Over the past several years, Los Angeles County has seen a significant increase in the number of sexually trafficked youth and is now recognized as one of the major hubs for sex trafficking in the state and nation.It is sickening that children, some as young as 10 years old, are forcibly coerced and manipulated into selling their bodies.
Untold numbers of these children fall victim to predatory adults, many of whom have ties to criminal street gangs. They are sexually exploited and abused in unspeakably brutal ways, all for commercial gain. Criminal street gangs have embraced human trafficking as a lucrative revenue source; as sex trafficking now rivals narcotic sales as the major source of revenue for many gangs.
As a way to combat the sex trafficking of young girls by gang members, I will ask the Board of Supervisors this week to support and co-sponsor legislation that would add pimping, pandering, and human trafficking to the list of crimes that are associated with gang activity.
Senate Bill 473, authored by Senator Marty Block and sponsored by San Diego County, would create tougher penalties for gang members convicted of human trafficking, such as adding a three year prison sentence for anyone convicted of a human trafficking crime that occurs on or within 1,000 feet of a school.
This legislation would be a major step forward in putting an end to the physical and mental abuse of these young girls.
At the Tuesday, January 29th Board of Supervisors meeting, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will call for more rigorous zoning restrictions to combat the rise in maternity hotels in LA County, particularly in the San Gabriel Valley.
“Across the United States, the recent trend in “birthing tourism” has led to money- making schemes that put the health and safety of mothers and babies in jeopardy,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We have had an increase in complaints from neighboring residents, concerned about the well-being of those in these homes, as well as concern about the quality-of-life in residential neighborhoods when these facilities are allowed to operate.”
In response to the January 14, 2013 Status Report on Knabe’s Board Motion Regarding Postpartum Recovery Homes, he will ask for the Board’s support to direct County Counsel to draft a proposed ordinance to regulate these boarding houses, while also calling for the CEO to lead multi-agency inspection teams. He will also request funding to assist the inspectors with additional staff and Mandarin/Cantonese translators to communicate with occupants.
“These maternity hotels have grown beyond the scope of a zoning issue. The conditions inside some of these houses are putting the lives of the mothers and babies at risk and we must do what we can to protect them and stop this illegal activity,” said Knabe.
Last week, I received a call from Debi Faris, the woman I credit with creating the Safe Surrender program. She operates the Garden of Angels, a cemetery for abandoned newborns and was recently given the release of the baby girl that was found abandoned at the recycling plant in the City of Industry last month.
“Supervisor, will you bless this child with a name?” she asked.
Hearing those words, I became sick to my stomach. This child, thrown into a dumpster by her mother, was still nameless, awaiting her burial and I was going to name her as she was laid to rest. It was horrifying to think this mother could just throw her daughter away and was even worse to think this baby girl didn’t even have a name.
I decided to honor this precious baby girl with the name “Hope Angel.” She will be buried next week, surrounded by the only sense of family she has: a name.
Later today, a new public service announcement for the Safe Surrender program will launch state-wide.
This PSA is a powerful tool for conveying the message to mothers in desperate situations that they can make the right choice for their babies -and themselves- with the Safe Surrender program. 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 and to protect a baby from abandonment: No shame, No blame, and No names. So far, in Los Angeles County, we have been able to save the lives of 103 infants. I am confident this PSA will help save the lives of many more.
What happened in December in the City of Industry is a reminder that we have a lot more work to do in spreading the word of the Safe Surrender program. We will continue our efforts for Hope Angel and all the other newborns who have lost their lives.
May Hope Angel rest in peace.
In honor of Veterans Day, admission fees and vehicle entrance fees have been waived to the regional park facilities on November 10-17, 2012, for Veterans and their families. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe, was unanimously approved today by the Board of Supervisors. Veterans will also receive a fifty percent discount off at County golf courses on November 12.
“On Veterans Day we pay tribute to the sacrifice of the men and women in our military who have courageously served our country and protected the many freedoms we enjoy today,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We also owe a debt of gratitude to their families, who share in this sacrifice and who truly deserve the honor and respect of their fellow Americans.”
All Veterans, military personnel and their immediate families are invited to visit the following Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation facilities from November 10 through November 17, 2012, free of charge with proper identification:
All veterans with proper military identification will receive a fifty percent discount on green fees (excluding tournament play) all day on Monday, November 12.
The Certified Growing Experience Farmers Market is officially open for business! State and local officials gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Long Beach’s only Farmers Market located within an urban farm. The Farmers Market will be held on the grounds of The Growing Experience (TGE) urban farm located within the County’s Carmelitos Public Housing Development (Carmelitos). The Farmers Market, which is open to the public, features produce from local growers, cooking demonstrations, nutrition education, as well as local vendors selling prepared foods and locally-made crafts. It will be open every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
TGE is an award-winning 7-acre urban farm operated by the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (Housing Authority). Carmelitos is home to over 700 low-income families and seniors, over 40% of whom receive some form of government assistance. The Farmers Market at TGE fosters local relationships by inviting the public to see the community pride that exists in the County’s public housing developments.
TGE is proud to offer Long Beach residents the opportunity to access a variety of fresh produce, including specialty items that may not be found in a regular grocery store, and educate them on how to prepare wonderful dishes their families will love. More importantly, the Farmers Market offers quality produce at cheaper prices because the farmers can set their own prices without paying grocery store overheads, or paying for transportation between the farm and the consumer.
