(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement in opposition to the Democrats’ partisan COVID relief bill.
 
Rep. LaMalfa said, “Over $1 trillion in COVID relief remains unspent, but Democrat leaders are shamelessly pretending we must approve this partisan slush fund or risk the collapse of our entire pandemic recovery. With only nine percent of its funding going to COVID health spending and less than half authorized to be spent this year, this bill is in no way timely or even necessary. The numerous beneficiaries of this so-called COVID relief include union pensions, Planned Parenthood, the National Endowment for the Arts, and even a bridge in Senator Schumer’s state of New York and a tunnel in Speaker Pelosi’s backyard.
 
“I am also troubled that this bill does nothing to address the issue of unemployment insurance penalties and identity theft that will be affecting millions of Americans, both of which result in surprise tax bills that our constituents had not counted on at all. My amendments to help people with these worsening problems were rejected outright by Democrat leadership.”
 
Rep. LaMalfa has been a leader in Congress calling for a bipartisan solution for several surprise consequences and complications affecting millions of Americans receiving unemployment benefits in the past year. Nearly 44 million Americans filed for unemployment last year, with many unaware that UI benefits were considered taxable income. Making the problem worse, state agencies, including the California Employment Development Department, were inconsistent in withholding projected federal income taxes on both the state benefit and federal supplemental paid through COVID relief legislation, causing unforeseen taxes being due at filing for millions of Californians due to state incompetence. Additionally, millions of Americans have had their identity stolen and used to illegally collect unemployment benefits over the past year. Yet, they only find out they are victims when a 1099-G tax form arrives in the mail claiming they owe hundreds or thousands of dollars in taxes on unemployment benefits they did not apply for, or receive.
 
LaMalfa authored three amendments to alleviate these issues. His first amendment would exclude unemployment compensation from gross taxable income for 2020, effectively reducing taxes for those receiving UI. His second amendment would defer penalties and interest on unpaid tax liabilities on unemployment compensation for 2020, helping millions set to be penalized because of state agencies. Finally, he offered anamendment to codify, authorize, and direct the Department of Justice to continue operating the National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force to combat international identity theft and unemployment fraud. Unfortunately Democrat leadership did not allow the amendments to be considered.
 
LaMalfa cosponsored four additional amendments to the bill, all of which Democrats blocked:

• Rep. Stefanik’s amendment to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund if they have a partnership in effect with any entity owned or controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China or organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.
• Rep. McMorris’s amendment to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to subsidize health plans that cover elective abortions, and prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars authorized for public health grants and the delivery of health services that are not directly related to preventing and treating COVID-19, to be used for elective abortions.
• Rep. Glenn Thompson’s amendment to make critical investments in programs which serve rural families, businesses, and communities by providing assistance for biofuels producers, producers suffering disaster losses, rural hospitals and educational facilities, rural broadband services, and rural utility providers and businesses.
• Rep. Hagedorn’s amendment to prevent any funds from being obligated until 90% of current COVID-19 relief funds allocated by Congress have been expended on a program-by-program basis. This does not apply to any funds appropriated for COVID vaccine deployment, testing, or PPE.

LaMalfa supported all five bipartisan COVID relief bills passing the House last year.
 
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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SACRAMENTO – California State Senate Republicans support legislative efforts that would make state and federal COVID-19 relief dollars free from tax liability for businesses and allow them to fully deduct expenses paid for with forgiven loans. Senate Bill 265 introduced by Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) would apply to both future pandemic-related relief funds as well as retroactively to recipients who have already received funds.
 
With tax season approaching, there is concern among many businesses that the state of California is attempting to tax federal assistance and generate extra revenue. This, California Republicans argue, is fundamentally unfair and urge Governor Newsom to include these provisions in the next early action budget bill likely to be considered next week.
 
“Businesses and entities that received federal assistance during the pandemic desperately needed that assistance and should not be penalized by the state of California,” said Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita).“The state should not balance its budget on the backs of the businesses that qualified for financial assistance. Our businesses fared worse compared to those in other states because of the high cost of operating businesses here coupled with the confusing shutdown and re-opening guidelines ordered by the Governor. Every effort should be taken to assist – not further hurt - those who applied for and received pandemic relief funds.”
 
“Businesses might be surprised to learn that pandemic relief funds they received may be considered taxable events,” said Senator Borgeas, the author of the bill. “Struggling businesses should not have to turn down relief simply because they cannot afford to be taxed on it by California.”
 
California has yet to fully conform to the federal tax laws, which exempt COVID-19 relief funds as taxable events. This could leave many struggling businesses with major tax liabilities. It is vital to the recovery of our business community that California pass legislation that will provide businesses with the relief they deserve.
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Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. Learn more about Scott by visiting his website and be sure to connect with him on social media.

Senator Borgeas represents the 8th Senate District, which encompasses all or portions of Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Sacramento, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties. For additional information about Senator Borgeas, please visit his website at www.senate.ca.gov/borgeas or sign up for his monthly newsletter here.

For press inquiries or q

New testing sites and instructions below.
For more information, please visit www.sierracounty.ca.gov or email covid19@sierracounty.ca.gov
 
 
Free Walk-thru Testing Wednesdays - 10am - 12:30pm with Downieville Ambulance Urgent Care using the COLOR Testing Solution at the Downieville Community Hall. 
Click HERE to register. 

• A mid-nasal swab will be collected at appointment.
• You will be notified of your test results 2 to 5 days after collection by phone, email or text 
• No age limit. If under 18 years old, parent or guardian need to be present.
• Pre-registration preferred, not required. 
• Walk-in same day registration on-site available.

FREE walk-thru testing with OptumServe/LHI, under contract with the California Department of Public Health, now available:

• Greenville every other Saturday at the Greenville Town Hall 120 Bidwell St. (behind the Fire Station), Greenville 95947. See the flyers here.
• Sierraville every Thursday at the Old Sierraville School Community Center: 305 Lincoln Street (Hwy 89), Sierraville CA 96126.  
• Portola every other Saturday at the Portola Veterans Hall; 449 W. Sierra Ave, Portola CA 96122.  See the flyers here.
  • A mid-nasal swab will be collected at appointment.
  • You will be notified of your test results 2 to 5 days after collection by phone, email or text.
  • No age limit. If under 18 years old, parent or guardian need to be present.
  • Pre-registration preferred, not required.
  • Residents without internet access: (888) 634-1123

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the Small Business Administration (SBA) released updated Paycheck Protection Act (PPP) information including a new 14 day application window geared towards sole proprietors and businesses under 20 employees. This 14 day window opens today.
 
Rep. LaMalfa said, “The PPP program has successfully helped keep thousands of California small businesses open, workers paid, and families afloat during the pandemic, and it is a textbook example of what can be achieved through a bipartisan approach to COVID aid. Fortunately for small businesses still needing relief, PPP loans are still available and are even forgivable under most circumstances. I encourage eligible small businesses needing assistance to take advantage of this program.”
 
Businesses interested in applying for PPP loans or learning more about eligibility can find more information from the SBA here or contact LaMalfa’s office. New formulas for calculating loan amounts for sole proprietors will be based off of gross revenue and will help with higher loan amounts being available. In California, 202,264 individual PPP loans for $18,192,309,838 have been approved through February 21, 2021.
 
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.
 

Expert explains how to protect yourself from tax scams

According to the data, over 91% of the 165 million tax returns in the U.S. were filed electronically last year. Due to the current coronavirus outbreak, it is expected that an even greater percentage of tax documents will be submitted online this year.

Unfortunately, with the lockdown forcing people to work remotely, cybercriminals have become more active than ever this tax season. People doing business online, especially accounting firms, are now prime targets for hackers looking to exploit any vulnerability.

Oliver Noble, a cybersecurity specialist at NordLocker, says that whether you do taxes on your own or employ an accountant, protecting your personal documents should be a priority. “Many people have lost hundreds or even thousands of dollars and had their personal data stolen through tax scams. It is vitally important to take security into consideration when going about this annual taxpayer duty,” he explains.

Oliver Noble offers three basic tips on how to avoid tax filing risks online.

1. Don’t fall for a phishing scam

Phishing is an attempt to steal confidential data from internet users through impersonation. This criminal technique is most often used in emails and text messages. According to the FTC, the imposter scam is the number one type of fraud in the US, costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars. To avoid having your money or identity stolen through phishing, remember this:

• Never click on links you receive in emails, text messages, or social media posts claiming to be from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The IRS does not ask for personal or financial information from taxpayers through these channels.
• Never send your personal information to any “official” or “representative” by email or a text message.
• When in doubt, before doing anything, contact your bank to check the legitimacy of the required actions. Don’t forget that banks, like the IRS, never ask for your personal information by phone or email.

