California County News

Arizona’s Sheriff Joe is in the Hot Seat over DOJ Investigation; Claims Promoted Bias

The infamous “Sheriff Joe,” also known as Joe Arpaio, who is the sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona, is once again the subject of controversy as he’s in quite a bit of hot water. Arpaio has developed a reputation as a particularly tough sheriff, but it appears some of his tactics have created bias against Latinos. The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation against Arpaio for allegedly engaging in a “pattern and practice of violating the Constitution.” Specifically, the investigation seeks to prove that the Sheriff’s office has made unlawful stops, arrests and biased jail practices against Latinos.

The basic charge is that a culture of bias was promoted by the sheriff so that deputies treated local Latinos differently than the rest of the population. It was also found that officers a part of the department often made disparaging remarks about Latinos, such as “wetbacks” and “stupid Mexicans.” TPM reports that the Department of Justice interviewed over 400 individuals, toured jails, and reviewed thousands of pages of evidence. The sheriff also apparently didn’t hide from praising racially-charged letters he received from constituents. The political site reports:

“Many of the letters, said DOJ, ‘contain no meaningful descriptions of criminal activity — just crude, ethnically derogatory language about Latinos.’ In one instance, Arpaio dubbed a letter asking him to ‘round-up’ of people with ‘dark skin’ on a corner in Phoenix as ‘intelligence’ and asked a member of his command staff to have ‘someone handle this.’”

The sheriff will be sued if he doesn’t take steps to change his department’s practices. Arpaio has called the investigation politically-motivated and his attorney deemed the report a “witch hunt.” The LA Weekly questions whether LA County Sheriff Lee Baca will face similar criticism over deportation stats. See here.

The Department of Justice’s report can be read here:

DOJ Report On Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Setting the Traps: Santa Cruz Could Become 1st County to Ban Bullfrogs

Santa Cruz County has an infestation on its hands and the sounds of “ribbit, ribbit, ribbit” are proof. The board of supervisors could make Santa Cruz the first county in the nation to ban the import, sale and possession of American bullfrogs. These little buggers have wreaked havoc on local ecosystems because they are not native to the West Coast; consequently, they have spread diseases and have endangered native smaller species like the California Red-Legged Frog. Bullfrogs eat other amphibians and their size allows them to outcompete other species for food.  In February, supervisors will formally consider imposing a ban, as millions are imported every year from countries like China and Mexico.

While the county would like to see the state act on this matter by imposing a statewide ban, the county’s Fish and Game Advisory Commission chair Russel Maridon has pointed out that action has been lacking on the state level so Santa Cruz is stepping up to the plate. In a letter to the board about the potential ban, Mardion wrote the following:

“While the State of California Fish and Game Commission has twice voted ban the importation and sale of bullfrogs, the Department of Fish and Game still allows it. Therefore—in addition to initiating development of language to ban bullfrog importation and sales in the County—we also encourage the [Board of Supervisors] to contact California Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird to communicate its concerns about this matter and ask that he review the state commission’s relative inaction on this matter.”

Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark W. Stone also penned a letter to the board voicing his support for the ban. You can view Stone’s letter here. Reportedly the problems created by bullfrogs was first brought to the attention of officials by the organization Save the Frogs, which is based in Santa Cruz. The non-profit is hoping the county will set an important precedent that will also raise awareness.

No Surrender: Arizona’s Infamous Sheriff Joe Faces Calls for His Resignation

The infamous “Sheriff Joe,” also known as Joe Arpaio, is facing calls for his resignation down in Maricopa County, Arizona. The local official is known nationally thanks to his tough stance on illegal immigration and has deemed himself "America's Toughest Sheriff."

The national media figure is no stranger to scrutiny and criticism, as he once built tent cities for inmates, instituted chain gangs, and made prisoners wear pink underwear.

So what’s the latest controversy around Arpaio? TPM reports there “are allegations by current and former law enforcement officials that he botched over 400 sex crime cases.” In response, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) called on the sheriff to resign from his position.

In what isn’t exactly the most mature response, Arapio countered that Grijalva was the one who should resign and that he’s only criticizing the sheriff due to his immigration policies (sort of the equivalent of the standard schoolyard tactic of saying “I know you are but what am I”).

The Sheriff’s Department has reinvestigated many cases to address concerns about dropping the ball on serious cases, such as child molestation. Read more here. 

