Home Security and Fire Safety

For a safe home, we want to keep burglars out by locking up the doors and windows. But in a fire, a door or window with security bars or locks can keep you from getting to safety in time to save your family.
Protect Against Break-ins and Fire

• Replace deadbolt locks that need a key to open from inside. Keys can easily be misplaced when the deadbolt is locked, making it impossible to escape.

• Choose locks that use keys only outside the door or have a turning or “throwing bolt” or latch inside.

• If your home entry doors have two-keyed deadbolt locks, protect your family in the meantime by keeping the key to your deadbolt on a hook near the door, but away from any windows. Make sure all responsible family members know exactly where to find the key and how to use it quickly in an emergency.

Window Security/Burglar Bars
Security bars on doors and windows can provide a strong defense against burglars. However, that same protection can prove deadly in a fire emergency.
A home fire can grow so fast and spread so quickly that people may have three minutes or less to get outside to safety. Bars welded over an escape route not only trap people inside; they also prevent firefighters from being able to get them out. The Home Safety Council urges families to make sure security measures do not slow down a quick escape:

• If you put bars on windows and doors, choose a kind you can open from inside your home. These have a “quick-release mechanism” that lets you open them fast.

• These bars are designed so no one could reach the opener from outside and come in.

• Contact an iron contractor to have quick-release devices installed on security bars in your home.

Electrical Safety - Safety Saturday Project Starter

Cooper Wiring Devices is a proud supporter of Home Safety Council's electrical safety education.


Our homes are filled with things that run on electricity. Electricity makes our lives easier, but it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. Electricity is especially dangerous to curious children and if it comes in contact with water.

A special outlet called a ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, can prevent you and your family from being hurt by electricity. A GFCI outlet will quickly stop the flow of electricity if an electrical appliance comes in contact with water or if a ground fault occurs.

GFCI’s should be installed in outlets near any source of water in your home. If young children live in or visit your home, you may want a “tamper resistant” GFCI. These have a built-in shutter that prevents children from putting things into the outlet and getting an electrical shock.

Set aside one Saturday this month as a “Safety Saturday” and work with your family to look at all of the different ways you use electricity in each room of your home. Use the Home Safety Council’s room-by-room guide to find and fix potential hazards before a shock or other injury occurs.

Laundry Room: In most homes, a lot more than doing laundry takes place in the laundry room. With your washer, dryer and utility sink all likely in close quarters, it’s especially important to have a GFCI in the laundry room. All electrical outlets near water should be protected by GFCIs. If the outlets in your laundry room aren’t already protected, an electrician can install a GFCI for you. Also make sure all appliances in the laundry room are kept dry and away from water at all times.

Kitchen: With so many kitchen gadgets available, many families struggle to find enough outlets for their appliances. Take a look at the outlets in your kitchen and make sure you don’t have too many appliances plugged in at once. Unplug your toaster oven, coffee maker and other small kitchen appliances after using them. If you don’t have GFCI’s in your kitchen, call an electrician and ask to have them installed.

Bathroom: The combination of water and electrical appliances in the bathroom make this an important area of the home for your electrical safety makeover. Make sure the electrical outlets near your tub and sink are protected with GFCI’s or call an electrician to install a GFCI for you. Store hair dryers, curling irons and razors away from water and always unplug appliances after using them.

Nursery: Electricity can especially be dangerous to curious children. Inspect the outlets and appliances in your nursery and take steps to make sure the nursery offers a safe place where your baby can learn and grow. Install special child safety receptacles to keep children from putting things into outlets. Tamper-resistant receptacles have a built-in safety shutter that opens when a plug is plugged in, but will not open for a single object such as a key, hair-pin or paper clip. Tamper-resistant receptacles are safer than small outlet covers that can be taken in and out. Small outlet covers also present a choking danger for young children.

Visit the Safety Guide for a complete list of electrical safety tips.
To learn more about electrical safety, visit MySafeHome. Be sure to tour the laundry room, kitchen, bathroom and nursery for tips you can use to protect your family from electrical problems.

The Next Wave of Bad Loans - Option Arms

A friend of mine in Huntington Beach confided in me that they are in serious trouble with their mortgage. My friends earn good money - and their combined income is a lot higher than the medium level for Orange County; which is high to start with. I'll call my friends Lisa and Jim. They are usually investing successfully in various other commodities, but this time I think they put their home in the position of being an investment vehicle. This time, I think they are in trouble.

