Wildfires occur year round in California. CAL FIRE has already
responded to more than 2,400 wildfires that have burned more than
98,000 acres since the beginning of the year. Despite the rain
over the past winter, several previous years of drought have
created the potential for a truly devastating fire season this
year. As we move into the summer months the risk for wildfires
grows. This week, with triple digit temperatures over much of the
state, several wildfires are burning in various locations.
This was originally printed as an opinion piece in the
Bakersfield Californian.
The recent confirmation that legally prescribed opioids caused
the death of the iconic musician Prince has become an all too
familiar tale for families across the nation. From the penthouse
to the pavement, from the superstar to our children, this
addiction can be deadly. Every 19 minutes we lose an American to
opioid overdose. We must respond aggressively to this epidemic.
After 20-plus years of lobbying for counties, quite often from
the perspective of a public infrastructure project proponent, I’m
astounded that any public projects are built or maintained given
the many hurdles thrown in their way on both sides of the
financial equation. State regulatory requirements and fees can
add dramatically to the cost of local public works projects. And
voter threshold requirements make it virtually impossible for
counties to pass local fees and charges that could help pay for
the added costs.
You may have read recently that California counties are
reportedly not doing enough to promote gender equality when it
comes to compensating employees. As a Solano County Supervisor
and one of the co-chairs for CSAC’s Women’s Leadership Forum, I
take this very seriously. And I speak for CSAC when I say that we
will work with our counties and the Legislature to address issues
identified recently in a report by the California State
Auditor. However, I think it’s also important to put the
report in context and acknowledge the progress that women have
made in the county workforce.
Everyone seems to agree that our roads and bridges are in a sorry
state, not to mention our rail and transit services. As the
State Legislature, Governor and transportation advocates continue
to debate the best way to repair California’s failing
transportation infrastructure, many continue to support
approaches that do not include new revenue or taxes and fees.
Seeing is believing as the old saying goes. Maybe that’s why tree
mortality isn’t a bigger issue for more people. If you haven’t
seen it for yourself, it’s hard to believe that 29 million trees
have already died in our foothill and mountain counties, and many
more will probably die. So, I urge you to watch the video that’s
linked to this blog posting. In stark footage, it shows how
drought and bark beetles are having a disastrous impact on our
forests—especially Ponderosa Pines.
We recently had the pleasure of spotlighting 12 county best
practices during National County Government Month. These
innovative programs were recipients of the 2015 CSAC Challenge
Awards.
For the past few months, CSAC communications staff has been on
the road to learn more about these programs for the videos and blogs we
produced. We traveled from San Diego to Amador, Los Angeles
to Mendocino.
Imagine going into the kitchen to make coffee in the morning,
turning on the faucet and nothing comes out? The shower? Dry.
Outside spigots? Nothing. For many people in Tuolumne County,
that is their reality. “It’s scary,” said Sue Hackett. She and
her husband Chris live on a small ranch outside of Sonora.
The well on their property ran dry several months ago. “It’s
like, what are we going to do with this house? Where are we going
to live? With no district water close by, it’s hard to know what
to do.”
To watch a short video of this program, click here.
Foster kids are just like any other kind of kids… except that
they aren’t. That’s confusing, I know – let me explain.
Foster kids are just like any other kind of kids – meaning they
have the same needs, wants, desires as any other kid their age.
They require basic human needs: love, attention, food and
shelter. Foster kids are different from other kids in that they
sometimes don’t know where those basic needs will come from. They
can bounce from home to home, year after year, never knowing
permanency. With luck, they will get adopted out of the foster
care system. Unfortunately some kids don’t have that kind of
luck.
“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely
bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares
for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same
cause.”
― Abraham Lincoln
To watch a short video about the program, click here.
Maybe it’s patriotism or pride. Maybe it’s the shared experiences
of being in the military but it seems like veterans — even those
who never served together — share a common bond. There is
a depth of understanding and camaraderie. Maybe that’s one
reason why in an ordinary government building in Orange County,
something very special is happening.
To watch a short video of the program, click here.