Marin County Offers a Holiday Deal with Novel Christmas Tree-Cutting Program

Post-Thanksgiving holiday madness is in full swing and if you’re looking for a Christmas tree, officials in Marin County have come up with a program to rid an open space preserve of an unwanted and invasive species: the pine tree. The tree-cutting program will launch this weekend and since the county wants to clear the Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve of these pine trees, they are allowing locals to do the work for them. Anyone will be allowed to chop down their own tree on the preserve for free in what is being called the "holiday habitat restoration event.” But before you grab an ax or saw, it’s worth noting the wild Monterey pines certainly don’t look like traditional Christmas trees; nevertheless, officials point out they are free, unique, and the experience of chopping down one’s own tree can be memorable. Marin County Parks Director Linda Dahl commented the following on the event:

“Because pine trees are invading the preserve and threatening native habitats, this event will serve as both an important restoration project as well as a fun holiday event for the whole family … [the tree-cutting event] will allow access to areas of the preserve normally off-limits to the public. These trees have been growing in the wild, not in a Christmas tree lot, and therefore come in all shapes and sizes.”

The invasive pines are reportedly a problem because they are a threat to the local ecosystem that provides a habitat for some of the rarest plants in the world, including the Tiburon mariposa lily, which occurs nowhere else on earth.

Interactive Map Traces Inward and Outward Moving Patterns for Every County in CA

Nearly 40 million Americans move from one home to another every year, proving that mobility is a constant feature of American life. Forbes writer Jon Bruner has compiled IRS data to create an interactive visualization tracing the inward and outward moves for every county in the country. You can find the map here. Just click on any county and you’ll see the migration patterns in red and blue lines. If Orange County is selected, the map shows where outbound migrants have taken up residence; for instance, 20 people left Orange County for Yellowstone County in Montana. You can click on any county in California to see moving patterns and where residents are coming from and where they are going to. Here is how the Forbes writer describes the data:

“Each move had its own motivations, but in aggregate they ¬reflect the geographical marketplace during the boom and bust of the last decade: Migrants flock to Las Vegas in 2005 in search of cheap, luxurious housing, then flee in 2009 as the city’s economy collapses; Miami beckons retirees from the North but offers little to its working-age residents, who leave for the West. Even fast-growing boomtowns like Charlotte, N.C., lose residents to their outlying counties as the demand for exurban tract-housing pushes workers ever outward.”

Find the interactive map here.

Four experts offered their takes on the map, and you can find their analysis here.

OC Tells State to Drop Dead on VLF Revenues; Plan to Withhold Millions in Property Taxes

Despite last-ditch attempts to secure a legislative solution, the most recent session concluded with Orange County failing to restore $48 million in VLF revenues that were snatched up by the state. Cities also lost out on these revenues under changes imposed by SB 89, as $130 million in city Vehicle License Fee (VLF) general fund revenues were diverted. But Orange County has decided to flip the bird to the state: it was reported Monday that not only will OC refuse to send the $48 million but it will also keep out of the state’s grasp a total of $73 million in property taxes. The county is basically arguing that if it holds onto $73.5 million for fiscal year 2011-2012 from property taxes (which is supposed to go to local schools), the state will be required to backfill the reduction in local revenue due to a mandate.

The supervisors discussed this course of action during a closed meeting and Board Chairman Bill Campbell has written a letter to Auditor-Controller David Sundstrom instructing him to defy the state because the county has deemed its actions illegal. In anticipation of the firestorm the move is likely to cause, Campbell’s letter states that “The Board will vigorously defend any challenge to the legality of your allocation of county property tax pursuant to Revenue & Taxation Code 97.70 as we are here requesting.”

Since SB 89 was imposed, county officials have been arguing that the loss of revenues would force the county to face major layoffs and cuts. The Voice of OC got the scoop and reports the county’s approach is “is an aggressive and rarely seen tactic in which a locality unilaterally shifts decisions about how to distribute taxes from Sacramento to the local level.” Campbell’s letter also noted that state law requires uniform treatment for all counties. You can read the full letter to the Auditor-Controller, who is responsible for allocations, here.

The state contends that Orange County is no longer entitled to receive a large amount of vehicle license fees because officials refinanced the 1994 bankruptcy debt. H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the state Department of Finance, commented the following about the county’s decision: “The county’s intended decision to withhold money owed to schools is not only misguided, but likely illegal. We are considering all of our legal options in the event that the county attempts to carry out this action."

There are still plans to reintroduce legislation in January that would reverse SB 89 and restore the funds. The county has been receiving legal advice for the past few months and apparently doesn’t want to wait until the next legislative session for any answers.

Mayday: Texan County Attracts Controversy for Launching Weaponized Drone

Texas is doing its part to live up to its reputation as a tough state for law enforcement; take the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, which has used $300,000 in federal homeland security grant money to launch a weaponized law enforcement drone (don’t mess with Texas, indeed). Even in the Lone Star State, the 50-pound unmanned chopper has proven to be controversial as not everyone is on board with local drone deployment in the county. Popular Science reports that the drones could carry “Taser-esque weapons that deliver an electric charge or a firearm that fires beanbag rounds known as stun batons.” To allay misgivings, authorities are contending the device will only be used in emergency circumstances (but how Texans define “emergency circumstances” is worth pondering).

