Jobs and the Economy

Knabe Seeks To Create Thousands Of Local Jobs

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, is seeking to create as many as 10,000 temporary jobs in Los Angeles County thanks to funding available in the Federal Stimulus Package. Knabe introduced legislation this week that would utilize over $100 million in federal funding to create subsidized employment opportunities in County departments, private sector employers, non-profit organizations, and in cities across Los Angeles County.

There is a limited timeframe when this federal funding is available, so we have no time to waste to make sure our unemployed residents can benefit from the thousands of jobs we can create right here in Los Angeles County, said Supervisor Knabe. Our local unemployment rate is hovering around 10-percent and we have a major opportunity to help our residents by creating immediate jobs thanks to this funding.

The goal of the motion is to place 10,000 unemployed local workers in financially subsidized positions from May 2009 through March 2010. The funding would come from the federal Emergency Temporary Aid for Needy Families Contingency Fund and would provide a minimum of $100 million to the County to create temporary jobs. The federal portion of the funding provides 80-percent of the subsidy, and the County would have to provide a 20-percent share.

Subsidized employment is one of the major priorities of this fund, and we intend to take full advantage of the significant network we have in place to provide training and employment to ensure this funding gets out the door and put towards jobs, said Knabe. We cannot do this alone – we will be engaging both our County Workforce Investment Board, as well as the other eight Workforce Investment Boards across the County to help us employ these folks.

Under Knabe’s motion, the County’s Chief Executive Officer will determine the feasibility of creating and coordinating employment opportunities that are possible through the available federal funding.

County Announces Contract Extension Agreement With Union Partners

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced a major agreement today regarding recent negotiations with the public safety unions representing over 17,000 County employees. Under the agreement, all six of the County’s public safety bargaining units, plus two other justice-related unions, have agreed to a one-year, no change extension of their current contracts. The extensions include no cost-of-living increases or salary increases for the next year.

The eight unions that agreed to the extension are Firefighters (Local 1014), Supervisory Firefighters (Local 1014), Peace Officers (ALADS), Beach Lifeguards (LACOLA), Supervising Beach Lifeguards (LACOLA), Supervisory Peace Officers (PPOA), plus Deputy Probation Officers (AFSCME, Local 685), and Public Defender Investigators (Peace Officers Counsel of California).

Current contracts with the eight unions had originally expired between December 31, 2008 and January 31, 2009. Under the extension, labor leaders from the County and the public safety unions will now avoid having to negotiate in the midst of the County’s current financial challenges. With the extensions in place, labor leaders from the County and the unions recognize the County is facing significant fiscal challenges and have agreed to work with the County.

Los Angeles County is in difficult financial times right now, between diminishing tax revenue from the local economy and round after round of funding hits from the State of California, said Supervisor Knabe. We are all in this together and I am extremely proud that our partners in the public safety unions recognize these challenges and are supporting this one-year extension.

As partners with the citizens of Los Angeles County, the Firefighters recognize the current economic stress the County is under, and we are ready to step up and help, said Dave Gillotte, President, Los Angles County Fire Fighters Local 1014, representing over 3,100 County firefighters and paramedics.

County Launches Green Award Program

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has started a new Green Leadership Award to recognize sound environmental strategies. The program will help promote "Green" practices in our community and enhance the County’s role as a leader in these efforts by recognizing outstanding environmental sustainability efforts by individuals and organizations.

The competition is open to all County residents, businesses, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, professional and trade’-associations, communities, State, and local government entities. Those who have previously applied will be allowed to apply again.

There will be five categories of awards, four of which will recognize nonprofit agencies, public agencies, businesses and individuals. A fifth award, given by the chair of the Board of Supervisors, will recognize an individual whose leadership and dedication made a significant impact in environmental education.”

Winners will be selected by the county’s Energy and Environmental Policy Team. The Award program will be formally launched in April 2009 to coincide with Earth Day.

Reaching Out To Voters With Specific Needs

In an effort to promote a greater opportunity for all voters to participate in the election process, the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) has produced a Voter with Specific Needs video presentation highlighting accessible voting services and sensitivity in serving voters with special needs and voters with limited English proficiency.

