Duarte City Council Adopts Ordinance Requiring Organic ...

A family owned andlocally operated restaurantnamed The Galley FishGrill has brought its uniquemenu to Duarte. With amenu that serves more thanjust seafood, you can besure to find yourself com-ing back daily to try every-thing on the menu. Themenu offers items like Fish& Chips, Surf & TurfFries, and their popularEnsenada Style Fish Tacosjust to name a few.

Blue PacificRestaurants saw an oppor-tunity to open in Duartewhen a family membernoticed the formerMongolian BBQ restaurant

was empty. Owners, Rigoand Andrea started theircompany in 2016 withtheir first location in AppleValley. They run and oper-ate their Apple Valley andVictorville locations untilthis day. Their familymember Gio and his wifeJennie wanted to be a partof the growing operationand have partnered withthem to run their Duarterestaurant.

“All of our recipes areinspired by our love forseafood and from ourchildhood memoriesbecause our mothersalways made home cookedmeals.” says Rigo

Rodriguez.The company is con-

tinuing to grow at a steadypace and has plans to open

a 4th location inDowntown Upland in thesummer of 2022.

You can visit The

Galley Fish Grill at:1164 E. Huntington Dr.

Duarte, CA 91010626-531-6944

The Galley Fish Grill opens their 3rd location in the city of DuarteThe Galley is serving up fresh seafood made with fresh ingredients. 2/20/2022 Duarte, CA

On Tuesday, January11, the Duarte City Counciladopted an ordinanceupdating Duarte’sMunicipal Code to be incompliance with SenateBill (SB) 1383, which wentinto effect on January 1,2022.

SB 1383 requires citiesand counties to provideorganic waste collection toall residents and businesses,implement an edible foodrecovery program thatrecovers edible food fromthe waste stream, and adoptan enforcement mechanismor ordinance by January2022. Organic wasteincludes food waste such asfruit or vegetable scraps,food soiled paper includingcoffee filters, and greenwaste such as weeds orbranches. Organic waste inlandfills generates methanegas, which contributes sig-nificantly to climate

change. The goal of SB1383 is to decrease organicwaste disposal by 75% andincrease edible food recov-ery by 20% by 2025. Inaddition, the regulationsmeet Assembly Bill (AB)341 and AB 1826 require-ments.

The ordinance wasdeveloped with input fromthe California Departmentof Resources Recycling andRecovery (CalRecycle) andBurrtec Waste Services,Duarte’s contract wastehauler. Burrtec will imple-ment the collection, sorting,monitoring, and compli-ance of Duarte’s organicwaste.

Local Duarte business-es generating more thantwo cubic yards of solidwaste per week have beenrequired to establish andmaintain commercialorganics recycling servicesper Duarte Municipal Code

as of August 2021, afterCalRecycle placed Duarteon an Informal MandatoryCommercial RecyclingCompliance Plan that man-dated the passage of a Cityordinance to require busi-nesses subject to AB 341and AB 1826 to participatein the state recyclingefforts. Duarte residentsand multi-family residentialcomplexes are projected tobegin this new method ofrecycling in the summer of2022.

Burrtec and City staffwill continue to work col-laboratively in educationand outreach to the public.Information regardingimplementation require-ments will be announcedthrough the City website,Duarte City News, socialmedia, and in Burrtec

Duarte City Council Adopts Ordinance Requiring OrganicWaste Recycling to Comply with New State Mandate

March 2022 – April 2022

See Organic WasteRecycling on page 9

The Duarte CommunityCoordinating Council(DCCC) is looking for a vol-unteer interested in taking onthe planning and direction ofthe Route 66 Parade as the2023 Parade Chair.

After a three-year hiatusdue to restrictions caused bythe COVID-19 pandemic,DCCC is excited at theprospect of a 2023 Route 66Parade, celebrating ournation’s first all-paved U.S.Highway System connectingthe Midwest to Californiathat has become immortal-ized in literature, music, andfilm as a symbol ofAmericanfreedom and independenceon the road. The success of a2023 parade is contingent

upon dedicated volunteersled by the Parade Chair.

Taking place the fourthSaturday in September, theRoute 66 Parade follows aone-mile stretch along his-toric Route 66 (nowHuntington Drive) starting atthe corner of Cotter Streetand ending at Mt. Olive.Some 1,400 entries includingantique and classic cars,schools, churches, equestri-ans, hogs and marchingbands take part in the event.High school bands fromthroughout SouthernCalifornia also compete fortrophies. Trophies are distrib-uted at the City of DuarteAnniversary Picnic celebra-tion that follows the parade at

Royal Oaks Park.As parade chair, you

would need to learn the ropesin:

• Selecting a paradetheme

• Soliciting communitynominations for grand mar-shal

• Organizing participantapplications

• Setting the parade line-up

• Directing communityvolunteers who serve asparade committee members

• Directing the staging ofthe participants on parade atthe event

Additionally, the paradechair will partner with thecity of Duarte to obtain per-

mits for street closures, workwith Duarte Public Safety ontraffic and pedestrian safety,and discuss with staff promo-tional assistance.

