More than a quarter of Californians are foreign-born -- which is why state Sen. Gil Cedillo believes the state should establish an Office of Immigrant Affairs. According to the Sacramento Bee Cedillo states "Everybody laments, 'Well, they ought to learn English? They do learn English, but why don't we facilitate that by creating a clearinghouse so people can learn English quicker?" He noted there are nearly 3 million immigrants in the state who are eligible to become citizens, but have not applied for naturalization because they have not learned how to navigate the system.

Amador County – A tentatively scheduled workshop with the East Bay Municipal Utility District is set for 10 a.m. Monday in Jackson, with the Amador County Board of Supervisors, to educate officials on the utility’s 2040 plan. Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli told the Joint Water Committee Monday that the tentative meeting would include East Bay MUD “and hopefully some Amador Water Agency people.” County Attorney Martha Shaver said it is less a public meeting and more a “briefing for supervisors to get information.” East Bay MUD has held two public meetings on the subject of the 2040 plan, in which the utility sees a preferred project in the expansion Pardee Lake in Amador County. AWA board Vice President Bill Condrashoff said the board sent a letter opposing the Pardee expansion, but saying the agency is willing to look into the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Plan. The Sutter Creek City Council on Monday night passed a related resolution that “urges the Utility District to adopt higher conservation levels in its 2040 Water Management Plan instead of expanding Pardee Reservoir and destroying the Middle Bar reach of the Mokelumne River.” Councilman Tim Murphy, before the vote, said they supported the resolution and Pardee Lake, but they wanted to add stronger language urging conservation. The Sutter Creek council passed the resolution, 4-1, with Councilman Pat Crosby voting against it. Katherine Evatt of the Foothill Conservancy also spoke, saying there had “been a concerted effort the last 10 or 15 years to develop the whitewater resources” of the Mokelumne River for the rafting industry. 2 public meetings hosted by East Bay MUD in the area showed overwhelming support for preserving the Moke. 352 people spoke at the meetings and only one - a member of the Jackson Valley Irrigation District Board – spoke in support of the project. John Mottoros of Sutter Creek told the council he considered whitewater groups a minority, and if you stop the electricity and water, which are one and the same, “you go brown.” He said boaters should take the hit for the good of more people. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Action by state and local officials is adding momentum to protests against proposed Assembly Bill 885, which would increase statewide minimum standards for Onsite Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Systems. The original bill was signed in to law by Governor Gray Davis on September 28, 2000, but updated regulations controlled through the State Water Resources Control Board are proposed for 2010. The State Board is up against protests from residents and officials in rural counties who feel the uniform standards originally proposed for coastal communities are ineffective when applied across the state as blanket legislation. Recently, three members of the State Legislature have introduced three separate bills addressing the issue. Freshman Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, who represents Amador County and the 10th District, introduced AB 580, which amends one section of the water code and has gained the support of the Regional Council of Rural Counties. AB 916, authored by Assemblyman Dan Logue, also amends two sections of the water code. And AB 268, introduced by Assemblyman Ted Gaines, would repeal 885 entirely. The latter bill is not expected to make it to the assembly floor for discussion. Supervisor Richard Forster, in an exclusive interview with TSPN, called the proposal unrealistic and an additional burden on that segment of our community. He also cited the hefty fines against owner’s of onsite treatment systems should this legislation pass. Information based on the 2000 U.S. Census suggests that of the approximate 15,034 housing units in Amador County, 8,347 use Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. That’s approximately 55.5 percent of the county’s housing units. Amador Water Agency Board member Debbie Dunn said in a public email that “Amador County hosts a significant population that will be affected by this legislation. It would behoove all agencies and councils to hold some level of dialogue with their members, attendees and residents in the near future.” Assemblywoman Huber is holding a public workshop in Amador County to address this and other issues facing the county, as well as take time for public input. That workshop is being held this Wednesday evening, April 1st, 6:30pm at the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 810 Court Street in Jackson. The Control Board is scheduled to discuss the matter further on April 14th. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A proposed expansion of the Pardee Reservoir has raised red flags among opponents who view the project as detrimental to the environment and the local economy. Under the proposal, East Bay MUD would flood the entire Middle Bar reach of the Mokelumne and nearly a mile of the Mokelumne above Highway 49 in order to meet its water needs in dry years. But local opponents are concerned about any EBMUD decision that would drastically alter a vital component of their own backyard. “We don’t feel we should have to give up more of our river so people in the east bay can take longer showers and water their lawn,” said Katherine Evatt, Board Director for the Foothill Conservancy. She said river advocates collectively spent more than 30 years trying to open reaches of the Mokelumne to the public, resulting in one of the most popular kayaking destinations in central California and a popular fishing