An unlikely American rock band, fittingly called “The Resilient,” is making headlines this week for all the right reasons.
The group of five is made up of “some of the most combat-wounded people in history,” according to their website, and they practice in a home in the woods of Bethel, Pennsylvania.
Its members include guitarist Nate Kalwicki, who lost his leg in Afghanistan; bassist Marcus D’Andrea and lead vocalist Tim Donley, both of whom lost their legs; drummer Juan Dominguez, who lost an arm and both legs; and professional musician Greg Loman.
“Through the recovery, we all discovered this really intense passion for honest musicianship, and they’ve all gotten so good,” said Loman, who met his four bandmates during their recovery at Walter Reed, in an interview with CBS News.
Not many bands have a mission beyond creating great music, but The Resilient does. Along with obviously wanting to create great music — which they do — the band has another mission to present and share the message of, you guessed it, resilience.
“We just wear our scars on the outside whereas most people have, you know, they’ve got all their own messed up stuff going on inside,” said Donley, adding, “There’s something about it, that just, the motivation, the drive, the just the soul of it. It doesn’t feel it can go anywhere but up.”
“Music’s life,” Dominguez says in a video on the band’s YouTube page. He goes on to explain that he was in a coma during his injury when a nurse suggested he listen to music during his surgery, which the surgeons allowed.
“I was shot in Afghanistan,” Kalwicki says in the video, “but the recovery time in the hospital I spent doing music, and I’d say it’s close to a [kind of] meditation for me.”
The Resilient are working on their first album, and their next two shows are coming up. They’ll be playing at the Redneck Country Club in Houston, Texas, on April 4. You can get your tickets on the country club’s website or call 281-809-4867. They also have a show coming up in their home state of Pennsylvania on May 18. For more information, visit Operation First Response‘s website.
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical comes to life on the Conejo Player’s stage in Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!
It’s the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians, and Skater Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations, and look forward to the new year. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella — a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip — has just enrolled at East High. They cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical, led by Ms. Darbus. Although many students resent the threat posed to the “status quo,” Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well. ~RATED G
Directed by Bennie Glasner; Produced by Hailey Smith; Music Direction by Bennie Glasner; Choreographed by Whitney Grubb.
The cast includes:
Troy Bolton – Griffen Hamilton
Gabriella Montez – Saylor Bell
Sharpay Evans – Jessica Smith
Ryan Evans – Abhay Yoganathan
Ms. Darbus – Nora Kay
Coach Bolton – R. Shane Bingham
Kelsi Neilson – Paige Nelson
Chad Danforth – Neirin Winter
Taylor McKessie – Mikayla Flores
Zeke Baylor – Christian Nelson
Jack Scott – Ryan Hill
And with the many talents of: Theo Chambers, Lucy Daurio, Cecilia Diamond, Sarah Dower, Maya Godard, Jillian Gonzalez, Mateo Gonzalez, Olivia Hammer, Kylee Kapigian, Maya Lipsig, Marissa Margolis, Brooke Rassell, Abigail Reeves, Brigitte Rogerson, John Michael Tedrick, Madison Towe, Lauren Whitton
LOCATION: Conejo Players Theatre
351 S. Moorpark Rd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361-1008
PERFORMANCES April 6 through 14, 2019
Fridays at 7:00pm / Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm & 5:00pm
(**No 5:00pm show on Sunday, April 14**)
TICKET PRICES: Only $10
TO PURCHASE: Go online to www.conejoplayers.org or call the Box Office at 805-495-3715
Conejo Players Theatre
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
Every few years VCAS offers License Amnesty for pet owners. And the time has arrived to take advantage of erasing past overdue license fees. Do participate, simply renew or licensing your pets between April 1-30 and all license fees and penalties will be erased. (Amnesty will not erase citations).
• So, Why Should You License Your Pet? 1) It is proof of rabies vaccination. Rabies is a deadly disease to both animals AND PEOPLE. There were 11 confirmed cases of rabies in 2018 in Ventura County in bats that were tested. Rabies does exist in our county. 2) A license is a form of ID and will help you get your pet back should they get lost. 3) Having a pet license is the law.
This program is only available for residents of our contracted cities to which we sell their licenses: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley, Ventura and all Unincorporated areas. The cities of Oxnard and Santa Paula sell their own licenses and will not be able to participate in the License Amnesty program.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact us at [email protected] and we will get back to you promptly.
