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Clock is ticking: Government shutdown could impact housing

We are now a week into the federal government shutdown and things remain the same. Vital programs and services remain shuttered, impacting everyday people across the country.

With most of our federally mandated programs “excepted,” Los Angeles County’s operations remain virtually unhindered by the shutdown, but the clock is ticking on several key programs.

If the shutdown continues into November, the County’s food stamps and Calworks (welfare) programs will expire, and we will need to find other resources to continue providing these essential public assistance programs.

Also, two of the County’s public housing programs will be impacted. The Community Development Commission, which receives federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be unable to maintain the housing choice voucher program, better known as Section 8, unless a congressional resolution is passed. The Public Housing Program will also no longer be able to distribute funds, and currently only has four months of reserves available to tap into if the shutdown continues. Families, no longer able to make ends meet, will be forced out of their homes into shelters or the streets.

The government shutdown is already hurting this country with furloughs and cuts to services. In just over three weeks, without a resolution, people will lose the programs necessary to their livelihood. The dysfunction in Washington will cost them their sources of food, shelter and income.

Government shutdown not impacting L.A. County…yet

As you know, at the stroke of midnight last night, the federal government shutdown due to the inability of Congress to work together. This government shutdown will have ripple effects throughout the nation, impacting programs and services like National Parks, veteran pensions, coast guard patrols, and passport services.

Fortunately however, the shutdown is not expected to significantly hurt Los Angeles County’s operations. A big reason why is because Medicaid, which accounts for over half of the County’s federal revenue, is a mandatory program, and is thus excluded from the shutdown.

However, two programs offered by Los Angeles County to residents in need, food stamps and CalWorks, could become tied up in the congressional mess. If these programs do not receive an extension by the end of the month, both will expire and the County, the ultimate safety net, will need to find other resources to continue providing these essential public assistance programs.

If Congress can’t come together and reach an agreement soon, this shutdown is not only going to impact “non-essential” services. It will hurt everyday people, like our military veterans, who rely on federal assistance programs that are necessary for their livelihoods.  We need long-term vision and a thoughtful plan, not shutdowns and more last-minute, crisis debates, which do nothing but make the American people even more frustrated with their government.

Baby Girl Safely Surrendered at Lancaster Hospital

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the seventh time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl. This most recent safe surrender occurred on September 30, 2013 at a hospital in Lancaster.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Last week, we launched a new Safe Surrender outreach campaign with a message to desperate mothers that ‘there is a better choice,’” said Supervisor Knabe. “This mother made the better choice by safely surrendering her baby at a hospital, and now her child has a chance to be part of a loving family.  As word continues to spread about the Program, other moms in similar situations can make the right choice for their babies and themselves, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the seventh Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2013, and the 110th since the program began over twelve years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

The new Safe Surrender campaign expands the program’s outreach to communities across Los Angeles County by launching in multiple languages and relying on a mix of traditional and grassroots awareness efforts. The campaign includes billboards, posters, bumper stickers, brochures and a redesigned website.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit BabySafeLA.org.

L.A. County Launches New Baby Safe Surrender Outreach Campaign

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe celebrated the success of the County’s Baby Safe Surrender program yesterday with an event highlighting the launch of a new awareness campaign and a birthday celebration for Nicholas, a former Safe Surrender baby. The new Baby Safe Surrender campaign will expand the program’s outreach to communities across Los Angeles County by launching in multiple languages, collaborating with community-based organizations and relying on a mix of traditional and grassroots awareness efforts. The campaign includes billboards, posters, bumper stickers, brochures and a redesigned website.

“A unique aspect of this Safe Surrender outreach campaign will be our partnerships with community-based organizations throughout the County,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We are really reaching out to influential members of the community—promotoras, church leaders, and local health providers—to help us spread the word that there is a better choice: No shame. No blame. No names.”

For more information about the Baby Safe Surrender program, visit BabySafeLA.org

L.A. County Launching New Baby Safe Surrender Outreach Campaign

What:

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will highlight the success of the County’s Baby Safe Surrender program with the launch of a new awareness campaign and the celebration of a former Safe Surrender baby’s 4th birthday. The new Baby Safe Surrender campaign will expand the program’s outreach to communities across Los Angeles County by launching in multiple languages, collaborating with community-based organizations and relying on a mix of traditional and grassroots awareness efforts.

Why:

The recent discovery of an abandoned baby boy in South El Monte, and the Safe Surrender of a newborn girl a few days later, is a reminder that more work must be done to spread the word about Baby Safe Surrender. The Baby Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands—No shame, No blame, No names. Nicholas’ 4th birthday is a reminder of the 109 precious lives saved by the Baby Safe Surrender program. It is a celebration of all the children who were given a second chance at life by mothers who made the right choice for their baby and for themselves.

Who:

Elected Officials and community leaders speaking at the event and available for interviews:

  • Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe
  • Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby
  • Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Director Dr. Mitchell Katz
  • First 5 LA Director of Public Affairs Francisco Oaxaca

Additional attendees available for interviews:

  • Nicholas’ family
  • Adoptive families of safely surrendered children
  • Deane Tilton, Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect

When:

Thursday September 26, 2013 at 3:00pm

Where:

Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street, 90012 | Across from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels
Parking for media available in front of building.

