Bills would address California's drought

Pasadena Star News

By: Cynthia Kurtz

Posted: 3/26/2014 

Recently I joined the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on a trip to Washington, D.C. to talk to legislators about managing California’s drought. We received a good reception. Water is a bi-partisan issue. Inside the “Washington bubble” we found that support for programs that provide water crosses party lines. However, what those programs should contain can take very different paths. 

                                    

Elected officials from California and across the nation know about the California drought. A drought in California isn’t just a California problem. The $44.7 billion agricultural sector in California helps feed the nation. Southern California is the eighth largest economy in the world. If our economy suffers, the country suffers. 

This is the worst drought since at least 1976 --1977. While Southern California’s long term investments in storage and conservation are providing the supplies that are needed here, for now, other parts of the state which haven’t made these investments are suffering. Safe drinking water is in danger of running out in as many as 10 California communities. 

Long term investments are needed to address California’s water supply and use challenges. But as a wise philosopher once said, “When the alligator is nipping at your butt it is hard to remember that your goal was to drain the swamp.” So most of the conversations for now are about what to do now.

There are several bills proposed to help manage the drought. The ones getting the most attention are House Resolution 3964 introduced by Congressman Valadao (R) from the Sacramento - San Joaquin Valley, Senate Resolution 2016 introduced by Senator Feinstein (D)  and a similar bill, House Resolution 4039, introduced by Congressman Costa (D) from Mercer, Madera and Fresno Counties.

HR 3964 focuses on the needs of the farmers who have had to fallow land for lack of irrigation water. It proposes to direct more water to farming by reducing regulatory requirements. There could also be an increase in the water available for the State Water Project that brings water to Southern California. Republicans say HR 3964 would help both farmers and urban interests.

Democrats say it is in direct conflict with California’s co-equal goals of meeting both Delta and urban water needs, pits interests group against each other, and damages the efforts of divergent groups to agree on long-term water solutions for the state.   

SR 2016 and HR 4039 direct federal agencies to use operational changes to maximize the flow of water especially to the communities hardest hit in the central valley,  provides $300 million in federal funding for a variety of water programs that both conserve water and increase supply, and expedites federal regulatory control without changing or exempting any environmental requirements.

Democrats say it will provide more water by opening cross channels in the Delta when fish aren’t migrating, allowing water to reach the communities who need it most, and without damaging the environment.

Republicans say is it too little too late. Conservation projects to increase supply take too long and won’t provide water soon enough.

It is an important debate. There are no easy answers. The wrong answer is to do nothing

Women wield increasing power

Pasadena Star News

By: Cynthia Kurtz

Posted: 3/19/2014 

March is Women’s History Month. It is a time to reflect on the contributions women have made as well as how women’s roles have changed over time. This is a good opportunity to review how women’s roles in business have changed.

In 1970, women comprised 38 percent of the U.S. labor force. That percentage slowly increased until 2000. Today, women make up 46.8 percent of the labor force. That share has remained unchanged since 2000. While more women are joining the labor force - close to 73 million women work today compared to 66 million in 2000 - the number of men entering the workforce is increasing at a similar rate.

The age of women in the workforce has changed over time reflecting the change in attitudes about working and raising families. In 1970 one in four women between the ages of 16 and 24 were in the workforce. Between the ages of 25 to 44, only 18 percent of women remained in the workforce - the decrease in women working can be attributed to women leaving to raise their families. After age 45 there was a slight uptick in the percentage of women working as empty nesters returned to the work place.

In 2012, only 14 percent of the women between the ages of 16 and 24 had joined the labor force. After age 24, however, the percentage jumped to over 20 percent and has remained relatively stable until women reach the age of 55 and start to retire. 

We hear a lot about unemployment rates and how education and age effect the likelihood of being unemployed. There are also differences based on gender. From 1970 through the early 1980’s, women had a significantly higher unemployment rate than men. Around 1982 women closed the gap and through the rest of the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s the unemployment rates for men and women remained within a few tenths of a percent of each other.

When the recession hit in 2008, it was men who experienced the larger negative impact. By 2010 the unemployment rate for women was 8.6 percent compared to 10.5 percent for men. It appears the gap is closing again - in 2012 the unemployment rate for women was 7.9 percent and for men 8.2 percent.

Women are picking different careers that they did 25 years ago. While 47 percent of the labor force is female, according to the Catalyst Pyramid on U.S. Women in Business, 51.4 percent of management and professional occupations are held by women.

Today women make up almost 54 percent of pharmacists compared to less than one-third in 1985. Fifty-three percent of financial managers are women - up from 35 percent in 1985. The biggest change is the number of women who are choosing the law. Over 50 percent of lawyers today are women compared to 18 percent in 1985.

Equity has not reached executive offices and board rooms - only 14.6 percent of executive positions, 4.6 percent of CEOs and 16.9 percent of board seats are occupied by women. While the numbers have increased, change has been slow. Women still have a long way to go to be equally represented at the highest corporate levels. 

There is an old Chinese Proverb, “Women hold up half the sky.” Everyday women are proving that they are willing, able and ready to hold up their half of the sky.

Learning plays vital role in work force

Pasadena Star News

By: Cynthia Kurtz

Posted: 3/05/2014 

The San Gabriel Valley recently had a great celebration prompted by two events - the return of Dr. Steve Morgan, former President of the University of La Verne, to the SGV as President of the University of the West and the successful opening of Pasadena City College's (PCC) satellite campus in Rosemead. 

But it wasn't just about celebrating these events. The master of ceremonies, former Assemblyman and current Los Angeles Community College Trustee, Mike Eng said it best - we were there to "stand up for education." 

No one would dispute that there is a direct link between education, employment and income. Recent data suggests that these relationships are becoming more important.

Even at the depths of the recession, the unemployment rate for people with college degrees never exceeded five percent. Those fortunate enough to have some college education had an unemployment rate of seven and a half percent. For high school graduates unemployment was around 10 percent. Anyone without a high school diploma faced a daunting unemployment rate of 15 percent - three times higher than someone with a college degree.

Education also effects earning power. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012, someone with an associate degree could expect to make 85 percent more that someone without a high school diploma. 

But it isn't just about years of training and money. It is also important to match employment training to the requirements of the jobs being created.

History provides the perspective we need to understand the future. In 1960, 20 percent of the available jobs required a four-year degree, 20 percent required an associate degree or some technical training, and 60 percent were considered unskilled positions requiring no formal training or education. You simply learned on the job.

Recently, the Harvard Graduate School of Education studied the educational requirement for positions that will be available in 2018. They found radical shifts in what employers are looking for in their workforces. 

In 2018, 33 percent of jobs will require four-year college degrees, 66 percent will require technical skills, credentials or associate degrees. Unskilled labor - 1 percent.

The study reinforces what we already know. Employers are not seeking persons who do not possess skills. Everyone needs to bring something to a job - writing, computer skills, math, problem solving - every job requires a "skilled" employee. The world moves too quickly to learn it all "on the job."

2018 is just four years away. The recovery of our economy depends on educating the future work force. The future of the San Gabriel Valley depends on educating our future workforce.