The recent officer-related shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson,
Missouri, and the subsequent unrest in the city reminds us of how
difficult it can be to respond when tragedy strikes our
communities. Although we hope that our communities never have to
face such a crisis, it is important for leadership to be prepared
to respond to unforeseen and unfortunate tragedies.
Balancing the demands of work, family, and finances can be
challenging. It can be difficult to focus on the present, let
alone the future. But taking steps now to better manage your
future can make a real difference in the quality of life for you
and your loved ones.
Unfortunately, the future can change in an instant when you or a
loved one suffers a devastating injury or serious illness that
requires long-term care, which is the assistance provided when
you need help with the activities of daily living, such as
eating, bathing, or dressing, due to injury, illness, or aging.
I am deeply saddened by the news that Grantland Johnson died
today.
My first introduction to state government and politics came from
two former Sacramento County supervisors: Sandy Smoley and
Grantland Johnson. At the time, I had no idea I would eventually
end up at CSAC.
In a scenario that almost reads like the finale from an Ian
Fleming novel, the legislature is racing the clock to agree to
terms on a Bond, Water Bond, that has a lot of people both shaken
and stirred. The old proposal on the ballot in November is for
$11 billion dollars, but the Governor, in his recurring role as
“Dr. No” is pushing for a much smaller measure—about $6 billion.
I had the occasion recently to drive from Sacramento up to
Siskiyou County for the day and a couple of things were pretty
evident from the trip. First, California is an incredibly diverse
state. In the span of a few hours, you can go from the State
Capitol, to tree crops, to cattle, to lumber. And second, we are
in a severe drought. Neither of these concepts is new or
surprising, but it is amazing, and in the case of the drought,
devastating to see and experience them in the course of a
half-day’s drive.
The dissolution of redevelopment agencies coupled with the
lingering recession has left many seeking new approaches to local
economic development. Two new resources from the Institute for Local Government (ILG)
provide practical tips on proven techniques that county leaders
can use to enhance their communities’ economic prosperity and
fiscal health.
Two interesting articles came across my desk the other day
regarding the movement to split California into six states. The
first was a piece
by KPCC radio that takes a look at previous efforts to carve
up California. The second was written by Los Angeles Times
columnist George Skelton titled “Six-state
proposal should be taken seriously, but it’s just hard to.”
When it comes to building an exhibit for the State Fair, Glenn
County has it down to an art. For the second year in a row, Glenn
County was named “Best of Show” among the ever-popular County
Exhibits. Beyond being honored with “Best of Show,” Glenn County
walked away with the “Best Craftsmanship” Award.
US News & World Report recently released a listing of “America’s
50 Healthiest Counties for Kids 2014-15” and it was good news
for California counties. In fact, of the top 50 counties, 13 are
from California; even more impressive is that Marin County ranks
as No. 1!
I grew up a 4-H kid, doing projects, writing reports, going to
meetings and delivering presentations. We raised lambs and showed
them at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma and the Sonoma County
Fair in Santa Rosa. I really loved the Fairs, the rides, the
food, the people and the animals too. But I think I also loved
the sense of autonomy.
There’s a new report out from the
California Travel and Tourism Commission that, among other
things, points out that tourism in California has rebounded to
pre-recession levels and once again, people are visiting the
Golden State in droves. Preliminary estimates indicate travelers
spent just shy of $110 Billion in California in 2013. That’s
great news. Tourism is a huge boost for California’s economy. But
it does make me wonder, what is it about California that is so
special?
The Institute for Local Government (ILG) has worked hard over the
years to help local agencies increase the level of public
engagement in their communities. Authentic public engagement has
the potential to help positively transform communities. Engaging
the public early in the decision-making process can help agencies
avoid costly pitfalls and mistakes. Constituents who have helped
shape a proposed policy, project or program typically have a
better understanding of the issues at hand and the reasoning
behind the final decision.
Tuesday’s statewide primary election yielded some interesting
results: perhaps record low voter turnout, a new influx of
campaign cash in the form of independent expenditures for state
legislative races, and some real nail-biter results, with a
number of races around the state too close to call. Perhaps the
least surprising news of the night: Proposition 42 passed
handily.
Yesterday marked another Election Day. And while a lot of
California election pundits were focused on the new top-two
system, it was business as usual in the 122 supervisorial races
across our 58 counties. All it takes is 50 percent plus 1 vote
and you’re the winner.
I grew up a 4-H kid, doing projects, writing reports, going to
meetings and delivering presentations. We raised lambs, and
showing them at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma and the Sonoma
County Fair in Santa Rosa were always highlights of the year. I
really loved the Fairs, the rides, the food, the people and the
animals too. But I think I also loved the sense of autonomy.
There’s historically been a pioneer spirit in Mono County. That
spirit is alive and well to this day; you see it as you travel
along Highway 395. You hear it when you stop and talk to the
residents of communities such as Bridgeport and Lee Vining.
That pioneer spirit is also alive and well in the Mono County
Behavioral Health Department, where the staff is urged to be
creative and look for new ways to engage clients and provide
services.
“One barrier you need to take off the table is “well, we don’t
have money to do it.” It doesn’t take any money to sit down at a
table and talk with people. That’s a freebie, with a huge
payoff.” With those words, Nevada County Health Director Michael
Heggarty sums up their approach to providing a system of care for
kids, teens, and their families. They have broken down silos,
ignored the barriers and are working across several different
organizations to provide a network of services that starts with
mental health, but has grown into much, much more.
In the inner sanctum of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Offices,
there’s a display case that houses numerous department artifacts
dating back to the 1800s: photographs, badges and handwritten
incident logs help tell the department’s storied past. Captain
Chris Lathrop likes to stop and take in the department’s rich
history. But Captain Lathrop’s focus is in the future – and one
mobile application in particular that is making a big difference
in how the department fights crime.
When Riverside County Medical Center staff compared its rate of
surgical site infections (SSI) to other hospitals around the
country, they realized they had an issue. The hospital’s ratio of
infections was more than 200 percent above the recognized
baseline. Something had to be done; something was done. And the
result has been an amazing turnaround for the Medical Center that
has resulted in improved patient care, heightened patient safety
and a reduction in medical care costs.
The county programs CSAC recognizes with our Challenge Awards all
have one thing in common: they represent the best practices
counties put to use every day serving the people of their
community. The award given to Stanislaus County is a little
different. It recognizes a truly great program—and also the
extraordinary effort made to save the program in the face of
severe budget cuts. This is the story of the Stanislaus County
Clean and Sober living program.