Lisa and Jim are in thier late 50’s and early 60’s professionals looking toward retirement in a few years; who refinanced their modest home for $750,000, at the peak of the market with an Option Adjustable Rate Mortgage (Option ARM). This loan program allowed Lisa and Jim to decide monthly which of four optional mortgage plans they would pay, each month. Since getting the loan, Lisa and Jim always chose the lowest payment - which was actually less than the interest they accrued.The plan Lisa and Jim had been to sell their home when he reached 65 and retired relocating to the Palm Springs area or Arizona. This seemed like a well thought out plan which showed they knew what they were doing at the time.

Well, the $2800 monthly mortgage jumped to $3200 with another jump to over $4600 looming in the not too distant future.The problem is that despite what appears to be a path of recovery for the housing industry there are still more than a half million option ARMs that are scheduled to reset in the next four years!

Since many of the Sub Prime mortgages have already failed more and more of the Option ARMs are failing and since February, the Option ARMS have exceeded the default rate on the Sub Prime mortgages.

The sad news for Lisa and Jim is that the home is now only worth approximately $550,000, or less, and the balance of their mortgage has risen to over $800,000; since they only made the minimum payments their principal balance went up every month.Between 2004 and 2007 over $750 Billion in Option ARMs were made and remain at risk. The real kicker is that despite the perfect payment history of many borrowers they still cannot refinance their way out of this mess, as their homes are worth so much less today than when they borrowed the money. About one third of all Option ARMs are currently in default, according to industry analysts.
In comparison to the Sub Prime Mortgages, the borrower of an Option ARM typically had much higher credit scores, better jobs and more to lose than the masses of Sub Prime borrowers who literally walked away from their homes and neighborhoods, in droves. The Option ARMs tend to have higher balances and when they reset have been known to double the initial monthly payment.

The industry is expecting to see 600,000 or more Option ARMs reset in the next 4 years. The four payment plans that Lisa and Jim and other borrowers were offered included the interest only, less than the interest (where the difference would be added onto the principal - OK, when you are accumulating equity every month - but really bites in a declining market), fully amortized over both a 15 year and a 30 year fixed-rate-mortgage.

Over 75% of all borrowers never paid more than the minimal payment - less than the current interest rate plan. This plan was set to reset at either 5 years or when the new principal balance reached a pre-determined level somewhere between 110% and 125% of the original loan. Then once the ‘cap' is reached, borrowers have to pay down a higher balance at a higher interest rate in a shorter time period.

Like so many other exotic loans, they were great products if used properly. What most homeowners in this situation need to do is once every 6 months make at least the regular payment. In most cases this will help the balance on the loan not double and helps to reset the minimum payment due. Consult with your lender to make sure this is what will happen in your case. Unfortunately industry experts expect 81% of the Option ARMs that originated in 2007 to default with many of them ending in foreclosure.

The problem is that the loans were not only offered to those for whom they were designed but to just about everyone with a decent credit score. People were not taking on these loans because they believed their income would grow over time - they were used by homeowners who believed the equity in their house would increase and that they could refinance out of the teaser rates.
The losses from Option ARMs promises to be staggering. Another industry expert is projecting at least $112 Billion will be lost by the banks as a result of Option ARMs written between 2005 and 2007.The good news, if there is any, is that interest rates remain low - so loans are taking longer to reach their cap and will not rest at the higher interest rate until they do reach the cap.

ACT NOW!!! July is the deadline for Property Tax Re-assessment in Some Counties

Property and Home Owners, ACT NOW!!! If you get this done before July 1st you could possibly get this year’s property taxes reduced in time for your next property tax billing. Proposition 8 allows for an (annual) reduction in assessed value of your home when your property suffers a “decline-in-value.” A decline-in-value occurs when the market value of your property is less than the assessed value as of January 1, 2009.

The best information you can provide that supports your opinion of the market value of your property is sales of comparable properties. Attached you will find the form for your county. If you provide me with your address, I will send you the comps for your home (free of charge).

Los Angeles:

Property owners guide to decline in value
http://assessor.lacounty.gov/extranet/guides/prop8.aspx

Other la assessor value forms
http://assessor.lacounty.gov/extranet/list/forms.aspx

Decline-in-Value Reassessment Application http://assessor.lacounty.gov/extranet/lac/control/binaryget.aspx?uploadid=193


Orange County:

Orange county assessor’s office
http://www.oc.ca.gov/assessor/

Will A Decline In Market Value Reduce My Property Taxes?
http://www.oc.ca.gov/assessor/pdf/Informal%20Review%205-09.pdf

There will most likely be another one for next year. The 2009 form had to be filed by April 30, 2009


Let me know if this was of help to you; thanks.

