Sacred Land Violations of Ventura Wildlife Corridor Ordinance Native American opposition and viewpoints

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April 11, 2019

Sacred Land Violations of Ventura Wildlife Corridor Ordinance Native American opposition and viewpoints

By Lori Denman-Underhill

There is a new Wildlife Corridor Ordinance passed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on March 12th 2019. This ordinance was at the Board’s direction to regulate development on natural passageways of wildlife and it effects private property. It was passed on March 12 at a hearing held by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on the Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridor project. David Daniel Diaz is one of the two hundred members of the Barbareno Indian tribe. The tribe covers the lower Eastside Santa Barbara, down to Carpinteria, La Conchita and Northern Ventura County. His great aunt owned property where horses roamed up in the east end of La Conchita. His Native name, Yaminquan Kakin translates to “Blue Wolf,” and he is a Native cultural expert and liaison in the Los Padres National Forest region of Southern California. Diaz has been a monitor since childhood, protecting local tribes’ sacred burial and archaeological sites.

The background on the wildlife corridor project can be found on the Ventura County Resource Management site. The stated goal is to assure that native plants are preserved and animals move freely during migration. The County claims that development patterns within the unincorporated areas have hindered animal migration.

The Board, at its Planning Department, claims to have the best intentions in assisting the survival of native flora and wildlife. However, there are numerous aspects of the ordinance that various parties disagree with. Aside from farmers and property owners, local Native American tribes – the first people of Ventura County – represent a portion of that opposition.

Opposition points include the following:

There seems to be a violation of state and federal laws as they passed with ordinance with no completed Environmental Impact Report nor any information on CEQA upon the website describing the ordinance.
There are no listed Native American monitors who worked on the ordinance project. They apparently left Native American cultural experts out of the process.
The rezoning covers over 160,000 acres and the complicated rules affect thousands of parcels, placing restrictions on new and replacement structures, security fencing and lighting. Any deviations will require expensive and time consuming discretionary permits including an environmental analysis and a public hearing.
Restrictions on brush clearance within the County along identified water features will hinder efforts to prevent fires from spreading into neighborhoods and cropland. Restricting brush clearance to 100′ around structures within drainages will endanger homes, increase fire insurance rates and render some structures uninsurable.
The possible consideration of the corridor including the entire Boeing, Santa Susanna Field Lab land in the HCWC overlay zone and adding exemptions for temporary cleanup actions.
Restrictions on security fencing and lighting will likely increase property crime in these largely remote areas. The fencing limitation of 10% of a parcel zoned OS or AE will allow criminals and trespassers unimpeded access onto your property as will the requirement for a 24 inch gap every 50 feet in a fence. These unrealistic rules will increase the burden on County Sheriff resources.
Adequate security fencing and lighting is necessary to deflect predator animals around neighborhoods thereby protecting both humans and animals from conflicts.

Diaz has additional concerns, aside from the previously listed opposition points. He stated that the Native American perspective has not been taken into consideration by the planners who worked on this ordinance. Diaz said, the architects of this“[were] are in a rush to get it passed.” He believes that the ordinance’s restriction on security fencing and lighting will decrease the protection and preservation of sacred Native archaeological sites. The new ordinance affects local tribes and property owners. He stated that with the ordinance, the Board is now using its own new rules and regulations to trump previous agreements made with the citizens in the region.

“Many times the rules and agreements are never respected,” Diaz said. “It is very similar to the dog park up there at the Veterans Cemetery Park. There are American Veterans, I am also a veteran, who were buried there with their tombstones and everything. The city said, ‘forget it.’ They came in and took all the tombstones out, threw them in the dump and said they were going to make it a park. Natives and veterans were very upset. We don’t want this type of dictation to our culture and to our people. We just want to be Native people taking care of our own land.”

“The Wildlife Corridor Ordinance will allow for non-indigenous people to come in, and desecrate land, and affect our cultural heritage,” Diaz told Citizens Journal. “We are striving to keep as much of it intact as possible. By taking down the fencing that protects the land, we see it as if they are trying to keep our souls and our spirits of our ancestors. And by federal law, under treaties, they are not supposed to do that. Fences are designed to keep Americans and foreigners out, but Native Americans still have the right to be there.”

“The acknowledgments and the agreements that are made in creating these types of zones are different for Native American Indians,” Diaz continued. “We have leeway to those rights by being the First People of the region. Sometimes the government agencies, irregardless of where they come from, they have a habit of not working with local tribes from the regions.

“What is happening in Montecito, for example, is that the County and the residents neighboring a sacred Native burial ground are aiming to gentrify it. The county is now spraying – what they call ‘organic’ – pesticide on the plants over our burial grounds holding of our ancestors, and much more”

Sack filled with sand to weigh down the sprinkler. There are relics everywhere. NGO sprayed area with toxins and killed everything and now will plant what they think are native flora.

Regarding the corridor project, Diaz said, “They are managing the land, but they are leaving a big portion of it out. It’s just like the fires. One would think that a Native Indian would need to be there in order to protect the cultural resources — ours. One would think that they would place us in the loop, but they don’t. It’s like, they keep us on the sidelines in order to facilitate their own purposes.”

Diaz has lived and seen all of the goings on, and speaks from both knowledge and experience. He tells tales of wandering the back country of Santa Barbara and the rest of Ventura County as a child in the 50s and 60s.

“The areas were mostly within the Los Padres National Forest, which stretches behind Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties,” Diaz explained. “There is also an extension of it that goes into the Big Sur area. I was taught how to be an Indian in the forest by my uncles and grandfathers,” Diaz said. “As a result, I am able to assist anthropologists and archaeologists.”

By gaining this knowledge and being a local Native, Diaz grew to be a “monitor.” A monitor must be a descendant of a Native American tribe and is obligated to protect sacred Native archaeological sites, including burial grounds. Diaz has guarded sites in Ventura County and has witnessed a constant degradation of these sites by developers and others who proceed with certain projects. Diaz is keeping an eye on one of these present day projects such as the Wildlife Corridor Ordinance.

As he keeps watch, Diaz utilizes a law established in 1970 that must be followed when developing new land projects. It is called CEQA–the California Environmental Quality Act – and requires state and local agencies to note the environmental impacts, including those affecting Native archaeological sites. Diaz is questioning the validity of the Wildlife Corridor Ordinance by not utilizing this law.

“The best we can do right now is just continue to document the impingement of Native American rights upon Public lands,” Diaz explained. “We need to go to City and County meetings to assure that they are honoring CEQA protections and work to find resolutions. It’s an uphill battle. Violations of CEQA are very common. We need to speak with them about consulting with the Native people of our local regions. We need to make sure that they are not violating Federal and State statutes and treaties.”

Diaz has many concerns with the Los Padres National Forest, that is affiliated with the ordinance. These include a lack of fire protection and cultural sensitivity. The person in charge of cultural sensitivity issues is in their Tribal Relations department. However, Diaz claimed that this person works alone, with no assistance.

“One example of how the Los Padres National Forest needs assistance, especially with fire control. Just look at their Tribal Relations department head, Pete Crowheart. He works the jobs of five men, and during fire season, he has to travel to and from most districts in Southern and Northern California.”

Pete Crowheart with two experts from UCSB at the forest service gathering of the tribes at the Santa Ynez Chumash reservation

In conclusion, Diaz hopes that someday, CAL FIRE and Los Padres National Forest representatives will work with the Indians who could assist them in protecting sacred Native sites. Diaz claimed, “The Los Padres National Forest representatives should work with us, not against us, in preserving land. CEQA dictates that they have to.”

He also urges CAL FIRE to learn more about the canyons and their cultural history, in order to not disturb the petroglyphs and cultural sites.

As for the Wildlife Corridor Ordinance, he sees alternative solutions. One that is suggested by Fish and Wildlife agencies, would ensure genetic diversity of wildlife. The loose ends of the ordinance remain, as opposition continues.

Additional information on the ordinance can be found at this site. Ventura County Planning representatives were unavailable to comment or respond to inquiries regarding an EIR, CEQA or presence of Native American monitors on the ordinance project. To view an online map depicting the Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridor here.

Photos by David Pu’u http://davidpuu.com/blog https://www.instagram.com/davidpuu/ https://twitter.com/davidpuu

Lori Denman-Underhill has been a professional journalist since 1996. She has worked as associate editor for the Los Angeles Daily News TODAY Magazines and has freelanced for LA Weekly, Surfline.com and more. She is now the Ventura reporter for Citizens Journal.

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Gun Shows and 5G Cell Towers; Explosive Debates at Simi City Council Monday Night!

Kevin B. Harris

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April 11, 2019

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Gun Shows and 5G Cell Towers; Explosive Debates at Simi City Council Monday Night!

By Kevin Harris

The Simi Valley City Council voted to take no action in response to the County Board’s request for written support for its halting of local gun shows at public facilities, and also voted to try to retain some local support amidst aggressive, federal “cell tower” legislation, during Monday night’s city council meeting. Both issues triggered significant citizen response, packing the Council Chamber at City Hall with residents ready to speak on either issue.

Mayor Keith Mashburn structured the meeting to allow the vast numbers of public speakers to opine on their respective issue early in the meeting, lumped together, during Issue 2A – “Public Statements.” Council members would later discuss the two major topics during the “Public Hearing” and the “New Business” periods of the meeting — perhaps to put some time between their discussions and the high emotions of the attendees. For the sake of our readers, Citizens Journal will group all of the public “gun show” comments together, followed by the public “cell tower” comments.

Public Comments; Simi Support for Ceasing Gun Show Contracts at Fairgrounds

What was at first being described as, and treated as a City Council decision as to whether to allow gun shows to continue taking place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, was much later revealed to be little more than the Ventura County Board of Supervisors requesting the opined, written support for their decision to try to make that local limitation official.

City Council Member Ruth Luevanos, a hardline anti-gun advocate, brought the topic up for the Council to take up to begin with, and apparently chose not to make the previously stated revelation until logically pushed to by council discussion late in the meeting. Meanwhile, residents faced off with each other and the Council on the hot bed topic of gun control. Following is a sampling of some of the “gun show” related public comments. Virtually every speaker drew crowd applause when they finished:

Daniel Mcreabe: Mr. Mcreabe and a young, unnamed lady read their comments together (see photo). Both are “March for our Lives, Ventura County” representatives. After discussing the tragic Borderline shooting in Thousand Oaks, McReabe presented a series of controversial statistics relating to the numbers of national mass shootings and gun-related deaths. “There is nowhere in this country that we can feel safe… Instead of gliding through a carefree youth, we’re out planning vigils at our school, attending funerals of our loved ones who were murdered, organizing gun violence forums, and fighting for common sense gun regulations throughout the country,” the pair explained. They urged the city council to ban all gun shows at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Alan Kenworthy: A Simi Valley resident who enjoys attending gun shows, he likens them to car shows, street fairs and high school football games. He said he enjoys the atmosphere, the “good people,” and being able to see and hold historic firearms. He also likes limited government. “I stand here at the altar to government, saying please don’t take away something that I enjoy doing. And I find that alarming. I shouldn’t have to be here.”