The DCCC would like tohave a parade chair identifiedby March 31, 2022. Thisposition could also be filledby two people if there arefriends and/or family mem-bers that want to apply

together. It is a wonderfulopportunity to make a posi-tive impact on the communi-ty while celebrating the city’srich history!

If you would like toapply or want further infor-mation, please fill out theinterest form(https://bit.ly/2023Route66ParadeChair) and a memberof DCCC will contact you.

Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Shoshana Puccia Executive Director/CEOAdam Knight • Curo Managed Print Production PresidentBernadette Chang • Westminster Gardens Past PresidentBrian Barreto • California American Water VP Finance

& AdministrativeVictor Benavides • City of Hope President Elect & VP and

Workforce Development & EducationDillon Wang • OneWest Bank VP Fundraising

DIRECTORS

Alejandro Cabrera Cabrera’s Mexican CuisineOscar Cuellar El Picosito TaqueriaHenry Custodia Delafield Corp.Dr. Gregory Endelman CSArts-SGVChristopher Fischer DLL TechnologiesErick Gomez Anytime FitnessRobb Johnson Mutiny CrossFitRana Madain Deasy Penner PodleyCheryl Reynolds Origami Owl ConsultantHendy Satya Foothill TransitBrenda Trainor Wonder Dog RanchDenise Walton Seidner’s Collision Centers

Duarte ViewVolume XXXVIII • March 2022 – April 2022 • No. 30

Shoshana Puccia EditorKim McGill Production & Layout

The Duarte View is an official publication of the Duarte Chamber ofCommerce. It has a bi-monthly unlimited online circulation and is availableto residents and businesses of Duarte, Bradbury, and portions of sur-rounding areas. No portion of this publication may be reproduced withoutthe expressed written permission of the Duarte Chamber of Commerce.Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Articles deemed of com-munity interested and printed herein are received from many sources anddo not necessarily represent the views of the Duarte Chamber ofCommerce. The Duarte Chamber of Commerce is not responsible forclaims or representations by its advertisers, sponsors, or contributors.

For Duarte View advertising information and rates, please call theDuarte Chamber.

Deadline for articles and ads for the May 2022 – June 2022 issue isApril 8, 2022

P.O. Box 1438 • 1735 Huntington Dr. Duarte, CA91009-4438(626) 357-3333www.DuarteChamber.com • [email protected]

2 Duarte View COMMUNITY NEWS March 2022 – April 2022

Duarte Community Coordinating CouncilSeeking Route 66 Parade Chair for 2023

Duarte Upgrading Meeting Streaming SystemThe City of Duarte’s

current streaming technolo-gy is no longer operational.The City is in the process ofupdating the equipmentwhich could take severalmonths. The public will notbe able to stream CityCouncil meetings in realtime but will have the optionto view the recorded meet-ings once the video is postedto the City’s website(accessduarte.com). It may

take up to two weeks fromthe date of a meeting for itsrecording to be posted.

Residents may attendmeetings in-person. CityCouncil meetings take placeat the City CouncilChambers (1600 HuntingtonDrive) every second andfourth Tuesday at 7 PM.Meeting agendas can befound on the City’s website.

Meeting attendees mustwear masks indoors to com-

ply with Los AngelesCounty’s health orders.

Exact timing for thetechnology upgrade is unde-termined with updates beingposted on Duarte’s socialmedia channels includingFacebook, Instagram, andTwitter.

To view upcomingmeeting agendas or pastmeeting recordings, visit theCity’s website at accessd-uarte.com.

March 2022 – April 2022 COMMUNITY NEWS Duarte View 3

Free to ThriveTransforms Lives

Jamie Beck of Free toThrive has a critical messageto share. Human Traffickingis happening all around us.Sex trafficking is the recruit-

ment, harboring, transporta-tion, provision, obtaining,patronizing, or soliciting of aperson for the purposes of acommercial sex act, inwhich the commercial sexact is induced by force,fraud, or coercion, or inwhich the person induced toperform such an act has notattained 18 years of age (22USC § 7102).

Labor trafficking is therecruitment, harboring,transportation, provision, orobtaining of a person forlabor or services, throughthe use of force, fraud, orcoercion for the purposes ofsubjection to involuntaryservitude, peonage, debtbondage, or slavery, (22USC § 7102).

Too many times, victimsare caught up in the legalsystem and then are unableto move forward with theirlives. Over 50% of victimsend up homeless. Many ofthe young victims have beenin the Foster Care system.Free to Thrive is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization thatempowers survivors ofhuman trafficking to be freefrom exploitation and tothrive by providing themwith holistic and trauma-informed, legal and supportservices in collaborationwith service partners, and by

Jamie Beck

See Free To Thriveon page 5


Citrus College receives highest level of accreditation reaffirmationAfter nearly two years of

selfevaluation and prepara-tion, Citrus College hasreceived a vote of full confi-dence from the AccreditingCommission for Communityand Junior Colleges(ACCJC).

