best and the brightest leading the Port and international trade industry for generations to come,” said Commissioner Lou Anne Bynum, a champion for higher education in Long Beach and the surrounding areas. To download the application or for more information, visit our website atwww.polb. com/scholarships. Education has long been a top priority at the Port of Long Beach. Since 1993, the Port has awarded nearly $550,000 in scholarships to local students. Winners will be notified in the spring of 2015 and invited to attend the Port’s “Celebrating Education” event during World Trade Month in May.
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Back to school begins with a visit to your health provider - Get vaccinated against pertussis With school starting, it is a perfect time to update your children’s immunizations. This year, it is especially important for students to be up to date with their pertussis, or “whooping cough” vaccinations as cases continue to increase throughout California. “So far this year we’ve identified 157 cases of pertussis in Long Beach, with school-aged children most affected,” said City Health Officer, Dr. Mitchell Kushner. “This is the highest number of cases that the Long Beach Health Department has ever experienced.” Pertussis, or “whooping cough”, is a respiratory illness that starts with cold-like symptoms (runny nose, watery eyes), but then leads to a severe and long lasting cough, which often comes in spasms. Persons with pertussis can spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, and, if left untreated, can cause serious illness in infants, children, and adults. The pertussis vaccine usually protects against infection, but sometimes even immunized children can get pertussis. Because immunity wears off over
time, booster doses are needed throughout life. In California, children entering the 7th grade are required to have Tdap before returning to school. Pertussis boosters are also recommended for adults, especially pregnant women in their third trimester of each pregnancy. For a schedule of recommended immunizations from birth through adulthood, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules. Residents are encouraged to contact their regular healthcare provider for vaccines. Many insurance plans will cover immunizations at no cost to the patient. Those without health insurance or immunization coverage can call the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services Immunization Clinic at 562.570.4316 or Los Angeles County’s Information Line at 2-1-1 for information on low cost vaccinations. Additional information on pertussis, vaccines, and other services provided by the Health Department is available atwww.longbeach.gov/health. Remember, prevention is key in preparing your children for a successful school year.
Beheading of second American journalist by ISIL condemned Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in response to reports of the killing of American journalist Steven Sotloff by ISIL: “Reports of ISIL beheading a second American journalist, Steven Sotloff, are another gruesome reminder of the evil that now controls a large swath of Iraq
and Syria. All of America sends its heartfelt condolences to the Sotloff family, who have been living with this nightmare for a year and only wished for their son to be returned home unharmed. ISIL must be confronted and destroyed. And I am confident that no matter how long it takes, those who murdered Steven Sotloff and James Foley, and so many others, will be made to face justice.”
First death from West Nile Virus Continued from page 1
less than 1 percent - can develop a serious neurologic illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis. People 50 years of age or older and people with diabetes, high blood pressure and/or other underlying medical conditions have the greatest risk of developing serious complications. The Long Beach Health Department is reaching out specifically to this population with targeted outreach efforts to prevent West Nile disease. To reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile Virus, Dr. Kushner is advising residents to take the following precautions: -Avoid mosquito-infested areas especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. -Mosquitoes can breed in standing water. Eliminate standing water on your property by dumping or draining water in neglected ponds, birdbaths, fountains, buckets, old tires or anything that can hold water. Dumping or draining water will interrupt the mosquito life cycle. -Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if you plan to be outdoors at dawn or dusk. -Use mosquito repellant containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Residents should follow instructions on the label. Consult with your child’s pediatrician for appropriate concentrations of DEET to be used on children under the age of 2. -Keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes
and check to make sure your window screens are in good condition. -Clean and maintain swimming pools and drain water from pool covers. -Limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants to twice a week to avoid run off to gutters and around sprinklers. -Report dead birds and dead tree squirrels to the California Department of Health Services by calling 1-877-WNV-BIRD or online at www.westnile.ca.gov. The Long Beach Health Department continues active surveillance for mosquito populations and works to control mosquito populations in known public breeding locations such as the ponds, wetlands and flood channels. Residents can do their part by eliminating standing water in and around their property and reporting breeding sources to the Health Department at the number below. For further information, contact the City of Long Beach DHHS, Vector Control Program at 562.570.4132, at www.longbeach.gov/health/wnv_info or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/ LBDHHS. Further information about the WNV may be obtained at the State of California Department of Health Services website at www. westnile.ca.gov, or at the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc. gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile.
