Latest news with #MeasureL
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sacramento LGBT Center considers reducing services as it faces funding cuts
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center warned that hundreds of youth, many at risk of homelessness or in crisis, could lose access to life-saving mental health counseling and gender-affirming care if the City Council fails to approve additional funding. A $500,000 loss for the center from a terminated federal grant has already affected youth and adult mental health services, said Executive Director David Heitstuman. 'We do have another $1.2 million in federal funding that could be at risk depending on federal action,' Heitstuman said. 'So, we are in a very challenging position as an organization that's sort of at the top of the target list for the administration, which makes this funding even more vital.' The center provides counseling, drop-in respite care, and community resource navigation under its mental health program. Additionally, the center holds Coming Out, Golden Grounds LGBTQ Elders, Transgender, and Twenty-Somethings support groups. Jon Garcia, director of youth and family programs, spoke at the May 20 City Council meeting and estimated that the center serves about 400 youth aged 14-24, who predominantly reside in the city of Sacramento. Of these 400, 20% identify as African American, 12% identify as Latinx, 42% are homeless or at risk of being homeless, and 17% have had prior foster care experience. At the center, 33% of recent mental health clients required emergency intervention for suicidal ideation or attempts, 84% of whom were youth, Garcia said. The center has requested $1.5 million from the City Council, through the city's Measure L to address this growing need. At the May 20 meeting, representatives from the center recommended the adoption of a scenario to provide $417,000 in funding. The council will vote on the funding Tuesday. During the meeting, Rene Kausin, youth development project manager for the city's Department of Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment, explained that the awards were funded by taxes on cannabis operations to child and youth services. The funds were then guided by an investment plan adopted by the city last September to support youth and youth violence prevention programming to nonprofits and public entities. Organizations that qualify must apply for the grants through a competitive process. The grants range from $25,000 to $500,000, pulled from a pool of $17.9 million. When asked about the implications if the center were unable to receive the grant, Heitstuman said that cuts would have to be made. 'It means that we're going to continue to have a big deficit in our region for LGBTQ-affirming services, particularly dire for low-income folks, who don't have access to be able to pay for an affirming provider,' Heitstuman said. 'And if we aren't able to secure funding to continue this program, it's going to mean that we're going to have to make service reductions.' Heitstuman is optimistic, though, that the council will approve the funding or create their own allocation plan to support the center. 'It's really, really hard to replace hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in grant funds with $20 donations,' Heitstuman said. 'With all the economic uncertainty and the lack of availability of funding at the federal and state level, we really do need to see local officials step up and support our business.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Modesto now has HAWKs watching out for pedestrian safety in crosswalks
To launch crosswalk beacons aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety, Modesto chose an area of heavy foot traffic: 16th Street at H and I streets, on both ends of the Modesto Certified Farmers Market. In April, the city installed High Intensity Activated Crosswalk beacons, traffic signal devices to help drivers and pedestrians avoid collisions. Though the acronym doesn't match the name, they're called HAWK beacons. The devices have the same features as a typical crosswalk beacon, which include a push button to walk, a green display of a stick figure when it's clear to do so, and a timer counting down to a red warning hand. However, drivers should notice a big difference: The signal lights are dark until activated by a pedestrian. There are three different light configurations: a flashing yellow light, a solid yellow light, and a solid double and flashing red lights. When someone is about to use the crosswalk, a flashing yellow light will alert drivers to slow down. A solid yellow will then be shown, to prepare for a stop. Once the traffic light turns into a solid double red, drivers must stop to let pedestrians safely cross the street. When the solid red lights begin to flash, drivers may again proceed if no pedestrians are in the crosswalk. According to California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System data, provided by UC Berkeley's Transportation Injury Mapping System, the city recorded 113 pedestrian fatalities and injuries in each of the last two years. 'The city is creating safer streets for everyone,' Mayor Sue Zwahlen said in a news release. 'The HAWK beacon will be instrumental in reducing pedestrian incidents in our community.' Public Works Director Bill Sandhu said the city began talks about the crosswalk beacons last year when his department evaluated its traffic system. The two intersections were among the areas with a high volume of pedestrians entering, he said. Additionally, the department took a road's width and the amount of traffic in a specific area as possible factors to consider for its implementation. Sandhu says the city has three other locations in mind for HAWKs but didn't specify where. He expects them to be installed within the next year. According to Federal Highway Administration data provided by Sandhu the crosswalks helped reduce total crashes by 29% and pedestrian crashes by 69% in Tucson, AZ. Sandhu said Modesto's crosswalk beacons were installed by Public Works and cost under $400,000. They were funded through Measure L, which focuses on improving streets and roads in Stanislaus County through a 25-year Transportation Ordinance and Expenditure Plan and sales tax of a half cent. A month into the crosswalk beacons' implementation, Modesto Certified Farmers Market shoppers have noticed a significant difference when it comes to safety. Farmers Market Manager Shiela Burch said the devices make clear that pedestrians have priority. 