Remember, all you have to do is license your pet in April, 2019 and ALL past license fees will be forgiven.
Sheriff Bill Ayub is pleased to announce the graduation of the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center’s Academy Class #2018-2. The graduation ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 5th, 2019. The graduation will take place at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, California.
The recruits have completed 24 weeks of instruction provided through the combined efforts of local law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice entities. The intense training and education prepares these recruits for the responsibilities of serving their communities as peace officers. The keynote speaker for the event will be California State University Channel Islands President Erika Beck.
Please see below for the names of the graduating recruits and their respective agencies.
ACADEMY ROSTER
Basic Academy Class #2018-2
Graduating Recruits
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
Armenta, Joseph
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Burgan, Curtis
Cassiano, Cody
Grey, Matthew
Mendez, Norma
Valdovinos, Juan
SAN LUIS OBISPO SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Dreyfus, Nick
Nichols, John
Zafar, Tarien
SANTA BARBARA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Amezquita, Saul
Prelesnik, Brandon
SANTA BARBARA SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Carranco, Anna
SANTA MONICA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Jeters, Jens
Vickrey, Chad
SIMI VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Basal, Jerome
Cherrier, Daniel
L’Heureux, Jacqueline
Young, Kyle
VENTURA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Beacham, Taylor
Gonzalez, Evan
Utermohlen, Erik
VENTURA COUNTY COMMUNTIY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Reynoso, Alexander
VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Barry, Cassandra
Ennis, John
Grant, Derek
Guerrero, Juan
Hatlee, Andrew
Hays, Zachary
Highsmith, Michael “Jake”
Israel, Anthony
Jaco, Gavin
Malagon, Natalie
Ramirez, Christina
Rubino, Dane
Sabet, Pahsa
Sulflow, Cody
Vazquez, Briana
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
Bayer is trying to convince the public that their acquisition of Monsanto is for the public good and sending out propaganda to boost Monsanto’s reputation and avoid any connection to 296,466 farmer suicides in India between 1995-2013.
Reports state that in 1988 the World Bank required the Government of India to deregulate the seed sector allowing Monsanto to lock Indian companies into a “joint venture whereby seed became the intellectual property of Monsanto”. Monsanto then started collecting royalties which raised the cost of seed and replaced open pollinated cotton seeds with their GMO’s.
Unfortunately the farmers in India through no fault of their own, are locked into buying only the higher priced seeds from Monsanto, and buying the dangerous Roundup to spray on their crops. The Indian farmers are not only working at a loss they are falling deeper and deeper in debt to Monsanto. Bankruptcy is common and many farmers actually committed suicide by drinking the toxic pesticide.
Yet, until their Government steps in and frees them, Monsanto and Bayer will continue their unholy reign.
But see, it’s not only India that Monsanto and Bayer are terrorizing:
It’s important you understand Monsanto did not create seed it only altered seed by adding viruses, bacteria, and whatever else deemed necessary to seed DNA to make faster growing and “healthier” seed that is pest resistant – thus GMO’s – thus their “intellectual property”. That is an actual fact. They proudly proclaim they alter the DNA of their seeds! That is what makes it a GMO. I don’t know about you but that worries me. Altering DNA? Monsanto’s video explaining the DNA corruption failed to convince me they knew enough about what they were doing to make GMO’s safe to consume. It has not yet been proven safe. Who knows what will result after 50 years or so?
After all, Monsanto proudly states that their GMO seeds will only grow when sprayed with Roundup. Yet, the years have proven that their Roundup product is unsafe. Roundup’s active ingredient is Glyphosate, known to be “linked to various cancers specifically lymphoma. Glyphosates are endocrine disruptors, neurotoxic, and a cause of liver disease.
One study found that one of the inert ingredients in Roundup was up to 2,000 times more toxic to cells than glyphosate.
It is common knowledge Roundup contaminates the ground and can leach into the groundwater if the soil is wet thereby poisoning the water – drinking water, irrigation water and affecting any living thing that drinks the water including any type of food source – except possibly GMO seeds. Bear in mind we are talking cattle feed, chicken feed, wheat, I could go on and on.
I have to quote this regarding Roundup: “…Testing shows a variety of foods contain glyphosate. It has been detected in the urine of the majority of people who have submitted samples for testing. Glyphosate has been found in breast milk, it damages the placenta and it crosses the placenta, which may result in birth defects.
