Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — FLEX ALERT (Sept. 1), High Temperatures expected over Labor Day weekend, and more

by Community Contributor • September 1, 2022 • Comments Off

FLEX ALERT TODAY

Central Coast Community Energy is asking customers to reduce electricity use on Thursday, September 1, from 4-9 p.m. after the California Independent System Operator extended a statewide Flex Alert. CCCE is providing information to customers via email and social media on the Flex Alert and the need to conserve electricity use. It is also important to remember if you are a solar customer, even though you generate energy unless you also store it, it is still necessary to conserve during this time. Additional Flex Alerts could be issued through the Labor Day weekend as triple-digit temperatures are forecasted across much of California and the West.

For information on Flex Alerts, and to find more electricity conservation tips, visit FlexAlert.org.

DANGEROUS AND

LONG-LASTING HEAT COMING

Exceptionally hot weather conditions are forecast throughout Santa Barbara County this week and into the weekend. Excessive Heat Watches have been issued by the National Weather Service for the Cuyama area, the south coast, interior mountains, and the Santa Ynez Valley due to these expected high temperatures. The Excessive Heat Watches are in effect from Wednesday (August 31) at 11 am to Sunday (September 4) at 9 pm. More info: https://www.weather.gov/lox/ or https://www.readysbc.org/…/Excessive-Heat-Forecast…

HAPPY LABOR DAY

This Labor Day, we need to not just honor and thank American workers – we need to empower them. Since October of last year, union representation petitions filed at the National Labor Relations Board have increased 57% and several have been successful for workers at major corporations like Starbucks, Amazon, and Google. Of course, this increase has been met with equal “union busting” efforts by these same companies. In that same period, unfair labor practice charges increased 14%.

Paying workers and providing good benefits is good but to truly honor American workers, we must support unionization – the only way to create an equal platform between employer and employees and the only way to empower the American worker. To do this, please buy Union. Here is a list of union products you can buy for your Labor Day BBQ. Here’s a map of unionized Starbucks: https://qz.com/2185771/find-the-closest-unionized-starbucks-to-you-with-this-map/ There are lots of easy ways to find unionized stores and goods around you. Have a happy Labor Day and stand in solidarity with American workers!”

Monkeypox

What you need to know:

The current monkeypox situation is rapidly evolving.
6 Total number of cases in Santa Barbara County
Vaccines are very limited. We have received 260 doses of MPX that will be available for eligible residents. To learn about the eligibility criteriaclick here or read below.
The monkeypox virus spreads primarily through close, intimate contact with someone who has Monkeypox.
If you have any symptoms of Monkeypox, talk to your healthcare provider, even if you don’t think you had contact with someone who has Monkeypox.
CDC is urging healthcare providers in the United States to be alert for patients with rash illnesses consistent with Monkeypox.

Currently, the following groups are eligible for monkeypox vaccination:

Known close contacts of monkeypox cases who are identified by public health via case investigation, contact tracing, and risk exposure assessments. (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP))

Individuals with certain risk factors who are more likely to have been recently exposed to monkeypox even if they have not had documented exposure to someone with confirmed monkeypox, such as people who attended an event or venue where there was known monkeypox exposure. (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)++ )

Gay or bisexual men and transgender persons 18 years of age and older who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days including engaging in survival and/or transactional sex (e.g., sex in exchange for shelter, food, and other goods and needs)

For more information, visit Santa Barbara County Public Health Department website.

Celebrating PRIDE

It was great to celebrate Pride at the Pacific Pride Festival. Thanks to the Pacific Pride Foundation for hosting and coordinating this important community celebration.