News

Senate to Hear Cathedral City LGBT Memorial Bill

SACRAMENTO – The next stop is the full Senate for Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s, D-Coachella, legislative proposal designating Cathedral City’s LGBT Veteran Memorial as the state’s official LGBT Veteran Memorial.

California home cooks stand up for bill that would decriminalize their work

On Sunday, they joined dozens of other home cooks in a festive, food-filled event in Oakland aimed at halting the criminalization of thousands of home cooks across the state by urging support for the Homemade Food Act, or AB626, whose lead author is Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella (Riverside County). It’s co-written by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco.

Local leaders hold a forum to prepare the valley for the 2020 Census

Imperial County has depended on money from the U.S. Census for decades but one change to the census, specifically whether someone is a U.S. citizen, could affect the money received from the survey.

"At the end of the day, that question I mean personally, we believe is irrelevant. But nevertheless that should not have people hesitate in participating in the process of making sure everyone is counted," said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.

Chauncey Veatch Honored with Inaugural Friend of Latino Community Award

SACRAMENTO — One of the Coachella Valley’s most beloved — and honored — educators has been recognized, again. On Monday, teacher and nationally acclaimed education champion, Chauncey Veatch was recognized at the 2018 Latino Spirit Awards.

He was presented with the inaugural “Friend of the Latino Community” award.  Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, put in a request for the creation of this special award category to honor Veatch’s extensive accomplishments and lifelong service.

Garcia Honored as Champion for Special Needs Students

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, was recognized this week by the Special Education Local Plan Area Administrators Association of California for his dedicated efforts to increase special education services and resources for individuals with disabilities through public policy.

SELPA Administrators of California is an extensive association of professional educators organized to present, review and evaluate major special education issues. The association presented Garcia with the award this morning, during their annual Legislative Information Sharing Day.

Garcia Seeks Money to Combat Gangs

Earlier this year, Garcia and Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham, R-San Luis Obispo, submitted a formal budget letter requesting for $9.2 million to reinstate funding for the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) program. The Governor’s current proposal eliminated allotments for this program.

Garcia added that, “Victim confidentiality is paramount to building positive rapport with public safety officials and ensuring that victims feel safe bringing forward testimony in gang-related cases.”

Seven county zones approved for new economic development program

Due to the high unemployment rate and the low average household income, Imperial County has no shortage of eligible areas to be designated opportunity zones.

The county wasted little time sending a request to the governor to include specific areas in the Valley such as Calexico, Brawley, Holtville and the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area under the program.

Still lacking safe drinking water, east valley residents claim space in water politics

Low-income communities have been at the center of Proposition 1, the water quality, supply, and infrastructure improvement act that voters approved in November 2014.

The proposition sought to assure access to previously unissued bonds, set aside for water and wastewater access. In the resulting legislation, an increased focus was placed on involving community members in the planning process and setting aside additional funds for projects targeting water access in what the proposition defines as 'disadvantaged communities.'

Garcia seeks to create new outdoor recreation office at state level

Assembly Bill 1918 would establish the Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation within the Natural Resources Agency.

If the bill is adopted, the new office will be tasked to plan and implement coordinated strategies to develop jobs and economic growth in the outdoor recreation industry, as well as to develop strategies concerning outdoor recreation amenities and experiences.

The bill was introduced in Sacramento on Thursday in the presence of a coalition of outdoor recreation industry leaders and advocates.

California-Mexico cooperate in panel on border health issues

Alongside Carlos Flore Vizcarra, the Consul General of Mexico, Hueso and other panelists discussed health issues common in border city regions. The event was open to the public as the group of panelists spoke about the recent health changes throughout several border cities. Assembly member Eduardo Garcia also attended the discussion.

Hueso introduced the event expressing his opinion and viewpoint on current political issues and followed with a speech to both the audience and Mexican consul explaining how he views Mexico as a partner.