Assembly Bill 1077 passed 9 – 4

At the California Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife hearing on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 AB 1077 (Carter) passed 9 – 4, and will be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

The Friends of Allensworth is the only registered supporter for the bill. The registered opposition to the bill is:

     American Council of Engineering Companies of California
     Tulare County Farm Bureau
     Visalia Chamber of Commerce

A special thank you goes out to Friends of Allensworth Statewide President Thomas Stratton for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the hearing and making sure that the Friends of Allensworth was listed as a registered supporter of the bill.

Please let the Committee on Appropriations know that you support Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and AB 1077 by sending your letters of support to:

     Honorable Wilmer Amina Carter
     Assemblymember, 62nd, District
     California State Assembly
     State Capitol, Room 2136
     Sacramento, CA 95814


Stephen Hill, Sr.

Assembly Bill No. 1077 Committee Hearing is April 26, 2011

Assembly Bill No. 1077 first committee hearing is Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at the California State Capitol. The public will have an opportunity to give testimony during committee hearing.

This is your opportunity to go on record as a supporter of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and AB No. 1077.

Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Time: 9:00 am

Where: State Capitol
             Room 437
             Sacramento, CA 95814

For more information contact Friends of Allensworth Statewide President Thomas Stratton at (530) 949-2168.


Stephen Hill, Sr.

Friends of Allensworth member The First Laid to Rest at Miramar Cemetery

Friends of Allensworth member, John Smith, became the first person buried in a casket at the new Miramar National Cemetery on Thursday, April 14, 2011. Smith devoted the last ten years of his life to lobbying for the Miramar National Cemetery.


As a veteran of the Vietnam War, John Smith service as a medic with the 1st Air Cavalry. Smith was dictated to helping his fellow veterans in San Diego County.

In 1981 Smith helped organize the Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, which changed its name to Veterans Village of San Diego in 2005. The group runs Veterans Rehabilitation Center that has en employment and training department, medical offices, and 16 three-bedroom, three-bath apartments.

Smith helped organize the nation’s first annual “Stand Down” event in 1988. “Stand Down” is a community program that assists homeless veterans with immediate physical needs such as showers, barbers, medical and dental. Other services provided are employment and job counseling, counseling, and veterans’ benefits.

The above video is the KFMB-TV 8 coverage of the burial service.

 
Stephen Hill, Sr.

Assemblywoman Carter Introduces AB 1077

Allensworth Hotel

62nd District Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter has introduced Assembly Bill No. 1077. This bill would add section 5006.10 to the Public Resources Code and would read:

(a) A person shall not develop any of the area within two-and-one-half miles of the boundary of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Tulare County in a manner that would be incompatible with the historic or recreational significance of the park.

(b) This section does not apply to a development in Tulare County that was approved by the county on or before March 1, 2011.

You can read the complete bill on the California Legislature website.

In a March 31, 2011 story in The Press-Enterprise reporter Jim Miller called the bill “far-flung”, he went on to criticize Assemblywoman Carter because the park is more than 200 miles from her district.

This is the third time that Assemblywoman Carter has introduced a bill to prohibit development next to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. She introduced the first bill in 2007 during the battle over the two dairies that were scheduled to be built next to the park. She withdrew the bill after the dairy project was canceled. Last year she introduced Assembly Bill 2356, and then withdrew it because it could have affected the construction the California High Speed Rail.

Assembly Bill No. 1077 first committee hearing is April 26, 2011.



Stephen Hill, Sr.