Sheriff Tommy Gage has commented that “To be in on the ground floor of this is pretty exciting for us here in Montgomery County. We're not going to use it to be invading somebody's privacy. It'll be used for situations we have with criminals.” Authorities also say the drones could be use to find missing persons or help fire departments in various counties if there are raging wildfires.

The Texan County may start a new trend in which other law enforcement agencies adopt the use of drones and enhanced technology, but questions on civil liberties may dog their success. More here.

Medical Marijuana Battle Heats Up in Kern

The medical marijuana debate is lighting up in a place where we thought it would have been snubbed out immediately: Kern County. 

Yes, this red county is now blooming into a battlefield for war over medical marijuana. People here are getting fired up over a controversial law that would shut down many of the 30+ dispensaries in the county. This law, by the way, was passed unanimously by Kern’s entirely Republican Board of Supervisors. 

Medical marijuana advocates, however, started a petition drive to challenge the ban, and are now calling for a referendum on the law. Since the petition garnered 17,000 signatures in early September, the law has been temporarily suspended. Robert Wade is one of the more outspoken advocates in Kern County. This former narcotics officer got laid off then opened a medical marijuana dispensary and clinic last year; he calls the industry “one of the few growing industries in this country.” 

A victory in Kern would not only be one for locals, but for medical marijuana advocates across the country. 

“For Kern, as a red county, to step up and say, ‘Wait a minute,’ I think that would really resonate,” said Ethan Nadelmann, the executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which lobbies for more liberal drug laws.

Despite facing an uphill battle (Kern voters tend to lean right and voters rejected a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in 2010 by 65%), local supporters remain optimistic. They say Kern residents are independent and willing to fight. Sheriff Donny Youngblood, however, says marijuana has been too destructive a force in the county, and legalization will only increase crime. 

The referendum could come up on the ballot as early as spring. Until then, marijuana advocates will be eyeing Kern closer than they ever thought before. 

 

SF Board to Consider Ordinance Regulating Public Nudity, Including a Ban at Restaurants

The following story should come as no surprise that it concerns San Francisco. The Board of Supervisors public safety committee recently discussed a proposal from Supervisor Scott Wiener that would require nudists to place a towel (or something similar) on a public bench or seat before they sit down (which seems akin to not seeing the forest for the trees). In addition, dining in the nude in San Francisco’s restaurants would also be prohibited due to various complaints. Yes, you read that right. While many may have been disappointed that the committee’s meeting ultimately received few attendees (and yes, those who did show up were fully clothed), there was no opposition raised against the proposal. Therefore, the Public Safety Committee approved the plan and the ordinance will now go to the full board for a vote.

In San Francisco, it is legal to go au naturel in public. Supervisor Wiener, commenting about his proposal, stated that “There are a lot of different opinions about public nudity — ranging from celebrating it to thinking it should be banned. That is a conversation that we’ll continue to have in this city. This legislation, however, addresses these two very specific issues.” The Supervisor might want to add to his statement that there are only a lot of different opinions about public nudity, especially at the dinner table, in San Francisco.

Madera Supervisor to Issue Public Apology over Comments about Taking a Pay Cut

Madera County Supervisor David Rogers is eating a serving of humble pie after facing backlash over his comments about personally taking a pay reduction. During the meeting, county employees voiced their objections to a 10% reduction in their pay. Employees also objected to a 16.9% increase in salary for the vacant Auditor-Controller position. When it comes to Rogers’ own pay, the official stated “I don't expect people to target me because they think I need to take a reduction in pay. I'll tell you right now, I'm not going to.” At first little attention was given to the supervisor’s remarks, but video of his comments have been making the rounds. Rogers also remarked during the meeting that “I'd like to point out to the general public ... most of you don't have to run for a year and spend $50,000 to get this position. So it's, uh, it takes a lot of work to be on this dais and be in this position.” So while Rogers justified his position during the meeting, he has since backtracked and apologized.

Supervisor Rogers had County Chief Executive Officer Eric Flemming send an apology to all County employees. The supervisor’s apology is as follows:

“I have had the opportunity to review my comments made during last Tuesdays board meeting. My remarks were ill-conceived, selfish, insensitive and not in line with my desire to hear from the employees of this county.  In realizing this, I have had to reevaluate my thinking. I have apologized to Sharon and Cindy, and have encouraged them to continue speaking their mind at the board meetings. I humbly apologize to every employee of this county and will make my apology publicly at the next board meeting.”

During Tuesday’s board meeting, Rogers plans to issue a public apology. You can watch video of the original comments here: