South Mountain Villager

A Positive News Publication About the South Mountain Village

Posts Tagged ‘Ed Pastor’

Ed Pastor (May 2011)

Posted by South Mountain Villager on April 25, 2011

Transportation issues and district happenings

I wanted to share information on some of the recent activities in the Fourth Congressional District.

Last month, I was able to host the timely visit of Peter Rogoff, the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, who came for a visit to learn more about our Valley Metro light rail and transit systems.

At a time when it takes $50 to fill up our gas tanks, I was happy Administrator Rogoff accepted my invitation to review our rail transportation system and meet with local leaders to learn more about our successes in addressing our Valley’s transportation needs, and our hopes for the future.

During the visit, Mr. Rogoff rode the light rail from Phoenix to Tempe, then Mesa, and met with Phoenix officials including Mayor Phil Gordon.  I specifically discussed with the Administrator the importance of the light rail extension project into south Phoenix and west Phoenix.  We also met with Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, and Mesa Mayor Scott Smith.  Finally, officials from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and I expressed our support for a commuter rail project between Phoenix and Tucson, one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.

When we address quality of life issues for the Valley, transportation is one of the major challenges we face every day. If we can improve public transit systems for residents traveling home, to work or for recreation, we are able to help residents save money and reduce pollution, among other benefits.

On another note, I was proud to join the employees ofE BAE Protection Systems in South Mountain Village recently to mark the production of their one millionth hard armor insert, also known as the Small Arms Protective Inserts plate. This insert is used by the Department of Defense to help protect soldiers’ lives, as it guards vital organs. It’s remarkable to know that these protective plates are being produced in our district and used by the Army, Marine Corps and the Defense Logistics Agency. And the BAE systems employees take great pride in their product and deserve recognition. They are helping protect the lives of our soldiers so that they can return home safe to their families.

Finally, the winners of our Fourth District’s Congressional Art Competition, were announced. Apollo high school senior Adrienne Ontiveros placed first with her acrylic painting entitled “Toe 2 Toe.”  The piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year and she will be flown with a guardian to Washington in June to be recognized at the “An Artistic Discovery” event on Capitol Hill. In addition to the airline tickets, Ontiveros received $1,200 to cover lodging and other expenses while in Washington. The Art Institute of Phoenix also awarded her with a $10,000 scholarship. Central High School’s Flor Cardenas received honorable mention.

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Ed Pastor (April 2011)

Posted by South Mountain Villager on March 30, 2011

Arizona Leads the way – Part 1 of 2

By U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, Fourth Congressional District of Arizona

I was recently pleased to learn that Arizona is leading the nation and making great strides in one area that helps our community, and I wanted to share this information with you.

When it comes to providing services for people with special needs and disabilities, Arizona is very progressive. The best example of our state’s advancement in this area is the Arizona Disability Empowerment Center campus, the first of its kind in the nation. This 62,000 square-foot campus houses a dozen non-profit organizations that decided to come together to better serve people with disabilities. The agencies offer a variety of medical, counseling and employment programs, among other services. And the center will soon house a fitness center for accessible sports, such as wheelchair basketball and soccer, and three swimming pools, including a therapy one.

This center is such a gem, representatives from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, who recently met with me in Washington, couldn’t stop talking about it. It’s a great example of how the community can collaborate to bring their programs together to one accessible, convenient location, and it’s a model for the nation to follow, they said.

While we may have great resources, they’re only helpful if people know about them. That’s why I wanted to bring you information about the Disability Empowerment Center (DEC), which serves the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is conveniently located on the Phoenix Metro light rail system at 5025 E. Washington Street, and more information about the available services can be found here:   www.abil.org/disability-empowerment-center-information.  Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, or ABIL, Arizona’s largest center for independent living, also is housed in DEC and helped lead the building project.  With 465,000 people in Arizona living with disabilities, ABIL has worked aggressively to empower people with disabilities and provide resources to them. Some of the organizations housed in the center include Arizona Autism United, Inc., Raising Special Kids and Valley Center of the Deaf.

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Ed’s Corner – Jan 09

Posted by South Mountain Villager on January 5, 2009

Guest column by U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor – Fourth Congressional District of Arizona

Ed Pastor

Ed Pastor

Dear Friends,

As the New Year begins and we face the excitement of a new administration with the challenge of a difficult economic time, I want to reiterate my commitment to continue working in Congress for the betterment of your lives and our district.

During the past year we’ve experienced a serious blow to our economic stability in this country. Day after day we hear of layoffs, businesses shutting their doors and huge drops in our 401K retirement funds. Everyone has been touched in their bank accounts and in their personal lives, either through their own experiences, or through the experiences of family members or friends. Indeed it is a time for us to buckle down and remain strong. I want to remind you that my Phoenix District Office, 602-256-0551, is at your service to provide referral information should you be facing foreclosure, need a food box, or need names of employment training centers, for example.

We won’t be able to bounce back right away. But Congress is fighting for real solutions to rebuild our economy, create good-paying jobs, make us more competitive in the 21st century global economy and promote consumer and investor confidence.

It is my hope that when we are back in session in January, Congress will quickly address an economic stimulus bill, which President-Elect Obama has said is one of his top priorities. Such a bill would help create jobs and build up the country’s infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Investing in our country’s long-term growth would help us move out of this dire economic time.

My main message is to assure you I will continue to work for economic recovery and economic strength for all Arizonans. My constituents’ concerns are my priority, and I am working every day to help minimize the recession’s impact on my district. I also want to let you know that I adopted a family for the holidays, as I have in previous years, and I volunteered for the Salvation Army as a bell ringer, to do my personal part in helping those in need. I encourage everyone to volunteer for a nonprofit organization that helps the community, as many of these groups are being taxed with the high demand for assistance during these tough times.

Again, I hope you will allow me the opportunity to assist you with your questions or concerns by phoning my Phoenix District Office at 602-256-0551.

Ed

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Dec. 08′ – Ed’s Corner

Posted by South Mountain Villager on November 12, 2008

U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor – Fourth Congressional District of Arizona

Dear Fellow Arizonans,

I appreciate this opportunity to connect with you and share information about my work in Congress. This month, I wanted to write to you about the main function of my Phoenix District Office: constituent casework.

I have two offices: one in Phoenix and one in Washington, D.C. While the Washington office focuses more on legislative activities, constituent casework is the heart of the activity that occurs in my Phoenix home office. I want to impress upon you that one of my most important jobs in Congress is to represent you and help my constituents resolve problems they may have with a federal agency. Staff in my Phoenix District Office is on hand to provide you with assistance in dealing with any needs, problems or complaints you may have with federal agencies.

Most federally assisted casework involves problems regarding social security checks, benefits and appeals; workers’ compensation claims, hearings and appeals; military service problems, such as a hardship discharge from the service; veterans’ benefits, medical care and home loan guarantees; immigration problems; and other appeals for help.

If you contact my office with a problem, a staff member will ask you for information to fully understand the problem. In order for me to make inquiries on your behalf, the Federal Privacy Act requires your written authorization which would give me or my staff permission to inquire into the matter for you. Therefore, a staff member will most likely mail you a Privacy Release Form, where you also will explain what type of assistance you are seeking from my office. More information on casework and the privacy release form are available on my Congressional website at www.pastor.house.gov under the “Services” link.

While we can assist you in bringing your case to the attention of the proper officials and guide you through the process, we cannot direct an agency to decide a matter in your favor. But I am committed to help analyze the nature of the problem and generate the most expeditious and just resolution.

Responding to constituents’ needs and problems gives me an opportunity to review how programs and executive agencies are functioning. It also helps me flag areas where congressional oversight or new legislation may be needed. It’s a privilege to serve you and I hope you will feel free to phone my office at 602-256-0551 and give me the opportunity to assist you.

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