Remember me when you hear of someone who is looking to buy or sell or rent

Herm.
949 742 0915
hermia@acastle4u.com

Happy Mother's Day

Short Sales Test Homebuyers’ Patience

By Amy Hoak Print Article RISMEDIA, March 26, 2009-(MCT)-

Those searching for the best housing bargains on the market might consider buying a short-sale property, but there’s an important qualification for buyers interested in going this route: They need plenty of patience.
In a short sale, a homeowner’s lender agrees to accept less than is owed on the mortgage for the property. It’s a useful alternative for borrowers underwater on their mortgage and on their way to foreclosure. As home prices continue to decline, short sales have become a viable option for those who need to sell.
“Over the past three to six months, the servicers have really become aware that short sales are the best way to reduce their losses when a modification is not an option,” said Travis Hamel Olsen, president of National Short Sale Center, a company that facilitates short sales nationwide on behalf of homeowners and real estate agents. The short-sale option also is less damaging to a seller’s credit than a foreclosure, he said.
A short sale can be attractive to a home buyer since the lender often will accept bids on the property that can be 10% or more below the market value, determined by the prices of comparable, nearby properties, Olsen said.
Although the mortgage balance is probably greater than the price a seller could expect in a traditional sale, the lender may be willing to take less than is owed in a short sale if this will help the lender avoid the further expenses of foreclosing and taking over the property. The savings, however, often come at the expense of a home buyer’s time.
“Short sales should be called long sales,” said Leslie Tyler, vice president of marketing for ZipRealty. “In some cases, it could take months for a buyer to hear back from a lender.”
For Kristine and John Williams the savings seem to be worth the wait. Kristine Williams says they’ve found “the perfect house” in Brentwood, Calif., although the process is taking longer than they originally thought. The couple waited four months for an answer from the bank, and then had to revise their bid lower as the market continued to sour.
Their current bid is $550,000, on a home that was appraised at about $1 million three years ago. They’re hopeful the current bid will be successful, but realize it could be months before they find out if the offer is accepted.
“In general, it takes a minimum of two months to get a response from the bank whether they will accept or counter your offer,” said Rob Jenson, CEO of The Jenson Group, a Las Vegas-based real-estate firm. “That process could take longer.”
Are the savings worth it to you? Consider these five points before shopping for a short sale:

1. You’ll wait in the dark. Perhaps just as frustrating as the wait time is the fact that you likely won’t be privy to details as the deal is progressing. That could mean going months without an update.
Banks are “ramping up their capability for short sales,” said Dennis Green, general manager of ForeclosurePoint.com. But it hasn’t made the process much easier.
“Where our buyers have been the most frustrated is the lack of status or information,” Tyler said. Saying “we want an answer by this Friday or we’re going walk … doesn’t make a difference,” Jenson said.
There are reasons for the wait though: A lender could be considering multiple offers. If the seller had both a first and second mortgage, that could also make the process more complicated. The Williamses ran into both scenarios, slowing their process down, and that’s not unusual. The homeowner also has to prove their financial hardship to the lender.

2. Banks will make you a deal, but within reason. There are deals to be found in short sales, but don’t expect outright steals. A buyer needs to make a fair offer, based on comparable homes that have been sold recently, Jenson said. The offer should be aggressive, but not ridiculous.
“The misconception is that banks should be happy to get the property off the books,” he said. “They are, but to a certain point.”
Homes that have already been foreclosed on may be even less expensive than a short sale, Tyler said. But bank-owned properties also might be in worse shape, especially if the foreclosure home has been sitting vacant for some time, she added. It’s important to consider the cost of necessary repairs before buying any distressed property.

3. Sales are “as is.” In a short sale, it isn’t likely that you will get allowances from the seller for repairs that are needed, as you might in a traditional sale, Jenson said. Do a home inspection and know what you’re getting into, but remember that your bid is for the property “as is.”
“The seller will not give you a credit for repairs,” he said. “The last thing they will do is make repairs.”

4. Have a back-up plan. Even if you decide to bid on a short-sale property, it might be best to keep looking anyway.
“There is no guarantee with short sales, and if the buyer is smart, they will put an offer on a short sale they like and continue to look at properties that interest them,” Olsen said. It isn’t uncommon for people to find a home they like better and avoid the short-sale deal, Green said.
That said, when a offer is accepted and earnest money is put down, remember that you risk losing those funds if you decide to walk away and buy another home, he added. It may take months before the deal closes, even after the offer is accepted.

