
Beneficios de Conducir Vehículos Eléctricos Celebrados en el Evento de Exposición de Vehículos Eléctricos en Oxnard (National Drive Electric Week)

ssemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) announced that 6 bills that she authored have passed the State Legislature and have been sent to the Governor for his signature or veto. The six bills cover a wide range of issues impacting her constituents in the 44th Assembly District and across California. They are as follows:

Ventura County Public Health has extended the indoor mask order, requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions. The order will continue to be in effect until October 19, 2021 or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended by the Health Officer. “Our current case rate of 19.3 is still considered widespread community transmission by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health,” said Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin. “We need to see a continued decrease in the case rate and hospitalizations before safely lifting indoor masking requirements to help prevent future surges.”

The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its August 2021 report earlier today, showing moderate improvement to our unemployment rate but some surprising, even disturbing volatility in the labor force and employment data.
On the upside, the Ventura County unemployment rate improved from 6.4% in July to 6.2% in August, somewhat encouraging news since we’re still dealing with the slowdown caused by the Delta variant.
On the downside, that improvement owes less to new job creation than to the month’s dropout of 4,000 workers from the labor force, meaning they’re neither working nor even looking for work. That’s a big reduction to the County’s productivity and earnings, even worse for us that it’s on top of the roughly 9,000 workers we were already down from pre-pandemic levels.

Since Wednesday, there are 328 (184 today) new COVID-19 cases reported and 13,116 new tests performed. There are 96 people hospitalized, 31 in the ICU. There have been 9 additional deaths of a 23 year old male, 47 year old male, 51 year old female, 71 year old female, 84 year old female, 95 year old female, 66 year old male, 83 year old male, and an 81 year old male.
All deaths were among individuals that were unvaccinated.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
78.2% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
79.9% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
70.9% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Find vaccine and testing information at www.vcrecovers.org.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture and contributions of Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. The observance was born in 1968 when Congress authorized the president to issue an annual proclamation designating National Hispanic Heritage Week. Two decades later, lawmakers expanded it to a monthlong celebration, stretching from September 15 to October 15.
Hispanic Heritage Month — like its shorter precursor — always starts on September 15, a historically significant day marking the independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence September 16 and September 18, respectively.

Michael Tripp has been named as the new Channel Islands Harbor Director. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers and follows a nationwide recruitment.
“As Director, Michael will be working with his talented team at the Harbor to collaborate with our business partners to create a robust harbor economy, work with the residents and community to enhance the Harbor’s recreational value, and champion enrichment projects to keep the Harbor vibrant and flourishing,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “The Harbor provides jobs and revenue, brings in tourism dollars and serves as a destination for people looking for restaurants, hotels, activities and events. Recently retired Harbor Director Mark Sandoval did an excellent job in positioning the harbor for success with the recent cooperation agreement and visioning process. We look forward to having Michael continue the momentum on this path.”

The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors has unanimously supported more than $70 million in Business Assistance Grants for small businesses throughout the County of Ventura since the summer of 2020. The Board received a report at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting of the latest status and the impact those funds are having on local businesses. More than 7,000 businesses are in the final review to receive $10,000 in grant funding.
“In the midst of such difficult times it’s been extraordinary to stand up for our community and small businesses and allocate funds to address multiple health, social and economic impacts. I am grateful that the County’s strong financial position allows us to support our local economy through supportive programs like Business Assistance,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors Linda Parks. “This funding has helped many small businesses keep their doors open.”

Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) has named retired U.S. Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps’ Chris Kurgan, to the position of Director of Roads & Transportation. In his new role Chris will oversee the building, operating and maintaining of the public’s billion-dollar investment in the county road system. He will also be responsible for the public transit needs for the county’s unincorporated areas.
“I am very excited to join the Ventura County Public Works Agency as the Director of Roads and Transportation. After serving 31 years in the U.S. Navy and being assigned here four times, I look forward to serving the citizens of the county and those who serve to make our community a better place to live,” said Kurgan.
Chris served in the U.S. Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps for 31 years, and before retiring as Captain he served as the Commanding Officer of the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps Officer’s school and Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering where he was responsible for the technical, character, and leadership development training for nearly 30,000 Facilities Engineer professionals and tradesmen. During his Navy career, he was responsible for the public works, transportation, environmental, capital improvements, and real estate responsibilities of the Navy across 11 northwest states.

