Central Valley

CDC Provides Travelers with Tips for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Thursday, May 24, 2012

CDC Provides Travelers with Tips for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Millions of international visitors will travel to the United Kingdom (UK) this summer for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games between July 27th and August 12, 2012. In many ways, travel to and throughout the UK is similar to travel in the United States when it comes to health and safety. However, the expected Olympic crowds in the host cities increase your risk of illness and injury.

CDC is providing updated travel recommendations for the Summer Olympic Games in London at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/news-announcements/london-2012-olympic-and-paralympic-games.htm. By following these simple recommendations, you can stay safe and healthy while at the Games and bring home winning memories to last a lifetime.

Visit your health care provider four to six weeks before your departure date and get up-to-date on routine vaccines, especially measles. There’s a large measles outbreak in Europe, and a lot of unvaccinated American travelers got sick last year. Also be sure to contact your health insurance provider to learn the extent of your medical coverage and consider purchasing travel health insurance if necessary.

Pack a travel-health kit that includes medicines you take regularly, along with fever and pain relief pills. Travel only when you are well, and delay your trip if you feel sick.

While in the UK, make sure to follow these important prevention actions to keep yourself healthy and safe:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

2. Practice healthy behaviors: Drink alcohol in moderation, avoid drinking and driving, and use latex condoms if you have sex.

3. Stay alert, especially in crowds.

4. Exercise caution while traveling in the UK: be careful crossing the street, wear a helmet when you ride a bike or motorcycle, use a seatbelt if traveling by car, and remember that Londoners drive on the left, the opposite side of the road.

5. Follow local laws and customs and Olympic and Paralympic Games security regulations. Make a photocopy of your passport to carry with you at all times.

6. If you get sick while abroad, notify your health care provider when you return. Share full details of all your symptoms, activities, and adventures for the best follow-up care.

More Information
If you are also traveling to other European countries, you can find out more about other country specific health risks by checking the CDC Travelers’ Health destinations website for the most up-to-date health risks and notices of all countries.

Information provided by the Center for Disease Control.

Wreaking Havoc on our Crops: Oriental fruit fly

STOCKTON, CA — The Oriental fruit fly quarantine continues in Stockton, agriculture officials say they hope to end it in July. Continue reading »

Traffic Delay in Stockton

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> The connector ramps from southbound and northbound Interstate 5 to > eastbound State Route 4/Crosstown Freeway and the eastbound on-ramps from > El Dorado Street, Stanislaus Street and Wilson Way are closed due to > accident. There is heavy congestion in area. Use alternate routes if > possible. No estimated time of opening.
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New Community Development Director for Stockton

Official seal of City of Stockton

(Stockton, CA) – The City of Stockton has selected a new director to head its Community Development Department. Steve Chase, Director of Planning and Environment Services with the City of Goleta, will join the City of Stockton in July as the chief official of building, planning and development. Continue reading »

AB 506 Process Extended to Prevent City Bankruptcy

STOCKTON’S AB 506 PROCESS EXTENDED

Official seal of City of Stockton (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Stockton, CA) – The City of Stockton announced today that participants in the confidential neutral evaluation process, AB 506, have agreed to extend the mediation process beyond the originally scheduled 60 days, for an additional 30 days, through June 25. Continue reading »

AB 506 Process Extended

STOCKTON’S AB 506 PROCESS EXTENDED

(Stockton, CA) – The City of Stockton announced today that participants in the confidential neutral evaluation process, AB 506, have agreed to extend the mediation process beyond the originally scheduled 60 days, for an additional 30 days, through June 25.

“This is a good sign,” said Mayor Ann Johnston. “It means that our creditors understand our fiscal circumstances and it indicates that they believe that it is worth the investment of time and resources to work toward a solution.”

On February 28, 2012, the Stockton City Council approved moving forward with financial restructuring, using a process established under AB 506, which went into effect in January of this year. AB 506 allows financially distressed local governments to work with creditors and interested parties to restructure debt and obligations in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy. The financial restructuring involves only a portion of the City’s total budget – the General Fund – which represents approximately $155 million of the City’s $521 million budget.

