June 27, 2013 Page 3 One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion By Gerry Chong such as Facebook will have profiles collected Tax Incentives that Benefit Landowners, “Fathom the hypocrisy of a government daily and held for 90 days. So what? What’s that requires that got to do with me? Provide Healthy Food Options for Community Every citizen to prove they are insured… Sure, in 2011, the government made 1.3 By Cristian Vasquez With the recent push promoting healthy But not everyone must prove they are a million requests of cellphone providers for The State Assembly recently passed AB551, lifestyles through exercise and the consumption citizen.” information about specific calls, without authored by Assemblyman Phillip Y. Ting from of fruits and vegetables, empowering residents “And now any of those who refuse, or the need for legal documentation. And yes, San Francisco, in which cities and counties to create community gardens is a very effective are unable to political contributions of more than $200 are are authorized to create urban agricultural way to promote the well-being of the city’s prove they are citizens will receive free reported to the Federal Election Commission, incentive zones. The legislation would also residents. Allowing people to witness the insurance including the name, address and occupation of allow reduced property assessments when a harvesting process of the goods sold at these paid for by those who are forced to buy the contributor. What’s that got to do with me? property owner allows any type of small-scale farmers market is going to pique their interest insurance Yes, under a program named PRISM, food production on said land. What does that in these products and has a high potential for because they are citizens.” the U.S. spies on foreign leaders and mean? It breaks down to cities and counties people to consume these goods. Just like any – Ben Stein governments, including at the G8 being able to enter contracts with landowners business, if the products are good, people will Idiocy abounds, but among the many economic conference, and yet accuses in order to create small gardens while offering come back. Having people return to purchase the versions of The Ship of Fools, none could China of cyberwarfare. Does this make tax breaks/incentives to the owners. foods that are grown in their own city creates In the past our legislators have been known for a direct economic impact on the community. approving generous tax breaks for corporations Furthermore, if customers keep purchasing and small businesses, which do provide a these fruits and vegetables, that means they “Okay,” they acknowledge, “there are 30 million surveillance benefit to consumers. The impact of the tax are eating healthier--which leads to a healthier cameras in the U.S. and 80 government agencies have received incentives from AB551 are just as important lifestyle and we can all appreciate the trickle and beneficial to consumers as the tax breaks effect that has on the rest of the community. FAA approval to launch as many as 30,000 domestic spying drones given to other businesses. Giving property Just as important, the community is interacting above the U.S. over 20 years, but what’s that got to do with me?” owners the ability and financial incentives to face-to-face. In our digital era when emails produce fresh produce will add to a city’s sense and text messages are the preferred method of community while promoting healthy eating. of communication, it is refreshing to have Most cities in the South Bay enjoy having opportunities where we can interact with be more astounding than today’s version. me a bad guy? What’s this got to do with me? their weekly farmers’ markets. It is a chance old friends, neighbors and local business Generally, each version has dealt with a And so the Ship of Fools sails on. To for residents to purchase non-mass-produced owners for a few hours one day a week. We shipload of myopic, self-absorbed passengers investigate Administration wrongdoing on fruits and vegetables from local growers and continue to be amazed at how the world is who acknowledge no specific destination, but Benghazi, the President selected a five-member in turn help stimulate the local economy. at our fingertips because of technology and believe they will nevertheless find personal Administrative Review Board to determine Simultaneously, it is an opportunity for the yet we engage less and less with the world paradise. Today they ask, “What’s that got his Administration’s competence. The Board people in the city to gather and build a stronger outside our front door. AB551 will help our to do with me?” found everyone innocent, delivering its report sense of community. Through Assemblyman communities with healthy food options. It will Today’s passengers “tsk, tsk” at the news to the Secretary of State, the subject of the Ting’s legislation, which is now in Senate help our communities by incentivizing the that the government has created 1.2 million investigation. Committee, the unifying effects of a farmers’ creation of local gardens, which will lead to facial recognition descriptions that make Clearly, everyone and every organization market in a city will be expanded as more a direct economic impact. Just as important, tracking citizens easier, but they ask, “What’s could be caught up in the federal intrusion net, and more community gardens are likely to it is an opportunity for our people to come that got to do with me?” but in October 2011, the President excluded get started. out and interact as a community. • “Okay,” they acknowledge, “there are 30 Islamic mosques without the prior approval million surveillance cameras in the U.S. of the DOJ’s Sensitive Operations Review and 80 government agencies have received Commission, whose makeup is unknown. metro.net FAA approval to launch as many as 30,000 To address public outrage over federal domestic spying drones above the U.S. over intrusion into reporters’ phone calls, President attention 20 years, but what’s that got to do with me?” Obama directed Attorney General Holder to and credit card transactions available to the investigation, he declared himself innocent of Metro Rail Ridersinvestigate himself. After a rigorous one-daySo the NSA has arranged to have all ATM government. Shouldn’t the government know all wrongdoing. So this affects me how??? everyone’s financial transactions? The “none of this affects me” passengers can collect travelers’ data on a daily basis but the time his actions affect them, it will Turnstiles will be latchedon the Ship of Fools “tsk, tsk” the President,The Transportation Security Administration and hold it for two years; and social media be too late. • starting mid-June. From the Source Starting June 19, 2013, Metro will begin latching the turnstiles Political Q & A with a valid TAP card.at Metro Rail stations. When latched, turnstiles will open only Dear Friends, families with incomes at or below $150,000 Whatever type of fare you’re using – single ride, pass or Today, I voted for the 2013-2014 fiscal year will benefit from a cut in student fees by up transfer from another system – it must be loaded on a TAP budget that the California State Legislature to 40 percent beginning in 2014-2015. card to ride any Metro Rail line. passed and is now on its way to the Governor • The budget provides a modest funding for review and final signature. Some of the increase of $63 million for the state’s courts. For complete details and a schedule showing when each reasons why I voted for this compromise As a former prosecutor, I will continue to station will be latched, visit metro.net. budget: fight to restore court funding to ensure access • Overall, this is a balanced budget based on to justice for all. fiscally conservative revenue projections that • The budget provides $6 million in restores funding for priorities like education additional resources for our military veterans while also setting aside over $1 billion in to reduce the unacceptable backlog for filing r Smart. Simple. Secure. reserves. This is the third year in a row that veterans disability claims. As Chair of the ul the Legislature has passed a budget on time Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, this rg by the constitutional deadline. is a top priority for me. • As a former South Bay school board While I am pleased that we passed an on- member, I have been fighting for more time balanced budget that restores funding for funding for our South Bay schools. Thanks priorities like education, this is a compromise to all the letters, e-mails, and phone calls budget, and it is not perfect. There are parts from many of you, K-12 school districts of the $96.3 billion budget that I am not will receive more funding this year than last happy with. However, I will continue to year. Moreover, we achieved an increased fight for the South Bay, and I will continue base funding grant for all school districts, to fight for common sense priorities for • The budget increases funding for the neighborhoods, and a healthy environment. 13-0658bg ©2013 lacmta including suburban districts. California -- good jobs, good schools, safe University of California, California State As always, I welcome your thoughts, and I University, and community college systems. look forward to continuing to work with you. This is an important investment in our Sincerely, Al Muratsuchi, Assemblymember, economy and our future workforce. Also, 66th District •
Lawndale 06_27_13
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