LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — As part of the work to seek assistance in response to the late February snow storms, county officials are seeking information from the community on storm-related damage.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services and Lake County Community Development Department are requesting damage reports for residential and commercial buildings that sustained structural damage in the storms.
Sheriff Rob Howe proclaimed a local emergency on Feb. 24 due to impacts from the low elevation snow storm.
Officials said this damage assessment is needed to identify potential pathways for assistance from the State of California and/or federal government.
If your home or business sustained moderate to major damage, please report damages as soon as possible and no later than Friday, March 24.
Damage can be reported at the sheriff’s website or by calling 707-263-2382 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
County officials said this is not an application for assistance, and it is possible that no assistance will become available.
The information gathered may also be used for various post-incident reports and future emergency planning.
NORTH COAST, Calif. — A Silver Alert has been issued for a missing and at-risk Santa Rosa man last seen a week ago.
Lawrence “Larry” Atchison was last seen on foot at Leafwood Circle and Silverwood Street near his home in the Bennett Valley area of Santa Rosa at 4:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27.
The California Highway Patrol issued the Silver Alert on behalf of the Santa Rosa Police Department.
He grew up in Lake County and his family is looking to spread the word in areas where he's previously lived.
Atchison is 64 years old. He is 6 feet tall, weighs 200 pounds, has gray hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing a black fleece zip up jacket, blue jeans and black slip on shoes.
Family said he has medical conditions including dementia and Alzheimer's.
A Facebook group has been formed to share information about his case.
Anyone with information is asked to call local law enforcement via 911 or authorities in Sonoma County at 707-528-5222.
On Tuesday, area tribal and conservation leaders applauded U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) for reintroducing the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act, which would permanently protect part of Molok Luyuk (Condor Ridge) adjacent to the existing Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California.
The expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument would safeguard public lands that are sacred to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and that are critically important to protect in the face of a changing climate.
The legislation would add 3,925 acres to the current monument, support tribal co-management, and change the name of the additional wildlands from “Walker Ridge” to Molok Luyuk — Patwin for “Condor Ridge” — a name the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation provided.
“Many of the plant and animal species within Molok Luyuk are traditionally important to the lifeways of the Patwin people, and we consider their protection and stewardship to be part of our sacred responsibility to the land,” said the Tribal Council of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. “Molok Luyuk, or Condor Ridge in the Patwin language, was home to California Condors as well as Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons, and provides wildlife corridors and vital habitat for other culturally important species. The recent reintroduction of the California Condor to the north of Molok Luyuk gives hope that condors will once again soar over the ridge.”
The current monument stretches from Napa County in the south to Mendocino County in the north, encompassing 330,780 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service, or USFS.
President Obama designated the national monument in 2015, responding to a call from Representatives Thompson and Garamendi, then-Sen. Barbara Boxer, other members of California’s Congressional delegation, and community leaders to permanently protect these lands.
The bill reintroduction reflects growing momentum for the effort to protect additional public lands around the monument. Last fall, legislative leaders joined the call from tribal and community leaders for President Biden to expand the national monument using his authority under the Antiquities Act.
The Antiquities Act is a 1906 law that grants presidents the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments to permanently conserve them.
“Molok Luyuk is a special and sacred place for area tribes and for many local residents who enjoy recreation activities like hiking and mountain biking,” added Lake County Supervisor E.J. Crandell, a member of the Robinson Rancheria Tribe. “The natural beauty of our home also drives tourism, which is key to the economic vitality of the region. Protecting these beautiful lands would be a gift to future generations.”
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which strongly supports the expansion, has a long and significant connection to Molok Luyuk, stretching back thousands of years. The ridge includes areas where religious ceremonies are practiced and sites that were central to vital trading routes.
A key goal of this effort is also to establish co-management with federally recognized Tribes and to return to an Indigenous name for these lands.
Molok Luyok is located on the eastern edge of the existing monument and is home to great biodiversity, including oak woodlands, rocky outcroppings, wildflower meadows, the world’s largest stand of McNab cypress, and dozens of rare plant species.
“Molok Luyuk is a ‘must protect’ area in the midst of a changing climate,” said Mary Creasman, chief executive officer, California Environmental Voters. “These public lands serve as a critical wildlife corridor for species such as tule elk, mountain lions and bears. It’s also home to imperiled wildlife such as bald and golden eagles and many rare plants. Protecting this habitat would help preserve critically important biodiversity.”
The proposed national monument expansion would improve outdoor access for the region’s residents and help the state of California and the federal government meet their shared goals to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 as part of the international effort to address the impacts of climate change and alarming rates of extinction.
“Molok Luyuk is a rare treasure of rich cultural heritage and sacred history, diverse wildlife and rare plants, and stunning natural beauty and accessible recreational activities,” said Sandra Schubert, executive director of Tuleyome, a regional conservation organization. “We are deeply grateful to our Congressional champions Reps. Garamendi and Thompson and Sens. Padilla and Feinstein for shepherding this effort. We encourage President Biden to expand the existing monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk.”
Incorporating the adjacent federally owned land into the existing national monument would improve land management, bring additional resources for trail construction and maintenance, help improve public access, and protect sensitive wildlife, prime habitat areas, and cultural resources. Improving the public’s access to nature, especially for historically marginalized communities, is an important goal for the State of California, as reflected in Gov. Newsom’s October 2020 Executive Order N-82-20 and the State’s Outdoors for All initiative.
“Nature can be such a valuable reprieve for so many, yet there continue to be deep inequities in access to the outdoors,” said Shanna Edberg, Conservation Program director for the Hispanic Access Foundation. “In fact, our research found that in California, Latinos and other people of color are two times more likely to be deprived of nearby nature than white people. Protecting Molok Luyuk will help to ensure equitable access to the outdoors in a county where 22% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.”
Popular recreation activities on these lands include hiking, mountain biking, photography, camping, horseback riding, and off highway vehicle, or OHV, use on designated routes.
“As an avid OHV recreationist, I strongly support expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk,” said Don Amador, government affairs, American Motorcyclist Association District 36. “The permanent protection of Molok Luyuk will improve the management of these lands and increase public access to recreation opportunities. This is a win-win for our community and I add my voice in support of expanding the monument.”
In October, President Biden created his first national monument: the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado.
“Our national monuments are a part of our country’s outdoor heritage and must be passed down to future generations,” said Janessa Goldbeck, chief executive officer of Vet Voice Foundation. “Veterans advocated for the designation of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and we’re proud to support the expansion of the monument to include Molok Luyuk."
To learn more about this effort and to sign a petition in support of the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, visit www.expandberryessa.org.
State and federal agencies in California are joining forces to address the decline of monarch butterflies and other pollinator species in the state.
The Multi-Agency Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative aims to facilitate long-term conservation of the western population of the migratory monarch butterfly and its habitats, as well as other pollinator species in the state.
“Monarchs and other pollinators are critical to maintaining ecosystem resilience and preserving California’s biodiversity,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. “It will take a collective effort between agencies to make significant headway toward the state’s conservation goals and recover pollinator populations.”
Recent surveys reveal a positive turn for the monarchs. The 2023 count of overwintering monarchs along the California coast showed a robust population of more than 330,000 butterflies. This represents more than a thousandfold increase over the all-time low count of less than 2,000 individuals in 2020.
“We are encouraged by the promising recent reports of overwintering western monarchs in California and remain committed to working with others to implement conservation actions that benefit all pollinators,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director Paul Souza.
Despite the recent increase, scientists estimate that western monarchs have declined by approximately 80% since the 1980s due to loss of breeding habitat and coastal overwintering habitat, climate change and the effects of pesticides.
Western monarchs still have a long way to go to recover and the Collaborative hopes to make a difference.
The group will identify, adopt, promote and implement ecosystem-based management approaches that can be applied within each partner’s jurisdiction to support the western migratory population of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators in California.
“I had a chance to witness monarch migration this winter on the Monterey Peninsula, and it moved me deeply,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Butterflies, bees and other pollinators are not only beautiful, but also essential to our environment and food production. They are resilient, but they need our help more than ever before. This partnership represents so much promise to provide the support that pollinators need to thrive.”
The member agencies include CDFW, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Coastal Commission, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Department of Transportation, Wildlife Conservation Board, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, and California Natural Resources Agency.
The Collaborative is basing its priorities on two initiatives: (1) the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ 50-year Monarch Conservation Plan, and (2) the June 2022 Western Monarch Summit, initiated by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), which laid out a set of short-term priorities aimed at improving monarch outcomes in the west.