During its Jan. 1214,2022, meeting, the commis-sion acted to reaffirm CitrusCollege’s accreditation forseven years, which is the bestpossible outcome an institu-tion can receive. The decisionwas made following a reviewof the college’s InstitutionalSelf Evaluation Report(ISER), evidentiary materialsand the Peer Team Reportthat was developed followinga virtual site visit in October2021.

“Reaffirmation is an out-standing accomplishmentthat was facilitated by thehard work and diligence ofmore than 80 members of thecampus community whocontributed to the selfevalu-ation process,” said Dr. GregSchulz, superintendent presi-dent of Citrus College. “It

was also made possible bythose who participated in thevirtual site visit and are active

in our ongoing planning andgovernance processes.”

Superintendent/PresidentSchulz continued, “This hasbeen a collective effort, andwe are very proud of theseimpressive results.”

Citrus College is one ofthree institutions that are partof a pilot program for theACCJC’s newf o r m a t i v e / s u m m a t i v emethod of accreditation. As

part of this new method, thecollege’s ISER was sent tothe members of the visiting

team prior to the virtual sitevisit. Comprised of peersfrom other community col-leges, the visiting team devel-oped lines of inquiry regard-ing any items needing furtherclarification. Citrus Collegethen had the opportunity toaddress any of these lines ofinquiry prior to the visit.

“You all boldly wentwhere others had not yetgone, and we really appreci-

ated that,” Sunita “Sunny”Cooke, Ph.D., chair of theACCJC visiting team, said

during the virtual site visit inOctober. “The team was veryimpressed with the involve-ment of folks across the col-lege in the planning and workof the college, as well as inthe approach to accreditation.It was clear that this was avery inclusive process, andthat this is a very inclusiveand collaborative campus.”

In a letter sent to CitrusCollege on Jan. 27, the

ACCJC listed no compli-ance requirements for thecollege. The commissionalso commended the col-lege for the “diligent workand thoughtful reflection” itinvested into the reviewprocess. According to theletter, Citrus College willnot need to take any addi-tional action until October2025, at which time amidterm report will need tobe submitted to the ACCJC.

“On behalf of the boardof trustees, I extend mymost sincere gratitude to allof the members of the col-lege community who devot-ed time and energy intoensuring that Citrus Collegewas prepared for this impor-tant moment,” said MaryAnn Lutz, president of theCitrus Community CollegeDistrict Board of Trustees.“Because of these efforts,our students and surround-ing communities can beassured that CitrusCollege’s commitment toinstitutional effectivenessremains strong.”

Duarte Kiwanis mem-ber, Reyna Diaz made arecent trip to Tijuana tobring food and clothes tosome of the children there.The children were thrilled

with the new shirts. EachSaturday, these childrennow receive a hot breakfastfrom the supplies Reynahas brought. KiwanisInternational is a globalcommunity of clubs, mem-bers and partners dedicatedto improving the lives of

children one community ata time. Reyna and all theDuarte Kiwanis Club mem-bers are proud to share inthat vision through actions.

If you are interested injoining the Duarte Kiwanisor presenting at a futuremeeting, please contactTina Carey [email protected]. Theclub is currently meetingvirtually through Zoom.


New cloths

Breakfast

Flashlights, bottledwater, a first aid kit, andready-to-eat meal packsline the Rosen family’s cof-fee table. The family is notgoing camping—they arepreparing for disaster byputting together a “go bag.”

Preparing in advancewith a disaster-ready kit hashelped families nationwidethrough extreme and abnor-mal weather events, whichexperts warn are on the rise.

Mike and SydneyRosen are no strangers tothe threat of natural disas-ters. Living in Pasadena,California, they are notonly under the constantthreat of the “Big One” butwildfires as well. “We haveseen friends of ours dis-placed for up to a week at atime due to the wildfires,”Mike Rosen said. “Thatwas a good reminder thatwe need to be ready.”

How do the Rosens stayprepared? “We have usedarticles published on jw.orgas sort of a checklist for ourgo bag essentials. Then weadd things unique to ourfamily that we know wewould need for a week ortwo,” Sydney Rossen said.“We all worry about naturaldisasters, but being pre-pared gives us a measure ofpeace of mind.”

“Having a personal pre-paredness plan increasesyour chances of stayingsafe,” according to a train-ing program from theColumbia University’sNational Center forDisaster Preparedness.

Jolted awake by aneighbor’s urgent knock-ing, Aaron and JacquelinePate were horrified to seethe encroaching flames ofthe fast-moving Woolseyfire that had been miles

away when they went tobed. It burned to within 100feet of their WestlakeVillage home in 2018 aspart of California’s dead-liest wildfire season onrecord.