5. It’s not only about price. “One thing to not lose sight of is that you’re buying a house to live in. Buy a house you like,” Tyler said. She recommends that prospective buyers remain open to properties of all types - short sales, bank owned and traditional sales - and compare prices and features.
A short sale is only a bargain if it’s a home that you truly want to live in - not something you’re drawn to only because of its low price tag.

© 2009, MarketWatch.com Inc.Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Should You Let a Tenant Out of a Lease?

Courtesy of http://www.rentalprop.com/tip.htm
Last week's tip, in case you missed it

Q: We had a tenant ask us to let him out of a lease. We don't normally do that. Any suggestions?

A:These are case-by-case decisions. There are a number of considerations.

Why does the tenant want out?

1. If he can't afford the rent anymore, then you are kind of stuck. In that case, he is being up front with you and doesn't want an eviction on his record. Probably the best bet there would be to just go ahead and cancel the lease. You might want to keep the security deposit to pay for some of your loss.

2. If he is being transferred, possibly his company will pay for the rest of the lease. After all, it is their fault he is moving. Many times corporations will pay expenses for moves in addition to the normal moving van and new utilities.

3. If it is a divorce, see what you can work out. Ideas on that below.

4. If he has just decided that he wants to move, say no, the entire contracted amount of the lease must be paid. He can move, but it will cost him the rest of the amount due for the term of the lease.

How is the rental market?

1. If it is good, you can probably re-lease the property quickly for as much or more than you were getting from this tenant.

2. If it is slow, you may have to play a little hard ball. You will have a tough time re-leasing for the rental amount you were getting.

Your responsibility if the tenant moves out before the lease is up: Try to mitigate the damages, i.e., use your best efforts to get the place rented again.

The tenant's responsibility if he moves out before the lease is up: Pay the damages incurred by the landlord.

If you use your best efforts to mitigate damages, and it takes you two months to rent the property for $100 less per month than you were getting from the first tenant, he owes you the two months' rent plus $100 times the number of months left in the lease. For example, say you had a one-year lease for a total of $7,200, or $600 per month. The tenant moves out after the first month, January. You cannot rerent until April 1. ($1,200) You rerent at $500 per month. That means nine months where you made $100 less than the first tenant was paying. ($900) The total the tenant would owe you is $2,100, plus whatever it costs you to in lawyer's fees and court costs to collect.

Two ideas for helping both sides

1. See if the tenant knows someone who would like to move into the property. If he has been a good tenant, chances are his friends would be too. Just do the checking you would normally do for a new tenant.

2. See if you can get the tenant to offer some kind of compensation for letting him out of the lease. Sometimes they'll offer more than you would have gotten otherwise.

(Disclaimer: Laws differ from state to state. Make sure this is the law in your state before you proceed with this advice.)

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Are there tax credits for first-time homebuyers?

Yes, thanks to the many city and county governments that offer Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) programs, which allow first-time homebuyers to take advantage of a special federal income tax write-off. The credit reduces the amount of federal taxes paid by the buyer each year, if he keeps the same loan and lives in the same house.

An MCC also makes it easier for eligible buyers to qualify for a mortgage loan. The lender can reduce the housing expense ratio - the percentage of gross monthly income applied toward housing expenses - by the amount of the tax savings. Normally, lenders reject loans if the housing expense ratio is too high.

Program requirements for MCCs vary, although most adhere to the following guidelines:

The buyer must live in the home being purchased with an MCC-assisted mortgage.

Total household income cannot exceed certain limits.

The buyer cannot have owned a principal residence within the past three years. This restriction may be waived if a property is purchased within a certain targeted area.

The purchase price must fall within an established limit.

More information is available by calling your local housing or redevelopment agency, or contacting your real estate agent.

We have a new President

Barack Hussain Obama

May God Bless our Nation

Tuesday: Barack Obama takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts as Michelle Obama stands by her husband's side (AP Photo).

President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address
By Christopher Hass - Jan 20th, 2009 at 1:47 pm EST

As prepared for delivery:

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been.

So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Please Vote for Panney Wei as Delegate to the CA Democratic Party for Assembly District 47!

Please Vote for Panney Wei as Delegate to the CA Democratic Party for Assembly District 47!
Dear Hermia,
Happy New Year! Hope you had a great start to 2009!

I'm happy to announce that to stay proactive in the community and representing your voices, I am running for election as a Delegate to the California Democratic Party for Assembly District 47 and have been endorsed by 5 major organizations, including LA Grassroots for Obama and Southern California Obama Team.

There are about 20 women running for 6 female positions and every vote counts! It's an exciting time of hope, change,and movement in our country's history, and I would love your vote and support. Many of you know that my radio show "Positive Changes with Panney Wei" is all about that: change, hope, and inspiration, and I hope to continue working on key issues like our economy, women's issues, environment, education, and social justice to make a positive impact in people's lives in our state and local affairs.