A neutral evaluator (mediator) was selected jointly by the City and by participants at the end of March, which began the initial 60-day window for negotiations. Former United States Bankruptcy Judge Ralph R. Mabey, of Salt Lake City, Senior of Counsel to the Los Angeles Law Firm of Stutman Treister & Glatt, is the mediator. One of the provisions of AB 506, Government Code Section 53760.3 (r), allows a majority of the participants or the local government to approve an extension of 30 days, beyond the initial 60-day period.

Stockton was the first city in California to initiate mediation under the legislation. The extension of time will allow negotiations to continue through most of June.

“We are doing everything in our power to avoid bankruptcy,” continued Mayor Johnston. “Mediation is our last and best chance to come to an agreement and get the City of Stockton on firm financial footing that will restore services and allow us to become fiscally solvent.”

For additional information or questions, please visit www.stocktongov.com or call (209) 937-8827.

Celebrating the Legacy of Cesar Chavez: UFW 50th Anniversary

Written By: Fr. Dean McFalls, St. Mary’s Church, Stockton CA 95202

Fifty years ago, a quiet farm-worker, together with a diverse gathering of people concerned with the rights and the wellbeing of those who labor in our fields and orchards, founded the United Farm Workers. A grass-roots organization supported by many leaders in the highest levels of American government, the UFW has changed for good the conditions of campesinos (farm workers) and all who work with them throughout the United States.  Continue reading »

VIDEO: State of the City, Stockton 2011-2012

State of the City

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High Speed Rail Hosts Networking Event for Small Business

Special to Bilingual Weekly

Lisa Marie Burcar

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Today, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) hosted a

Meet-the-Primes business networking event at California State University/Bakersfield, where more than 500 small disadvantaged businesses and potential subcontractors met with several representatives from five pre-qualified design-build contractors who will bid on the initial construction section of the project.

“The Governor declared May to be California Small Business month and we couldn’t think of a better way to support his commitment to the state’s Small Businesses,” said Board Vice-Chair Tom Richards who spoke at the event. “Under the Governor’s leadership and through our Board’s commitment to a 30% goal for small disadvantaged business participation, we are ensuring the statewide high-speed train project will help small businesses thrive and prosper.”

Through the Authority’s recently finalized Small Disadvantaged Business (SB) Program, the Authority has established an aggressive 30% participation goal for contracts let by the Authority. Competing teams are expected to exercise good faith efforts to obtain SB commitments equal to or exceeding that 30% goal and execute an SB Performance Plan that includes comprehensive outreach to small businesses, SB engagement and the team’s track record working with small disadvantaged businesses.

The CHSRA Meet-the-Primes event was designed to provide an Authority-sponsored opportunity for small disadvantaged businesses to meet with pre-qualified design-build contractors who will be competing for high-speed rail design-build contracts. After an introduction by Authority staff and Vice-Chair Richards, a presentation was given highlighting the initial construction packages and Request for Proposals (RFP) procurement process. Information was then presented by the Authority’s Small and Disadvantaged Business team explaining opportunities available through the SB program.

Following the presentations, small businesses, micro businesses and businesses owned by minorities, women and disabled veterans from throughout California had an opportunity to network with representatives from the five short-listed teams.

Additionally, representatives from many state and federal agencies were available to provide information on services and certifications offered to small businesses.

“Small Businesses will be the backbone of this project,” said Thomas Fellenz, Acting CEO for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. “We can’t build this project without the creativity and diversity of California’s Small Businesses. This Meet-the-Primes event provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to show the five pre-qualified design-build contractors what they do and why they are important to the success of the project.”

The first construction segment of the high-speed rail project will extend approximately 29 miles from Avenue 17 near the city of Madera to south of the city of Fresno. It will be the first section of 130 miles of high-speed rail in the Central Valley which will create an estimated 100,000 job-years over the next five years.

Earlier this year, the Authority completed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process that resulted in five design-build teams being identified as qualified to bid for Authority work. The Authority’s RFP process will be conducted in two steps, with three Design-Build teams selected following a technical evaluation. The top three teams will then undergo a combined technical and price evaluation. Contracts are set to be finalized later this year.

Most Children Younger Than Age 1 are Minorities, Census Bureau Reports

The U.S. Census Bureau today released a set of estimates showing that 50.4 percent of our nation’s population younger than age 1 were minorities as of July 1, 2011. This is up from 49.5 percent from the 2010 Census taken April 1, 2010. A minority is anyone who is not single-race white and not Hispanic.

