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In remembrance of slain 5-year-old boy, legislator seeks family court changes

Friday, June 15, 2018

Since her 5-year-old son, Aramazd “Piqui” Andressian Jr., was slain by her ex-husband, Ana Estevez has become an advocate for parents who feel unable to protect their children because of prohibitive child custody laws.

Despite Estevez’s efforts to gain sole custody and allegations of domestic violence against ex-husband Aramazd Andressian Sr., the two agreed to share joint custody of Piqui between their homes in Baldwin Park and South Pasadena, respectively.

In Andressian Sr.’s first week with custody of Piqui, the boy disappeared. His dead body was found months later, and a month later Andressian Sr. pleaded guilty to murdering his son.

Next Thursday, Estevez will head to Sacramento as Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park, presents a resolution before the State Assembly that, inspired by Piqui’s death, would create a closer link between domestic violence and child abuse, especially when related to family courts.

California Becomes The First State To Prescribe Food As Medicine

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

In one pilot program, doctor-approved meals lowered health care costs by 55 percent.

Caren Latney was too weak to do simple household chores.

The 51-year-old had been diagnosed with lung cancer and, as she began treatment, struggled to stand over her stove long enough to prepare a meal. She didn’t really want to eat, anyway ― her intensive chemotherapy and radiation left her nauseated and exhausted. But high-calorie, protein-rich meals are essential for cancer patients, who face extreme weight loss, according to cancer experts.

Senate Bill 918 would address an all-too-common problem — youth homelessness

Friday, May 4, 2018

For many people at work, looking at the clock means counting down the hours until their workday is done, when they will return home to family, pets, or maybe even see friends.

California bills target lengthy foster-parent approval process

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Assembly Bill (AB) 2183 would create an immediate source of funding for resource families who take in a child on an emergency basis. Introduced by Assemblywoman Blanca E. Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), the bill calls on the state to use two existing pots of money to support resource families during the process: the state’s allocation of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, and the state’s Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program.

Proposed SCAQMD rule will kill high-paying jobs, hike gas prices: Blanca Rubio

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

California’s working families are too often left out of the conversation on policies that deeply impact them. One policy that would have far-reaching consequences on fuel supply and prices is South Coast Air Quality Management District proposed Rule 1410, which would ban the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at California refineries. This proposed rule is currently being pushed at the AQMD by a handful of activists whose previous attempts at a ban have died or stalled out at the Torrance City Council and in the state legislature.

Senator Proposes Bill To Promote Expansion Of On-Site Water Reuse

Friday, February 2, 2018

February 2, 2018 – San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener announced a new bill on Thursday that will expand water recycling in California by developing on-site water use regulations. SB 966, which is coauthored by Wiener's colleagues in assemblymembers Cristina Garcia and Blanca Rubio, would allow local communities to expand the use of graywater, blackwater, rainwater, stormwater, foundation drainage and other reused water by requiring state water board to issue more comprehensive regulations.

Bold State Bill Requests $60 Million Annually for Homeless Youth

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

California’s population of unhoused youth rose 26 percent from 2016 to 2017 — but two-thirds of the state’s counties don’t have youth-specific homeless programs.