State Sen. Bill Dodd has introduced legislation to improve high-speed broadband access. Dodd says it’s been far too long that telecommunication projects have been delayed by confusing regulations and excessive bureaucracy. He says his legislation will take a step toward improving internet access immediately and ensure equity and close the digital divide. He says it comes at a time, during the pandemic, when employers and schools are doing more online work and that has shed the light on disparities of access faced by low-income families and people of color. The bill would give more access to highspeed internet and remove local discretion and build on existing laws that set timelines and reasonable fees to process and approve broadband projects.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in a special meeting have tabled a vote on a Commercial Cannabis Activity Land Use Ordinance. If it had passed it would have meant there could be mass Cannabis growing on rangeland, up to 10% of a ten acre property, or more. So the current ordinance based system would switch to a land use permit system which wouldn’t have to follow the California Environmental Quality Act. If the board does decide to make the switch before June 30th, there would instead be site specific environmental reviews required for individual applications. The board noted if they made a change, wildfire corridors would be part of the environmental review process. The board will take up the matter again at the regular Tuesday morning meeting April 27th.
A hit and run reported in Ukiah by a county car. The accident Sunday on Clara Street and the car found later damaged and abandoned. The county says the driver of the car was not a county employee and they’re unsure who was driving, but believe it was a man. Scanner reports said Sunday morning a Toyota Tacoma hit another car and took off. The person who reported the crash also said they believed the driver might have a gun. A BOLO alert was issued Sunday after the report of a possible gun. There was front end damage to the car consistent with a crash into a truck that was found with materials in it that looked to be involved in marijuana trimming.
The first fire of the season in Mendocino County reported outside Boonville. The Turnout Fire has burned 200 acres after it ignited over the weekend. It’s one of six fires that started in the county over the weekend. It was not reported to be threatening any structures. Cal Fire reports it was burning in steep, hard to reach terrain so they were standing by keeping a close eye on it in case conditions became bad overnight. They say they’ll try to strengthen the containment lines this morning ahead of any windy conditions later in the day. The other five fires reported over the weekend didn’t turn into much, only burning a couple acres each and quickly contained.
The idea of reopening the state by the middle of June is being kicked around after the governor announced his intention a couple of weeks ago. There has been word that a proof of vaccine or a recent COVID19 test might allow access to certain higher risk activities, but state health officials say it’s not a vaccine passport they’re considering. Some health experts say it is exactly that though, digital or paper passes so those who’ve been vaccinated or test negative can hit a concert, sports game or events at giant arenas. But law experts say a vaccine pass may come off better, then passport, which is a government issued document, which some say sounds like the government is mandating you get a vaccine and carry proof of it on you.
The state of Calif. is sending several million dollars for mental health services and other health care to Lake County. Lake Co News reports Partnership HealthPlan of California is getting over $36 million from the state as behavioral health needs have intensified. Adventist Health Clear Lake is one of the providers that will receive funds, $11 million. Partnership manages Medi-Cal benefits for nearly 600,000 members in 14 counties located in Northern California. Of the state funds they promise to distribute the money to 30 organizations. The money will also land at Sutter Health. Projects include basic behavioral health integration; maternal access to mental health and substance use treatment; medication management for co-occurring chronic medical and behavioral diagnoses; diabetes screening and treatment for people with serious mental illness.
The Governor says herd immunity against COVID-19 is not a thing. Herd immunity means a disease cannot find anymore people to infect and it finally dissipates. But the governor says he finds it a little “illusory” because there are those who won’t get the vaccine. Plus he says the population of Calif. also includes children and as of right now, there is no vaccine for those under 16 years old. Plus now we have mutant strains of the virus, some of which could be resistant to vaccines. The Governor says he’s heard that herd immunity is between 70-90% of the population. Some health experts say they don’t expect herd immunity to happen until sometime next year.
Looking into the future with the Lake County Board of Supervisors. Last week during a special workshop, the board looked at a list of long-term priorities. Individual supervisors got the floor to present their own top priorities to the room, then there was discussion and group gathering to mull the ideas. They were sectioned into four main categories — economic development, workforce investment, community cleanup, and disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery. Some of the ideas tossed around included free preschool and community college, money for home-buying, affordable housing, cannabis tax money use for expenditures in other areas.
While the pandemic is still very much in our lives, the Lakeport City Council is considering summer community events. At their regular meeting today city staff will present the council with ideas for events in public areas this summer. The city is working with the county’s health department to follow COVID19 guidelines and will look at every event’s plan which has to have COVID protocols submitted too. City staff says the public health dept. thinks outdoor events can be done in a safe manner as long as community members wear masks, practice social distancing and there are hand-washing stations. Events to be considered include the Library Park Farmer’s Market, Old Time Machines Car Show, Home Amateur Wine Makers Winefest, Lakeport Main Street Association Shop and Dine and the annual 4th of July event.
The Lucerne Area Town Hall takes on homelessness. At their last meeting, last Friday, advisory council members considered what to do about the unsheltered. They looked at the Home Key Project with the operations director of Elijah House who said they want to open an administrative center to help community members as well as misplaced locals. That could include housing programs, getting back to work, educational and training programs. They had a space in mind which the director says would mainly be used for their administrative offices and storage, classes and workshops GED tutoring, computer skills, interview skills, life skills and budgeting. The group also took time to talk about repairs needed at their docks on Highway 20 and heard from the Department of Public Works regarding road repairs.
UPDATE
The fire burning in Mendocino County early in the season has a little bit more containment. The Turnout Fire near Boonville which started on Sunday afternoon is now 25% contained. It didn’t grow overnight from the reported 200-acres. The fire started in hot and dry weather but has not done any damage. The fire is also not near any homes or structures. Cal Fire reported the fire was quieted some last night because of cooler weather so firefighters were able to build a line around the fire, which they say is burning in hard to reach, steep, rugged terrain near Highway 253/Boonville Road.
