This year, Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) continued her efforts to help college students fight mounting higher education costs by authoring Assembly Bill 1914, which was signed into law, last Friday by Governor Brown. AB 1914 ensures that college students are not paying for unnecessary and underutilized academic materials during coursework.
“Each year students pay approximately $1,300 for required textbooks,” said Assemblywoman Bonilla. “Couple this with rising tuition, room and board, and the fact that textbooks are increasingly linked to digital content which require access codes costing an additional fifty to one hundred dollars, college is becoming more and more unaffordable. The problem is not only the extra costs, but the fact that many of the tasks managed by digital content can be completed by platforms already available to professors and universities.”
Faculty members are already encouraged to consider free or inexpensive options when they select materials for their students to purchase. However, in many cases, professors do not realize the cost of the materials they assign or know that less expensive, quality resources are available. AB 1914 addresses this issue by requiring a policy specifically considering the benefits and drawbacks of academic materials, in addition to raising awareness of platforms already available on campus. Overall, this bill will make the process of selecting, requiring, and purchasing textbooks more transparent for both faculty and their students.
“This bill is part of our continued commitment to ensuring students have access to affordable course materials,” said David Lopez, California State Student Association President. “For far too long the cost of textbooks have been rising at levels that put students in undesirable financial situations. With the help of Assemblywoman Bonilla and her dedicated staff, we have been able to alleviate some of that financial burden by continuing to improve access to free or low-cost educational resources. CSSA believes every student should have access to an affordable education, and this bill is yet another positive step toward that goal.”
Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) was elected in November 2010 and represents California’s 14th Assembly District, which includes Contra Costa County and Solano County.
Read MoreThe Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s (MDUSD) new Visual and Performing Arts Steering Committee is beginning a series of meetings to engage the MDUSD community in planning a framework for sustained growth of visual and performing arts in district schools as part of the District’s core belief that all students in MDUSD deserve a high quality and robust arts education.
The committee was formed in spring 2016 as a leadership and advocacy group composed of District teachers and central office staff focusing on equitable access to high-quality visual and performing arts programs from Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through Grade 12. The committee also includes a student leadership component – Student Leaders Within the Performing Arts. Students will meet throughout the year for special sessions on a variety of arts-related topics. Their first meeting on September 7, featured a motivational speaker talking about student leadership and break outs for students in band, orchestra and vocal music.
“A strong arts education promotes the skills our students need to be successful in school and in life,” said Meyer. “We know from our experiences and from years of research that experiences in the arts have direct connections to positive student outcomes. Arts education levels the playing field among students, regardless of income, race or ethnicity, and other demographics.”
Decades of research compiled by the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), a national network of organizations dedicated to advancing the arts in education, show time and again that students highly involved in the arts outperform students with little or no arts involvement, particularly in school settings. They receive better grades, have more positive attitudes about school, and are less likely to drop out of school. An AEP study also noted that, more importantly, the differences are most significant for economically disadvantaged students.
This year’s National Arts in Education Week will be observed September 11 – 17, as part of House Resolution #275 designating the second week of September as National Arts in Education Week. The resolution expresses congressional support for arts education, stipulating that “arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students.”
“Arts education is a priority of the MDUSD as a key tool for developing capacity for creativity, problem solving, collaboration and communication, and leadership,” added Meyer. “More and more, these qualities are essential to being successful in the 21st century workforce.”
California leads the United States in the creative economy with the largest number of creative jobs. Additionally, California has two of the top five regions leading the creative economy; the Los Angeles region and the San Francisco Bay Area. MDUSD visual arts teachers have demonstrated success at preparing students to participate in this flourishing creative economy. Some MDUSD arts alumni are working in California’s creative economy in major companies such as like Laika, FitBit, Playstation, the DeYoung Museum, and Yelp.
“From photography to ceramics, and culinary arts to designing layouts for the yearbook, the courses I took in high school enabled me to think creatively and critically, and were crucial to my decision to study art history and design in college,” said Ryan Printer, an administrator with the Department of Strategic Projects at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and an MDUSD alumnus. “The arts education I received in the Mount Diablo Unified School District inspired me to pursue the career I have today,”
Key to MDUSD’s success is the expertise of the MDUSD visual arts teachers. “Our MDUSD visual arts team includes teachers with multiple degrees in Art and education, several National Board Certified teachers, and many teachers who are also practicing professional artists,” said Meyer.
MDUSD has four approved AP courses of study in the visual arts (AP 2-D, AP Drawing, AP 3-D, and AP Art History) offering students college-level coursework in high school. MDUSD offers numerous CTE courses in arts, media, and entertainment providing students with opportunities to be college and career ready.
MDUSD’s art students were selected by the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek to exhibit work from around the district in the Walnut Creek library during April 2017. This exhibition will represent the first district-wide art show in over 10 years. Meadow Homes Elementary has also been chosen as a Turnaround Arts School and recognized by the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities.