The population younger than age 5 was 49.7 percent minority in 2011, up from 49.0 percent in 2010. A population greater than 50 percent minority is considered “majority-minority.”

These are the first set of population estimates by race, Hispanic origin, age and sex since the 2010 Census. They examine population change for these groups nationally, as well as within all states and counties, between Census Day (April 1, 2010) and July 1, 2011. Also released were population estimates for Puerto Rico and its municipios by age and sex.

There were 114 million minorities in 2011, or 36.6 percent of the U.S. population. In 2010, it stood at 36.1 percent.

There were five majority-minority states or equivalents in 2011: Hawaii (77.1 percent minority), the District of Columbia (64.7 percent), California (60.3 percent), New Mexico (59.8 percent) and Texas (55.2 percent). No other state had a minority population greater than 46.4 percent of the total.

More than 11 percent (348) of the nation’s 3,143 counties were majority-minority as of July 1, 2011, with nine of these counties achieving this status since April 1, 2010. Maverick, Texas, had the largest share (96.8 percent) of its population in minority groups, followed by Webb, Texas (96.4 percent) and Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska (96.2 percent).

The Nation Slowly Ages

There was a small uptick in the nation’s median age, from 37.2 years in 2010 to 37.3 in 2011. The 65-and-older population increased from 40.3 million to 41.4 million over the period and included 5.7 million people 85 and older. Likewise, working-age adults (age 18 to 64) saw their numbers rise by about 2 million to 196.3 million in 2011. In contrast, the number of children under 18, 74.0 million in 2011, declined by about 200,000 over the period, largely because of the decline in high school-age children 14 to 17.

Maine had a higher median age than any other state (43.2), with Utah having the lowest median age (29.5). Florida had the highest percentage of its population 65 and older (17.6 percent), followed by Maine (16.3 percent). Utah had the highest percentage of its total population younger than 5 (9.3 percent).

Among counties, Sumter, Fla., was the nation’s “oldest,” with 45.5 percent of its population 65 and older, and Geary, Kan., was the nation’s “youngest” (11.4 percent younger than 5).

Highlights for each race group and Hispanics at the national, state and county levels:

Hispanics

• Nationally, the most populous minority group remains Hispanics, who numbered 52 million in 2011; they also were the fastest growing, with their population increasing by 3.1 percent since 2010. This boosted the Hispanic share of the nation’s total population to 16.7 percent in 2011, up from 16.3 percent in 2010.
• California had the largest Hispanic population of any state on July 1, 2011 (14.4 million), as well as the largest numeric increase within the Hispanic population since April 1, 2010 (346,000). New Mexico had the highest percentage of Hispanics at 46.7 percent.
• Los Angeles had the largest Hispanic population of any county (4.8 million) in 2011 and the largest numeric increase since 2010 (73,000). Starr County — on the Mexican border in Texas — had the highest share of Hispanics (95.6 percent).

Blacks

• African-Americans were the second largest minority group in the United States, at 43.9 million in 2011 (up 1.6 percent from 2010).
• New York had the largest black or African-American population of any state or state equivalent as of July 1, 2011 (3.7 million); Texas had the largest numeric increase since 2010 (84,000). The District of Columbia had the highest percentage of blacks (52.2 percent), followed by Mississippi (38.0 percent).
• Cook, Ill. (Chicago) had the largest black or African-American population of any county in 2011 (1.3 million), and Fulton, Ga. (Atlanta) had the largest numeric increase since 2010 (13,000). Holmes, Miss., was the county with the highest percentage of blacks or African-Americans in the nation (82.9 percent).

Asians

• Asians, who numbered 18.2 million nationally in 2011, were the second fastest-growing minority group, growing by 3.0 percent since 2010.
• California had both the largest Asian population of any state (5.8 million) in July 2011 and the largest numeric increase of Asians since April 1, 2010 (131,000). Hawaii is our nation’s only majority-Asian state, with people of this group comprising 57.1 percent of the total population.
• Los Angeles had the largest Asian population of any county (1.6 million) in 2011, and also the largest numeric increase (16,000) since 2010. At 61.2 percent, Honolulu had the highest percentage of Asians in the nation.