“Studies by independent scientists show that at the levels commonly found in the environment, on our food and in our bodies—levels that are lower than those allowed by regulatory agencies on our food—glyphosate causes a wide range of diseases and birth defects…. caused severe malformations in the embryos of chickens and frogs…. Link:https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/glyphosate-fact-sheet
“… A 2014 study on US water systems across 38 states found glyphosate and its principle metabolite AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) not only in rivers, lakes and streams, but also rain, soil and sediment, ditches and drains and groundwater….” Link:
But the most freighting report: Monsanto’s Roundup Herbicide May Be Most Important Factor in Development of Autism and Other Chronic Disease. …Two key problems in autism unrelated to the brain yet clearly associated with the condition are both linked with glyphosate exposure: gut dysbiosis, and disrupted sulfur metabolism/impaired sulfate transport….
I also have to quote this: “Monsanto has become the “Life Lord” of our planet, collecting rents for life’s renewal from farmers, the original breeders.” Link:
Now, newer reports state that GMOs are failing to control pests and weeds, and have instead led to the emergence of superpests and superweeds.
Yet Bayer is denying any responsibility and is still promoting Monsanto and their products.
So, why is the EU and our EPA and FDA allowing this poison to continue to be sold?
Talk was of the EU banning Roundup and most of the U.S. States being petitioned for banning, but so far Roundup, thus Monsanto and Bayer have escaped all banning.
One can only wonder to whom and at what expense pockets have been lined to avoid the ban?
At the cost of world health.
One can also hope/wonder if those with lined pockets are drinking the same water and eating the same food as the rest of our contaminated world?
I went into a local Home Depot a few days ago and stopped and stared. The very first thing to greet me was a huge display of containers of several types of Roundup.
Make some noise and convince our leaders to stop this insanity.
Through their subsidiaries and joint ventures in India, the two firms will garner a major share in paddy, maize, vegetables and cotton and agrochemicals.
Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere gave his “State of the City” presentation, followed by the city’s second 2019-20 Budget Workshop during Monday night’s Ventura City Council meeting.
Ventura’s “State of the City”
Mayor Matt LaVere opened the public part of Monday’s meeting with his State of the City address, specifically titled, “A New Day in Ventura.” The 40-minute presentation had an optimistic theme, and spent some time reviewing 2018 events before looking ahead to 2019 and beyond.
“I see this new council, I see the new city manager, I see new things and a new vision, and a lot of progress,” LaVere told the sizable audience, before defining the new city council as “the most diverse council in the history of the city.”
Mayor Matt LaVere
The Mayor praised city staff for their heroic work and actions during the December, 2017 Fires and the long recovery the following year. During this time, staff approved 223 home rebuild permits; issued 420 repair permits; and reviewed 88 complete home rebuilds, among other crucial recovery tasks.
He praised local firefighters by announcing that in 2018, they had responded to over 18,000 calls, while applauding the Ventura Police Department for its great work. “There was a 26 percent reduction in residential home burglaries in 2018 than in 2017,” Lavere said.
The Mayor talked about local Measure O — the 25-year, 1/2 cent use tax passed by voters in 2016 to repair the aging city. In 2018, Ventura received $13.5 million from the Measure. “I think we spent those funds wisely,” LaVere boasted. According to him, staff’s purchases with those funds included 100 sidewalk projects; street construction projects; repaired parking lots; performed extensive deferred maintenance; tree maintenance; Fire Station 4 was fully funded; $2 million put toward the “Safe & Clean” program; and they doubled the Patrol Task Force and Ambassador Program.
Mayor LaVere said he is particularly proud of the great work by the city in supporting senior citizens. “Many of you know that seniors are the fastest growing segment of our population, but what many of you don’t know is that seniors are also the fastest growing segment of our homeless population,” he explained, before revealing that he hopes to open a permanent homeless shelter in Ventura by the end of 2019.
He also discussed new housing and commercial developments, and touted Ventura’s joining of the Clean Power Alliance, making it the city’s new electricity provider. He thanked Council Member Christy Weir for her leadership on that process. While on the topic of sustainability, Mayor LaVere also mentioned the State Water Interconnection Project, which he hopes to be complete by 2023, and the Ventura Water Pure Project, planned for completion by 2025. “This is the system that is going to give us a stable water supply for many years to come,” LaVere said of the Water Pure Project.
His goals for 2019 include creating an economic development strategy, and he wants to see Ventura “truly become business friendly.” LaVere will also develop an updated coastal area strategic plan.
