SEE PAGE 4 for cypress one of best cities to raise family
SEE PAGE 2 FOR nsvrc and nfl to address sexual violence MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 - OCTOBER 5, 2014
cypressnewspress.com
VOLUME 1, NO. 14
Governor signs ban of Confederate flag Rep. Schiff into law calls U.S. by Jennifer schlueter military strikes against ISIL ‘significant’
-Photo by Rockwell Hunter
Because the Confederate states, which favored slavery, promoted the Confederate flag during the Civil War, it is to many a sign of racism rather than Southern pride. When the mother of State Assemblyman
Isador Hall, D-Compton, spotted imitated Confederate money featuring the Confederate flag at the Capitol gift shop in Sacramento, her son decided to introduce bill AB 2444, with which he wants to “fend off the ugly hatred of rac-
ism”. The legislation, which prohibits “state agencies from selling or displaying items bearing the Confederate flag,” according to Al Jazeera, was signed into law Please see page 2
New solid waste and recycling franchise creates big savings for Cypress residents and businesses Monday night the Cypress City Council approved a new solid waste and recycling franchise agreement that will save residents and businesses $15.3 million over the next 10 years. Immediately, following the unanimous vote, Mayor Leroy Mills signed the agreement with representatives from Valley Vista Services on hand. “The City
Council is happy to report this agreement represents expanded services while achieving a 17.8% rate reduction for Cypress residents and an average rate reduction of 33.4% for commercial customers. This means Cypress businesses move from paying the highest trash rates in Orange County to a rate in the lowest third of all cities. Plus, the new rates for
Cypress residents will now be the sixth lowest in the County.” Mayor Mills added, “Valley Vista will meet or exceed our residents’ request for more opportunities to dispose of bulky waste items, household batteries, hazardous waste, sharps, and used motor oil.” Please see page 2
Tuesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a senior Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after the President ordered strikes against ISIL and the Khorasan group in Syria Monday night: “Last night’s airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria represent a significant expansion of the Administration’s efforts to degrade and ultimately defeat this new terrorist ‘state.’ The participation of Arab forces is especially important, not only to put an Arab face on the American led coalition, but also to cement their involvement in the longterm effort required to defeat ISIL. “The attack on the Khorasan group was also significant. On the Intelligence Committee we have long been aware of, and concerned with, the threat posed by this amalgam of core Al Qaeda from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the premier bomb-makers of AQAP, and abundant foreign recruits who can easily travel abroad to carry out attacks against Europe and United States. The Khorasan group and AQAP continue to be the most proximate threat to our nation. “This significant escalation of the military effort makes it all the more imperative for Congress to take up a new authorization to use force. The rationale given by the Administration, that its actions against ISIL can be justified by an authorization passed by Congress in the days after 9/11, is increasingly untenable, and Congress must not abdicate its responsibility. Congress should never have recessed with a war underway – we should take up this issue the moment we return to session.”
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NSVRC teams up with NFL to address sexual violence The National Sexual Violence Resource Center announces a multi-year partnership with the National Football League to address the farreaching impacts of sexual assault and domestic violence. The NFL has pledged financial and in-kind support to the NSVRC for distribution to support state and local sexual assault hotlines. The NFL is also pledging support to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. “We applaud the NFL for taking sexual assault and do-
mestic violence seriously. We look forward to partnering with them and think it is a great model for influential organizations to support the work of sexual assault victim advocacy programs at state and local levels to ensure safety for survivors,” NSVRC Director Karen Baker said. As part of the partnership, the NSVRC will contribute resources that will be distributed to all NFL teams. The collaboration also will create ongoing opportunities to support peo-
CalOptima ranked top medi-cal plan in California CalOptima is California’s top-ranked Medi-Cal health plan, according to the NCQA’s Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2014–2015, released September 18. Serving more than 600,000 low-income residents in Orange County, CalOptima is 1st in the state and 29th nationwide among the 136 Medicaid plans that were ranked. The NCQA rankings are based on standardized, third-party-audited data regarding health care quality and customer satisfaction, as well as NCQA accreditation scores. “CalOptima’s commitment to quality for our members is reflected in the NCQA recognition,” said Mark Refow-
itz, Chairman of the CalOptima Board of Directors. “Our ranking is confirmation that Orange County’s most vulnerable residents are healthier because of CalOptima and our provider partners.” CalOptima CEO Michael Schrader said that the 2014–2015 NCQA rankings of Medicaid plans come at an important time of expanded access to such plans. In Orange County and through CalOptima, nearly 200,000 people have gained health coverage since January 2014, he said. “Our new members can rely on CalOptima and feel confident that the care they receive is among the best in the state,” Schrader said.
ple affected by sexual assault. In August, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell publicly announced the league’s new policies regarding sexual assault and domestic violence. “We clearly must do a better job of addressing [domestic violence and sexual assault] in the NFL. And we will,” Goodell said. “By partnering with experts in the field of sexual assault and domestic violence, the NFL could become leaders in changing the pro sports
culture by promoting equality and relationships that exemplify respect and consent,” said Delilah Rumburg, CEO of NSVRC. Sexual Assault Awareness Month, hosts national events, and works with experts across the U.S. to identify, develop and disseminate information on all aspects of sexual violence prevention and intervention. For information, visit www.nsvrc.org, www.facebook.com/ nsvrc and www.twitter.com/ nsvrc.
