CSUN On Point

In September of 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill to reduce ocean waste by regulating the use of plastic straws in the state. The Assembly Bill 1884 limits restaurants to giving out single-use straws only upon requests from customers. It applies to full-service dining establishments, but exempts fast-food restaurants.

“Single-use plastic takes a lot of resources to make,” CSUN Sustainability Program Analyst Sarah Johnson said. “It never really goes away; it stays in the environment for hundreds and thousands of years.”

California is the first state in the nation to restrict the use of plastic straws in restaurants. Several cities in California, including Malibu and San Francisco, have gone a step further, by passing outright bans on the use of plastic straws, as well as other single-use items, including plastic utensils.

“’Bring your own’ [or] ‘BYO’ is the motto more than anything,” Habits of Waste Founder Sheila Morovati said. “It’s important to think ahead. If you need to pick up some food, bringing your own to-go containers will make a huge difference.”

There is a global effort to reduce the use of plastic, which experts say makes up as much as 80 percent of all marine debris. The California Coastal Commission recorded roughly 835,425 plastic straws and stirrers picked up during organized beach cleanups.

The CSUN campus has been honored for its sustainability efforts. “The Sustainability Plan on campus has really expanded CSUN’s efforts for sustainability,” CSUN Energy & Sustainability Coordinator Nikhil Schneider said. “It has been instrumental in driving sustainability research, and student educational and service learning opportunities.”

“We still sell bottled water on campus, but it has been a culture shift,” Johnson said. “It is very common now to see students carrying reusable water bottles. Every year we have a new audience of 6,000 to 10,000 students to educate and inspire.”

Moderator: Claudia Flores

Producer: Alexis Carfagno

Anchor: Sofia Gutierrez

Social Media Editor: Scott Geirman

Reporters: Alexis Carfagno, Joy Edomwonji, Claudia Flores, Scott Geirman, Sofia Gutierrez, Melissa Rodriguez and Melina Rudigkeit

For decades, street vendors have been a well-kept secret in many Southern California communities. In 2018, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 946, legislation that regulates street vending practices. Also known as the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, SB 946 requires cities and counties to maintain certain rules when interacting with street vendors. Approximately 50,000 street vendors work in Los Angeles, with a majority being undocumented.

“To provide for your family, [that] should be … legal,” CHIRLA Organizing Director Antonio Bernabe said. “There is no need to attack people who are trying to provide for themselves. This is the only big city in the United States that doesn’t have selling permits, Los Angeles was the only city that is behind.”

CHIRLA is one of many groups who played a role in getting the legislation passed, and who are now helping street-vendors navigate the new rules.

“CHIRLA stands for The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights,” CHIRLA Marketing and Membership representative Mauricio Ramos said. “It’s all about the human rights of an individual, regardless of their status here. The street vending was the foundation of the Know Your Rights campaign.”

“The election of President Trump, and his hard line and hard rhetoric against the undocumented, really shamed the city of Los Angeles and the state of California to do something,” attorney Gregg Kettles said. “To protect our neighbors, who are suddenly at risk of being deported just because they are selling corn on the corner; it’s ridiculous.”

Many vendors now say they feel safe with SB946 in effect in California. For many vendors, selling from a street cart is the only way to provide for their families. But many believe street-vending is good for the communities as well.

“I’m glad the state of California and the city of Los Angeles have recognized all of the benefits of vending,” Kettles said, “not only for consumers, but also the people who are doing the selling. It’s really terrific for them too.”

Moderator: Sofia Gutierrez

Producer: Melissa Rodriguez

Anchor: Melina Rudigkeit

Social Media Editor: Scott Geirman

Reporters: Alexis Carfagno, Joy Edomwonyi, Claudia Flores, Scott Geirman, Sofia Gutierrez, Karissa Preciado, Melissa Rodriguez, Melina Rudigkeit

More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease. Within the United States, the combined cost of treatments is estimated to be nearly $25 billion a year, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Parkinson’s is typically diagnosed in patients older than 50, and is characterized by the loss of brain or spinal cord cells that leads to dysfunction and disability over time.

“It’s difficult for people to see their loved ones suffer,” CSUN Communication Disorders & Sciences Department Professor Karen Kochis-Jennings said. “There’s a cognitive aspect with Parkinson’s. It can really change the dynamics in the household. Early signs can be tremor in the limbs, problems with movement, coordination and balance.”

Now CSUN’s partnership with the Parkinson Voice Project is providing patients affordable therapy options.

“We take medicare; we take insurance, and we have a limited amount of scholarships for those who can’t pay for it,” Kochis-Jennings said. “We ask that they just pay a small co-payment.”

With support from the Parkinson Voice Project, a nationwide organization that helps persons with Parkinson’s disease preserve their voices, the program will allow CSUN’s Language, Speech and Hearing Center to help up to 12 patients every month. The staff are trained and certified to run the Parkinson’s Voice Project program at CSUN, and to train students. Patients are already being helped.

“I want to speak louder, with intent, and try to overcome my cognitive problems the best I can,” Parkinson’s patient Earl Lambert said. “It’s about mind over matter after a certain time. You just have to take your time, and make sure that you’re dedicated.”

The Parkinson Voice Project incorporates therapy sessions called “SPEAK OUT”, and follow-up sessions called “LOUD Crowd”, to improve patients’ speaking abilities over time.

For more information contact the Language, Speech and Hearing Center at (818)-677-2856.

Moderator: Scott Geirman

Producer: Alexis Carfagno

Anchor: Claudia Flores

Social Media Editor: Sofia Gutierrez

Reporters: Alexis Carfagno, Joy Edomwonyi, Claudia Flores, Scott Geirman, Sofia Gutierrez, Melina Rudigkeit and Melissa Rodriguez