Combined, the member agencies manage much of the state and federal land in California. These public lands comprise nearly 50 percent of California's total land area. Due to its broad participation, the group is well-positioned to maximize its impact on California's monarch and pollinator habitats.
The Collaborative’s work will also be applicable to private landowners and the general public that want to voluntarily engage in this framework.
“Many participating agencies, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture, work closely with private landowners to increase opportunities for pollinator conservation across various land uses,” said Secretary for Agriculture Karen Ross. “Public-private partnerships are a key ingredient to effective pollinator conservation.”
Agricultural regions of the state have been identified as critical to monarch recovery by the planning documents the Collaborative is adopting.
“The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) proudly assists California’s farmers and ranchers in voluntary implementation of conservation practices, including the planting of many miles of hedgerows over the last decade. Actions like these can support monarchs on California’s agricultural lands,” said NRCS California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. “NRCS is thrilled to continue work like this in collaboration with the Multi-Agency Pollinator Collaborative.”
To increase the likelihood that conservation efforts will succeed, the Collaborative is also working to share the most up-to-date scientific and management information.
“We proudly support the collaborative with the best available science to enhance management decisions that target pollinator conservation,” said U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Regional Director Eric Reichard. “Our goal is to proactively share impartial information and methodologies to facilitate our partner’s conservation objectives.”
Ultimately, the goal of the Collaborative is to help catalyze monarch and pollinator conservation in California by building on the recent increase of monarch butterflies.
Armando Quintero, Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, added, “This collaborative will provide a venue for us to share knowledge and work together across California to help migratory monarchs and other native pollinators, by focusing our conservation efforts where they are needed most.”
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will consider a support letter for a ferry study and honor the American Red Cross.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 953 7516 0278, pass code 384176. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,95375160278#,,,,*384176#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
In an item on the board’s consent agenda, it will consider offering a support letter for the Clear Lake Ferry Service Feasibility Study.
At 9:07 a.m., the board will present a proclamation designating the month of March 2023 as American Red Cross Month in Lake County.
The board also will hold a closed session in which it will conduct job evaluations, a complaint under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and litigation.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: a) Approve letter of support for Clear Lake Ferry Service Feasibility Study and authorize named board members to sign; and b) approve letter of support for the Lake County Wildfire Evacuation and Preparedness Plan and authorize named board members to sign; and c) approve letter of support for the Lake County Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Plan and authorize named board members to sign.
5.2: Approve the continuation of the proclamation declaring a shelter crisis urgency due to the current need for sheltering for those experiencing homelessness during the weather and temperature patterns that the county of Lake has been experiencing.
5.3: Approve the bylaws of the East Region Town Hall.
5.4: Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake Hitch Emergency.
5.5: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.6: Approve data sharing agreement between Partnership Healthplan of California and county of Lake, Behavioral Health Services and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign.
5.7: Approve resolution authorizing the agreements between the county of Lake and the California Association of DUI Treatment Programs for the period of Jan. 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign the agreements.
5.8: Adopt proclamation designating the month of March 2023, as American Red Cross Month in Lake County.
5.9: Second reading of ordinance amending Chapter 5 of the Lake County Code and adopting by reference the 2022 California Building Standards Code, known as the California Code Of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 1 through 6, 8 through 12, incorporating the 2022 Edition of the California Administrative Code, Title 24 Part 1; the 2022 Edition of the California Building Code, Title 24 Part 2; The 2022 Edition of the California Residential Code, Title 24 Part 2.5; the 2022 Edition of the California Electrical Code, Title 24 Part 3; the 2022 Edition of the California Mechanical Code, Title 24 Part 4; the 2022 Edition of the California Plumbing Code, Title 24 Part 5; the 2022 Edition of the California Energy Code, Title 24 Part 6; the 2022 Edition of the California Historical Building Code, Title 24 Part 8; the 2022 Edition of the California Fire Code, Title 24 Part 9; The 2022 Edition of the California Existing Building Code, Title 24 Part 10; the 2022 Edition of the California Green Building Code, Title 24 Part 11; the 2022 Edition of the California Referenced Standards Code, Title 24, Part 12; the 2021 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code; The 2021 Edition Of The International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
5.10: Approve continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.11: a) Waive the formal bidding requirement; and b) authorize the IT director to issue a purchase order in the amount of $33,386.77 to Dell Marketing L.P. for 31 public access computers for the Lake County Library.
