| PUBLIC SAFETY |
 4/30/2008  Sharon Runner 
It's great to celebrate here with the Governor, who has come on board to support Donate Life California. The month of April was national Donate Life Month and we're encouraging people to go online to donatelifecalfiornia.org and sign up to donate organs. We have 20,000 people waiting in California alone for organ transplants -- it only takes a moment to save a life.
Watch VideoAbout Donate Life Donor Registry »
 4/15/2008 Susan Fisher
Crime Victims' Rights Week is an opportunity for crime victims, family members, survivors and local state service providers to stand united throughout California and across the nation. The Governor and his administration are strong supporters of victims' rights and public safety remains one of his highest priorities. California has long been a leading supporter of crime victims' rights, and we started the nation's first victim assistance program and established the first domestic violence shelter.
Watch VideoAbout National Crime Victims' Rights Week »
 3/6/2008 James Tilton
This is the second graduating class of the Carpenters Apprenticeship Program at CIW, where we train female inmates to be carpenters. We all know that if you come out of prison with $200 and a bus ticket it's tough to be successful. These inmates are coming out with a $20 an hour job, a linkage to the community, a chance to get real jobs with benefits, deal with all their issues, and then they will have a chance.
Watch VideoAbout Commitment to Effective Rehabilitation »
 3/3/2008 Paul Seave
The gang problem in California has become statewide, and part of the Governor's initiative is to bring additional resources that engage in job training, especially for youth who are in gangs or at risk of joining gangs. So today, after having received more than 46 applications from cities, we're announcing the release of $9.5 million to deal with gang violence, and more than $7.3 million to deal with training youth who are in gangs or at risk of joining gangs.
Watch VideoAbout Governor's Gang Prevention and Intervention Program »
 2/27/2008 Joe Farrow
California is praised for enacting requirements for motorcyclists to wear helmets, for tougher drunk driving laws, strengthening seatbelt and child safety seat laws and increased restrictions on teen drivers. This summer two new laws go on the books in California restricting use of hand-held cell phones by drivers and banning drivers under the age of 18 from using cell phones and pagers while driving.
Watch VideoAbout Traffic Laws »
 2/14/2008 Matthew Bettenhausen
Today Governor Schwarzenegger is announcing that we're going to be making a 40 million dollar investment in additional port security measures here in California; this is coming from the important 1B Proposition bond funds that the state and the voters approved last fall. So this is a significant investment in not only our ports, but the economy of California.
Watch VideoAbout Port Security Funding »
2/12/2008 Matthew Bettenhausen
California is getting a big increase in some homeland security funding, just another indication the Governor's leadership and our efforts in his Office of Homeland Security are paying off. Cooperation, collaboration, and forward thinking in California's Homeland Security policies have helped to ensure more funding from Washington.
Read MoreAbout Homeland Security Funding »  2/6/2008 Lester Snow
The Governor announced today the first grants out of Prop 1E to start improving the levees. Northern California is getting over $200 million out the door to start protecting people and creating jobs so that in the future we have safer levees, and we're also doing something about the economy.
Watch VideoAbout Protecting California's Levees »
 12/21/2007 Henry R. Renteria
This winter, due to the devastating fires in Southern California, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services is particularly concerned about heavy rains. The charred hillsides have little vegetation to keep soil in place, which puts communities in low-lying areas at risk of flooding as well as mud and debris flows.
Read MoreAbout disaster preparedness »  12/21/2007 Rosario Marin
Christmas trees in the home remain an annual fire hazard that continues to cause over 20 deaths and over 13 million in damage. What should consumers do to prevent fires? Well, it really begins when you're at the Christmas tree lot. Use the Tap Test. Before you purchase a tree, grab it by the trunk.
Read MoreAbout holiday tree safety »  11/16/2007 Will Bush
Following the devastating Southern California fires last month, Governor Schwarzenegger ordered all State agencies to move quickly to ensure fire commanders, emergency managers, local government officials and ultimately the general public got the help and resources they needed. As California continues to recover, the Department of General Services is committed to continuing to do everything we can as the State’s business manager to help support the ongoing recovery effort.
Read MoreAbout Supporting the Wildfire Recovery »  11/2/2007 Karen Baker
The Southern California wildfires have been a huge reminder to all of us about the important need for volunteers and service in times of disaster. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with wildfire recovery go to californiavolunteers.org where you can register and become affiliated.
