MUSIC!  The drum corps and music students marched under direction of music teacher, Owen McIntosh

ENJOYING THE HOMECOMING PARADE - Residents of Loyalton's Skilled Nursing Facility got in on the action.

SACRAMENTO – After repeated efforts by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) and California Senate Republicans to address the homeowners’ insurance crisis in this state, Governor Gavin Newsom and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara finally announced some actions today to mitigate the crisis.
 
“I am encouraged to see the governor and Insurance Commissioner taking the insurance crisis seriously,” said Leader Jones. “While Californians needed them(Newsom and Lara) to act on this crisis years ago, I’m glad that Commissioner Lara has now heeded the Republican Caucus’ advice to act on his existing authority rather than just waiting for a legislative deal to emerge."


In August, California Senate Republicans sent a letter on behalf of their constituents demanding that both the governor and insurance commissioner take immediate action to fix the state’s broken homeowners’ insurance crisis.
 
“The people of California need a stable insurance market and today’s executive order, along with the commissioner’s plan of action, is a step towards stabilizing the market,” LeaderJones continued. “I renew our invitation to partner with him moving forward and again invite him to come speak to our caucus about any progress being made. Californians need to have affordable access to protect their homes from natural elements of earth, wind, and fire – and those who are facing increased costs today sure will remember this promise made on the 21st day of September.”
 
In addition to the effort by all Senate Republicans, Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), who represents many constituents who have been financially impacted by this crisis, last week blasted the state’s top insurance official for delaying action.
 
“I’ve fought for better protections for homeowners for years,” Dahle said at the time. “Californians are suffering unjustly, and deserve strong and empathetic leadership right now.”
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Senator Brian W. Jones represents the 40th Senate District which includes the Cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center.


Senator Brian Dahle represents California's 1st Senate District, which contains all or portions of 11 counties, including Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Shasta. Also serving deferred areas of Tehama, Butte, Colusa, and Glenn Counties.

CA Politicians Enact New Crazy Bans to Raise Your Costs and Disrupt Your LifeSupport the Campaign to Block the Natural Gas Ban in CA
As we continue to wage a statewide campaign to block California’s costly ban on all natural gas appliances (and the even more costly and intrusive home retrofit mandates), our state’s liberal politicians are expanding their list of absurd bans!

Before we get to the list of crazy new bans being enacted, this reinforces WHY we MUST WIN this campaign to block the ban on and costly retrofit mandate ($30k per homeowner) to remove natural gas appliances in homes! 

By punishing politicians on the natural gas appliance ban, we believe it will send a message that Californians are sick of the other costly and intrusive bans!

That’s why winning this fight is so crucial – so please contribute to the fight today!
Support the Campaign to Block the Natural Gas Ban in CA
Costly Bans Being Enacted in California
Here’s what they banned in just this recent session of the state legislature:

Grass Lawns (AB 1572): This bill begins the outright ban on grass lawns in California by banning them for all commercial, retail, industrial, and governmental parcels and buildings. While there is no implementation date for single family homes (for now), HOA’s are also banned from having grass in common areas! This imposes an enormous cost for landscaping changes – and experts say it will backfire by negatively impacting air quality.

Plastic Cards (SB 728): Small businesses will be negatively impacted by this bill that imposes fines of up to $10,000 per day if a business uses pre-paid plastic gift cards! This virtue-signaling bill will not help the environment, but it will inconvenience small businesses and customers alike! Just so you know the plastic bag ban from 2014 actually INCREASED plastic waste by replacing thin bags with heavy duty bags for 10-cents a pop. Per capita bag waste went from 8 pounds per person to 11 pound per person in 2021 in CA!

Food Bans (AB 418): Continuing their nanny state mindset, CA politicians have banned Skittles and other colored candy that use Red Dye No. 3 and other additives. Perris CA banned stores from putting “junk food” in their checkout aisles – leading two major stores to announce they would close in that jurisdiction. Up next: bans on sugary drinks to minors!

Bans in Process: CA Democrats pushed several bills to next year to ban a number of things including: Police K9 dogs (because they are “racist”), solitary confinement in prison, etc. CA Democrats are phasing in bans on the sale of gas-powered cars, gas-powered leaf blowers, youth tackle football, criminal background checks for employers and landlords, smoking outside, etc.

Natural Gas Appliances: The Biden Administration has swung into overdrive to issue a variety of new regulatory mandates that will help CA politicians win court approval of their costly and intrusive natural gas appliance bans.

• Stoves: Biden’s Department of Energy just issued a regulation to ban 50% of gas stove appliances immediately.
• Washing Machine and Dryers: New mandates take effect 2025.
• Air Conditioners: New mandates take effect 2026.
• Water Heaters: New mandates take effect 2029.

Help Us Turn the Tide by Defeating California’s Natural Gas Appliance Bans
The BAN EVERYTHING mindset of liberal politicians will only continue to expand until we make a stand on just ONE of these items and punish politicians at the ballot box! That’s why our fight against the Natural Gas Appliance Bans in California is so crucial! It is no longer about just one ban – but all of them.
That’s why we MUST CONTINUE our fight against the costly and crazy natural gas appliance bans at the ballot box!
Support the Campaign to Block the Natural Gas Ban in CA
Here's what's being proposed under this mandate:

• IMMEDIATELY: All new homes and buildings will be prohibited from putting in any new natural gas appliances – not just stoves, but all appliances such as furnaces, ovens, water heaters, etc.
• 2027-2035: Existing homeowners will be given a deadline to pay for expensive home retrofits to remove ALL of their existing gas appliances – all stoves, ovens, water heaters, furnaces! The Bay Area got hit with a 2027 deadline; San Diego already announced 2033 is their target. Every week a new region proposes a new deadline for costly retrofits!

Here's how much it will cost you:

• What will the mandatory home retrofits cost you? An average cost of $30,000 or more per home! (READ FULL COST ESTIMATE HERE: https://reformcalifornia.org/news/banning-gas-appliances-will-cost-california-homeowners-over-30k-each)

How we can fight back:
A campaign led by Reform California, Reform Local Government PAC, and a coalition of local taxpayer watchdog groups has been launched to BLOCK this costly and crazy proposal. The campaign to block these mandates includes alerting voters in target areas, recruiting and supporting candidates for office who oppose the retrofit mandates, threatening recalls against elected officials who support the mandates, and organizing ballot measure drives to stop any new mandates from taking effect.

We were not expecting to have to fight this costly and unfair proposal – so please chip in a contribution to our campaign TODAY so we can mount effective opposition to it!
The Natural Gas Bans and Retrofit Mandates Are Spreading Across CA! Help Us Stop This Before It’s Too Late!


































 

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Forest Service News Release 
Dixie Fire Community Protection & Swain Mountain Experimental Forest Vegetation Management Project Scoping Period Sept. 18- Oct. 18, 2023
SUSANVILLE, CA, September 18, 2023 — The Lassen National Forest begins a 30-day scoping period today through October 18, 2023, for the Dixie Fire Community Protection and Swain Mountain Experimental Forest Vegetation Management Project. The proposed project is designed to support postfire recovery and restoration in the areas burned by the 2021 Dixie Fire within the wildland urban interface, extended community protection zones, and the Swain Mountain Experimental Forest.
The Pacific Southwest Research Station and the Lassen National Forest are proposing to implement a variety of vegetation and fuel treatments designed to maintain or promote desired stand structure, reduce fuel loads, increase resilience of surviving forest stands to future disturbance, and facilitate forest recovery through reforestation and natural regeneration. These are intended to reduce the risk of wildfire impacts to communities and critical infrastructure, reduce the potential for future extreme fire behavior, and provide an opportunity to address relevant research objectives in the Swain Mountain Experimental Forest.
The proposed project area includes approximately 48,390 acres of National Forest System lands in Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties and is located within the Almanor, Hat Creek, and Eagle Lake ranger districts. It is concentrated around several community areas including Baccala Ranch, Bogart Work Center, Canyon dam, Chester, Coon Hollow, Humbug Valley, Old Station, Prattville, Silver Lake, Warner Valley, the Swain Mountain Experimental Forest, and Jennie Springs research area. See attached map of project area.
Public involvement is a key element of the land management planning process and your input in this process will help identify if there are issues associated with the project area as well as inform the development of the proposed action. You can view more information about this project athttps://www.fs.usda.gov/project/lassen/?project=63425.
The public is invited to attend a virtual meeting to learn more about the project on September 28, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Information about the meeting, including a meeting link can be found on the project’s webpage. This meeting can also be attended in person at the Almanor Ranger District, 900 E. Hwy 36, Chester, CA 96020.
Submit your comments electronically to: comments-pacificsouthwest-lassen@usda.gov in a format such as an e-mail message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc, .docx). Please include “Dixie Fire Community Protection” in the subject line. Written comments may be mailed to: Deb Bumpus, Forest Supervisor, 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, or faxed to (530) 252-6428. For those submitting hand-delivered comments, you may do so at the Lassen National Forest Supervisors Office, 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130 during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Holidays.
If you have additional questions about the Dixie Fire Community Protection & Swain Mountain Experimental Forest Vegetation Management Project, please contact Frank Heide, Project Leader at (530) 258-7129 or by email at frank.heide@usda.gov with the subject line “Dixie Fire Community Protection”.
For the latest news and information about the Lassen National Forest, follow us on Facebook@LassenNationalForest or X (formally known as Twitter) @LassenNF.
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The loss of Gumba's. Such a tragedy!

AB 1402 passes off of Senate Special Consent

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblywoman Dahle announced the progress of AB 1402, a critical piece of legislation aimed at enhancing support for victims of child abuse. This bill, which has garnered significant support from key stakeholders, seeks to increase the availability and affordability of Suspected Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Medical Forensic/Evidentiary Examinations, ensuring victims have access to essential medical services.
AB 1402 addresses a pressing gap in current legislation that overlooks the reimbursement for medical forensic examinations related to suspected child physical abuse and neglect. Despite the strides made in protecting victims' rights and access to justice through previous bills such as AB 925 and AB 2185, this specific aspect remains unaddressed. The bill allocates $7.4 million annually from the General Fund to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), allowing for full reimbursement to providers offering these crucial exams.
"AB 1402 represents a crucial step in our ongoing commitment to support victims of child abuse," stated Assemblywoman Dahle. "By extending reimbursement coverage to Suspected Child Physical Abuse & Neglect Medical Forensic / Evidentiary Examinations, we ensure vital medical services are accessible and affordable for those who need them most. Every child deserves protection, justice, and the necessary resources to heal, and this bill brings us closer to our goal."
“AB 1402 will provide increased access to specialized medical care for the most vulnerable population in California- abused children,” said Dr. Sean Dugan, a Redding Pediatrician who specializes in conducting forensic medical examinations for maltreatment. “Specialists in child abuse are few and far between. AB 1402 will increase the number of physicians, advanced practitioners, and nurses that specialize in child abuse.”
“The impact of this legislation on the safety and well-being of California's children cannot be understated,” said Children’s Legacy Center CEO Kimberly Johnson. “Removing historic gaps in forensic medical exam funding will provide support for youth who have experienced abuse and sexual assault. Without it, we risk compounding existing trauma and perpetuating unnecessary barriers to healing. We thank Assemblywoman Dahle for her dedication and commitment to systemic change that will create hope, resilience, and healing for children across the state."
The need for such legislation is evident, given the staggering number of substantiated child maltreatment cases in California, with nearly 60,000 reported cases in 2021 alone. AB 1402 directly addresses the financial barrier that clinics and providers face in offering these essential services, particularly in rural districts where access to specialized medical care is limited.
AB 1402 has garnered strong support from prominent organizations and associations dedicated to championing the rights and well-being of children and families. Backed by the Legislative Women's Caucus, Rural County Representatives of California, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, AB 1402 has earned recognition for its potential to make a difference in the lives of abuse victims.
AB 1402 signifies Assemblywoman Dahle’'s steadfast commitment to ensuring a safer, more supportive environment for California's children.
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of El Dorado and Placer counties, along with Alpine, Amador, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.
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OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a $93 million settlement with Google resolving allegations that its location-privacy practices violated California consumer protection laws. The settlement follows a multi-year investigation by the California Department of Justice that determined Google was deceiving users by collecting, storing, and using their location data for consumer profiling and advertising purposes without informed consent. In addition to paying $93 million, Google has agreed to accept strong injunctive terms to deter future misconduct. 
“Our investigation revealed that Google was telling its users one thing – that it would no longer track their location once they opted out – but doing the opposite and continuing to track its users’ movements for its own commercial gain. That’s unacceptable, and we’re holding Google accountable with today’s settlement,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I want to thank my Consumer Protection Section for their work on this matter and for securing important privacy safeguards on behalf of all Californians.”
Based in Mountain View, California, Google generates the majority of its revenue from advertising, and location-based advertising (or geotargeted advertising) is a critical feature of Google’s advertising platform because advertisers want the ability to market to users based on their geographical locations. Google also uses their location data to build behavioral profiles of users to help determine which ads to serve users. 
In a complaint filed with the proposed stipulated judgment, Attorney General Bonta alleges that Google deceived users in numerous ways regarding how it collected, stored, and used a person’s location data. For example, the complaint alleges that Google falsely told users that if they turned off the “Location History” setting, then Google would not store their location data. However, according to the complaint, even when a user turned Location History off, Google continued to collect and store that user’s location data through other sources. The complaint also alleges that Google deceived users about their ability to opt out of advertisements targeted to their location. 
Under the settlement, Google must pay the state $93 million and be subject to a number of injunctive terms that will protect the privacy interests of California users, including requirements that Google:

• Show additional information to users when enabling location-related account settings.
• Provide more transparency about location tracking.
• Provide users with detailed information about the location data that Google collects and how it is used through a “Location Technologies” webpage.
• Disclose to users that their location information may be used for ads personalization.
• Disclose to users before using Location History data to build ad targeting profiles for users.
• Obtain review by Google’s internal Privacy Working Group and document approval for all material changes to location-setting and ads personalization disclosures that will have a material impact on privacy. 

A copy of the complaint and proposed stipulated judgment, which details the aforementioned settlement terms and remains subject to court approval, can be found here and here.

​

 
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) voted in favor of H.R. 1435 to strike down California's electric vehicle mandate. H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, amends federal law to block attempts by California and other far-left state governments to eliminate the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines options. By banning the sale of combustion engines in 2035, California would use its status as one of the largest automobile markets in the country to make automakers remove combustion engines from their vehicles. This would not only eliminate consumer choice, but it would also impose additional costs on all consumers and put people in jeopardy as the electric grid faces additional strains.
H.R. 1435 will ensure that no state is able to arbitrarily limit the choices that Americans have when selecting the vehicle that best meet their needs and those of their businesses. This bill would also restrict the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing any waivers that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines.
“California regularly faces rolling power blackouts in the summer and has shown that it can’t meet the electric energy needs of the residents who willingly purchase EVs. Their green agenda is unaffordable, illogical, and is harming everyday Californians. One state should not be able to impose their misguided policies on the rest of the nation – especially as California has faced a mass exodus of people fleeing these oppressive policies to red-states with sensible energy priorities. H.R. 1435 will make sure that Congress and the American people, not California’s Democrat-state majority, are in the driver's seat when it comes to our nation's energy policy and car choices,” said Congressman LaMalfa.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

​

National Preparedness Month Serves as a Great Reminder of the Importance of Planning Ahead of a Disaster
AUBURN, Calif. --  The key to making sure that you and your family safely and successfully respond to a natural disaster or emergency is to prepare before it happens. That’s the reason September’s National Preparedness Month exists, and that’s why Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) teamed up with the Placer Hills Fire Department to put one local family to the test.
In this video, released in 2021 and just as relevant today, a Sierra foothills family is put through a simulated wildfire evacuation to demonstrate how being prepared can help bring calm to the chaos.
“You think you’re ready, but are you? It’s scary,” said Michelle Childers, who participated in the disaster readiness drill with her husband Justin and their two children.
PG&E urges all our customers to assess how prepared your family, home and community are for a natural disaster or other emergency, and to take the necessary actions to be ready.
In addition to the video, PG&E’s Safety Action Center website puts valuable resources at your fingertips. You can:

• Take a quiz to find out if you know what to pack in an emergency kit
• Learn how to prepare a kit with six easy steps
• Create an emergency plan
• Learn how to create defensible space around your home
• Watch a special video series: 7 Saturdays to a more fire resistant home