"Because we had ‘gobags,’ we weren’t runningaround trying to pack thingsat the last minute,” saidJacqueline. “We had thetime we needed to comfortour kids and get everyonesafely into the car.”

The Pates credited thedisaster-preparedness helpthey received as Jehovah’sWitnesses, both throughperiodic reminders at theircongregation meetings andfrom tips for putting togeth-er go bags on the organiza-tion’s website, www.jw.org.

"Life is precious, so weencourage all to heed theBible’s advice to take prac-tical steps to protect our-selves from danger,” saidRobert Hendriks III,spokesman for Jehovah’sWitnesses in the UnitedStates.

Go bags also haveproven useful in the oppo-site circumstances as “staybags.”

Disaster-preparednesssuggestions and tips forputting together a go bagare available from FEMA atready.gov and fromJehovah’s Witnesses athttps://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/awake-no5-2017-october /disas ter-steps-that¬can-save-lives/.

Get Ready for the UnexpectedWith a Disaster Go BagDon’t think you need an emergency kit? Think again, say familieswho needed one.

Duarte Kiwanis MemberServes Tijuana Children

The Rosen family takes time out of their schedule to pre-pare essential items for their “go bags.”

increasing access to justicefor all survivors.

The Duarte KiwanisClub heard a very movingpresentation from Jamiewhere she described theholistic approach her organ-ization using to help vic-tims. Free to Thrive is the

only nonprofit law firmexclusively serving humantrafficking survivorsthroughout SouthernCalifornia. They deliverlegal services through inno-vative community-basedlegal clinics in partnershipwith other law firms andservice provider partnersacross the United States.

Free to Thrive has recentlyopened an office in Pomonato expand their reach intoLA County.

If you are interested injoining the Duarte Kiwanisor presenting at a futuremeeting, please contact TinaCarey at [email protected] club is currently meet-ing virtually through Zoom.

Free to ThriveContinued from page 3

@duarte_chamber

I N S TA G R A M


Earlier this week,Assemblymember JesseGabriel (D-WoodlandHills) introduced legisla-tion that would dramatical-ly expand funding for life-saving gun violence pre-vention efforts. If enacted,Assembly Bill (AB) 1929would provide Medi-Calreimbursement forHospital-Based ViolenceIntervention Programs(HVIPs) that work to curbretaliation and reduce therisks of further violence.

“Gun violence is anurgent public health crisisthat has brought trauma,injury, and death to far toomany Californians,” saidAssemblymember JesseGabriel. “Like the currentpandemic, this publichealth crisis demands thatwe take action to protectthose most at risk. AB 1929will allow California toexpand Hospital-BasedViolence InterventionPrograms, which haveproven effective at reduc-ing violence and savinglives. I look forward toworking with my co-authors to move this impor-tant bill through theLegislature.”

The COVID-19 pan-demic has intensified thecountry's gun violence cri-sis. Record increases in gunsales, homebound children,social isolation, and eco-nomic struggles due toCOVID-19 have put manypeople at increased risk forgun violence. 2020 was oneof the deadliest years onrecord for the UnitedStates, with gun homicidesand non-suicide-relatedshootings taking approxi-mately 19,300 lives—a 25percent increase from2019. Early data on 2021

shows it to be on pace asthe worst year for gun vio-lence in decades, surpass-ing even the high levels of2020.

In urban areas of theUnited States, studies haveshown that up to 41% ofpatients treated for violentinjuries, such as shootings,are re-injured within fiveyears. One survey of vic-tims of violence at a five-year follow-up found that20 percent of patients treat-ed for violent injury haddied. This “revolving door”phenomenon is well-docu-mented in the medical liter-ature and a recent system-atic review of 19 studies onviolent reinjury rates hasconfirmed its prevalence.Moreover, being the victimof violence significantlyincreases a person’s likeli-hood of engaging in violentbehaviors against others,often as retaliation for theinitial injury.

In response to thesealarming trends, Hospital-Based ViolenceIntervention Programs(HVIPs) have been identi-fied as one of the mostinnovative and effectivestrategies for reducing ratesof violent injury recidi-vism. These programs—which now number over 40across the country—bringtargeted, community-based prevention special-ists into the hospital settingto counsel and work withthe patient and reduce therisks of violent re-injury.

Integrating HVIP serv-ices into hospital traumacenters corresponds withlarge reductions in rates ofinjury recidivism and long-term increases in patients’wellbeing. In SanFrancisco, a study of the

Wrap-Around Projectfound that over a 10-yearperiod, the 466 clientsenrolled in the programexperienced a 50 percentreduction in the historicalre-injury rate.

“Our healthcare sys-tems have saved countlesslives from gun violence,but while emergency physi-cians can treat a bulletwound, we have a difficulttime addressing a patient'srisk of re-injury and retalia-tion. After treatment, at-risk patients are often dis-charged right back into thesame conditions that led totheir violent victimizationin the first place. This cre-ates a revolving door ofinjury between the commu-nity and our emergencydepartments,” said Dr. LoriWinston, President of TheCalifornia Chapter of theAmerican College ofEmergency Physicians.“Fortunately, HVIPs haveproven to address the rootcauses of violence and stopthat revolving door. AB1929 ensures that we pro-vide much-needed health-care to people and commu-nities at risk of violentinjury.”

