Bilingual Weekly
Stockton
I Have a Voice: Danny Thomas Dunne Ruiz
Dunne-Ruiz is a retired police officer from Tracy, author of the Blue Mexican, a novel published in 2009 and currently works as English teacher at San Mary`s High School and the San Joaquin Delta College.
What started as a part time job at the Tracy Police Department, for the young Dunne-Ruiz turned into a police career of twenty years.
“I went from a dispatcher to a patrol man, to detective sergeant.”
I Have a Voice: Candy Vargas
Candy Vargas poses for Bilingual Weekly cover-shoot by Sarah Lippincott.
Candy Vargas,
Born and raised in Lamont Bakersfield, Vargas moved to Stockton six years ago to attend the University of the Pacific.
It was during a study abroad program at Lima, Peru where Vargas renewed her interest in the public service. Continue reading
JobsPAC derails Parede’s Assembly bid
JobsPAC mailer
California — As voters received their absentee ballots for the 2012 primary election, the California’s 13th Assembly District voters also received a negative campaign mailer by JobsPAC —a mailer that made Xochilt Raya Paredes reconsider her candidacy. Continue reading
STOCKTON’S AB 506 CONFIDENTIAL MEDIATION PARTICIPANTS
(Stockton, CA) - On February 28, 2012, the Stockton City Council approved moving forward with a confidential neutral evaluation process recently adopted through state legislation, AB 506. The process gives municipalities that are in fiscal distress an opportunity for financial restructuring, not unlike what goes on in the private sector. The City has not declared bankruptcy.
The City’s total annual budget is $600 million including all funds and operations; the financial restructuring involves only a small portion of the City’s total budget – the General Fund – which represents approximately $165 million of the larger budget.
The AB 506 process allows municipalities to enter into a period of confidential mediation with creditors or “interested parties” with $5 million or more in obligations or debt. The City and interested parties will select a mediator with the goal of reaching an agreement on how to manage these City debt obligations.
AB 506 process requires that the mediation process remain confidential; however, the participants in Stockton’s AB 506 process have all agreed to identify the names of the organizations that will be participating, which is allowable under the legislation. The participating parties include:
- Association of Retired Employees of the City Of Stockton
- Assured Guaranty
- California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Dexia Credit Local, New York Branch
- Franklin Advisers, Inc.
- Jarvis/MUD case
- Mid-Management/Supervisory Level Unit (Management B&C Employees)
- National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
- Operating Engineers’ Local 3
- Price case
- Stockton City Employees’ Association (SCEA)
- Stockton Firefighters’ Local 456
- Stockton Fire Management Unit
- Stockton Police Management Association
- Stockton Police Officers’ Association (SPOA)
- Union Bank, NA
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as indenture trustee for the following bonds: Redevelopment Authority of the City of Stockton Revenue Bonds, Series 2004 (Stockton Events Center Arena Project); Stockton Public Financing Authority Lease Revenue Bonds, Series 2004 (Parking and Capital Projects); Stockton Public Financing Authority 2006 Lease Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series A; Stockton Public Financing Authority Variable Rate Demand Lease Revenue Bonds, 2007 Series A and 2007 Series B (Taxable) (Building Acquisition Financing Project); City of Stockton 2007 Taxable Pension Obligations Bonds, Series A and Series B; Stockton Public Financing Authority Lease Revenue Bonds, 2009 Series A (Capital Improvement Projects); Stockton Public Financing Authority Variable Rate Demand Water Revenue Bonds, Series 2010A (Delta Water Supply Project)
In addition, the participants have all agreed to provide the name of the mediator, once the mediator has been selected.
For additional information or questions, please visit www.stocktongov.com or call (209) 937-8827.
Recognizing A Trauma Advocate
Update: The women’s Center Women’s Center Welcomes a new keynote speaker, Filmmaker and Activist Nancy Schwartzman Annual Luncheon Returns to Civic Auditorium. Please read updated story CLICK HERE.
The Women’s Center of San Joaquin recognizes Advocate for survivors of trauma including homeless, survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, acute trauma, and natural disasters: author and Zen Master Laura van Dernoot Lipsky at this years 32nd annual luncheon.
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CA – The Women’s Center will host its 32nd Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Stockton Civic Auditorium.
Anthony Silva joins race for Stockton
Boys and Girls Club Executive Director to Challenge Stockton’s Mayor
STOCKTON — “I am standing before you tonight to officially announce my intentions to become the next mayor of the City of Stockton,” said CEO and president of the Boys and Girls Cub, Anthony Silva, as he stood before an audience of more than 200 at Variety`s Banquet Hall on Wednesday, February 29th .
Anthony Silva,CEO and president of the Boys and Girls Cub, announces that he is running for mayor.
