CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has more new dogs waiting to be adopted.
The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
The following dogs are available for adoption, with the newcomers at the top.
‘Matata’
“Matata” is male shepherd mix with a tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50176912.
‘Sister’
“Sister” is a female terrier mix with a short tan coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 50262516.
‘Andy’
“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 48995415.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.
He has been neutered.
‘Big Phil’
“Big Phil” is a 13-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a blue coat.
He is dog No. 49951647.
‘Bro’
“Bro” is a male terrier mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
Bro is dog No. 50262527.
‘Colt’
“Colt” is a male Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with a short rust and black coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49812106.
‘Hondo’
“Hondo” is a male Alaskan husky mix with a buff coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s dog No. 50227693.
‘Kubota’
“Kubota” is a male German shepherd mix with a short tan and black coat.
He has been neutered.
Kubota is dog No. 50184421.
‘Newman’
“Newman” is a 1-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a black and white coat.
He has been neutered.
Newman is dog No. 49057809.
‘Snowball’
“Snowball” is a male American Staffordshire mix terrier with a white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49159168.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a handsome male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He gets along with other dogs, including small ones, and enjoys toys. He also likes water, playing fetch and keep away.
Staff said he is now getting some training to help him build confidence.
He is dog No. 48443693.
‘Ziggy’
“Ziggy” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short gray and white coat.
He has been neutered.
Ziggy is dog No. 50146247
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.
Independence Day is on a Monday this year, resulting in a three-day weekend for many and a likely increase in vehicles traveling California’s roadways.
The California Highway Patrol, or CHP, is reminding motorists that driving too fast is not only illegal, but the leading cause of traffic fatalities.
To help slow down motorists and increase safe travel, the CHP will deploy extra patrol officers over the holiday weekend as part of a maximum enforcement period, or MEP.
Beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, July 1, through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 4, the CHP will observe the MEP with a special focus on speed enforcement. In addition to speeding violations, officers will be on the lookout for distracted and aggressive drivers, and motorists suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Speeding not only endangers your life, but the lives of everyone on the roadway,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Fill the holiday weekend with celebration and fun activities, not reckless choices that lead to tragedy.”
There were 43 people killed in crashes on California’s roadways during the 2021 Independence Day MEP, and more than one-third of the vehicle occupants who died within CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seat belt.
In addition, the CHP made 997 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs during the 78-hour holiday enforcement effort.
Last year’s stepped-up efforts to enforce speed limits during the Independence Day weekend, July 2 to 5, resulted in CHP officers issuing nearly 10,000 citations statewide.
“Speed is the number one factor in roadway crashes in California, causing one-third of the traffic-related deaths,” added Commissioner Ray.
A report issued in May 2022 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, shows the number of people killed in speed-related crashes is on the rise nationwide.
According to the NHTSA data, 11,780 deaths in the U.S. were attributed to speeding last year, a 5% increase over 2020.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Officials have issued an update outlining the rules for the use of safe and sane fireworks in the city of Lakeport this Independence Day weekend.
Safe and sane fireworks will be permitted in the city of Lakeport from July 1 to 4.
Fireworks purchased in the city of Lakeport can only be possessed and used within the incorporated boundaries of the city.
City officials reminded community members that while those fireworks are allowed in Lakeport, they are strictly prohibited in all other parts of Lake County, including the city of Clearlake.
Hours of discharge in Lakeport are July 1 to 3, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and July 4, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
On July 4, a safe fireworks area will be set up at the end of Fourth Street near the lake.
Use of fireworks on private property, such as shopping centers, is only allowed by permission of the property owner.
All discharge of safe and sane fireworks must adhere to Lakeport Municipal Code Section 5.30.180, which states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to ignite, discharge, project or otherwise fire or use any Safe and Sane Fireworks, or permit the ignition, discharge or projection thereof, upon or over or onto the property of another without his/her consent, or to ignite, discharge, project or otherwise fire or make use or any Safe and Sane Fireworks within 10 feet of any residence, dwelling or other structure used as a place of habitation by human beings.”
Text the word “Fireworks” to 88877 for public safety information.
On Thursday, the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to the federal government’s ability to reduce pollution and tackle climate change, California took action to cut plastic pollution and hold the plastics industry accountable for their waste.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 54, requiring all packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable by 2032, cutting plastic packaging by 25% in 10 years and requiring 65% of all single-use plastic packaging to be recycled in the same timeframe.
