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Friday, January 5, 2018

By Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell

Schools must prepare students for college — or for work.

Every good paying job does not require a college degree and every student is not going to get a college degree. Statistics support these facts. Thankfully, California’s education policy is starting to support these facts as well.

Approximately 30 years ago, California educational policy altered its course. It went from a model that offered students “multiple paths” to success (i.e., vocational opportunities) to a “one-size-fits-all” approach in which every student would get a four-year university degree.

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Thursday, July 20, 2017

By Amy Jesse, Elizabeth Oreck and Susan Riggs

Bringing a new puppy or kitten home should be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but consumers who purchase their new family member from a pet shop may not be getting the dog or cat they’ve been promised. Despite enticing claims that they only source from humane, small-scale breeders, pet stores across the country supply unsuspecting consumers with animals from puppy and kitten “mills.”

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Saturday, July 8, 2017

By David Bernazani

To the editor: The Times is correct to support a state bill to ban pet stores from selling cats, dogs and rabbits bred for that purpose. (“That puppy in the window may have come from a bad breeder,” editorial, July 5) When I worked as a veterinary technician in a public animal shelter near San Francisco, I was appalled at the constant flow of animals that were dumped there every day.

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

As excerpted from 89.3 KPCC.

California public schools are facing a shortage of teachers — specifically, a shortage of teachers qualified to teach math, science, bilingual or special education.

So state lawmakers are considering making an offer to prospective teachers: commit to teach in these high-need subjects and we'll take a bite out of your tuition costs.

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Tuesday, June 6, 2017

As excerpted from The 74. 

The California Assembly has approved two bills protecting undocumented immigrant students on school property.
 
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Thursday, March 23, 2017

They are man’s best friend, the furry felines who make a house a home. Our animal companions are loved just as though they are members of our family. It’s been said that the unconditional love and loyalty of pets can lift depression, ease loneliness and even lower blood pressure. My own family recently grew in size with the adoption of two rescue dogs who bring joy, laughter and love to our lives every single day.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

As turmoil continues to spill out of the nation’s capitol, lawmakers in California are not slowing efforts to proactively combat policies pushed by President Donald Trump and his staff. Today, Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell joined those ranks in introducing a bill that would safeguard school campuses from immigration detentions if adopted by the state legislature.

O’Donnell, who represents Long Beach and is head of the assembly’s education committee, co-authored Assembly Bill 699 with Assemblyman David Chiu of San Francisco.

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