Mayor LaVere wrapped up “A New Day in Ventura” somewhat poetically, using an analogy to a historic weather event that created beautiful, rolling waves entering Ventura waters. He said that now is like that rare event, with a new city council and exciting changes at hand. The mayor received a standing ovation by the attendees.
2019-20 Budget Workshop #2
After the Mayor’s State of the City presentation, the city council took a brief recess, then returned to do their second Budget Workshop for fiscal years 2019-2020. The first Budget Workshop was held last month, while the final budget approval is scheduled for June, 2019. The main presentation was given by Interim Finance and Technology Director, Mary Eckman.
The proposed General Fund Revenue Budget ($119 million) has the bulk of revenues sourced from property taxes and sales taxes equally, at 23 percent each. Most of the remainder will come from other taxes and charges for services. The lion’s share of the budget’s appropriations will be Police at 34 percent, Fire at 18 percent, and Parks & Rec at 16 percent.
As previously mentioned during the Mayor’s State of the City, the Measure O budget for 2018 was $13.5 million. Ventura only spent $6.2 million of that allotment, however, so $7.3 million will carry over to 2019.
The city’s budgets for wastewater and water are both projected to balance in 2019-20, with wastewater revenues/expenditures at $23.4 million, and water revenues/expenditures at $38.7 million. Of worthy note, however, are the Capital Improvement Plan figures for 2019 and 2020 for these categories. In 2019, water represents 28 percent of that budget, and wastewater representing 37 percent. For 2020, those figures jump to 60 percent and 55 percent, respectively.
During the Public Comments period for the Budget, there was just one speaker. Sean Hughes, President of the Ventura County Fire Association, asked the council to direct staff to place Fire Station 4 back into the General Fund budget, and to use Measure O funds to increase their staffing.
Following Mr. Hughes was the City Council Question & Comment period.
Council Member Erik Nasarenko: Asked staff about a number of topics, ranging from sidewalks on the East End, to beautifying the “gateway” entrance areas to local cities in the county, and whether budget money would be applied toward those things.
He then asked Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney about a line item budget request for criminal investigative technicians, specifically earmarked for gun violence. Chief Corney told the council that he intends to focus more on violence prevention than in the past. “We don’t necessarily need a person with a gun and a badge to do this job… what we’re proposing is an analyst-type position, a criminal investigative tech, a person who can actually carry a caseload and follow these people who have made these threats on a long term basis,” Corney said.
Police Chief Ken Corney
Council Member Cheryl Heitmann: Asked staff what a $950,000 budget expenditure labelled “urban forests” was for. The answer was, “tree trimming,” as Ventura has 30,000 trees, and the city has been underfunded for this in the past.
Council Member Christy Weir: Commented that residents passed Measure O with the idea that the extra tax they pay will go toward things they can directly see and benefit from in their own neighborhoods. “If we need to do city repairs on City Hall or fire stations or police stations, then we can figure out how to put that in our regular General Fund budget,” she said.
Council also asked about budgeting for harassment training, animal control, and city beautification, among other local topics. Talk then turned to the “Push & Pull” concept with the current budget. Simply put, this is the council’s way to try to keep the budget balanced, the idea being, when an expenditure is added, some other expenditure is removed, such as a discretionary spending item.
City Manager Alex McIntyre, who has only been on Ventura’s staff since November, 2018, discussed the challenges of “Push & Pull” within the city’s budget. “This is probably the tightest budgeting I’ve done in my career, and it’s the biggest budget I’ve done in my career,” he said. He told the council that he will come back (after all of these comments, suggestions and ideas) with a budget that is “earnest and honest,” despite the challenges of the city being both understaffed, and trying to play catch-up with the budget while at the same time, trying to move forward.
City Manager Alex McIntyre
Cell Towers Near Residential Buildings
Near the end of Monday night’s meeting was “Public Communications,” when members of the public are allowed to speak on matters of concern. One speaker presented a timely issue to the council, which will likely receive follow-up attention during future meetings.
William Lind: Ventura Resident. With the advent of 5G technology, he opposes small cell towers being installed in residential areas around Ventura. “There are no significant gaps in coverage in the City of Ventura… We need to stop this unjustified real estate grab by the telecom companies and the FCC,” he told the council. He also pointed out that the small cell towers will lower property values significantly, which can negatively affect property taxes and city finances.
Mr. Lind also mentioned CA Assembly Bill 57 (2015), which exempted fire stations from having cell towers installed on them. “Studies show brain abnormalities in fire fighters exposed to the cell tower radiation. All citizens should be similarly protected,” he said.
The next Ventura City Council Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2019, at 6:00 pm. The agenda and video coverage for this meeting can be accessed by going to the following URL:http://cityofventura.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2.
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.
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
“If you can’t convince ’em, confuse ’em. It’s an old political trick.”
—Harry Truman
Before discussing water issues in Ventura, we must first dispel a myth. The City of Ventura has plenty of water. We have almost ten times the water we need annually in reserves. So, the City of Ventura’s insistence to conserve drinking water because we don’t have enough is untrue. There are many good reasons to save, but not having enough drinking water is not one of them.
Between Foster and Mound Basins alone, there are 141,600 to 184,600 AF of water. Assuming there is zero replenishing of groundwater—and not counting on our other water resources from Casitas, Santa Paula, Oxnard Basin or State Water (a combined amount of 12,072 AF more per year)—Ventura has almost ten times the water it needs annually in reserves.
Historically, Ventura has used an average of 21,000 acre-feet of drinkable water per year. This figure has been steady over the past 30 years. With conservation and reduced consumption, Venturan’s have managed to reduce our water usage to 15,000 acre-feet per year. So, regardless of doom and gloom declarations issued by the State of California, or what Ventura Water tells us, Ventura has enough water. (See Notes On Water Availability below for additional information). THE REAL ISSUE
Ventura’s real problem is a legal Consent Decree, agreed to by the Ventura City Council in 2012. That Consent Decree mandates that Ventura must stop dumping treated sewage* into the Santa Clara River. The amount of sewage to be diverted will be as high as 90% (about 4,685 AF per year) according to one panel of experts, leaving the remaining 10% to be treated and left in the estuary for fish and wildlife. *Ventura Water calls sewage wastewater, effluent, or tertiary treated flows among other names.
SO HOW DID WE MAKE THIS ABOUT DRINKING WATER?
To comply with the Consent Decree, Ventura Water conceived that Ventura would inject this treated sewage directly into our water system, thus began VenturaWaterPure. For six years City leaders led citizens to believe Ventura has no choice but to move full speed ahead and accept the use of sewage using Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), but a primary reason for DPR was “because we need the water.” Few citizens knew about the underlying problem to comply with the 2012 Consent Decree. With that false justification of needing more drinkable water, the City committed to spending over $500,000,000 for DPR to abide by the Consent Decree. DPR IS NOT APPROVED OR SAFE
Costing over $500,000,000 is not the only issue. The more significant issue is that the City Council assumed DPR water was safe to drink. It is not safe. An expert panel, appointed by the State Water Resources Control Board, determined that DPR is feasible. Yet, using such water would be harmful to public health and safety with the current technology. They reported that except for two remote areas on the earth (Namibia and a city in northern Texas), which have no other drinking water options; such water is not suitable for human consumption. There are no regulations in place anywhere in the United States, or the State of California, permitting or governing that use. Nobody knows if, or even when, the state will publish such regulations. It is highly improbable that this will occur by the December 31, 2025 Consent Decree deadline.
SO WHERE IS STATE WATER IN THIS PLAN?
Ventura Water has ignored the majority of citizens desire to tie into the State Water Project because it knows the State Water Project does nothing toward complying with the Consent Decree. In June 2018, the City Council directed Ventura Water to make importing State Water the top priority. While that pipeline project is in motion, Ventura Water plans to work on DPR while they work on the State Water pipeline. WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO CHANGE THE COMPLIANCE DATE OF THE CONSENT DECREE?
While Ventura must abide by the Consent Decree, the compliance deadline of December 31, 2025, may be unattainable. At this point, the Consent Decree remains the driving force behind all Ventura’s water decisions. With the land acquisition, planning, construction, EIRs and financing required, the 2025 deadline is not feasible. However, the Consent Decree says the court can extend the time limit in the event of construction constraints, financing problems, or an emergency. It requires Ventura to petition the court requesting an extension, or an agreement with the plaintiff and their lawyers. That has not happened. The most devastating natural disaster in Ventura’s history occurred in December 2017. The Thomas Fire wiped out over 500 homes and destroyed water systems throughout the city. The Fire further delayed Ventura Water in the planning, design, and construction of projects to meet the requirements of the Consent Decree. It seems clear that Ventura should petition to the US District Court for a 5-year extension. There’s only one thing standing in the way of requesting that extension — our lawyers. WHY THE DELAY IN SEEKING TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE?
