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Vol. 15, No. 13 – Mar 23 – Apr 5, 2022 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest

On March 9, at approximately 11:00 am, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received a call of a stabbing that occurred at Plaza Park, located at 630 E. Santa Clara Street. Patrol officers were dispatched to that location and found a victim, who had sustained moderate, but non-life threatening injuries. While on scene, officers learned that the stabbing occurred during the commission of a robbery.

After conducting an investigation, officers learned that 24 year old Lindsey Moser approached Victim #1 and demanded he hand over his backpack. Moser held out a knife and threatened to stab the victim if he didn’t cooperate. Victim #1 handed over his backpack out of fear. Victim #2 observed what had transpired and attempted to intervene by grabbing onto Moser. Moser then stabbed Victim #2 with the knife, causing moderate but non-life threatening injuries. After stabbing Victim #2, Moser fled on foot towards California Street. Responding officers observed Moser walking southbound on California Street south of Thompson Boulevard. Moser was taken into custody without incident.

Victim #1 was able to retrieve his backback. Victim #2 was treated at the scene, but declined to be transported to the hospital.

Moser will be booked at the Ventura County Jail for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal threats.

Strong Armed Robbery

On March 13, at approximately 7:00 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a purse theft that had just occurred inside Ralphs, 1776 South Victoria Avenue. The suspect, described as a Hispanic male in his 20s fled the area before police arrival and was last seen running west towards Alameda St. and getting into a dark-colored Dodge sedan.

At approximately 7:30 pm, a Ventura Police Patrol Corporal located the vehicle in the 5700 Block of Thille Street. Angel Ramos, 22 year old Ventura resident, and 21 year old Ventura resident Jaynell Vargas were walking away from the car, and when ordered to stop, they fled into a nearby apartment. Patrol officers surrounded the location, and Ramos and Vargas exited the residence. They were detained while officers continued the investigation.

During the investigation, officers learned Ramos approached the first victim and removed her purse from the shopping cart she was pushing. Ramos approached the second victim and grabbed her purse that was over her shoulder. The second victim struggled to keep possession of the purse, and Ramos struck her and pushed her to the ground. Ramos took the purses, fled the store, and got into the Dodge sedan driven by Vargas.

Ventura Police Detectives obtained a search warrant for the apartment and the stolen property was located.

One victim was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries that resulted from the violence during the robbery.

Ramos was arrested for Grand Theft from a Person, Commercial Burglary, and Robbery. Vargas was arrested for Conspiring to Commit a Crime, Resisting/Delaying/Obstructing a Police Officer, and Accessory to a Crime.

Commercial Burglary Arrest

On March 15, at approximately 7:45 am, an employee of the business arrived for work and discovered the business was being burglarized. The suspect initially walked out of the business, but then went back inside. The employee called 911and officers responded.

When officers arrived, they made verbal contact with the suspect, 38 year old vagrant Jesteina Jones, who was still inside. She was uncooperative, non-responsive, and refused to surrender. After approximately 30 minutes of talking to the suspect and attempting to have her surrender, officers made entry and were able to take her into custody. The investigation revealed the suspect broke into the business overnight, ransacked several areas, and took items. At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was arrested for the felony charge of commercial burglary, a misdemeanor charge of delaying and obstructing officers, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. No one was injured during this incident.

Gang-Related Vandalism, Conspiracy, and Firearm Arrests

On March 15, at approximately 11:00 pm, an alert citizen reported four males committing multiple acts of spray paint vandalism at the Santa Clara parking structure. Ventura police officers responded and located the suspect vehicle driving out of the area. The vehicle was stopped, and the occupants were detained while officers investigated.

The suspects were identified as having committed multiple gang-related vandalisms with spray paint. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of multiple cans of spray paint and two loaded, unregistered handguns commonly referred to as “ghost guns.”

Ultimately 21 year old Ventura resident Christopher Cruz was arrested for Felony Vandalism, Commission of a Gang Crime, Criminal Conspiracy, and Driving a Suspended License.

Christopher Ruiz, 18 year old Ventura resident, was arrested for Felony Vandalism, Commission of a Gang Crime, Criminal Conspiracy, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public, and Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person.

The juveniles were arrested for various gang-related vandalism, conspiracy, and firearm crimes as well. This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is requested to contact the VPD Watch Commander at 805-339-4416.

Vol. 15, No. 13 – Mar 23 – Apr 5, 2022 – Opinion/Editorial

∙It’s wonderful that most of our entertainment events and music venues will be opening this year. Things would have been almost running back to normal and now Putin sets the world back.

I hope this isn’t false hope and premature on the COVID front. In Europe, and many other countries, the cases and hospitalizations from COVID are slowly inching up and public health experts are worried about the consequences. In Britain, cases are rising just a few weeks after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted most mitigation measures. Infections were 48% higher and hospitalizations were up 17%.

