Latest news with #CountyBoardofSupervisors
10-06-2025
- Politics
Homeless people may be arrested after refusing offers of shelter in Silicon Valley
SAN FRANCISCO -- Homeless people who reject three offers of shelter could be arrested under a controversial proposal before the city council of the most populous city in California's Silicon Valley on Tuesday. The proposal being pushed by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahon is eye-opening because it comes from a liberal city headed by a Democrat in the left-leaning San Francisco Bay Area. It is among the stricter anti-encampment deterrents proposed by elected officials since the Supreme Court in 2023 made it easier to ban homeless people from camping on public property. And it's another sign of just how frustrated people have become with squalid tents lining sidewalks and riverbanks, and erratic behavior of those using drugs or in distress in a state with an estimated 187,000 homeless people. California is home to roughly a quarter of all homeless people in the country. Mahan says most people do accept offers of shelter. But he wants to make clear to the small percentage of people who refuse, that as the city builds more shelter and interim housing, they have a responsibility to move indoors. 'I think we need a cultural change, a culture of accountability for everyone involved,' said Mahan. 'I don't want to use the criminal justice system to make vulnerable people's lives harder. I want to use it as a last resort.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and former mayor of San Francisco, has repeatedly urged cities to ban encampments. Arrests for illegal lodging have soared in San Francisco, and its current mayor, Daniel Lurie, has reiterated that it is not appropriate for people to live outdoors. Advocates for homeless people say cracking down on encampments is traumatizing and even counterproductive. Forcing a person to clear out sets them back in their search for stability as they could lose important documents needed to apply for work and housing, they said. 'Pushing people with mental health needs or drug addiction into incarceration — without any crime committed — is both inhumane and ineffective,' said Otto Lee, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, in a written statement emailed Monday to The Associated Press. Lee and other county leaders are opposed to the mayor's proposal. They say they need more housing, beds and services, and not punishment. The 'responsibility to shelter' proposal does not mandate an arrest after three rejected offers. After talking with the city attorney's office and police, Mahan said it made more sense to give front-line outreach workers and police officers discretion to decide when to escalate or prioritize a situation. The city will set up a new six-officer quality of life unit within the police department. 'We don't want to overly tie their hands and tell them this is the only way to do it,' the mayor said. People who repeatedly violate the city's encampment code of conduct — which also includes keeping tents free of trash and not blocking the public right of way — could be sent to a recovery center for detox or petitioned for court-mandated treatment to mental health and substance use disorder care, Mahan said. San Jose has nearly 1,400 shelter spots and hopes to add another 800 by the end of the year. Officials are aware they do not have enough beds, and Mahan said that people will not be punished if beds are unavailable or the only options are unsuitable.
Miami Herald
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Street Takeover Participants & Spectators Could Soon Be Hit With Steep Fines
Street takeovers - where crowds block off intersections so drivers can pull stunts like donuts, burnouts, and drifts - have become a hallmark of Southern California's underground car culture. But now, L.A. County is drawing a hard line. A new proposal would double the fine for participating in or even watching a takeover, raising it from $500 to $1,000, the Los Angeles Times reported. The idea isn't just to hit drivers in the wallet; it's also aimed at the crowd. Spectators fuel the vibe, create cover for drivers, and generate social media content that keeps the trend alive. By making it costly just to show up, officials hope to tamp down the spectacle altogether. Takeovers might look like Fast & Furious-style fun, but they've turned increasingly dangerous. County officials point to a rise in fatal crashes, shootings, and torched vehicles tied to these events. In some neighborhoods, families say they hear engines bouncing off rev limiters just blocks from their front doors. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, whose district includes cities like Compton, Inglewood, and Carson, introduced the measure and stated that the issue is personal for many residents. In one recent tragedy, a woman in Pomona was killed during a suspected street-racing crash. Stories like that have become too common. The proposed ordinance doesn't stop with street-level enforcement. It also calls on social media platforms to enforce their own community standards and remove content that promotes illegal activity, specifically, takeover clips that rack up views and ad dollars. Officials want platforms to demonetize those videos and cut off the oxygen that keeps the culture going viral. Interestingly, while street takeover reports have dropped in most of L.A. County, Mitchell's district saw a sharp rise - from 191 incidents between July and September to 297 from October through December. County officials credit some of the decline elsewhere to a coordinated task force that includes law enforcement, city leaders, and community groups working to intervene early and redesign problem intersections. Mitchell's district is still playing catch-up, and that's part of why she's pushing hard for tougher penalties. If you're a car enthusiast, the rise in takeovers and the resulting crackdown might hit close to home, even if you're not in Southern California. Similar events have popped up across the country, and cities are watching each other to figure out what works. San Jose, Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston are all places that have seen sideshows spark community backlash and new legislation. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors gave the proposed fine increase a thumbs-up this week, but it still needs one more vote to become law. If approved, the new penalties could go into effect later this year. There's also talk of broader reforms - everything from hardened centerlines at takeover hotspots to possibly creating safe, legal alternatives for car enthusiasts. For now, though, the message is clear: if you're planning to show up at a sideshow in L.A., even just to watch, you might want to think twice. Your next post could come with a $1,000 price tag. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal Judge Dismisses Former Sheriff Villanueva's $25 Million Lawsuit Over 'Do Not Rehire' Designation