 
An ‘Eye-Opening’ Experience
For the Childers family, firefighters gave them just 10 minutes to get what they would need, as is often the case in a real evacuation, and leave their home.
“My first instinct was birth certificates, passports, IDs, keys, wallets, because those are the things we’re going to need immediately (if evacuated) to get a hotel, to rebuild. My second initial response was mementos, pictures,” said Justin.
“I’ve never experienced this, I know what I was thinking, but I paused,” said Michelle, describing the first seconds after the knock at the door. “I got a couple of changes of clothes for each of us, got some snacks that I know the kids would eat, and some mementos.”
Although the family did not have go-bags ready during the drill, they grabbed essentials: important documents, changes of clothes and some food.
“I thought they did a really good job,” said Battalion Chief Matt Slusher with the Placer Hills Fire Department. “They worked well together. But what if one of you was not home at the time of an evacuation? What would you prioritize? For example, the kids—if you had to be away for 72 hours, their homework, the things that are important to them because their lives are going to be turned upside down, how do you maintain a level of normalcy?”
“I was motionless,” said Michelle, who is an elementary school teacher. “You need to have a go-bag, container with food and water for 72 hours. This was eye-opening.”
“This life-like emergency drill was a great reminder for all of us to plan what we would do before any kind of natural disaster or other emergency, and to practice how we would respond. It’s muscle memory. You have to practice it to perfect it,” said Joe Wilson, PG&E’s Vice President, North Valley & Sierra Region.
How Customers Can Prepare
Here are some simple guidelines to prepare for an emergency.

• Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first-aid supplies and cash. Keep face masks and hand sanitizer in your emergency kit.
• Identify backup charging methods for phones and keep printed copies of emergency numbers.
• Plan for medical needs like medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power.
• Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets.
• Update your contact information online or by calling PG&E at 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours so you can receive Public Safety Power Shutoff alerts.

 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
 
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices here or at PGE.com/privacy.

 
BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit in California seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from the freshly inked Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), which makes nearly every public place in the state a “sensitive place” and forbids the carrying of firearms even by citizens who have gone through the lengthy and expensive process of obtaining a concealed handgun license.
 
SAF is joined by Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, Gun Owners of California, the California Rifle & Pistol Association and eleven private citizens. Named as Defendant is California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division. Plaintiffs are represented by attorneys C.D. Michel, Sean A. Brady and Konstadinos T. Moros at Michel & Associates in Long Beach, and Donald Kilmer, Law Offices of Don Kilmer, Caldwell, Idaho.
 
“SB 2 is designed to frustrate and ultimately discourage individuals from exercising their right to bear arms by creating a patchwork of locations where Second Amendment rights may, or may not, be exercised,” noted SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “That is not how constitutional rights work. SAF is happy to add California to the list of states that we have sued for adopting so-called ‘Bruen Response Bills’ that make it impractical, if not impossible, for people to exercise their rights by essentially making carry permits useless.”
 
“Under SB 2,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “legally armed California citizens might be able to carry on some streets and sidewalks, and in a few private businesses that post signs allowing legal carry on their premises. Overall, however, SB 2 is a massive prohibition on legal carry throughout the Golden State, which runs counter to what the U.S. Supreme Court said in its Bruen ruling last year, and which Gov. Gavin Newsom and anti-gun-rights state lawmakers are desperately trying to get around.”
 
“The right to keep and especially bear arms is under direct attack via SB 2,” Kraut observed. “California continues its trend of ignoring rights safeguarded by the Constitution. Such disregard cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.”
 
 
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms.  Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 720,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

- This event is entirely free for vendors and participants. To keep it free for all, please consider supporting this event by purchasing a commemorative passport or buying prize drawing tickets for a chance to win something from one of our 56 artisans! 
- You can pick up your passport and paper map at one of the three Trailheads: Sierraville School, Sierra Valley Farms, and The Grange. 
- Join us for our Kick-Off Barn Dance with the Buck Ford Band on Friday, Sept 22, 2023, at 7 p.m. Tickets $35. 
- Please visit www.svaat.org for more information and tickets!

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By Ted Gaines
Word Count 614
 
San Francisco might not be the only California colossus in a so-called “doom loop.” The property and casualty insurance market is experiencing a crisis of its own, and the consequences are dire for the entire state economy.
 
Here’s one recent example. In August, California-based Farmers Insurance laid off 2,400 people, about 11-percent of its workforce. Not coincidentally, Farmers announced in July that it would limit its exposure to the California homeowner’s insurance market, shortly after State Farm and Allstate announced they would no longer be writing new homeowner’s policies in the state.
 
