The Barbed Wire - November 2, 2018

Supervisor Les Baugh (Shasta) Presents Proclamation to President Trump

Late last month, the White House convened a State Leadership Conference for Alaska, California, and Hawaii local officials.  Supervisor Les Baugh of Shasta County was in attendance, and had the opportunity to provide President Trump with a Certificate of Appreciation for the President’s response and action around the Carr Fire.

“It was an honor to meet President Trump and present a Certificate of Appreciation from Shasta County for his Administration’s immediate response during the devastating Carr Fire,” said Supervisor Baugh.  “While I had initiated the request to the White House, I didn’t know until moments before his arrival that he had asked to meet with me.  It was truly a surreal experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been able to represent Shasta County on such a national stage.”  Read More…

Senate and Assembly Committees Consider Insurance Coverage in High Fire Risk Areas

On Tuesday, the Senate Insurance Committee and the Assembly Insurance Committee held a joint hearing in Napa to discuss homeowners insurance coverage in the wake of disastrous wildfires, such as last year’s Northern California fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and displaced numerous residents that are still struggling to rebuild a year later.  Committee members heard testimony from representatives for local government, homeowners, and the insurance industry to discuss the challenges facing those residents who are still trying to reconstruct their lives after the devastation of 2017. 

This year, the Legislature examined numerous bills aimed at relief for homeowners whose homes are damaged or were destroyed in fires such as the Tubbs and Thomas Fires, many of which were signed into law by Governor Brown.  The new laws range from requiring insurers to report on proposed cancelations and non-renewals in high fire risk areas, to extending time limitations for claims and legal actions once losses are reported.  While Committee members were pleased at some of the progress made in 2018, members also expressed the need to go further for fire victims, with hints that more legislative proposals will be forthcoming in 2019 to continue to ease insurance claims for homeowners since 2018 brought even more destruction with the Carr Fire, the Ferguson Fire, and the Mendocino Complex Fire.

The Rural Rundown Podcast: Breaking Down the 2018 Candidate Races

California’s midterm election is November 6^th, and all eyes are on California as a number of key congressional seats have the ability to shift the partisan power in Washington, D.C.  In this episode of The Rural Rundown, RCRC’s Justin Caporusso and Paul A. Smith discuss this congressional races, and break down the other local and statewide races of importance to California’s rural counties.  Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review today!  Listen Here…

National Political Update

In Washington, D.C., all eyes are waiting the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections on November 6, 2018.  Many predict the Democrats will pick-up approximately 40 seats in the House and take the majority.  In the Senate, majority control will be determined by several toss-up elections in Florida, Missouri, Floria, Indiana, Nevada, and Arizona. Republicans should maintain, and potentially expand, their majority in the Senate thanks to a favorable electoral map. 

If Democrats take control of the House, key committees and leadership positions will be reorganized by the new party in power.  Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) is widely expected to become the next Speaker.  It is unknown who House Democrats will appoint as chairs in key committees but based on seniority, likely contenders for the most powerful chairmanships are Representatives Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota) for the Agriculture Committee, Nita Lowey (D-New York) for the Appropriations Committee, Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) for the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) for the Natural Resources Committee, and Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) for the Energy & Commerce Committee.

Rural Broadband Update

In Verizon’s quarterly earnings call with media and shareholders, the nationwide carrier revealed it does not intend to accelerate the buildout of its 5G network.  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently finalized a rule and order that will preempt local government oversight of broadband deployment to promote 5G buildouts but the latest news from Verizon suggests the rule has minimal impact on carriers’ 5G plans.  FCC Chairman Ajit Pai also claimed the rule would facilitate 5G deployment in rural areas, but the FCC’s lone Democrat, Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, said the new rule will do nothing to change “the hard economics of rural deployment.” 

The FCC pointed to complaints from Verizon as justification for their controversial rule that preempts local fees and regulations of broadband deployment.  The FCC passed the rule over the fierce objection of RCRC and other state and local government groups.  The rule is estimated to save nationwide carriers over $2 billion in regulatory fees but it appears these savings will not lead to more broadband deployment.

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.

Eran Marie Bermudez, 38, of San Diego, has been appointed to a judgeship in the Imperial County Superior Court. Bermudez has been a complaint resolution officer at the University of California, San Diego since 2016. She was a partner at Garcia Hernandez and Sawhney LLP from 2011 to 2016 and an associate at Best Best and Krieger LLP from 2005 to 2011. Bermudez earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine. She fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Ruth B. Montenegro as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. Bermudez is a Democrat.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

AmeriCorps 101 – Introductory Webinar on the National Civil Service Program that Engages Adults in Public Service Work

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CSAC Webinar: Counting on Funding – How to Get Census Dollars

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NOFA: CDBG Program for Non-Entitlement Jurisdictions

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