As you may have [...]]]> This past Friday while we were preparing for our 4^th of July festivities, the Greek government displayed great leadership and a genuine commitment towards the people of Israel and all who yearn for peace in the region.

As you may have heard, several Flotilla boats docked in Greek ports, including the U.S. ship “The Audacity of Hope,” were barred from leaving port July 1^st by the Greek coast guard.  The captain of “The Audacity of Hope” was briefly arrested by Greek officials for violating orders and Flotilla participants were offered the opportunity to transport all aid through legal channels.

In order to show our solidarity with the people of Israel and commend the nation of Greece for its efforts, we ask you to please take a few minutes to thank the Greek Government for their role in advancing peace.

Please call or email the Greek Consulate:

LOS ANGELES (CA zip codes 90001-92999) - The Honorable Elisabeth Fotiadou, Consul General

(310) 826-5555 or lagr@greekembassy.org 

SAN FRANCISCO (CA zip codes 93000 and up) - The Honorable Ioannis Andreades, Consul General

(415) 775-2102 or sfgr@greekembassy.org  

Sample Text: “I would like to express my gratitude to you, the Greek government and specifically the Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Mr. C. Papoutsis, for prohibiting ships docked at Greek ports from departing for Gaza.”

Thank you for your help. 

BACKGROUND: Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza have fired more than 8,000 rockets and mortars into Israel since 2005.  Over 300 rockets have been fired to date in 2011. Because of Hamas’ continued violence, and its rejection of key international community requirements: to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements; Israel instituted a maritime blockade off the coast of Gaza to protect its citizens. The Quartet - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - has stated that flotillas are not helpful for resolving the situation and will only escalate tensions. Similarly, the U.S. Department of State has already spoken out about attempts to break the Israeli maritime blockade of Gaza, labeling it “provocative” and “irresponsible.” The Israeli government has repeatedly said it is willing to transport all genuine humanitarian aid to Gaza, but the flotilla organizers refuse to cooperate.

Assembly Bill 1151 passed with a bipartisan vote of [...]]]> Two Key Bills Supported By JPAC Pass Assembly:

AB 1151, the Divest from Iran Act

AB 6, the CalFRESH Act

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (June 1, 2011) - Two key bills supported by JPAC this legislative session and prioritized during JPAC’s Annual Advocacy Day in Sacramento last month passed the Assembly today.

Assembly Bill 1151 passed with a bipartisan vote of 72-0. The bill, authored by Assembly members Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley), would enhance California’s current divestiture law and bring new levels of transparency and accountability to California’s public pension funds, helping ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go toward investing in companies that do business with Iranian energy interests.

Assembly members Feuer and Blumenfield have been waging a multi-prong campaign to ensure that California’s financial resources are not invested in companies doing business in Iran’s energy sector and not used to bolster Iran’s nuclear weapons development or extremist activities. Last month, Assembly members Feuer, Blumenfield and Furutani held an oversight hearing to investigate why the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) had failed to comply with a 2007 law requiring public pensions to divest from companies with business interests in Iran. CalPERS announced only days before the hearing that it would divest most of its investments in businesses with interests in Iran’s energy sector. The hearing confirmed that, although the law requiring divestiture became effective on January 1, 2008, CalPERS had failed to effectuate meaningful divestment. Last year, Feuer and Blumenfield authored the Iran Contracting Act of 2010, which prohibits contracts of $1 million or more between the State of California (including its cities and counties) and companies with significant business in Iran’s energy sector. AB 1650 also passed with bipartisan support.

Assembly Bill 6 passed by a vote of 43-21. The bill, authored by Assembly member Felipe Fuentes (D-Los Angeles) seeks to increase access to and participation in CalFresh (California’s new name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], the federal program formerly known as Food Stamps), by removing barriers and simplifying the application process, while simultaneously implementing cost savings efforts.

Only About 50% of eligible Californians do not participate in CalFresh, ranking California second to last among states in measures of participation. Increasing participation to near 100% of eligible households, as other states have done, could mean an additional $4.9 billion in federal benefits for needy Californians. Eliminating barriers to CalFresh participation will help stimulate the economy, feed the hungry, and bring California into alignment with every other state at a time when far too many families are struggling to put food on the table.

Both bills must next move onto the Senate for passage.

CONTACT:

Caron Spector Berkley, JPAC Association Director
caron@jpac-cal.org
(323) 761-8163

SACRAMENTO, CA (May 26, 2011) - The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) was the key sponsor of a Legislative Oversight Hearing in Sacramento last week to review the implementation of AB 221. Also known as the California [...]]]> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

JPAC Joins Legislative Champions in Pushing
CalPERS at Iran Divestment Oversight Hearing

SACRAMENTO, CA (May 26, 2011) - The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) was the key sponsor of a Legislative Oversight Hearing in Sacramento last week to review the implementation of AB 221. Also known as the California Public Divest from Iran Act, AB 221 was authored in 2007 by then-Assembly member Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the same year. The bill required both the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) to (1) identify companies in their investment portfolios that had business operations in the Iranian energy or defense sectors or links to terrorist organizations and (2) to either engage those companies to take substantial action to end operations or to divest from them entirely.

Assembly Chair Warren Furutani (D-Long Beach) convened the May 18 hearing - which Board members of CalPERS and CalSTRS participated in after more than three years of avoiding public hearings on the matter - at the request of JPAC. CalPERS has long claimed that fiduciary duty prevented them from taking the necessary actions to divest. Furutani made it clear throughout the sometimes contentious hearing that a decision by CalPERS two days prior to finally divest from Iran was welcome but overdue. He emphasized that the Committee would continue to provide oversight over the implementation and future actions of the retirement system.

