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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.

The County Voice

The County Family Gives During Difficult Times

Matt Cate

This has been an incredibly difficult year for a lot of people. From hurricanes in The Gulf to the wildfires here in California, natural disasters have taken dozens of lives and tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, possessions and their way of life. I would be remiss in not mentioning the human tragedies of the recent shootings in Texas and Las Vegas as well. There is no way words can explain those events—or the impact they have on the victims and their families, but, that is precisely why they weigh so heavy on the human experience.

The County Voice

ILG Supports Counties in Engaging Diverse Communities

Hang Tran

There are many ways to measure “diversity” but California consistently ranks as one of, if not the most diverse state in the nation—with literally dozens of ethnicities represented in the population. While this is more apparent in some parts of the state than others, local governments should consider the ethnic and cultural diversity of their communities when they are planning and implementing public outreach and engagement efforts.

The County Voice

Defining Success, CSAC Style

DeAnn Baker

How do you define “success?” Here at CSAC, 2017 has been a very successful year for some obvious reasons — and some that may be less so. Perhaps the most important and hardest to quantify is the incredible success we achieved this year while fostering relationships with legislators, the Administration and our stakeholders on all sides of the tough issues.

The County Voice

Firestorms: A Supervisor Speaks from the Heart

James Gore

Hello from Ground Zero.

On behalf of Sonoma County, and in camaraderie with my fellow Supervisors in Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Solano, Yuba, Butte, Nevada, Orange and Fresno counties affected by these firestorms, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of support we’ve received from the CSAC family. CSAC President Keith Carson called me personally and pledged the full support of CSAC, and that promise has been followed up on with abundant action. CSAC Executive Director Matt Cate drove out last week to tour the devastation in my District, and brought with him ideas, support and well wishes from both CSAC and the Finance Corporation.  Thank you! 

The County Voice

Don’t Make a U-Turn on Fixing California’s Roads

Hasan Ikhrata

This blog entry was originally published in the Orange County Register.

There is no tomorrow when it comes to fixing our roads, highways and bridges, which is why a misguided effort to repeal Senate Bill 1 — a historic measure to invest more than $5 billion a year in transportation improvements across the state — must itself be put to rest.

The repeal initiative, filed recently with the state attorney general, would require voter approval of all gas tax and vehicle fee increases after January 1, 2017.

The County Voice

Ventura County Summer: Not Just a Day at the Beach

Randi Kay Stephens

Eight Ventura County youth had a unique experience this past summer through a special collaboration between the County and the Oxnard Union High School District. The two agencies collaborated to establish a pilot program of “Summer at the County.” The students participated in a 120-hour paid program that included an internship in a county department, as well as leadership training, tours of county facilities, and learning from public officials and guest speakers. 

The County Voice

58 Counties Sharing the Vision

Keith Carson

The days are getting shorter, students are back in school and the California legislative session is over. That means it is time to plan to attend the CSAC Annual Meeting. Our theme this year is “Sharing the Vision” and the Annual Meeting is both a chance to reflect on the past year for our association, and to point us to new goals and new directions for the future.

The County Voice

Under the Dome: A Former Senator Returns

Bruce McPherson

There I was again, on the California State Senate floor – talking and shaking hands with senators and staff members as they worked feverishly on Thursday of the last week of the 2017 session to act on hundreds of bills which needed to be addressed before the Friday, September 15 midnight deadline. 

The County Voice

AB 1250 – A Bad Bill That Can’t Be Fixed

Matt Cate

Although the deadline for more amendments has now passed, AB 1250 remains active and could be voted on in the waning days of this legislative session or held for possible action next year. CSAC and a coalition of nearly 500 organizations remain vehemently opposed to AB 1250.

There’s an old adage in politics that you don’t amend a bad bill. If ever that was the case, it’s true with AB1250. The bill would institute a de facto ban on counties’ abilities to contract with nonprofits, community businesses and others to provide essential services to the public locally, including many services provided on behalf of the state. Despite numerous rounds of amendments to AB 1250 the bill continues to be unworkable and opposed by hundreds of respected organizations throughout the state.

The County Voice

Weathering Changes from California to Kansas

Phil Smith-Hanes

It is coming up on two years since Humboldt County Administrative Officer Phil Smith-Hanes decided to pull up stakes and move back to the area where he grew up. After six years leading a coastal California county, he is now living and working almost in the center of the nation as the County Administrator in Ellis County Kansas. He was kind enough to answer a few questions about the difference between the two counties, and what’s the same as well.

