Recent News in the 7th District

The Assembly approved four bills Monday by Assemblyman Michael Allen, D-Santa Rosa, sending the measures to the state Senate for further consideration.

The items include:

* AB 1739, which allows California veterans' home administrators to authorize allied councils to operate activities for veterans like a hobby shop, movie theater, library, band, and to pay for things like newspapers, entertainment, sports activities and celebrations.

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(Sacramento) -- It may shock some parents to discover that restaurant playgrounds can be a breeding ground for many dangerous bacteria and other illness-causing micro-organisms. In an attempt to make restaurant playgrounds safer for children, California State Assemblymember Michael Allen (D-Sonoma County) has authored Assembly Bill 1513. If passed, AB 1513 would require restaurants to keep playground cleanliness to the same sanitary standards the state requires for eating areas. Learn more in this Assembly Access video.

Company says it will take up to 80 percent of trees for 39 miles

The gloves have come off. After months of meetings and vague promises to “discuss” tree removal, PG&E told Oakmont and Bennett Valley residents on May 7 that it intends to clear cut the entire 39-mile-long, high voltage line that stretches from Petaluma to the Geysers. Steve Tankersley, head of the statewide vegetation management program told people at the meeting that the company intends to remove up to 4,000 trees between May 15 and June 15, and to finish the entire job by December.

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Sacramento – The State Assembly voted 42-22 today to approve AB 1513, legislation by Assemblymember Michael Allen (D- Sonoma County) to make restaurant playground areas safer for California children. Approval by the Assembly means AB 1513 next heads to the State Senate for further consideration.

A group called Kids Play Safe (KPS) was founded by two mothers, one a child development professor and the other a microbiologist, to raise awareness of the potential health and safety risks that such play areas pose to children. The pair has visited dozens of restaurants with playgrounds in 11 states, including California, to test them for cleanliness. Their visits and the results from lab analyses of samples they collected have revealed the widespread presence of many pathogens, from coliform (fecal) bacteria to staphylococcus, at levels indicating that the playgrounds are not disinfected as frequently as necessary.

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Sacramento – The State Assembly approved four bills today by Assemblymember Michael Allen (D – Sonoma County), sending the measures to the State Senate for further consideration.

Three items were approved through the Assembly's consent calendar:

• AB 1739 allows the administrator of a California veterans' home to enter into agreement with the veterans' home allied council to authorize the council to operate "Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund" activities such as a hobby shop, movie theater, library, band, and to pay for such things as newspapers, entertainment, sports activities, celebrations and other activities for the morale, welfare and recreation of the veterans;

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The state government’s financial outlook worsened Monday, as Gov. Jerry Brown laid out his plan to close a $16 billion budget gap with the May revision of his budget proposal.

The plan includes $8 billion in cuts to caregivers for the elderly and disabled; cuts to the state’s Medi-Cal program, which helps the poor; one-time cuts to the state’s courts systems; shifting some state workers’ schedules to four-day weeks; and preserving cuts that Brown previously proposed to funding for welfare and child care.

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Fast-food restaurants in California could face new sanitation and safety requirements for the playgrounds they install to attract children.

The Assembly on Monday approved a bill that would expand food safety laws to cover the indoor and outdoor playgrounds.

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SACRAMENTO — The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria's plans to build one of California's largest casinos just outside Rohnert Park moved to the verge of fruition Thursday when the state Assembly approved a gambling agreement allowing work to start on the project.

On a 64-3 vote the Assembly ratified the agreement, called a compact, without discussion. That sends it on the federal government for final approval.

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The Legislature recently held informational hearings on the proposed tribal gaming compact between the state and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. If the compact is approved by the Legislature, the governor and the federal government, it would authorize a large, Las Vegas-sized casino and hotel complex with 3,000 slot machines.

After listening carefully to the hearings, reading the compact and engaging in lengthy discussions with members of our community on both sides of this issue, I have decided to oppose this proposed project.

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The state Assembly has approved a bill by Assemblyman Michael Allen, D-Santa Rosa, that would give up to $250 to farmers who seek to get their crops certified as organic.

The measure would use industry and private sources to fund the program, similar to a federal program that allocates up to $750 to farmers who are going organic.

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