The California Reparations Task Force may have plans to recommend the state apologize for racism and slavery and consider “down payments” of varying amounts to eligible African American residents. In CalMatters online, there isn’t an overall price for reparations, but they do show how much some in the state have lost over the last 73 years. The estimates range from $2,300 per person per year for the over-policing of Black communities, to $77,000 for Black-owned business losses over the years. July 1st, is the deadline a state task force faces, to send a letter of recommendation to the capital. The task force also is recommending policy changes to counteract discrimination. The task force documents have two kinds of reparations: those from particular instances and those benefits to all eligible Black Californians for racial harm the entire community experienced. Don’t expect cash anytime soon. The state Legislature and Governor will decide whether any reparations are paid, depending on the recommendations. The task force is scheduled to meet again at 9 a.m. Saturday at Northeastern University, in Oakland. The meeting will be live streamed.
Fort Bragg is voyaging into desalination with an innovative pilot project. The aim is to desalt ocean water for the Mendocino Coast. In the Press Democrat, the carbon-free wave action energized project comes from a young Quebec-based company called Oneka Technologies. The company makes floating, raft-like units that draw in water, pressurize and force it back through reverse-osmosis and sends it back to the ocean floor. It’s anchored about a mile off shore of the Noyo Headlands. They’re testing for locations, permits, state regulations and more, which could take up to 8 months to deploy. A $1.5 million grant through the Department of Water Resources, is helping with the process. The water shortage was so severe in towns like Mendocino that the county and the state had to purchase water in Ukiah and truck it over the hill in 2021 to supply minimal needs there. California has seven active seawater desalination facilities. An eighth has been approved but is not yet operating.
The County of Mendocino has been added to the major disaster declaration and approved for Individual Assistance to support recovery efforts related to damages from the February-March storms. During that time, Mendocino County saw extreme snow in high elevation areas, multiple rescues, and ongoing road closures that presented a real challenge to emergency services. The Presidential Major Disaster Declaration back in April freed up public assistance, which offers funding and manpower for emergency work and repair of facilities. But further assessments have been underway to see which counties qualify for aid directly to impacted residents, according to MendoVoice online. In mid-March, FEMA had provided Mendocino County residents with $249,692.88 in individual assistance for the first round of storms. Residents impacted in the later storms can now apply for aid for repairs, reimbursement for stays in motels, and other help in recovery. County staff is working closely with FEMA and CalOES to set up Disaster Recovery Centers for residents affected by the February-March storms to sign up for disaster assistance. More information can be found at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Six people say they were sexually assaulted as kids by the former athletic director at the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley. They filed three civil suits against Paul “Dwayne” Kilgore, the organization and dozens of employees. An Index-Tribune article writes the most recent suit, filed Feb. 14 in Sonoma County Superior Court, comes after six other accusers filed two civil suits in 2018 against Kilgore and the Boys & Girls Club. Those suits were settled out of court in December 2021. Kilgore worked at the Sonoma Valley club from 2002 to 2013. He was arrested after a teacher witnessed him touching boys in Healdsburg. He was found guilty in March 2018 of six counts of sexual abuse of a minor and is currently serving a 150-year sentence at Mule Creek State Prison. In the latest suit, three accusers are seeking restitution, and the club’s failure to address reports that he was taking boys off site and sexually abusing them. In 2012 the club began an investigation and Kilgore resigned a few months later. A trial date has not been set for the February suit, but it could be up to a year before the case is heard.
The torrents of rain that cascaded across California this winter broke records, flooded fields and washed over hillsides, in the Washington Post today. That water also seeped into underground seed banks, nourishing long-dormant flora. The result: epic, statewide “super blooms.” The sudden transformation of California’s landscape from dry and barren into rainbow fields of flowers has captivated the country and drawn thousands of revelers. The super bloom is under threat. Climate change regularly puts the state into prolonged droughts, depriving the land of necessary rain. And sprawling development has paved over many habitats that used to reliably burst into spectacular shades of yellow, purple and blazing orange. Now the super blooms are a reminder of what the state once looked like, and “they are multicolored beacons of hope for those trying to preserve the natural areas that remain.”
