| September 27, 2018 |
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Volume 6 Issue 33 |
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Spitzer Outraged Over Drastic Hate Crime Increase
Tough on Crime Must Include Prosecuting Hate Crime Cases |
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Newly released statistics revealing a large increase in hate crime and hate incidents in Orange County shows lax prosecution methods have placed residents at risk.
The Orange County Human Relations Commission 2017 Hate Crimes Report details an appalling 56 cases of hate crime and 94 hate incidents in Orange County during 2017. The Commission, which released the annual report on Tuesday, says the number of hate crimes may be underreported by as much as 50 percent.
“Reported hate crime is up 27 percent since 2015,” Supervisor Spitzer said, “Yet, our County does not prosecute hate crimes at the same rate as Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties. This is a disservice to targets of hate crime and does not speak to the critical need to pursue justice for all victims.”
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges in only 57 percent of the hate crimes during the past 13 years while Los Angeles County files 70 percent of their cases. In San Diego and San Bernardino counties, prosecutors file 80 percent of the hate crime cases referred by law enforcement.
Thirteen percent of the county’s hate crimes in 2017 targeted Muslims, and when combined with the incidents against people who appear to be Middle Eastern, the number of hate crimes against these groups accounts for 16 percent of the year’s total. This is more than double the number of cases in recent years and mirrors a national trend of increased hate crimes against Muslims and Middle Eastern individuals.
At the report release event, Dr. Peter Simi, Director of Earl Babbie Research Center and Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Chapman University, said established hate groups have become emboldened to latch onto increased national anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment to covertly push their message of hate to the mainstream, where its dark origin may be concealed.
Forty percent of the hate crimes that occurred in 2017 in Orange County happened in a public place like a park or shopping center. But 23 percent of hate incidents happened in schools.
“The thought of hate brewing among our young people is especially disturbing,” Spitzer said. “Every hate crime committed by an adult that is not prosecuted shows to our young people that bigotry and hatred is tolerated.”
Brette Steele, Regional Director of Strategic Engagement Office of Terrorism Prevention Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said identifying warning signs in individuals can be critical to early-prevention of hate crime and hate incidents. Schools should take reports of hate speech seriously by reducing feelings of isolation, increasing a sense of belonging, and calling out hate incidents.
“Orange County’s low prosecution rate sends a message to the entire community that hate crimes are inconsequential. Orange County should be a leader in hate crime prosecutions, not the follower. The 2017 Hate Crime Report is a wakeup call that we need to be even more vigilant in protecting our citizens.” |
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| OC Animal Care Receives $100K Grant from Best Friends Animal Society |
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(L to R): OC Animal Care’s new shelter Director Mike Kaviani, Chairman Andrew Do, Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Pacific Region Director for Best Friends Animal Society Jose Ocano, and Taylor Sharp with Best Friends Animal Society. |
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Spitzer joined volunteers in bottle-feeding some of the hungry kittens before the grant ceremony. |
Supervisor Spitzer was delighted to give a speech and bottle-feed kittens at the OC Animal Care (OCAC) shelter in Tustin as Best Friends Animal Society presented OCAC with a $100,000 “Save Them All” kitten grant.
In Southern California and all throughout the United States, kittens under 8 weeks old continue to be the highest risk population among shelter animals because of their unique special care requirements, such as round-the-clock bottle feeding. This grant will help save 675 kittens in the next year by improving OC Animal Care’s neonatal kitten program, creating a marketing campaign to find additional foster homes, and providing resources for necessary supplies, medical care, vaccinations, and more.
OCAC took in an overwhelming 4,752 kittens last year, and is on trend this year to surpass that number. This grant will decrease kitten euthanasia at OCAC by 15% in its first year by expanding foster programs, especially for “bottle baby” kittens, and providing resources for kittens in foster care.
Chairman Andrew Do, Supervisor Todd Spitzer, and representatives from OC Animal Care received the $100,000 check from Best Friends Animal Society Pacific Region Director Jose Ocano at the Tustin shelter on Saturday, September 15. Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. Since its founding in 1984, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in American shelters from 17 million per year to an estimated 4 million.
To learn more about the OCAC foster program, visit http://www.ocpetinfo.com/involve/foster. |
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| OC Animal Care Seeks Public Help for Severely Injured Pug |
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Mila was found abandoned and with severe injuries to her hind legs. OC Animal Care is providing care to Mila. |
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OC Animal Care is asking the community for donations to aid an injured dog in its care. On Sept. 11, Orange County Animal Control officers recovered a female Pug found in Fullerton. She was placed in a box and left on the front yard of a homeowner.