Additionally, the legislation shifts the plastic pollution burden from consumers to the plastics industry by raising $5 billion from industry members over 10 years to assist efforts to cut plastic pollution and support disadvantaged communities hurt most by the damaging effects of plastic waste.
“Our kids deserve a future free of plastic waste and all its dangerous impacts, everything from clogging our oceans to killing animals — contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. No more. California won’t tolerate plastic waste that’s filling our waterways and making it harder to breathe. We’re holding polluters responsible and cutting plastics at the source,” said Gov. Newsom.
Newsom’s office said SB 54 is the most significant overhaul of California’s plastics and packaging recycling policy in history, goes further than any other state on cutting plastics production at the source and continues to build a circular economy that is necessary to combat climate change.
A global study in 2018 found that only 9% of plastics actually get recycled — leaving 91% to litter land and oceans.
Legislation signed Thursday requires all plastic packaging in California to be recycled at the following levels:
• At least 30% on and after January 1, 2028. • At least 40% on and after January 1, 2030. • At least 65% on and after January 1, 2032.
The legislation is a result of negotiations between lawmakers and stakeholders in response to a pending initiative on the November ballot, which has since been removed as a result of Thursday’s action.
“In this time of extreme polarization in our nation, California was able to show that we can pass strong environmental legislation with bipartisan support that brought together the environmental and business communities,” said Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), author of the legislation. “I’m so grateful to the ballot measure proponents who helped to force this issue, the many advocates who worked so hard through the negotiations, and the Governor, legislators, and staff who recognized the need for action. With this new law, California continues its tradition of global environmental leadership – tackling a major problem in a way that will grow markets in sustainable innovations, create incentives for investment, and set the stage for partnership with other states and countries on these issues.”
“As someone who grew up and represents the San Fernando Valley, I see firsthand how disadvantaged and low-income communities bear the brunt of plastic pollution. With the amendments that were proposed by my Assembly Natural Resources Committee, we now have one of the strongest plastics reduction laws in the nation. I feel proud to have jointly authored SB 54,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley).
“This is an extraordinary day for California, solidifying our role as a leader in environmental policy and the fight against plastic pollution. SB 54 will fundamentally decrease our dependence on single-use plastics, and the ripple effects of California implementing such bold changes cannot be overstated. So goes California, so goes the nation,” said Senator Bob Hertzberg (D-San Fernando Valley).
Thursday’s action builds on the California Climate Commitment, the biggest climate investment in history — a $53.9 billion plan to combat extreme weather and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Sophie Mitra, Fordham University; Debra Brucker, University of New Hampshire, and Katie Jajtner, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
Social Security benefits make it easier for older Americans to afford the food they need to live a healthy, active life, according to our recently published research.
Although this finding may seem obvious, to our knowledge this is the first study to directly examine the link between income from Social Security in old age and food insecurity, whereby a household can’t get adequate food because it has insufficient money and other resources.
We used data from a unique national household survey, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, to examine changes in the ability of a household to purchase food from year to year. We focused on how just under 1,000 households receiving Social Security benefits for the first time or experiencing an increase in Social Security benefits affected their food insecurity.
We found that becoming a Social Security beneficiary for the first time lowers the odds of food insecurity by 54%. After that, an increase in benefits by 10% reduced the probability of someone’s being food insecure by over half a percentage point, we found.
Another way to put this: We estimate that if overall benefits were increased by 10%, about half a million senior citizens would no longer be food insecure.
Why it matters
Unfortunately, in our view, the debate over Security Security isn’t whether or how much to increase benefits but how much to cut them.
That’s because the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, which funds benefits, is expected to be depleted by 2034, at which point Social Security taxes alone will cover just 77% of scheduled benefits.
Social Security was originally conceived in 1934 as a way to cut poverty among older Americans. Researchers have previously shown that receiving Social Security income indeed reduces overall levels of poverty among older Americans, but they didn’t explicitly look at the impact on food security.
Since aging is often associated with increased medical expenses, these additional costs may offset any income gains seen from Social Security. Older adults with limited incomes may need to make difficult choices about what expenses to cover and may choose to prioritize health care expenses over food expenses.