These companies don’t see California’s regulatory environment, forest management and wildfire risks, and sky-high building costs as a winning formula for their businesses right now. They are acting accordingly.
 
California government is certainly a hardy plant. It grows in all conditions and climates, through recessions, booms, busts, month after month, year after year, but the private sector isn’t immune to economic circumstances. If Farmers, Allstate, and State Farm are writing fewer policies, they will need fewer staff. A California slow to recover from its own Covid policies needs more jobs, not fewer.
 
These layoffs are only part of the story. Expect to see real estate deals fall apart over fire insurance costs. Expect to see businesses closing shop when they can’t get or can’t afford insurance in our state. Expect to see homeowners, especially seniors with paid-off homes but modest incomes, “going bare” on their homes and carrying no property insurance, exposing themselves and their heirs to massive financial risk. Insurance lubricates the economy and when it stops working the economy stops working.
 
There are some solutions, if the legislature or even the current Department of Insurance will act on them. They will involve some short-term pain to consumers, but they offer a path back to a robust market where companies are entering the market, not leaving it, and hiring employees, not laying them off.
 
It starts with repealing Proposition 103, the 1988 initiative governing property insurance in California.
 
Its rules are strangling the market. We don’t need insurance companies begging for rate increases from the Insurance Commissioner, which can take years. We need agile companies that can price risk in the best and timeliest manner to meet consumer needs.
 
A repeal would also free up insurance companies to use whatever information they can to set their rates. They can’t be tethered exclusively to the past. Past data is important but future catastrophe modeling is critical for companies to comfortably price what they consider the real, current cost of doing business in California.
 
If insurers set their own rates, it would free the Department of Insurance to go after bad actors and enforce penalties for unlawful and unfair practices, and it could do an even better job in its important work examining insurers for financial health, but it shouldn’t act as a rate gatekeeper any longer. It’s contributing to the exodus of insurers in the state and hurting, not helping, consumers as Prop. 103 intended.
 
Just as the first pullbacks in insurance coverage were indicators of future, additional pullbacks, the Farmers job cuts will not be the last. They indicate an unhealthy insurance market in California, fewer premium dollars, less profit, and more layoffs in the entire industry.
 
Everyone and everything are fleeing California as it becomes more unlivable, unaffordable, and now, uninsurable.
 
But it’s within our power to reform our insurance markets. We can’t be afraid to pivot when laws prove failures, and we shouldn’t be defeated by rules of our own making. More insurers equal more competition and more choice for consumers. That is how to end the doom loop and is the ultimate solution to the California insurance crisis.
 
Senator Ted Gaines (Ret.) was elected to represent the Board of Equalization’s First District. He is a leading taxpayer advocate, defender of Prop. 13, and is committed to providing trustworthy and transparent representation for nearly ten million constituents in 34 counties of northern, eastern, and southern California. Senator Gaines has also owned Gaines Insurance, an Independent Insurance Agency, for more than 30 years.
 

ACA 1 Passed the Assembly on Sept. 6.   Moving on to the Senate; Sept. 11 hearing in Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee and Sept. 12 hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee.

ACA 1 would lower the voter threshold from a two-thirds majority to a 55% majority to approve local bonds and certain special taxes for affordable housing, public infrastructure, down-payment assistance, and permanent supportive housing projects.

According to Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association “ACA 1 is a direct attack on Proposition 13”. He further states “This reckless proposal is a time-bomb that will lead to an explosion of higher taxes, over and over again. The important two-thirds vote requirement protects Californians by forcing local governments to be thoughtful about how they spend existing tax dollars before they rush to the ballot for more.”

"ACA 1 wrongly chips away at critical taxpayer protections by making it easier for greedy politicians and special interests to raise taxes. If this measure gets to the ballot, I implore the voters of California to not buy sham arguments that we need more taxes for housing and infrastructure,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego).

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D–Napa), an advocate for the bill stated that the bill could be used to build price-controlled “affordable” and subsidized “supportive” housing, water infrastructure, parks, and other projects deemed as “public infrastructure.” 

In response, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) said, “ACA 1 wrongly chips away at critical taxpayer protections by making it easier for greedy politicians and special interests to raise taxes. If this measure gets to the ballot, I implore the voters of California to not buy sham arguments that we need more taxes for housing and infrastructure.” 
​

​The Alliance for Workforce Development is thrilled to announce our new home at 1626 B Main Street, Susanville, CA 96130. Join us for the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of our new location on September 19th, 2023, from 10 am to 1 pm, come and connect with our dedicated team of professionals who are committed to empowering individuals and businesses within our community. Discover the wide range of services we provide and how we can help you achieve your career or business aspirations.
 