Silva is a former Stockton Parks and Recreations commissioner and a former Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) board president. He currently serves on the board of directors for Silver Lake Camp and the Miss San Joaquin County scholarship program. Additionally, Silva works at the San Joaquin County`s human Service Agency as the Aquatic program Director,where he teaches children swimming and water polo.
“I am not afraid to make tough and right decisions, to take on gangs, to address the homeless situation or to challenge special interest groups,” expressed Silva. “I am especially not afraid to roll up my sleeves and work to clean up the city by taking it back one street at a time.”
In addition to his anti-crime agenda and the City’s budget, Silva explained that one of his priorities is creating jobs. “I will implement an aggressive plan to market our city in good light and help bring new industries and new opportunities to Stockton.”
“If elected Mayor, I will not take the 80,000 per year stipend until the city can get approved a balanced budget,” declared Silva in his speech. Silva acknowledged that Stockton is in one of the worst economic periods in our history, with record-breaking crime statistics: “it is not what I want people to think of when they think about our city.”
“Imagine a city with enough jobs for graduates, where people walk the streets without the fear to of crime, a city where we don’t close public libraries and community centers,” said Silva as she shared his future vision of Stockton to the audience.
Thus far four others have expressed interest in running against Mayor Ann Johnston; those interested to lead Stockton’s City Council are: Bar Owner Jimmie Rishwain, Auto Dealer Anthony Stevens, Plant Maintenance Supervisor James Butler, and former council member Ralph Lee White.
Tubbs announces candidacy: pledges mission to solve hopelessness
Stockton, CA- Surrounded by supporters, Michael Tubbs announced his candidacy for Stockton City Council district 6 —a seat presently held by Dale Fritchen. His announcement at Van Buskirk Community Center included spoken word poetry by With Our Words, Inc. and music by local bands Tipping Point and Sugar Water Purple.
In an e-mail to the Stanford Daily, Tubbs revealed that his speech was designed to express, “the long road to victory we have in battling: poverty, crime, hopelessness and a political power system.”
Michael Tubbs
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of education, stating: “I will work to advance education… so, I can help Sara Cazares and the school board to make sure the schools are educating our kids,” said Tubbs while looking toward Sara Cazares, President of the Board at Stockton Unified School District, who made a return appearance for Tubbs’ announcement following weeks in the hospital due to a stroke and aneurism.
Tubbs’ story one of triumph as he is a, “son of an incarcerated father and a teenage mother.” A product of Stockton Schools —he is a Franklin High school graduate—Tubbs received a full-ride scholarship to Stanford University. Tubbs is poised to graduate from Stanford with honors on his bachelor’s degree and a master’s in Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies in May.
In his speech, Tubbs referenced his experience working in the White House, helping craft the Obama administration’s strategy for engaging with mayors and city councils nationwide as part of the Bing Stanford Program in Washington D.C. Furthermore, he co-founded the Summer Success and Leadership Academy at the University of the Pacific and currently serves as the founder and executive director of The Phoenix Scholars, a state-wide non-profit, which to date has helped over 300 high school students apply and matriculate into college.
2012 Urban Land Institute findings
STOCKTON, CA – After fifteen years, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) once again visited Stockton to provide recommendations for the city to revitalize its downtown.
Nine panelists spent the week of February 9, 2012 analyzing the city, conducting over one hundred individual interviews to frame a report that was recently presented to the city’s residents.
Stockton Kaiser employees participate in a regional one-day strike
Kaiser Permanente employees and union leaders circled outside the Kaiser facilities in Stockton on Tuesday, January 31st as part as a one-day strike throughout Northern California, battling over contract negotiations with Kaiser.
Stockton’s Marshall Plan unveils committee
Stockton, CA- Stockton’s City Council met on Tuesday, January 31st in a study session of the Marshall Plan — a plan to combat the city`s escalating crime.
RTD: Offers Kids Safety
On Tuesday, January 24 RTD released a new “Safe Place” campaign — a national youth outreach program which provides immediate help for all young people in crisis through a network of Safe Place locations like schools, fire stations, grocery stores and public transit centers.
Up with Education: A workshop for Latino Families to apply for scholarships
By Mayra Barrios
(bw) STOCKTON, CA – The San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SJCHCC), in partnership with the University of the Pacific and other community organizations, hosted the 9th Annual Student Financial Aid and College Awareness Workshop during the morning of Sunday, January 29th at the A.G. Spanos Hall at University of the Pacific in Stockton.
Assistant Police Chief Next Stockton Police Chief
(Stockton, CA) – City Manager Bob Deis has announced the selection of Eric Jones as the next Stockton Police Chief. Jones, 40, is a 19-year veteran of the Stockton Police Department, and currently serves as second in command, Assistant Police Chief.
If you missed it: The State of the Union Address
Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address
United States Capitol Washington, D.C. 9:10 P.M. ET
THANK YOU
