Stanford's blog

Published in the Modesto Bee 7/19/08

I applaud the Stanislaus County Grand Jury for their recommendation of a needle exchange program in our community as a means of stemming the tide of infectious disease throughout our entire community.

Not only does needle exchange programs reduce the spread of blood-borne illnesses such as HIV and Hepatitis C, it also offers a consistent opportunity to provide information and encouragement to intravenous drug users regarding treatment and counseling as well as addressing other health issues arising from high-risk behavioral lifestyles.

With the overwhelming failure of Proposition 36, drug addiction treatments available to drug users and/or offenders are underutilized except by those offenders fortunate enough to be ordered to drug court.

With no accountability to continue, the offender is given little more than a sheet of paper in terms of support and alternatives to their current lifestyle.

Proposition 36 drug offenders are left to their own devices to deal with their drug addiction by themselves.

Needle exchange is in no way condoning intravenous drug use. It is an effective approach to saving lives by reducing not only the rates of deadly disease, but also promoting education for drug users regarding existing opportunities available to them for treatment.

Robert Stanford

Airport Neighborhood Activist

Saturday, July 26th 2008, the non-profit organization, the Stanislaus County Animal Services Auxiliary held a Mobile Spay & Neuter Clinic from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the airport neighborhood. The operations were offered at $5, and rabies shots at $2 for those that could provide proof of public assistance or poverty.

Auxiliary President Mary Whetstone took the lead, bright and early at the Sheriff Substation located on Santa Cruz. Several volunteers from the auxiliary showed up, nervously awaiting the animals and pre-set appointments.

I was there as a Spanish translator and general gopher, especially helping with toting large items such as portable kennels and tables. As well as greeting some at the gate, most of which I had to explain to that I had instructed them that they needed to call beforehand to be on the list. The calling was very important, because they would then be given precise instructions on not feeding or watering their animals from 10 pm the previous night.

Many that showed without appointment were in fact people I had encouraged to come earlier and several came by word of mouth, thinking that they could acquire vaccinations at low or no cost for their animals.

All in all it was a success, except that I believe that out of the 23 appointments that were successfully serviced with the spay/neuter services, only 3 were actually residents of the Airport District.

Mary Whetstone, emphatically stated. "3,500 animals arrived at the shelter from the Airport District. This is inhumane. We have GOT to do SOMETHING."

Mary Whetstone and the auxiliary is hoping to have another event this September. This time it will probably be at a location in Ceres, with the focus on the residents of Ceres and some of the South Modesto Area.

Robert Stanford

Airport Neighborhood Activist

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=%22robert+Stanford%22+modesto

Stanislaus County is the third worse for Latino infant mortality of the fifty-eight counties that comprise the state of California.

If this is news to you, you are not alone. Most people are unaware of this horrible fact, and when they are made aware, they don’t seem to care very much at all. But, I believe they really do care and I believe you, especially do.

First on the list from the heads of our local Health Department, will be the standard strategy of diverting the subject to the percentage of Latino mothers using alcohol, tobacco and drugs. As though these things alone, are all that contribute to Latino infant death syndrome (LSIDS).

But the Center for Disease Control (CDC) tells the other side of the story. Simple things, such as how to correctly lay a baby in a crib or sharing the mother’s bed with her baby also contributes to these numbers. So many lives that can be saved with an informational brochure, or even better yet, a new mother’s class.

And when these methods are mentioned, the same subject-averting responses are heard – How can we pay for this? We can’t afford this. We can’t do this right now. Unless they think it will do something for their over-inflated good name, no one really does much of anything.

Shouldn’t we at least ask ourselves how much a Latino baby’s life is really worth to us? At what point in a Latino child’s life does it actually deserve to be saved?

Our society certainly seems to not have a problem destroying our young Latino’s lives by committing the poorest of them to prison without affording them proper representation. So why should we, as a society, have any concern over our Latino babies never getting to see their very first birthday.

Not to mention, the mental well being of the mothers, fathers and other family members that seem to be able , now that it is their baby that is dead, to fathom something that we, as citizens of Stanislaus County, cannot- Just how precious that particular baby’s life is. But I know we can. And I know that we will.

Number three in the state of California for Latino infant mortality. Do I sound redundant to you? Of so many people I have broached this subject with I soon have dialogue similar to the following:

“Did I tell you this already? We are number three in the state of California for Latino infant mortality?�

“Oh, yeah, yeah….sad. So how was your weekend?�

Across the board we are higher than most other counties for infant mortality, despite the race of the child victims. So it would be very easy (one would think) for me to attend one of these little boy or girl’s funerals, giving as much support as I could to the families on behalf of the citizens of Stanislaus County. Because then I could say:

“My weekend was … (however the experience was) … . I attended the funeral, reception (and other?) of (name of child). I was there on your behalf.�

Wouldn’t that be quite a bold thing to say? I would concur, if you say yes, however, consider if you would: What thoughts may arise? Longer and more lasting thoughts in this dialogue exchange with another individual regarding infant mortality and it’s easy and inexpensive prevention.