On February 4, 2019, Council Member Jim Friedman asked our City Attorney, Gregory Diaz about extending the deadline. Mr. Diaz’s advice is that we should not at this time. He wants to keep this option “in his back pocket.”
He said petitioning the Federal Court would be laborious for the lawyers with no guarantees.
He wants to maintain good relations with various Environmental Groups.
He was concerned an extension would cause the regulatory agencies to divert their attention away from Ventura.
We need water.
The State Water Resource Control Board and State Regulators may require a different timeline for our current temporary sewage permit than the Federal court if we petition to extend the deadline.
The Water Commission asked the outside attorney representing the City of Ventura about an extension. She answered that Environmental Groups are very cooperative and would likely be favorable to an extension because of the positive relationship. Mr. Diaz says that using the Thomas Fire sounds like an “excuse.” He’s concerned it might give the impression Ventura is looking for a reason to not act. If the most significant human disaster in Ventura’s history is not a strong reason, then nothing is.
EDITORS COMMENTS
Our City Attorney is taking a huge risk with our $500 million. It is clear that he doesn’t intend to pursue an extension with his “keeping it in his back pocket” explanation. Mr. Diaz continues with the myth that water is a problem for Ventura and that treated sewage is the solution Hopefully the City Council will remember that we must “keep our experts on tap and not on top.” If he waits 4-5 years from now, the Federal Court may ask, “Where were you 4-5 years ago?” If he plays his “back pocket” card in the 11th hour and the court denies it, what then? What seems clear, the further away from the Thomas Fire disaster, the less persuasive the argument for an extension. In the meantime, we spend millions that we may not have needed to pay in the next six years. Would it be more prudent to send a letter proposing the extension? The worst the Plaintiff or the Court can do is say, “No.” If that is the case, then Mr. Diaz’s good faith argument disappears. Then, the Court’s ruling becomes ‘exhibit A’ in support of a motion in the Federal Court. The city could then use the argument, “What’s a poor mother to do? We asked. We thought they were nice and cooperative folks, but they proved to be something else.” Notes On Water Availability
The California Groundwater Bulletin 118, published by the Department of Water Resources, reports that the Ventura River- Foster Park Basin has reserves of 31,600 acre-feet (AF) of water. It recharges 3,500 AF of water each year by underflow. In 2018, Ventura Water Department only pumped 2,384 AF from Foster Park. The California Groundwater Bulletin 118 also reports that the Mound Water Basin, which is on the east side of the city, has 153,000 AF of storage capacity. During dry periods, Mound Basin is likely 72% full, for a total of 110,000 AF.
MAKE THE CITY COUNCIL INSIST ON ACCURATE INFORATION FROM VENTURA WATER
Below you’ll find the photos of our current City Council. Click on any Councilmember’s photo and you’ll open your email program ready to write directly to that Councilmember.
Let then know what you’re thinking. Not participating in government makes us worse because our city government isn’t working for all of us.
Editors:
R. Alviani K. Corse T. Cook Bob Berry R. McCord S. Doll B. Frank
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
While the Santa Paula wastewater plant (now called Water Recycling Facility) has been in the news for the last six years, the city’s wastewater collection system has grown and served the city since 1930.
From the staff report of March 20, 2019, background for the collection of wastewater in Santa Paula describes the large infrastructure:
The Wastewater Collection System is managed, maintained and operated by a separate contract from the Water Recycling Facility, which the city now owns. American Water had been the contractor for the collection system since 2014. In 2015, the city awarded the contract for the management of the WRF to American Water. In 2018 American Water sold its contracts for both the collections and the maintenance of the plant to Veolia. Veolia is managing the plant currently, but could not come to an agreement with the city for the collections system. As an interim solution, the VRSD is managing the collection system. The item for consideration as a multi-year contract with VRSD to manage the collection system.