JPAC Chair Michael Sweet testified that CalPERS in particular had openly defied the intent of the Legislature and was late in coming to the table. “It is clear that the timing of the announcement two days before the oversight hearing emphasizes the importance of continued Legislative oversight,” said Sweet. “There is no doubt in my mind that but for the scheduled oversight hearing, CalPERS would not have announced its change in position.”

Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), co-author of AB 221, hammered CalPERS about their continued refusal to acknowledge that investment in Iran continued following the passage of AB 221 in 2007. Feuer also questioned the timeframe of the Board’s new policy and the need for transparency in the CALPERS divestment process. Feuer’s AB 1151, introduced earlier this year and jointly authored with Assembly member Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles), would require CalPERS and CalSTRS to hold public hearings on any decision not to divest pursuant to AB 221.

Feuer was joined at the hearing by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) who questioned CalPERS’s refusal to accept its responsibility to implement the intent of the Legislature. Speaker Perez’s presence at an oversight hearing in the middle of state budget deliberations emphasized the importance of the issue to the Legislature and its leadership. Assembly member Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles), Chair of the Budget Committee, and Assembly member Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) also played principal roles in the hearing, pushing CalPERS to confirm that they would be divesting.

The hearing began with remarks by Mr. Michael Makovsky, Director of Foreign Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. Makovsky shared a sobering overview of Iran’s race to develop nuclear weapons despite worldwide efforts to deter the Iranian regime. He also provided a report on international and national efforts to impose sanctions as an alternative to military options. With approximately $236 billion in market assets, CalPERS is the nation’s largest public pension fund. The withdrawal of the fund’s investments in the Iranian economy is a major boost to comprehensive sanctions efforts intended to slow the progress of the Iranian government’s nuclear, chemical, and biological missile programs.

A DVD of the May 18 legislative oversight hearing is available.

CONTACT:
Caron Spector Berkley, JPAC Association Director
caron@jpac-cal.org
(323) 761-8163

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (May 17, 2011) - The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) welcomed news late yesterday that the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) adopted a plan to divest its remaining shares of public companies operating in specific [...]]]>

Jewish Public Affairs Committee Lauds News of

CalPERS Divestment from Iran

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (May 17, 2011) - The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) welcomed news late yesterday that the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) adopted a plan to divest its remaining shares of public companies operating in specific segments of the Iranian economy. New investments in these companies would be blocked as well.

CalPERS was compelled to implement an Iran divestment process over three years ago with the unanimous passage of AB 221, the Iran Divestment Act of 2007, a bill authored by then-Assembly member, now-State Senator, Joel Anderson and signed into law the same year.

“The statewide Jewish community is thrilled that CalPERS has committed to joining with a growing number of major governments and institutions in the Western world to end Iran’s effort to develop nuclear weapons,” said Michael Sweet, JPAC’s Board Chair. “Today, we can truly say that CalPERS acts in the best interests their investors - the public working men and women of California - and that they have taken meaningful steps to make clear that Iran’s terrorist activities and nuclear ambitions will not be supported or advanced in any way by the people of California.”

JPAC worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the past several years to push for full implementation of the legislation through meetings with state legislators and PERS Board members, and testimony at numerous legislative hearings.

With approximately $236 billion in market assets, CalPERS is the nation’s largest public pension fund. The withdrawal of the fund’s investments in the Iranian economy is a major boost to comprehensive sanctions efforts intended to slow the progress of the Iranian government’s nuclear, chemical, biological and missile programs.

CONTACT:
Caron Spector Berkley, JPAC Association Director
caron@jpac-cal.org
(323) 761-8163

Annual JPAC Advocacy Day in Sacramento

May [...]]]> Don’t miss your chance to participate in the

Annual JPAC Advocacy Day in Sacramento

May 9-10

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 2

Click HERE for more information and to register.

Assembly Speaker John A. Perez

Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield

Senator Joel Anderson

Assemblymember Mike Gatto

Assemblymember Mike Feuer

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

Join us for the most important day for the statewide Jewish community! Click HERE for more [...]]]> Confirmed speakers for JPAC’s Advocacy Day in Sacramento next month include:

Assembly Speaker John A. Perez

Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield

Senator Joel Anderson

Assemblymember Mike Gatto

Assemblymember Mike Feuer

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

Join us for the most important day for the statewide Jewish community! Click HERE for more information and to register.

Honorable Marty Block, Bob Blumenfield, Mike Feuer, Bonnie Lowenthal, Jeff Miller, Dr. Linda Halderman, Mark Leno, Alan Lowenthal, Lois Wolk & Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg and Speaker John Pérez

Invite You to Attend

the 46th Annual Senator Herschel Rosenthal Capitol Passover Seder

Wednesday, April [...]]]> ATTEND A CAPITOL TRADITION

Honorable Marty Block, Bob Blumenfield, Mike Feuer, Bonnie Lowenthal, Jeff Miller, Dr. Linda Halderman, Mark Leno, Alan Lowenthal, Lois Wolk
&
Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg and Speaker John Pérez

Invite You to Attend

the 46th Annual Senator Herschel Rosenthal
Capitol Passover Seder

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Albert Einstein Residence Center
1935 Wright Street, Sacramento

RSVP by April 25, 2011. Seating Limited to 128 People.

Mail $40.00 check payable to “AERC” to:
Capitol Passover Seder
2705 12th Street
Sacramento, CA 95818

For Information call Gary Cooper at (916) 442-4344.

All members of the Capitol Community are invited to attend.
The fee covers the cost of the dinner/AERC is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Wishing you every happiness at Hanukkah

and a year filled with many blessings,

Hanukkah is here! Candles rekindled … Faith renewed … Tradition preserved.  May you find meaning in the season and peace in your heart.

Wishing you every happiness at Hanukkah

and a year filled with many blessings,

Your friends at JPAC, the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California