Shock, many tell me, is an inappropriate method of communication. But consider this – What if it can save someone’s life, by starting a chain-reaction of thoughts in another individual?

If someone-anyone was on the step of your front door, - dying, how far would you go in your efforts to save that person’s life? Like when one puts up a fence to secure a swimming pool. Why do they actually do this? Because the insurance company told them to put up the fence? Who tells the community to secure or remove the doors of discarded refrigerators? Do you know what I am referring to?

It’s just a matter of logistics and the knowledge that the possibility does indeed exist! The prevention of a child dying!

Perhaps one could wear a big sandwich board downtown that reads on one side, “At what age does innocence end?� And on the other side, “At what age will I earn an obituary in the paper?�

And then, when people approach you because they think it’s a pro choice/ pro life thing, you can answer them by handing to them the two year study which was conducted of our county’s infant mortality provided by the Stanislaus County Health Department.

I mean if they would care so much as to actually approach you in the first place, they must care enough about something? Right?

Or you could take a card table and chair and set up in front of Mi Pueblo on Crows Landing road and distribute literature to soon-to-be Latina mothers. “Para Te� is all the Spanish you would need. I’ve done it! You can too!

“So, what did you do this weekend (your name here)?�

“I saved some baby’s lives and stemmed the tide of grief for families. What are you doing next weekend?�

We don’t have to be number three in Latino infant mortality. You can stop this and reverse this tragic trend. If you would like more information on what you can do to save babies lives and prevent family grief, call the Stanislaus County Health Department. Your taxes are paying for them to help you do this. If it doesn’t work out, email me at toymaker99@yahoo.com and I will make it work out for you.

What’s it worth? It’s worth our very future!

Copyright 2008 (c) Robert Stanford/Latino Times all rights reserved.

Robert Stanford

Airport Neighborhood Activist

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=%22robert+Stanford%22+modesto

Immigrants pay into the system more than they use in services:

In California, the average immigrant-headed household contributes a net $2,679 annually to Social Security, which is $539 more than the average US-born household.

Since most immigrants are under 65 years of age, as a group they are net contributors to this large federal program. Social security, along with Medicare, works to keep older Americans out of poverty.

According to US Census data, the average US born Californian receives a total of $1,212 annually in cash benefits from programs such as Social Security, SSI, TANF, and other programs. Non-citizens received only $474 annually in public benefits.

Immigrants in California pay approximately $4.5 billion in state taxes each year; their federal tax contribution is more than $30 billion annually.

Overall, 19 percent of California’s foreign born lived in poverty in 2000, compared to 10 percent of whites. Nevertheless, they tend to be net contributors to government programs at both the federal and state levels.

Immigrants often require the most assistance immediately upon arrival to the United States. As immigrants reside in the state for a longer period of time, they are less likely to use services and more likely to contribute significant amounts.

Robert Stanford
Candidate for Modesto City Council Seat 1
http://www.myspace.com/stanford4modesto
PO Box 576684
Modesto, CA 95357
(209) 496-2363
toymaker99@yahoo.com

Immigrants fuel California’s economy through their labor and entrepreneurship:

Overall, immigrants comprise approximately one-third of the California labor force. Immigrants figure prominently in key economic sectors in California including agriculture, manufacturing and services.

Immigrants prove leadership and labor for the expansion of California’s growing economic sectors – from telecommunications and information technology to health services and housing construction.

Immigrants participate in the labor force at slightly higher rates than the national average. Approximately 90 percent of Latino and Asian immigrant men are employed.

Over the next 30 years, the children and grandchildren of immigrants will play an increasingly critical role in the state’s economy. According to projections by the University of Southern California, there will be a nearly 60 percent increase in the labor force coming from the second generation of immigrant families.

Immigrants are among California’s most productive entrepreneurs, and have created jobs for tens of thousand of Californian. In San Jose alone, immigrant owners of technology companies created more than 58,000 jobs and generated more that $17 billion in sales during the late 1990s. Google, Sun Microsystems, eBay, and Yahoo! Are all companies that were founded or co-founded by immigrants.

Robert Stanford
Candidate for Modesto City Council Seat 1
http://www.myspace.com/stanford4modesto
PO Box 576684
Modesto, CA 95357
(209) 496-2363
toymaker99@yahoo.com