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan has incorporated segments of the video into staff and poll worker training for the upcoming November 4th General Election. Additionally, the RR/CC has distributed the video to all local public libraries for general circulation and educational purposes.

Making voting accessible to all eligible citizens is a priority, said Logan. This video emphasizes the services currently available to accomplish this and reminds us all of best practices for ensuring our voters with special needs get the service they deserve.

The RR/CC collaborated with its Community Voter Outreach Committee (CVOC) on the Voter with Specific Needs video. CVOC, comprised of nonprofit organizations with election interests, partners with the RR/CC throughout the year providing input from the public sector on election related matters, as well as, assisting with voter registration, public education and election services. CVOC members’ collective expertise helps provide a successful voting experience for all voters, said Logan.

Toward the goal of providing voters with efficient and accessible elections, the RR/CC requires poll worker volunteers to attend training prior to each election. The Voters with Specific Needs video has now been included as part of the poll worker training curriculum and serves as a guide for poll workers to providing election services for persons with specific needs.

The video consists of a 6-minute and a 12-minute abridged version, as well as a 25-minute expanded version with a comprehensive how to guide. Translated versions of the video are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog/Filipino, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the Voter with Specific Needs video, contact Nelson Fernandez, Voter Outreach Coordinator, by calling (562) 462-2117 or by emailing
nfernandez@rrcc.lacounty.gov
A full list of accessibility services available through the RR/CC may be found on the RR/CC website www.lavote.net
Voters may also call the RR/CC at (800) 815-2666.

Veterans Benefit From County Employment Program

A Veteran of the Army National Guard has become the first permanent employee hired by Los Angeles County through a program designed to give special access to employment and internship opportunities to Veterans.

Created through an August 2006 motion by Supervisors’ Don Knabe and Michael D. Antonovich, the Veterans Internship Program (VIP) is available to local military Veterans who have been honorably discharged. Participants are hired into paid internships in various County departments, lasting up to 24 months, and receive benefits and additional job training throughout their internship. VIP participants are then eligible to compete for permanent County positions.

On May 14, Kunny Yin became the first permanent County employee hired through the Veterans Internship Program when he was appointed an IT Tech Support Analyst II within the Department of the Treasurer and Tax Collector. Mr. Yin is a Long Beach resident and was initially hired into the internship program in December 2007, and once he was hired as a permanent employee earlier this month, he jumped 18 steps on the County pay scale. He served in the Army National Guard for three years, until 2006, and was trained as a computer information analyst.

The program really helped me get my foot in the door towards permanent employment, said Yin. My whole experience throughout the internship was nothing but a good thing.

A total of 50 Veterans have been placed by the VIP Program and are currently working in internships across the County in 10 different departments, including 14 in the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 13 in the Probation Department, and 11 in the Department of Public Social Services. The County was also honored as Employer of the Year by the California Employer Advisory Council for providing outstanding employment services to Veterans.

Our Veterans have served our nation and sacrificed their lives for our freedom, said Supervisor Antonovich. This program provides our Veterans the opportunity to apply their skills, learn new ones and compete effectively for employment."

The County has jobs available in many areas that require very special skills or training, the same skills or training that Veterans often receive during their service to our nation, said Supervisor Knabe. Matching the wonderful talents of our Veterans, to needs of the County, in the form of a permanent job is a great way to honor the service of our nations Veterans.

Interested Veterans are encouraged to visit http://dhr.lacounty.info or call (213) 738-2175.

Employment Opportunities For Veterans

A County program introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe and Supervisor Mike Antonovich to assist veterans with employment opportunities is seeing tremendous success.

The program is available to local military veterans who have been honorably discharged, the County recruits applicants whose training, education and skills match those needed by the County. Successful applicants are hired as trainees for up to 24 months and receive job training and experience. They receive benefits and are eligible to compete for permanent County positions.

Already, 250 veterans have been placed in employment opportunities and another 1,400 are currently being evaluated. Interested veterans are encouraged to visit http://dhr.lacounty.info or call (213) 738-2175.

Knabe Opposes Safe Surrender Program Legislation

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe renewed his opposition today to legislation introduced by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont). Assembly Bill 81 (AB 81) is a rehashing of Torrico’s AB 1873 from the last legislative session that was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger in October 2006.