Our study suggests that cutting Social Security benefits would be likely to cause more retirees to struggle to access the food they need and push more retirees to enroll in government-sponsored programs such as SNAP, which provide funds to purchase food.
What still isn’t known
The impact of receiving Social Security benefits varies from group to group.
The small sample size of the data set we used limited our ability to fully explore this. Continuing this research using a larger nationally representative data set such as the Current Population Survey could make it possible to explore this issue in more detail across different groups of people.
In addition, we did not explore exactly how Social Security benefits reduce food insecurity. Social Security benefits may have direct impacts by boosting income overall or by reducing fluctuations in income from month to month, allowing people to consistently acquire more healthy food. Social Security benefits may also affect food insecurity through indirect channels by improving physical or mental health. Future research that captures more detailed information about health and getting Social Security benefits could explore these impacts more closely.
While COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, it has become clear that the protection offered by the current vaccines wanes over time. This necessitates the use of booster shots that are safe and effective in enhancing the immune response against the virus and extending protection.
But when to get a first or second booster, and which shot to choose, are open questions. Many people find themselves unsure whether to wait on new, updated formulations of the COVID-19 vaccines or to mix and match combinations of the original vaccine strains.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, uses its knob-shaped spike protein to gain entry into cells and to cause infection. Each of the existing and upcoming vaccines relies on emulating the spike protein to trigger the immune response. However, each vaccine type presents the spike protein to the immune system in different ways.
As immunologists studying inflammatory and infectious diseases, including COVID-19, we are interested in understanding how the COVID-19 vaccine designs differ in the type of immunity they trigger and the protection that results.
New bivalent vaccines
Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, the two companies whose mRNA vaccines have been the primary options for COVID-19 vaccination across all age groups, both have new vaccine formulations on the way. An advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration is set to meet on June 28, 2022, to evaluate the newest versions and to decide on which are likely to be recommended for use in this fall’s booster shots.
Moderna’s new bivalent vaccine mixes mRNA that encodes for the spike proteins of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as the slightly different spike protein of the more infectious omicron variant.
And most recently, on June 25, Pfizer-BioNTech also announced results for its two new COVID-19 vaccine formulations: a bivalent formulation consisting of mRNA that encodes for the spike proteins of the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the original BA.1 omicron subvariant, and a “monovalent” version that is only directed at the spike protein of BA.1.
The company’s preliminary studies demonstrated that both the monovalent and the bivalent vaccines triggered antibodies that neutralized the newer omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, although to a lesser degree than the BA.1 subvariant. However, Pfizer’s monovalent vaccine triggered better virus-neutralizing antibodies against the omicron BA.1 subvariant than did the bivalent vaccine.
However, whether the differences in the levels of such antibodies seen with the monovalent versus bivalent vaccines translate into different levels of protection against newer omicron variants remains to be established in clinical trials.
Progress on the Novavax vaccine
Another vaccine formulation that is working its way toward authorization is Novavax, a vaccine built using the spike protein of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. The Novavax vaccine has the advantage of being similar to traditional vaccines, such as the DTaP vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, or the vaccines against other viral infections such as hepatitis and shingles. The Novavax vaccine has been clinically tested in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the U.S. and found to be safe and highly effective with 90% efficacy against mild, moderate and severe forms of COVID-19.
An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration endorsed the Novavax vaccine in early June 2022. Now, the FDA is reviewing changes that Novavax made during its manufacturing process before making its decision to authorize the shot.
In Australia, the Novavax vaccine was recently registered provisionally as a booster for individuals aged 18 years and over. The company is performing phase 3 clinical trials to determine if its vaccine can be used safely and effectively as a booster in people who have previously taken mRNA vaccines.
When these new vaccines become available in the coming months, people will have significantly more options for mixing and matching vaccines in order to enhance the duration and quality of their immune protection against COVID-19.
Mixing and matching
Until then, clinical studies have shown that even mixing and matching the existing vaccine types is an effective strategy for boosting. For example, recent studies suggest that when adults who were fully vaccinated with any of the original three COVID-19 vaccines – Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson – received a booster dose with a different vaccine brand from the one they received in their initial series, they had a similar or more robust immune response compared to boosting with the same brand of vaccine.