California’s population dropped by roughly 138,000 people, to about 39 million last year. The state’s population peaked at nearly 40 million in January 2020. In the New York Times today, for the first time in more than a century, California’s population shrank. The population slowdown during COVID even cost California a congressional seat. The state’s population dipped again in 2022, for the third year in a row. Even after three years of decline, California remains the nation’s most populous state, home to one in eight U.S. residents. The latest drop is the smallest since the downward trend began in 2020, suggesting a reversal could be in store, according to the California Department of Finance. A higher-than-normal death rate, a falling birthrate, a drop in international migration all contributed to the decline. Californians moving to other states was been the primary driver of population loss, with Californians moving to Texas, Nevada, Idaho or Oregon. Between July 2021 and July 2022, the net movement out of California was a record of over 400,000 people. The growth in remote work has also uprooted more people as they look for affordable housing in other states, attracting high-income and highly educated Californians to join the exodus.
In the wake of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying it won’t grant an emergency Endangered Species Act listing for the Clear Lake hitch, the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians say they are disappointed. Fish and Wildlife announced that it won’t give the listing, which the California Fish and Game Commission and Lake County tribes have asked for. The hitch, or “chi,” to the Lake County Tribes, has an important cultural role, because it is a primary food source. People have noted a big decline in hitch population. That, along with help from Big Valley and other local tribes, led to the board of supervisors declaring a Clear Lake hitch emergency in February. According to Lake County News today, the hitch has been listed as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act since 2014. In 2020, Fish and Wildlife declined to list the fish, which lead to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity. This week, Fish and Wildlife said it is still in the midst of evaluating the hitch, which could take up to two years, but does have the potential to lead to the federal listing. In some cases, area farmers and leaders from local tribes have worked together as the fish spilled over into fields in the Kelseyville area in April. That work had to be done under a special state permit.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors made a proclamation and attended to business at it’s meeting this week. In the Record Bee, a proclamation was made in recognition of May 5th as Lake County Day of awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women and people. Crowds were there clad in black and red clothing, in memoriam of their lost loved ones. In addition, the board revisited the draft ordinance on hoop structures for cannabis cultivations; and addressed the issues of agricultural inclusion, materials used to make hoop structures and more. After three weeks of hearings the board approved the first draft of the ordinance and advanced the amended order to be continued at the next board meeting. They also appointed seats to the newly formed Central Regional Town Hall, with one and two year terms.
Middletown High School’s golf team closed out a perfect Coastal Mountain Conference South season yesterday afternoon. It’s the eighth straight victory over St. Helena at the Valley of the Moon Golf Club in Santa Rosa. Middletown advances to the opening round of the North Coast Section playoffs next Monday at Rooster Run Golf Club. Middletown’s CMC South-champion team will be part of the 144 golfers in the sectional field, according to the Record Bee.
Sonoma County residents can learn how to stay safe during fires, earthquakes, floods and other emergencies at a free event in Healdsburg on Saturday. In the Press Democrat today, the Fire & Earthquake Safety Expo will be at the Healdsburg Community Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by the city of Healdsburg and the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club, celebrating its 100th anniversary. They are expecting up to 2,000 people at the event. The expo will feature local first responders and exhibitions, including a helicopter landing with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. The city will be giving out its revised evacuation maps for residents to use in the event of an emergency. County officials will show drone footage of the recent Russian River flows that affected Healdsburg and west Sonoma County during the atmospheric rains over the winter.
Five Willits area singers are getting together again this Saturday at the Willits Community Theatre. Mendocino County musical stars Forrest Glyer, Malakai Schindel, Sarah Rose McMahon, Lhasa Summers and Kyle Madrigal will perform together in a special series production on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. In Willits News, their eclectic show brings together a mix of musical backgrounds and influences including Americana, Blues, Country, Folk, Rock, Psychedelia, Jazz, Electronic and World Music.Between the five musicians they have helped to create many albums, including Schindig’s “Ghosts In The Mirror”, Sarah Rose’s “Lay My Burden Down.” Tickets are $20 online at: www.wctperformingartscenter.org or at the door.
A prescribed burn sent smoke in the air above Healdsburg, with firefighters working near the Parkland Farms area. This morning, Cal Fire and the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District started burning about 80 piles in the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve. The prescribed burn was put off last month due to storms. The delay was actually a good thing, making conditions perfect for the burns. The wet ground prevented any stray flames from escaping. In the Press Democrat this afternoon, it was part of the California Vegetation Treatment Program, funded by a California Coastal Conservancy grant.