2. Use a VPN when connecting to your online accounts

As a rule of thumb, never file taxes, submit any personal information online, or log in to your bank accounts over public Wi-Fi. If there’s no other choice, you should use a reliable VPN service to protect your connection. VPNs (virtual private networks) replace your IP address with a virtual one that fraudsters cannot trace back to you and your data.

But the risks aren’t limited to just public networks. Even your home Wi-Fi may be breached by skilled hackers, so you should always use a VPN to keep your information private. At the moment, employees all over the world are using secure VPN connections to safely access their company accounts during the lockdown.

3. Protect your tax forms and bills

If you're sending your files to someone, make sure to encrypt them first. Tax documents can give away a lot of personally identifiable information, which is why they should never be stored unprotected on your computer or in the cloud. Start to employ user-friendly file encryption tools, such as NordLocker, to effectively protect all your valuable information from prying eyes.

The IRS requires taxpayers to store all documents used for tax credits or deductions for three years. Luckily, they accept digital copies, so you don't have to worry about blurry receipts or digging through piles of paper — simply keep your tax return documents, including photocopies of receipts, in a private encrypted folder either on your computer or in the cloud.

“Cyberattacks may be on the rise, but they don't have to necessarily happen to you. As a taxpayer, you can easily protect your sensitive data with the tools designed for that purpose. Adopting these practices for your online tax returns will also help you watch out for other online threats,” says Oliver Noble.

ABOUT NORDLOCKER

NordLocker is the world’s first end-to-end file encryption tool with a private cloud. It was created by the cybersecurity experts behind NordVPN – one of the most advanced VPN service providers in the world. NordLocker is available for Windows and macOS, it supports all file types, offers a fast and intuitive interface, and guarantees secure sync between devices. With NordLocker, files are protected from hacking, surveillance, and data collection. For more information: nordlocker.com.

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The Sierra Small Business Development Center (Sierra SBDC) is located in Truckee, CA.  As a small business Advisor for the Sierra SBDC, I service Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc Counties.  The SBDCs provide FREE one-on-one counseling, business plan development, and FREE workshops and webinars every month.  For FREE counseling, please go to www.sierrasbdc.com; open the Home Page, click on the ‘Apply Now’ on the upper right, and then complete the information boxes about your business for a client profile.  All information is kept confidential.  You will then be routed to me and we can start working together for your business.
 
For the FREE workshops and seminars, go to www.sierrasbdc.com; click on Calendar at the top, then scroll down to the session of your choice.  You must register to get entry.  Following is the schedule for March 2021:
 
March 1:  Your Customer Experience in the New Dine-In Reality.
            How to merge COVID-19 gov’t guidelines with best hospitality practices.
March 4:  Social Media Tips & Tricks for Food Businesses.
            Everyday Social Media: How to keep the posts coming and the customers engaged.
March 9:  Owning and Investing in Real Estate for Small Business Entrepreneurs.
            Information to secure your long-term future by owning property, company plants, and equipment.
March 10:  Webinar:  Digital Marketing Hour:  Instagram Stories.
            How can my company develop meaningful marketing strategies with limited resources?
March 10 & 17:  Disaster Relief Loan Updates and Caseforce.
            Answers how small businesses can prepare and apply for an SBA Economic Injury Loan and PPP Forgiveness.  Also:  Provide information on any new loan options.
March 10, 17, 24, 31:  Restaurant Financial Bootcamp – Four Part Series.
            Intensive four-part bootcamp series on restaurant financials.
March 24:  Webinar – Digital Marketing Hour:  Digital Marketing Tactics as You Continue to Pivot and Recover.
            Embracing digital technology as an effective way to communicate with customers, promote your business and services, and sell products online.
 
Feel free to contact me for information on our FREE services at clint.koble@gmail.com or (775) 843-4081.  The Sierra SBDC also has experts in International Trade, the Food Industry, Marketing, Financing and more.
 
Clint Koble, Advisor

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Comment Period Runs Until May 3Susanville, CA Feb. 22— Each year, the Lassen National Forest has an opportunity to submit grant applications to the California State Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) for consideration for funding in support of the Forest’s on-going Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) program. As part of the state’s 2021 grant cycle, the forest is submitting a proposal for a law enforcement project which includes OHV area patrols and enforcement.
 
As part of the application process, stakeholders are encouraged to make comments on submitted applications. The comments will be used to shape the final grant application package which are due to the OHMVR Division by June 7.
Preliminary applications for the 2021 projects will be made available for review and comment on the OHMVR Division's website beginning March 2.
 
Additionally, interested parties can find more information about the Lassen’s OHV program on our website.  
In addition to the OHMVR Division’s website, public comments regarding the proposed project may be submitted in writing to Adam Hill, Patrol Captain, at 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, or electronically to adam.hill@usda.gov by May 3. 
 

Sierra County Probation Delivered Daily Meals to Vulnerable Members of the CommunitySierra County Probation took it upon themselves to go above and beyond to help their community during the heart of the stressful COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Probation Officer Chuck Henson and Deputy Probation Officer Sofia Gonzalez spearheaded the delivery of hot meals to senior citizens in the community due to restricted access that many local senior centers were experiencing.  In addition, they hand delivered daily hot meals to many of the disabled members in their community.
On average, they delivered about 30-35 hot meals daily for six weeks, some of those days the temperature being as low as 20-25 degrees.
The department also participated in weekly food bank and commodities deliveries in conjunction with local volunteers and outside groups in the community for many weeks.
Sierra County Probation truly embodied the mission of probation during the wake of the pandemic by continuing to find ways to support their vulnerable populations despite overwhelming circumstances.
“Probation is always prepared to meet the needs of our community and those of the adults and youth we serve. The safety and the well-being of clients, staff, and our communities is our top priority,” said Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) President Chief Steve Sentman. “Sierra County Probation saw a significant need during a difficult time and found a safe and innovative way to answer that call and serve members of their community – well done!”
Probation Departments all over the state of California are delivering evidence-based programs and supervision as well as rehabilitative services, which result in lower recidivism and a pathway to success for clients and healthier communities.
 
Spotlight PDF - Sierra County Probation Delivers Hot Meals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, February 22, 2021 -- Report for America today announced that it will release its 2020 Local Newsroom Sustainability Report during the Knight Media Forum, hosted virtually by the Knight Foundation, March 2-4.
The upcoming report includes the striking news that Report for America newsroom partners raised 61% more funding per reporter in 2020 than in 2019, jumping from a $14,593 average to $23,500 per reporter.
Overall, the report will demonstrate the valuable role philanthropy can play in addressing the crisis in local journalism—at a time when shrinking advertising revenue and the COVID-19 pandemic have shuttered many newsrooms.
"Local communities want local news and are willing to work at making it happen," said Todd Franko, Report for America's director of local sustainability and development. "That's what 2020 told us—and that it happened in an unprecedented year in American history needs to be part of the recognition.”
Among the report’s highlights:

• Report for America helped local newsrooms raise $4.6 million in 2020 (well past its projected $2.5 million goal)—essentially injecting nearly $10 million into journalism with Report for America’s national match.
• Fundraising by for-profit newsrooms grew from $12,972 per newsroom in 2019 to $26,811 per newsroom in 2020, while fundraising for nonprofits rose from $28,433 per newsroom in 2019 to $41,254 in 2020.
• The growth is fueled largely by individual giving: donors giving under $5,000 contributed 6,774 gifts, averaging $68, to our partner newsrooms, compared to 984 gifts averaging $54 in 2019

"How this success happened is what ignites our path forward,” Franko said. “In our partner communities, there is a base audience of donors who want local news. They are making local philanthropy a vital third revenue stream to sustain local media.”
Beyond releasing the report during the Knight Media Forum, Report for America will participate in two panel events, both taking place Wednesday, March 3, at 1 p.m. ET: 

• New Solutions to Rebuild Local Journalism: Strategies for communities to support local journalism, featuring Steven Waldman, Report for America’s president and co-founder.
• Local Funder-Grantee success story: Report for America: A case study on the national service organization placing journalists in local newsrooms across the country, featuring Report for America corps members Zoë Jackson, Minnesota Star Tribune; newsroom partner, Greg Farmer, The Kansas City Star; and funder, Marian Kaanon, Stanislaus Community Foundation.

The Knight Media Forum is the premier gathering of leaders in philanthropy, journalism and technology working to strengthen local news, communities and democracy. The 2021 forum is online and open to all. Register here.
To learn more about Report for America’s efforts to place journalists into local newsrooms across the nation while empowering newsrooms to develop sustainable funding, visit www.reportforamerica.org.
About Report for America
Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities. Launched in 2017 and donor-financed, Report for America is creating a new, sustainable system that provides Americans with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable, and rebuild trust in the media. Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit media organization with an established track record of training and supporting teams of emerging journalists around the world and in the US. Report for America is a MacArthur Foundation 100&Change finalist, a global competition for a single $100 million grant.
 