Vaccine mixing has been found to be safeand effective in various studies. The reason why mixing vaccines might produce a more robust immune response goes back to how each one presents the spike protein of the virus to the immune system.
When the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates in regions of the spike protein, as has been the case with each of the variants and subvariants, and tries to evade the immune cells, antibodies that recognize different parts of the spike protein can stop it in its tracks and prevent the virus from infecting the body’s cells.
So whether you decide to get a booster shot now or wait until the fall, for many it’s heartening to know that more options are on the way.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Millions of dollars could soon be headed to Lake County for important projects.
On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that every request he submitted for community funded projects within Lake County was included in the Fiscal Year 2023 funding legislation released by the House Appropriations Subcommittees.
The projects include the Lakeport Armory Facility Repurposing Project, the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project, and the Clearlake Burns Valley Sports Complex & Recreation Center Project.
“Community funded projects provide an opportunity for vital programs in our community to receive the funding they need to be completed,” said Thompson. “Each year, I am proud to submit requests for each county in California’s Fifth District to fund their priorities, and Lake County’s projects will expand opportunity, support ecosystem restoration, and support law enforcement. I look forward to continuing to work with local leaders to ensure these projects are included in the final appropriations bill.”
The projects that Thompson was able to secure inclusion for include:
• $2,000,000 for the Clearlake Burns Valley Sports Complex & Recreation Center Project which will support the construction of a large sports and recreation center complete with baseball fields, soccer fields, a 20,000 square foot rec center, a small amount of retail space, a public works corporation yard and an 80-unit affordable housing project.
• $988,600 for the Lakeport Armory Facility Repurposing Project which will rehabilitate and repurpose a decommissioned National Guard Armory facility to establish a permanent location to co-locate the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake County’s Emergency Operations Center in north Lakeport.
• $750,000 for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project which will restart an authorized Corps of Engineers project near Upper Lake to reduce flood and catastrophic loss, improve water quality, and restore vital wetlands habitat with cultural significance for the surrounding tribal communities.
Thompson also secured funding for the UC Davis Smoke Taint Research Project which will allow the university to conduct critical research about grape smoke exposure.
More information about Thompson’s FY2023 community funded project requests can be found here.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A week after it accepted the resignation of the county’s Public Health officer of less than four months, the Board of Supervisors approved an interim appointment and a contract for a permanent candidate.
Dr. Erik McLaughlin resigned on June 21 following a closed session evaluation with the supervisors, as Lake County News has reported.
McLaughlin’s tenure, which began March 1, was the shortest of any permanently appointed Public Health officer in Lake County in 20 years.
At the start of the board’s Tuesday morning meeting, County Administrative Officer Susan Parker brought to the board a request for an extra item allowing them to consider the interim Public Health officer appointment of Dr. Gary Pace, who held the position until he stepped down in the spring of 2021, and ratification of a physician consultation services contract with Pace.
Parker said that after the board accepted McLaughlin’s resignation last week, Health Services Director Jonathan Portney informed her that there was “an urgent and immediate need for a public health officer or alternate to provide services and to comply with state regulations.”
At the time when the agenda was posted late last week, Parker said she was still evaluating all of their options for filling the Public Health officer position.
To ensure continuity of services, Parker said she temporarily authorized Pace’s appointment and contract and asked for the board to ratify that action on Tuesday.
The board voted unanimously to add the item to the agenda and then took it up immediately.
“After last Tuesday, I began researching our options to retain a public health officer in the interim” while starting a new search to replace McLaughlin, Parker said.
That’s when she heard of the urgent need to fill the Public Health officer position as soon as possible.
Not explained by Parker or staff during the meeting is that state law requires counties to have health officers to enforce local health orders and ordinances, as well as state regulations and statutes relating to public health.
Her written report explained that after McLaughlin’s resignation, “I learned that a replacement would be delayed in order to fully develop the scope and complete the administrative review and State approval.”
She said she was still evaluating the county’s options to ensure continuity of services. “As such, I was unable to confirm the full range of related medical services including the backup PHO [Public Health officer] services until after the posting of this agenda. Therefore, I authorized this very temporary appointment and have now brought the contract to your Board to ratify.”
Parker said Tuesday that she drafted the contract with Pace with the assistance of County Counsel Anita Grant.