5.12: Adopt resolution re-affirming the existence of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold, and requesting state assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act.
5.13: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.14: Approve continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.15: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County Sheriff/OES director for the January 2023 Atmospheric River Event.
5.16: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold.
5.17: Waive competitive bidding per 38.2(3) and approve amendment one to agreement between the county of Lake and Track Group to provide electronic monitoring and associated services for an amount not to exceed $75,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: (a) Approve mortuary services agreement between the county of Lake and Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, and authorize the chair to sign; (b) approve the first amendment to facility agreement for autopsy services between the county of Lake and Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary to be effective Feb. 1, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign; (c) approve the first amendment to mortuary services agreement between the county of Lake and Jones Mortuary, to be effective Feb. 1, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign; (d) approve the first amendment to mortuary services agreement between the county of Lake and Jones and Lewis Mortuary, to be effective Feb. 1, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of March 2023, as American Red Cross Month in Lake County.
6.3, 9:15 a.m. Consideration of letter requesting a change to federal law regarding Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Review of the Lake County Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry System Policy.
7.3: Consideration of the following Advisory Board Appointments: Cobb Municipal Advisory Council, Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee.
7.4: Discussion and consideration of potential funding source for Mike Marsh EMS Consulting in the amount of $20,000 for emergency ambulance strike team support through Regional Disaster Management Services Association (resource order request) to decompress two overwhelmed hospitals during emergency proclamation (winter storm).
7.5: Consideration of approval to waive the 900 hour limit for certain janitorial positions within the Department of Social Services.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interviews for Public Health officer appointment of Public Health officer.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Community Development Director Mireya Turner.
8.3: Public employee evaluation: Animal Care and Control Director Jonathan Armas.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1) – Complaint under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act: Pomeroy v. County of Lake, et al.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1) - City of Clearlake v. Testate and Intestate Successors of Bailey Lumber Co, et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Kusum Mundra, Rutgers University - Newark and Ruth Uwaifo Oyelere, Agnes Scott College
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
People of Asian descent living in the U.S. experienced an increase in housing vulnerability in 2021 – as measured by the share who said they had fallen behind on their rent or mortgage payments – even as the government spent over US$5 trillion trying to relieve the COVID-19 pandemic’s burden on Americans. Meanwhile, housing vulnerability among white people, Black people and Hispanic people all fell during this period.
These are the main findings of our recent working paper that examined housing vulnerability during the pandemic.
The massive upheaval sparked by the pandemic in early 2020 put millions out of work and made it harder for many people to afford basic necessities like rent amid government-imposed lockdowns. In December 2020, over 2 million homeowners were more than three months behind on their mortgage payment, and 8 million renters were behind on their rent, according to a March 2021 Consumer Finance Bureau report.
We wanted to better understand what was driving this degree of housing vulnerability, how that changed during the pandemic and across ethnic groups, and how it differed between renters and homeowners. To find out, we examined data from the Census Household Pulse Survey, which has sought to quickly measure the social and economic toll from the pandemic in frequent surveys, for three different periods: April/May 2020, April/May 2021 and April/May 2022.
We found that housing vulnerability was high for all groups in early 2020 as the first financial shock of the pandemic struck, though people of color and renters were especially hard hit.
Among homeowners, the overall share of people who said they were not caught up on their mortgage payments was elevated in 2020 but declined in 2021 as government aid helped relieve household hardships. An exception was for homeowners of Asian descent, who reported even higher levels of housing vulnerability in 2021 – and more than any other group. By 2022, housing vulnerability had come down for all groups.
The picture was much worse for renters. About 25% of Black renters reported being behind on rent in 2020, compared with 18% for Hispanic respondents and 9.5% for Asians. While the figure fell slightly in 2021 for Black people and Hispanics, the share soared for Asians to 17.1%. The figures stayed elevated in the double-digits for all groups except for white people in early 2022.
An additional econometric analysis we conducted, which adjusted the data for levels of education, income levels and other factors, confirmed our results.