Located along a gritty street north of downtown, the Community
Transition Center in San Diego County is bustling with activity.
Only the locked gates remind you that the old motel now has a new
purpose. Inside, dozens of probationers talk and hang out in
small groups. Working among them is a social worker who has a
goal of getting as many signed up for Medi-Cal health care as she
can.
Please watch a short video about this program here.
As the defendant steps up for his court hearing, Judge Denine Guy
comments how he is wearing a different Star Wars T-shirt from his
last appearance. She asks him how many he has and he replies,
“Six or seven.” In a legal system where misdemeanors are often
looked at in terms of specific case numbers rather than the
individuals behind them, Judge Guy’s comments stand out. She
remembers this defendant; she knows his story and what it will
take to help him turn his life around.
Please watch a short video about this program here.
Not far from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, there is
a beautifully restored old building that houses the Los Angeles
County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The Bob Hope
Patriotic Hall is even named for a man known for his service to
people in the military. But in Bob Hope’s day, the military was
almost exclusively male. These days, more women are choosing
military service and consequently, the number of female veterans
is increasing.
Despite being surrounded by a dozen people talking and moving
around, Humu – a 2-year-old butterscotch labradoodle – lies
motionless on the floor. It’s not that Humu doesn’t have a care
in the world; he’s just been trained as a service dog – and that
training began at the Southwest Juvenile Hall in Riverside
County. Near him a young, small black and white dog named PJ
scampers around, anxious to see everyone in the room and
oblivious to any commands cast his way. PJ is awaiting training
that will soon begin at the hands of the one of juveniles housed
at the facility.
Please watch a short video about the program here.
When Adult Protective Services specialist Kimberly Ingram talks
about San Diego County’s protocols to help protect acutely
vulnerable adults, her eyes well up. She knows that these
innovative protocols are making a difference – and saving
lives. That’s a major reason why this program was honored
in 2015 with CSAC’s “California Counties Innovation Award.”
Please watch a video about the six-county collaboration on
marijuana policy here.
There are some issues that transcend local government boundaries.
Air pollution, traffic congestion, crime — these issues ignore
lines on a map. The same is true for medical marijuana, which is
legal in California. However, growing, selling and using it, even
for medicinal purposes, can cause all kinds of problems that do
not stay within local jurisdictional boundaries.
On the eighth floor of the Compton Courthouse, Los Angeles County
Judge Catherine Pratt bangs her gavel and gets to work. Teenaged
girls, some even as young as 10 years old, are brought before
her, charged with prostitution, as their lives hang in the
balance. In the past, these girls would have been dragged into
the courtroom in handcuffs and treated like criminals. Now, as
our understanding of the true nature of this crime has evolved,
we are treating them as the victims of a manipulative and heinous
act. Leading our efforts is Judge Pratt, the shining star of the
County’s STAR (Succeeding Through Achievement and Resilience)
Court, a uniquely dedicated courtroom that works exclusively with
victims of child sex trafficking.
Please watch a video about this program here.
____
Rural counties often face unique challenges. For example, they
might find it more difficult to educate and train a qualified
workforce. That has been true in Amador County which has been
struggling with two different but related issues. Amador does not
have a Community College Campus and it is no coincidence that the
County Behavioral Health Department could not find enough people
with the right certification to work as mental health
technicians.
“He who has shed blood with me on the battlefield will
forever be my brother.”
It’s not typical to see William Shakespeare prominently quoted on
a jail unit wall. Nor is it typical to see the unit
decorated with military flags and artwork. But this
unit is not typical. It’s a rehabilitation and treatment program
for incarcerated veterans developed by the San Diego County
Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the U.S Veterans
Administration and community partners.
The goal of the program is reduce recidivism among veterans – and
it’s working.
As the voice for all 58 California counties, CSAC provides a
conduit to and from the State Capitol to exchange information and
promote understanding of the issues that affect counties and the
constituents we serve. It’s one of the most important services we
provide. As CSAC’s Deputy Executive Director for Legislative
Affairs, I am very excited about the opportunity to share with
you the work CSAC is doing at our upcoming annual Legislative
Conference on May 18-19.
