Building Trades News

Two deaths and 113 injured in a monumental government failure by the Schwarzenegger Administration. Isn’t it about time that the Governor takes the responsibility for California’s business inspection and food safety enforcement debacle?

Where is the assessment of the failure? Why has the Governor refused to demand an investigation of his own department after they have caused the deaths and injuries of so many Americans? It is obvious that this Governor will not take responsibility for his failures.

Where has the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) been during the Spinach Contamination and the E. Coli Outbreak?

Why has the USFDA taken the lead?

Apparently the California Dept. of Food & Agriculture, which has the responsibility for California’s agricultural products being free of disease before reaching America’s markets, has been hiding behind the USFDA to cover up the Schwarzenegger’s failure to his and his CDFA’s inspection responsibilities. The real story is that Schwarzenegger and the CDFA have failed California and the American public by gutting the inspection responsibilities that they are funded to undertake.

According to a Sept. 19, 2006 report by the Associated Press, a Nov. 4, 2005 letter from FDA’s Robert Brackert, gave farmers “sharp” warnings that contaminated irrigation water was suspect in a series of E. Coli outbreaks. “ In light of continuing outbreaks, it is clear that more needs to be done,” Brackert wrote. Obviously, more was not done and it appears that only now after deaths and injuries is the CDFA considering what to do.

Like every Agency in California that has a responsibility to inspect and enforce laws and regulations on businesses, Schwazenegger has taken the position that “what is good for business is good for him.” And, what the Public doesn’t know won’t hurt them. But, the truth has exploded into an epidemic of injury and deaths. The CDFA’s prime goal as stated in their Mission Statement is to “Ensure that only safe and quality food reaches the consumer.”

They have been derelict in their duty to even try to meet that goal, and the Public should know that there is a link and a connection between Schwarzenegger’s refusal to mandate that the agency enforce the law and the amount of contributions that he has received from the agra-business owners in the State. Their donations are a part of the over $90,000,000.00 that Schwarzenegger has accepted in campaign contributions, over 70% from Big Business and Anti-Worker interest, for the general election. This is the guy who said that he wouldn’t accept big special interest campaign contributions.

There is a pattern of refusing to enforce the law on business in California. Schwarzenegger has failed to enforce any law that requires the inspection of business in any case. Cal-OSHA, the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the California Labor Commissioner, the Contractors’ License Board, the Consumer Commission, as well as the California Department of Agriculture & Food are all on hold. It’s a concern that other agencies that have responsibilities for disease control and other health issues may be stymied as well.

One of the worst examples is that Cal-OSHA is not responding to calls for inspections even in cases of immediate threats of injury or death. Reports are building that the Administration is having Safety and Health Inspectors assigned to desks, or to non-essential duties. It’s obvious the Governor’s office has been taken over by Big Business interest and the public well being is in jeopardy because of Schwarzenegger’s actions.

The only way to change the direction that Schwarzenegger has set for California is to remove him from office. Californians need to Recall Schwarzenegger on November 7th and return him to his acting career. He will be better able to portray a beaten politician rather than a real one.

Your vote on Nov. 7 is critical to the future of all of California’s working families! Our choice has to be Phil Angelides for Governor.