Robert Gregory: Supports having local gun shows, and suggested that shutting them down is a First Amendment violation along with a Second Amendment violation.

Marryanne Wallux: A gun show supporter and vendor. Ms. Wallux said that small businesses supported by gun shows include more than just gun and ammo sellers, and include those that sell backpacks, kettle corn, and children toys, among others. She also pointed out that gun shows are self-sustaining, and do not require tax subsidizing, like some other city events.

Phil Luce: Mr. Luce insisted that “more guns equals more gun deaths.” He quoted numerous government and university studies backing his statement, and asked the council to stop contracting gun shows at the fairgrounds.

Bruce Boyer: Said he’s a Candidate for Ventura County Sheriff, and a passionate, eloquent advocate for individual rights. “Every one of us owns this fairgrounds. We have the right to hold shows for whatever we want. If you don’t want to see a Johnny Cash tribute, don’t come. I will. If you want to go to a tattoo show, I’m not going. This is our First Amendment, and if you won’t defend our First Amendment, you don’t have anything else… Are we going to let the government dictate what we can talk about at our fairgrounds? I don’t think so,” Boyer said.

At one point during the lengthy Public Statements period, Mayor Mashburn and a citizen engaged in a heated argument after the citizen, who had already used her time to speak, had another resident try to speak on her behalf as well, specifically to read a poem she wrote about the Borderline shooting. The Mayor pointed out that she was violating the Council rules for the meeting, but the citizen felt her poem warranted an exception. The woman who wrote the poem left the meeting, but later, after tempers cooled, the Mayor allowed the resident who was going to read the poem, do so during the “Council Comments” period following “Public Comments.”

ITEM 8A – NEW BUSINESS: CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES GUN SHOW REQUEST

In December, 2018, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors requested that all Ventura County cities discuss and opine on their decision to ask the Ventura County Fairgrounds Board cease any new contracts for gun shows at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Council Member Luevanos asked the Simi City Council to respond to the request, and openly discuss the issue during Monday night’s meeting. It was only during the council’s comment period, however, that the true nature of the issue, and of the council’s actual level of involvement, became known.

Council Member Elaine Litster: “I believe (the fairgrounds) is something that should be used by everyone for free discourse, and that also applies to gun ownership,” she said. She also believes that stopping the gun shows is a Second Amendment infringement, and pointed out that gun show sales are subjected to the same regulations as other gun sales, including “extensive background checks, and a ten day waiting period.”

Council Member Ruth Luevanos: Strongly supports the gun show ban, and said that the Columbine shooters bought their guns from a gun show, where, according to her, 25% – 50% of gun dealers (at gun shows in general) are not licensed. She then offered some quotes seemingly out of the “Collectivism Handbook.”

“There is the right to life, that supersedes the right to Liberty. There are no absolute rights. Everybody’s rights are limited by everybody else’s rights.” She also said that school shooting drills make students feel unsafe and prevent learning. She continued her emotional testimony by offering the usual, questionable, one-sided gun violence statistics that gun control advocates favor. “We have to stop the gun culture,” she concluded.

Council Member Mike Judge: (His comments immediately followed Luevanos’ statements) “I don’t know about the rest of you gun owners in this room, but I feel like I’ve just been accused of every crime committed by every murderer that’s happened in the last 20 years. I don’t understand that at all,” he said. Judge gave a concise, facts-packed response suggesting a ban of gun shows is an infringement and a violation of the Second Amendment. He also pointed out that the numbers of suicides nationally has gone up due to years of American wars, and to not treating war veterans properly — not because of guns. He supports gun shows at the fairgrounds.

Mayor Pro Tem Dee Dee Cavenaugh: It was the Mayor Pro Tem who now first revealed that the Ventura County Board of Supervisors had already decided on this issue, and had already officially requested that the Ventura County Fairgrounds Board stop contracting with gun shows at all public county venues. In regard to allowing gun shows at the fairgrounds, Cavenaugh said, “That’s not our decision here in Simi Valley.” She also pointed out that Simi Valley has no public facilities pertaining to hosting, or not hosting gun shows.

“I was a little offended that the county asked us to agree with a decision that they made… whether we make a decision here or not, it’s not going to change (the county decision). I feel that we should remain neutral and take no action,” she said.

Mayor Keith Mashburn: “What if (the Ventura Board) came here and decided they wanted to go against us having Ford automobile dealers. I don’t think that would be right. Let’s keep in our own community, and let this body keep jurisdiction over what we can control,” the Mayor said.

Following the council members’ comments, there was a brief “back and forth” between Luevanos and Mashburn, after Luevanos tried to explain why the County Board asked cities to opine on the matter. She said that the Ventura County Fairgrounds Board is appointed by the Governor, so the County Board wanted to involve those beholden to their constituents.

