By Neil Rubenstein
Observer Columnist
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for coming to our meeting last night. Yes, the Progressive Leadership of Culver City comes together at 7:30 p.m. in the Harry Culver Room in the Veterans Memorial Building whenever the stars are in the right conjunction.
The discussion focused on the legislator who has done the most for our city of 40,000 residents.
The first person to shout out our hero’s name was the happy recipient of a dozen kosher tacos. After several names were submitted the lucky winner whispered “Supervisor Burke.” County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke was a champion of the people in the Second District.
She brought home the turkey bacon for so many projects that space only permits me to mention the Senior Center, the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum at the old court house, the renaming of the Julian Dixon Culver City Library, the Kenny Hahn Park, the Expo Light Rail, and giving the County Tax Assessor’s Office to the Culver City School District for the Adult Education Classroom Building.
Not only was she a fantastic Supervisor but she was our Assembly member and our representative in Congress as well.
Recently I had the good fortune to run into Mrs. Burke and spent a solid 90 minutes discussing our common interests and her reappointing me four times to the Los Angeles County Consumer Affairs Commission. Other names – Efrem Violin and Judge Hal Cherness – also came up.
Since we were at the Autumn Burke for the 62nd State Assembly District headquarters, I spoke to her daughter regarding her platform. “I’ll work throughout our communities to help businesses expand and hire locally, ensure kids build the skills needed for 21st century jobs and make sure every family has access to affordable housing in safe neighborhoods,” she said.
The 62nd District goes from Gardena to Inglewood to Lawndale. Call her at (310) 904-3798 or click on http://www.burkeforassembly.com. Autumn will be great in Sacramento.
Many of us watched the ceremony from the White House on March 18, 2014 honoring 24 heroes finally recognized for their valor in earning the Medal of Honor. One was Private First Class Leonard Kravitz. On March 6-7, 1951 in Yangpyong, Korea he remained behind while his platoon withdrew after their position was overrun, thus saving his comrades at the cost of his life. The story is in the Jewish War Veterans Volume 67, Number 1, or JWV.org.
If you are in Glendale on Wednesdays, be sure to stop at the First Baptist Church of Glendale, 209 N. Louise St. at noon for the free concerts. Call (818) 242-2113.
On May 15, 2014 the proposal to raise the ceiling on medical malpractice lawsuits and require drug testing for doctors qualified for the November ballot.
My friend reads a lot of books, magazines and newsletters. I just don’t know where she has the time but recently I’ve been told about “Strengthening California’s Middle Class – Reclaiming the California Dream” by Patric Verrone. Verrone has a great vision to improve schools, health care and the job market. Read it free at http://www.patricverrone.com.
I am tired of companies trying to do things for my benefit. They tell us it’s for your safety or your convenience but we can see through all that hot air nonsense. Case in point – the United States Postal Service pays good wages – not super duper fantastic wages but it moves one into the middle class. Well, pardner, someone in Washington, D.C. came up with a plan to mess up the union people and their jobs. Starting November, 2013 in four states Staples allowed their lower paid employees in 84 stores to sell stamps, send packages and use priority and certified mail. Let’s take this stupid idea one more step – will they suggest all mailmen be let go and we can pick up our letters, etc. at CVS?
It seems very hard to believe but in 2005 the United States imported 60% of its petroleum needs. Today it’s 28%. In 2010 a million barrels a day came from Nigeria. Now it’s 38,000. Here’s the news – because of the oil shale boom in the United States and increased production in Canada, gasoline prices just might come down soon.
Seattle, Washington will start phasing in a $15 minimum wage in 2017. And the minimum wage would be indexed to inflation.
This summer perhaps many of you would like to escape and get to the Venice or Marina del Rey beaches. Well, buckaroos, from May 23 through Sept. 28 there is a free shuttle that only operates on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. I have a secret for those who don’t want to burn up a half a tank of gas or get a second on the property in order to get a parking spot on the beach. Just get on the Culver City #7 in front of the Senior Center and ask the driver where to get the free shuttle. For seniors it’s 35 cents. See http://www.lagobus.info.
Starting on June 13, 2014 at 8:15 p.m. and continuing through Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. the community will be treated to numerous free grand performances at the California Plaza, 350 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071. Go to http://www.grandperformances.org or call (213) 687-2159. This is not to be missed.
For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can b found at http://www.culvercityobserver.com by placing Rubenstein in that website’s search box.
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