Update of October 15, 2020
This past month has been one of the busiest this year for government at all levels. Locally we have had many extremely important issues to consider and address. Some of them involve solutions that can only be accomplished with additional financial resources, some require real estate considerations and others require a re-ordering of our priorities and personnel assignments.
Additional financial resources can only come legally from a few places: additional revenue charges (taxes and fees), gifts from the private sector or from other government agencies and jurisdictions (grants). We are making major efforts in the “gift” or “grant” areas to address some of the most pressing ones.
First, lets look at the river dangers from fire and pollution. Most people blame the homeless for these problems which is only partially factual. There is an anti-social element among the inhabitants of the river that cause both pollution and use fire to cook their meals or stay warm at night. Because the river, which is part of our (and others) water supply, is underground with sand over it that people camp on, excrement deposited in camping areas works its way down and into the river. This constitutes a serious health hazard. Also, there is danger that campfires or cooking fires can cause other fires from sparks in windy conditions, lack of attention or careless extinction. These are safety concerns. It has become clear that we shouldn’t have any camping in the riverbed. Unfortunately, a court has rules that the campers are part of the public and must be allowed to use public places for their activities. Fortunately, it did provide that alternate locations could be provided allowing some regulation of what can or can’t be used. This is not easy to comply with and probably involves a cost.
Our first effort in that regard was short-changed by the granting agency and made impossible to achieve for a variety of reasons including objections to the location of the facility due to access issues as well as the lack of finances. Our temporary alternative was both expensive, unpopular and only a seasonal alternative.
A new alternative has come up which is being sought cooperatively by numerous non-profit agencies dedicated to trying to address these and related situations. I am one of the Council Members seeking to have the city divert its current $800,000.00 in homeless solution grant funds to an appropriate use in forwarding this effort. We have been informed that our diversion of these funds to this new project will also gain an additional grant of $800,000.00 to the project from other State or Federal funds. This will relieve our local citizens of most of the cost of the project. This project is away from residential areas and includes both temporary and permanent housing availability for qualified people. I expect this to be on the agenda for the October 20th City Council meeting.
Like any other solution this one has some potential costs to the city which may be offset, in part or whole, by the benefits and reduction in current demands upon our resources. This is our hope and what is being analyzed and considered in this process.
Additionally, I learned in one of my meetings that our library had been given a gift from the Library Foundation of some educational work pads, or tablets, that involve the use of games for early students that teach them a variety of subject matter in an effective and popular manner. These items are being checked out regularly and are being utilized by parents currently home schooling their children during these unprecedented times. For those interested in checking one out from our library, please, ask for the Playaway Launch Pad and specify the educational level desired.
Additionally, regarding the library, in the annual state convention for the League of California Cities, as the city’s voting delegate, I learned that an institute and the State library have grant funds available for library physical space funding. I’m hoping to have us pursue that funding source in the near future.
My White House briefing conference calls continued this month with Dr. Fauci stating categorically that the “Warp Speed” effort to deliver a vaccine in the near future is not skipping any safety steps. The speed of delivery is made possible by amazing new technological advances. The biggest problem facing the effort is the speed of manufacturing the product once it is approved.
Dr. and Ambassador Deborah Birx stated that a significant problem we were having among college and university students returning to in person learning is starting to reduce as they become aware of the wisdom of following the precautions and safety measures advocated to avoid COVID-19. The spike in cases has begun to subside. However, Admiral (and Dr.) Brett Giroir warned us that the Department of Health is expecting another spike this winter that could affect all of us. He termed the current subsiding of cases as a bubble in the pandemic’s spread.
On the State scene I participated in an analysis of Proposition 19 for possible comment by the League of California Cities. In researching the topic before the meeting I learned that respected members of the Assembly from both political parties are unhappy with the changes made for the ballot. They say it was poorly crafted by one industry that it favors but that it ignored other consequences. Our own County Assessor, Tom Bordonaro (himself a former Assembyman), said that his analysis indicates that San Luis Obispo County and its cities will lose millions of dollars if this passes with almost no benefit for our current residents. The measure strikes down some of the current advantages our home owners have and merely makes it easier for people from other places to come here and pay less taxes than we do.
While there were numerous other meetings that I participated in, the content of them is of little interest to the general public and merely informed or assisted me and the other participants in our understanding of many of the State and Federal issues affecting us. Some of the good news was that our infrastructure funding from the Federal government will continue at its current level for at least one more year.
As most of you are probably aware I am running for re-election this year. My opponent is a very nice gentleman with very little experience with government functions, budgeting or operations. He has very good intentions that work very well for non-profits and industry but don’t fit well within the constraints that we are required to observe. I applaud his fund raising efforts for the homeless and encourage those who are able to contribute to his cause of raising $175,000.00 to help them. Meanwhile I’ll continue my efforts to acquire the $1.6 million from grants for the same purpose.
I’m very pleased that my re-election has been endorsed by our Paso Roble Police Association, Professional Firefighters Association and the Lincoln Club of San Luis Obispo County along with many prominent public officials from throughout this region and the United States. It is heartening to me to hear that I am well thought of and respected. I promise to continue all of my efforts to give you the best local government possible at the lowest possible cost going forward if I’m re-elected. I truly appreciate your support and your vote. Thank you.