The agreement runs from June 22 to July 31, unless renewed in writing before the termination date. It also can be extended annually with mutual written agreement.
Under the agreement’s terms, Pace will be paid a flat rate of $500 per week for on-call coverage, not to exceed $2,000 per month; will receive a rate of $150 per hour for remote working, or on-site or in-county work on Fridays, one day per week or four days per week within the month, not to exceed $4,000 per month; and a total combined compensation not to exceed $6,000.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier pointed out that the agreement said notices, reports and communications are to be given to Public Health Services, but he said the Public Health officer answers to the Board of Supervisors so he wanted to have a board signature added.
Grant said if the board approved the agreement that a line would be added for the board chair to sign it and indicating formally that the ratification occurred.
She said the board could adjust the agreement as it sees fit, and if the supervisors wanted the communications to come to the County Administrative Office directly, they could change the agreement to reflect that.
Supervisors Moke Simon and Tina Scott both said they agreed with taking that action.
Sabatier moved to appoint Pace as interim Public Health officer and ratify the physician consultation services contract with the amendments. Simon seconded and the board approved it 5-0.
Also on Tuesday, as part of its consent agenda — a slate of noncontroversial items usually accepted with one vote — the supervisors waived the formal bidding process and approved a contract with Mosaic Public Partners for the recruitment of a permanent Public Health officer.
The contract is not to exceed $29,000 and runs through June 30, 2023, unless terminated sooner.
Parker’s memo with the contract explained, “It has been challenging to recruit for a full-time Public Health Officer (PHO) for the County of Lake. This challenge is not unique to Lake County; other counties are experiencing the same challenges due to the repercussions of the COVID-19 health pandemic and the shortage of available health professionals.”
She said based on the responses to the Public Health officer recruitment last year, Human Resources contacted those firms that had submitted proposals and additional ones, for a total of six, and only one qualified firm, Mosaic Public Partners, responded.
“Most firms do not have the capacity to respond as they are currently unavailable to provide the services we need,” Parker wrote.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — At its June 14 meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved the recommended budget for the new fiscal year, but it wasn’t a unanimous vote due to concerns over falling cannabis tax revenues.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier was the lone dissenting vote in approving the 2022-23 recommended budget, raising objections due to staffing increases and lack of an economic development plan in the face of looming financial challenges.
The recommended budget must be adopted by June 30, with the final budget to be adopted no later than Oct. 2, said County Administrative Officer Susan Parker.
The board usually accepts the initial budget document in June and the final one in September. This year, the final budget hearing dates are Sept. 21 and 22.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Stephen Carter led the budget presentation during the hourlong discussion.
He said the coming fiscal year budget totals $337,455,551 for all funds, an increase of $18,069,436 over the fiscal year 2021-22 budget, which totaled $319,386,115.
The 2022-23 general fund totals $76,237,204, a decrease of $6,995,140, from the fiscal year 2021-22 general fund, which totaled $83,232,344.
Carter said the guiding principles of creating the budget continue to be to develop a “reasonable, sustainable budget” that will enable the county to maintain its fiscal solvency for the short- and long-term, while minimizing or avoiding negative impacts on service to the public and improving services when possible.
He said they also work to preserve the county’s general reserves, avoid layoffs, work furloughs or other compensation reductions that would negatively impact county employees and the local economy.
He said Bradley-Burns sales tax revenues received through May 2022 total $3,894,494, $100,000 lower than fiscal year 2020-21, with one month remaining to be received).
Proposition 172 sales tax revenues through May 2022 equal $4,410,082, nearly $1 million greater than fiscal year 2020-21.
Transient occupancy, or bed tax, revenues totaled $753,806.01 through May 2022, slightly higher than the total received in the now ending fiscal year.
An area of particular concern is the revenue from the cannabis cultivation and business tax, which through June 2 total $6,704,062.58, down $1,640,814.47 from May 2020-21.
Carter said that was due to the board deciding earlier this year to provide cannabis tax relief to growers who have been having challenges with the market. The county has temporarily reduced the cultivation tax rate by 50% and is applying it to the canopy area only, as opposed to the total cultivation area.
“These reductions, coupled with remaining uncertainty surrounding which permitted cannabis businesses will operate this year, make projecting revenue difficult,” Carter’s written report said.