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SACRAMENTO – Thanks to bipartisan efforts, struggling small businesses and non-profits received a much-needed boost today. Senate Republicans are pleased that Senate Democrats joined them in passing an early action budget measure that will provide more than $2 billion in immediate economic relief to job creators and non-profits that have been affected by the state’s confusing closing and re-opening guidelines. Members of the California Senate Republican Caucus are principal co-authors of Senate Bill 87.

SB 87 stemmed from the measure “Keep California Working Act” (SB 74) introduced by Republican Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) in December. Legislative Democrats agreed to include some of the proposals from SB 74 in today’s budget bill.

“Every legislator could tell a personal story about a business that has shuttered its doors permanently because of the state’s confusing guidelines. California has already lost more than 19,000 businesses or non-profits because of the state’s confusing guidelines and many more are in precarious situations. This won’t undo the damage caused by the shutdowns, but it will provide a definite boost in the arm for our job creators and non-profits,” said Wilk. “Thanks to Senator Borgeas for his leadership and tireless efforts to unite the business community and the legislature to ‘Keep California Working.’ A win for bipartisanship is a win for our small business community because good ideas shouldn’t have party lines.”
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​CLINT KOBLE, Advisor with Small Business Development out of Truckee, was featured speaker at a meeting held at Golden West Dining in Loyalton Saturday, February 20th with a tri-tip luncheon. On arrival, he compared the beauty of Plumas and Sierra Counties with a national park. But he gave his observations of shuttered communities,,damage to small, small businesses and non profits devastated with the cancellation of annual events.  He told of fewer stays and less services.
He called Chambers of Commerce a “breath of life.” He called small, small businesses under appreciated and under-respected. The Mom & Pops he said have been forgotten. Chambers, he said, need to reinvent and redefine with economic development as the “heart and soul” of communities. To rebuild he said Chambers need to bring value to memberships and bring resources.
He talked of the fight to get technology and online networking and growing tourism. In losing population, he said in 1860 Sierra County had 11,387 residents compared to less than 3,000 in 2018.
East Sierra Valley Chamber Vice President Kaytee Lundee asked what the Chamber could do and mentioned “no place to rent.” Clint suggested advertising, “Live where you vacation,” making experiences unique and memorable, making it attractive and sharing resources.  Mark Brown, former mayor of Truckee, told of work on the general plan which is crucial. There was talk on TOT funding and Supervisor Paul Roen told how the County has been to Washington over PILT funding.
There was talk of “no growthers,” with Roen responding there are 2,385 current privately-owned buildable lots in Sierra County; lots. He elaborated how ranchers gave up concessions to focus growth for smaller acreage. He gave an example of Sierra Hot Springs, designed and negotiated to expand in the General Plan but how “everybody in the community threw a fit” and nobody wants  growth in their backyard.

It’s no secret that in the heyday of gold mining and lumber, extraction industries in the Sierras thrived due to the abundance of natural resources and the essentially non-existent environmental concerns. However, in the absence of these once-thriving industries, a new player has entered the game. And it’s sustainable! Outdoor recreation has been a rejuvenating industry to communities throughout Plumas and Sierra counties, once again putting them on the map for visitors from around the world. The Downieville Classic, along with the multi-use trail systems winding through the wild beauty of the Sierras have outdoor enthusiasts visiting year-round. Hunting and fishing remain constants while winter snowmobile action is heavy throughout the mountainous areas of the county as well. However, it still holds true that the communities throughout Sierra and Plumas counties are struggling to maintain year-round economic growth, local jobs, and tourism revenue. Greg Williams and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship have been brewing a plan to enhance the attraction of outdoor recreation enthusiasts to the area, continuing to bring life back into the Lost Sierras and boost year-round economic flow into our communities. Their plan is to connect fifteen communities throughout the Sierras via a multi-use trail system. The Trails Master Plan, or TMP, is focused on creating a vision for recreation-focused lifestyle, community investment, shared stewardship, economic opportunity, and creating local jobs to benefit the economies of disadvantaged communities in Sierra, Plumas, and Lassen counties.
The proposed “Lost Sierra Trail Route” traverses over 300 miles over breathtaking topography, jagged peaks, and high alpine meadows similar to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the John Muir Trail (JMT). But unlike the PCT and JMT, this new trans-Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range route allows for all dirt trail travelers including hikers, mountain bikers, moto riders, equestrians, trail runners, hunters, fishermen, wildlife, grandmothers, and babies in backpacks. The Lost Sierra Route will be a trail for all to use that will link mountain communities together for recreational adventure and economic sustainability. The intention of the trail system is to identify areas within communities where trail access
would create additional benefits. Areas such as schools, neighborhoods, campgrounds, parks, retail centers, and trailheads (new and existing). Having these trail systems connected to “Main Street” is ideal, as it brings visitors into town for restaurants, accommodations, and services, and allows convenient access to public lands for residents.
The project aims to create new recreational opportunities, in collaboration with fuels management and watershed protection projects, that will spread high-intensity use into underutilized areas of the National Forest still with environmental impact in the forefront of route planning. They will be assessing conditions and identifying priorities in order to utilize and maintain existing trails, trailhead facilities, and access roads located throughout Plumas, Lassen, and Tahoe National Forests. Their efforts also aim to build strategic alignments for Shared Stewardship and create employment, training, and apprenticeships for disadvantaged adults and youth, bringing partnerships and investment to our public lands through the Outdoor industry channel. In the process, the Trail Stewardship will begin to identify unclassified National Forest roads and trails which may be decommissioned and restored to a natural condition in an effort to clean up our forests.
Project funding and support has been provided by Sierra Nevada Conservancy, California Off-Highway Vehicle Division grants, California State Parks & Recreation grants, California State proposition funds, National Forest Foundation grants, Secure Rural Schools, Outdoor Industry partners, Adopt a Trail sponsors and SBTS matching funds. The project has also gained the support of the US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region 5 which includes the Plumas, Tahoe, Lassen National Forests, the Plumas, Lassen, Sierra and Butte County Board of Supervisors, the Cities of Portola, Loyalton and Susanville, the Feather River Land Trust and the Sierra County Land Trust, the Lost Sierra Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Economic Development, Cal State Chico, the State of Nevada, Off-Highway Vehicle Program, the International Mountain Bicycling Association and the Pacific Crest Trail Association. ​(this will most likely be cut down to just our main partners)
Plans for the construction and maintenance of a world-class multiple-use trail system intends to connect the northern Sierra communities of: Truckee, Loyalton, Sierraville, Sierra City, Downieville, Quincy, Graeagle, Portola, Taylorsville, Greenville, Jonesville, Chester, Westwood, Susanville and Reno NV. The main proposed route is being referred to as “The Lost Sierra Route”, paying homage to the region and the historic Gold Rush-era mail delivery route. The TMP will also provide a repeatable process/template for other rural communities wanting to collaborate with government agencies and stakeholders and for land managers to make informed decisions and prioritize projects based on the needs of the community.
This project is intended to empower communities but not without the input of the communities themselves! The Trails Master Plan is being developed through community input and will allow residents to collaborate with land managers and local government officials on a long-range vision for building and maintaining a world-class recreational resource on public land. You can voice your opinion by taking the Connected Communities survey either online at their website sierratrails.org or in person at participating venues. Just look for the Connected Communities survey booklet in your community! Survey deadline is March 31st.
Written by: Carl Butz, Mountain Messenger 

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RCRC has expressed support for Assembly Bill 431, authored by Assembly Member Jim Patterson (R-Fresno). Currently, state law exempts tree removal for the purposes of complying with defensible space requirements from state timber harvesting plan (THP) provisions. The exemptions are slated to expire on January 1, 2022, which would make it more difficult for residents in high fire risk areas to safeguard their homes from high severity wildfires.
AB 431 seeks to extend the THP exemption to January 1, 2026 to allow private residents to continue to safeguard their homes and property by easing their ability to comply with defensibly space requirements without the burden going through the THP process. RCRC’s letter is attached. For more information, contact Staci Heaton, RCRC Senior Regulatory Affairs Advocate, by email or call (916) 447-4806.


