Assemblymember Brownley delivers keynote address
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers] KUDOS- Assemblymember Julia Brownley praises the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation for keeping the area beautiful and the environment healthy during the Federation's 40th annual installation banquet at the Malibou Lake Mountain Club.

Julia Brownley, 41st District member of the Assembly, intends to continue the legacy of former Assemblymember Fran Pavley by focusing her efforts on the environment and education.

Brownley (D-Woodland Hills) delivered her first keynote address as an Assembly member to guests at the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation's 40th annual installation banquet, held at the Malibou Lake Mountain Club on April 20.

Praising Pavley's landmark legislation and environmental work (Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and Assembly Bill 1493, the Clean Car Regulations law), Brownley said she is committed to continuing the fight to protect resources.

The Santa Monica Mountains are "resource rich" and "fragile," she said, pledging to protect the area and be a "good steward."

Brownley has been busy drafting bills. In her first 100 days in office, she has introduced 21. Assembly Bill 25 calls for establishing "reasonable costs" for educating California students from kindergarten through the 12th grade. Research on actual education costs is underway for a 2009 report.

Improving education in California will be among Brownley's biggest challenges. While she believes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger offers ample support for environmental causes, providing adequate funding for schools will continue to vex- and tax- the state system.

The governor's strong support for AB 32, Brownley said, gives her a "lot of hope." But she worries about education, which comprises half the state's budget. The Legislative Analyst's Office predicts $3 billion shortfalls both this year and next.

Her confident outlook on environmental issues "is not the same in the education arena," Brownley said. "It's a fearful situation . . . and could be even worse."

Nevertheless, she is committed to safeguarding the minimum school funding which is constitutionally protected under Proposition 98. That measure has been threatened by the governor in the past.

"My responsibility is to protect what is guaranteed and (make sure) education funding isn't used to balance the budget," Brownley said.

Prison funding is nearly equal to education funding in the state, Brownley said. "I think there's something wrong with that picture and want to change the course," she said.

On the environmental front, Brownley has introduced Assembly Bill 992, which addresses water runoff and storm water containment.

Her Assembly Bill 1391 calls for establishing protocols to alert public agencies after sewage spills occur.

Recycling of electronic waste is the focus of Assembly Bill 546, which would require retailers who sell electronic equipment to make information on e-waste recycling available to consumers.

Manufacturers would be required to label devices with recycling information and solid waste landfills would be required to accept specified e-waste items.

"Julia is like Fran deja vu," said John Lowe, president of the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation.

Following Brownley's talk, Lowe introduced the federation's 2007 officers. Mary Hubbard will continue as vice president, Kathy Berkowitz as secretary and Joan Yacovone as treasurer. Lowe continues as president.