Judy Chu -- Southern California Swearing-in Ceremony
Los Angeles, January 20, 2007/Indonesia Media
Oleh:
Dr. Irawan/Indonesia Media
 The historic Inaugural for California State Board of Equalization Member-Elect Judy Chu Ph.D. representing District 4 Los Angeles County was held on Saturday, January 20, 2007, 2-4 pm, in the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles.
Most of you presumably recall that Dr. Chu was our state's assembly member in the 49th District for the past six years. In November 2006, she was elected to the State Board of Equalization, a body charged with enforcing our state's tax policies.
R efreshmants were served to the hundreds of guest in the opening ceremony following the salutation by Honor Guard from Greater El Monte VFW Post 10218 , then Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Assemblyman Mike Eng. 49th District (husband of Judy Chu), as Master of Ceremonies, said a few words about his dearest wife. Subsequently some remarks were given by special guests as follow: State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas Maria Elena Durazo Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, U.S. Congresswoman Hilda L.Solis.
 The program was highlighted by Vocal performance from Mr.Welly Yang , Star of Broadway's Original Production of Miss saigon & Acclaimed Actor/Producer. When it came to the core of celebration Judy Chu took the Oath of Office Administered by California State Controller John Chiang (previuosly California Board of Equalization Member). So far we believe John Chiang is the highest rank official elected from Chinese descent in U.S. now. After Judy Chu made her acceptance speech, the American Vietnam Chinese Friendship Association's Jui Yee Tong Lion Dance team started to perform.
 It was interesting and got our attention that inaugural sponsors mostly were not come from Chinese communities. Many institutions such as AT&T, PG&E, Sempra, Southern California Edison, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney, Price WaterhouseCoopers, Blue Cross California, CA Cable&Telecommunication Assn, Central Health Paln of California, California Professional Firefighters and many more have given the support to Judy. The only reason to explain is,"She simply does the good job." After all, the cost of this event was not paid from public expense. Can you imagine if this happen back home???
Biography
Judy Chu was elected to the State Board of Equalization in November 2006. She represents the Board's fourth district, which includes over 8 million residents in Los Angeles County.
 Dr. Chu previously served as an Assembly Member from the 49th district, where she recently chaired the State Assembly Appropriations Committee and oversaw all legislation that had a fiscal impact on the state. She also served as a member of Speaker Nunez' executive leadership team and played a pivotal role in the development and passage of policy through the state Legislature. As a member of the Budget Conference Committee, she was responsible for negotiating the final version of California's $99 billion annual budget, and worked to maintain critical healthcare programs and social services for seniors, children, and the developmentally disabled. She chaired the Select Committee on Hate Crimes and is a member of the California Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. She was also a member of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation, Labor and Employment, and Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials committees.
 Dr. Chu authored a landmark tax amnesty bill which was estimated to bring in $300 million but actually brought in $4.8 billion in revenue for the state budget without raising taxes. She fought to protect victims through her Sexual Assault Survivors DNA Bill of Rights and through her bill protecting the assets of domestic violence survivors. She authored measures to protect immigrants from victimization by fraudulent immigration consultants and from deceptive bait-and-switch practices in car dealerships. Her hate crimes bills provide automatic protective orders for hate crime victims, increase the ability of victims to seek redress in civil court, improve the prosecution of hate crimes, and allow courts to mandate anti-bias counseling for perpetrators. Her legislation enables aging schools greater access to state modernization funds. Her environmental bills protected consumers from toxic substances in cosmetics, ban toxic chemicals in packaging and establish an environmental justice small grant program. Her healthcare bills improve access to MediCal and the Healthy Families program by those using community clinics, increase training for acupuncturists, and improve accountability by requiring an audit of the state's contracts for prescription drugs.
 Prior to the State Assembly, Dr. Chu served on the Monterey Park City Council for thirteen years from 1988 to 2001, and served as mayor three times. Dr. Chu has been dedicated to education for decades, and was a community college professor in psychology for 20 years. She started in public service as a board member of the Garvey School District from 1985 to 1988. She has Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in math.
 Dr. Chu has been awarded the Legislator of the Year by the California Primary Care Association, the California Children's Specialty Care Coalition and the California National Organization for Women. She has been named by the California Journal as one of the top new legislators and earned a 100% rating by the Congress of California Seniors, the Children's Advocacy Institute, the Better Business Alliance, Planned Parenthood of California, and the California League of Conservation Voters.
 Judy Chu, as a second generation immigrant thinks that many of our immigrant population has a negative attitude or an unfamiliar understanding of politics. Immigrants who come from countries with repression of some sort have a tendency of staying away from politics. Some countries in Asia may never have had democratic elections so they tend to ignore politics. She does say however, that once you educate the Asian-American population, they are pretty responsive. Once they realize that American democracy is quite different, they are much more open.
 Her husband Assemblyman Eng is also a second-generation Californian, the grandson of a Chinatown waiter and son of a garment wholesaler. He has lived in Monterey Park with his wife, former Assemblywoman Judy Chu, for more than two decades.
Mike Eng is an attorney, and earned his law degree from the University of California-Los Angeles after completing bachelors’ and masters degrees at the University of Hawaii.
About Board of Equalization
T he five-member Board of Equalization is the nation's only publicly elected state tax commission. The Board collects nearly $53 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and plays a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.
The Board's five Members serve concurrent four-year terms. One Member is elected from each of California's four Equalization Districts. The State Controller, elected at large, serves as the Board's fifth Member.
The Board of Equalization holds public meetings to offer taxpayers the opportunity to participate in tax appeal hearings and in the formulation of rules and regulations adopted by the Board, and to observe the Members as they carry out their official duties. Meetings are held throughout the year. The Board meets monthly in Sacramento and as necessary in other California cities.
The Board also holds Taxpayers' Bill of Rights hearings each year that allow taxpayers to make comments and suggestions regarding Board-administered laws and programs.
 The Board of Equalization collects nearly $53 billion in taxes and fees for the State and local governments. Judy looks forward to improving the collection of the taxes we are owed, and to reach out to the many diverse communities of Los Angeles County through tax assistance programs and seminars for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.
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