Watch VideoAbout Volunteer in Times of Disaster »
 10/31/2007 Victoria Bradshaw
The National Emergency Grant is going to be a very important tool in helping communities and helping our workers who became unemployed because of the wildfires to get back to earning a living and getting back to making life normal again, and receiving the services they need.
Watch VideoAbout National Emergency Grant for Recovery Services »
 10/29/2007 Jim Guidone
I’m one of over 4,000 volunteers that are here in California from all 50 states of the union. We're focusing primarily on feeding, sheltering, providing basic first aid, emotional counseling, and also providing clean up kits so people who are going back to their homes can begin the process of recovery.
Watch VideoAbout Wildfire Recovery »
10/27/2007 Rosario Marin
We have created the Consumer Protection Hotline for the people that have been impacted by the fires. You can call 1-800-952-5210 or go to www.rebuildyourlife.ca.gov and find out if services are legitimate businesses. We want to make sure that we protect you as a consumer and make sure you're not a victim a second time around.
Watch VideoAbout Protecting Fire Victims »
 10/26/2007 Kate Dargan
Even though we've turned the corner weather-wise today, and we have some cooler temperatures and less winds in southern California, we do have a little bit of higher winds and lower temperatures in northern California, as well as 9 fires that are still actively burning down in the southland where we've had that horrific set of fires for the last several days.
Watch VideoAbout Battling California's Wildfires »
10/26/2007 Henry R. Renteria
Even with the fires burning, we started the opening of Local Assistance Centers. These Local Assistance Centers are a one-stop shop where victims of the fires can come and get assistance and identify any needs that they have in order to start rebuilding their lives. So it's important that we bring all the local, state and federal agencies in one place.
Watch VideoAbout Coordinating State Efforts »
 10/24/2007 Kathleen Webb
California is very experienced in responding to these catastrophic fires, and in this event we are demonstrating our ability to respond. The Department of Insurance has a consumer hotline at 800-927-HELP, and information available at their website, www.insurance.ca.gov.
Watch VideoAbout Insurance issues »
 10/17/2007 Mike Brown
These bills are designed to tighten up the DUI laws, to save lives. Last year we lost 4,197 people on our roadways, all because of crashes, and a third of those died because of DUI. It's a major public health issue for us here in California.
Watch VideoAbout Legislation to Crackdown on DUI and Underage Drinking »
10/11/2007 Paul Seave
Today the Governor signed five bills that approach gang violence problem from a number of angles. And it really makes the point that with prevention, intervention and suppression we have a chance of succeeding.
Watch VideoAbout fighting gang violence »
 10/10/2007 Kasey Schimke
The Governor signed a series of bills today that will ultimately provide for significant flood protection in California. These bills are a good framework for future planning, for development in the Central Valley, and will ultimately get us to a level of 200-year flood protection for urban areas.
Watch VideoAbout Flood Protection in California »
 10/3/2007 Dr. Mark Horton
Flu season is soon approaching, and it’s time to schedule vaccinations for you and your family members. Every year, more than 225,000 people are hospitalized and more than 35,000 die in the US due to influenza and its complications. Children younger than 9 years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first time will need two doses of vaccine. Healthy individuals ages 2 to 49 can now receive the nasal-spray flu vaccine, also known as Flumist.
Read MoreAbout About Flu Season and Vaccinations »  9/26/2007 Joan Petersilia
SB 943 delivers on a promise that Governor Schwarzenegger made in 2004, when he said to the California public, "Corrections should correct," and I think we've been working on that for at least the last four years that I've been involved. The opening of a re-entry center really to me shows that California can reach consensus on the fact that everyone is coming home, and everybody needs better preparation.
Watch VideoAbout First Secure Community Re-entry Facility »
 9/25/2007 Jerry J. Adams
Today is the Governor's Medal of Valor recognition ceremony in the Capitol. The Governor will be recognizing several public safety officers for acts of heroism in 2006.
Watch VideoAbout Medal of Valor ceremony »
 9/13/2007 Lorrane Rumley
I want to applaud Governor Schwarzenegger's signing of Senate Bill 33 which bans teenage drivers under the age of 18 from using electronic devices while driving. This is very important as a parent. One of our biggest fears is what happens when our children first get their driver's license and they leave that driveway, and you just don't know what's going to happen out there on the road.
Watch VideoAbout legislation to increase teen driver safety »
 9/6/2007 Bonnie Dumanis
We are joining with the Governor to fight back against an early prison release order. An early release will mean prisoners will be on the streets and will be ready to victimize people again. This is not the answer. AB 900, which was the Governor's leadership on this issue, with new prisons, with new rehabilitation programs and re-entry programs, will be able to attack the prison overcrowding without jeopardizing public safety.