QBS (Qualification Based Selection)
Three companies responded to the RFP. VRSD was chosen for the following reasons noted in the staff report:
1. Number of operations and support staff within the County of Ventura. 2. VRSD has existing Staff who live & work within the City of Santa Paula. 3. They will stage locally with fleet and equipment. 4. Overall quality and focus of interview presentation. 5. Good performance history and service record previously with the City of Santa Paula. 6. Extensive knowledge of the City’s system from previous contracting experience with the City. 7. Proposed response time to emergency callouts of 30 minutes or less. 8. Would assist Staff by establishing CIP list for the collection system. Additionally, VRSD will conduct manhole rehabilitation, conduct more storm drain inspections and cleanings than the previous opeator and take over the City’s Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) which includes sampling the material sent to the WRF via the collection system.
Costs:
The year one costs is $325,688, Year 2 is $361,612, Year 3 is $368,845 and Year 4 is $376,222.
Note that the costs above are base costs. Individual projects will be billed as they occur.
Systems Covered
Not only is the wastewater collection system covered by the contract, but the separate storm water system will also be included.
The following image is from the organization Save Our Bay, but it is a good conceptual explanation of the systems. Note the mention of the stormwater system in the article. Santa Paula’s stormwater system drains to the river.
Source: Save Our Bay
Scope of Services
The contract includes two pump stations: Lemonwood and Harding Park. 316,800 feet of gravity sanitary sewer lines, .5 miles of force mainlines and 1190 manholes in service on the effective date of the agreement. Twice a year, the lift pump stations will be calibrated, per the contract.
The contract says that “Laterals are excluded”. Presumably this refers to the portion of the lateral on private property, There is a portion of each lateral under the public street and sidewalk as shown in the image.
The contract calls for 24 hour seven day a week service because of the critical nature of the infrastructure.
VRSD will manage the city’s Grease Trap Inspections for Food and Grocery establishments as wells as the Industrial Pretreatment Program for those commercial businesses using the wastewater collection system.
Closed Circuit TV and Other Technology
The contractor (VRSD) will be required to use CCTV for the required inspections. All video inspections will be saved on DVD along with monthly reports and accounting results. A database will be created, so that VRSD and the city can identify repeat problem areas.
Capital Improvement Program
VRSD will provide a list of maintenance for the Capital Improvement Program.
Major Inspections
The VRSD will notify the city of blockages or severe pipeline deterioration, make recommendations for repairs or replacement of deteriorating pipelines and submit video reports to the city. 79,200 lineal feet of pipeline are to be inspected annually. The contract delineates between blockages on city pipes versus private pipes.
The inspections will also include testing for sagging pipelines. When the pipelines are constructed, there is a grade, but over time, they may sag causing material to collect. Read about sag repair here.
Sanitary Sewer Overflows
The Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) is a very serious problem because it can affect ground water. Read about SSO here.
According to the contract, VRSD “must use its best reasonable efforts to prevent SSOs from entering the City’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4).
Sewage and wastewater pollution are worldwide issues now. Read about some issues here.
Cockroaches and Smells
Odor monitoring in the system and the lift stations will be performed as well as cockroach abatement.
Discussion
The item passed with no council discussion because it was on the Consent Calendar. Note that Council Member Araiza is the council liaison to the VRSD.
The Supreme Court heard a direct challenge to a major component of federal agency law Wednesday called Auer deference.
Auer deference says judges ought to defer to an agency’s interpretation of its own regulation.
Auer is one of several doctrines conservatives are attacking as part of a broader struggle against the administrative state.
The Supreme Court grappled with a major question of agency law Wednesday, hearing what is likely the first in a series of cases challenging the federal bureaucracy’s power.
Wednesday’s dispute — involving a Vietnam War veteran called James Kisor who lost his bid to collect benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs — concerned a rule of agency law called Auer deference. The 1997 Auer v. Robbins decision provides that a court should defer to an agency’s interpretation of its own regulation, unless it is obviously wrong.
By argument’s end, the Court’s conservative majority seemed poised to rein Auer in, but it was not clear they would overturn it altogether.
Business groups and conservative critics of the administrative state have waged a steady campaign against Auer in recent years. These critics accuse agencies of using Auer deference to expand their own power.
By this telling, an agency will intentionally issue a vague regulation, construe that regulation to its own benefit, then use Auer to command judicial fealty to its decision.
“Auer is particularly troublesome when agencies resolve regulatory ambiguities in favor of their own pecuniary self-interest,” Kisor’s opening brief at the high court reads.
Ambiguous regulations, Kisor adds, leaves the public confused as to what is and isn’t permissible, which violates the basic guarantee of fair notice.
Wednesday’s case may be the opening salvo in a lengthy crusade against the administrative state on the Supreme Court. The Trump administration, for whom deregulation is a high priority, enthusiastically supports that effort.