Why it matters
Housing vulnerability is an important measure to look at because it signals someone may be at risk of losing their home, whether they’re an owner or a renter. In addition, research shows there’s a link between housing vulnerability and other negative health outcomes, such as higher stress levels and mental distress.
Our own research uncovered disparities in how different groups experienced this vulnerability during the pandemic, when the government was spending trillions to support families and businesses. It suggests some groups benefited more than others from these relief efforts.
What still isn’t known
Our study didn’t reveal why Asian housing vulnerability increased from 2020 to 2021 and why this group of people didn’t seem to benefit as much from the federal aid as other groups did.
An August 2020 McKinsey report suggested aid to Asian small businesses would likely lag behind other groups due to language barriers or a lack of understanding of the system. The same thing might be true for aid to households as well.
What’s next
In our future research, we plan to investigate what factors contributed to the rise in housing vulnerability among Asians relative to other groups. We believe it’s important for policymakers to examine these issues in hopes of making future aid programs more equitable.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has six new cats cleared for new homes this week.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This 5-month-old male domestic shorthair kitten has an orange tabby coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. A13a, ID No. LCAC-A-4824.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This 5-month-old male domestic shorthair kitten has an orange tabby coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. A13b, ID No. LCAC-A-4825.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This 5-month-old male domestic shorthair kitten has an orange tabby coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. A13c, ID No. LCAC-A-4826.
Female domestic shorthair kitten
This 5-month-old female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 56, ID No. LCAC-A-4827.
‘Boots’
“Boots” is a 1 and a half year old male domestic shorthair with gray and white coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 118, ID No. LCAC-A-4831.
‘Prince’
“Prince” is a 1 and a half year old male domestic shorthair with black and white coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 118, ID No. LCAC-A-4833.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Today, buses in many parts of the U.S. are old and don’t run often enough or serve all the places where people need to go. But this doesn’t reflect the bus’s true capability. Instead, as I see it, it’s the result of cities, states and federal leaders failing to subsidize a quality public service.
As I show in my new book, “The Great American Transit Disaster: A Century of Austerity, Auto-Centric Planning, and White Flight,” few U.S. politicians have focused on bus riders’ experiences over the past half-century. And many executives have lavished precious federal capital dollars on building new light, rapid and commuter rail lines, in hope of attracting suburban riders back to city centers and mass transit.
This was never a great strategy to begin with, and the pandemic-era flight of knowledge workers to home offices and hybrid schedules has left little to show for decades of rail-centric efforts. Meanwhile, countries in Europe and Latin America have out-innovated the U.S. in providing quality bus service.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Many U.S. cities are coming around to the idea that buses are the future of public transit and are working to make that vision real. And the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted in 2021 is providing billions of dollars for new buses and related facilities.
Buses as disruptors
A century ago, motorized buses were the technological wonder of their day. Rolling fast on tires over newly paved streets, buses upended urban rail transit by freeing riders from aging, crowded, screeching streetcars. In 1922, American buses carried 404 million passengers; by 1930, they were carrying 2.5 billion yearly.
At that time, transit lines were mostly privately owned. But this model was failing as riders became car drivers, new zoning laws prioritized car-friendly single-family housing and government regulators battled transit companies over fares and taxes.
Transit executives trying to eke out a profit saw buses as a way to reduce spending on track maintenance and labor costs for “two man” operated streetcars. City leaders and planners also embraced buses, which helped them justify removing streetcar tracks to make streets more navigable for cars. From the 1920s through the 1960s, nearly all U.S. streetcar lines were replaced with buses powered by either internal combustion engines or electric overhead wires.
This wasn’t just a U.S. trend. Toronto massively extended bus service across a vast metropolitan area between 1954 and 1974, using buses to feed suburban riders to a new subway system and a few remaining streetcar lines. By 1952, London’s managers had replaced streetcars with the city’s signature fleet of double-decker buses, which complemented its legendary Underground service.
Across Europe, cities relied on buses to support and complement their modernizing tram or subway networks. Political leaders provided deep subsidies to deliver better bus and rail service.
The auto-centric US path
In the U.S., however, federal investments in the same time frame focused on building a national highway system to serve private automobiles. Lacking tax subsidies, bus networks could not compete with cheap cars and government-funded highways. Aging buses and infrequent service became the default postwar reality – and those buses had to travel on local streets crowded with private cars.