In April 2016, the US Department of Education issued a letter to State Educational agencies and school districts discussing how to maximize Federal funds to support and enhance humanities-based educational strategies under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA.) MDUSD has recently added a specific goal in the 2016 LCAP that targets visual and performing arts (Goal 1.21.)
To learn more check out the following, additional resources:
Courses of Study – Performing Arts
Courses of Study – Visual Arts
California’s creative economy: http://www.otis.edu/sites/default/files/2015-CA-Region-Creative-Economy-Report-WEB-FINAL.pdf
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
Former Moraga Mayor Ken Chew released his candidate’s statement early, so voters can know why he is running for BART Board in District 3. He is one of three challengers for incumbent Rebecca Saltzman, who is seeking reelection to her second term.
Following is his complete statement:
“We can make BART better. We can make BART safe, clean and run-on time. We can hold the BART Board fiscally responsible and accountable. I will work hard to make this happen.
With over 25 years’ experience as a transportation professional and having served three years on the Moraga Planning Commission before serving eight years as a councilmember, including two years as mayor, I have the expertise and public policy leadership experience to be your BART Director.
BART is an essential system in need of reform in many areas. BART employees are our assets and integral to the success of the entire system under strong leadership with a sound plan.
My top priority is to make stations and trains safe and welcoming with adequate staffing and training to transform BART stations to be clean, service-oriented and vibrant. I will pursue full staffing of BART police, and then push for smart technology solutions to force multiply their abilities on public safety effectiveness. For the few stations that are key opportunity hubs for ‘smart village’ development, I will work with stakeholders to attract community investments to develop transit villages of the 21st century.
Reform requires new leadership characterized by common sense and shared vision. With your votes, we can begin the process of getting BART back on track.”
Chew has the support of over 50 public officials, community leaders and business owners, including four of the five members of the Contra Costa County Supervisors, Candace Andersen, Federal Glover, Karen Mitchoff and Mary Piepho, as well a variety of mayors and council members. For a more extensive list of his endorsements visit www.electkenchew.com/endorsements.html.
District 3 includes the following BART Stations: Bay Fair, Downtown Berkeley, El Cerrito del Norte, El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley, Orinda, Rockridge, San Leandro; and all or portions of the following cities and communities: Albany, Ashland, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Cherryland, El Cerrito, Kensington, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakland, Orinda, Piedmont, San Lorenzo See map of District 3, here: www.bart.gov/sites/default/files/docs/bart_3.pdf
Chew is a long time resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a professional engineer, is married and a father of two children. For more information about his campaign, visit www.electkenchew.com. The election is November 8.
Read MoreSan Ramon – Assemblywoman Catharine Baker (R-San Ramon) announced that Governor Brown has signed her bill, AB 2486, making it easier for consumers to find and check for a licensed contractor for construction projects.
Under current law, California consumers are required to use a licensed contractor for construction projects costing more than $500. When an unlicensed contractor is used, consumers risk suffering financial loss, costly lawsuits, and shoddy workmanship with little recourse. Regrettably, the Contractor’s State License Board website only allows consumers to search for contractors by name or license number. As a result, consumers cannot utilize the Board’s website to find a licensed contractor. Instead, they can only look up a contractor for whom they already have a name or license number.
AB 2486 fixes this problem and requires the Board to update its website to allow consumers to search for licensed contractors by zip code. This important feature will help make it easier for individuals to find contractors working in their community and prevent consumers from falling victim to the underground economy and unlicensed contractor scams.
“Although it only makes a small change to the Contractors State License Board website, AB 2486 will have a significant impact on improving consumer protection and access to important information,” said Assemblywoman Baker. “At the four Senior Fraud Seminars we’ve hosted throughout the District, constituents made it loud and clear that they want easier ways to search for and screen contractors in order to avoid and detect scams from unlicensed contractors. Making government serve more efficiently is what I’m about, and I’m so pleased that this bill has been signed.”
When unlicensed contractors are used, they provide increased risk to consumers, undercut lawful employers, and contribute to the state’s unsafe and unlawful underground economy. The Franchise Tax Board estimates that the underground economy costs the state $10 billion annually in uncollected tax revenue. AB 2486 will help combat the use of unlicensed contractors in the underground economy by making it easier for consumers to get information about licensed contractors in their area.
AB 2486 received the support of Associated Builders and Contractors of California, California Landscape Contractors Association, Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange, the California Pool and Spa Association, and the Contractors State License Board.
Prior to being signed by the Governor, AB 2486 received unanimous, bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly.
Baker represents the 16th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.
Read MoreBy Supervisor Federal Glover
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, the United States suffered the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. 9/11 has become a date that will live in infamy. It is our generation’s equivalent to December 7, 1941. Who can ever forget the jetliners crashing into the New York skyscrapers, bursting into flames, people jumping from the upper stories, the last calls of those trapped inside.
Who can forget the office workers fleeing the burning floors above them and the firemen dragging their hoses with them, going up the stairs towards the flames.