The Honorable Luz M. Rivas
Chair, Assembly Natural Resources Committee State Capitol, Room 3126
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Assembly Bill 431 (Patterson) – SUPPORT As Introduced February 4, 2021
Dear Assembly Member Rivas:
On behalf of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), I am writing to express our support for Assembly Bill 431, authored by Assembly Member Jim Patterson, which extends the sunset for certain timber harvest plan (THP) exemptions for activities related to cutting or removing trees in compliance with defensible space laws. RCRC is an association of thirty-five rural California counties, and the RCRC Board of Directors is comprised of elected supervisors from each member county.
RCRC member counties contain much of California’s forested lands, including more than 70 percent of the State’s national forest lands. Many RCRC member counties’ residents live in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and must comply with the State’s defensible space law in order to protect their homes in the event of wildfire. For those homeowners, many THP requirements are onerous and frankly unnecessary, as THP preparation is primarily intended for commercial timber harvest and large-scale tree removal projects. Requiring homeowners to comply with THP requirements for the purposes of defensible space practices is especially impractical in the wake of recent catastrophic wildfire events, and is a barrier to residents in the wildland urban interface being able to fully safeguard their homes. RCRC supports AB 431, as it will extend the sunset to on THP exemptions to 2026, making it easier for homeowners in the SRA to remove overgrowth, fire-proof their homes and promote compliance with defensible space law.
For the above reasons, RCRC respectfully requests your ‘Aye’ vote when this measure is heard before your Committee. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at sheaton@rcrcnet.org or (916) 447-4806.
1215 K Street, Suite 1650, Sacramento, CA 95814 | www.rcrcnet.org | 916.447.4806 | Fax: 916.448.3154
ALPINE AMADOR BUTTE CALAVERAS COLUSA DEL NORTE EL DORADO GLENN HUMBOLDT IMPERIAL INYO LAKE LASSEN MADERA MARIPOSA MENDOCINO MERCED MODOC MONO MONTEREY NAPA NEVADA PLACER PLUMAS SAN BENITO SAN LUIS OBISPO SHASTA SIERRA SISKIYOU SONOMA SUTTER TEHAMA TRINITY TULARE TUOLUMNE YOLO YUBA
The Honorable Luz M. Rivas Assembly Bill 431
February 12, 2021
Page 2
Sincerely,
STACI HEATON Regulatory Affairs Advocate
cc: The Honorable Jim Patterson, Member of the State Assembly The Honorable James Gallagher, Member of the State Assembly Members of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee Consultant, Assembly Natural Resources Committee
Kirstin Kolpitcke, Consultant, Assembly Republican Caucus 

SACRAMENTO - Student-athletes, coaches, and parents received welcoming news today as the California Public Health Department released its guidance to allow youth and recreational sports to resume on February 26.
 
Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) is a proud co-author of the “Let Them Play” Resolution and releases the following statement: 
 
“After hearing from parents and student-athletes up and down California, the Governor is finally releasing his guidance on outdoor youth sports. It is unfortunate that his lack of guidance has caused tremendous confusion and angst for athletes, their families, and California’s youth sports leagues. I hope the Governor and Administration health authorities will stick with science and not repeatedly yank these activities from open to close as his Administration has done to small businesses for the past 11 months.” 
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Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. Learn more about Scott by visiting his website and be sure to connect with him on social media.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California Department of Food and Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division (CalCannabis) and State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) are hosting a free online commercial cannabis cultivation permitting workshop on Thursday, March 4, 2021.

The free workshop is ideal for new and existing commercial cannabis cultivators and consultants. Those interested in attending can use the link below to watch the webcast – no registration is required. Closed captions will be provided.

Questions can be submitted in advance of the event by sending an email to askcannabis@wildlife.ca.gov with “Cannabis Webcast” as the subject line. Questions not answered during the webcast will be forwarded to the appropriate agency for a response.

Workshop Details: Thursday, March 4, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Webcast Link: https://video.calepa.ca.gov/

CalCannabis will provide an overview of the state’s cannabis cultivation licensing program and review the requirements for commercial cannabis farming. CDFW will cover permitting, use of the online notification system (EPIMS) and compliance requirements. The State Water Board will review the cannabis policy and permitting process for both the Division of Water Quality and Division of Water Rights. Other regulatory agencies will also present.

For more information about becoming a licensed commercial cannabis farmer and for an overview of the California Cannabis Track-and-Trace/Metrc System, please visit the CalCannabis website at calcannabis.cdfa.ca.gov, call (833) CALGROW (225-4769) or send an email to calcannabis@cdfa.ca.gov. To report suspected illegal cannabis farming or related complaints, call the CalCannabis toll-free hotline: (833) WEED-TIP (933-3847).

To learn more about CDFW’s cannabis program, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/cannabis or send an email to askcannabis@wildlife.ca.gov. To report environmental crimes, such as pollution, water diversions and poaching, please call the CalTIP hotline at (888) 334-2258 or text information to tip411 by texting “CALTIP” followed by a space and the message. The CalTIP app can also be downloaded via the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store.