The last email update was sent on Monday, September 13, 2021.
Since Monday, there are 371 new COVID-19 cases reported and 11,050 new tests performed. There are 97 people hospitalized, 32 in the ICU. There have been 4 additional deaths of a 55 year old female (not vaccinated), 67 year old female (not vaccinated), 93 year old female (not vaccinated), 79 year old male (vaccinated). Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
78.2% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
79.9% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
70.7% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
www.vcrecovers.org

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is proud to announce the addition of two bottle filling hydration stations in Alameda and Shoreline parks. CEC is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the Alameda Park hydration station, located near the Kids World playground.
City of Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo will speak, in addition to representatives from CEC and project partners El Gato Channel Foundation, and City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department. Commenting on the impact these new hydration stations will have on residents and tourists enjoying the parks, Mayor Murillo observed, “They will encourage everyone to use refillable bottles and embrace a sustainable lifestyle.”

Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) and AmericasHealth Plan (AHP) announced their collaboration on a pilot program to serve Ventura County’s Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
The three-year program would give up to 10,000 of GCHP’s more than 200,000 members the option of choosing AHP, a subsidiary of Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. (Clinicas), as the administrator of their health care benefits in the first year. As members of AHP, Medi-Cal beneficiaries will have access to Clinicas’ network of medical, dental, optical, preventive, specialty, ancillary, and institutional providers and will benefit from having their care coordinated by one entity. Members will maintain their access to GCHP’s providers for pharmacy, transportation, and mental health services, and to its 24-hour advice nurse line.

The last email update was sent on Thursday, September 9, 2021.
Since Thursday, there are 1,146 new COVID-19 cases reported and 33,781 new tests performed. There are 111 people hospitalized, 34 in the ICU. There have been 6 additional deaths of a 79 year old female, 67 year old male, 75 year old male, 71 year old female, 35 year old male and a 87 year old male. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
78.1% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
79.7% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
70.1% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Testing information: www.vcrecovers.org/testing
Vaccine information: www.vcrecovers.org/vaccine

The Ventura County Office of Education is presenting two free, virtual conferences to help address the emotional toll the COVID-19 pandemic is taking on parents, caregivers and school employees. Entitled “Living Well: Healthy Children Need Healthy Adults,” the conferences will give attendees strategies and tools to use every day to increase resiliency, manage stress and improve overall wellness.
“Over the past year and a half, there’s been much well-deserved attention to the emotional impact the pandemic is having on children,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “It’s also vital that we recognize the ways it’s affecting us as adults. When we take the time to improve our own wellbeing, we’re better able to meet the needs of our kids as educators and parents.”

The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, with support from the Port of Hueneme and the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC), will celebrate numerous historical commemorations, including Mexican Independence Day, with the opening of two art exhibitions.
Twenty twenty-one marks the Bicentennial of the Consummation of Mexican Independence and 500 years of the historical Memory of Tenochtitlan, the fall of the Aztec empire. On September 15, 2021, the Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard presents two exhibitions of Mexican art that celebrate the past and connect us to the present with contemporary work. One exhibit brings visitors closer to the giants of mid-20th century Mexican Art, including Leopoldo Mendez, Rufino Tamayo, Clemente Orozco, Francisco Toledo, Jose luis Cuevas, Fanny Rabel, and others through the incredible Mexican Print Collection of Gil García and Marti Correa de García from Santa Barbara, CA.

Sometimes we reach for an artifact, a bauble, a seashell, or a book because something—we don’t know what—attracts us to the object. It’s almost as if the object chooses us.
I’ve often randomly reached for books or watched a movie or documentary. For reasons unknown to me, they caught my attention and ended up giving me a new perspective that helped me understand more about the world around me. These sources of information have pulled my life into different orbits, and at times even changed the course of my existence completely and irrevocably. One of my latest book choices certainly had me reconsidering some of the things that I had observed and learned throughout my life.

