CommentsRANTZ AND RAVEZ—Happy New Year to all … May 2020 bring you Good Health, Happiness and all the Blessings life can offer.
As we begin the new year, there is great optimism in the financial markets. Dow Jones is up along with NASDAQ, S&P 500 and a host of others. Will this trend continue as the year moves forward is up to speculation. Only time will tell as we enter the national election cycle.
If you are currently an investor in the market, you have much to gain or lose. Here is hoping for the best for you and your family with many GAINS.
The CA Legislature: 2,576 New Bills for 2019
The new year always bring new laws that government officials believe we need to maintain a stable and civilized society. Some you will agree with and others may upset you and force changes in your current lifestyle. I will highlight a couple for you.
With most families with young children having both parents working, the new start time for students may cause some concern for you. Mandatory changes in school start times. The law is set to phase in over the next three years. Under the new law,
High school cannot start earlier than 8:30 am and no sooner than 8 am for middle schoolers.
It is estimated that some schools may end up spending millions to accommodate the new times. Will this time adjustment cause concern for you and our family?
Another new law deals with smartphones. School boards will have the power to ban the smartphones with the exception of emergencies or other special situations including medical issues. Some believe that smartphones are linked to lower student performance and interferes with the educational mission of schools.
You will love this one. If a child is incorrigible (not able to be corrected, improved or reformed) or engages in activity defying teachers or administrators, it will be illegal for public schools in the state to suspend students in first through fifth grade for WILLFULLY defying teachers or administrators. It gets better….starting in 2021 through 2025, it will be temporarily extended to students in grades 6 through 8 and include charter schools. Supporters say suspensions for WILLFUL DEFIANCE are disproportionately used against students of color. The question remains, how will teachers and administrators maintain control in the classroom and on the campus with those students who fail to follow the rules and engage in disruptive, combative or hostile behavior.
If you are a teacher, you may want to submit a letter to the editor on this subject. It would be nice to know how you plan to deal with those students that WILLFULLY defy you and school administrators.
Citywide Crime Stats for LAPD as of 12-21-19.
The LAPD Sworn Personnel. 10,061.
Violent Crimes Total Violent. 27729. -3.6%
Property Crimes. 118605. -6.8%
Arrests. 92961. -10.5%
It is important that you make a crime report when you are the victim of a crime. Police deployment is based on crime stats. Your crime reports make up the crime stats.
We know the Homeless population is increasing in spite of the BILLIONS of DOLLARS that have been appropriated to address the situation. A recent Supreme Court decision does not help the matter. While the mentally ill and drug using population continues to increase, there are others that need assistance. It is clear that our elected officials have totally failed in addressing this need. Hoping for a better life for all in 2020.
(Dennis P. Zine is a former and retired LAPD Supervisor, former and retired 12-year Los Angeles City Councilman and current General Manager at Bell Canyon in Ventura County. He is a CityWatch contributor.)
-cw
