Mike has an enormous responsibility serving northern Los Angeles County including Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley, parts of San Fernando Valley and parts of San Gabriel Valley.  He graduated from Cal State University in 1963 and went on there to get his Masters degree.  He taught at LAUSD and later at Pepperdine and by 1969 was elected to the newly formed Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.  In1972 he was elected to the California State Assembly and for three terms represented Glendale, Burbank, Sunland, Tujunga, Atwater, Griffith Park, Lakeview Terrace and Sun Valley.  He has served as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in 1983, 1987, and 1991, and as the self-styled “Mayor of Los Angeles County” in ’83,’87, ’91, 2001 and 2006.  He has served Los Angeles County in the 5th District for thirty-two and a half years.

Mike noted the California budget deficit sits at $360 Billion dollars (yes, with a “B”), and compared it with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s surplus of close to a billion dollars.  Governor Walker cut taxes on property substantially and created jobs by tax cuts.  He noted that where you see job flight, you’ll see higher taxes.  Example; the film industry in California is taking flight and filming in any other state but ours, including New York with the new Tonight Show.

The Supervisor then spoke about a California law bill AB109 October 2012.  The law deals with prison over crowding and mandates that many prisoners in State Penitentiaries will be moved to county and local jails to reduce the over crowding.  This means that many lessor offenders housed in county and local jails will be released early to allow for space.  He stated that state parolees are now under county probation and that 63.7% are “high risk” offenders.  There are currently 20,346 parolees under probation.  He asked if anyone could tell him what percent of those parolees would commit offences again, and gave the answer of 100% who would be rearrested.  We are experiencing an increase in crime, especially property crimes like stolen cars, burglary, and theft.  Mike then quoted an old American Indian saying: “When riding a dead horse, do not get a new whip”, which indicates our own situation needs better solutions.  Mike said this is a State issue and not just Los Angeles County.

Mike will take part in an upcoming visit to China to help the Chinese solve one of their most serious problems, air pollution.  You have, no doubt, seen the news with many in China using facemasks to prevent the inhalation of the choking air pollution.  Los Angeles County has made tremendous progress fighting air pollution by converting our 2300 bus fleet from diesel fuel to clean natural gas (CNG).  It has reduced the carbon monoxide emissions by 90% and the greenhouse gases by 83%.  Additionally, our fleet of 565 Trash trucks have also been converted to CNG, which has reduced their emissions by 90%.  Mike says he can see the difference by comparing his childhood days in south central to today.  Lastly, he made mention of the Gold Line which now has more ridership than the Green Line with 42,000 riders per day and 28,000 per day on Saturdays.  The $735 million extension of the Gold line is, so far, on time and on budget.  The challenge is raising the additional $800 million to fund the Azusa to Claremont extension.  Well done Mike, no wonder voters want you to continue serving as our 5th District County Supervisor, thank you.

(Pat Dolphin)