AB 1929 is expected tobe heard in Assembly poli-cy committees in the com-ing weeks. The bill is joint-ly authored withAssemblymember MikeGipson (D-Carson) andSenator AnthonyPortantino (D-La CañadaFlintridge) andAssemblymember BuffyWicks (D-Oakland) ascoauthors.Jesse Gabriel proudly

represents the West SanFernando Valley in theCalifornia StateLegislature.

Amid Spike in Gun Homicides,Lawmakers Introduce Bill to StrengthenGun Violence Prevention EffortsAgainst the Backdrop of a Dramatic Increase inGun-Related Homicides, Legislation Would LeverageFederal Funds to Expand Hospital-BasedViolence Intervention Services“Give a Man a Fish, and

You Feed Him for a Day.Teach a Man To Fish, andYou Feed Him for aLifetime.”

~ Author UnknownCareer Technical Educa-

tion embodies this famousquote through hands-onlearning. Learning by doingis the most effective method-ology within education.We’ve taken it to the nextlevel by adding an internshipcomponent to students’ highschool expectations.

The K12 FoothillConsortium’s SummerInternship Program is mov-ing into its third summerwith the help of the SanGabriel Valley EconomicPartnership. We are seekingcompanies and organizationsinterested in hiring our stu-dents and/or hosting them asan intern. Consortium stu-dents stand out by havingknowledge and know-howin the following industries:

AutomotiveBiomedical SciencesBusiness TechnologyComputer ScienceDigital StudiesEngineeringEntrepreneurshipMedicalPhotographyRoboticsSports MedicineVideo and Film

ProductionConsortium students are

eager to gain real worldexperience with local com-panies. They wish to applytheir developing skills withina professional setting. Theyseek mentorship and aninside track towards theircareer goals. Since theinception of this programstudents discover their call-ing while contributing in ameaningful way to the localeconomy. This mutuallybeneficial relationship is

essential to the workforcepipeline and general satisfac-tion in life.

During the academicyear our 11th and 12thgraders across theConsortium create resumesand practice their interviewskills. We could not do thiswithout the dedicated volun-teers spanning all walks oflife and professional experi-ence.

All intern and employ-ment candidates receive apre-internship/employmenttraining which includes pro-fessional communication,sexual harassment aware-ness and a basic understand-ing of workplace expecta-tions (aka soft skills). Allstudents will be ready forinterviews (and offers) bythe end of April. Studentscan start their experience in

The K12 Foothill Consortium representsAzusa, Charter Oak, Duarte andMonrovia Unified School Districts’Career Technical Education (CTE)pathways and industry stakeholdersOur mission is to educate andtrain students to provide acommunity-sourced talent poolto sustain a healthy, balanced,local economy. K12FC.com

See Foothill Consortiumon page 10


BY LYDIA CARSWELL

As we complete thefirst half of this Rotaryyear, under the direction ofPresident Tina Heany, weare filled with gratitude.Rotary International’stheme for this year is“Serve to Change Lives”and since July of 2021 haveworked hard to fulfill thisgoal.

The second year of theworldwide pandemic findsus continuing to join com-munity partners to serveour community. Though it

certainly has not been“business as usual”, wehave looked at ways for usto reinvent ourselves in giv-ing service. Let’s look backat some of those accom-plishments!

In August, our Clubraised funds and collecteddonations, art supplies, andsuitcases to transport sup-plies for our internationalproject. Community mem-bers and Club members

contributed money and sup-plies for our members tobring to needy families inEl Salvador and Guatemala.

In early September twoof our Rotary members andtheir families joined oneDuarte Kiwanian and herfamily in an InternationalProject to El Salvador andGuatemala. This was a life-changing experience notonly for our members, but

for their families’ childrenwho accompanied them onthe trip. In mid-Septemberwe hosted the HawaiianShave Ice booth at the

Annual City Picnic.In October Rotarians

joined forces with the City’sDART (Duarte AreaResource Team) in anEncanto Park Clean-up.Burrtec provided trash col-lection boxes for the event,and Rotary members con-tributed food and suppliesfor a barbeque celebrationat the completion of theproject. We wrapped upOctober with by participat-

ing in the City’s HalloweenDrive -Thru for our childrenand families in the city.

Traditionally, we havehosted our City’s Seniorsfor a sit down Thanksgivingbreakfast in mid-November, but for the sec-ond year in a row, we had aDrive-Thru Breakfast. Inpartnership with variousorganizations: Elks (pre-pared the breakfast), Duarte

Woman’s Club (providedcookies for the food box),CERT, City EmergencyResponse Team, (trafficcontrol), Duarte Senior

Center (provided Santa andcandy treats) and ourRotary Club (helped boxthe food, distribute thefood, and paid for thebreakfasts), we were able tohave a lovely event for ourseniors in the community.

In lieu of our longstanding “Breakfast withSanta” that we have hostedfor over thirty years, wepartnered with the City ofDuarte in their Christmas

Tree Lighting held in thepatio in front of City Hall.Rotary provided hot choco-late for community mem-bers, and we gave awaybooks to children in atten-dance. Our president-electMargaret Finlay spearhead-ed this even and the choco-late was delicious! Familiesappreciated the variety ofbooks for children of allages that were given away.

In January and Februarywe joined forces withapproximately 100 RotaryClubs in District 5300 andDistrict 5330 in a food driveto help local food banks intheir respective communi-ties. Duarte Rotary joined

with Area 4 Clubs, Arcadia,Monrovia, and SierraMadre Rotary Clubs to ben-efit Foothill Unity Centerfor a February 14th presen-tation of food and monetarydonations to help the needyin our area.

We look forward tocontinuing our plannedprojects as the number ofCovid cases decrease in ourcity and county. Thank youto our community members,other service organiza-tions, and our City, whohave contributed to help allour worthy causes! Weappreciate YOU! Togetherwe all can “Serve toChange Lives”!

Rotary Reflections 2021-22

Senator Anthony J.Portantino (D – La CañadaFlintridge) was joined byeducational leaders during apress conference this morn-ing to announce Senate Bill830, a measure that willdetermine supplementalfunding for K-12 schoolsbased on the daily averagestudent enrollment num-bers. Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District (LAUSD)Board of EducationPresident Kelly Gonez andCalifornia SchoolEmployees Association(CSEA) President Matthew“Shane” Dishman joinedthe Senator in support of SB830. LAUSD and CSEAare sponsoring the bill. Thelist of education organiza-tions in support of the bill isexpecting to increase.

“With the state antici-pating a $31 billion dollarsurplus, it is critical thatincreasing K-12 educationfunding be front and centerin those discussions. We arecurrently using an outdatedsystem that only considersstudent attendance. Now isthe perfect time to imple-ment structural reforms thatwill benefit every schooldistrict in California,” statedSenator Portantino. “Thepandemic will have long-lasting impacts on studentachievement and mentalhealth. It is important morethan ever that we ensurestudents are in school andare receiving the supportthey need to learn andthrive. SB 830 aims toachieve this goal.”

California is one of onlysix states that does not con-sider student enrollment fig-ures for determining stateaid to school districts.Districts plan their budgetsand expend funds based onthe number of studentsenrolled but receive fundsbased on their average dailyattendance. For example, ifa school district enrolls onehundred students but theirattendance rate is 95%, theschool district must stillprepare as if one hundredstudents will attend classevery day but only receive

funding for ninety-five stu-dents.

SB 830 remedies thisinequity and would define

“average daily member-ship” as the amount of theaggregate enrollment daysfor all pupils in a school dis-trict or county office of edu-cation, from transitionalkindergarten to grade 12,divided by the total numberof instructional days for thelocal educational agency inan academic year.

“When students are fac-ing trauma, economicuncertainty, or dangerousroutes to school, the simpleact of showing up to classisn’t so simple,” statedLAUSD Board ofEducation President KellyGonez. “The proposed leg-islation would provide moreequitable funding so schooldistricts like L.A. Unifiedcan meet students’ needsand address the root causesof absenteeism. We needthese critical resources toensure all students receivesupport to be in class andlearning every day.”

SB 830 would require alocal educational agency toreceive the differencebetween what they wouldhave received under thelocal control funding for-mula (LCFF) based on aver-age daily enrollment andwhat they received underthe local control fundingformula based on averagedaily attendance for that fis-cal year.

In order for a local edu-cational agency to be eligi-ble for supplemental educa-

tional funding, SB 830would require the local edu-cational agency to report theaverage daily enrollment for

the prior academic year tothe State Superintendent onJuly 1 and to demonstrate amaintenance of effort toaddress chronic absen-teeism and habitual truancy.SB 830 would also requirelocal educational agenciesto use at least 50% of theirsupplemental educationfunding to supplementexisting local educationalagency expenditures toaddress chronic absen-teeism and habitual truancy.

“Our current atten-dance-based funding systemtakes resources away fromschools in lower-incomecommunities because theyexperience higher rates ofabsenteeism,” statedCalifornia SchoolEmployees AssociationPresident Matthew “Shane”Dishman. “Our members,including instructionalassistants and attendanceclerks, know that studentabsences actually costmoney and demand addi-tional resources to trackdown absent students andprepare make-up assign-ments. The truth is, atten-dance-based funding pun-ishes students in schoolsthat most need the state’sfinancial support. That iswhy CSEA is co-sponsoringthis bill to move to enroll-ment-based funding so thatCalifornia schools will befunded equitably and havegreater financial stabilityand predictability.”