reach. “People have put a lot of time and money into making the Mokelumne a viable economic resource,” Evatt said. Environmental groups like the Sierra Club have expressed concern over the impact flooding would have on river plant species and fish populations. “It raises questions about how to restore salmon and steelhead populations after that much more potential habitat is lost,” said Evatt. EBMUD Spokesman Charles Hardy stressed that any decision on implementing the proposal was still a long time down the road. “This is all part of our long range planning activities looking at water supplies through 2040,” he said. He said the EIR recommended choosing an option: Pardee expansion or a regional desalinization plant. “We have more knowledge about raising Pardee than desalinization, but this decision is a long time down the road and research on desalinization could prove it to be more cost effective.” Another issue is jurisdiction and whether Amador County will have any say in new dam construction. Hardy said EBMUD considers itself part of the community and “the days of coming in and taking what you want have been over for a long time.” EBMUD would have to overcome a number of hurdles to build locally, including water rights applications and guidelines set forth through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission guidelines. In the meantime, dam expansion opponents such as the Foothill Conservancy, Friends of the River, American Whitewater and the City of Jackson are encouraging EBMUD to meet its water needs through conservation. The EBMUD Board of Directors is currently discussing methods of effective water conservation for the future. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Alex Lane -

And now, our continuing report on the Propositions you’ll be deciding on in the November ballot. Today we’ll discuss Proposition 10, which would authorize 5 billion in bonds to help consumers and other purchase certain vehicles, including those powered by alternative energies. Proponents say Prop 10 will “provide urgently needed funding” to “reduce California’s dependence on foreign oil; reduce air pollution that causes asthma and cancer; and create green technology jobs to strengthen our state’s economy – without raising taxes.” These supporters say that Prop 10 “has strict accountability standards to make sure that funds are being used properly” and will not raise taxes, fees, or utility rates.” Proponents, who include the American Cancer Society and the Clean and Renewable Energy Association, believe Prop 10 will “reduce our dependence on foreign oil, develop new clean energy industries in California and create thousands of new jobs.” But opponents, who include the California Tax Reform Association and the California Federation of Teachers, see Prop 10 as a flimsy attempt to push the agenda of billionaire Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens, or the “deep pockets” behind the program, who they say will get “the lion’s share of the taxpayer dollars.” Opponents believe that “in the middle of a budget crisis, it takes taxpayer dollars away from education, healthcare, public safety, and universities in order to provide fleet operators, including very large and profitable corporations, a subsidy for buying or leasing natural gas trucks.” On November 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to help decide.

State - On May 19th, Amador County voters will have the opportunity to vote on six budget-related propositions in a statewide special election. In a special series here on TSPN, we’ll bring you information on each ballot measure, what it means for California, and more specifically, how it affects Amador County. Today we discuss Proposition 1D, which would authorize reserve funds generated through annual tobacco revenue to pay for state health and human services programs, including foster care, Medicaid, and preschool programs. Currently, these funds are earmarked for First Five childhood development programs under the terms of Proposition 1O in 1998. Obvious opponents to this bill are those who support the First 5 program, whose revenue stream would essentially cease to exist under the five year limit of Proposition 1D. 80 percent of First Five money is distributed to county governments for similar programs, including government "school readiness" programs for pre-schoolers, Medicaid health coverage to children whose family income is above the cap for that program and government parent-education training. The California Democratic Party rejected a recommendation by their party’s leaders to support the measure and instead adopted a position of neutrality. Supporters include “Budget Reform Now,” a coalition of groups assembled by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to support the budget agreement and tax increases. “Budget Reform Now” has staged a large television ad campaign in support of Proposition 1D, claiming a blanket vote for all the propositions will lead to budget stabilization and holding politicians accountable for their actions. On May 19th, you’ll have the opportunity to vote on this and other contentious issues. Stay tuned for more information on the propositions in upcoming newscasts. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sacramento - Legislation by Assemblymember Alyson Huber moved one step closer to becoming law today when it was passed out of the Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting with bipartisan support. “AB 1181 and AB 1274 would make campaign contributions and lobbying activity details more accessible to and understandable for the public, not just insiders,” said Assemblymember Huber, adding: “We should be doing everything we can to make government as open as possible and these bills move us in that direction.” AB 1181 would lower the threshold for which state candidate committees, ballot measure committees and slate mail organizations to file contributors online with the Secretary of State’s office. The current threshold is $50,000 and the new threshold would be $25,000. AB 1274 would address the need to easily identify who is lobbying on a specific issue by requiring the Secretary of State to display online a breakdown of all lobbying interests seeking to influence each proposed law. This list would be updated quarterly. The bills will next be heard in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sacramento County – Probation officials have proposed shutting down two more local juvenile facilities, despite concerns over impacts on public safety. As part of the response to Sacramento County’s projected $187 million deficit, probation officials have suggested closing the Sacramento County Boys Ranch and the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center. This $37.4 million cost-saving measure also includes a proposal to eliminate 247 jobs. All this comes on the heels of a proposal to close another major institution, the Preston Youth Facility in Ione. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been considering closing a number of correction facilities and prisons as a result of the State budget crisis. “Preston is high on the list of potential closures, and if it were to close it would have a devastating impact on Ione and Amador County,” said Forster. No further word over the proposed Preston closure has been reported, and one representative of Assemblywoman Alyson Huber said it’s “in limbo.” About 85 youth are currently housed at the Boys Ranch, with an estimated 50 percent of them classified as gang members, according to the Probation Department. Some 275 offenders between 16 and 18 were sent to the Boys Ranch last year for terms ranging from three months to a year. Another 110 offenders between the ages of 14 and 16 are being held at Thornton. More than 500 youths spent time at Thornton last year. Opponents to the idea are alarmed over the untold number of convicted criminals who would return to their neighborhoods without serving full sentences. But Nav Gil, Sacramento County chief operations officer, called the probation proposal "very preliminary” and said it has not yet been reviewed by the county executive’s office. The proposed cuts would represent a 46 percent reduction in the county's $69.6 million in general fund spending on probation this year. The closure of the two Sacramento facilities would save the county $8.7 million and $6.6 million each. The elimination of 247 jobs would result in some $22 million salary savings, and drastically reduce supervision for the lion's share of the county's 15,000 adult probationers to intake interviews and paperwork reviews. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - 10th District Assemblywoman and Amador County Representative Alyson Huber introduced two bills as part of her pledge for more transparency and accountability in government. Assembly Bills 1181 and 1274, introduced in February, are designed to give voters more information about campaign finance and lobbying efforts. Huber, who was recently appointed to chair the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, said “we need to find fast and effective ways to help save taxpayer money and ensure strong oversight of public services during these difficult times.” During her special ½ hour television interview on TSPN, Huber said state lobbying groups are only required to file statements detailing contributions to political causes if those expenses exceed $5000. Assembly Bill 1181 would require all state candidates committees and slate mail organizations to list their contributions online with the Secretary of State’s office. “Government shouldn’t be done in the dark,” Huber said. Assembly Bill 1274 requires a publicly accessible online directory of all lobbying interests seeking to influence proposed laws. Huber believes this “one-click system is the best way for the public to access information on contributions.” One of the primary duties of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee is to make recommendations to the Legislature regarding revenues and expenditures of the State. Huber is also a member of the Accountability and Administrative Review Committee, which oversees the management of state government and works to the effectiveness and operation of state programs and agencies. Huber’s other committee memberships include Veteran’s Affairs; Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy; Water, Parks and Wildlife; and Education. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sacramento – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday signed an allocation bill for $835 Million Dollars for regional transportation agencies, part of $1.6 Billion Dollars in federal economic stimulus from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Mark DeSio of the California Department of Transportation, said Schwarzenegger is “continuing his push to create jobs through infrastructure-based investment.” ARRA projects to get funding include 2 projects in Amador County, both on Highway 88. The first is near Barton, from 1/10th mile west of Wagon Wheel Drive to 1/10th mile west of Silver Lake Road, costing $1.16 Million Dollars. The second is Highway 88 near Plasse, from 2 miles west of Tragedy Springs Road to 3/10th-miles east of Kit Carson Lodge Road, also costing $1.16 Million Dollars. The law “modifies existing state law, providing greater delegation to regional transportation agencies for selecting projects and programming their dollars,” DeSio said in a release. Each region is developing a list of projects that could be funded by the $1.6 billion-dollar pool of money. The new law also gives CalTrans flexibility to use $310 million dollars in federal economic stimulus funds, to move a number of Proposition 1B projects more quickly to construction. DeSio said “Caltrans will propose projects that provide construction jobs immediately and also provide the greatest long-term economic benefits for the state.” Caltrans launched an Economic Recovery Website, DeSio said, “designed to provide “up-to-date information on using ARRA funds on transportation projects to create jobs and jump-start the economy.” Online see www.dot.ca.gov/recovery or the federal site, www.recovery.gov. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.