Visuals:

  • Nicholas blowing out his birthday candles and celebrating his birthday with other surrendered children, their families and Supervisor Knabe.
  • Community leaders speaking and attending the event.
  • Fire truck and firefighters onsite.
  • Kids interacting with firefighters and getting to try on gear.
  • Balloons, cake, balloon artist, etc.
  • Large visuals of the new campaign unveiled.
  • Attendees looking at the new website on laptops.

Background:

Established by Supervisor Knabe in 2001, the Baby Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially hand over an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room or fire station in Los Angeles County. As long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender the baby without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment. Since the program began, 109 babies have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County, including six this year.

Newborn Baby Boy Safely Surrendered at Van Nuys Hospital

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the sixth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent safe surrender occurred on September 17, 2013 at a hospital in Van Nuys.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

This latest Safe Surrender comes as Los Angeles County prepares to launch a new public awareness campaign for the Safe Surrender program next week.

“Our new campaign will expand the program’s outreach to the communities of Los Angeles County by launching in multiple languages, collaborating with community-based organizations and relying on a mix of traditional and grassroots awareness efforts,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Recent events such as the discovery of abandoned baby in South El Monte and the subsequent Safe Surrenders of two newborns are a reminder to us that we have much more work to do to spread the word about the program. The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands—No shame, No blame, No names.”

This is the sixth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2013, and the 109th since the program began over twelve years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.

Statement on Closure of Boeing C-17 Facility in Long Beach

After celebrating the delivery of the United States Air Force’s last C-17 with thousands of local Boeing employees just last week, I am absolutely stunned and devastated to learn that the production facility will shut down in 2015 following the completion of the final C-17 Globemaster III.

Shuttering the C-17 program is a direct result of sequestration and the federal government’s inability to compromise on a balanced budget. Our leaders at the national level do not witness first-hand the direct effects their dysfunction creates. During a time when we are still putting men and women in harm’s way in the name of national security, these sequestration cuts have seriously limited our ability to protect ourselves domestically and abroad. The C-17 is a vital aircraft, having supported every major natural disaster around the globe during the last two decades and providing the versatility to complete any mission, anywhere: preserving peace, saving lives and delivering hope.

The C-17 program has been synonymous with Long Beach for years, and has been an economic stimulus for Los Angeles County, employing thousands of workers. With a local economy that remains sluggish and the unemployment rate stagnant at 9.2%, now is not the time for Boeing and the federal government to pull the rug out from underneath us and put more people out of work. The closure of Boeing’s Long Beach plant means local jobs will be lost and our region’s economic recovery will take yet another significant blow.  But the impact of the closure extends far beyond Los Angeles County.  It will also have serious consequences nationally, costing jobs within the more than 650 businesses across the country that support the C-17 program.

I am outraged by today’s news, but I will continue to lobby our national leaders in Washington, D.C. who must understand the national economic impacts and global threats of not investing in major programs like the C-17.

Concerns with a three-year prison extension

Yesterday, Governor Jerry Brown’s administration asked a federal court panel to grant a three-year extension to cut its inmate population by nearly 8500 inmates.  Since 2011, through AB 109, the state has been making reductions to its prison population by moving inmates to local jurisdictions.

I support Governor Brown’s request to a federal court panel for a three-year extension for the state to cut its inmate population.  In the absence of a well-considered plan, the only options become releasing inmates early or dumping them on already resource-stretched counties.  Neither option is in the interest of public safety.

While it is my hope that the federal panel sees the efforts of the state, regardless of its decision, the Governor and Legislature must work with counties to ensure we have the funding and resources needed to handle any additional responsibilities we are given to ensure public safety.  Whether the Panel grants the extension or not, the County will be impacted and we must be ready for either contingency.

108th Newborn Safely Surrendered in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fifth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl. This most recent safe surrender occurred on September 6, 2013 at a hospital in Los Angeles.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“After last week’s horrific discovery of an abandoned, deceased baby, I’m extremely thankful that this mother, despite her desperate situation, decided to surrender her baby, and give her a second chance at life,” said Supervisor Knabe. “As we prepare to launch a campaign refresh of our Safe Surrender materials later this month, and word continues to spread about the Program, other moms in similar situations can make the right choice for their babies and themselves, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the fifth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2013, and the 108th since the program began over twelve years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.

Knabe Statement on Abandoned Newborn Found in South El Monte

Following yesterday’s discovery of an abandoned, deceased newborn in South El Monte, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is reminding residents about the County’s Safe Surrender program.

“Appalling tragedies like what occurred in the South El Monte yesterday are stark reminders to mothers in desperate situations that there is always a choice for their baby,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Sadly, the first newborn abandonment of 2013 comes at a time when we are preparing to launch a campaign refresh of our Safe Surrender materials. The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and  to protect a baby from abandonment: No shame, No blame, and No names. Though 107 lives have been saved by the Safe Surrender program, yesterday’s disheartening news is proof that we have much more work to do.”

Established by Supervisor Knabe in 2001, the Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room or fire station in Los Angeles County. As long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender the baby without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment.

Since the program began, 107 babies have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County, including four this year. The multilingual Safe Surrender Hotline, 1-877-BABY-SAFE, is available 24-hours a day for more information and the location of the nearest Safe Surrender site. Safe Surrender sites can also be found by calling the County helpline at 211 or by visiting www.babysafela.org.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender program, visit http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.