April 08, 2010
Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez Tours Earthquake Damage in Calexico
This morning, Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez and U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer were in Calexico to meet with city leaders and tour the areas most severely damaged in Sunday’s 7.2 earthquake.
“My staff and I are here to help however we can,” said Pérez. “I am committed to pursuing whatever strategies are needed – including legislative remedies -- to provide some relief so we can repair needed infrastructure, help our downtown business owners get back to work, get kids back to school, and return to normal life as soon as possible.”
Currently, the downtown business area in Calexico is closed to the public, with nine buildings ‘red-tagged’ and many others moderately damaged. Meanwhile, water infrastructure is a priority concern for the city, with $17.4 million in repairs needed to the water and wastewater treatment facility. While immediate water needs are being met, rising summer temperatures will place increased strain on the impaired system. In addition, due to a broken sewer main, 200,000 gallons of raw sewage has flowed into the New River, furthering imperiling community health adjacent to the River.
After the downtown tour with Senator Boxer, Pérez then visited Jefferson Elementary School, which suffered extensive damage, and met CountySupervisors for a lunch meeting. “The state of emergency declaration and today’s executive order from the Governor are much needed and important steps to help us rebuild and repair,” said Pérez. “Now we need to make sure our communities gain access to the full spectrum of supports and resources available.”
In order to attend the earthquake briefing and tour, the Assemblyman was excused from the day’s regular legislative session. In his absence, a bill he jointly authored, SB 401, was brought to vote and passed 44-20 on the Assembly Floor. The bill includes a number of provisions to conform state tax laws to existing federal laws. One provision exempts federal stimulus grants for renewable energy development projects from being treated as taxable income. The other provides tax relief to those who have experienced short sale or foreclosure on their primary residence, so that this forgiven debt is not treated as taxable income.
“My staff and I are here to help however we can,” said Pérez. “I am committed to pursuing whatever strategies are needed – including legislative remedies -- to provide some relief so we can repair needed infrastructure, help our downtown business owners get back to work, get kids back to school, and return to normal life as soon as possible.”
Currently, the downtown business area in Calexico is closed to the public, with nine buildings ‘red-tagged’ and many others moderately damaged. Meanwhile, water infrastructure is a priority concern for the city, with $17.4 million in repairs needed to the water and wastewater treatment facility. While immediate water needs are being met, rising summer temperatures will place increased strain on the impaired system. In addition, due to a broken sewer main, 200,000 gallons of raw sewage has flowed into the New River, furthering imperiling community health adjacent to the River.
After the downtown tour with Senator Boxer, Pérez then visited Jefferson Elementary School, which suffered extensive damage, and met CountySupervisors for a lunch meeting. “The state of emergency declaration and today’s executive order from the Governor are much needed and important steps to help us rebuild and repair,” said Pérez. “Now we need to make sure our communities gain access to the full spectrum of supports and resources available.”
In order to attend the earthquake briefing and tour, the Assemblyman was excused from the day’s regular legislative session. In his absence, a bill he jointly authored, SB 401, was brought to vote and passed 44-20 on the Assembly Floor. The bill includes a number of provisions to conform state tax laws to existing federal laws. One provision exempts federal stimulus grants for renewable energy development projects from being treated as taxable income. The other provides tax relief to those who have experienced short sale or foreclosure on their primary residence, so that this forgiven debt is not treated as taxable income.