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN)

• The nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native population was an estimated 6.3 million in 2011, up 2.1 percent from 2010.
• California had the largest American Indian and Alaska Native population of any state in 2011 (1,050,000), and also the largest numeric increase since 2010 (23,000). Alaska had the highest percentage of AIAN (19.6 percent).
• Los Angeles had the largest AIAN population of any county in 2011 (231,000), and also the largest numeric increase (9,000) since 2010. Shannon County, S.D. — on the Nebraska border and located entirely within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation — had the highest percentage of AIAN (93.6 percent).

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHPI)

• The nation’s Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population was 1.4 million in 2011 and grew by 2.9 percent since 2010.
• Hawaii had the largest population of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders of any state (359,000) in 2011. California had the largest numeric increase since 2010 (9,000). Hawaii had the highest percentage of NHPI (26.1 percent).
• Honolulu had the largest population of NHPI of any county (235,000) in 2011. Los Angeles County had the largest numeric increase since 2010 (2,700). Hawaii County had the highest percentage of NHPI (34.0 percent).

Non-Hispanic White Alone

• California had the largest population of single-race, non-Hispanic whites of any state in 2011 (15.0 million). Texas had the largest numeric increase in this population group since 2010 (80,000). Maine had the highest percentage of the non-Hispanic white alone population (94.3 percent).

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Information provided by the US Census

Public Meeting for Sutter Street-El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Pathway Project

Public Meeting for Sutter Street—El Dorado Street

Pedestrian and Bicycle Pathway Project

(Stockton, CA)—Members of the public are invited to a public meeting on Monday, May 21, 2012, where the City of Stockton will present an El Dorado Street Precise Road Plan Amendment and a Bicycle Master Plan Amendment. The meeting, which will be held at the Central Church of Christ, 4368 North Sutter Street, Stockton, will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning with an open house, followed by a presentation at 6:30 p.m.

The Precise Road Plan Amendment will change the plans for the El Dorado Street Bridge from three northbound lanes to two northbound lanes, and widen the existing sidewalk on the bridge to accommodate a Class I bicycle path.

The Bicycle Master Plan Amendment will change sections of the Sutter Street bicycle route from Class II to Class III between Fulton Street and the Calaveras River, and Class I in Oak Park along Alpine Avenue between Sutter Street and California Street. It will also relocate the path’s bridge crossing from Sutter Street to the existing El Dorado Street Bridge.

Upon completion, the Project will close the gap between existing bicycle facilities, from the north bank of the Calaveras River south to California Street. The improvements will also allow bicycles and pedestrians to safely and easily travel between central and downtown Stockton.

The Project is in the project approval and design phase, which is being funded by Measure K bicycle funds. No City general funds are used on this project.

Hotline: (209) 464-4350, Ext. 101, or Hotline.

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information provided by Buethe Communications

News Release – Stockton Adopts Violence Reduction Initiative

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STOCKTON ADOPTS VIOLENCE REDUCTION INITITATIVE

Stockton Police Department Implements Community Response Team

(Stockton, CA) – The City of Stockton has experienced a sharp rise in violent crime. To address escalating violence, Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones proposed a “Violence Reduction Initiative” to the Stockton City Council this evening. The initiative proposes an alternative method of deploying police resources, including the implementation of a Community Response Team (CRT), beginning June 3, 2012. The Council approved the initiative, 7 – 0.

The Stockton Police Department is attempting to address the increase in crime, specifically targeting homicide, gangs, and gun violence. Citizens have publicly expressed the need for police presence in neighborhoods.

The CRT will provide a consistent approach to combating the on-going increase in violent crime by developing community partnerships in the areas where high-visibility and enforcement tactics will be deployed. Real-Time-Policing principles will be applied to adjust staffing and deployment, driven by intelligence and violent crime trend data. A camera system already installed throughout the city will be reactivated and used to monitor high-crime areas and deploy appropriate resources as conditions change. While flexible, the CRT will operate primarily during evening hours, which is the time of day that most violent crime occurs, concentrating on gun violence and gang incidents. The team may also be used to support long-term, covert operations targeting organized criminal street gangs.

Stockton Police Department staffing is at an all-time low. As resources are dedicated to the CRT to address the most violent situations, response to some calls for police service will be further impacted. For example, there will be reduced response to property crimes not in progress, and there will be a higher reliance on internet reporting as a means of communicating with the Police Department.

The goal of the Stockton Police Department is to build community trust, which is critical to any measure of success in our fight against crime.

