Bill to Assist Small Businesses Have Access to Working Capital Passes

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Created on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 08:27

(Sacramento)--  Today Assembly Bill 780, authored by Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra (D – Pacoima), passed out of the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee on a unanimous vote.

“This bill is a small step towards ensuring that California’s small businesses will have access to much needed working capital” said Assemblymember Bocanegra.  “AB 780 provides for a small investment of two million dollars into the state’s network of Small Business Financial Development Corporations (FDC’s).  The 11 FDC’s, strategically located around the state are the regional vehicles for the State’s Small Business Loan Guarantee Program.”

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Assemblymember Bocanegra Comes Home to Get Sworn-In to Office

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Created on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 15:10

(Los Angeles) - California State Assemblymember Raul Boncanegra (D-Pacoima) was sworn in at the State Capitol with all the pomp and circumstance.  However, Assemblymember Boncanegra thought it was important to have a second swearing-in, with the community that believed in him and voted him in to office.  After taking the oath of office among friends and neighbors, Assemblymember Bocanegra got a little choked up while reminding the crowd, "The son of a gardener is now your State Assemblymember."  Learn more about this special and heart-felt ceremony in the 39th Assembly District, in this Assembly Access Video.

Biography

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Created on Wednesday, 05 December 2012 15:22

Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) was elected to the State Assembly in November 2012 to represent California’s 39th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Pacoima, San Fernando, Arleta, Mission Hills, Sylmar, North Hollywood, Lake View Terrace, Los Angeles, Northeast Granada Hills, Sunland-Tujunga, and Sun Valley.

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Bocanegra attended local public schools before earning an Undergraduate and later a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from UCLA.  Shortly after college, his career in public service to the families of Northeast San Fernando Valley began.

As a freshman Assemblymember, Bocanegra was named to chair the influential Revenue and Taxation Committee, which oversees issues relating to taxes, fees and revenue generation for the State of California. 

While serving as a senior aide to former Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla, Bocanegra helped implement numerous successful projects and initiatives resulting in new job creation in the Valley. Raul spearheaded the creation of the San Fernando Valley Financial Development Corporation and the Pacoima Development Federal Credit Union, which have helped to generate more than $100 million in investment in the San Fernando Valley.  He also led the effort to redevelop the Price Pfister property into Plaza Pacoima, a LEED gold certified project, which has helped to generate hundreds of good-paying jobs in the heart of the Valley.    While serving as a Chief of Staff in the State Assembly, he helped to lead the effort to extend the State’s landmark Film and Television Tax Credit bill, for an additional 3 years and $300 million.  This program has helped to generate $3.9 billion in economic activity so far. 

Bocanegra has also been a leader in local efforts to build safer livable communities for families and seniors, playing a key role in securing affordable housing for working families and seniors across the Valley. He helped develop neighborhood public safety programs including dozens of “block clubs,” and fought for streetlight and traffic safety improvements. Raul also spearheaded the creation of a Neighborhood City Hall in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

As a former college instructor at Cal State Long Beach and more recently Cal State Northridge, Raul has worked to ensure that students are prepared for their futures and provided children with new educational opportunities.  At CSUN, he was a leader at the school’s nationally renowned Urban Studies and Planning Department, teaching hundreds of students.