To learn more about the State Water Board’s role in cannabis cultivation permitting, please visit waterboards.ca.gov/cannabis. For permitting and compliance assistance, send an email to dwq.cannabis@waterboards.ca.govor call (916) 341-5580 (Cannabis Cultivation General Order), or send an email to cannabisreg@waterboards.ca.gov or call (916) 319-9427 (cannabis cultivation water rights).
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Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation to participate in public meetings or other CDFW activities are invited to contact CDFW's Accessibility Coordinator at (916) 651-1214, the EEO Office at (916) 653-9089, or send an email to  EEO@wildlife.ca.gov. Reasonable Accommodation requests for facility and/or meeting accessibility should be received at least 21 days prior to the event. Requests for American Sign Language Interpreters should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event, and requests for Real-Time Captioning at least four weeks prior to the event. These timeframes are to help ensure that the requested accommodation is met. If a request for an accommodation has been submitted but due to circumstances is no longer needed, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator immediately.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife | wildlife.ca.gov ‌ ‌ ‌
California Department of Fish and Wildlife | 1416 9th Street, 12th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814

Urges Congress to “Remember its Responsibility to Rural Americans”
 
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee rushed through a partisan $95.6 billion budget reconciliation measure that provides a windfall to high speed rail projects while neglecting rural Americans. $26 billion in the transit funding provided goes to urbanized areas, while only $280 million supports rural areas.
 
Rep. LaMalfa said, “It is shameful that Democrats took advantage of what should be a bipartisan bill to bail out high speed rail pet projects in urban districts at the expense of rural Americans. Prioritizing expensive and impractical high speed rail projects like the fiasco of California’s High-Cost Rail Project ignores the real infrastructure needs of Americans throughout the rest of the country. Congress must remember its responsibility to rural Americans if it wants to move our country forward.”
 
The reconciliation package referred out of committee by a vote of 39-25 provides another $30 billion for urban transit – $10 billion more than the Biden administration requested – bringing total COVID relief funding for transit to $69 billion. This infusion comes even though Amtrak has not spent the $1 billion dollars it received in the last aid package and 60 percent of total transit funding hasn’t been spent. This measure now moves to the House Budget Committee for further consideration.
 
LaMalfa filed three amendments to the markup, including an amendment to capture remaining funds at the Federal Railroad Administration originally designated for the California High Speed Rail project and send them to the U.S. Forest Service for their underfunded road system. Democrats did not allow any of the 67 Republican amendments to pass, despite the Democrat Chairman expressing support for some proposals.
 
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.
 

 
Millions of Americans to receive unexpected tax liabilities due to UI benefit classification as income
 
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after sending a letter to Republican and Democratic House and Senate leaders highlighting the urgent need for bipartisan Congressional action to ease the burden of unexpected tax liabilities for recipients of unemployment benefits. Many of the nearly 44 million Americans filing for unemployment last year were unaware that UI benefits were considered taxable income, and many state agencies, including the California Employment Development Department, were inconsistent in withholding projected federal income taxes of both the state base benefit and federal supplemental benefit paid through COVID relief legislation. Further, millions of Americans are victims of UI fraud, a fact many discover only upon receive a 1099-G form for benefits they did not apply for or receive.
 
Rep. LaMalfa said, “No American who lost his or her job because of COVID should suffer the additional unexpected burden of having their unemployment benefits taxed. I’ve offered two commonsense solutions to this problem that will bolster bipartisan Congressional intent to aid those suffering after losing their employment, as well as strengthened measures to combat the fraud being perpetrated on far too many Americans. I call on Congress to incorporate a fix for these issues in any additional COVID relief legislation being considered, and I look forward to continuing to work with my Republican and Democrat colleagues towards a solution.”
 
LaMalfa proposes two separate policy fixes to solve the issue of unexpected tax liabilities. First, Congress could direct the IRS to proactively waive any future failure-to-pay penalties or interest on outstanding tax debts in 2020 on income levied from UI benefits.  Second, Congress could create a new refundable tax credit equal to the value of an individual’s tax liability from UI benefits collected in 2020.
 
LaMalfa also calls on Congress to codify and provide resources to the Department of Justice National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force created last year by the Trump Administration to combat rampant UI fraud.  In early November 2020, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Labor “conservatively” estimated that $36 billion of the $360 billion in CARES Act funds to supplement unemployment could have been paid improperly or fraudulently.
 
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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