The Mayor responded by saying that CARB is also appointed and actively affecting businesses in the state, “yet they never ask our opinion on anything.” Mashburn said he won’t respond to the request one way or another.

Council Member Luevanos then motioned for the council to send a letter to the Mayor in support of denying further gun shows at the fairgrounds. That motion failed. Council Member Mike Judge then motioned for the council to send a letter to the Mayor in support of approving gun shows at the fairgrounds. That motion also failed.

Mayor Pro Tem Dee Dee Cavenaugh then moved that the council take no action, and the Mayor seconded her motion. The motion passed, with a vote of 3-2. Luevanos and Judge voted against.

Postscript: The Ventura County Fairgrounds Board has received the written request from the County Board, but has yet to make a final decision on whether to allow gun shows at the fairgrounds.

5G Cell Towers in Simi; The Feds Verses The Cities

Another issue of high local concern during Monday’s meeting was the coming storm of 5G wireless cell towers by the major telecom providers — thousands, as it turns out, to be placed in residential areas across the city. Residents have reasonable concerns over potential health effects from the devices, as well as possible losses in their property values. The Feds maintain that the speedy new 5G technology requires a tight network of the towers to function, and to make nationwide wireless services truly work.

Simi’s recent Ordinance 1297, which added amendments to Simi Valley Municipal Code 5, Title 35, are an attempt to add local control to what many are calling “federal bullying.” Ordinance 1297 adds certain aesthetic and placement requirements for the cell towers, which could delay implementation of them while the issue is fought in the courts.

A major legal issue is that of temporary moratoriums. Specifically, are they allowed while numerous cities fight against the FCC in the courts (The California League of Cities is suing the FCC over the towers). Simi’s City Attorney said that, according to an FCC report, “all local moratoriums are prohibited.” That report, however, is being challenged in court. Still, according to the city attorney, “as it is now, moratoriums are prohibited by federal law.”

As with the gun show issue, residents made their statements prior to the council’s presentation. Following is a snapshot of some of the public comments made:

Malon Newton: Opposes the cell towers. “You are not making a decision that affects the people in this room tonight. You’re making a decision that affects our children and our grand children,” he told a supportive crowd. His concerns centered largely on the health effects of the wireless towers.

Susan Weineger: Ms. Weineger told the council that she believes legally, they can place a temporary moratorium on certain businesses related to local land use, in order to give the city more time to study the issue. She asked the council to immediately put such a moratorium into effect.

Al Abolla: Opposes the 5G towers. Shared his idea to have every Simi resident who opposes the towers contribute $50 to pay a team of high-powered lawyers to fight the phone companies on the towers. He imagines Simi being a “5G free city” amongst cities crowded with 5G towers, where people would pay top dollar to move to in order to escape the health dangers present in the surrounding cities. “Do the right thing for the people of Simi. Fight for us,” he said.

Charlane Hagan: Opposes the 5G placement near residential areas because her husband and brother-in-law both have sensitive medical device implants that would be affected by the towers. “I feel that artificial intelligence does not have what human intelligence has, and that is common sense (the crowd burst with applause, to Ms. Hagan’s obvious surprise). And for me, common sense says, don’t put these towers in our residential area.”

Wayne Smith: A Vietnam Vet with numerous cancers, caused by agent orange, he said. He gave a passionate speech comparing the handling of agent orange to today’s handling of 5G technology.

Warren Wolf: Compared the 5G cell towers to the gardening chemical “Roundup,” and pointed out that numerous juries have found Monsanto guilty of manipulating and bullying plaintiffs, and lying and the dangers of Roundup. He suggested that federal agencies are sometimes influenced by corporate interests, and warned that many peer-reviewed studies show the 5G towers to be dangerous to humans. Mr. Wolf also did some quick math calculations, and showed that the major carriers combined would require a total of 9,840 cell towers to cover Simi Valley.

CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS

Mayor Mashburn asked the city attorney if “in the future, the council wants to look at a moratorium, is that a possibility?” The answer was basically, if the court allows it.

Mayor Pro Tem Cavenaugh explained Ordinance 1297 by telling residents, “This ordinance has nothing to do with saying we want (the 5G towers) or we don’t want them. This ordinance says if we have to have them, we want to have some local control.”

The council vote passed unanimously, conducting the reading of, and approving the previously-passed Ordinance 1297.

The next Simi Valley Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 22, 2019, at 6:30 p.m.

Both the meetings on video, and the meeting agendas, can be directly accessed by going to the following URL: http://www.simivalley.org/i-want-to-/view-watch-/city-council-meetings.

Kevin Harris is a reporter, editor and journalist, previous President of Cal State Northridge’s Society of Professional Journalists having worked for the LA Times and Newhall Signal. He is now also a Realtor and videographer, and lives with his two children in Thousand Oaks.

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Santa Paula | Historian Reflects on City Hall Relocation

Sheryl Hamlin

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April 11, 2019

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Santa Paula | Historian Reflects on City Hall Relocation

By Mitch Stone, Historian

As we think about the merits of moving Santa Paula City Hall to a new location, I’ve noticed a lack of consideration of what I see as some of the most important issues connected to it. These are, the symbolic, economic, and historical values of keeping all of the city’s offices at the center of our community. Any discussion of this plan that omits our history, the vitality of our downtown, and our sense of civic pride, is bound to come up short.