'It is more obvious that they need to stop traffic in order for people to cross,' Burch said. Before the beacons, when the intersections had only painted crosswalks, drivers 'had to be acutely aware of people and look around, and that was not happening.' Citlalic Marquez, a Ceres resident, has been visiting the farmers market for more than three years. She remembers having to run across the street to beat oncoming traffic. She said she believes the crosswalk beacons will helps anyone wherever they're installed. 'I think it's good addition to [the farmers market] and hopefully they implement in other areas,' Marquez said
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Do Sacramento city leaders care about kids? We're about to find out
I have spoken to many people in Sacramento who lead youth service programs, and they all say the same thing: When elected leaders in the city of Sacramento face tough budget cycles, as they are now, the first cuts are often to programs for kids who badly need job training, after-school programs and other resources. It took the city three tries in six years for the city to create a funding stream for kids. In 2020, Measure G failed because too many influencers, including former Mayor Darrell Steinberg, didn't want to lock up 2.5 percent of the city's general fund for kids. In 2022, Measure L passed by a wide margin, in part, because instead of a specific general fund carve-out for youth funding, it requires the city to spend the equivalent of 40 percent of the city's cannabis tax money on kids. This was a pivotal moment in the city's history. Creating a fund to help our communities should never go understated. Measure L based on its own wording was not to replace 'baseline' funding for ongoing city services. Yet funding for parks and youth services in the city's regular 'general fund' budget is undeniably on the increase, that baseline steadily eroding. As one example, Sacramento voters approved a full cent sales tax in 2018, Measure U, on a sales pitch that this new money would expand economic development and youth services going forward. In last year's budget for Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment, the city dedicated more than $46.1 million in Measure U sales tax dollars for various purposes. This year's staff proposal is to plummet Measure U support for these needs by $20 million. Funds for the Community Enrichment Division would decrease by a third, from $1.8 million to $1.2 million. The examples go on. But with a $44 million budget deficit facing the city right now, advocates remain fearful that youth services will be cut to balance city books. Leaders in youth services are worried that the budget cuts will take away funding from programs catered to young adults across all city departments. On Tuesday, the council and mayor had their first debate over the proposed budget and the cuts to follow. Everything from skate parks to police was discussed as an avenue for cuts. As the council looks for ways to create a new budget. youth services leaders find themselves in a position where they again advocating for these vital programs. Councilmember Mai Vang emphasized the stakes involved by invoking a simple phrase: 'It's all about our priorities. We don't have a budget deficit, we have a values deficit,' Vang said. She's right. The city's leaders are going to demonstrate their values in the budget process. Do they value kids or not? By way of the Sacramento Children's Fund, the city will give out $46 million in grants over the next five years for youth services. The city uses general fund money to cover Measure L services and the total must come out to 40% of the annual estimated cannabis business tax revenue. Vang champions supporting the city's youth, particularly with programs. It's a fairly simple idea for her. 'If we really care about moving upstream and taking care of our families, we have to invest. It also means looking at our budget and imagining what that could look like and the majority of that funding goes to police right now.' Vang's point to cut police funding could be a way to ensure that Measure L funds are not changed. It's not like the police are hurting for funds. Over four years, the Sacramento Police budget has increased by more than $50 million, coming to a total of $247 million and it's proposed to increase by $8 million in the next budget. The police department is a good start to look at where cuts could be made so measure L and other vital city resources can stay. The city wholeheartedly supported Measure L to be funded, not reduced. The Sacramento Bee's opinion team is hard at work sifting through the chaos so you don't have to. Get our weekly Bee Opinionated newsletter straight to your inbox and we'll help you cut through the drone of the news cycle. Youth programs are a direct investment in the future. Lowering funding or taking away positions that ensure these programs exist prevent our young adults from achieving their highest potential. Budget cuts are never easy, but the city council has a moment to change the way these tough decisions are made. Back in 2022, voters made a huge statement by passing Measure L, which said our youth matter and should be prioritized. During this budget-cut season, the council has the opportunity to do the same. The baseline for the measure L is 23.2 million, which could easily be reached by staff salary. There is more money in the budget that can go towards helping our young people. Our city depends on their success. 'Our youth is 1/3 of our city but they are 100 percent of our future,' Vang said. Let's hope the rest of the council feels that way come June 10 when the budget is voted on.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Residents at special meeting want Lodi Library kept under local control
