PG&E is being held accountable for causing wildfires by State Senator Mike McGuire. The Senate Majority Leader is calling for the utility to finally underground their transmission and distribution lines after the company was blamed for deaths, charged with 100 felonies and claimed bankruptcy after several fires a few years ago. McGuire has introduced a bill to ensure the utility company at least undergrounds their equipment in the most fire prone areas, 10,000 miles or so. The bill also looks to save ratepayers on their utility bills and watch over the utility to make sure they get the work done. So far only 100 miles has been done. McGuire says every time there’s a fire PG&E apologizes, pays a fine, says they’ve hardening the lines and moves on. He says he doesn’t trust their “lip service”.
The body of a man who was found dead in a van in Garberville has been identified. Three people who happened upon the van, with its door partially open, spotting the body, called for help. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department responded to a vacant gas station. They say it was 51-year-old Johnny Ko of Los Angeles, and that there were no obvious signs of foul play. There will also be an autopsy performed today.
The County Administrative Officer in Lake County is retiring. Carol Huchingson released a letter to the public yesterday, noting her more than 3 decades in public service, the last 29 in Lake County. She credits hundreds of incredible people who have dedicated their lives to serving the community. She wrote about those facing food and housing insecurity, and other deep, personal challenges. She also said there was no greater honor than being entrusted by the Board of Supervisors and touted the work they did together, whether rebuilding after wildfires or the COVID19 pandemic. Her last day in office is the end of next month.
It’s finally moving forward… it looks like a massive reservoir, long-planned in Northern Calif is finally coming to fruition, with the help of the federal government. The fed looks poised to loan almost $2.2 billion dollars to the state, which is about half the cost for design, planning and construction. The plan is to build in the tiny town of Sites, in the mountains in rural Colusa County, a plan in the making for well over a half century. The EPA announced the loan yesterday, but final approval of the loan could take another two years.
The Governor has announced the appointment of several judges across the state, including a former Mendocino County Public Defender. 48-year-old Kristi Peariso, worked here for a short time as a Public Defender, from 1998 to 2000. She was named among 17 Californians to take the bench. She was appointed to serve on the Ventura County Superior Court. Since leaving Mendo, she’s been a law professor at the Southern California Institute of Law and a defense attorney in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
The Mendocino County Public Health Officer looked like he was having a good time. A picture posted of Dr. Andy Coren and the hosts of a podcast called “Like it or Not”. The pair, Carter Lane and Drew Nicoll talked COVID, masks, mandates and more with Coren. The two hosts from Ukiah host their podcast weekly checking in with locals and chatting about the county. Other guests have included the Sheriff, local musicians and financiers.
There’s a new Executive Director at the Alex Rorabaugh Recreation Center (ARRC). They’ve announced Carter Grissom has been appointed to the position where he’ll help the board of directors continue their mission. The Center helps kids after school who participate in the Boys & Girls Club. Plus hundreds use the Center for classes, sports camps and there are youth sports leagues at the facility year round.
Tomorrow is the County CEO’s last day. After 12 years as the Chief Executive Officer Carmel Angelo is saying her goodbyes. At her last Board of Supervisors meeting as CEO, she received a proclamation, which the Board Chair, Fifth District Supervisor Ted Williams read aloud. They touted her leadership during the pandemic, the legalization of cannabis and catastrophic wildfires. At the same time, she was called out in a Grand Jury Report which found failures at the top and in the Board of Supervisors. The Daily Journal reports the Jury’s report said the CEO had too much power because of gaps in leadership from the Board.
Just like in Before Times, the City of Ukiah could allow people to come back in person to City Council meetings. The City Manager Sage Sangiacomo announced yesterday as the mask mandates are rescinded and case numbers come down with other restrictions, staff is working with the mayor on ways to do hybrid meetings. He says they could begin that around the first week of April. The Mayor apparently asked staff members how comfortable they were with that. And the city manager answered saying he thought they were all ready for the hybrid idea. The council members agreed that the public was also ready to get back to in person meetings, but there may be some still uncomfortable with the idea, so the hybrid model was a way to meet in the middle.
An idea circulating in the state Legislature could ease the pain at the pump. Some Democratic Assembly members have drafted a proposal to send a $400 dollar rebate to taxpayers to take the edge off the soaring price of gas, along with an increase in the cost of living during the pandemic. They estimate the $400 rebate would amount to almost 70 gallons of gas at the current price, which at last look was edging up to $6/gallon in many places statewide. Gov. Gavin Newsom also mentioned he would have a proposal for relief, but he has yet to release any details of that. Republicans meanwhile are asking for a temporary reprieve of a 51 cent gas tax, but that failed in the Legislature.
A formal move by the City of Fort Bragg against the Skunk Train. At this week’s City Council meeting, they approved a letter to send to the Coastal Commission about the Mendocino Railways loan application. The city says it looks like the skunk train is acting like a public utility, not a tourist train, something they disagree with. The city says Mendocino Railways is trying to claim exemption of regulations and bypass community planning. The application says the money for the Skunk Train would be to repair railroad ties, rebuild the track, and restore the tunnel, part of a development plan to expand the train. But the city’s letter says they’ve not been contacted about the plans or started a product review process.
Have you ever watched the show, “Undercover Boss”? A couple of folks in Fort Bragg made an appearance on it last month. The manager of the local Round Table Pizza, Laudalina Parks, and her employee, Trish Fernandez, were on an episode February 25th. The two following the president and CEO of Round Table, Paul Damico, who appeared in disguise, as the bosses do, on a cross-country trip to pop into locations without managers knowing. There are 420 locations on the West Coast. The Fort Bragg location is reported to be in the top 25% of profitable Round Table restaurants.
A major event in Ukiah to raise awareness about sexual exploitation and human trafficking. iEmpathize.org along with several local community sponsors have put together a multimedia exhibit for the week of March 28th at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center. It will be an immersive experience in film, photography, and artifacts that show the stories of resilient survivors of human trafficking worldwide. The president of iEmpathize is traveling with the exhibit and will be at the Conference Center leading guided tours and showing adults how they can empower youth, moving people from apathy or sympathy to empathy. This is an issue in Northern CA and Mendocino County, so the local sponsors include this radio station, CASA of Mendocino & Lake Counties; the Mendocino County Department of Social Services; Project Sanctuary; Redwood Community Services; South Ukiah Rotary; and Ukiah Unified School District