Who can forget the towers toppling down on workers and the heroic first responders? The mayhem, the dust-covered office workers?
Who can forget other firefighters, policemen and other rescue workers going through the debris to find survivors?
Who can forget the people from all across the nation, including some from Contra Costa County, who dropped what they were doing and rushed to New York to help in the rescue efforts?
Who can forget Flight 93’s heroic passengers, including residents of the Bay Area, who fought the terrorists to prevent the jetliner crashing into the White House or Congress even though it meant their certain death?
The deaths of those 3000 people on 9/11 are seared into our collective memories. We will always remember what we were doing and where we were on that fateful morning.
But there is another memory I’ll always keep with me. I’ll remember the American people rallying around the towers, around New York, around the Pentagon and Flight 93 – that was perhaps among the finest hours of America. We didn’t think about the race of the victims or their rescuers. We didn’t ask if they were Democrat, Republican, liberal or conservative, rich or poor. For those few hours, those few weeks, after the horrible acts of terror; we were united as a country, we were all Americans.
That is what I’ll remember.
Glover represents District 5 on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.
Read MoreDetectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff have arrested 22-year-old Nicholas Daigle of Walnut Creek in connection with an alleged lewd conduct incident that occurred at the Alamo Safeway last month.
After the incident, the Office of the Sheriff posted surveillance photos and a video on social media. Several tips came in by phone and email identifying Daigle as the person in the images.
Detectives arrested Daigle at his home Wednesday morning without incident. After being interviewed, he was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on several charges: battery, indecent exposure, sexual battery, and engaging in lewd conduct.
Daigle is currently being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Anyone who has any information on this incident or Daigle is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreDetectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff are investigating a Deprivation of Custody case.
A relative was recently awarded temporary guardianship of 3-year-old Jahkai Smith by the Contra Costa Superior Court. The child’s father, 25-year-old Jahron Smith, has ignored the court order and refused to turn over the child. Jakhai is considered to be at risk due to age.
Jahkai Smith – Male, 3′ tall, 50 pounds, black hair and brown eyes.
Jahron Najee Smith – Male, 5’11”, 155 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes. Jahron may be in the Bay Point or Antioch areas and has ties to Oakland.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Jahkai or Jahron is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 383-9795. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
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The alleged suspect in the bank robbery that occurred at the U.S. Bank branch in Lafayette on August 23, 2016 was arrested. He is identified as 55-year-old Robert Keith Dennis of Oroville.
During the investigation, Lafayette police detectives, assisted by the FBI, determined the alleged suspect may be tied to a series of recent bank robberies in Northern California. Bank robberies involving a similar suspect were also being investigated by police in Brentwood, Napa, Roseville, and Sacramento. The Davis Police Department was also investigating an attempted bank robbery allegedly by the same suspect.
On Wednesday, August 31, 2016, an officer with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office saw a law enforcement bulletin with a picture of the alleged bank robbery suspect and was able to identify him as Dennis. He was already in custody in Butte County Jail for a drug violation.
On Thursday, September 1, 2016, Lafayette police detectives served arrest and search warrants at several locations in Oroville. They were assisted by the Napa Police Department, Oroville Police Department and Butte County Sheriff’s Office. Police arrested 47-year-old Elizabeth Fay Morse of Oroville after Napa police detectives were able to confirm her alleged involvement in some the robberies.
Dennis and Morse are currently being held at the Butte County Jail.
Morse was arrested on a Ramey Warrant for robbery and conspiracy. She is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and will be transferred to Contra Costa County.
Dennis is in custody on unrelated felony drug charges. When he is released from Butte County Jail, he will be arrested on a Ramey Warrant and will be transferred to Contra Costa County.
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Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 5:00-7:00pm
Please join us and tour the new BART to Antioch Train!
Testing has begun on this new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) vehicle – you may have already seen it traveling in the center median of Hwy 4.
This is your opportunity to view it in person at a public open house.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
5:00-7:00pm
BART’s Antioch Maintenance Facility
End of Slatten Ranch Road (formerly Sunset Drive), Antioch
Just east of the Park & Ride lot at the new Antioch BART Station at Hillcrest Avenue and Sunset Drive, Antioch, CA.
To RSVP please visit: eventbrite.com/e/bart-to-antioch-train-preview-open-house-tickets-27182466489 or call (510) 464-6257.
For more information about the project: http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/ecc
Read MoreThe Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect in a lewd conduct incident that recently occurred at the Safeway grocery store at the Alamo Plaza Shopping Center in Alamo.
On August 22, 2016 at about 9:07 PM, an adult female shopping in the store was followed by a man she did not recognize. At one point, this person masturbated next to the woman in the store aisle. When the woman turned toward the man and questioned him, he quickly left the store.
Please see the video and pictures of the suspect. The video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se9JqsHV7Iw
He is described as a white male, early 20’s, dark hair, wearing a purple colored top, dark pants and carrying a backpack.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone who can identify this suspect or has any information on this incident is asked to immediately contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
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