Jan. 30—Residents came to the Lodi City Council's special Tuesday meeting in full force to vehemently oppose a proposal to give up control of the local library. More than a dozen people urged the city to continue operating the Lodi Public Library as it has done for more than a century, rather than enter into a contract with the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library system. Lodi's library is the only one among the county's eight that is not a part of the SSJCPL. Residents who spoke against joining the county system said they feared the community would lose unique classes and programs created by previous library directors. Brian Campbell, president of the Lodi Public Library Board of Trustees, said any change made to how the library operates is going to be permanent or extremely costly to roll back. He noted the City of Tracy had difficulty trying to retake control of its library in 2012 after joining the SSJCPL, and that the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors ultimately denied the request after a back-and-forth with the Stockton City Council. "Once an activity is given to Stockton, it does not come back," he said. "We lose control over how we invest in the library, and how it serves the community. We would no longer have discretion over programs and materials. When the (county) system is doing well, we'll benefit greatly. But when it's doing poorly, the library also does poorly and we won't have a say in the matter. Trustee Eve Melton reminded the council that the city passed Measure L in 2018, the half-cent sales tax that generates $5.4 million in general revenue, with some of that allocated to the library. Melton said residents did not intend for that revenue to be sent to Stockton or San Joaquin County to oversee library services. She also urged the council to investigate the issues the county has had with the City of Stockton managing the library system. "There have been numerous reports about the lack of transparency on how money was allocated and how money was spent by the city," she said. "Even to the point where they considered privatizing the library over letting Stockton continue to run the system." The council was presented with three options regarding the library's future, which included contracting with the SSJCPL, merging it with Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services or continue as is with some internal adjustments. Joining the county system would save the city some $580,000 in annual operational costs and eliminate the director position, which is currently held on an interim basis. The directors' responsibilities would be divided between an SSJCPL library manager that oversees the county's seven other branches and the deputy community services director-city librarian for the City of Stockton. In addition, a larger shared catalog would give users access to all materials throughout the system, including a wider selection of digital services and eBooks, as well as a simpler process for placing holds and having items delivered to the library. If the city were to combine the library with parks and rec, the city would save about $150,000 annually and the library director position would be converted to a deputy director position under the absorbing department. Staff said many cities across the country have opted to combine library departments with services that provide similar enrichment and activities and that have shared users. Absorbing the library into parks and rec would provide better financial sustainability than the current operating model, staff said, adding that there are opportunities for co-programming with recreational activities. This option would allow the city to retain control of the library, but it would increase the workload of an already very busy parks and rec department, staff said. If the city were to continue operating the library as before, it would need to make small improvements such as expanding community programming, modernizing technology, adding a librarian position and creating clear documentation for the board of trustees. While the other two options would save the city in operating costs, this one would require as much as $200,000 in annual spending, staff said. It was recommended by consulting firm Baker Tilly, which created an assessment report for the city, to conduct a review of all library job descriptions to ensure qualifications match positions if library management changes aren't pursued. It also recommended requiring librarian associates to actively pursue a master's degree in library science. According to staff, the city attorney advised that joining the county system or PRCS may require voter approval on a future ballot. Councilman Ramon Yepez said one of his campaign priorities was to improve the library. While Baker Tilly's assessment offered some good recommendations — such as making sure staff is qualified and creating clear documentation for the board of trustees — he said pursuing a contract with SSJPCL was absurd. "If we go with (that option), we need to go to the voters," he said. "This is going to be a city-wide election that's going to cost a lot of money. The residents are not going to support this. To me, it's just a waste of money." Councilman Mikey Hothi said he thought the library staff did a lot of great work, and that many of the events created over the last few years had improved the facility. He said transferring its operations to the county was not one of his resolutions for 2025. "I feel like this is an opportunity for us to continue and elevate the library's work and figure out some cost-saving measures," he said. "There is some good information here to keep the conversation going, but I get the sense (a contract with the county) is not the right direction." The council did not take action Tuesday night, as the discussion will be brought to a future meeting.
