U.S.A.
Page 8 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
April 3, 2017
Muslim immigrant to join California lieutenant governor race
CALIFORNIA CANDIDATE. Dr. Asif
Mahmood, right, a physician who came to the U.S.
from Pakistan, greets supporters after announcing he
is joining the 2018 race for California’s lieutenant gov-
ernor, in front of the downtown federal building that
houses a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
field office in Los Angeles. Mahmood is promising to
run on his Muslim faith, immigrant past, and career
as a healthcare provider. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
By Christopher Weber
The Associated Press
OS ANGELES — A Pakistan-born
doctor has announced that he is
joining the 2018 race for lieutenant
governor on a platform of saving the
Affordable Care Act, providing free
community college education, and fighting
what he termed “Donald Trump’s hate.”
“I am a proud Muslim and I love Ameri-
ca,” Dr. Asif Mahmood said at a news con-
ference in front of the downtown federal
building that houses a U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement field office.
“President Trump continues to attack
people like me: immigrants, people of
color, and Muslims,” Mahmood said. “I say
President Trump has it all wrong. It’s time
to get tough on hate. California must be
the leader of the Trump resistance, and I
will fight him every step of the way.”
The pulmonologist said he came to the
United States because he wanted his
family to live in a place “that celebrates
diversity and tolerance.”
Born in a small, rural village, Mahmood
moved to Kentucky in the 1990s to
complete medical school. He came to
Southern California in 2000 and lives near
Los Angeles with his wife and three
teenage children.
L
As a first-time candidate, Mahmood’s
challenge is to build a statewide coalition,
potentially anchored to civil rights. He
starts as a virtual unknown and Muslims
make up a tiny percentage of people living
in California.
To be competitive and grow beyond a
niche candidacy, he must craft a message
that resonates with the large, diverse pool
of voters in a state that is home to one of
every eight Americans.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the incumbent,
is barred by term limits from seeking a
third term and is running for governor.
Mahmood, a Democrat, said he did not
think his religion would be an obstacle in a
state known for diversity.
Mahmood said his experience running a
medical practice and volunteering at free
clinics that treat poor populations gave
him the credentials to campaign for
healthcare reform.
He supports protecting Obamacare and
expanding Medicare to cover everyone.
California’s lieutenant governor post is
largely ceremonial, but the lieutenant
governor leads the state when the
governor travels outside it and can break
tie votes in the state senate.
The lieutenant governor also has a seat
on the board of regents of the 10-campus
University of California. Mahmood said he
would use it to influence higher education
reform.
Mahmood said he wants to provide a free
community college education and doesn’t
support fee hikes, such as the recent
California State University tuition
increase.
“I believe that education is the main
asset that any nation can have, any society
can have,” he said.
State senator Ed Hernandez, also a
Democrat, is the only other declared candi-
date for lieutenant governor.
The field is sure to grow ahead of the
November 2018 vote.
Associated Press writer Michael Blood in
Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Pedestrian deaths spiked in 2016, distraction cited
Trump Winery in Virginia
seeks more foreign workers
By Joan Lowy
Continued from page 7
The Associated Press
places like the Philippines, Indonesia,
Kenya, Nigeria. We did not have one
American worker apply on (the first job
order).”
Several people have sent e-mails to show
they are outraged that Trump winery is
hiring foreigners, Whitley said.
“I qualify every one of those responses
and I say, ‘Are you interested in the job? If
you are, please get in touch with us
immediately,”’ Whitley said.
Trump Winery didn’t respond to the
newspaper’s request for comment.
ASHINGTON — Pedestrian
deaths are climbing faster than
motorist fatalities, reaching
nearly 6,000 deaths last year — the
highest total in more than two decades,
according to an analysis of preliminary
state data.
Increased driving due to an improved
economy, lower gas prices, and more
walking for exercise and environmental
reasons are some of the likely reasons
behind the estimated 11 percent spike in
pedestrian fatalities in 2016. The figures
were prepared for the Governors Highway
Safety Association, which represents state
highway safety offices.
But researchers say they think the
biggest factor may be more drivers and
walkers distracted by cellphones and other
W
electronic devices, although that’s hard to
confirm.
Walking and miles driven are up only a
few percentage points, and are unlikely to
account for most of the surge in pedestrian
deaths, said Richard Retting, safety
director for Sam Schwartz Transportation
Consultants and the author of the report.
Meanwhile, texting and the use of wireless
devices have exploded, he said.
“It’s the only factor that seems to
indicate a dramatic change in how people
behave,” Retting said.
The report is based on data from all
states and the District of Columbia for the
first six months of 2016 and extrapolated
for the rest of the year. It shows the largest
annual increase in both the number and
percentage of pedestrian fatalities in the
more than 40 years those national records
on such deaths have been kept, with the
second largest increase occurring in 2015.
Pedestrian deaths as a share of total motor
vehicle crash deaths increased from 11
percent in 2006 to 15 percent in 2015.
“This latest data shows that the U.S.
isn’t meeting the mark on keeping
pedestrians safe on our roadways,” said
Jonathan Adkins, the safety association’s
executive director. “Every one of these
lives represents a loved one not coming
home tonight, which is absolutely
unacceptable.”
Traffic fatalities overall jumped six
percent last year, pushing deaths on U.S.
roads to their highest level in nearly a
decade and erasing improvements made
during the Great Recession and economic
recovery, according to data released in
February by the National Safety Council, a
leading safety organization. The council
Continued on page 14
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