Santa Paula’s City Hall has occupied many locations since incorporation in 1902: a Main Street storefront, the basement of the Blanchard Library, an abandoned grammar school near the Post Office, and temporary buildings in what we now call Veterans Memorial Park. Finally in 1957 the city decided to roam no more, building its first, permanent, purpose-built City Hall. It was constructed on Ventura Street alongside the new Police Department building completed in 1951. Local architect Robert Raymond designed them. Completing these two buildings (both used for City Hall today) was a major event in the city’s history. It was a real step forward.

The buildings were new, but they were in keeping with a longstanding tradition. All of the City Hall locations throughout our history had one thing in common: they were in downtown, in the heart of our city.

This is hardly out of the ordinary. Look around the county at other city halls, and what do we see? With the exception of some of the county’s shapeless suburban cities (where we Santa Paulans choose not to live), all of their city halls are found at the geographical and historical centers of their communities. This is true even in cities where growth and space needs forced a move.

When Ventura outgrew it city offices during the 1970s, they took over the historic County Courthouse. It was an expensive and controversial idea back then. But today, it would be impossible to imagine Ventura without their City Hall located on its grand promontory overlooking downtown. Then look to Fillmore. When they had an opportunity to build a new City Hall during the 1990s, a civic building worthy of the name was constructed. They also built it downtown. The message is, we should think about city halls as something more than just office space.

This decision to relocate City Hall demands a full appreciation of the consequences. Have we considered where this hub of activity is needed most? Do we understand what it means to move a large part of the city’s services from downtown, where they have been for more than 115 years, to an industrial building on a cul-de-sac far from the center of town, and creating a City Hall in name only in the undersized United Water building? Are we thinking seriously about the kind of statement this would make about our community. Are we considering how all of our community interests are best served?

As we approach this legacy decision, we should be asking: how can we serve these interests, for today and into the future, any better than by keeping City Hall, all if it, where it has always been, in downtown.

Originally written as letter to Editor in Santa Paula Times.

Note: there will be a special meeting at 7:00 pm on Monday, April 15, 2019 to discuss relocation.

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Pelosi ‘Not Giving Up’ Hope She Can Reach Immigration Deal With Trump

Debra Tash

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April 11, 2019

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Pelosi ‘Not Giving Up’ Hope She Can Reach Immigration Deal With Trump

Jason Hopkins | Energy Investigator

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed optimism over reaching a deal on comprehensive immigration reform with President Donald Trump.

“It’s complicated, but it isn’t hard to do if you have good intentions,” Pelosi said to reporters Thursday during the Democrats’ 2019 Issues Conference in Virginia. “And I’m not giving up on the president on this.”

“I’m always optimistic,” the California Democrat continued. “And this has to happen. It’s inevitable. Again, it’s inevitable to some, inconceivable to others. We have to shorten the distance between the inevitable and the inconceivable.”

Pelosi’s claims that an immigration deal between Democrats and the White House is feasible comes as the two camps continue to stray further apart on the issue.

Trump is currently mulling a number of executive orders to take his immigration agenda into a “tougher direction” and hopes to expedite wall construction on the southern border. A growing number of Democrats, on the other hand, have openly called for the defunding and complete abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and have adamantly opposed Trump’s border wall.

Just a day before making her “optimistic” comments, Pelosi said Trump’s immigration policies were “contrary to the values of our contrary” and a “downward spiral of indecency.” Trump also went on the attack on Wednesday, calling Democrats’ action on the border “treasonous” in a late-night tweet.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1116167275948597249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1116167275948597249&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2019%2F04%2F11%2Fpelosi-immigration-deal-trump%2F

It’s not immediately clear where the president and Pelosi could find common ground, but the speaker claimed that the bipartisan fiscal 2019 spending package that was passed and signed into law in February lays the groundwork for a future immigration compromise. (RELATED: Conservatives Rally Behind Cuccinelli For DHS Secretary)

Meanwhile, apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border have reached record highs. Border Patrol agents apprehended or turned back 103,492 foreign nationals who attempted to reach the southern border in March — the highest month in 12 years. The influx of migrants, many of them families from Central America, has pushed detainment centers past the breaking point, forcing them to release an average of 1,000 illegal migrants a day.

Follow Jason on Twitter.

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Sidelined Because She Rejects Radical Green Agendas?

Columns

Carol Miller

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April 11, 2019

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Sidelined Because She Rejects Radical Green Agendas?

By Paul Driessen

Aurelia Skipwith has a BS in biology from Howard University, a Master’s in molecular genetics from Purdue and a law degree from Kentucky. She has worked as a molecular analyst and sustainable agriculture partnership manager. She was also co-founder and general counsel for AVC Global, a Washington, DC-based agricultural supply chain development company that helps small farmers link up with multinational buyers and with agronomy, business, financial and other service providers.

For two years, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Interior Department, where she performed her duties so well that last October President Trump nominated her to become the next Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) at Interior. She is an ideal candidate for the post.

She’s also only the third woman ever nominated for this position – and the first African American. Her impeccable scientific, legal, agricultural and conservationist background would ensure fairness, balance, integrity, solid science and multidisciplinary thinking in FWS decision making.