Here's what you can expect at our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting event:

• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (10:30am): Witness the official ribbon-cutting moment in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, symbolizing our commitment to serving the local community.
• Tours: Explore our newly opened facility!
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow community members, business leaders, and our team, fostering new relationships and partnerships.
• Delicious Refreshments: Enjoy a selection of delectable treats and beverages as our way of saying thank you for your support.

 
For more details, please see the attached printable flyer. We look forward to welcoming you at our new location!
 

On September 5, 2023, Lion Natalie “Intrepid” Frost from Windsor, Vermont, completed her three-year solo challenge of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.  “Trail Angel” Craig Simmons, a local Graeagle Lions Club member, met her at Sierra City as she stepped off the last segment of the PCT.  The Lions Club lauded her with a certificate of accomplishment at their September 6th meeting. Pictured from left are: Linda Cooley, Craig Simmons, Natalie “Intrepid” Frost, Lynn Desjardin, Dwayne Benedict, and President John O’Donnell (seated) (not pictured: Lion Sandy Simmons, photographer)

 
First-In-The-Nation Measure Would Prohibit the Use of Four Dangerous Chemicals Already Banned in the European Union and Other Nations
 
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, the California State Senate passed first-of-its-kind legislation to prohibit the use of four dangerous chemicals in processed foods and drinks sold in California. Authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Assembly Bill (AB) 418 – the California Food Safety Act – would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution in California of any food product containing Red Dye No. 3, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, or Propyl Paraben. The use of these chemicals has already been banned in the 27 nations in the European Union (EU) as well as many other countries due to scientific research linking them to significant health harms, including cancer, reproductive issues, and behavioral and developmental issues in children. 
 
“Today’s bipartisan vote marks a huge step forward in our effort to protect children and families in California from dangerous and toxic chemicals in our food supply,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. “It’s unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to food safety. This bill will not ban any foods or products – it simply will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes and switch to the safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and so many other places around the globe.”
“Things like this aren’t partisan. They’re common sense,” said former Governor and sports and fitness icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, who recently endorsed AB 418 in his daily Pump Club Newsletter. “I’m a small government guy. But I’ve also seen that sometimes, in a world where every big industry has an army of lobbyists, and our kids have no one fighting for them, government has to step in.”
AB 418 was amended in the State Senate to remove titanium dioxide from the list of banned additives and to delay implementation of the bill until 2027, thereby giving food companies more than enough time to negotiate new contracts and phase in new recipes. 
Notably, many major brands and manufacturers – including Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade, and Panera – have voluntarily stopped using the additives that would be banned under AB 418 because of concerns about their impact on human health. One of these chemicals – Red Dye No. 3 – is already banned by the FDA for use in cosmetics, but is somehow still allowed in food.
If signed into law, AB 418 would not ban any products; it would instead require companies to make modifications to products sold in California and likely prompt a nationwide transition to safer alternatives.
 
“AB 418 is the most important food safety bill in more than a decade and its passage would be a historic victory for protecting kids and families from dangerous food chemicals,” said Scott Faber, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at the Environmental Working Group. “For decades, chemical companies have been able to exploit a loophole that allows food additives to escape adequate review and oversight by the FDA. Since the FDA has failed to keep us safe, it has become the responsibility of states like California to step up and lead.”
 
AB 418 now heads back to the State Assembly for a concurrence vote that must occur before the end of the legislative session on September 14th. 
 
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Jesse Gabriel proudly represents the San Fernando Valley in the California State Legislature.
 

“It shouldn’t take nationwide outrage for Democrats to finally stand with victims.”



