OP-ED: Dan Dow gets an extra 2 years in office

OP-ED ~ California's Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 759 last fall, which extends the terms of elected sheriffs and district attorneys by two years, thereby delaying elections for two years until 2028 for San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow and Sheriff Ian Parkinson. 

The law aims to increase voter participation in countywide elections and was co-authored by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. Many California sheriffs are unhappy with the law, as it could lead to progressive sheriffs and DAs being elected due to higher Democratic turnout in presidential elections. 

SLO County voters are divided over Dow's re-election, with some believing he has provided sufficient reasons for a challenge, while others think that recruiting a qualified and reform-minded candidate to run against him in 2028 could be a challenge. 

Ventura County neighborhood gets tough on crime

Morrison Ranch Estates residents in Agoura Hills are taking action to combat a recent crime wave that has affected the community. 

A cul-de-sac summit on Meadowmist Way was organized by resident Shelley MacEwen to address safety concerns, such as protecting people and property, Los Angeles County Sheriff response procedures, and the use of license plate readers to thwart crime. 

Morrison Ranch has seen a dozen burglaries over the past few months, prompting the community to launch a more aggressive neighborhood patrol system. The homeowners' association has been criticized for a tepid response to residents' safety concerns, such as the installation of automatic license plate readers. 

Paso Robles mayor absent for health issue

Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin is taking time off from community matters to focus on his health and treatment, according to city officials. 

Martin has missed two council meetings recently due to a serious health concern that has not been disclosed. The mayor has received a favorable prognosis and hopes to only continue to miss council meetings through early spring. 

The city has asked for compassion, dignity, and respect for Martin's privacy while he is away. Mayor Pro-tempore John Hamon will fill in for Martin during his absence. Source: CalCoast News

Santa Barbara Realtors offers financial assistance to affected households

The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® has partnered with the REALTORS® Relief Foundation to provide financial assistance up to $3,000 to Santa Barbara County residents who were impacted by the January 2023 storms. 

The relief program is available to residents who faced displacement or whose homes were damaged or destroyed. 

The assistance is provided to cover the monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged, rental cost due to displacement resulting from the disaster, or hotel reimbursement due to displacement resulting from the disaster. 

Kenneth Enney runs for Paso Robles school board

Kenneth Enney, a candidate for the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District trustee, launched his campaign with a drive-through barbecue chicken fundraiser on February 25th. 

Despite cold and rainy weather, the event saw a large turnout, and the fundraiser sold out in an hour. Enney's campaign manager, Michael Rivera, said that Enney's platform of standards, accountability, and leadership has appealed to a wide range of voters, and Enney will ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. 

Enney is running against Angela Hollander in a special election scheduled for April 18th. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out on March 19th. Source: Paso Robles Daily News

Atascadero city manager retires

Rachelle Rickard, City Manager of Atascadero, has announced her retirement after serving for 26 years, with the last ten years as City Manager. 

Rickard's retirement will take place in July of this year. During her tenure, Rickard led various projects and initiatives, including rehabilitating the Atascadero Historic City Hall, introducing a Comprehensive Financial Plan, securing voter-approved funding for critical City service needs, and obtaining over $32 million of federal and state grants for the City. 

The City will begin recruitment for Rickard's replacement in the coming weeks. Mayor Heather Moreno praised Rickard's leadership, work ethic, and professionalism. Rickard plans to spend time with her family and travel during her retirement.

Californians facing single-source electric dependency

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is pushing for a ban on the sale of gasoline and hybrid vehicles effective in 2035, as well as a ban on new purchases of natural gas-powered water heaters and space heaters effective in 2030. 

However, David Henderson argues in an article that CARB's push towards electricity is gradually reducing diversity in energy usage, making Californians more vulnerable to power outages. 

Henderson shares his own experiences with power outages, which occurred 6 times between December 10 and the present day, and a friend's experience of being trapped in his apartment due to the lack of power. 

He argues that the state government's plan will lead to "electricity hell" for millions of Californians. Source: Econlib