The Barbed Wire - November 16, 2018

November 16, 2018
Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter Provides Update on Camp Fire, and Outlines Current and Ongoing Community Needs
RCRC Co-Chairs “Elevate Rural California” Discussion
The Rural Rundown Podcast: 2018 Midterm Election Results
Wildfire Disaster Funding and the Budget
Farm Bill Update
THE RURAL RUNDOWN PODCAST
KEEPING UP
BULLETIN BOARD

Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter Provides Update on Camp Fire, and Outlines Current and Ongoing Community Needs

RCRC is working with Supervisor Doug Teeter to raise funds for those impacted by the Camp Fire in Butte County.  All funds collected will be distributed to people in need through local non-profit emergency relief agencies directly serving fire victims with immediate needs.  These non-profit organizations have been vetted as trusted and well-managed direct emergency service providers and include:

  • United Way of Northern California
  • The Salvation Army
  • Northern Valley Catholic Social Services

Please visit RCRC’s website to contribute, and share with your networks.

RCRC Co-Chairs “Elevate Rural California” Discussion

Yesterday, RCRC President and CEO Greg Norton co-chaired a discussion on the importance of elevating rural California ahead of California Forward’s California Economic Summit (Summit) in Sonoma County.  The Elevate Rural California discussion focused on the role that rural California plays in the overall prosperity of the state, and the goal of the Summit is to connect regional and state leaders to develop a shared agenda to generate jobs and improve regional competitiveness.  This year’s Summit brought together state, regional, and community champions to collaborate and adopt initiatives for fueling job creation and creating a stronger economy. 

Mr. Norton described the rural-urban divide in California, and its impact upon the state as a whole.  “As investment and development have followed population growth, rural California has not received the appropriate allocation of resources to maintain its foundational infrastructure – water, sewer, transportation systems – nor to develop a robust broadband system,” outlined Norton.  “Investment in infrastructure and deployment of broadband throughout rural California would be game changers.”

Mr. Norton concluded his remarks with a call to action – “Let’s invest in rural California, and in doing so, lift the whole state – economically, environmentally, and equitably.  Let’s harness the innovation and problem solving that Californians are known for to take advantage of all the opportunities the entire state of California – both urban and rural – have to offer.”

RCRC Chair Rex Bohn (Humboldt) and RCRC Delegate Supervisors Bob Williams (Tehama), Kevin Cann (Mariposa), and Lynda Hopkins (Sonoma) joined Mr. Norton and RCRC staff at both the Elevate Rural California discussion, and various Summit working sessions. 

The Rural Rundown Podcast: 2018 Midterm Election Results

In this episode of The Rural Rundown, RCRC's Vice President of External Affairs Justin Caporusso and RCRC Vice President of Governmental Affairs Paul Smith sit down to discuss the results of the 2018 midterm election, and what impacts might be felt in rural California.  Listen Here…

Wildfire Disaster Funding and the Budget

Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) told reporters on Monday that appropriators will propose $720 million in emergency funds to California in relief of the latest outbreak of wildfires.  Ranking Member Leahy will seek to attach the relief package to one of the outstanding spending bills that Congress must pass before December 7, 2018 to avoid a government shutdown.  

In recent weeks, President Trump has suggested withholding federal support for California, blaming the state’s deadly wildfires on California’s forest management practices.  If President Trump opposes Ranking Member Leahy’s proposal for wildfire relief, it would be one of many fronts of conflict between the White House and Congress over the outstanding appropriations bills.  Most notably, President Trump is threatening a government-wide shut down if Congress passes a bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security without $5 billion in dedicated funding for construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.  The border wall is President Trump’s top priority in the upcoming spending fight, and California’s emergency relief could be used as a negotiating chip that gets passed between Senate Democrats and the White House.  Congress has not passed seven of the 12 appropriations bills required to fully fund the federal government through Fiscal 2019.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) met with President Trump this week to negotiate a path forward on remaining roadblocks.  Majority Leader McConnell and Chairman Shelby were both optimistic following the meeting but acknowledged there is a lot of work to be done before the remaining appropriations packages can be finalized.

Farm Bill Update

The principle negotiators for the 2018 Farm Bill met this week in an attempt to reach an agreement before the lame-duck session ends in December.  After the meetings were completed, Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) was quick to pass blame on his fellow Republican, House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas), for holding up negotiations.  Chairman Roberts says the other principles are prepared to reach and agreement but Chairman Conaway refuses to compromise on the nutrition, commodity, and conservation titles of the bill.  

Tensions are high, and both chairmen feel the pressure to close out a deal before the new Congress begins with a Democrat majority in the House.  Chairman-in-waiting Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota) is expected to reset negotiations and propose his own version of a new Farm Bill that will scrap many of the Chairman Conaway’s proposals.  All four principle negotiators remain outwardly optimistic Congress will pass a new Farm Bill during the lame-duck, but with each passing week it appears more likely they will settle for an extension that delays the enactment of a new Farm Bill into the next Congress.