And yet, Ms. Skipwith lingers in confirmation limbo, along with hundreds of others whose nominations have been stalled for many months to well over a year. Too many Democrat senators appear determined to prevent the president from having people onboard who would implement his policies.

In fact, the US Senate has already been forced to hold cloture votes – ending drawn-out debates – on 128 Trump nominees! In glaring contrast, the Senate had a grand total of only 24 such cloture votes for all six previous presidents combined: Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush II and Obama! That’s 32 times more nominees by this president sidelined by Congress than during all ten previous presidential terms.

Why is Ms. Skipwith being treated this way? It appears to be simple ideological politics. Senate Democrats seem to be acquiescing to the demands of Deep Green environmentalists and Deep State career bureaucrats who hate having their views, policies and agendas challenged.

Her molecular analysis and sustainable agriculture work were with Monsanto, the ultimate Evil Corporation to many of her opponents, because it manufactures both Roundup weedkiller and genetically engineered (GE) crops like Bt corn and Roundup-Ready soybeans. As Deputy Assistant Secretary, Ms. Skipwith supported reversing Obama era bans on planting such crops and using advanced-technology neonicotinoid pesticides in wildlife refuges administered by Fish & Wildlife.

The 2014 bans resulted from collusive sue-and-settle lawsuits between environmentalist groups and Obama DOI officials. They were reversed in August 2018, following a careful review process. As I have noted in many articles (here, here and here, for example), GE crops, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) and neonics are safe for humans and the environment. They also enable farmers to produce more food from less land, using less water and fewer pesticides, and with greater resistance to droughts, floods, insects and climate change, than is possible with conventional or organic crops.

Genetically engineered crops promote sustainable agriculture and help the world feed billions who otherwise face prolonged malnutrition and starvation. And yet, radical greens oppose them. They even attack Golden Rice, which prevents blindness and death in malnourished children and parents, by incorporating genes that produce Vitamin A precursors, vastly expanding nutritional values in rice.

Americans alone have consumed more than four trillion servings of foods with at least one GE ingredient – without a single documented example of harm to a person or the environment.

Regarding glyphosate, only one agency, the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), says the chemical is “probably carcinogenic” to humans – and its analysis is tainted by fraud and blatant conflicts of interest. Studies by the European Food Safety Authority, Food and Agriculture Organization, Germany’s Institute for Risk Assessment, Australia’s Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and other respected organizations worldwide have concluded that glyphosate is safe and non-carcinogenic.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientists conducted a “comprehensive systematic review of studies submitted to the agency and available in the open literature,” and concluded that the chemical “is not likely to be carcinogenic in humans.” Health Canada conducted a similarly extensive review of global studies, found no likely cancer risk, and noted that “no pesticide regulatory authority in the world” believes glyphosate is a cancer risk to humans “at the levels at which humans are currently exposed.”

As cancer researcher Arthur Lambert noted recently, “exposure to carcinogens influences the risk of developing cancer, which is a function of many factors, including the dose and duration of the exposure” – to glyphosate for example. But other factors also play integral roles, including inherited genes and genetic mutations, how well one’s immune system can find and eliminate mutated cells before they develop into cancer, personal lifestyle choices, and exposure to additional carcinogens over the years. Separating all those factors is virtually impossible.

Risks associated with glyphosate fall “somewhere between the small hazard that comes from eating a considerable amount of bacon (for colorectal cancer) and consuming very hot tea (for esophageal cancer),” Lambert notes. In fact, IARC lumps bacon, sunlight and plutonium together in its “definitely carcinogenic” category and lists as “possible” carcinogens pickled vegetables, caffeic acid found in many fruits and vegetables, and even drinking hot beverages or working the night shift.

If glyphosate poses few risks of cancer in humans, its threats to ducks, geese, turkeys and other animals in wildlife refuges are likely infinitesimal. The same is true for GE crops and neonicotinoid pesticides.

Most neonics are used as seed coatings, which get absorbed into plant tissues as crops grow. They protect plants against insect damage by targeting only pests that actually feed on the crops – and are largely gone by the time mature plants flower, which means they are barely detectable in pollen and don’t harm bees.

As to claims that neonics harm bees and thus should be banned from wildlife refuges, a 2015 international study of wild bees found that most wild bees never even come into contact with crops or the neonics that supposedly threaten them. The same study also determined that the 2% of wild bees that do visit crops – and so would be most exposed to these pesticides – are among the healthiest bee species on Earth.

The eight senators who recently expressed concern that chlorpyrifos and other pesticides threaten multiple protected species should applaud Interior’s reversal of bans on modern agricultural technologies (which reduce the use of such pesticides). Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation certainly did.

The bans “were clearly not based on science,” they said, adding that the reversal restored GE crop use as an “essential tool” for waterfowl and wildlife management in national wildlife refuges. Many refuges were established along migratory bird flyways to provide food for waterfowl. But some can provide sufficient food only through cooperative agreements that let local farmers plant crops on refuge lands in exchange for leaving some of their crops unharvested, to supplement natural food on the refuge.

Genetically modified crops maximize crop yields, the FWS has explained, and “a blanket denial” of their use limits the latitude that refuge managers need to fulfill the purposes of each refuge. The ban on neonics was equally problematical because they are often used with GE crops and Roundup.

