Sacramento -- In case you missed it, in light of today's Associated Press article headlined It's a secret: California keeps key virus data from public, The Center for American Liberty (@Liberty_Ctr) in conjunction with the Law Offices of Craig P. Alexander filed a lawsuit on Nov. 16 against the California Health and Human Services Agency seeking to enforce its right to obtain public records regarding the science and data used to justify the state's shelter-in-place, face covering, and canceling of mass gathering orders. 


The Center for American Liberty submitted public record requests on May 28, 2020 from the CHHS, which were not adequately responded to. The requests sought the "science" and "data" from Oct. 1, 2019 to May 28, 2020.

"It is unacceptable that the Governor Newsom has openly disregarded essential transparency laws, depriving legal insights to its decision making, that have had devastating consequences to millions of Californians," said Center for American Liberty Executive Director, Mark Trammell (@mark_trammell). "If Governor Newsom and CHHS is confident in its science and data, they should enthusiastically share it with its constituents and press, rather than breaking the law to keep it secret."

California law requires CHHS to respond within 10 days of submission. CAL submitted its original request on May 28, 2020, then sent a reminder on July 23, 2020, then again on Aug. 8, 2020. As of the date of filing the complaint, CAL has not received any response.


About the Center for American Liberty
The Center for American Liberty is a non-profit litigation, education, and public policy organization dedicated to advancing Free Speech rights and Civil Liberties. Founded by Harmeet K. Dhillon in 2019, the Center for American Liberty offers pro-bono and low-bono legal representation to Americans whose fundamental freedoms are violated.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Parks is seeking public feedback on draft guidelines for $19 million in outdoor program grants to create new or expand access to outdoor programs in underserved communities. Input from the public will help State Parks establish a new grant program - the Outdoor Equity Grant Program - in support of providing equitable access to all Californians.  
 
“Investing in outdoor programs that give underserved communities access to nature is critical for the health, inspiration and education of Californians,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “State Parks looks forward to working with grant applicants to create new educational and recreational activities that strengthen a connection to cultural history and the natural world.”
This competitive grant program, made possible through Assembly Bill 209 (Limón), will increase the ability of residents in underserved communities –with an emphasis on students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, foster youth, and students of limited English proficiency – to participate in outdoor experiences at state parks and other public lands. The program’s focus is on funding transportation, logistics, program operations, and capacity costs associated with reaching historically underserved urban and rural communities throughout California. 
The draft guidelines for the Outdoor Equity Grant Program are available for review online at www.parks.ca.gov/oep. Comments must be emailed to Supervisor Richard Rendon via email at Richard.Rendon@parks.ca.gov by 5 p.m. (PST) on Feb. 22, 2021. 
 
The public is also invited to attend one of the following four online public hearings next month:
 
 
Outdoor Equity Grant Program Public Hearing 

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Thursday Feb. 18, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

 
Please RSVP to the virtual public hearings online at www.parks.ca.gov/oep. 
Once finalized, the guidelines will be used by eligible applicants to plan for Outdoor Equity Grant Program grants. Application workshops and guidance will be offered approximately five months before applications are due. The application due date is to be determined. 
Since 1964, more than 7,500 parks throughout California have been created or improved through grant programs administered by the Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS). The mission of OGALS is to address California’s diverse recreational, cultural and historical resource needs by developing grant programs, administering funds, offering technical assistance, building partnerships and providing leadership through quality customer service. For more information on Proposition 68 programs and other grant programs, visit www.parks.ca.gov/grants.
 
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Subscribe to California State Parks News online at www.parks.ca.gov/news and click here.
California State Parks and the recreational programs supported by its divisions of Boating and Waterways, Historic Preservation and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide the opportunity for families, friends, and communities to connect. Off-highway motor vehicle recreation, boating activities, horseback riding, cycling, hiking, camping, rock climbing, tours, hikes, school group enrichment, and special events are just some of the activities enjoyed in 280 park units organized into 21 field districts throughout the state. Learn more at www.parks.ca.gov.
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Golden State Parents Find New Ways to Celebrate Learning, Support Opportunity for All
 
Sacramento– In the midst of a school year like no other, California families and educators are gearing up to safely spotlight education options during School Choice Week 2021. 
California families, schools, and organizations are hosting 2,104 virtual or at-home celebrations during the Week. For example, parents and education experts around the state will participate in a Zoom call hosted by the California Policy Center and Celebration Education on Saturday, Jan. 30 to share details about what school choices are available to parents in the state. Also, the California School Choice Foundation will be hosting a statewide virtual webinar bringing families keynote speakers and education tips.
 