Supervisor Don Knabe said, “Bringing a Farmers Market to Long Beach creates a gathering place where shoppers can socialize with their neighbors, while purchasing healthy foods and products that will help improve the health and wellbeing of the community’s residents. I am proud of The Growing Experience and its impact on the surrounding community.”
Over the years, TGE has been developed into a resource for environmental sustainability and a source of healthy food options for its public housing residents. As such, in observance of national Housing America Month, during the grand opening celebration, TGE was recognized by the California Association of Housing Authorities for the contributions it has made to improving the lives of the Carmelitos community.
The Farmers Market is a joint venture of the Housing Authority and the Los Angeles Community Development Foundation, and is supported by grants from the California FreshWorks Fund and Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation.
For more information on TGE, please call (562) 984-2917, or visit www.growingexperiencelb.org.
Farmer’s market address: 750 Via Carmelitos, Long Beach, CA 90805
I want to thank the commissioners, attorneys and staff who volunteered their time and expertise to the Los Angeles County Citizens’ Commission on Jail Violence.
After a thorough investigative process of numerous interviews, hearings and data review, the findings reflected in this report are obviously very troubling. They expose a systemic breakdown in leadership, inconsistent discipline and a lack of standardized policies. Unfortunately, this is not the first account illustrating these types of findings that the Sheriff’s Department has received. It is clear that small, incremental changes will not do. In order to affect the dramatic culture change that is required, the Sheriff must not simply agree to the findings, he must take bold action, and quickly. The people of Los Angeles County demand it.
Finally, it is important to note that this report focused on the jails – our patrol and traffic departments continue to receive positive feedback from the contract cities and unincorporated areas they serve.
Click here for the Executive Summary
Click here for the Commission’s Final Report
At today’s Board meeting, Supervisor Don Knabe called on the Obama Administration and the County’s congressional delegation to develop a long-term budget compromise that would avoid $1.2 trillion in across-the-board cuts that could cripple local businesses and social services. These budget cuts, called sequestration, are scheduled to occur on January 2, 2013, after a deficit-reduction committee could not reach consensus on the federal budget. Knabe said:
“Our leaders at the Federal level need to set aside partisan bickering and find a balanced, sensible budget compromise that avoids the draconian cuts that are scheduled to automatically occur January 2, 2013. While the whole country would suffer, California would be most directly and severely affected by the cuts, with a potential of losing over 225,000 jobs and $22 billion in gross state product.
At a time when we are desperate to create jobs, the uncertainty about these budget cuts is already leading many companies to prepare for the worst by not hiring and, in some cases, issuing layoff notices. As the heart of the nation’s aerospace and defense-related industries, we could lose more than $2.4 billion in tax revenue to state and local government, which would have a huge impact on the safety-net services we provide.
And it’s not just defense cuts that are in play. Education, health care and social services, which have already taken a huge hit in these tough economic times, would once again be on the chopping block. We don’t need more rhetoric and politics – we need compromise and thoughtful solutions that preserve jobs and services, and bring confidence back to our economy.
South Whittier, August 15, 2012 – August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, which is also the time when families begin to prepare for the new school year. The UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic, a 40-foot-long coach, made its way to the Community Resource Center (CRC) to provide basic eye exams for 30 low-income children. Patients were tested by the eye clinic’s Ophthalmologist and Optometrist, received free prescription eyeglasses as well as referrals for future treatment.
The UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic provides high-quality eye care to underserved populations—particularly children and the elderly—who lack access to health care as a result of finances, lack of transportation, or cultural and language barriers. “Teaching children to protect their eyes is an important early lesson toward a lifetime of healthy vision. It is vital to educate parents on the importance of their children’s eyes, especially with the first day of school just around the corner. We want all our children to be star students in the classroom,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, who represents the area.
The UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic, established in 1975 by an anonymous donor, remains a privately funded outreach program operated by the Jules Stein Eye Institute. Their mission is to discover eye diseases or eye problems and try to get people connected to the care they need. Each year, the UCLA Ophthalmologists provide 4,000 children and 1,000 adult examinations free of charge. In addition, they also provide 1,500 vision and glaucoma screenings at community events, and supply 400 free prescription glasses to underserved children.
A project of the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles (CDC), the Community Resource Center is funded by the Fourth Supervisorial District, and works in collaboration with its onsite service providers to offer health, wellness, and educational programs for families, seniors, and youth.
The CRC is located at 10750 Laurel Avenue in South Whittier. For information on services provided by the CRC, please call (562) 946-2425, or visit the website at www.swcrc.org. All media may contact Elisa Vásquez, CDC Public Information Officer, at (323) 890-7415.
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Last week, after great anticipation, the Supreme Court upheld the individual insurance requirement, a major component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) often referred to as “ObamaCare.”
While party leaders on both sides either celebrated or updated their campaign strategies, here in LA County, things still remain a bit of a mystery.
What we do know is that Los Angeles County has the largest uninsured population in the nation – over 2 million people. That is not sustainable for our system, particularly as health care costs continue to rise.
What we do not know is a whole lot! There are many unknowns when it comes to the State’s participation in Medicaid expansion, the overall funding and infrastructure impacts, and the introduction of more competition into our system. I believe competition is a good thing and it should provide people with more choices and control over their healthcare.
We have been preparing for the ACA and will continue to ready ourselves, while ensuring we can meet the healthcare needs of those who depend on our hospitals and clinics as the ultimate safety net.