Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, September 9, 2017

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2017

SECTION B

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE IS FIRST IN THE US TO NAME 
FREEWAY FOR PRESIDENT BARACK H. OBAMA


State Senator Anthony J. 
Portantino (D—La Cañada 
Flintridge) is proud to announce 
that SJR 8, a Senate Joint 
Resolution to name a portion of 
the 134 freeway in Los Angeles 
County the President Barack 
H. Obama Freeway, has passed 
both the State Senate and the 
State Assembly. As a result, the 
134 freeway from the 2 freeway 
to the 210 Freeway interchange 
will be named in honor of our 
44th President. 

 President Obama used this 
portion of California’s freeway 
system to travel from his 
college home in Pasadena to 
Occidental College. President 
Obama attended Occidental his 
freshman and sophomore years 
and has attributed his time 
there as the beginning of his 
political activism. It is the place 
where he gave his first political 
speech.

 “I am so proud to have authored 
this proposal to forever 
appreciate and commemorate 
President Obama’s tremendous 
legacy, statesmanship and 
direct connection to Southern 
California. When my friend 
John Gallogly suggested the 
idea I was touched that he 
suggested it to me and extremely 
honored to be in a position to 
bring it to fruition. It is also 
quite appropriate and symbolic 
that the California legislature 
would pass this Resolution for 
a compassion-filled President 
filled with compassion on the 
same day we witness another 
President turn his back on 
800,000 children,” commented 
Portantino.

 After the City of Pasadena 
placed a plaque in front of the 
home where President Obama 
lived when he was a student, 
local activist John Gallogly 
approached Portantino with 
the suggestion to name the 134 
freeway after the President. 
Portantino ran with the idea 
and authored SJR 8 the very 
next week. Senator Portantino 
currently represents Pasadena 
and represented the Los Angeles 
Eagle Rock neighborhood 
where Occidental is located 
while in the State Assembly.

 “It is so important that 
California highlights the dignity 
of President Obama. His 
direct connection to Southern 
California in general and to 
the 134 freeway specifically 
makes this the appropriate and 
exciting place to recognize his 
tremendous accomplishments 
and the Presidential manner 
in which he led our country. 
It is a plus for our region that 
Anthony is so connected to the 
grassroots and that he takes our 
suggestions to heart,” added 
Gallogly.

 SJR 8 passed with bipartisan 
support in the Assembly and 
the State Senate. Recently 
sworn-in Congressman Jimmy 
Gomez succeeded Portantino 
in representing Eagle Rock in 
the Assembly and is a co-author 
of the Senate Resolution.

GOVERNOR SIGNS SENATE BILL PROTECTING 
RECIPIENTS OF ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Sacramento, CA – This week, 
Senate Bill 565, by Senator 
Anthony J. Portantino (D – 
La Cañada Flintridge), was 
signed and chaptered into 
law by Governor Brown. SB 
565 requires a mental health 
facility, prior to a certification 
review hearing, to make 
reasonable attempts to notify 
family members or any other 
person designated by the 
patient of the exact time and 
place of the hearing at least 36 
hours prior to the certification 
review hearing. 

 “Having had personal 
experience with this issue I 
strongly believe that it is vital 
we improve patient care and 
possibly save lives by enacting 
a modest and reasonable notice 
requirement. Encouraging a 
reasonable attempt to contact 
and include a family member or 
designated person’s comments 
during the evaluation process 
allows doctors and health 
care professionals to be better 
equipped to make evaluations 
in the best interest of their 
patients. Having a time certain 
for such an evaluation 
allows the family member 
or designated persons time 
to be at the hearing and the 
opportunity to add information 
germane to that evaluation,” 
stated Portantino.

 Portantino became aware of 
barriers placed between family 
members and a loved one in 
treatment when his brother 
was placed on three short-term 
holds but was then released. 
Ultimately he took his own life. 

 “I was quite concerned that 
I could not find out when 
the evaluation hearings were 
taking place and I could not 
share my feelings about his 
desires. There needed to be 
some formal way for loved 
ones to share their concerns 
and I am very grateful to 
Governor Brown for sharing 
this concern. Hopefully, the 
implementation of SB 565 
will have a positive benefit for 
patient mental health care,” 
concluded Portantino.

 SB 565 received support 
from the California Council of 
Community Behavioral Health 
Agencies, Disability Rights 
California, NAMI California, 
National Association of Social 
Workers–CA, Pacific Clinics, 
and the Professional Fiduciary 
Association of California.


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