THE RURAL RUNDOWN PODCAST

The Rural Rundown discusses the legislative and regulatory issues impacting California’s rural counties, featuring commentary and interviews from individuals committed to improving the quality of life in rural California. 

The Rural Rundown can be accessed here

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

Talibah Al-Rafiq, 67, of San Andreas, has been reappointed to the 39th District Agricultural Association, Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee Board of Directors, where she has served since 2004. Al-Rafiq has been general manager at Calaveras Enterprise since 2007 and chief executive officer and owner at the California Cashmere Company since 1990. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Al-Rafiq is a Democrat.

Darrin Mills, 44, of Murphys, has been reappointed to the 39th District Agricultural Association, Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee Board of Directors, where he has served since 2009. Mills has been vice president at Distinctive Metals since 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mills is a Republican.  

MaryBeth Ospital, 32, of Valley Springs, has been appointed to the 39th District Agricultural Association, Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee Board of Directors. Ospital has been community outreach coordinator at Cal-Waste Recovery Systems since 2013. She was collections administrator at Tiger Lines, LLC from 2006 to 2013. She is a member of Destination Angels Camp, Angels Camp Business Association, Wallace/Burson Association, Friends of the Fair, Valley Springs Business Association and the Galt Sunrise Rotary. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ospital is registered without party preference.

Bob Trinchero, 77, of Angels Camp, has been reappointed to the 39th District Agricultural Association, Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee Board of Directors, where he has served since 1999. Trinchero was a partner and owner at Priority Realtors from 2007 to 2014, a developer and golf course manager at Greenhorn Creek Resort from 1999 to 2002 and a marketing manager and limited partner at Greenhorn Creek Development Corporation from 1994 to 1999. He was a professor and university administrator at California State University, East Bay from 1968 to 1993. Trinchero earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychological measurement from Stanford University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Trinchero is a Democrat.

Steven Wooster, 69, of Copperopolis, has been reappointed to the 39th District Agricultural Association, Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee Board of Directors, where he has served since 2010. Wooster has been a rancher for Wooster Ranch since 2004.  This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Wooster is a Republican.

Vanessa Alexandre, 24, of Crescent City, has been appointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association, Del Norte County Fair Board of Directors. Alexandre has been co-owner at Alexandre Family Farm since 2017 and co-owner at Alexandre Kids Eggs since 2005. She has been calf manager, office assistant and marketing manager at Alexandre EcoDairy Farms since 2015. Alexandre is a member of the Del Norte County Farm Bureau and the California Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Alexandre is a Republican.

Kim Haban, 59, of Crescent City, has been reappointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association, Del Norte County Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2016. Haban has been owner at Gerrit Roeloffs since 2009. She was an animal health and feed sales manager at Crescent City Hay and Feed from 2009 to 2016. She is a 4-H leader for Del Norte County 4-H. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Haban is a Democrat.

 Kara Miller, 65, of Smith River, has been reappointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association, Del Norte County Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2007. Miller has served on the tribal council of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation since 1999, where she was chairperson from 2000 to 2015. She has been office manager at Dahlstrom and Watt Bulb Farms Inc., since 1998. Miller is chair of the Wild Rivers Community Foundation Board. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Miller is a Democrat.

John Pritchett, 57, of Crescent City, has been appointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association, Del Norte County Fair Board of Directors. Pritchett has been news director at Bicoastal Media since 2003 and general manager at Del Norte Ambulance Inc. since 2000. He was editor and reporter at Western Communications from 1979 to 2000. Pritchett is a member of the Crescent City Rotary Club. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Pritchett is a Democrat.

Richard Taylor, 68, of Crescent City, has been reappointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association, Del Norte County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 1997. Taylor has been an independent certified public accountant since 1977. He is a member of the Crescent City Rotary. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Taylor is a Republican.

Matthew Westbrook, 39, of Smith River, has been reappointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association, Del Norte County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2016. Westbrook has been vice president at Palmer Westbrook Inc. since 2002. He is a member of the Del Norte Cattlemen’s Association, Del Norte Resource Conservation District, Del Norte County Farm Bureau and the Easter Lily Research Foundation. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Westbrook is a Republican. 

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

CalPERS Develops FAQ on Health Plan Responses to Camp, Woolsey, and Hill Wildfires

Click here

California Arts Council Awarding $21.3 Million in Arts and Culture Grants

The California Arts Council is awarding $21.3 million to arts and culture projects supporting access, equity, and inclusion; community vibrancy; and arts learning in the 2018-19 grant season—$5 million more than in the prior fiscal year. Applications are open for 14 of the agency's grant programs, with funding available for youth programs, creative projects, and operating support. Grants are intended to strengthen the capacity of organizations providing arts engagement to all of California’s residents, including students, veterans, communities of color, low-income and rural communities, system-engaged youth, individuals with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and more. Find your fit and apply today.  Click here.