Fifty-one vote centers will be open throughout Ventura County beginning Saturday, September 11. Voters can vote at any location; they are not assigned a specific location. Vote centers will offer same day voter registration and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant touchscreen devices and voting assistance.

The last email update was sent on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
Since Tuesday, there are 233 new COVID-19 cases reported and 9,719 new tests performed. There are 143 people hospitalized, 37 in the ICU. There have been 8 additional deaths of a 44 year old male, 78 year old female, 82 year old male, 79 year old male, 83 year old female, 85 year old male, 74 year old female, and an 83 year old female. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
6 of the 8 deaths reported since Tuesday were among unvaccinated people.
77.7% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
79.4% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
69.6% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Testing information: www.vcrecovers.org/testing
Vaccine information: www.vcrecovers.org/vaccine

Mayor John Zaragoza announced the creation of the Mayor’s Gateways Task Force, a group of five everyday residents that the Mayor has appointed to lead the effort to create gateways into the City of Oxnard.
As part of the City Council’s 5-year priorities, the Council committed to restoring proper maintenance of parkways and medians, tree trimming cycle, and cleaning up the gateways to the City. Thanks to the voters’ approval of Measure E, residents are starting to see the landscaping restoration efforts throughout Oxnard over the past two months.
The Mayor’s Gateways Task Force will work collaboratively with City staff, community members and the Mayor to identify and create gateways to Oxnard that complement the City’s restored landscaping efforts.

Due to extreme heat throughout the state, the California Independent Systems Operator (which manages the flow of electricity throughout the state) has issued a statewide Flex Alert from 4-9pm TODAY. Due to the extreme heat, energy demand is expected to be high, and if demand exceeds supply, they will implement rolling power outages. To avoid outages, residents are being asked to conserve energy from 4-9pm today to reduce strain on the energy grid.
Please avoid using major appliances between 4-9pm today!
Before 4pm:
Pre-cool your home if you use air conditioning
Close window coverings to keep home or apartment cool
Use major appliances
Charge electric devices and electric vehicles
Between 4-9pm:
Set your thermostat to 78 or higher, health permitting
Avoid using major appliances like dish washers and clothes washers and dryers
Turn off unnecessary lights
Sign up for Flex Alert notifications here.

Round 8- Nonprofit Cultural Institutions Only
Application Window is still OPEN until Thursday, September 30th!
Round 8 supports California eligible nonprofit cultural institutions of any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com. Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1, 2, 5 or 6; nonprofit cultural institutions that applied in Round 4 do not need to reapply. Grants will only be available to nonprofit cultural institutions that did not receive funding in any previous rounds. Grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019.

There has always been a certain degree of distrust toward science in this country—sometimes justifiably so. But over the past year and a half, that distrust has been amplified to literally dangerous levels, mostly via social media (many people’s only source for “news”) and extreme right-wing hysteria on the news channels.
The severe lack of science education in this country has fomented the massive paranoia that brings many of our fellow citizens to misunderstand, misinterpret, despise, and deny scientific information. National and state leadership that plays into the hands of an insidious disinformation campaign are decimating conservative bastions throughout the country with completely preventable illness and death.

Since Wednesday, there are 93 new COVID-19 cases reported and 5,794 new tests performed. There are 123 people hospitalized, 29 in the ICU. There have been 3 additional deaths of a 64 year old male, 91 year old female, and a 64 year old female. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
77.1% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
78.8% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
68.8% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Anyone age 12 and older can get vaccinated for free in Ventura County. Anyone who is immunocompromised 12 or older can get a booster at any vaccine location.
How do I get a copy of my vaccine record?
Visit myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov California’s Digital COVID-19 Vaccine record portal to get a digital copy in minutes.
Find information about COVID-19 vaccines and testing at www.vcrecovers.org

The board of directors of the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District voted to initiate Stage 1 water conservation measures for its nearly 14,000 Oak Park residential and business potable water users. The measures, which were originally established in 2018, go into effect immediately.
Stage 1 water conservation measures include:
–Watering or irrigation of lawn, landscape or other vegetated areas with potable water is limited to three days per week. The provision does not apply to watering by hand-held hoses equipped with self-closing water shut-off devices. Other exclusions apply. …

The County of Ventura has launched the fourth COVID-19 Business Assistance
Grant Program for businesses and nonprofit organizations that did NOT receive a grant during any of the County’s previous business grant programs. Businesses
and nonprofits based in Ventura County may be eligible for a $10,000 grant.
The County Board of Supervisors has supported more than $65 million in grants
to help local businesses move forward.

