|
 |
|
|
President Obama’s State of the Union Address
|
 |
President Barack Obama during the State of the Union address with Vice President Joe Biden(l.) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio)
|
|
President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. In a lot of ways, the State of the Union was a bookend to the President’s speech in Kansas last month about the central mission we have as a country, and his focus as President: building a country and economy where we reward hard work and responsibility, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for what they do—no matter how big their bank account is.
In Osawatomie, Kansas, the President talked about how this is a make or break moment for the middle class, and about how we can go in two directions: Less opportunity and less fairness—or where the President believes we need to go—building an economy that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few.
President Obama’s speech, the State of the Union, laid out a “Blueprint for an America Built to Last.” The Blueprint was supported by four pillars: 1) American Manufacturing; 2) American Energy; 3) Skills for American Workers; and 4) American Values.
• American Manufacturing: President Obama laid out proposals for how we can bring about a new era of American manufacturing, with more good jobs and more products stamped ‘Made in the USA’. Proposals will include tools that will allow American small businesses to compete and grow.
• American Energy: President Obama presented a new era for American energy—an economy fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources that will be designed and produced by American workers.
• Skills for American Workers: The State of the Union address included new ideas for how we will make sure our students and workers get the education and training they need so that we have a workforce ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow.
• American Values: Most importantly, the President called for a return to American values—fairness for all, and responsibility for all.
President Obama ended his State of the Union address with, “Our destiny is stitched together like the stitching in our flag. There is no mission too hard as long as we are joined together in a common purpose. When we act together, there is nothing Americans can’t achieve. Thank you and God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”
|
| |
| |
|
 |
Representatives of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, elected officials, community members, and key project partners and funders participate in a groundbreaking celebration for the Bradley Studios, which will include 54 units on a 1.06-acre site spanning 512-518 Bath St.
|
|
By Candice Tang Nyholt
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara carried out a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, January 12 for its latest housing community.
Bradley Studios is the agency’s latest endeavor in affordable housing designed specifically to serve special-needs populations in Santa Barbara. Bradley Studios will be a Craftsman bungalow-style development consisting of 53 efficiency studio apartments, a community room, supportive services offices, a program room and a two-bedroom manager apartment. The affordable rental studios are targeted for populations including low and extremely low-income downtown workers and special-needs individuals.
This important development has been funded by private investment through the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program as well as through the City of Santa Barbara Redevelopment Agency Housing Set-Aside funds.
The 1.06-acre site, spanning 512-518 Bath St., was previously owned by the Bradley family. The Housing Authority maintained an existing 10-unit apartment building as part of their stock of affordable housing until the new development plans could be approved.
“The staff of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara and our partners in the Bradley Studios are truly serving our community,” said Rob Pearson, executive director and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. “With this well-planned and creative solution, we will again be utilizing our precious city space in the most efficient and environmentally sound ways to house those who help keep our city running, and those in our community who otherwise would be living at the greatest risk.”
The City of Santa Barbara defines extremely low income as an individual household income of less than $15,960.
|
| |
| |
“Cash for College” Scholarship Opportunities |
 |
Assemblymember Das Williams
|
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Das Williams reminds students interested in attending college next fall that by attending one of several “Cash for College” workshops they will have the opportunity to qualify for a $1,000 scholarship.
Students in attendance at one the “Cash for College” workshops held in January and February will be able to qualify to win a scholarship, courtesy of California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC).
Assemblymember Williams will be co-sponsoring two of the college prep workshops, Thursday, Jan. 26th from 4 – 8 p.m. at Dos Pueblos High School, 7266 Alameda Ave., Goleta and Thursday, Feb. 2 from 6 – 8 pm at San Marcos High School, 4750 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara.
Student Opportunity and Access Program of Santa Barbara (Cal-SOAP SB) is also sponsoring these workshops. Families are encouraged to bring Federal Income Tax returns, W-2 forms or paycheck stubs and bank statements to these workshops.
One scholarship will be awarded at each workshop. Scholarships must be used at a 2-year public or 4-year public or private degree-granting institution in Fall 2012 within or outside of California.
“In our current environment where the cost of college continues to skyrocket and funding for higher education is increasingly difficult to secure, opportunities like this to help students reach their goals are vital,” Assemblymember Williams said. “Scholarships and grants are what helped me get an education, why not afford that same opportunity to those that have come after me.”
If unable to attend one of these events, a host of other workshops will also be held. For a full listing of “Cash for College” workshops and for information on the “Why I Apply” scholarship worth $4,000 visit: www.calgrants.org/workshops.
Website for Assemblymember Das Williams: http://assembly.ca.gov/Williams |
| |
| |
 |
The Oxnard College Condors (in white and blue) trailed by 15 points most of the game. Who could blame them?
|
Fans protest cuts
in sports at
Oxnard College
The photo to the right is from a game that took place at Oxnard College several weeks ago. The Ventura College men’s basketball team beat its long time rival Oxnard College 78-55. It was hard to watch the game. Protesters showed their support on both sides of the court by holding up and waving signs that read, “Save OC Basketball Teams” during a recent Oxnard College women’s and men’s basketball game.
They were protesting a state budget cut and the college’s decision to cut the athletic programs.
On January 17, protesters stormed the District’s meeting chanting, “They say cut back, we say fight back.” Michael Jones yelled, “Let’s get them out of office.”
The Ventura County Community College District, which oversees Oxnard, Ventura and Moorpark colleges, is dealing with a $6.5 million shortfall next year.
The Board of Trustees heard protesters and voted to allocate $3 million in reserve funds. The board would like to get a tax hike in November to offset the cuts from the state. |
| |
| |
|
|
