Gov visits Lodi to honor fallen farmworker

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Lodi today to pay his respects to a young woman who died after collapsing while working in a vineyard.

Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez, 17, succumbed to the heat May 21 after working a full shift pruning vines in Farmington. Jimenez later died on May 16 at Lodi Memorial Hospital.

Jimenez had just recently come to the United States from Mexico to work in agriculture and was living in Lodi.

Schwarzenegger stopped in Lodi for a brief appearance after a memorial service for Jimenez at St. Anne's Catholic Church. The governor then had a private meeting with Jimenez's family.

A crowd of 200 people, many holding black United Farm Workers union flags, attended the service.

United Farm Workers president, Artuoro S. Rodriguez, also was present.

The Mexican Consulate is paying to transport Jimenez's body back to Mexico for burial.

Schwarzenegger released a statement today saying the safety of the state's agricultural workers is a matter of "life and death."

Maria's death should have been prevented and all Californians must do everything in their power to ensure no other worker suffers the same fate." Schwarzenegger said in the statement. "Employers must provide water and heat illness training, allow ill workers to take breaks in the shade and have an emergency plan if someone falls ill.

For more of this story, return to http://www.lodinews.com for updates or see Thursday's News-Sentinel.

First published: Wednesday, May 28, 2008

First published: Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Reader Feedback

s & W 500 wrote on Jul 8, 2008 9:52 PM:

" I don't know how my blog got on this page, a mistake by the LNS.
Regardless, God Bless you Tamra! Sorry for your loss! All the good memories will forever live in your heart! "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jul 8, 2008 8:55 PM:

" No disrespect to the young lady or her family, but this "memorial" is over the top. I took Atkins as a short cut about 6 weeks ago and saw it for myself.

Most are a simple cross, picture, & flowers. This display is like an amusement park in comparison. The lights, pin-wheels, etc etc.

Memories live in your heart, not on the roadside. "

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s & W 500 wrote on May 28, 2008 8:34 PM:

" I know how hot it can be in the fields! When I was 13 years old, I used to pick watermelon. I rode my bike from Vinewood School to Devries & Woodbridge Rd. We had some long days, some over 14 hours, we used to break melons on purpose just to get water. BTW: I was the only white boy in the field, except for the landowner, and it was my choice to be there! God Bless the young lady!
I will pray for her! "

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luvlodi wrote on May 28, 2008 6:25 PM:

" It is no disrespect, its nice to see how united ppl can be, and it helps to remind all the corrupt farmers that these ppl are not alone. "

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Lodian wrote on May 28, 2008 4:14 PM:

" God bless you, Maria. I'm sorry that you suffered so and then lost your life to the heat. May you rest in peace. "

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Lodian wrote on May 28, 2008 4:11 PM:

" It may have been a sign of respect to have Union flags at the funeral for this young lady. "

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T & C wrote on May 28, 2008 4:06 PM:

" Union flags have no place at a funeral. To me that is gross disrespect for the one who passed away! "