Between 1945 and 1960, U.S. transit companies and agencies typically lost half or more of their riders as white Americans moved to urban fringes or suburbs and became car commuters. Bus service remained concentrated in older, central-city neighborhoods, serving a disproportionately nonwhite, low-income ridership.
Many public systems had to cut bus service year after year to balance their books. Only a few cities that were willing to provide significant operating subsidies, including San Francisco and Boston, were able to maintain better bus networks and some trolleybuses.
New, better buses
Today, there’s renewed interest in improving bus service in the U.S., inspired by innovations around the globe. The Brazilian city of Curitiba, which is well known for its innovations in urban planning, set a model in the 1970s when it adopted bus rapid transit – buses that run in dedicated lanes, with streamlined boarding systems and priority at traffic signals.
Curitiba helped popularize bi-articulated buses, which are extra-long with flexible connectors that let the buses bend around corners. These buses, which can carry large numbers of passengers, now are in wide use in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Cities across the globe, led by London, have also aggressively expanded contactless payment systems, which speed up the boarding process. Advanced bus systems and new technologies like these flourish in regions where politicians strongly support transit as a public service.
In my view, buses are the most likely option for substantially expanding public transit ridership in the U.S. Millions of Americans need affordable public mobility for work, study, recreation and shopping. Car ownership is a financial burden that can be as serious for low-income families as the shortage of affordable housing.
The average yearly cost for U.S. households to own and operate a new car reached US$10,728 in 2022. Nor are used cars the bargain they once were. Used car prices are high, financing is often subprime and older vehicles require expensive maintenance.
Rapidly extending bus networks would be the speediest and most economical way to serve these families and grow transit ridership in the sprawling landscape of American metros. U.S. roads and highways are already maintained by the government, eliminating the need to build and maintain expensive rail lines.
There are promising domestic models even amid the pandemic ridership crisis. In the past two decades, Seattle’s Sound Transit has upgraded its bus network, aligning these improvements with increased residential density, low fares and a carefully considered light rail expansion. San Francisco and New York have developed exclusive bus lanes that move riders along popular routes at higher speeds. Indianapolis is expanding an effective bus rapid transit system. Many cities, including Denver and Boston, are investing in “better bus” upgrades that emphasize frequent service, easy transfers and better geographic coverage.
Innovations like these will only succeed long term with sufficient subsidies to maintain innovative services at reliable levels. The history of bus transit is littered with pilot programs that were abandoned on cost grounds just as they were gaining popularity. As I see it, buses don’t need to be faster or more convenient than cars to attract and retain riders – but they need to be, and can be, much better transit options than they are today.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Following a snowy Monday that led to school closures, the National Weather Service forecast is calling for more snow on Tuesday ahead of a shift to a rainier weather pattern later in the week.
Early Monday, the Lake County Office of Education reported that all of Lake County’s public schools were closed due to the overnight and early morning snowfall.
Snow continued to fall at times during the day across parts of the county on Monday, but in most lower elevation areas it melted off by the late morning.
However, areas like Cobb continue to be coated in a heavy layer of snow.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for areas of Lake County above the 1,500 foot elevation mark that will be in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday.
The forecast said “another low elevation snow producing system is on tap for Tuesday morning into Tuesday night.”
It calls for snow with accumulations of up to 6 inches in those areas.
The National Weather Service’s in-depth forecast explains that “a period of heavier showers will result in one more round of heavy snow for elevations over 1500 feet Tuesday into Tuesday night.”
There will then be a pattern shift to slightly warmer conditions, with moderate to heavy rainfall below 4,000 feet expected late Thursday and Friday.
The Tuesday snow will be the result of a system that is the last in the series of cold storm systems bringing low elevation snow for the foreseeable future, forecaster said.
“It is becoming increasingly likely that the weather pattern in California will shift substantially beginning on Thursday as warmer air moves in from the Pacific,” the National Weather Service reported.
The forecast said snow levels will rise substantially, easily to over 4,000 feet by Friday as a warm front moves through the region. “This front will also spread rain across the region, some of which could be heavy.”
The Lake County forecast expects rain to follow the snow beginning on Thursday and continuing into early next week.