The County Voice

Reducing Recidivism With Results First

Amalia Mejia

In an effort to change tactics in the “war on crime,” California has undertaken numerous strategies to amend the broken criminal justice system. Like many others, I have found it appalling to witness so many individuals fall into a perpetual cycle of recidivism that impacts the entire family and community. But in a relatively short period of time, we have witnessed changes in the criminal justice system as a result of 2011 Public Safety Realignment, Proposition 47 and Proposition 57.

The County Voice

Legislature Should Reject AB 1250 and SB 649

Matt Cate

In nearly five years as the Executive Director of CSAC, I’ve met county supervisors from all walks of life. They are as diverse as the 58 counties they represent, but they share at least one thing in common: They love their communities and want to help make them better. And they were elected because they understand and reflect the needs of their constituents. The California Constitution recognizes that decisions about local issues should be made by a level of government that is accessible to the people affected by those decisions.

The County Voice

#RideWithDamon: Biking and Busing in Marin County

Damon Connolly

For the second year, I went 30 days without taking a single occupancy car ride.  My goal was to adjust my own transportation habits toward a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle. 

I wanted to see what is and isn’t working in our transit systems—or essentially to “walk the walk” in my role setting transportation policy. As a representative on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), a member of the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), a County Supervisor, and a member of the Board of Supervisors’ Climate Action subcommittee, I need to understand transportation not just from reading staff reports, but also on the street. 

The County Voice

Rural Libraries Help Bridge the Digital Divide

Maggie Durgin

Who needs libraries these days? With the internet and smart phones, the world’s wealth of information is available at your fingertips. However, in much of rural California, libraries are still playing a vital role in accessing information and building community.  For 100 years, the Tuolumne County Library has been a community focal point.  Recently, however, it has also become an essential place for many people to access the internet, because phone service and the internet are still not available everywhere.

The County Voice

Online Efforts Make Public Engagement More Effective

Melissa Kuehne

Technology can help counties change the who, when, where and how of educating and engaging local residents. Whether it’s economic development, housing, immigrant integration or a contentious local issue, counties are experimenting with different kinds of technology to enhance their engagement of the public.

The County Voice

Internet Exchange Zones Can Save Lives

David Canepa

Shopping in the 21st century is rapidly changing as more and more people discard the malls for the ease of buying online — often from complete strangers. These exchanges, however, can be fraught with danger and lead to harm or even death. As buying online is becoming the new norm, it will take 21st-century thinking to protect consumers from potential risk.

The County Voice

From Asparagus to Spray Paint: Counties on Display

Geoffrey Neill

I’ve been going to the state fair since I was about ten years old. My family has developed a routine: the 4-H animals, the piglet races, a corndog for lunch, then depending on our timing, maybe the cavalcade of horses, or a hypnotist’s show and the quilting displays. But we always make sure to make time for the county exhibits. For the past thirty years, we’ve been county exhibit stalwarts. Working for CSAC has given me a different perspective on the exhibits. And this year, with the opportunity to help judge them, I got to appreciate them on yet another level.

The County Voice

Home Is Where the Heart Is (And the Policy)

Kiana Valentine

The word “home” can mean different things to different people. One’s home can be a stationary building, such as a house or an apartment. Or, increasingly so, it can be on wheels. The “tiny home” movement promises flexibility to move your home from one place to another. One can choose to live alone in a home or with family or friends. And for some, they don’t have much of a choice at all about where they call “home” and having one is something they dream of and work tirelessly towards.

The County Voice

Imperial County Looks to Reduce Recidivism with Unique Education Program

David Liebler

Please click here to watch a brief video about this program.

Step inside this college classroom and at first glance, you will see a scene played out at many community colleges throughout California. Casually dressed coeds sit at their desks, listening to their instructor, answering questions and participating in discussions. Inspirational sayings can be found on the walls and whiteboard.

The County Voice

Opioids: Out of the Shadows. It’s Time to Talk.

Judy Gerhardt

I’ve been a proud member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for almost 37 years. I’ve witnessed a lot during those decades: Acts of heroism by deputies willing to risk their lives for perfect strangers, and tragedies often too horrific to describe.

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