Assemblymember Tom Ammiano

Legislative Update:
- AB 2337: Reforming CalPERS
  - Hearing date: April 21, 2010
- LGBT Caucus Chair
- U.S. Census: Be counted!
- UCSF Health Update: The dangers of too much sugar
- Franchise Tax Board: Free Tax Help available
- Community Events
Legislative Update:

My bill to reform CalPERS, AB 2337, will be heard on April 21. The bill would prohibit PERS and the State Teachers’ Retirement System from investing public employee retirement funds in companies that engage in predatory investment practices that result in the displacement of persons residing in rent-regulated housing. Public funds should only be used for socially responsible investments not to help companies evict rent-controlled tenants.

Please contact members of the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee (link below) and tell them that it’s time to reform CalPERS by supporting AB 2337. www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp

Chair of LGBT Caucus: I was recently named Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus. The Caucus was formed originally in June 2002. Its role is to present a forum for the California Legislature to discuss issues that affect LGBT Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. Formation of the LGBT Caucus made California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of openly-LGBT state legislators.

The political leadership within the LGBT caucus, which is rooted in the struggles our community has overcome, is committed in these challenging times to standing for social justice for all. Striving to overcome obstacles is what inspired Harvey Milk and that same spirit continues to drive our caucus today.

U.S. Census: All Californians, regardless of age, resident status, or home ownership need to act now to make sure we receive our fair share of the billions of dollars intended for California. Federal formulas use the decennial count to determine how over $435,000,000,000 is distributed among the states. Federally funded programs in California provide essential services, benefits, and education for Californians in need.

There’s a lot YOU can do to make certain everyone gets counted. Make Census the topic of your conversations. Become an expert in the importance of the Census count.

Knowing why census data are collected, how it is well protected, and the benefits for California are important to the sustainability of essential programs. All across our state, people are taking a stand to be counted.

Make yourself a part of California’s history. Be Californian. Be Counted.

www.census.ca.gov
www.californiacompletecount.org

UCSF Health Update: Did you know that there is over half a cup of sugar in a one liter (32oz) bottle of soda and many sports drinks? That's the amount of sugar in 8 cupcakes or brownies! Would you let your child eat 8 cupcakes with their lunch? 1 liter of soda has 500 calories - a quarter of the recommended daily intake for an adult. Studies show that the simple step of removing soda and other sweetened beverages from your diet can help you lose weight.

Physicians at UCSF are concerned about the rapidly increasing number of obese children they see who are at risk for adult diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Doctors struggle to help their patients and families find ways to decrease sugar consumption, lose weight and live healthier lives. That is why I have joined them in supporting legislation (SB1210) that requires beverage manufacturers to pay a one cent tax per teaspoon of added sugar in their products. This would generate an estimated 1.5 billion dollars, per year, earmarked for obesity prevention in California. This legislation is a great starting point toward addressing the problem of excess sugar in our diets and working to decrease obesity.

For more information please go to www.publichealthadvocacy.org

Franchise Tax Board: With the April 15 deadline to file your tax return fast approaching, make sure that you get all the needed information to file, depending on your income level, you may even qualify for a free tax return.

More information available at: www.ftb.ca.gov

Community Events:
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Festival: Saturday and Sunday, April 10 & 11, 17 & 18
Where: Post Street btw Laguna and Fillmore
Time: 1 pm

Grand Parade: Sunday, April 18, 2010
Where: Civic Center Plaza
Time: 1pm

Website: www.nccbf.org

Now celebrating its 43rd year, the Cherry Blossom festival is one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions. Each year, over 150,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community.

All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture in San Francisco’s Japantown. There will be food booths, cultural performances, martial arts, live bands, the annual Queen Program, and more. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is said to be the second largest festival outside of Washington, D.C. to celebrate the blooming of cherry blossoms; and held at one of three remaining Japantowns in the United States.

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14300, San Francisco, CA 94102

www.assembly.ca.gov/ammiano * Assemblymember.Ammiano@assembly.ca.gov * (415) 557–3013

Committees

April 2010 Newsletter

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Legislative Update: