JEFFERSON AWARD WINNER GINA FROMER

Image by peterme via Flickr

JEFFERSON AWARD WINNER GINA FROMER

Gina Fromer grew up in the Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco California, she is giving back to her community. The Bayview Hunters Point district is  the violent part of San Francisco. I spent the first three years of my life living in Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco, and my mother told me that it was not a safe place to raise kids. Bayview Hunters Point has always had a problem with the gang violence and drugs. Gina Fromer is now the executive director of the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA.

Gina says there mission at the YMCA is “to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities”. Gina has been the director for the past three years, in that time she has started a child development center, community kitchen and care program a teen alternative. I say congratulations to Gina Fromer for making a difference her community.

LM

http://www.kcbs.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4381389

CRIME WAVE IN THE CITY OF VALLEJO

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

CRIME WAVE IN THE CITY OF VALLEJO

When I was a growing up, I remember going to Vallejo to visit relatives it was all ways a fun time. There was no violence that I was aware of, not like today. The economy is hitting the City of Vallejo hard, with the cities budget issues they had to lay off dozens of officers. Crime in Vallejo is up, in the past two weeks they have had assaults and shootings.

Just last Wednesday February 3, 2010 six  men attacked and robbed a Vallejo city worker, how dumb were these six men it was all caught on tape. There’s no getting away with it, I hope they do serious time we do not need punks like that on the streets. On Thursday afternoon February 4.

2010 a 15 year old boy shot a ice cream lady, while attempting to rob her.

I don’t know what this kid was thinking or he wasn’t thinking he probably just got $50.00 or less now his life is ruined. On February 8, 2010 a 42 year old  man was shot outside of his home. The people of Vallejo are scared their calling about security alarms and weapons. I think the City of Vallejo is going to have to get together with the community and come up with some kind of solution to this problem. It is ashamed to hear about Vallejo being so violent, when I remember it being so fun back in the day.

LM

http://sfist.com/2010/02/03/teens_mob_attack_vallejo_city_worke.php

http://www.ktvu.com/news/22439158/detail.html

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Vallejo-Homicide-Victim-is-Father-of-Beating-Suspect-Family-83804932.html

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TOYOTA RECALL IT’S ABOUT TIME

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

TOYOTA RECALL IT’S ABOUT TIME

Being a Toyota owner I say it’s about time they fix the sticking gas pedal. I’m fortunate that my vehicle is not a part of the recall, but it is unfortunate for the people were in major accidents and lost their lives because of the sticking gas pedal. In September Toyota issued a warning to owners to remove the floor mats they could get stuck under the gas pedal.

In November 2009 there were a estimated 2000 cases in which owners of Toyota Cars including Camry, Prius and Lexus reported that their cars would surge without warning up to speeds of 100 miles per hour. Toyota still insisted that it was the floor mat,  the owners said that was not the case. Toyota was not listening to 2000 Toyota owners, now three months later a million plus Toyota’s had to be recalled. That goes to show you that these big car companies our out for the money. They charge us a arm, leg and our life, so they can get rich and not caring for the people who are making them rich.

 http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/RunawayToyotas/sudden-acceleration-toyota-cars-owners-rebel-accidents/story?id=8980479

LM

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San Jose's First Homocide of 2010

Albert Cobarrubias became San Jose's first homocide victim of 2010, after being shot to death Saturday night, while playing pool with friends in an open garage in the East Side neighborghood where he grew up.

It's just one in a long list of tragic, senseless, useless killings happening far too often, although this first incident in San Jose may prove the most tear-jerking and heart-breaking of all.

Cobarrubias graduated with honors from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in justice studies, and held the dream of becoming a lawyer in order to fight off the social injustices of racial profiling he experienced growing up.

"Albert had two paths to choose from: the right path or the gang life", his uncle Mitch Cobarrubias said.  "He chose the right path and got his education."

"He grew up in an area that wasn't the richest or safest", said Sang Kil, one of Albert's professors at SJSU.  "Instead of distancing himself, he embraced it and was going to help!  That's what was so beautiful about Albert". 

Saturday night, after watching his beloved Sharks whip the Sabres 5-2 on T.V., Cobarrubias went to a friends house to shoot pool at the 2700 block of Chopin Avenue just south of Eastridge Mall, when shots rang out about 11pm.  According to Albert's uncle, a strange car stopped in front of the home and someone got out from the passenger side, walked up the driveway and opened fire...killing Cobarrubias.

"It's just a random act of violence," said Mitch Cobarrubias.  "Albert was not into gangs.  he was educated.  It was a case of mistaken identity."  Albert's family and friends concur that he had no gang ties, and San Jose Police maintain a tight-lipped investigation into a crime outcome that seems more ironic than slitting one's throat on a first aid kit!

Countless, upstanding young citizens like Cobarrubias  who focus on solving society's problems, continue to end up dying because of them!  All  Albert wanted to do was go to Santa Clara Law School and fight for a better, safer society.  So what if he shaved his head, wore baggy clothes, body tatoos and drove an older model, beat up Buick?

He finished highschool, joined the Marine Corp. Reserves, put himself through college working full-time at a paint store, volunteered his weekends at criminal justice clinics and neighborhood watches, publilshed praised research papers on the realities and possible solutions for racial profiling, and  the hurdles he faced growing up in East San Jose.

Why did a happy, smart young man who is loved by family, friends, professors and leaders alike, have to fall to a senseless bullet, fired by some low-life, yellow bellied, scum-bag, street punk with a single-diget IQ and an itchy trigger finger?

No one said life was fair, however, we can still keep Albert's dream alive by fighting to end social injustice, and by putting an end to freedom for sub-human criminals like the one who took him from us!

Anyone with information about this first homocide is urged to call the SJPD homocide unit at 408-277-5283, or Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP  if wishing to remain anonymous.

Also, San Jose Pastor Sonny Lara, a longtime gang prevention and intervention activist, is holding a prayer vigil for Albert Tuesday at 7pm outside the steps of San Jose City Hall!

Thanks, and be safe.

PeteCam4

STORMS POUNDING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

STORMS POUNDING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Rain! Rain! go away come again another day, is what we said as kids so we could go out and play. California needs the rain desperately, but this storm has been causing havoc. Lighten storms and high winds causing trees to fall on power lines, knocking out power all over the Bay Area. San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland airports has had delays since this storm started due to high winds. Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz mountains is a nightmare. There is a down Oak tree blocking road way mud slides and flooding and  that’s just the beginning the accidents have not started yet. San Mateo County has had one severe storm warning already and high surf warnings.  Petaluma has a flash flood warning  in affect. San Jose is having trouble on highways 280 and 101 with flooding and accidents. San Jose is keeping a eye on Guadalupe River for possible over running its bank. The City Of Oakland Public Works Department is providing sand bags to residents to help with flooding. Redwood City has experienced significant flooding. The hillsides above Belmont and San Carlos has had mudslides. Felton in Santa Cruz has a flash flood warning residents advised to evacuate. Monterey County high surf warning. With all this rain we so desperately need,  be vigilante of your surrounding. If your on the roads slow down give your self enough time to get were you’re going so the accidents can be kept down.


LM

EARTHQUAKES

EARTHQUAKES
California is a beautiful place to live. I am a native Californian I lived on the  East Coast for a year the people I met there, always asked me how do you deal with the earthquakes. I would say you get use to them, and hopefully your prepared with your earthquake kits. California has been having earthquakes for the last two weeks. A 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Calaveras fault near Milpitas causing minor damage on January 7, 2010.
 A  6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Eureka on January 9, 2010 causing $18 million dollars in damage and a 3.6 earthquake hit Humbolt County causing no damage. The disaster in Haiti is tragic, let us here in California be prepared. You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.
In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer.
Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:
Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) Local maps Cell phone with chargers Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:
Prescription medications and glasses
Infant formula and diapers
Pet food and extra water for your pet
Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container Cash or traveler's checks and change Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
Fire Extinguisher
Matches in a waterproof container
Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels Paper and pencil Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting:
http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/


PRAYER TO HAITI

We here at Streetwise would like to send our deepest regrets for your disaster, our prayers go out to all Haitians. We wish you a timely and speedy recovery, may God bless all of you. If anyone out there would like to help here is what you do Text YELE to 501501 to donate $5.00 or
click on     http://www.yele.org/



http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Earthquake+California+coast+causes+minor+damage/2426160/story.html

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100113/news/100119794&tc=yahoo

http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/

http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html

LM

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STEROIDS IN SPORTS

Image via Wikipedia

STEROIDS IN SPORTS


Using steroids to make your game better, and not for medical reasons is
cheating and stupid. Another sports figure Mark McGwire former Oakland A’s
player has just admitted using steroids during his illustrious baseball career. Jose Canseco former teammate of Mark McGwire admitted using
anabolic steroids in his tell all book “Juiced: Wild time, Rampant ‘Roids,Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big” in 2005. Mark McGwire was named in this book as a steroids users, but of course he denied it. My mother used to
say “you can deny, deny, deny it will all come out in the wash” that’s just what happened to a former Oakland A‘s player Mark McGwire. Former San Francisco player Barry Bonds is still denying his use of steroids he should come on clean and get it over with. I fell that anyone using steroids in any professional sports as well as non professional sports don’t deserve to be mention in the Hall Of Fame or any other accolade,because they cheated. These sports figures are setting poor examples for
our youth. I know what steroids can do to your body. It can cause long lasting irreversible negative health consequences. Steroids can lead to premature heart attacks, strokes, liver tumor, kidney failure and serious
psychiatric problem. In addition, because steroids are often injected, users risk contracting or transmitting HIV or Hepatitis. Steroids have no place in sports.

http://www.kcbs.com/McGwire--I-Used-Steroids/6088490


LM

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