Speaking at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), former White House counsel Don McGahn said the administration was drawn to then-Judge Neil Gorsuch in part because of an opinion he wrote on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals criticizing another agency deference doctrine called Chevron.
The administration made a qualified defense of Auer Wednesday, saying the Court should restrict its use, as opposed to overturning it. Justice Elena Kagan expressed frustration that no party before the Court was making a full defense of Auer deference.
Gorsuch was the leading Auer critic on the bench during Wednesday’s proceedings. Among other arguments, Gorsuch said questions of law should be decided by courts, not agencies.
“That seems to me a significant promise, especially to the least and most vulnerable among us, like the immigrant, like the veteran, who may not be the most popular or able to capture an agency the way many regulated entities can today,” he said.
Elsewhere, Gorsuch noted that the Court has already limited Auer in several respects. That being so, he reasoned, it might make sense to jettison Auer altogether, instead of continuously limiting its application.
“How much further should we go?” Gorsuch asked. “Or should we just give up on it altogether?”
For its part, the Court’s liberal bloc passionately defended Auer, saying agency experts are far better equipped to interpret regulations — which are sometimes highly technical — than are layman judges. Justice Stephen Breyer said a change to the current arrangement would amount to a power grab.
“This sounds like the greatest judicial power grab since Marbury versus Madison,” Breyer said, referencing the 1803 case that established that courts can strike down laws that violate the Constitution. Breyer quickly added that he thinks Marbury was rightly decided.
Kagan was equally emphatic, saying that the Supreme Court has referenced Auer and its predecessor in at least a dozen cases going back to the 1940s. What’s more, she continued, Congress has never expressed opposition to Auer despite its frequent use in the federal courts. It would be unusual to overrule precedent in such circumstances, she claimed.
“Congress has repeatedly acted in this sphere and shown no interest whatsoever in reversing the rule that the Court has long established,” Kagan said. “So why is it that overruling is the appropriate course here?”
Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the Auer decision, though he expressed doubts about the rulings in his later years.
A decision in Wednesday’s case, Kisor v. Wilkie, is expected by June.
Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff released a statement Wednesday regarding her communications with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx about the Jussie Smollett case.
Tina Tchen, who served as chief of staff to then-first lady Michelle Obama, claimed that she had simply reached out to the prosecutor because Smollett’s family had some concerns about the investigation.
MORE: "My sole activity was to put the chief prosecutor in the case in touch with an alleged victim’s family who had concerns about how the investigation was being characterized in public.” 2/2
But Tchen’s involvement may have led to Foxx ultimately recusing herself from the case.
Tchen first texted Foxx on the morning of Feb. 1, 2019. “I wanted to give you a call on behalf of Jussie Smollett and family who I know. They have concerns about the investigation,” the text read.
But then Foxx got a text later that same day from one of Smollett’s family members who, according to Foxx, expressed concern that details about the case were leaking to the general public.
Foxx then emailed Tchen, saying that she had spoken to Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson about turning the investigation over to the FBI, mainly to keep a tighter lid on details that continued to leak as the investigation progressed.
Spoke to [Chicago Police] Superintendent [Eddie] Johnson. I convinced him to reach out to the FBI to ask that they take over the investigation. He is reaching out now and will get to me shortly.
Foxx recused herself in the weeks that followed because of continued communication with Smollett’s family. As the Chicago Police Department continued its investigation and uncovered more evidence, it became apparent that the police believed Smollett’s alleged hate crime was a hoax, likely organized by the “Empire” actor himself. (RELATED: Third Osundairo Brother Speaks Out On Smollett Case)
In spite of that evidence, all charges against Smollett were dropped Tuesday. While authorities were careful to say that he was “not exonerated,” and several high-profile figuresspoke out about the injustice of the situation, Smollett has continued to proclaim his innocence.
In exchange for the dropped charges, the actor forfeited his $10,000 bond and agreed to do community service.
Resources Control Board, determined that DPR is feasible. Yet, using such water would be harmful to public health and safety with the current technology. They reported that except for two remote areas on the earth (Namibia and a city in northern Texas), which have no other drinking water options; such water is not suitable for human consumption.
However, the Consent Decree says the court can extend the time limit in the event of construction constraints, financing problems, or an emergency. It requires Ventura to petition the court requesting an extension, or an agreement with the plaintiff and their lawyers. That has not happened.