Joseph R. Weiland, managing partner of independent advisory firm Arlington Financial Advisors, has been appointed president of the Board of Trustees of The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.
Weiland, a Certified Financial Planner and 30-year veteran of the financial services industry, joined The Land Trust’s board in 2018. As president he will lead more than a dozen fellow trustees from the community whose expertise ranges from agriculture, law and finance, to teaching, biology, and planning.

In a series of decisions that culminated in its final ruling in July of 2021 regarding the City of Oxnard’s Infrastructure Use Fee (IUF), the Ventura County Superior Court ordered the City to reimburse its utility funds a total of $36.5 million over a three-year period and to remove the IUF from utility charges effective June of 2021.
The City is going beyond that by making those changes retroactive as of January 2020 and issuing a credit to all utility customers.

(Aug. 31), our Board approved nearly $1.5 million in American Result Plan Act funding to implement an expanded Encampment Resolution Strategy to eliminate homeless encampments in the county. This is in addition to the work and $48 million in funding that has been invested in the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year. The outcomes of some of this work and funding over the last 6 months are detailed on the slide below. All of the Supervisors were in full agreement that encampments are not safe for those who live in them or the residents who live in the vicinity of them and we all expressed our eagerness to solve this problem. In order to move those who live in encampments out of those encampments, we need places for them to go. I have, personally, been working hard to determine locations, such as empty parking lots, where we can put temporary housing to move folks into a more safe and clean setting as we work on placing them in permanent housing. If you have a location we could put temporary housing and are interested in partnering with the County, please let me know.

Since Monday, there are 242 new COVID-19 cases reported and 3,835 new tests performed. There are 125 people hospitalized, 22 in the ICU. There have been 2 additional deaths of two males ages 60 and 74. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
76.9% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
78.6% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
68.5% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Anyone age 12 and older can get vaccinated for free in Ventura County. Anyone who is immunocompromised 12 or older can get a booster at any vaccine location.
Find information about COVID-19 vaccines and testing at www.vcrecovers.org

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is seeking an attorney and a public member interested in serving on APCD’s Hearing Board. Candidates for the attorneymember position must be active members of the StateBar of California.
The Hearing Board is a quasi-judicial body that acts upon petitions submitted by operators of air pollutionemission sources, APCD staff, and the public. It conducts public hearings and makes various decisionsregarding air pollution sources in Ventura County.Typical decisions made by the Hearing Board include whether temporary relief from APCD rules should be issued; whether the APCD’s denial, suspension orconditional granting of a permit was warranted; and determining whether a Permit to Operate should berevoked.

The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our no-cost webinars. Space is limited. Register today!
CROSS-BORDER ECOMMERCE STRATEGY & OMNICHANNEL MANAGEMENT
August 31 @ 10:00 am
How to create a cross-border ecommerce website that will suit your customers’ needs, what are the different factors that influence the cost of e-commerce project, and how to build your omnichannel management.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Supervisors LaVere and Ramirez, Districts 1 and 5, are the representatives for the area of the Task Force effort to address Santa Clara River bottom encampments. They, individually, and along with members of their staff, have accompanied the County Executive Officer, Sheriff, and County public health and other staff several times to see for themselves the encampments. They have observed the accumulation of trash and debris in the Santa Clara River bottom. They also recently went with the County’s Backpack Medicine team which offers help and services to the people living in the watershed. This is being done ahead of a major clean-up effort that is planned to take place in September. The County Executive team is leading the effort coordinating with the Sheriff’s office, Ventura and Oxnard Police, and Public Works Agency staff to make access easier and to clear pathways for the future clean-up event. More clearing of brush and vegetation, which pose a fire danger, will occur after the sites which are abandoned have been removed.