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills)introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1911, which would cre-ate a new tax credit program to preserve at least 25,000units of affordable housing that are at risk of convertingto market-rate rents over the next five years.

Housing hardships are reaching unprecedentedheights during the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated13.2 million adults living in rental housing—nearly 1 in5 adult renters—are behind on rent payments due to thepandemic, with renters of color facing the worst hard-ships. There is a clear urgency to address rising housingcosts and plummeting wages through decisive measuresthat preserve low-cost housing.

“In the midst of our crises, California cannot allow tensof thousands of affordable units to disappear overnight,”stated Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. “COVID-19 hasonly further exacerbated housing instability and our home-lessness crisis. Even as we work to increase our affordablehousing stock, it is essential that we preserve existing units.A smart front-end investment by the state will help keeptens of thousands of vulnerable Californians housed, all ata small fraction of the cost that otherwise would berequired to build new units from scratch.”

According to the California Housing Partnership, over31,000 subsidized affordable rental units in California areat risk of converting to market-rate units as state and fed-eral subsidies and deed restrictions expire over the next tenyears. This figure represents a significant portion of thestate’s subsidized affordable housing stock, and includesproperties financed or assisted by the U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, and the Low-Incoming Housing Tax Credit,which is administered by the California Tax CreditAllocation Committee. Between 1997 and 2019, Californialost 15,004 affordable rental homes as subsidies andaffordability restrictions expired.

AB 1191 would incentivize owners of affordablehousing who are eligible to convert the homes to market-rate rents when current subsidies or deed restrictionsexpire to sell to organizations committed to maintaininglong-term affordability. This legislation would enableCalifornia to preserve roughly 25,000 affordable unitsover the next five years, at the cost of approximately$20,000 per unit.

California Housing Partnership President MattSchwartz stated, “The Affordable Housing PreservationTax Credit provides a creative and innovative tool thatwill significantly slow the loss of existing affordablehousing in California and make it possible for thousandsof lower-income households to remain in their homesand avoid displacement.”

AB 1911 is coauthored by a bipartisan group of leg-islators and is expected to be heard in Assembly com-mittees in the coming weeks.Jesse Gabriel proudly represents the west San

Fernando Valley in the California State Legislature.

Amid Worsening HousingCrisis, California LegislatorsSeek to Combat ImminentLoss of Affordable HousingInnovative New Tax Credit Would Help toPreserve 25,000 Units of AffordableHousing Over the Next Five Years


Senator Portantino Introduces Enrollment-BasedFunding Bill for K-12 Schools


Senator Portantino IntroducesComprehensive Campus SafetyPlan to Protect California Studentsfrom Tragic Gun Violence

State Senator Anthony J.Portantino (D – La CañadaFlintridge) introducedSenate Bill 906, a bill thatprioritizes student safety byincreasing available infor-mation on gun access andsafe at-home storage offirearms while ensuringquick and robust investiga-tions of imminent schoolthreats.

Since 1970, the UnitedStates has had 1,316 schoolshootings with 164 occur-ring in California. As expe-rienced in Michigan, theseshootings are too often fatal.

As the author ofCalifornia’s safe storage offirearms legislation, SenatorPortantino is following upthat effort with a compre-hensive school safety plan,which includes monitoringaccess to weapons and astrong and prudent mandateto follow through on threats.

“With common senseproactive measures, we canprepare educators and par-ents to identify red flags andultimately preventtragedies,” stated SenatorAnthony Portantino. “Inmany cases of a schoolshootings there were warn-ing signs. Recent events inMichigan show that theresometimes is hesitancy inacting on them, which couldlead to tragic results. It ismy hope to take the politicsand hesitancy out of theequation and give schooldistricts the mandate theyneed to investigate and act

on discernable threats.Knowing and understandingthe signs of potential gunviolence can help prevent it.Making information avail-able to schools will helpthem assess threats and edu-cating parents on the impor-tance of safe storage willmake homes safer, too.”

SB 906 would:• Require the State

Department of Education, inconsultation with theDepartment of Justice, todevelop model content forpublic or charter schools ona threat or perceived threatof a mass shooting incident;

• Upon registering a stu-dent for a public or charterschool, parents or guardianswill be required to disclosewhether any firearms arelocated at the home of thestudent and details on own-ership, storage, and accessi-bility of those firearms as itrelates to the student.

• Upon becoming awareof a credible violent threat,schools must immediatelyreport that threat to the lawenforcement authorities, andschool leaders, in consulta-tion with law enforcement,must search a student’s oncampus property for thepresence of firearms.

• Schools are required toinclude information relatedto the safe storage offirearms in the annual notifi-cation provided to the par-ents or guardians.

“When in approximately68% of school shootings the

firearm was taken from thestudent’s home, friend, orrelative, California needs tomove the needle and takeprudent public safety stepsto address this problem.When we know that in 93%of those incidents the attackwas planned in advance andin many instances threaten-ing or concerning communi-cations prior to the attackelicit concern from parents,friends, and educators, wemust move from threatassessment to protectiveaction without hesitation,”concluded Portantino.