Carter said during the meeting that the board’s decisions on the cannabis tax resulted in the county having to give some money back to growers who already had paid.
He raised concerns with the impact that those reduced revenue could have on the county’s budget going forward.
“With all the changes that have happened to cannabis, I do want to say that this is verging on the not being sustainable for the way we're heading,” Carter said. “If we do hire all of our positions, we are going to start running into not having enough ongoing revenue/cannabis funds. I just want to put that warning out there. It’s not imminent, but it is within the next three years, depending on how things go.”
Carter said the recommended budget includes a total workforce of 1,053.60 full-time equivalent positions, a net increase of 15.65 full-time jobs, over the previous year. Full-time positions in the general fund total 426.75, a net increase of 9.25 jobs over the year.
Need for fiscal projects, more complete reporting
Sabatier said approving a budget is one of the most important jobs the supervisors have to do.
He said four days for him and for the public to review the document — referring to when the budget was released by the county ahead of the meeting — was not enough time, especially as part of that meeting with its full agenda.
Sabatier said he had particular concerns about the situation with cannabis tax revenues.
“I think that we are making a very large assumption that we’re going to collect something. I’m not saying we're not going to collect anything,” but Sabatier said the board has heard from those in the cannabis industry saying they still have unsold products from the last few years.
He wasn’t sure the county will collect the projected $3.5 million in cannabis funds, and along with that Sabatier was concerned about potential impacts if the federal government allows the industry to go nationwide, along with the current economic challenges that include inflation and gas prices.
“While, yes, we’re balanced for this year, I do not see this as a balanced budget as I do not see this as a sustainable budget where I can be sure that in five years from now, everything is fine,” said Sabatier.
He also questioned the wisdom of adding new staffers, noting over each of the next two to three years the county will have 2% increases in salaries; that’s the result of the $21 million raises the board approved in 2020 and 2021.
“We know we’re heading towards a fiscal issue,” said Sabatier.
“We’re continuously increasing the cost of running the county, not decreasing the cost, where our revenues and appropriations are more balanced,” Sabatier added, noting he wanted to freeze hiring again.
Sabatier said the county has no economic development plan at all. He wanted to make changes that day to the budget, and said he believed the county had made a mistake by getting rid of the fiscal crisis plan. That occurred before the board finalized the millions in raises last year.
He asked for five years of “big picture” budget projections that would give a strategic look at the county’s fiscal situation.
Carter asked if Sabatier wanted any analysis specific to salaries. Sabatier said yes. “Salaries is definitely one of the biggest numbers that we should be looking at,” especially since they know there are ongoing increases, he said.
“Today I cannot approve this budget as is,” Sabatier said.
Supervisor Jessica Pyska agreed with the request for forecasting. “We are in a spot that calls for that.”
However, during the discussion she said the board needed to be strategic, and put more thought into it before making sweeping decisions that day.
Supervisor Tina Scott said the board needed to rely on its staff in creating the budget, and she said the county isn’t hanging everything on cannabis.
“I don’t think we’ve completely seen what the wage increase is going to do for Lake County. I’m optimistic,” she said, adding that she thinks the wage increases will save the county money because it doesn’t have to go through the hiring process repeatedly.
Scott said she was ready to move forward, and Supervisor Moke Simon said he was as well, although he also supported doing long-term strategic planning.
Sabatier also asked staff for a column of actuals on the budget sheets showing comparisons from previous years so he could look at trends. Carter said he would work on that.
Parker said the five-year analysis will help with the budget discussions the board will have in September.
“That’s the only comment that I wish to make at this time,” Parker said.
In separate motions, the board approved the recommended budget, the position allocation chart and the purchase of capital assets. Each of the votes was 4-1, with Sabatier voting no.
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.
California’s attorney general said Wednesday he has launched an investigation into how the personal information of thousands of individuals who have sought or obtained concealed and carry weapons permits over the last decade was exposed online to the public.
The California Department of Justice said that personal information was disclosed in connection with the June 27 update of its Firearms Dashboard Portal.
“This unauthorized release of personal information is unacceptable and falls far short of my expectations for this department,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I immediately launched an investigation into how this occurred at the California Department of Justice and will take strong corrective measures where necessary. The California Department of Justice is entrusted to protect Californians and their data. We acknowledge the stress this may cause those individuals whose information was exposed. I am deeply disturbed and angered.”
