The Employment Development Department reported Friday that California’s unemployment rate jumped to 7.3% the highest rate in 12 years and one of the highest in the nation. 1.4 Californians are without jobs, up 70,000 from just one month ago.

The job data underscored that California is experiencing a recession, which began with a meltdown in the housing industry, and is spreading to many other segments of the economy with housing-related sectors continuing to have the worst numbers, such as a 9.3 percent drop in construction jobs from July 2007.

California’s businesses pay the 4th highest tax burden in the country. Imposing higher taxes on individuals or businesses is the worst thing that could happen to California’s economy. Companies like AT & T, Toyota and AAA have announced they are re-locating their operations to other states who have far better business climates. We need to stop the bleeding and stop taxing people and business right out of the state.

The CNN Election Express Yourself mobile studio stopped on Second Street in Long Beach and gave us all an opportunity to express our opinions on the upcoming elections. There were hands on exhibits, video portraits and personalized election memorabilia giving the public the ultimate interactive political experience. Watch for the traveling campaign in an area near you!

I can’t think of a better way to spend time than at the beautiful water’s edge surrounded by some of the most magnificent ships in the world. The historical Festival of Sail LA is held every year at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro hosted by the Port and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute. This year the festival runs Friday, August 16 through Sunday, August 18. Yesterday, the Grand Vision Foundation (fund raising organization for the Warner Grand Theater) hosted a Tall Ships Champagne Brunch at Ports O Call restaurant. Guests were entertained by sea shanties by local storyteller and folk entertainer, Bill Howard. We enjoyed a ringside view of the Tall Ships as they sailed into the main channel.

Some of the most notable ships included the HMS Bounty which is a true 0ld-Hollywood celebrity built for the MGM movei “Mutiny on the Bounty” which retells the famous maritime mutiny of 1789 in the South Pacific. The Californian, built on the waterfront in San Diego is the official Tall Ship of the State of California. The coast US Coast Guard ship The Eagle is an integral part of the training of Eagle coast guard cadets where they are able to actively utilize their training in navigation, engineering and other maritime skills. Exy Johnson and Irving Johnson are twin brigantines which were built in May 2002 at the Port of LA by the LA Maritime Institute for the TopSail Youth Program. The TopSail program recognizes that the shipboard environment is challenging yet nurturing, encouraging exploration and self-reliance and providing life-changing experiences for youth and adults alike. The Pilgrim is a full-scale replice of the ship immortalized by Richard Henry Dana in his classic book “Two Years Before the Mast”. Owned and operated by the Ocean Institute, Pilgrim is dedicated to multidisciplinary education. During the school year the Ocean Institute offers an 18-hour award-winning living history program where students live like sailors of the 1830s. This has become a staple for many public elementary school programs.

For a complete calendar of the Festival of Sail Schedule of Events click here.

We had a very successful Meet and Greet at the home of Darryl and Ginny Snider in Rolling Hills. Over 60 people attended the event including Mayor Joe Sherwood of PV Estates and RPV Councilman, Dr. Peter Gardiner. Residents hailed from all over the Palos Verdes Peninsula to hear about our campaign efforts, meet the candidate, get updates on Sacramento, have a chance to discuss issues of interest, general conversation and just all around fun. The Los Angeles Basin and Pacific Ocean views provided the perfect backdrop for a fun and informative evening coupled with a fiesta flavor.

Jeff Earle from the Original Red Onion provided the incredibly delicious Mexican food. A great time was had by all!

We had a blast on Saturday celebrating with the Beacon House Association of San Pedro 24th Annual Block Party. Notable dignitaries included Beacon House Association President, Bob Valentine and Signal Hill Vice Mayor Ellen Wood. There were a myriad of merchants lining Beacon Street selling an eclectic array of merchandise. All proceeds went to support the Beacon House.

Today, the first ever Taste of the Coast was held at the Belmont Veteran’s Memorial Pier 15 39th Place in Long Beach. This fabulous event featured restaurants from all over Long Beach who featured their specialty dishes. Live Music was provided by King Salmon Band and In Concert 1968. Activities included a Live Event Painting by Karen Wall-Garrison as well as fun things for children. We had a blast sampling all the flavors of Long Beach restaurants. This is an event not to be missed!