California bans Confederate flag Continued from page 1
last Thursday by Governor Jerry Brown. For Hall and others, the flag symbolizes racism, hatred, and is meant to intimidate. In August, the California State Assembly supported the law 66-1 proving to Hall that legislators were “standing together united to fend off the ugly hatred of racism that’s been portrayed and demonstrated through the emblem of the Confederacy.” Republican Tim Donnelly told the Los Angeles Times that because he is a “strict Constitutionalist,” he sees the law interfering with the right to free speech. Al Jazeera reported that “other lawmakers argued that the legislation does not violate free-speech rights because it only applies to formal actions of government officials and agencies. Moreover, the law allows for the
flag to be used for historical or educational purposes and does not apply to people on state property.” John Mc Worther of the Daily Beast believes that there are more important steps to take against racism than banning the Confederate flag, for example, addressing the issue of police brutality against African-Americans: “When we talk about ’fending off’ racism, we need to fend off the kind of thing that happened to people like Michael Brown, John Crawford, Eric Garner, and Ezell Ford all within the past month’s time. Make an America where this sort of thing isn’t routine, and maybe then we can get to worrying our heads over flags. And yet, even then, I highly suspect most of us wouldn’t really even feel the need to bother.”
New solid waste and recycling franchise Continued from page 1
The agreement calls for expanded residential services to include weekly recycling and green waste collection to meet the State’s waste diversion mandates. Cypress residents will also benefit from additional services and support from Valley Vista including graffiti removal, an abandoned bulky item pick up program for targeted neighborhoods,
and a commercial organics collection program. The new lower rates take effect July 1, 2015 when Valley Vista begins work as Cypress’ new trash hauler. Information about Valley Vista services and the transition plan will be available to residents and businesses in early 2015. For more information, contact June Liu at jliu@ci.cypress. ca.us, or (714) 229-6686.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 - OCTOBER 5, 2014 | 3
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theft, consumers should report it to the Federal Trade Commission at 877-ID-THEFT (4384338). -Verify the Agency – If consumers agree to pay the delinquent debt, they should verify the collector is valid and reputable before submitting payment. They are also advised to monitor credit reports and bank accounts to ensure the collection agency debits the agreed-upon dollar amount and applies the payment correctly. Consumers who are dealing with multiple collectors or are struggling to repay their debts may benefit from working with a nonprofit credit counseling organization like
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Governor Brown signs Cypress named one of ten sister state agreement with best cities to raise a family China’s Guangdong Province The City of Cypress has re- The following is a full listing Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. last week signed an agreement to establish a sister state/province relationship between California and the Guangdong Province of China and pledged to strengthen ties with the province on trade, technological innovation, clean energy, low carbon development, education and tourism. Last year – during the Governor’s Trade and Investment Mission to China – Governor Brown visited Guangdong’s capital city of Guangzhou, where he committed to forge a stronger relationship with China’s most populous and economically productive province. The agreement builds on more than a year and a half of significant diplomatic and busi-
ness exchanges between California and China, including a climate change agreement with China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the Trade and Investment Mission to China, the opening of the California-China Office of Trade and Investment in Shanghai and a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping. Partnership on climate change was one of many subjects the Governor discussed with President Xi and a key component of the trade mission, which included a first-of-its-kind agreement with China’s Minister of Environmental Protection, a meeting with officials from the National Development and Reform Commission and remarks on climate change at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
- Courtesy Photo
cently been named one of the ten best cities to raise a family in Southern California by CreditDonkey, an online financial advice website. The study included those cities with populations of 25,000 or and more and were ranked on five factors: education, commute time, household type, residency, and housing costs. Cypress ranked Number 8 and was highlighted for having a “safe and welcoming environment for families.” Residents tend to live in their homes longer, with 89.4% still living in the same home from a year ago. One of these reasons may be the “wealth of job opportunities that continues to attract new residents.”
of the City’s rankings: -High School Graduate or Higher: 91.9% -Commute Time: 28.5 minutes -Households With Children Under 18: 35.4% -Residing in Same Home: 89.4% -Income Spent on Housing: 25.6% Mayor Leroy Mills responded that “Cypress has been described as a ‘sleepy little town’ that just goes about excelling day in and day out. We stand ready to welcome all newcomers--businesses and residents alike.” The full article can be read at http://www.creditdonkey.com/ family-southerncalifornia.html
Gun violence prevention law Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has signed into law a bill reinstating a pilot program authorizing specified City Attorneys, including Los Angeles, to evict tenants who unlawfully possess or sell illegal firearms or ammunition on the premises. The pilot program sunset on January 1, 2014. “This law provides my Office with an important tool that will help keep communities safe from illegal guns,” said City Attorney Feuer. “We have effectively used this approach in the past and expect to employ in our future work to prevent gun violence.” “Neighborhood safety is a top priority for every community in California,” said Assembly Member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. “Residents cannot be safe in their homes and apartments when persons possess illegal weapons or engage in unlawful firearms and ammunition sales from their rented units. I applaud Governor Jerry Brown for signing AB 2310 into law to provide city attorneys and landlords with an effective tool to evict tenants who possess illegal weapons or sell guns and ammunition from the homes or apart-
ments they rent. This effort has been particularly successful in Los Angeles due to the diligent neighborhood safety efforts advanced by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer. Illegal weapons and unlawful weapons dealings have no place in our neighborhoods.” AB 2310 authorizes the City Attorney to notify the property owner of a weapon or ammunition related crime committed on the premises by the tenant and requires the property owner to evict that tenant. The City Attorney also notifies the tenant of the City’s ability to begin the eviction process. If the property owner fears for his/her safety, the bill authorizes the City Attorney to bring an unlawful detainer action on the owner’s behalf, helping shield landlords from retaliatory threats or violent reprisals. From 2010-2013 the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office sent out 85 notification letters pursuant to the pilot program. More than 30% of the tenants vacated their units following receipt of those notices. Property owners filed cases in approximately 25% of the remaining matters.