Cerritos Republican Club News
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July 2012
CRC Annual BBQ Meeting July 10, 2012
At the July General Meeting we had our annual BBQ. Hamburgers and hot dogs were grilled over hot coals. Buns, salads, fruits, chips, dessert, and ice cream were also on the menu. A large "American Flag" cake was enjoyed by everyone.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe was our guest speaker. He began by saying, "There’s a rumor that the State wants to “borrow” $1 billion from Los Angeles County." That drew laughs from the over forty people in attendance.
Redevelopment Agencies were formed by many Cities to address blight, reduce crime, and give communities a chance to reinvent themselves. Projects resulted in new jobs, services, and increased property and sales tax revenues for Cerritos. Unfortunately a few Agencies had problems, and the State saw an opportunity for increasing its funds by eliminating the Agencies. The dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies is continuing, and the State is asking for the property tax increment in monthly payments. Don was critical about how the State handled this. He thought that it should have been done on a city by city process for those cities abusing the use of funds. It was done without considering the workers who were affected. Or that job creation would be stifled.
The County is not certain about the effects of Obamacare. Los Angeles County has the largest uninsured population in the nation - over 2 million people. That is not sustainable. There are many unknowns about the State's participation in Medicaid expansion and the introduction of competition into our system. Competition should be a good thing and it will provide people with more choices and control over their healthcare. The County has been preparing for Obamacare.
The (Jerry) Brown tax plan was brought up. Don doesn’t like it.
Two newborn baby girls were saved under the Safe Surrender program in last week. They are the 92nd and 93rd to be saved under this program since it was initiated by Don in 2001.
The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority requested an ordinance on the November ballot to extend the Measure R one-half cent sales tax another 30 years. Don voted against it because the current Measure R (which was passed in 2008) expires in 2039 which should be long enough to complete transit and highway projects on time and within budget. The MTA has already seen that more funding is needed than originally thought. There are no guarantees that the additional funding will result in a fair and balanced transportation program in the County.
Here are more pictures of who attended the BBQ.
The Club would like to thank the following members who donated food or ice for the BBQ: Nancy Crockett (cookies), Terri Gentiluomo and Janice Hawkins (fruit), Helen Nahar (vegetable salad), John Nieto (ice), Joan Pylman (lettuce and tomatoes), Joanne Witt (jello salad), and Candy Yee (potato salad).
The Club congratulates Hedy Harrison-Anduha who won the Opportunity Drawing. She promptly donated the prize to the Club. The Club gratefully thanks her for this donation.
Let Freedom Ring Celebration July 4, 2012
The Cerritos Republican Club participated in the Let Freedom Ring Celebration by having a food booth this year. We had two shifts of volunteers.
We sold lots of corn dogs, sodas, ice cream, chips, and water through the efforts of Janice Dawson, John Dawson, Terri Gentiluomo, Janice Hawkins, Matt Kauble, Dixie Primosch, Joan Pylman, Rick Royse, Fern Turner, Courtney Santa Cruz (Fern Turner's granddaughter), Candy Yee, and Jim Yee.
The Club thanks the following members who made monetary donations toward our Let Freedom Ring booth: Bruce Barrows, Roger Garrett, Joan Guzman, Joan Pylman, Rick Royse, and Tracy Winkler. We also thank Lew and Terri Gentiluomo for donating a case of soda for the booth.
Our photographer Candy Yee did not take pictures of the Let Freedom Ring Celebration. If you took pictures of the Celebration and would like to add them to this article, please send them to jfyee@hotmail.com.