Based on the department’s current investigation, the incident exposed the personal information of individuals who were granted or denied a concealed and carry weapons, or CCW, permit between 2011 and 2021.
Officials said information exposed included names, date of birth, gender, race, driver’s license number, addresses and criminal history.
Social Security numbers or any financial information were not disclosed as a result of this event, Bonta’s office said.
Additionally, data from the following Assault Weapon Registry, Handguns Certified for Sale, Dealer Record of Sale, Firearm Certificate Safety and Gun Violence Restraining Order dashboards were impacted.
The California State Sheriffs’ Association said it is alarmed to learn of the data breach and it issued an alert to make CCW permit holders aware of the situation so they can take appropriate precautions.
"It is infuriating that people who have been complying with the law have been put at risk by this breach," said CSSA President and Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea. "California’s sheriffs are very concerned about this data breach and the risk it poses to California’s CCW permit holders."
CSSA said it will continue to engage with DOJ in an effort to ensure that the risk to CCW permit holders is mitigated and a breach of this nature does not happen again.
The DOJ is investigating the extent to which any personally identifiable information could have been exposed from those dashboards and will report additional information as soon as confirmed.
In the coming days, the department said it will notify those individuals whose data was exposed and provide additional information and resources.
California law requires a business or state agency to notify any California resident whose unencrypted personal information, as defined, was acquired, or reasonably believed to have been acquired, by an unauthorized person.
Lauren Berlinn, spokesperson for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, said that agency had no further information on the matter beyond statements made by the DOJ and the California State Sheriffs’ Association regarding the breach, so couldn’t answer how many Lake County residents had their information exposed.
When the exposure occurred; actions to take to protect against fraud
The DOJ’s Wednesday report said that on the afternoon of June 27, the agency posted updates to the Firearms Dashboard Portal.
DOJ was made aware of a disclosure of personal information that was accessible in a spreadsheet on the portal.
After DOJ learned of the data exposure, the department took steps to remove the information from public view and shut down the Firearms Dashboard on Tuesday morning. The dashboard and data were available for less than 24 hours.
DOJ asks that anyone who accessed such information respect the privacy of the individuals involved and not share or disseminate any of the personal information.
In addition, possession of or use of personal identifying information for an unlawful purpose may be a crime; see Cal Penal Code Sec. 530.5.
Bonta’s office said it is communicating with law enforcement partners throughout the state. In collaboration, DOJ will provide support to those whose information has been exposed.
In an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice will provide credit monitoring services for individuals whose data was exposed as a result of this incident. DOJ will directly contact individuals who have been impacted by this incident and will provide instructions to sign up for this service.
Any Californian may take the following steps to immediately protect their information related to credit:
• Monitor your credit. One of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft is to monitor your credit history. To obtain free copies of your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert helps protect you against the possibility of someone opening new credit accounts in your name. A fraud alert lasts 90 days and can be renewed. To post a fraud alert on your credit file, you must contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies listed above. Keep in mind that if place a fraud alert with any one of the three major credit reporting agencies, the alert will be automatically added by the other two agencies as well.
• Additional resources. If you are a victim of identity theft, contact your local police department or sheriff’s office right away. You may also report identity theft and generate a recovery plan using the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.identitytheft.gov.
• For more information and resources visit the attorney general’s website at www.oag.ca.gov/idtheft.
A new bill would create a “Feather Alert” system for the public and media to stem disproportionate violence and abductions of California Indians.
AB 1314, by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland), would create a state Endangered Missing Advisory, or EMA, system when Native Americans are at risk.
On Tuesday, the State Senate Public Safety voted 5-0 to pass the bill following a hearing.
Currently, law enforcement agencies use the EMA to investigate suspicious disappearances of at-risk missing children or other threatened persons.
The California Highway Patrol’s website states, “EMAs provide immediate information to the public to aid in the swift recovery of at-risk persons.”
In April, Washington state approved similar legislation, and Colorado is considering implementing an alert program.
In California, a case used as an example of why the new system is needed comes from Mendocino County.
On Feb. 8, 2018, Khadijah Rose Britton, age 23, joined hundreds of Native American women who are missing.