Taking place annually since 2011, School Choice Week is America’s largest celebration of educational choice. While typically the Week is packed with large, in-person events, school choice advocates have adapted to this year’s health and safety protocols, opting for drive through scavenger hunts, virtual information sessions and showcases, online contests, drive-in movie screenings, and more. Across the country, more than two dozen iconic U.S. landmarks and notable buildings will light up in special colors to mark the Week. 
 
A growing number of California communities have issued proclamations recognizing School Choice Week, including the county of Santa Cruz and the cities of Montague, Highland, and Citrus Heights.
 
“This National School Choice Week, let’s pause to recognize the impact a child’s education has on their ability to achieve their dreams, attain a fulfilling career, and give back to their community,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “Across California, different schools help different students succeed—all great schools are worth celebrating and supporting.”
 
In California, there are a variety of educational options available including: traditional public schools with some open enrollment, charter schools, online schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, and private schools.
 
California families will be raising awareness about these choices at their virtual celebrations, which make up some of the more than 33,000 planned nationwide to spotlight K-12 education options.
 
To download a guide to California school choice, use the Schools Near Me tool to search for schools in your area, or see celebration photos and proclamation updates, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/california.
 
National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort; the Week is nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and not related to any legislative advocacy campaign.
 
Select local celebrants are available to discuss their plans with reporters upon request. For information on celebrations planned near you, reach out to us with information about your coverage area at pressoffice@schoolchoiceweek.com.
 
 
# # #
 
National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective education options for children and is the world’s largest celebration of opportunity in K-12 education. The Week is a not-for-profit effort that focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children.

 

By Ted Gaines
Word count 645
 
A massive change to property tax law is coming soon that could cost families thousands of dollars a year and affect how parents and grandparents pass down properties through generations. 
 
Proposition 19, passed by California voters last November, makes major adjustments to the “parent-child” and “grandparent-grandchild” exclusions, all to the harm of taxpayers. Prior to Prop. 19, parents and grandparents could transfer their principal residence to a child or grandchild with no value limit and without adjusting the property tax base-year value, meaning that the child or grandchild would not be saddled with a huge new property tax assessment when they became owner. The person receiving the property could live there, rent it out, use it as a second home, or let it sit empty – there were no restrictions on property use to qualify for the exemption.
 
Prop. 19 changes all of that. Once the new law goes into effect on February 16, 2021, the unlimited value provision disappears. The new formula will be the current taxable value of the property plus one-million dollars. This change will hit many coastal property owners in the pocketbook as they inherit or receive property that appreciated wildly in California’s multi-decade housing boom. Modest homes in Silicon Valley neighborhoods owned and transferred by middle-class families will face stratospheric tax bills under the new regime.
 
As bad as that will be, it is another provision that is more likely to cause havoc and financial loss for many Californians. Under Prop. 19, a person receiving property under one of these exclusions must now use the property as their primary residence to qualify. That means if you have moved to a different city, you would have to move back and occupy the home to receive the exemption. It means that if you are happy with your current home, you would have to give it up and move to qualify for the exemption. 
 
The date these changes go into effect is right around the corner. If you are planning on transferring property to a child or grandchild, please be aware of the very different landscape that awaits you and them after February 16. 
 
There are a thousand unanswered questions regarding these changes that are not clarified in the proposition language. What happens if multiple children receive a property but only one makes it a primary residence, for example? What happens if someone qualifies for the exclusion, then moves out of the primary residence for a time, then moves back in? Does the exemption kick back in or is it lost forever? It was an initiative written with little concern for detail.
 
Proposition 19 does provide some new and welcome benefits for California taxpayers, most notably that it allows certain property owners to transfer their base-year tax assessment to all 58 counties. This allows homeowners who want to downsize, move closer to their children, or relocate for any other reason to keep a lower property tax. Prior to Prop. 19, that benefit was only available within counties or in a handful of counties that accepted base-year transfers. Taxpayers can now also use that transfer provision three times instead of the one-time, geographically limited use in prior law. 
 
Although I favor the base-year transfer provisions, I oppose this new tax increase, which will take hundreds of millions of dollars a year from Californians inheriting their family’s biggest asset. But it’s now the law, and as a Board of Equalization Member and taxpayer advocate, I will be seeking to identify every area where Prop. 19 is unclear and am committed to working with the legislature, county assessors, tax professionals and taxpayers to ensure effective administration of this new law.
 
Visit my website at boe.ca.gov/gaines for more information on Prop. 19 and for examples of how the new law would affect passed-down properties. Please consult a qualified attorney or tax professional for advice on transferring any property.
 