SACRAMENTO - Today, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City) issued the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 14, which will classify sex trafficking of a child as a “serious” felony, making repeat offenders eligible for longer sentences: 


“It’s appalling that we had to fight this hard to pass a common sense measure holding traffickers accountable for some of the most horrific crimes imaginable. It shouldn’t take nationwide outrage for Democrats to finally stand with victims. With today’s vote, we are one step closer to delivering justice, but the fight isn’t over. Assembly Republicans will continue working to put victims first and protect Californians from crime.” 
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National Preparedness Month  is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. 
In 2021, FEMA’s Ready Campaign and the Ad Council broke ground by producing the first-ever national preparedness campaign specifically targeting the Latino community for National Preparedness Month. Released during Hispanic Heritage month, the advertisements centered around the Latino community’s commitment to personal planning for occasions and family milestones as a bridge to also planning for disasters.
This one-of-a-kind campaign is committed to putting people first and reaching communities where they are. To continue these efforts, this year’s National Preparedness Month campaign will feature a call to action for the Black and African American community.
This year’s national public service announcements are being developed and will be released throughout the country this September, to help get preparedness information into the hands of those who live in underserved communities.
2023 Theme: Take Control in 1, 2, 3The Ready Campaign’s 2023 National Preparedness Month theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”. The campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation.
We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.
Emergency managers and all those who work with and support older adult communities to access the new webpage available in English and Spanish languages at Ready.gov/older-adults and Ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores. For more information on preparing with disabilities visit Ready.gov/disability or Ready.gov/es/discapacidad in Spanish.

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The recent fire activity in Siskiyou, Shasta, and Trinity Counties indicate that 2023 will not be immune from a significant fire season. CAL FIRE, local sheriff's departments, and U.S. Forest Service agencies will release important information regarding fire behavior, evacuation notices, community updates, and shelter locations. My office and staff will pass along these updates so that more people will see them as we receive them for fire incidents that warrant evacuations.  As of now, the Eillis, Ufish, and Deep fires remain the primary concerns. These fires are located in difficult terrain that requires small, tactical crews to go in and combat them. 

Knowing if you are in a zone that is under an evacuation warning or order is critical to the evacuation process. To find out what zone you live in, and whether or not you are under an evacuation order or warning, go to community.zonehaven.com and enter your address or Zone ID into the search bar. You will immediately be able to see if your zone is under any evacuation orders or warnings, as well as get information related to evacuation points, traffic control points, zone information, and signup links to other useful services like CodeRed.

Remember, if your zone is under an Evacuation Warning, you must be prepared to evacuate your home at a moment's notice. Should this Warning be upgraded to an Evacuation Order, then you need to get out immediately. 

Protecting Wildland Firefighter PayWildland firefighters have been performing much of the heavy lifting in combatting much of the August fires in Siskiyou County. Day in and day out, wildland firefighters risk their lives and health to combat wildfires in remote areas of Northern California. Without them, we would all be at far greater risk of wildfire and these blazes would burn thousands more acres of forested lands before reaching populated areas. The role that wildland firefighters play in fire suppression cannot be overstated.
Congress recognized this, and authorized a temporary pay increase as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This was supposed to give them a well-deserved pay increase for the next five years while Congress debated and worked out a more permanent solution. Unfortunately, due to agency mismanagement and the failure of the Biden Administration to budget responsibly, the funds for this pay increase will run out 3 years early at the end of September. It always seems as though our first responders are some of the first to get the short end of the stick when the Administration messes up or doesn’t budget and plan properly.
It's critical that this does not happen. Wildland firefighters should not have to endure a huge pay cut because of the mistakes and irresponsibility of federal bureaucrats. To spur Congress to get the ball moving on this issue, I introduced the Fair Pay For Federal Firefighters Act to make sure they get adequate pay by repurposing funds from elsewhere to maintain fiscal responsibility. This bill establishes a new base pay rate scale, with the largest increases in pay going to firefighters at the lowest end of the scale. It also increases deployment bonuses to incentivize firefighters to deploy to a fire camp to respond to fire outbreaks in remote areas. Federal firefighter pay would be propped up for two more years as this is still only a temporary solution. Congress needs to actually negotiate a permanent solution to this problem, such as a long-term plan for setting firefighters' hourly wage to an appropriate and acceptable level. The bill has received broad support from Members of Congress and was cosponsored by Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse. I am hopeful to see this bill passed and signed by the President before the end of September and avoid impending pay cuts to our federal firefighters. To add insult to injury, we discovered very poor quality food was being served to those same firefighters by a national one-size-fits-all food vendor. We called for a change in food service and US Forest Service did respond and changed firefighters' food sources to one that is suitable for our frontline firefighters battling to save our forests and towns.