Report offers look at college-going rates in San Joaquin Valley 

A new report issued by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) indicates positive movement in increasing college success in under-represented groups at the community college level—good news for the region’s employers since Hispanics make up almost half of the Central Valley’s population.

Considering a cohort of students from 2001 to 2006, the percentage of associate degrees attained by Hispanic students attending community colleges from Bakersfield to Stockton increased by 2.1 percent, and the percentage attained by nonwhite students increased by five percent.

The report, “Why Access Matters,” was issued on behalf of the 24 colleges that make up the CVHEC, in cooperation with the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.

In the Central Valley, the number of students seeking the skills needed to provide a highly skilled and educated workforce is falling behind, according to the report.

“Education is a critical driver of long-term regional economic growth and on a personal level it is a major determinant in an individual’s success,” the report states. “In the Central Valley, too many students must overcome the many hurdles of less comfortable circumstances to attend college.”

The report covers the 10-county area from Stockton to Bakersfield and includes data pulled from a number of state and national educational services.

Copies of the report are available at the CVHEC Web site, www.collegenext.org. To request a copy of the report, call 559.292.0576.

Partnership adopts resolution supporting multiple pathways for post-secondary options

The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors has adopted a resolution in support of multiple pathways for post-secondary options recognizing students need the option to choose whether they want to be on a higher education track or a career track.

The resolution, adopted in concept at the board’s June meeting and finalized by the Partnership’s Executive Committee, notes that the multiple pathways concept proposes that a number of conduits be made available to prepare high school students for college and career.

“The Board of Directors … supports provision of and expanded access to multiple career and post secondary options for students in our region, including support of legislation and funding for career development that does not limit or reduce support of existing Career Technology Education (CTE) opportunities such as Regional Occupational Centers and Programs and district CTE courses, and strongly endorses new opportunities for students that address workforce and economic development needs of the region.

Resolution: Multiple Pathways for Post-Secondary Options

Partnership supports water bond proposal

The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors has written to Senate and Assembly leaders urging the legislature to pass a comprehensive water bond package and put that package before voters in November.

The letter offers its support for a water bond proposal offered by Governor Schwarzenegger and Sen. Dianne Feinstein earlier this month. The compromise plan would update California's water system and put the state on the path toward restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, expanding water supplies and promoting conservation efforts that will ensure a clean, reliable water supply for California.

“Despite ongoing investments in conservation, recycling and other water use efficiency programs, California infrastructure will be unable to support a strong economy and a healthy environment without investments in water storage and Delta sustainability as outlined in the plan,” Board Chair Connie Conway stated.

“Action is needed now in Sacramento to move forward with these investments to ensure Californians have the reliable water supply they deserve now and in the future.”

Letter Supporting Water Bond Proposal

New report on technology access will better inform Advanced Communications Services Work Group

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) in collaboration with the California Emerging Technology Fund in June released PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Information Technology reporting what access Californians have to information technology. Partnership Board member Sunne McPeak is chair and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund.

This new statewide survey, along with the California Broadband Task Force Report released in January, provides new benchmark data for access to technology in the San Joaquin Valley that has never existed.

The intent of the report is to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about a variety of information technology issues. This PPIC survey is the first in a new five-year PPIC Statewide Survey series focusing on information technology issues.

The report finds that Californians are generally broadening their use of the Web; but the digital divide is widening for some groups, particularly Latino and low-income residents. Additional findings significant to the San Joaquin Valley include:

• Broadband use is lowest in the Valley (53%) and Los Angeles County (48%) and highest in the San Francisco Bay Area
• In the Central Valley, 66% say there is an inequality in broadband access for lower-income residents
• Rural residents are somewhat less likely than urban residents to have a computer (65% vs. 73%), Internet connection (58% vs. 63%), or broadband (51% vs. 56%)

The statewide survey will be discussed by PPIC President Mark Baldassare at the upcoming Latino Issues Forum event, Building the Digital Bridge: Ensuring Equal Access to All. The event will take place July 29 at California State University, Fresno.

California Water Institute leader appointed to new state water post

Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) Director David Zoldoske has been tapped by California State University Chancellor Charles Reed to serve in a new position as executive director, water resources and policy, for the California State University system (CSU).

Zoldoske’s appointment comes slightly more than a year after leading members of the CSU and the state’s agricultural industry determined that the university system has a significant role to play in helping California address an ever-worsening water situation. Increases in residential population combined with successive dry rainfall years have left the state without enough water for urban, agricultural and environmental needs.

According to Chancellor Reed, the CSU’s Agricultural Advisory Committee encouraged the CSU to designate an individual who could provide independent and well-informed applied research and policy analysis on water-related issues for various agencies and stakeholder groups in California.

Zoldoske is director of the California Water Institute, which serves as consultant to the Partnership’s Water Quality, Supply and Reliability Work Group. (Source: Center for Irrigation Technology newsletter.)

Partnership board to hold quarterly meeting at UC Merced

The California Partnership Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting at University of California, Merced, on Friday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The board will discuss and determine the next steps needed to address the three priority issues it has identified for the Valley: air quality; water supply, quality, and reliability; and transportation.

The board also will hear an in-depth report from the Land Use, Agriculture and Housing Work Group and an update on the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Process. The Partnership’s Advanced Communication Services Work Group and the workforce development of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Work Group will provide in-depth reports on their activities.

Meeting agenda and other information will be available soon on the Partnership Web site www.sjvpartnership.org

The final 2008 quarterly Partnership Board meeting will be held in Stockton on Dec. 12.

 

Meet the Board
DeeDee D'Adamo, genuine commitment to the Valley

DeeDee D’Adamo in 2005 was Turlock’s Citizen of the Year. That’s where she lives with her husband and three children. She is an active member of the Turlock community serving on the Turlock Community Theatre Board and the Turlock Youth Performing Arts Board.

Her active involvement in community matters goes beyond Turlock, however. D’Adamo’s career for more than 20 years has been focused on air quality, water, agriculture and criminal justice—issues that affect both the San Joaquin Valley and California.

D’Adamo is a graduate of University of California, Davis, receiving her bachelor’s in 1982, and University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, receiving her juris doctor in 1986. She has served as senior policy adviser to Congressman Dennis Cardoza, California’s 18th Congressional District, since 2003.

As an associate with the law offices of Perry & Wildman, D’Adamo practiced juvenile delinquency and dependency law as well as criminal law. She has served in a variety of roles within California’s criminal justice system. Gov. George Deukmejian appointed D’Adamo to be an assistant director of California Department of the Youth Authority from 1988 to 1990. She served as legal counsel to the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety from 1986-1988 and was consultant to the California State Legislative Joint Committee on Prison Construction and Operations in 1986.

D’Adamo was visiting lecturer 1992-1998 at California State University, Stanislaus, in the department of politics where she taught courses that included U.S. and California government as well as environmental and land use policy.

In 1999, Gov. Gray Davis appointed D’Adamo as the law member to the California Air Resources Board (ARB); Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reappointed her in 2004. She has served as chair of the ARB’s Task Force on the San Joaquin Valley’s ozone plan and as chair of its Agricultural Air Quality Advisory Committee.

Governor Schwarzenegger in May 2007 appointed D’Adamo to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley (Partnership). D’Adamo’s vision for the Valley is a region transformed by turning its challenges into assets.

“I would like to see widespread development of renewable energy—wind and solar—and agricultural waste to energy projects,” D’Adamo says. “I expect our region will be a model of advanced technologies and smart growth as a by-product of [Partnership] efforts to bring the Valley into attainment with clean air standards.”

D’Adamo is currently on the Merced County Board of Supervisor’s High-Speed Rail Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which is in line with her vision for the Valley.

“I hope we have high-speed trains connecting the San Joaquin Valley to the other major urban areas of the state,” she says, “bringing increased economic and education opportunities to the Valley and with the [San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Planning Process]as the model for increased growth in the region.”

One of the three Partnership initiatives D’Adamo feels is most important is obtaining approval of the University of California, Merced Medical School. She served on the governor’s “Red Team” for the establishment of UC, Merced, and currently serves on the Valley Coalition for UC Merced’s Medical School.

“Within 10 years, I expect that UC Merced will have developed into a major research institution and will have a medical school,” she says.

Two other issues significant to D’Adamo are developing a comprehensive regional water plan for the San Joaquin Valley and bringing the Valley into attainment for air quality standards.

“I have been honored to serve on a board with such distinguished leaders from throughout the Valley all of whom are committed to advocating for Valley issues and speaking as one voice for the region,” D’Adamo says. “It has been rewarding to see the success of the Partnership in gaining increased attention and funding from Sacramento and Washington, D.C.”

Legislative Update

Legislation Consistent with the Partnership's Strategic Action Proposal

Land Use, Agriculture and Housing

AB 1129 (Arambula) - Housing Trust Fund

This bill would establish the San Joaquin Valley Regional Affordable Housing Trust as a voluntary organization for the purposes of fostering the regional collaboration of San Joaquin Valley cities, counties, developers, financial institutions, and community-based organizations to meet affordable housing needs in the region.

Status: Bill was amended on Jan. 7, passed the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development on Jan. 16, and the full Assembly on Jan. 24. The bill recently passed the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee on June 17, and was moved from Senate Appropriations Committee to the Senate floor where it awaits consideration.

Transportation

AB 3034 (Galgiani) - High-Speed Rail Bond Modification

This bill modifies the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act, as originally enacted by SB 1856 (Costa), to reflect activities and project design changes that occurred during the past six years, and to better present the bond authorization measure to voters at the Nov. 4, 2008, statewide election.

Status:The bill passed unanimously out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 22 and was passed by the full Assembly May 29. The bill passed the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on July1 but failed to pass Senate Appropriations on July 14. An Aug. 4 hearing in Appropriations may be possible. The deadline to change the bond language on the ballot was missed (midnight July 15). However, the measure still could be changed using a “supplemental ballot.”

The Partnership sent a letter of support dated May 23, 2008. The Partnership board took a position at its June 2008 meeting to send an additional letter supporting the bill while expressing concern for the Senate Transportation Committee's HSR Report recommendation to fund "regional segments of the high-speed rail corridor before developing the long-distance link between the state's major urban center, e.g., Los Angeles and San Francisco."

Sustainability of the Partnership

AB 2342 (Parra) - California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley

This bill is designed to authorize the Partnership. The bill sets the structure and duties of the Partnership.

Status:The bill passed the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee on June 16 and now awaits action in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4.

Energy

AB 2176 (Caballero) - Energy Efficiency Block Grants

This bill requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to administer federal funds to be received by the state pursuant to a block grant program included in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Specifically, this bill: Requires, consistent with federal law, at least 60% of the Energy Efficiency and Block Grant (EEBG) funds to provide cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation grants to cities of 35,000 or less and counties of 200,000 or less. Consistent with federal law, requires, the remaining funds to be used for grants to entities eligible under the federal act-state entities, Indian tribes, or others designated in the federal law. Requires all grant applications to be prioritized and awarded based on cost-effectiveness. Limits administrative costs to 10% of program funds.

Status:The bill passed unanimously out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 22 and passed the Assembly on May 28. The bill passed the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee on July 17, and now awaits action in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on July 10 and received concurrence in the Assembly on July 15. It was presented to the governor on July 22; he will have 12 days to sign or veto.

The San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization sent a letter in support of the bill.

For more information, go to Legislative Update.

Dates to Know

August 11

Transportation Work Group
10 a.m. to noon.
Merced County Association of Governments building
369 West 18th Street
Merced
Information: Dejeune Shelton, dejeune@greatvalley.org

August 21

Land Use, Agriculture and Housing Work Group
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location to be determined
Fresno
Information: Carol Whiteside, carol@greatvalley.org

August 27

Advanced Communications Services Work Group
1 to 3 p.m.
Great Valley Center
201 Needham Street
Modesto
Information: Dejeune Shelton, dejeune@greatvalley.org

September 6

Tune In & Tune Up
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Avenal High School
Merced
Information: www.valley-can.org

September 12

California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
University of California, Merced
Merced
Information: www.sjvpartnership.org