Senator Ted Gaines (Ret.) was elected to represent the Board of Equalization’s First District. He is a leading taxpayer advocate and is committed to providing trustworthy and transparent representation for nearly ten million constituents in 30 counties of northern, eastern, and southern California. For more information, visit boe.ca.gov/Gaines.
 

 
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement regarding President Joe Biden’s 17 executive orders issued on his first day in office. 
 
Rep. LaMalfa stated, “President Biden’s executive orders on his first day in office make it clear that he will prioritize pleasing the far left radicals that have taken over his party over bringing unity to our healing nation. He calls for sweeping actions to reduce immigration enforcement, surrender our ability monitor and control our borders, and stop all border wall construction just weeks after Congress approved a bipartisan funding bill to build more. He recklessly seeks to take a backseat to China and other global competitors by unilaterally rejoining the Paris Climate Accords, despite treaties with foreign nations requiring Senate ratification. We’ve achieved energy independence but will lose that along with many good jobs from stopping the Keystone XL pipeline. And months after the U.S. removed itself from the China-beholden World Health Organization whose historic bungle thrust us into the worst pandemic we have ever seen, President Biden is looking the other way and reinserting us – while writing a big check made of your tax dollars – into this corrupt and inept organization that changes its Covid policy frequently and politically. The WHO needs drastic reform, not our capitulation to it. 
 
“President Biden would be wise to recognize that the radical left policy whisperers in his inner circle do not represent the Americans who just sent a closely divided government to Washington. Americans want free markets where we can thrive based on our ingenuity and desire, to get government off our backs, and to be defended from those on the global stage who wish to harm us. The American people do not want a European socialist country and are pleading for their way of life and prosperity to be defended, and I stand ready to fight for them.”
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

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Nevada City, Calif. —The US Forest Service has released an updated Tahoe National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map. The Motor Vehicle Use Map displays all permissible opportunities for off-high motorized use including single track riding and ATV/UTV family fun. The Map also provides seasonal operational dates for all Tahoe National Forest routes, trails, and roads. A few highlights and reminders:

• The updated Motor Vehicle Use Maps can be downloaded at https://go.usa.gov/xAfwV and opened with applications such as Avenza. Apps like these facilitate geo-location in the field utilizing smartphones or other devices. No cell coverage needed.
• Some specific roads are managed as groomed over-snow routes in the winter.
• The Burlington and Sugar Pine OHV trail systems are now being managed under a new, ‘pilot’ wet weather open/closed status as opposed to fixed operational dates. To learn more about these pilot programs and their current status, please visit https://go.usa.gov/xAfVR or call 530-288-3231 ext. 243 (Burlington OHV) or 530-367-2224 ext. 228 (Sugar Pine).

PLEASE HELP KEEP YOUR PUBLIC LANDS HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, AND BEAUTIFUL
With the low precipitation and snow levels so far in winter 2020-2021, Off-Highway Vehicle enthusiasts have been utilizing the Tahoe National Forest in uncharacteristically high numbers typical for this time of year. Unfortunately, resource damage is occurring. We thank all those adhering to regulations and protecting resources. Please remember the following:

• Routes free from snow may be passable in the morning but thaw as the day progresses. You will get stuck and/or damage your public roads for future use if used during closures.
• Not all closed routes are blocked with gates or posted with ‘closed’ signs. Please consult the Motor Vehicle Use map to learn more about seasonal operation dates. It is your responsibility to know the operational status of a route.
• Do not operate motorized vehicles outside of established routes. The reckless riding of a few can cause resource damage that lasts for years and leads to further restrictions for all riders and enthusiasts.

LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL approved the hiring of Phillip Wall out of Coleville, CA as Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator who was hired the following day. He will work three 12-hour days from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as an employee at $28/hour.
The City will continue to pay John Cussins’ insurance package who has generously worked for free many years.
Wall worked as Water Treatment Operator at Beale AFB from June 2017 to September 2018. His training as a wastewater operator goes back to Fall Brook Public Utilities District from June 1993 to December 1993.
From the audience, Phyllis DeMartini spoke against the number of hours calling it “not effective.” She had concern with the middle of winter, turning dark and no supervision. Vice Mayor Sarah Jackson said he’d be on probation one year, be monitored and checked for productivity.
Because the current two employees are not licensed, they both had to be at the plant. With the new Operator, they will do maintenance including streets, Ac-
cording to Public Works Director Nancy Rogers, they will attend free online training in Redding for their water certificates. This is their second attempt and according to Sarah, “Last try on our dime.”