Aurelia Skipwith’s actions reflect the best in science-based (government decision making. Her broad expertise enables her to separate fact from fiction, and reality from ideological agendas. She is the right person for this job – and indeed may turn out to be one of the best FWS directors ever.

Now that Mitch McConnell has reformed Senate rules to end Democrat obstruction, responsible senators should confirm her forthwith – along with the rest of President Trump’s nominees.

Paul Driessen is senior policy advisor for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of many articles on the environment. He has degrees in geology, ecology and environmental law.

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Full Moon Sunset Nature Walk on April 18, 2019

Debra Tash

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April 11, 2019

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Full Moon Sunset Nature Walk on April 18, 2019

The Supermoon Sunset Nature Walk led by local naturalist Lanny Kaufer in March was a great success except for one thing. Although it was a beautiful evening with a great group, clouds on the eastern horizon obscured the view of the moonrise until the group was back down the hill off the trail. So in the eternal quest for perfection, they’re doing it again for the April full moon. Technically, the exact moment of the full moon will occur at 4:12 a.m. on Friday, April 19, making Thursday night’s moon the closest to fullness. The sun is due to set at 7:31 so that is the target time to be at a vista point overlooking the beautiful Ojai Valley (Valley of the Moon).

The group will meet at the Park-and-Ride lot downtown between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m. and carpool to the trailhead to minimize the crowded parking situation. From there they’ll gradually walk about 3/4 of a mile to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable native plants including Coastal Sagebrush, Purple Sage, Toyon and Elderberry.

After witnessing the setting of the sun and rising of the full moon, the moonwalkers will head back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the Park-and-Ride by 8:30 p.m.

From there, all over 21 are invited to join Kaufer for beverages, appetizers or dinner at Ojai Valley Brewery where brewmaster Jeremy Haffner has created some truly delicious lager-style craft beers and ales using some of the same local plants seen on the trail. His brews change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. At the March gathering, he was serving Chaparral Ale bittered with sagebrush and sage instead of the usual hops, New Moon Oat Stout brewed with wild oat grass, and Sugar Bush IPA flavored with local sumac berries.

Space is limited. Please visit HerbWalks.com and click on the event listing to register or call 805-646-6281 for more information.

Photo of full moon rising over Topa Topa Bluffs taken and altered by Lanny Kaufer

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Oxnard | Observant Police Officers Locate Stolen Vehicles In Three Separate Incidents

Debra Tash

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April 11, 2019

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Oxnard | Observant Police Officers Locate Stolen Vehicles In Three Separate Incidents

Oxnard Police Department – Incident Press Release

The Oxnard Police Department continues to make strides in reducing the number of reported stolen vehicles in the city. Over the course of several days, Oxnard Police Officers have arrested the following people for auto theft related charges.

On April 6, 2019, Oxnard Police officers observed a stolen 2018 Dodge Challenger near the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Oxnard Boulevard. Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver identified as Marisela Suarez, 25 Years old. During the investigation it was determined that the Challenger was stolen out of the city of Thousand Oaks earlier in the day.

On April 6, 2019, Oxnard Police officers observed a stolen 1990 Ford F-150 that was parked near the intersection of Watt Drive and Cypress Street. Officers contacted a subject later identified as Ernie Villa, 47 years old, and arrested him for possession of stolen property, vehicle tampering and for possession of stolen property. The vehicle was reported stolen on April 2, 2019 out of the city of Oxnard.

On April 9, 2019, Oxnard Police officers observed a stolen 2011 Nissan Altima in the 3000 Block of Johnson Drive in the city of Ventura. Officers contacted the driver identified as Jairo Perez, 32 years old and arrested him for driving a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and for possession of methamphetamine. During the investigation it was determined that the Nissan was stolen out of the city of Oxnard on March 18, 2019.

Suspects | Marisela Suarez, 25 Years Old, Jairo Perez, 32 Years Old, Ernie Villa, 47 Years Old

Help protect yourself and your vehicle from thieves by remembering to:

Lock your vehicle and take out your valuables when leaving it. An unlocked car is an invitation to a thief.
Close all windows – thieves can open vehicles through the smallest of openings.
To take your car keys with you. Do not leave them in your car, or leave your car running.

Detectives from the Auto Theft Task Force are offering steering wheel locks to Oxnard residents. Owners of 1990-2000 Honda passenger vehicles are asked to be extra vigilant due to the high number of thefts involving these specific vehicles. The Auto Theft Task Force has a limited amount of steering wheel locks available, for details on obtaining a free steering wheel lock, contact Detective Enrique Alvarez at (805) 385-7664.

The Oxnard Police Department cannot effectively stop auto theft without the assistance of concerned, responsible residents. We are depending on YOU to call and tell us whenever you see suspicious persons or activity. Contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7740, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and by selecting the “Report Suspicious Activity” tab located on the homepage. Residents can also report crime by contacting Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 and www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to report suspicious or criminal activity. Translators are available 24/7.

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Artisans From Throughout The West Show Their Creations at 36th Annual California Strawberry Festival

Carol Miller

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April 11, 2019

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Artisans From Throughout The West Show Their Creations at 36th Annual California Strawberry Festival

More than 200 artisans from throughout the West will be displaying their goods at the 36^th annual California Strawberry Festival, May 18 and 19 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard.