“Chief Jones has shown tremendous leadership and creativity, during the most challenging times our City has ever experienced, by researching and developing methods of addressing crime with limited resources,” said Mayor Ann Johnston. “We know that he has the respect of the entire department and the community, and, together, they will make a difference in the violent crime that has had such an impact on city.”

The program is anticipated to cost $77,760 monthly in over-time and camera operations with a one-time cost of $5,000 to activate camera monitoring equipment.

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Information provided by the city of Stockton

Bone Density May Affect Immune System, Study Finds

Bone Density May Affect Immune System, Study Finds
UC Merced researchers shed light on how bone density may change a person’s immune system, a finding that could impact how scientists try to combat bone-related disease, such as osteoporosis

MERCED, Calif. — Researchers at the University of California, Merced, have discovered a new way in which bone health impacts a person’s immune system.

The discovery could impact how scientists try to combat bone-related disease, as drugs to improve bone quality could weaken a person’s immune system.

“The bone does have an influence on the basic biology of blood development,” immunology Professor Jennifer Manilay said. “This interdisciplinary research shows the need to look at the whole organ.”

Manilay collaborated with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researcher and adjunct UC Merced Professor Gabriela G. Loots, who disabled in mice the gene sclerostin, which maintains bone density. When it’s disabled, bone density increases, a condition known as sclerosteosis. It’s the opposite of osteoporosis, the decay of bones.

Manilay’s lab saw a decrease in the B-cells, a sign that the immune system may be compromised when sclerostin is disabled.

The findings are particularly important because drug maker Amgen is testing a drug to combat osteoporosis that disables sclerostin. Manilay said she was unsure whether the company has studied the drug’s effect on the immune system.

The UC Merced lab’s results were recently published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. The paper was also given an exceptional ranking by Faculty of 1000, a post-publication peer review website, in which leading scientists and clinicians from around the world identify and evaluate the most important articles in biology and medical research publications.

“These findings have important implications for patients being treated with inhibitors of sclerostin, as they imply that there may be negative effects on B cells,” wrote Sarah Dallas and Yasuyoshi Ueki of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. “The study is also exciting because it suggests a previously unknown role for osteocytes in the regulation of B cell development and survival.”

Modesto native Corey Cain was the paper’s lead author. He is planning to graduate with a Ph.D. this year and is securing a postdoctoral fellowship where he can continue his research into bones. He said it was helpful to be able to do research close to home.

“UC Merced has been great to me,” Cain said. “I have met and worked with wonderful friends and colleagues here who continually help shape my perspective on science.”

Manilay’s staff research associate, Bryce McLelland, and former UC Merced student Randell Rueda were co-authors on the paper.

Manilay plans to continue her research into sclerostin and B-cells. One project will explore whether a mouse’s immune system is significantly impacted with the gene disabled. Another project will explore what is happening to cause the B-cells to die, with the goal of reversing any adverse effects.

Cinco de Mayo Parade Winners

STOCKTON, CA -  Sunday May 6, 2012 the Coalition of Mexican American organizations (COMA) held their annual Cinco de Mayo parade in Downtown Stockton. COMA hires a professional judges association, Pacific COast Judges Association, to judge the parade and give awards to the best parade entries with the theme of ‘Peace in the Valley.’ Continue reading »

Full Closure of I-5 from I-580 to SR-132 in San Joaquin County

FULL HIGHWAY CLOSURE
Interstate 5 from Interstate 580 to State Route 132
in San Joaquin County

San Joaquin County – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
will close Interstate 5 (I-5) from I-580 to State Route 132 (SR-132) to
make repairs to the pavement.

Crews will close southbound I-5 and the southbound on-ramp from eastbound
and westbound SR-132 beginning on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at 7:00 a.m.
through Friday, May 4, 2012, at 7:00 a.m. Crews will also close the
northbound lanes beginning on Friday, May 4, 2012, at 7:00 a.m. through
Saturday, May 5, 2012, at 7:00 a.m.

Motorists should expect 15 minute delays. The alternate route is as
follows:

Traveling southbound on I-5:
· Westbound on SR-132
· Eastbound on I-580
· Merge onto southbound I-5

Traveling northbound on I-5:
· Westbound on I-580
· Eastbound on SR-132
· Northbound on I-5

This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change based
on weather conditions and equipment availability

12-05-01SJ5FullClosure.doc