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Vergara v. California ruling; state officials appeal Judge Treu’s final ruling on tenure in California schools By terry miller Last week, California Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown appealed a recent state judge’s ruling that ends tenure and other union protections for public school teachers. The appeal, filed Friday, contends that Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Rulf Treu’s final decree lacks detail and fails to provide the legal basis for his verdict. Treu issued the final ruling Thursday, after directing in June that tenure protections for California teachers violate the state constitution, depriving some of the state’s 6.2 million students of a quality education, specifically minorities and those from low-income families. The lawsuit, Vergara v. California, was brought by Beatriz Vergara and eight other students claimed incompetent teachers let classrooms get out of control, came to school unprepared and demeaned and humiliated students. State Superintendent of schools Tom Torlakson issued a press release last week on Vergara Lawsuit and said… ‘’No teacher is perfect. A very few are not worthy of the job.” He added, “The people who dedicate their lives to the teaching profession deserve our admiration and support. Instead, this ruling lays the failings of our education system at their feet. “We do not fault doctors when the emergency room is full. We do not criticize the firefighter whose supply of water runs dry. Yet while we crowd our classrooms and fail to properly equip them with adequate resources, those who filed and support this case shamelessly seek to blame teachers who step forward every day to make a difference
for our children. “No teacher is perfect. A very few are not worthy of the job. School districts have always had the power to dismiss those who do not measure up, and this year I helped pass a new law that streamlined the dismissal process, while protecting the rights of both teachers and students. It is disappointing that the Court refused to even consider this important reform. “In a cruel irony, this final ruling comes as many California teachers spend count-
less unpaid hours preparing to start the new school year in hopes of better serving the very students this case purportedly seeks to help. “While the statutes in this case are not under my jurisdiction as state Superintendent, it is clear that the Court’s ruling is not supported by the facts or the law. Its vagueness provides no guidance about how the Legislature could successfully alter the challenged statutes to satisfy the Court. Accordingly, I will ask the Attorney General to seek appellate review.”
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County Of Los Angeles Holden truancy bill heads to Governor Public Library: 35th The California Legislature lower any burden on schools, Annual Bookmark Contest has given final approval to As- and keep the information local semblymember Chris Hold- where it is needed the most.” “Dream in Color! en’s legislation to collect more If enacted, School Attencomplete records on absences dance Review Boards will have and intervention strategies to to report important information Sueña en Color!” help identify the effectiveness like the number of students re-
Visit your local County of Los Angeles Public Library and enter your original bookmark design, in color, to participate in our 35th Annual Bookmark Contest. Entries will be accepted between September 2 and October 11, 2014. Our theme this year is “Dream in Color! ♦ Sueña en Color!” This contest is a special program for children and their families and highlights the wonder and importance of books and reading. The challenge for parents, educators and librarians is to introduce children to great reads and nurture their love of reading and the library. Children can take part in the 35th Annual Bookmark Contest at Live Oak Public Library where entry forms are available. Children can enter their designs in these groups; Kindergarten through 2nd Grade; 3rd through 5th Grade; 6th through 8th Grade; and 9th through 12 Grade. Winners at each library will be announced on Saturday, November 8, 2014. All library winners will compete in the county wide contest. The Board of Supervisors will select their winners to represent their districts. These
winners will be announced in February 2015, and their bookmarks will be published on our webpage; www.colapublib.org/ children. Pentel Arts will print the winning bookmarks, which will be available at County Libraries during National Library Week, April 12—18, 2015. Children can enter their design at Live Oak Public Library at 4153-55 East Live Oak Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006. Please call Live Oak Public Library, (626) 446-8803, or stop by and visit for more information. This library is part of the County of Los Angeles Public Library. About The County of Los Angeles Public Library The County of Los Angeles Public Library is one of the largest library jurisdictions in the country. With 85 community libraries, three bookmobiles and four resource centers, the Public Library serves a population of 3.4 million extending over 3,000 square miles. The Library gives you the freedom to CONNECT, EXPLORE, CREATE ~ whatever your needs or DREAMS. For additional information about the County of Los Angeles Public Library system, please visit www.colapublib.org.
of school truancy programs. AB 1672 is part of a package of measures sponsored by the Attorney General to address chronic truancy and now goes to Governor Brown for signature. “With this slate of bills we are not putting more students in the juvenile justice system, but inviting the community to intervene before students end up in the penal system, which is why I am happy to be a part of this effort,” said Assemblymember Holden. “The bill has been amended to lower costs,
ferred to them, how that student’s issues are addressed and whether that student is doing better. It also requires that information to be disaggregated by subgroups like race, gender, low income status and English language learner status. AB 1672, which passed the Senate Wednesday, had already passed the Assembly earlier in the session, but returned to the Assembly for approval of Senate amendments. The Assembly vote was 55 to 14.
Illegal immigrant workers Continued from page 1
this population of illegal immigrant workers makes up almost 10% of California’s laborers. The LA Times reports that, according to the research, “immigrants who are in California illegally make up 38% of the agriculture industry and 14% of the construction industry statewide.” Thus, it is no surprise that illegally working immigrants in California account for $130 billion of the state’s gross domestic product per year. However, despite these profits, proponents of immigration laws want to see a stricter enforcement of them. Steven Camarot, of the Center for Immigration Studies, told the LA Times that “a bigger economy doesn’t mean the people are richer.” Apparently, the GDP earnings do not cover schools and other government services accessed by illegal immigrants. Reshma Shamasunder, executive director of the California Immigrant Policy Center, disagrees, according to a press release: “Every one of California’s immigrants helps shape
our state’s economic and civic vitality, but the daily threat of deportation casts a shadow over California’s undocumented residents—and their loved ones and communities.” She asks President Obama to limit deportations and “honor these contributions and advance economic prosperity.” Narrowing data down to the greater Los Angeles area, the study found that 1 out of 4 immigrants resides in here without permission. These illegal immigrants account for $57 billion of the area’s annual GDP. The USC as well as the Pew study both came to the conclusion that most illegal immigrants in California as well as nationwide have been in the U.S. for more than 10 years, ¾ live in households with U.S. citizens, and about four million have U.S.-born children, who are thus U.S. citizens. The Pew Research Center estimated that the same number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2009 and 2013: 11.3 million.