Watch VideoAbout threat posed by prisoner release »
9/4/2007 Paul Seave
State government has not had any mechanism to coordinate all of the gang prevention efforts. The Governor has established a framework by appointing me, and the office that I'll be forming, to begin to look at the many, many state government agencies and then meet with them and find out how we can be more effective, and be more responsive to local governments.
Watch VideoAbout Coordinating Gang Prevention »
 8/27/2007 Ryan Broddrick
Last week, the Governor signed an executive order allocating up to $500,000 to the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) for vegetation management in State managed wetland wildlife areas most at risk for West Nile Virus. The funding provided by the Governor is critical in ensuring that DFG can continue to assist in combating this public health threat.
Read MoreAbout combating West Nile Virus » 8/20/2007 Dr. Mark Horton
The California Department of Public Health is actively supporting efforts by local health departments and local mosquito control agencies to undertake surveillance activities to provide early warning of mosquito activity, to identify and treat potential mosquito habitats, and to disseminate West Nile virus prevention messages.
Read MoreAbout Guarding Against West Nile Virus » 8/13/2007 Henry Renteria
For years, government agencies have been able to alert the public through the Emergency Broadcast System and, more recently, its successor, the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Recent advances in technology provide us with the opportunity to quickly alert and warn a broader group in the affected area by sending these messages to their personal wireless devices.
Read MoreAbout about Alert and Warning Systems » 8/2/2007 Dr. Mark Horton
The Governor has charged us with working very closely with local jurisdictions to ensure they have the resources available to minimize the impact of the West Nile Virus in our communities.
Watch VideoAbout Emergency Declaration »
 7/24/2007 Louis Mauro
The recent ruling by two federal judges underscores the need to continue the comprehensive prison reform the Governor signed into law this spring. Governor Schwarzenegger will continue to aggressively fight to reduce prison overcrowding, protect public safety and ensure that dangerous criminals are not released early.
Read MoreAbout Fixing Our Prisons » 7/19/2007 James Tilton
Jessica's Law is a tough, comprehensive law and the Governor has taken key steps to ensure it is carried out. The initial issues around the law with the implementation of the housing components have been resolved and we have recently passed regulations on June 28th to allow us to automatically refer to the parole board parolees who may be out of compliance with Jessica's Law.
Watch VideoAbout Jessica's Law »
 6/29/2007 Candace Gregory
Today I’m at the incident command post for the White Fire, which is located near Tehachapi in Kern County. The Governor is going to be visiting us today; he's very concerned about this fire and the acres that it's burned and the structures that it's threatened.
Watch VideoAbout the Kern County White Fire »
6/28/2007 Mark B. Horton MD, MSPH
This is a great day for public health. We're celebrating the creation of the new Department of Public Health, which was created as a result of the passage of SB 162. This goes into effect on the 1st of July.
Watch VideoAbout the New Public Health Department »
6/28/2007 Matt Bettenhausen
Last November, California voters passed Proposition 1B, a transportation bond that provides $20 billion to make long overdue improvements in our roads, railways, ports and other important transportation infrastructure. One billion dollars of those funds are dedicated to improving the security and safety of California’s mass transit systems.
Read MoreAbout improving the security and safety of California’s mass transit systems » 6/27/2007 Henry Renteria
Today we took a site tour with our Governor to see first hand the devastation and to bring together all the federal, state, and local agencies that are going to be involved in helping get this community back together.
Watch VideoAbout Angora Wildfire Site Tour »
 6/26/2007 Ruben Grijalva
Yesterday's favorable weather conditions allowed us to make significant
progress toward the eventual containment of the Angora, South Lake Tahoe
fire. As of this morning, the fire had burned 2,730 acres, but is 40
percent contained.
Read MoreAbout Battling California's Wildfires » 6/25/2007 Henry Renteria
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the establishment of a Local Assistance Center to help victims of the Angora Wildfire. The center will be located at One College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA, and open through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Watch VideoAbout Angora Wildfire Assistance Center »
6/15/2007 Mike Brown
The 15th of June, 2007, will be a happy and sad day in the history of the Highway Patrol, for today we are going to graduate over 160 new officers from our academy in West Sacramento.
Read MoreAbout Sacrifices our men and women are willing to make in the California Highway Patrol »  6/12/2007 Ron Beilke
California's cities and counties are on the front lines of the fight against gang violence, and the Governor's comprehensive anti-gang initiative recognizes that solving this problem starts with empowering communities to treat the causes of gang violence.