Senator Portantino hasa long history of advocatingfor smart and sensible solu-tions to our nation’s tragichistory of gun violence.During his time in theAssembly, the Senator suc-cessfully banned the opencarry of handguns and riflesin California and asSenator, he raised the gen-eral gun purchase age inCalifornia to twenty-one.In 2019, Governor Newsomalso signed SenatorPortantino’s SB 172. Thebill enacted a slate of sig-nificant provisions relatedto firearms storage bybroadening criminal stor-age crimes, adding criminalstorage offenses to thoseoffenses that can trigger a10-year firearm ban, andcreating an exemption tofirearm loan requirementsfor the purposes of prevent-ing suicide. The same year,SB 376 was signed intolaw, which reduces thenumber of firearms an unli-censed individual is annual-ly able to sell and the fre-quency with which they areable to sell. In 2021, SenateBill 715 was signed intolaw, which enacts importantgun purchase safeguards.SB 906 continues theSenator’s legacy as one ofCalifornia’s most ardentgun reform advocates.

newsletters.Additionally, the City is

currently participating inthe San Gabriel ValleyCouncil of Govemment'sRegional Food Recoveryp r o g r a m(https://www.sgvcog.org/reg iona l - foodrecovery-

program) and the City'sPurchasing Policy is underreview for compliance withSB 1383.

Businesses can contactBurrtec for a free wasteassessment or to sign up forservices, by calling 1-800-325-9417 or visit bur-rtec.com.

Organic Waste RecyclingContinued from page 1

State Senator AnthonyJ. Portantino (D – LaCañada Flintridge) intro-duced Senate Bill 1302, ameasure that will providegrants to high schools toestablish or improve well-ness and mental health sup-port centers on campus.

“Supporting our stu-dent’s mental health andwellness in our schools iscritical, especially duringthe post-pandemic era,”stated Senator Portantino.“Teachers and administra-tors are overwhelmed andstudents need access tomental health resourcesnow more than ever. SB1302 addresses this issueand is necessary for thelong-term wellbeing andacademic success of ourstudents. ”

Reports suggest that amajority of students are notcurrently receiving the carethey need. More than 75%of principals stated that theemotional and mentalhealth needs of studentswere a problem, and two-thirds of teachers said theywere unequipped to dealwith their students’ mentalhealth. A 2020 report by theCalifornia Mental HealthServices Oversight andA c c o u n t a b i l i t yCommission found that one

in three high school stu-dents reported feelingchronically sad and hope-less, with the number risingto more than half for LGBTstudents. One in six highschool students reportedhaving considered suicidein the past year, and one inthree LGBT students.

SB 1302 would appro-priate $1B to theSuperintendent of PublicInstruction to provide annu-al grants of up to $250,000each to high schools toestablish or improve studentwellness centers. The billwould require grant funds toprovide comprehensivemedical and behavioralhealth services, includingactivities that will help stu-dents to be healthy in body,mind, and spirit in order tolearn successfully. SB 1302would authorize grant fundsto be used for personnel tosupport pupil health.Finally, SB 1302 wouldrequire the StateDepartment of Education toidentify criteria for the eval-uation of applicants and theawarding of grants.

“The time is now toinvest in our student’s well-being. We have a historicbudget surplus and if wecan’t utilize it to meet ourstudents’ needs, I’m deter-

mined to find a fundingsource that will accomplishthis needed support,” con-

cluded Portantino.Senator Portantino has

long been advocating forpolicies that improve men-tal health outcomes foryouth. Last year, heauthored SB 14 and SB 224,which address the growing

mental health crisis amongCalifornia’s youth by imple-menting mental health edu-

cation and training inschools. Governor Newsomsigned both measures intolaw. The Senator also pre-viously authored SB 972, ameasure that requiredschools to print the suicidehotline on student identifi-

cation cards. Additionally,the Senator dedicated threeyears to pass SB 328, which

pushes back school starttimes for middle and highschools.


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FoothillConsortiumContinued from page 6

Senator Anthony Portantino Introduces Bill to Support Student Wellness

March 2022 – April 2022 CHAMBER NEWS Duarte View 11

12 Duarte View CHAMBER NEWS March 2022 – April 2022

Duarte Chamber Calendar of Events 2022

March - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker Dr. Gordon Amerson

April - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

May - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

June - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

July - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

August - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

September - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

October - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

November - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

December - Monthly Networking Breakfast (first Wednesday of every month) Speaker to be announced

Installation Dinner – Location – Westminster Gardens - Date -June 25, 2022

Women’s Business Expo- Date – October 2022 Location – DoubleTree Hotel

Pop-up Holiday Boutique - December 1, 2022

Chamber Champion Christmas Trees Contest December 1-15, 2022

Duarte City Council Adopts Ordinance Requiring Organic ...

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