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The County Voice

A place where CSAC, county officials and stakeholders can voice their thoughts on governance and issues that impact California’s 58 counties.

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CSAC Shines a Spotlight on Counties – 2022 Challenge Awards Now Open

Rachael Serrao

The word challenge has many meanings, including “a task or situation that tests someone’s abilities.” As County leaders, day in and day out you take on innumerable challenges facing your local community.

The County Voice

Orange County’s Innovative Program Allowed Couples to Still Say “I Do” During Pandemic

Orange County’s Innovative Program Allowed Couples to Still Say “I Do” During Pandemic
David Liebler

 “If you build it, they will come.”  It’s a famous movie misquote we have all heard numerous times. But never did we think it would represent an innovative idea created during the COVID-19 pandemic when the state was shuttered at a time when county services still needed to be provided.

But that’s exactly what happened in Orange County when the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office was faced with the challenge of how to continue performing marriage ceremonies while protecting the health of both staff and the public.

Despite the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the demand for marriage services was still in high demand. For many residents, delaying marriage until the pandemic ended was not an option. Getting married was a necessity in order to add a spouse to health insurance coverage or to secure other needed benefits obtainable through marriage.

Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen had other plans than putting marriage ceremonies on hold.  And so the day the state closed down, the Clerk-Recorder began searching for an empty box office setting and location that would provide social distancing while allowing marriage ceremonies to continue.

The County Voice

Innovative Madera County Library Program Prepares Kids for Kindergarten

Innovative Madera County Library Program Prepares Kids for Kindergarten
David Liebler

In Madera County, nearly half of its residents live in rural, unincorporated areas with limited access to affordable, quality preschool and childcare options. And without quality options, parents and caregivers often lack the materials and support needed to effectively prepare their children for kindergarten.

Enter the Madera County Library’s Backpack Literacy Project.

The County Voice

Sonoma County COVID-19 Check App Enhances Community Health, Safety

Sonoma County COVID-19 Check App Enhances Community Health, Safety
David Liebler

We all remember the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic: the fear, the anxiety, the frustration, the unknown. California Counties were on the front lines of this historic pandemic and working overtime to ensure the health and safety of their residents and communities. A significant challenge being faced was figuring out who might have been infected with the coronavirus – especially when it was critical to ensure essential parts of the public sector and economy kept running.

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Getting to Know CSAC Administrative Assistant Madison Burton

Kanisha Golden

March 17, 2022

One of CSAC’s newest team members is Administrative Assistant Madison Burton, who started with CSAC on February 7 to support the Executive team with administrative and meeting planning needs. Madison’s positive outlook and range of skills are already an asset to the CSAC organization.

CSAC recently had the pleasure of learning more about Madison’s background, goals and motivations. Below are her responses. 

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Celebrating International Women’s Day

March 8, 2022

This Blog is authored by the Co-Chairs of the Women’s Leadership Forum: Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, and Tehama County Supervisor Candy Carlson.

Today marks the 111th International Women’s Day, and we are pleased to celebrate the important economic, political, and social achievements of women around the world. On this day, we also recognize the obstacles women still face for equal rights and opportunities and the work that we must still do to achieve gender equality. As co-chairs of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Women’s Leadership Forum, we are inspired by the work of the women of CSAC and remain committed to continuing to support and uplift each other.

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ARPA’s One Year Anniversary – Riverside County’s Early Care and Education Recovery Fund

Jenny Tan

March 7, 2022

COVID-19 was a blur; days blended into weeks and months and suddenly it was 2022. Through the fogginess of the pandemic, there were multiple moments of brightness. One such moment was the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that was signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021 to facilitate the country’s recovery from COVID-19.  In all, California’s 58 counties received a total of $7.6 billion from the Act to: support COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost public sector revenue, support immediate economic stabilization, address systemic public health and economic challenges, and provide premium pay for essential workers, among others. To help celebrate the one year anniversary of this Act, CSAC will be highlighting, through social media posts and articles, some of the ARPA investments that California’s counties have been making.

CSAC Bulletin Article

Getting To Know CSAC Legislative Representative Of Administration Of Justice Ryan Morimune

Kanisha Golden

March 3, 2022

CSAC’s newest Legislative Representative of Administration of Justice, Ryan Morimune, started with CSAC on November 18 and has already made an impact on behalf of members, engaging on legislation and budget priorities.

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CSAC President Joins U.S. Senator Alex Padilla at Friday’s Press Conference Addressing Housing for All Act of 2022

Kanisha Golden

March 1, 2022

On Friday February 25, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) hosted a press conference to announce The Housing for All Act of 2022 (Act) legislative proposal, at a local Project Homekey site in Sacramento. This bill aims to invest $532 billion over 10 years into programs that are expected to alleviate housing shortages and help reduce homelessness. Some of those programs include investment in Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-based Rental Assistance, and grant programs to help jurisdictions most efficiently navigate federal and state housing funding sources and establish a commission on racial equity. A Section by Section overview is available with additional information and funding goals.

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Getting to Know CSAC Communications Manager Kanisha Golden

Jenny Tan

February 16, 2022

CSAC’s new Communications Manager, Kanisha Golden, started on February 8th and she comes with a wide swath of knowledge and skills. Kanisha is an award-winning professional with a creative niche for communicating complex issues. She is an excellent writer, social media manager, content creator and team collaborator. Her work history includes the Association of California Water Agencies and the California Alliance for Jobs.