Taste of the Coast benefits Long Beach Kids Connection, a non profit organization, whose mission is to provide health, education, support and maintenance for children in need in the greater Long Beach area. For more information on Long Beach Kids Connection click here.

Yesterday I participated in the annual training conference for Los Angeles County Volunteer Health Professionals at Almonsor Court in Alhambra. The events of September 11 and Hurrican Katrina pointed to the need for organized systems to recruit and mobilize qualified medical, health and mental health volunteers. To meet this increased need for medical and health care personnel following disasters, Los Angeles County launched the Emergency Systems for the Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (LA County ESAR VHP) in March 2007. This disaster volunteer program recruits, registers, and pre-credentials medical, health, mental health and other volunteers in advance of the next large scale disaster or other public health emergency.

With the Chino shaker reminding all of us that yes, we do live in earthquake country, these volunteer network systems are essentail for quick response to catastrophic events. Particularly, to provide and dispatch trained health care professionals which will privde critical health services following a terrorist attack, disaster or other public health emergencies. This program not only includes health care professionals but operates in collaboration with the Medical Reserve Corps. Please get involved with your local chapter.  As a registered nurse, I am now on file as a member of the Hospital Surge Team and will participate in dispatch orders should such a disaster occur.

For more information on the Emergency Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals click here.

The last Thursday of every month the Long Beach Junior Chamber’s (LBJC) Michael Clements hosts a series called “Beer and Politics” (B&P) and sponsored by the LBJC> The series usually takes place at Galleghar’s Pub and Grill in Long Beach but over the summer months has been held at Smooth’s on Pine Ave downtown Long Beach. B&P’s purpose is to offer a venue where young professionals can engage in political discussions with community leaders and elected officials.

I was able to enjoy B&P this past Tuesday evening at Smooth’s. The topic was the seawater desalination project at the Long Beach Water Department and a Ryan Alsop, Director of Government Affairs for the Water Department presented the pros of the project and Joe Geever California Policy Coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation presented the Surfrider Foundation’s concerns regarding desalination projects planned throughout the state and their comparison to the Long Beach project.

The evening began with introductions by host Michael Clements and opening presentations by Alsop and Geever. After the presentations, attendees came up to the mike and asked probing questions resulting in a fabulous discussion about the issues, pros and cons of desalination. For more info on Beer and Politics click here

Michael Clements hosts Beer and Politics

Every Sunday the Beacon House, at their Bartlett Center location in San ,serves a wonderful breakfast. For $10 you get a full breakfast (pancakes, eggs done your way, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, coffee and juice) and a car wash. All of this provided by residents of sober living at Beacon House. I was able to spend the morning there last Sunday visiting with residents while enjoying the best breakfast served in San Pedro.

Luis Lozano, Executive Director joined our breakfast table and I learned much about what Beacon House has to offer. The most important thing I learned is how important self sufficiency is to one’s feeling of self worth. Many of the residents had once been homeless due to alcoholism and drug abuse. The Beacon House was founded with the purpose of providing a peer residential recovery program for men whose lives had become unmanageable due to alcoholism or addiction.

A kind and caring home environment and sound recovery program are essential to the recovery of alcoholics and addicts and this is demonstrated in every aspect of the Beacon House life. Their recovery concept is based on the mental, physical and spritual health which includes the basics of individual self esteem and love coupled with a knowledge and understanding of their disease.

Residents are offered hope through a program designed with the desired outcome of a productive, responsible and sober life for each person. This was truly evidenced by the myriad of stories that were relayed to me that day. The most striking is the number of residents who were sober and drug free, gainfully employed or in school learning a trade or occupation. What an inspiration to us all. For more information on the Beacon House click here.

Gabriella, Bob Valentine, Roberta

The Apartment Association, California Southern Cities, Inc. celebrated its 85th anniversary last week. On hand were many former Presidents of the Association and nearly 80 members attended the celebration. Executive Director Nancy Ahlswede did a fabulous job with the occasion and honoring past presidents who attended. The Association also gave California Senate candidate Allen Wood and myself a chance to speak before the members at the meeting.

Click here to view the Association’s website and all their activities. I wish them many, many more years of operation and congratulate them on their years of advocacy efforts regarding rent control, eviction laws, private property rights, encroaching taxes/fines/fees, and and their work towards improving the business climate and rental housing market.

AACSC recognizes former Association Presidents