The festival, which attracts nearly 60,000 visitors, features dozens of different kinds of foods and beverages made from fresh strawberries, but it is also known for its eclectic mix of quality artwork, crafts and unique pre-packaged food items.

Many of the artists have been returning to the festival for decades. “Festival goers come specifically to see what kind of new items our long-time artists will bring,” says Dana Hale-Mounier, director of Pacific Fine Arts Festivals and coordinator of the festival’s arts and craft booths.

For artist Mishell Swartwout, this will be her 22^nd year participating in the festival. She lives in Oregon and travels to Oxnard for the festival—the only show she does in southern California. “It is one of my favorites,” says Swartwout, whose paintings usually involve cute animals. “The people who attend are having such a great time with all the food, music and activities. The highlight of the show, of course, is all the luscious strawberries.” For this year’s festival Swartwout created a painting that expresses her love of animals and strawberries (a rabbit holding a giant strawberry). It will be available at the festival in matted prints.

“Unlike online shopping, festivalgoers have the opportunity to engage the artisans,” says Hale-Mounier. “Each artist has an interesting background and story to tell. The festival is the perfect way to spend a weekend enjoying a variety of entertainment and plenty of strawberry taste treats for the whole family while also being inspired by our artisans’ creativity and passion. And, of course, they’ll offer a variety of strawberry-themed designs.”

Brain and Heather Gleser, owners of Harmony Tie-Dyes in Modesto, make tie-dyed apparel for children and adults. Brian Gleser’s parents passed down the trade to Gleser and now he is teaching the art of tie-dying to his 10-year-old son. The Glesers will be selling plenty of tie-died strawberry-themed t-shirts and children’s dresses. “It takes about three days and a lot of patience to produce a tie-dyed shirt. Strawberries are actually a challenge to create,” says Gleser. “Anything with a shape or detail can be tricky.” Last year, the Glesers sold out of all their strawberry-themed items. “We’ve been participating in the California Strawberry Festival for over 30 years,” says Gleser. “Regular customers come to the show each year to see what’s new in our booth. I’ve found that people are hungry for a personal connection with the artists. We consider them friends.”

Husband and wife team Ellen McErlane and Dan Abyeta combine his metalsmithing with her lampwork glass designs. They’ve been exhibiting at the festival for over 20 years. Their home base is in Pollock Pines, just outside of Sacramento, but they also work in Venice, Murano and the Czech Republic. “Each year, we make strawberry-themed creations in Venetian glass and sterling silver jewelry just for the festival,” says McErlane.

The festival features more than 50 food booths, each with at least one strawberry dish or drink, live concerts, contests, a build-your-own strawberry shortcake booth, Strawberryland for Kids with rides and attractions and cooking demonstrations.

General admission is $12, seniors 62 and over are $8 and children ages 5-12 are $5. Kids 4 and under are free. Active military and dependents with ID are $8. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days Free Park and Ride “Strawberry Express” shuttles with pickup locations off the 101 Freeway save patrons time and money. Parking onsite is $10. Tickets are available for purchase in advance online via the website, https://castrawberryfestival.org. Toll free information is available at 888-288-9242.

California Strawberry Festival

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Mighty Cash Cats Unplugged Sunday, April 14, 1 pm Ventura Harbor Village

Carol Miller

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April 11, 2019

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Mighty Cash Cats Unplugged Sunday, April 14, 1 pm Ventura Harbor Village

Mighty Cash Cats take their unplugged show to Ventura Harbor Village on Sunday, April 14, 1 pm for a Free Outdoor Concert. In addition to their world renown Johnny Cash show, the band will play some classic rock, country music, blues and Americana music. This will be their final Ventura show before embarking on their Europe Tour 2019 that kicks off with a concert in Tower, Ireland, home of Blarney Castle and the iconic Blarney Stone. This will be their fifth European tour. They have toured in the USA, Europe, Ireland, France, Israel, and Asia.

This will be a great way spend a Sunday afternoon, viewing the Pacific Ocean, watching the boats in the harbor, with cool ocean breezes and the music of the Mighty Cash Cats.

www.mightycashcats.com

Mighty Cash Cats

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Santa Paula Planning Commission Vacancies

Press Releases

Debra Tash

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April 11, 2019

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Santa Paula Planning Commission Vacancies

The City of Santa Paula is asking all interested individuals to apply for a vacancy on the Santa Paula Planning Commission with a term scheduled to expire May 31, 2021. We are also asking for interested individuals to submit applications for the Planning Commission, for a term scheduled to expire June 30, 2019 and a term scheduled to expire July 30, 2019, for a four-year term each. Applicants must be residents of the City of Santa Paula. Applications are at the City Clerk’s Office located in City Hall at 970 Ventura Street. Please phone or email the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 933-4208, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., [email protected] for further information. Application deadline is until filled.

Planning Commission: There is currently one vacancy with a term scheduled to expire May 31, 2021. There is currently one term scheduled to expire June, 2019 and one term scheduled to expire July 30, 2019. The Planning Commission meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m., as a general rule. Applicants wishing to be considered must be registered voters of the City of Santa Paula, and as such reside within the corporate City limits of Santa Paula. Individuals will also be required to complete and file a Fair Political Practices Commission Statement of Economic Interest. Commission members will receive a stipend of $25 for each meeting attended. Recruitment shall remain open until the vacancy is filled.

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