The Communications Team is excited to have Kanisha on board and to introduce her to the CSAC membership. CSAC recently had the pleasure of learning more about Kanisha’s background, goals and motivations. Below are her responses. 

The County Voice

Getting to Know CSAC Second Vice President Bruce Gibson

Jenny Tan

During CSAC’s 127th Annual Meeting last year in beautiful Monterey County, the new 2021-22 officers were elected and installed. As we often say, CSAC is only as strong as its membership, and our newest Second Vice President is as strong, resilient, and effective as they come – San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson.

Many of you may know Supervisor Gibson from his service as a member of the CSAC Board of Directors and Executive Committee; Chair of the Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Policy Committee; or as CSAC’s representative to the County Drought and Advisory Group. Supervisor Gibson has worked in public service since 2007 and is committed to accessible and transparent government. He always leads by example and is not afraid to address any challenges or difficult topics facing counties. 

As someone who loves learning about counties and the people who serve, I recently had the great fortune of learning more about Supervisor Gibson, including his background, motivation, and priorities. Here are his responses.

The County Voice

Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders the Riverside County Way

The following blog was written by Erica Manuel, CEO and Executive Director of the Institute for Local Government.

The offices of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors have a youthful energy thanks to an innovative model that provides at-risk youth an opportunity to serve in the public sector.

The County Voice

Billions in funding for wildfire should be just a down payment

The following guest blog was originally written for CalMatters and approved by the author Stacy Corless, Mono County Supervisor for District 5, who is board chair of the Rural County Representatives of California and an executive committee member of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.

The County Voice

Raising Tsunami Awareness

Sara Floor

Friday, November 5, is World Tsunami Awareness Day. Though tsunamis are less likely to occur than wildfires in California, they are still extremely deadly and 13 of our 58 Counties border the coast – meaning one-fifth of our Counties, maybe more, could be severely impacted if a tsunami occurred. 

Did you know, the word “tsunami” comprises the Japanese words “tsu” (meaning harbour) and “nami” (meaning wave)? Tsunamis are a series of waves created by an underwater disturbance, usually associated with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean. These rare events can be extremely deadly—in the past 100 years, 58 of them have claimed more than 260,000 lives, or an average of 4,600 per disaster, surpassing any other natural hazard. 

The County Voice

California Counties Are Key to Community Economic Resilience Fund

The following guest blog is provided by Don Howard, President and CEO, The James Irvine Foundation

​While the pandemic cast a harsh light on the economic inequality in California and the fragility of our infrastructure, it also ignited a desire to address these issues and delivered California leaders a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a more equitable and climate-resilient economy. Now, we need the collective will to seize it.

The County Voice

The Tale of Sister Cities and Counties

Jenny Tan

This is the second blog post in a series highlighting California Counties. In the coming months, learn how California Counties are showcasing the power of international relationships to spur local economic development and education.

Many of us have heard of ‘sister cities’ – broad, long-term partnerships between communities in two countries. For many of these partnerships, a cultural exchange is expected, along with visits, opened lines of communication and educational opportunities, and, like the name entails, a relationship between two cities. However, there can also be city/county ‘sisters’ - which are much more rare, but equally as beneficial and rewarding. In California, there are eight ‘sister city/county’ relationships that have built amazing opportunities and longstanding exchanges between residents and communities. 

The County Voice

Fall: The Season of Reconnection, not Recess

Danielle Bradley

With the summer travel season behind us, the new school year in full swing, and shrinking daylight hours, fall has arrived in Sacramento. For members of the California State Legislature, fall is a chance to pause the weekly back and forth commute from Sacramento and reconnect with the communities they represent. As the end of 2021 inches closer, this provides the perfect opportunity for California’s Counties to reach out to their State Senators and Assemblymembers who are using the year’s remaining months to engage with their constituents and better learn about the needs and priorities within their districts.

The County Voice

Kamome: How One Act of Kindness Leads to an Ocean of Opportunity

Chris Howard

This is the first blog post in a series highlighting California Counties. In the coming months, learn more about how Del Norte and other California Counties are showcasing the power of international relationships to spur local economic development and education.

It’s a story of resilience, from tragedy came hope. Who would combine a devasting tsunami, a small boat lost at sea, the Northern California Coast, and the Olympics? As improbable as it sounds, Kamome has permanently connected Del Norte County with a coastal city in Japan, showing one simple act of kindness can spark the most unlikely sequence of events.

The County Voice

Lighthouse of Leadership

Ed Valenzuela

Dotting California’s coastline, lighthouses are a beacon of light, aiding navigation through choppy waters and alerting ships to hidden obstacles. Like lighthouses, as California County Supervisors, we’re often called to lead our communities through difficult times and unforeseen circumstances. Over the past several years, we’ve become accustomed to expecting the unexpected and preparing for the next calamity to threaten our communities. 

The County Voice

Testing County Abilities

Sara Floor

The word challenge has many meanings, including “a task or situation that tests someone’s abilities.” As County leaders, day in and day out you take on innumerable challenges facing your local community.

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