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Friday, September 13, 2019

Bill to study Irvine veterans cemetery sites and pick one gets Gov. Newsom’s sign-off

The state can now analyze two possible Irvine locations for a Southern California veterans cemetery and choose one, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill this week authorizing the study.

Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton, wrote the bill that tasks CalVet, the state veterans affairs department, with evaluating two sites: one within the Great Park that had been planned for a golf course, and one on the park’s northern edge that contains the remains of buildings and runways from the former El Toro Marine air base.

While the Irvine City Council has offered to donate the golf course site to the state for a veterans cemetery, former mayor Larry Agran is leading an effort to designate the northern site, known as ARDA, for the project.

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Friday, September 13, 2019

Efforts to establish an Orange County veterans cemetery took a significant step forward Thursday when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill authorizing studies of two potential sites in Irvine.

The governor signed a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton, that authorizes feasibility studies of a so-called Amended and Restated Development Agreement (ARDA) site and a golf course site, which are both near the Orange County Great Park.

If voters choose the ARDA site then that will be where state and federal officials focus on developing the cemetery, Quirk-Silva said.

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Thursday, September 12, 2019

ASSEMBLYWOMAN QUIRK-SILVA’S VETERAN’S CEMETERY LEGISLATION GETS GOVERNOR’S NOD

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bill (AB) 368 authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), establishing a Veteran’s Cemetery in Southern California, has been signed into law.

“I am proud this legislation was signed into law to provide a new veteran’s cemetery for California’s Veteran’s and their families,” said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva.  “Throughout my terms in service, many individuals and Veteran’s groups have passionately advocated for a cemetery in our region."

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday signed a bill to build a veterans cemetery on one of two sites in Irvine, according to Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), who authored the bill. 

The site could ultimately be determined by Irvine voters after former Mayor Larry Agran filed paperwork for a ballot initiative Aug 12. The bill allows for the state-run cemetery to be built at a site near the heart of the old El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, which still has hangars and portions of taxiways on it, or at a planned golf course inside the Great Park. Both sites were part El Toro. 

“I still feel — very strongly — the golf site makes the best sense financially, as far as getting this moving and actually using it as a veterans cemetery,” Quirk-Silva said. 

 

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Wednesday, September 11, 2019

California legislation inspired by college admissions scandal goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers have sent the governor a package of reforms sparked by the recent college admissions scandal, including a bill approved Wednesday that would require special admits at public universities to be approved by three administrators.

A quartet of measures approved by lawmakers were introduced after federal authorities charged 50 people with being part of a fraudulent scheme in which parents allegedly made large payments to buy their children entrance to elite universities on phony athletic admissions or rigged scores on exams.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Veterans' Cemetery Bill Signing

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva’s Work to Resolve Homelessness in Orange County Moves to Governor

 

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bill 143 (AB 143) authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), addressing California’s homelessness crisis, passed on the legislative floor and is headed to the Governor’s Desk.

“California has the highest rate of homelessness in the nation.  In fact, recent statistics show that throughout our state, we have seen an increase in the number of homeless individuals,” said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva.  “Since 2017, homelessness is up by forty-two percent in Orange County.  To resolve this crisis, we need an array of innovative strategies including both short and long-term solutions.”

If the specified counties or cities find it essential, they may choose to utilize the bill to address short-term homeless needs.  They would be required to develop an ordinance outlining a plan that would include long-term permanent housing strategies for their communities.  The California Department of Housing and Community Development would then be responsible to review and approve the ordinance to ensure the health and safety of California is not compromised.

 

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva’s Legislation to Help Visually Impaired Students Heads to Governor

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bill (AB) 947 authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County), promotes education that will maximize the full potential of students who are visually impaired, passed and is headed to the Governor’s Desk.

“As a former teacher, I recognize the need for there to be no uncertain terms when students require additional resources and consideration to succeed,” said Quirk-Silva. “The fact that visual impairments fall into this category is obvious.  What is not always obvious is the full scope of redressing educational needs and attainment.”

The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) is a set of knowledge and skills in which instruction or services, or both, may be beneficial to a pupil who is blind, has low vision, or is visually impaired.  The ECC includes skills in areas such as the use of braille or large print media, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, socialization, independent living, and sensory efficiency.

 

Friday, September 6, 2019

ASSEMBLYWOMAN QUIRK-SILVA’S LEGISLATION TO STOP COLLEGE CHEATS ADVANCES TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK

 

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bill 136 (AB 136) authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), in response to the College Admissions Scandal, passed the State Legislature and is headed to the Governor’s Desk.

“Admissions to colleges and universities have become increasingly competitive.  To make matters worse, a study found that at thirty-eight colleges in the United States, including Ivy League Schools; that more students came from the top one percent of the income scale than from the entire bottom 60 percent,” said Quirk-Silva.  “The study underlines that students from low to middle income families have even less of a chance of being admitted to these top colleges.”

 

Friday, September 6, 2019

John Scribner Floor Resolution