Under the proposed legislation, AB 81 will extend the newborn surrender period to 30 days. Currently, the program allows mothers of unwanted newborns to surrender their babies at Safe Surrender sites, such as Fire Stations and Hospitals, up to 72 hours after the child’s birth. The person who surrenders the newborn is protected from prosecution, No Shame, No Blame and No Names.

Extending this window from 72 hours to 30 days will create serious medical issues, said Supervisor Knabe, who championed the formation of Safe Surrender, the Los Angeles County version of the Safe Haven Program, over six years ago.

Access to quality medical care in the first hours of life is an absolutely critical component that could be placed in jeopardy if this legislation goes through as is, said Knabe. Many infants who are safely surrendered have received no prenatal care or medical care at all – services that are critical for these newborns to receive in the first hours after birth. The 72 hour window works, and we have extensive research to prove it. There is no data showing that an extension to 30 days proposed in Assemblyman Torrico’s legislation would improve this successful program. That is a risk we simply cannot afford.

Los Angeles County has been at the forefront of implementing the Safe Haven Law. Since its enactment in 2002, 53 babies have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County – more than one-third of all the newborns saved in California.

Los Angeles County and South Bay Cities Partner to Keep Trash Out of the Bay

A project to install 460 trash catch basins in the Cities of Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood has been approved by the Board of Supervisors. The trash collectors will be placed at the openings of catch basins along the curb, partially blocking the openings to prevent most trash from entering the storm drain system.

The installation of the devices is underway and is scheduled to be completed in April 2007. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will finance the cost of the devices and installation, estimated at $1,640,000 ($1 million from Proposition 50, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Grant funds; $640,000 from County of Los Angeles Flood Control District funds). Once the installation is complete, each city will be responsible for maintaining the devices within their respective jurisdictions.

This is an important investment in our stormwater and runoff technology, said Supervisor Knabe. These catch basins will keep trash and debris from entering the storm drain system and ultimately the Santa Monica Bay.

There is no single solution for protecting water quality at our local beaches, said Public Works Director Don Wolfe. It takes a partnership between local government and the public we serve. That partnership begins with an individual’s choice to put litter where it belongs, in the trash can or recycling bin.

County Develops New Job Opportunities for Military Veterans

The County of Los Angeles plans to assist local military veterans with employment opportunities under a plan developed by Supervisors Don Knabe and Michael D. Antonovich.

The program, approved today by the Board of Supervisors, directs County departments to begin internship programs for Veterans including employment outreach, new hiring protocols and education opportunities.

As part of this effort to provide Veterans with employment opportunities within the County, the Chief Administrative Office and Director of Personnel will develop training classes appropriate for Veterans, modify job classifications where needed, and give work experience credit where appropriate for previous military service and training.

There is a disproportionate unemployment rate in our region for recently discharged Veterans, said Knabe.

It is my hope that this program will connect these men and women and their useful skills with employment opportunities within Los Angeles County.

Young Boxer to be Honored by Board of Supervisors

The successes of nine-year-old boxing prodigy Moises mighty Mo Orozco will be recognized and honored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at 9:30 a.m.

Mighty Mo is not only a straight-A student from Long Beach, but he has also scored several top honors in the boxing ring, despite his young age.

Mighty Mo was the surprise participant at the recent 4th Annual Desert Showdown Invitational Amateur Boxing tournament, taking top honors in the 60-pound division. Not only did Orozco capture his division, but the Desert Showdown was also the first tournament he had ever entered. The five-day tournament is the largest amateur competition in the Southwest.

So far in 2006, Orozco has also captured the Junior Olympics 60-pound championship, the Junior Golden Gloves 65-pound championship, and the Ringside World 65-pound championship. Orozco is undefeated in 2006 and is currently preparing for his first Silver Gloves Tournament, scheduled for this November. He is also planning to travel to Maui in the near future to compete against their local champion.

‘Mighty Mo’ has shown that he’s a terrific athlete, considering he’s received less than two years of formal training, but he’s also excelled as an outstanding student, said Supervisor Knabe. I’m proud to recognize the many accomplishments he’s achieved at such an early age.