Witnesses saw her leave a party at gunpoint in Covelo. but it took days for law enforcement to treat the disappearance as suspicious.
More than four years later the young woman’s family continues searching for her and believe more could have been done at an earlier point in Britton’s disappearance.
“My bill, AB 1314, would help us get the word out sooner when an individual is missing or endangered by asking the public for tips and leads as quickly as possible when quick action is critical. Creating an alert or advisory system was a top recommendation from tribal leaders at a May 4 hearing to highlight this issue,” said Ramos, the first and only California Native American serving in the state Legislature.
Ramos also noted that California, the state with the greatest population of Native Americans in the nation, is also among the states with the highest rates of reported cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
Various studies found there are more than 5,700 cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women — known as MMIW — but only 116 of the women in the cases were placed on the United States Department of Justice missing persons list.
In 2020, the Sovereign Bodies Institute found only 165 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit, or MMIWG2, were reported across California. The report was funded and co-authored by the Yurok Tribe.
“The Legislature and administration are listening to those in the trenches fighting these crimes. These violent acts affect not only victims, but also families — and in too many instances, the lives of children who are left without a parent. We have much more work to do, but this is one step that can help now,” Ramos said.
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon stated, “Assemblymember James Ramos has repeatedly worked to remind us that California’s indigenous peoples are still here, and their needs must be recognized. Establishing the Feather Alert to help stem the high rate of disappearances and violence against native Californians is another important way to do that.”
“In a recent statewide study conducted by Sovereign Bodies Institute in 2021, the research found that 45 percent of respondents felt uncomfortable or unsafe calling 911,”said Annabella Hernandez, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Youth. “This bill will serve as the healing process to reunite the relationships between law enforcement and the Native American community.”
AB 1314 is sponsored by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Tachi Santa Rosa Racheria. Also supporting the bill are the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health, California Tribal Business Alliance, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) are joint authors and co-authors are Assemblymembers Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando), Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), and Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). Senators Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) are also authors.
LAKEPORT, Calif – A new mural in downtown Lakeport recognizing essential workers will be dedicated on Friday, July 1.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. at 120 N. Main St., home of the Meals on Wheels Thrift Store.
Conceived as a gift to the community, the mural project was coordinated by the Lake County Arts Council in collaboration with the City of Lakeport, Lake Family Resource Center, Lake County Rural Arts Initiative, Lakeport Main Street Association and others.
“The COVID pandemic hit our community hard in so many ways,” according to Lakeport Mayor Pro Tem Mireya Turner, a leader in the effort to express appreciation for the service, strength and fortitude of our local essential workers.
“Some of us were able to shelter in place, while others could not do so because we depended on them to keep our economy and community moving. Many of us left home every day to keep our supermarkets open, our gas stations operating, to treat our sick, make deliveries, and harvest our gardens, orchards and vineyards,” she said.
“Now is the perfect time for our community to come together and express gratitude to our residents who gave so much of themselves to help us through this pandemic,” Turner said.
Local artists responded to the call for proposals which were then evaluated by a panel representing the sponsors.
Four designs were made available for online voting by essential workers to select the winning design and artist.
Emma Wakefield of Loch Lomond, a recent graduate of San Francisco State University in studio art, was chosen to paint her depiction of a young boy sleeping under a large quilt which contains patches with images of essential workers.
Shown in the mural are firefighters, doctors, farmers, construction workers, teachers, police officers, nurses and others.
Her concept represents these workers “protecting and nurturing future generations, keeping us and our children safe,” she stated in her proposal.
Funds to support the artist’s labor and materials were solicited from the community to “support this mural project to recognize our friends, neighbors and family members who, through their actions, kept us strong through the pandemic,” said Barbara Clark, executive director of the Lake County Arts Council. “All funds collected are being used for the mural and related expenses. Any excess funds will be retained for the next public mural project.”
More than one-half of the $8,000 goal for the mural project has been reached with contributions from Lake County Rural Arts Initiative, Laurie Dohring, Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation, Timothy Coffey, John Brosnan, Olga Martin Steele, Annelle Durham and Green Blog Design.
The community is invited to the dedication ceremony, followed by the monthly First Friday Fling at the Lake County Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St., at 5:30 p.m., and the summer concert in Library Park at 6:30 p.m.