Watch VideoAbout comprehensive anti-gang initiative »
 6/12/2007 Cesar Calderon
Community-based groups provide vital services to high-risk youth - they help keep kids out of gangs and often are their last chance to turn their lives around. The Governor's comprehensive anti-gang initiative puts resources in the hands of community groups and helps coordinated gang reduction statewide.
Watch VideoAbout comprehensive anti-gang initiative »
6/12/2007 James E Tilton
Gang-related crimes are linked with California's prison system, and the Governor's comprehensive anti-gang intiative will create a special prison task force to fight gang crime.
Watch VideoAbout comprehensive anti-gang intiative »
 6/12/2007 Wayne Tucker
The Governor's comprehensive anti-gang initiative is going to put more resources in the hands of local law enforcement to track violent gang members and get them off California streets.
Watch VideoAbout comprehensive anti-gang initiative »
6/6/2007 Victoria Bradshaw
As summer approaches, workers outside need to be careful about the heat. California is the only state in the nation to have comprehensive heat safety regulations to protect workers.
Watch VideoAbout comprehensive heat safety regulations that protect workers »
 5/25/2007 Ross LaJeunesse
Gang violence isn't just a problem for one city or one county - it affects
the whole state, and so Governor Schwarzenegger is announcing a state-wide
anti-gang initiative to coordinate the fight against gang-related crimes.
Watch VideoAbout a state-wide anti-gang initiative »
5/15/2007 Matthew Bettenhausen
The recent horrific violence at Virginia Tech and shooting near Fresno State’s campus once again brought school safety to the forefront of public discussion.
Read MoreAbout emergency preparedness » 5/7/2007 Ruben Grijalva
This week is Wildfire Awareness Week, and with a very dry winter, it's important that every Californian be prepared for the coming fire season.
Watch VideoAbout Wildfire Awareness Week »
 5/4/2007 Will Kempton
Last Sunday's Maze Fire damaged the I-880/I-580 interchange. CalTrans Director Will Kempton says that the I-880 ramp will be open within 10 days and work will begin on I-580 as early as Tuesday.
Watch VideoAbout the Maze Fire damage »
5/3/2007 Joan Petersilia
The Governor signed a historic prison reform package that included plans to reduce recidivism by creating secure re-entry facilities which will help inmates prepare for parole and their reentry into society with job training, drug treatment and rehabilitation.
Watch VideoAbout a historic prison reform package »
 5/1/2007 Tom Sawyer
Peace officers are on the front lines of public safety, and every year we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice at the California Peace Officer's Memorial.
Watch VideoAbout honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice »
5/1/2007 Mike Brown
Today the California Highway Patrol family gathers to honor the memory, service and sacrifice of 210 brave CHP officers who have laid down their lives serving the citizens of California since 1929.
Read MoreAbout the CHP Memorial Service »  4/30/2007 Kathy Jett
Last Thursday, the Legislature approved Governor Schwarzenegger's prison reform package, which will sharpen the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's focus on reducing recividism, increasing treatment and rehabilitating prisoners.
Watch VideoAbout Governor Schwarzenegger's prison reform package »
4/26/2007 James Tilton
It is very exciting today that the Legislature has approved the authorization of construction of 53,000 beds in the state of California, 40,000 beds to address the population of the prison system, and 13,000 to deal with capacity at the local jail level.
Watch VideoAbout the authorization of construction of 53,000 beds in the prison system »
4/23/2007 Susan Fisher
Today is the beginning of National Crime Victims' Rights Week and in Sacramento victims have an annual march on the Capitol...
Watch VideoAbout National Crime Victims' Rights Week »
4/3/2007 Dr. Mark Horton
State public health officer Dr. Mark Horton discusses the importance of the newly formed California Department of Public Health.
Watch VideoAbout the newly formed California Department of Public Health »
3/7/2007 Ross LaJeunesse
The Governor's prison reforms will strengthen public safety by building and modernizing prison facilities, reforming parole and sentencing structures and providing resources to swiftly implement Jessica's Law.
Watch VideoAbout the Governor's prison reforms »
3/5/2007 Tom Sawyer
This week marks a milestone for gang intervention and prevention efforts statewide as the Governor opens a serious dialog with public safety officials to discuss gang crimes and violence. Monday March 5 the Governor will meet with southern California sheriff's...
