On July 18th, a 4-hour State Government Resources Expo was held at the Tustin Community Center in California’s Tustin City to help residents understand what resources and services the state, county government agencies, and community organizations can provide. It aimed to facilitate face-to-face consultations and networking between residents and officials.
Organized by the office of State Senator Steven Chois from the 37th district, the event was aimed at bridging the gap between residents who often have limited direct interactions with officials and are unclear about the services provided by various government agencies. Due to the hot weather, the event was specifically held indoors.
Participating state government agencies included the California Employment Development Department (EDD), the California Office of Small Business Advocates (CalOSBA), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), Covered California, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The Orange County Fire Department, Transportation Department, District Attorney’s Office, and two food banks also participated in the event.
Sally Westlake, an External Relations Officer at DFPI, explained, “We are the California financial regulatory department overseeing banks, credit unions, financial lenders, mortgage lenders, and other service providers. If you have any complaints regarding these institutions or individuals, you can file a formal complaint with us. For issues with services like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle, you can also contact us.”
She further emphasized the prevalence of wire transfer fraud nowadays and provided advice on avoiding falling victim to such scams. For instance, Westlake highlighted that government agencies will not call you unsolicited, advised against sending money to strangers, and recommended not answering calls from unknown numbers.
For individuals who have already fallen victim to scams, Westlake advised promptly contacting their bank or credit card company to report the incident within the crucial 48-hour window for the best chance of recovering funds. Additionally, she suggested reporting the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for further assistance in catching the perpetrators.
The article continues to cover various other government agencies and non-profit organizations present at the event, offering services ranging from alcohol licensing and law enforcement to food assistance programs for elders, students, and low-income individuals. The focus extends to educational programs on safe driving practices, preventing substance abuse among youth, and addressing various community issues like fraud, hate crimes, and animal cruelty cases.
The event also shed light on critical topics such as the increasing financial losses due to scams targeting older adults, the importance of road safety and maintenance by CHP, and the legal processes involved in alcohol licensing through the ABC. Additionally, the vital role played by organizations like the Orange County Food Bank and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County in providing food aid to thousands of individuals in need was highlighted.
Overall, the State Government Resources Expo served as a comprehensive platform for residents to interact with government agencies and community organizations, gain valuable information, and access essential services to enhance their well-being and safety within the community.