The dog, who is only about 1-1/2 years old, had her back legs severed below the knee. The wound was not fresh, as it had healed over the horrible injury. OC Animal Care staff is dedicated to providing this precious Pug with every opportunity to live a long and happy life – so they named her “Mila,” short for milagro, which means “miracle” in Spanish.
She has a long road to recovery, but with the generosity of our community we have the opportunity to ensure Mila heals from her injuries both physically and emotionally and is given the chance to find the loving home she deserves. An investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about this case is asked to contact OC Animal Care at (714) 796-6460.
OC Animal Care has a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to funding the most severe cases encountered, like Mila’s. Staff would like to fit her with prosthetic legs and such medical care will cost several thousands of dollars. Please consider donating to our Medical Pets fund through Noble Friends Foundation for OC Animal Care at: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=7489c0. One hundred percent of donations will go directly to Mila’s care and any additional funds will be used for animals in need of medical rehabilitation in the future. OC Animal Care thanks you for supporting our life saving efforts and we will be sending out updates on Mila’s progress and all along her journey to recovery.
(Portions courtesy of OC Animal Care). |
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| County of Orange Hosts First Career Expo and Open House This Saturday |
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The County of Orange is holding its first Career Expo and Open House in the Third District! The Career Expo and Open House will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 29, at Irvine Ranch Historic Park (13042 Old Myford Rd., Irvine, California 92692).
All are welcome to attend this free, family-friendly event, which will highlight current County of Orange job openings and career opportunities as well as the different services and programs the County offers to the community. Attendees will have the chance to enjoy fun activities for kids, live music and a food truck, plus interactive exhibits such as an OC Animal Care booth featuring animals, a demonstration by the Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue team, and more!
For more information about job openings and career opportunities with the County, visit http://www.ocgov.com/gov/hr. |
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| Tustin Tiller Days 2018: October 5—7 |
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| Tustin Tiller Days has been an annual event in Tustin since 1957. The three day festival celebrates Orange County’s agricultural heritage while providing an opportunity for local non-profit organizations to promote their cause and raise much needed funds. Over the years, local civic organizations, schools, churches, and youth groups have raised thousands of dollars to benefit a wide variety of local needs. Visit http://www.tustinca.org/default.asp for more info. |
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| Volunteers Needed for the Statewide Medical Health Exercise |
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| Calling all actors and actresses! Volunteers are needed for the California Statewide Medical Health Exercise 2018 on November 15th! Play a "patient" or a "victim" and help increase the realism for our healthcare professionals. Locations vary across the county; you choose where you want to go! For more information or to register, please visit https://goo.gl/S8955z. |
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Construction Alert: Silverado Canyon Road Micro-Surfacing Project:
September 27—28, 8:30 am—3:30 pm |
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Construction Alert: Yorba Regional Park Accessibility Improvements
September 27—November 8, 2018 |
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| Pet of the Week |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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| Events Around the District |
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Anaheim
Preschool Storytime
Friday, September 28, 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Anaheim Canyon Hills, 400 Scout Trail
Every Hero Has a Library Card
Saturday, September 29, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 East Santa Ana Canyon Road
Irvine
Family Game Day
Saturday, September 29, 10:00 am—2:00 pm
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Orange County Great Park Farmers Market
Sunday, September 30, 10:00 am—2:00 pm
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Orange
Mysteries of the Cosmos
Saturday, September 29, 2:00 pm—3:00 pm
El Modena Branch Library, 380 S Hewes St.
Literacy Volunteer Training Session
Wednesday, October 3, 5:30 pm—8:30 pm
Library Main Community Room, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Silverado
Family Drop-In Crafts
Saturday, October 6, 11:00 am — 2:00 pm
Library of the Canyons, 7531 East Santiago Canyon Rd.
Family Fun Night: Block Party
Wednesday, October 10, 4:00 pm — 5:00 pm
Library of the Canyons, 7531 East Santiago Canyon Rd.
Tustin
Books for Breakfast
Saturday, September 29, 9:00 am—9:30 am
Tustin Library, 345 E. Main Street
Farmers Market
Wednesday, October 3, 9:00 am—1:00 pm
El Camino Real and West 3rd Street
Villa Park
Music and Movement Storytime
Thursday, September 27, 11:00 am – 11:00 am
Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Yorba Linda
Sunday Concerts: Chamber Music: String Quartet from Brazil, Jefferson Martens, Cellist, Director
Sunday, September 30, 1:30 pm
Richard Nixon Library and Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Friends of the Library Fall Clearance Sale
Saturday, September 29, 10:00 am—4:00 pm
Hurless Barton Park, 4579 Casa Loma Ave.
For questions or comments regarding Spitzer’s E-Newsletter
please contact the Supervisor's office staff at: (714) 834-3330 or Montana.Sudul@ocgov.com
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