Read MoreAbout gang intervention and prevention »  10/17/2006 Marc Klaas
By understanding that Internet crimes are a phenomenon unique to the 21st Century Governor Schwarzenegger has further demonstrated his leadership by convening California's first Cyber Crimes Against Children Summit at the Sacramento Convention Center on October 18, 2006.
Read MoreAbout Cyber Safety » 10/12/2006 Matt Bettenhausen
Governor Schwarzenegger has, again, demonstrated his leadership on an important public safety issue by signing an Executive Order creating the California Maritime Security Council. It is impossible to overstate the importance of California's ports not only...
Read MoreAbout Port Security »  9/20/2006 Richard Costigan
It's a great day for California. Governor Schwarzenegger's continuing
commitment to public safety was on display this morning at the State
Capitol. The Governor signed two very important pieces of legislation that
help us fight sexual predators and make the state of California a safer
place to live.
Read MoreAbout Protecting California » 9/15/2006 Mike Brown
Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill which prohibits the use of hand-held cellular phones while operating a motor vehicle in California. The new law (SB 1613-Simitian, Palo Alto) goes into effect July 1, 2008. The purpose of this legislation is to protect public safety by removing potential distractions from the hands of drivers.
Read MoreAbout the new Cell Phone Law »  9/14/2006 Kim Belshe
California made an important step forward in further strengthening its emergency preparedness when Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 162 by Senator Deborah Ortiz, legislation to establish a separate Department of Public Health (DPH) within the Health and Human Services Agency, effective July 1, 2007
Read MoreAbout Emergency Preparedness » 9/8/2006 Mike Brown
I frequently travel throughout the state to attend events and speaking engagements for various organizations. During these outings, it’s not uncommon for someone to approach me and mention that during their drive to the meeting or event, they didn’t see a single California Highway Patrol officer on the freeway.
Read MoreAbout California Highway Patrol » 8/4/2006 Ruben Grijalva
Governor Schwarzenegger is stopping by this morning and will thank the firefighters who took part in the Junction Fire. This visit means a lot to our staff and crews. I saw this firsthand at the Sawtooth Complex when the Governor and First Lady spent hours going table-to-table shaking the hands of weary firefighters. It was a big morale boost for our crews.
Read MoreAbout thanking our firefighterts » 7/28/2006 Ruben Grijalva
CDF responded to 39 new fires yesterday and progress has been made on several fronts overnight. Four fires that are 100 percent contained include : The Hoy Fire in Siskiyou County; the Mass Fire in San Diego County on Camp Pendleton; e Murphy Fire in Lake County; and the Rico Fire in San Benito County which exceeded...
Read MoreAbout the latest fires » 7/27/2006 Victoria Bradshaw
In 2005, there were 13 heat-related deaths between July and September. Many of these were in the agriculture and construction industries, as well as in other industries with outdoor workers. By August of last year, at the Governor's request and with input from the labor, business and healthcare industries...
Read MoreAbout heat safety »  7/1/2006 Sandra Shewry
California has made great strides in its efforts to ensure the state’s readiness for a public health emergency and to enhance the state's ability to effectively respond to any kind of disaster
Read MoreAbout Emergency Health Preparedness » 6/27/2006 Tom Sawyer
Public safety is a top priority for Governor Schwarzenegger. This year's budget will increase public safety money by $300 million in order to fully fund law enforcement programs. Additionally, more funds are planned...
Read MoreAbout public safety » 6/22/2006 Ruben Grijalva
The 2006 fire season this summer is shaping up to be normal to above normal regarding the number and size of fires. Based on a five-year average, a “normal” year produces approximately 6,100 fires...
Read MoreAbout fire season risk »  4/27/2006 Bonnie Reiss
As we continue to focus on National Crime Victims Rights Week, it is essential to address the issue of financial restitution for crime victims. Being a crime victim is terrible enough, but the loss and indignity are compounded...
Read MoreAbout the issue of financial restitution for crime victims » 4/24/2006 Bonnie Reiss
As we begin Crime Victims Rights Week it is fitting that our Governor will be focusing on what our state has done and must continue to do to support crime victims and their families.
Read MoreAbout what our state has done and must continue to do to support crime victims » 4/18/2006 Henry Rentereia
Not long ago, Californians were comfortable in the belief that the only disaster to face was the occasional “shaker’…an earthquake that would rattle mom’s china and remind the family to practice their “duck, cover, and hold” technique. We felt fortunate not to have to battle tornados, hurricanes, or tsunamis – and the thought of terrorism was inconceivable.
Read MoreAbout how only 30% of us are disastered prepared » |
