The State Assembly’s Special Session on Petroleum and Gasoline Supplybegan last week. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation Aug. 31 callingfor the Session. His intent was for enactment of legislation to addressfuel price spikes next year and beyond. On Sept. 21, the average cost of a gallon of gasoline in California was$4.75 compared to a…
The Sept. 18 meeting of the Fern Valley Water District Board ofDirectors was longer than the agenda implied. Director Mike LaFataraised several questions during the discussion of the July and AugustDistrict checks and payments. His principal concern related to the service contracts which GeneralManager Victor Jimenez purchased for the recently acquired new vehiclesand one of…
Riverside County and the University of Riverside, School of Medicine,have been awarded grant money to support programs to address and toprevent elder abuse in the County. According to Todd Bellanca, AssistantDirector of the County’s Department of Public Social Services, “Eachyear in Riverside County, we receive about 15 000 referrals on abuse orneglect for our seniors…
The Planning Department is a critical contributor and regulator ofRiverside County’s growth and change. Its role is critical to progressand oversight of many projects on the Hill, from short-term rentals tonew construction. At their Sept. 10 meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved thecreation of a Board Ad Hoc Committee for the continuous improvement ofthe Transportation…
Last week’s hot spell only enhanced the chances of wildfires this fall.On Thursday, Sept. 5, the low nighttime temperature in Idyllwild was 64degrees tying the 2019 record low. Two days later, the low nighttimetemperature was 63 degrees which tied the 2023 record for that date. Cal Fire’s Predictive Services unit had already issued its Septemberwildfire…
At its Sept. 10 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors held a publichearing to consider a new agreement with CR&R, the waste collectionservice for residents and businesses on the Hill. This also included arate increase. Implementation of Senate Bill 1383, originally approved in September2016, is the principal reason for the need for higher rates. The…
The official name for Proposition 32 is “Raises Minimum Wage.” Prop 32 In stages, Prop 32 would raise the current California minimum wage from$16 per hour to $18 per hour by 2026. Employers with more than 26employees or more would have to raise their wages to $18 per hour in Under current law, the State’s…
Saturday evening, Aug. 31, just prior to the end of the 2023-24legislative session, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation calling fora special legislative session to address concerns about the high priceof gasoline in California. Earlier in August, Newsom had offered a set of bills to address thisproblem, but no action was taken, which is the…
Student use of cellphones in K-12 schools has been criticized for years.Gov. Gavin Newsom has frequently challenged their use in schools,including signing legislation in 2019 that granted school districts theauthority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours. As schools were beginning the current new school year, Newsom wrote toState school districts and stressed,…
The official name for Proposition 35 is “Provides Permanent Funding forMedi-Cal Health Care Services.” California already has a “Managed Care Organization Provider” tax. Thisis imposed on the State’s health care plans, e.g., Aetna, KaiserPermanente, and others. It is generally based on the number of peoplewhom the plan covers, including those in Medi-Cal. The Legislature has…