This means that if you live in my District 47 and are a registered Democrat, please show up and support. To find out if you live in the 47th district, Click Here The cities in the 47th include: Baldwin Hills, Culver City, Ladera Heights, Los Angeles (Cheviot Hills, Country Club Park, Crenshaw, Hyde Park, Jefferson Park, Leimert Park, Mid City, Palms, Rancho Park, Sawtelle, West Adams, West Fairfax, West Los Angeles, Westchester, View Park and Windsor Hills)

Here are the details for the Caucus:
Date: Sun, Jan 11When: 3pm - 5pm Where: Veterans Memorial ComplexLetherbridge Garden Room 4117 Overland Ave. Culver City, CA

This is a very competitive district, and I am the only Asian Pacific American running in my district. To find out more information please click on the following links:

My Candidate Website: http://www.votepanneywei.com/Facebook Election Group: Official Election GroupTo RSVP for the Caucus: Official Event Invitation on Facebook

I have also posted my candidate statement below for your information and if you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (310) 869-3832 or email me at panney@panneywei.com.

I look forward to seeing you there! Being an active member of the Democratic party has been an experience that has profoundly changed my life. Be a part of history and create change! Let's mobilize our community and get out the vote! I wish you a fantastic new year of peace, prosperity, good luck, and opportunity in every corner of your life!

Best wishes,Panney Wei, C.Ht.Candidate for Delegate to California Democratic Party - AD 47Representing your Voices in the Democratic Partyhttp://www.votepanneywei.com/
PANNEY WEI CANDIDATE STATEMENTEndorsed by: LA Grassroots 4 ObamaSouthern California Obama TeamJulie D. Soo, API Caucus Statewide Chair for the California Democratic Party California.CAN, the California Statewide MyBO Community Action Network Group as Team Change Delegate Candidate - a vote for Panney Wei is a vote for Change!LA County Young Democrats Endorsement by Julie D. Soo, the API Caucus Statewide Chair for the California Democratic Party: I am pleased to endorse Panney Wei for A.D. 47 delegate to the California Democratic Central Committee. We need strong, enthusiastic leaders like Panney to continue building a strong party statewide and nationally. Her dedication to the American and Asian Pacific Islander communities will enhance our party by engaging one of the fastest electorate populations. Dear Friends: I would be truly honored to serve the people of our amazing district as a delegate for AD 47. 2009 brings a year of change, opening the doors of opportunity, and ushering a new wave of peace, prosperity, and hope to our nation, our district, and our community as a whole. District 47 is a very diverse community of unique citizens from all walks of life, and I look forward to representing you and your concerns to the best of my ability and working hard for you and our party. I am also endorsed by California.CAN, the California Statewide MyBO Community Action Network Group as a Team Change Delegate Candidate, LA Grassroots 4 Obama, the Southern California Obama Team, and LA County Young Democrats and look forward to continue working on key issues like our economy, women's issues, environment, education, and social justice to make a positive impact in people's lives in our state and local affairs. In my life span, I have always considered myself a public servant and community activist, having been designated as a Goodwill Ambassador for the State of California and having worked for organizations like Amnesty International, Visual Communications, Battered Women's Society, Asian Americans for Progress, and Senator Dianne Feinstein. I've also campaigned for Bill Clinton, John Kerry, and Barack Obama, participating in this year's historic Democratic National Convention where Barack Obama, was nominated as our first African American president, and donated my time, energy, and resources to many non-profit organizations that positively impact our society, especially youth and minorities. Being Chinese American, I have a unique perspective, sensitivity, and wisdom acquired from leveraging the strengths of both cultures, Western and Eastern, to become a successful leader in society. I am a Certified Hypnotherapist-Life Coach-Motivational Speaker-Educator and currently host a hit talk show on KCAA 1050 AM radio called Positive Changes with Panney Wei. Positive change is what I promote in my private practice and in my personal and professional life. It is my personal life mission to see people thrive and succeed and live a life beyond their wildest dreams. Gandhi once said, You must first be the change you wish to see in the world. I hope you will consider me as your delegate for AD 47. I will work hard for our party and work hard for you. 2009 is a year of change all across America, in our world, and in our communities. It would be my utmost honor to have your faith and support. Vote for Panney Wei on January 11th, representing your voices in the Democratic Party. Thanks for your support!


Come out and join the party! Vote for Panney Wei as Delegate to California Democratic Party for Assembly District 47 on Jan 11th!


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