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson dismissed former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva's $25 million federal lawsuit against the county. The lawsuit alleged defamation and due process violations related to his placement on a "do not rehire" list. In his 28-page ruling, Judge Wilson stated that Villanueva failed to provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that the "do not rehire" designation negatively affected his employment prospects or caused him the emotional distress that he allegedly felt. The judge noted, "It is hard to imagine how being placed on a Do Not Rehire list could serve as an injury if Plaintiff does not desire to be rehired."Villanueva's lawsuit originated from investigations by the County Equity Oversight Panel, which upheld complaints that he had harassed Inspector General Max Huntsman in a 'racially based attack' by referring to Huntsman by his birth name, Max-Gustaf. Villanueva accused Huntsman of being a Holocaust denier, which Huntsman refuted based on a lack of evidence. Villanueva was also accused in a separate complaint made by Esther Lim, a former justice deputy for county Supervisor Hilda Solis, that Villanueva repeatedly harassed women of color in social media livestream comments. According to Wilson, while the judge has now dismissed the last federal claim, there are still matters that the federal court "declines to exercise jurisdiction over" and are now left to the state court.'We're very pleased that the Sheriff's consequential complaints of defamation and emotional distress will move forward, and that we'll have the opportunity to hold the County of Los Angeles accountable in state court,' Carney Shegerian, Villanueva's attorney, 2022, Villanueva lost his reelection bid and subsequently failed in a primary election for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'You can't just throw out Patty Plumb's address': Shasta elections boss faces new storm
Shasta's new top elections official, Clint Curtis, registered to vote in the county using the address of a member of the controversial advisory Elections Commission. County elections records show Curtis registered as a Republican on May 8. The address on his registration is the same as Patty Plumb, a conservative activist and elections skeptic who was re-appointed to the Shasta County Elections Commission by District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon in late January. As of Wednesday, Curtis was also registered in Florida as a Democrat, who gave an address in Titusville, Florida, according to the Brevard County elections website. At least one public speaker at Tuesday's Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting, when Curtis was appointed, questioned his place of residence. 'One has to have a residence in Shasta County. You can't just say, 'Oh, I'm going to throw out Patty Plumb's address, the Shasta County elections commissioner and use hers.' Has anybody checked that?' Shasta County retired Public Defender Jeff Gorder said. Election rules in California say residents get to decide what address they want to use to register to vote, Shasta County Assistant Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut said Wednesday morning. She said voters sign an affidavit to confirm their place of residence. She said someone registering to vote could report their address as a street corner. The residency question also came up during District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye's campaign in 2022, when he defeated Erin Resner, who currently sits on the Redding City Council. There were allegations Crye did not live in the district. Former county Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen at the time said Crye submitted the appropriate documents and based on that information, his name was approved for the ballot. Supervisors approved Curtis' appointment as the county's new registrar of voters on Tuesday by a 3-2 vote. Crye, Harmon and Chris Kelstrom voted to appoint Curtis. Supervisors Allen Long and Matt Plummer voted no. Long and Plummer wanted Francescut to get the job. Curtis' first day on the job was Wednesday. Francescut said Curtis took a tour of the office and met the staff. Francescut has said that she wants to continue as assistant registrar of voters. She also has announced her intention to run for registrar of voters when the seat comes up in June 2026. Curtis' appointment goes through 2026. David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He's part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Clint Curtis' voter registration in Shasta County mired in controversy
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
San Joaquin County approves $261 million budget for Be Well Campus
San Joaquin County approves budget for Be Well campus south of Stockton San Joaquin County approves budget for Be Well campus south of Stockton San Joaquin County approves budget for Be Well campus south of Stockton SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY - The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this week to approve a $261 million budget to move forward with the Be Well Campus project. "We want to increase access to behavioral health in the community, divert people needing this care from jail or going to emergency rooms," said Genevieve Valentine, the director of the county's health care services, in Tuesday afternoon's board meeting. The campus will have sobriety centers, treatment beds, and other mental health resources. County officials are using $1.6 million to outline the process of building the campus and the scope of care. "We want to create the first in-county medical substance abuse residential program, increase treatment bed capacity, allow for an integrated care model between behavioral health, the health clinics and public health," Valentine said. The campus will be built at Hospital Road and Interstate 5. "We have a massive problem here and I think it'll fill a gap that we are missing," said Jessica Velez. Velez is the founder of Red Rabbit Advocacy Programs in San Joaquin County, which helps those struggling with homelessness, drug abuse, and mental issues. She said that there aren't enough beds or treatments to go around for those who need them. "You're homeless, you go there, you're seen, then where? You got to go back to your camp to start taking [medicine]? That doesn't really work," she said. Velez hopes the Be Well Campus can put the county in the right position to help those who want it. "I hope people are willing to give these alternatives a chance because, obviously, what we're doing isn't working," she said. This campus will be built in two phases, starting with the south side of the campus and then the north. The county's goal is to have part of it built and ready in 2026.