Temperatures are expected to rise slightly during the day from the mid 40s to the low 50s, and at night from the high 20s to the high 30s.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council this week will discuss a new housing project and proposals for traffic improvements in relation to the city’s proposed new courthouse.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7.
The council on Tuesday will consider initiating proceedings and setting a public hearing to consider certifying a mitigated negative declaration with a mitigation monitoring and reporting program, adopting a general plan amendment and zone change to revise the zoning associated with the Martin Street Phase III Residential Project.
The project is a 40-unit “affordable housing community” to be built by AMG & Associates LLC on a 3.7-acre site at 519 S. Smith St., next to the Phase I and II of the Martin Street Apartments, also built by AMG.
The Lakeport Planning Commission approved a categorical exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act and a finding that the use permit meets the requirements of the zoning ordinance and is consistent with the general plan at its meeting on Jan. 11.
City staff on Tuesday also will seek council direction to work with a traffic engineering consultant to develop preliminary design and detailed cost estimates for various improvement concepts to the Lakeport Boulevard and Larrecou Lane intersection in anticipation of the new courthouse project.
Possible improvements could include a signalized intersection, roundabout, a two-way stop with controlled access or a four-way stop with controlled access.
Also on Tuesday, the council will consider authorizing the city manager to execute the professional services agreement with Community Development Services for federal grant business financial assistance program services, conditionally award a construction contract to James Day Construction Inc. dba Coastal Mountain Electric for the Silveira Community Center Electrical and HVAC Project, meeting new Community Development Department Administrative Specialist Mel Olea and issues a proclamation declaring March as General Aviation Appreciation Month.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Feb. 21; terminate the local emergency for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; terminate the local emergency for the 2023 January atmospheric river event; approval of application 2023-006, with staff recommendations, for the 2023 Children’s Advocacy Walk and Festival.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Lady of the Lake would like to invite you to participate in my column by submitting photos to the 2023 Lady of the Lake Photo Contest!
This will be an annual event, with the submission window open all year, starting today. The purpose of the photo contest is to get the readership to think about and appreciate lakes, rivers, creeks, and anything water in Lake County. Water holds a special beauty and now is the opportunity to capture that on camera.
Winners from each category will win a free breakfast / lunch with Lady of the Lake sponsored by Angelina’s in Lakeport, CA. Photo winners will also be highlighted in the Lady of the Lake Column in the Lake County News. Every photo submitted to the contest will be eligible to be used in the Lake of the Lake Column alongside relevant column topics, with proper credit reference.
The rules are simple:
There are two submission groups; Novice and expert / professional.
There are two types of photo categories: Water and Wildlife.
Because this is the Lady of the Lake photos contest, all photos submitted have to include a lake, creek, stream, wetland, marsh, or ponds. Landscapes and scenery will be included into the “water” category, and anything with an animal focus will be grouped into the “wildlife” category.
For example, a landscape shot of Clear Lake with birds flying in the sky will still be considered in the “water” category, but a close up of a grebe mating dance on Clear Lake, will be considered in the “wildlife” category. This is a nature-centric photo contest. Humans, from a distance, can be included in photos, but their faces can not be close enough to be recognizable. For privacy, any photos with faces will be disqualified.
All photos must be sent as digital JPG / TIFF / PNG attachments or google drive links to my This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email address.
When submitting photos, in the email subject line include: “Photo Contest _ group type_category” For example, if you are a novice submitting a photo of a river otter sunbathing on a rock, the subject of your photo would be “Photo Contest_novice_wildlife”. Save your photos files using your last name.
There is a limit to 3 photos submitted in each category by a single photographer, so a single photographer can submit a maximum of 6 photos, 3 in each category of water and wildlife.
Photos must not be more than 5 years old and taken within Lake County.
There are no restrictions on the type of camera used to take the photos, so feel free to use those camera phones as well as point and shoots and DSLRs.
Photos will be judged and ranked by a panel of three members of the community, yet to be confirmed. Judges will not be participants in the contest.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Lady of the Lake
Angela De Palma-Dow is a limnologist (limnology = study of fresh inland waters) who lives and works in Lake County. Born in Northern California, she has a Master of Science from Michigan State University. She is a Certified Lake Manager from the North American Lake Management Society, or NALMS, and she is the current president/chair of the California chapter of the Society for Freshwater Science. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..