Pursuant to this, City Hall, and its facilities opened to the public on Thursday, March 11. “This week’s reopening marks an important milestone as we proudly welcome everyone back for in-person service,” said Ventura City Manager Alex D. McIntyre.

When I was at city hall, Interview sessions were being held for the Cannabis businesses that will be opening in Ventura. I was told three will be approved initially with and five eventually given licenses to operate. Glad this will happen, and that Ventura will keep the tax dollars here.

∙Ventura County’s Executive Officer Mike Powers retired two days after the Board of Supervisors placed him on paid administrative leave for undisclosed reasons. County Counsel Tiffany North confirmed Friday that the board had taken the action in a four-hour closed session devoted to litigation but would not say why.

Powers, 59, of Ventura notified the board Thursday he was immediately quitting the job he has held for 11 years. Powers said he was leaving to spend more time with his wife, Erin, and their two sons, age 10 and 13 but this may not have been the reason. A county employee filed a sexual harassment and discrimination complaint against Powers before he was placed on administrative leave on March 8.

∙The national average price for gas has topped $4 a gallon for the first time in more than a decade as gas costs continue to soar in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Wouldn’t we love to have our gas at only $4? The record high for the national average is $4.11, set on July 17, 2008. And, our summer formula is not here yet, that will add even more costs to gas prices. Of course, paying more for gas is better than being blown up by Russian bombs.

∙ In previous issues, we have published a few articles by Carol Leish regarding how downtown merchants (other than restaurants) felt about the closing of Main and California. They have all stated that they are happy with the closures. It was good to hear this because I just wasn’t sure what affect this has had on downtown businesses.

∙Guns In the News

Once again, a young child under 5 has killed a family member. A three-year-old boy accidentally shot his mother dead as the family sat in their car in a parking lot at a supermarket in a suburb of Chicago. The family were sitting in their car outside a Food for Less store when the boy somehow found the gun and fired it, striking his mother.

“This could have been prevented,” Dolton trustee Andrew Holmes said on Sunday as he visited the supermarket to hand out gun locks and speak to shoppers about the importance of gun safety. All it takes is a second: unlock it, thread it through the barrel, bring it back around, put it in and lock it back,” Holmes told WLS-TV. “If you leave it, secure it.”

Officials are searching for the person responsible for shooting and killing one man and injuring two other people at a party in Oxnard. The party, and shooting, took place at an abandoned business along Saviers Road. When officers arrived, they found 21-year-old Adrian Sandoval unconscious and unresponsive. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he was unfortunately declared dead at the scene. Two others, 19-year-old Diego Mares and 24-year-old Arkangel Childs, were found wounded.

A 16-year-old was killed and three others were seriously injured in a shooting at a Quality Inn hotel in Colorado. Officers found the teen with an apparent gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A shooting outside a pizza shop on Chicago’s South Side has left seven men wounded, authorities said.

One teen is dead and two remain hospitalized after a shooting outside a Des Moines, Iowa, high school. The incident is at least the 13th shooting at an American campus with K-12 students in 2022, according to a CNN tally.

A student shot and wounded an administrator and a school resource officer Friday at a suburban Kansas City high school, and the student also was wounded when the officer returned fire.

∙ Another journalist has been shot to death in Mexico. So far this year it is the eighth killing of a journalist in Mexico. Ten suspects have been detained in connection with last month’s shooting death of a photojournalist in Tijuana.

∙ In a recent poll, two thirds of Asian Americans in Los Angeles County are worried about being a victim of a racial attack. It is unacceptable that any American because of their race, color, sexual orientation or religion should be concerned for the safety of their lives.

∙ I’m not kidding; regarding the Ukraine, Trump called for the U.S. to attack Russia but make it look like it was actually China by flying American planes with a Chinese flag on the side.

“And then we say, ‘China did it. We didn’t do it China did it,’ and then they start fighting with each other and we sit back and watch.”

∙ Retiring Republican Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said that his “biggest regret” during his time in Congress was voting against the first impeachment of former President Trump.

Trump was impeached and later acquitted on two articles, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to a phone call in which he pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Biden family. Trump’s accusers alleged that he withheld much-needed military aid to force Zelensky’s hand, which Kinzinger said has affected Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia.

“It’s important for political leaders to be transparent and admit regret when needed. The bottom line, Donald Trump withheld lethal aid to Ukraine so he could use it as leverage for his campaign,” Kinzinger tweeted. “This is a shameful and illegal act, directly hurting the Ukraine defense today,” he said.

Republican Rep. Tom Rice (S.C.) slammed former President Trump following the former president’s rally in South Carolina, calling him “a would-be tyrant.”

Former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Marc Racicot slammed Trump over his comments on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, writing that the ex-commander in chief is “not fit to lead this nation.”

In an article written for the Independent Record, Racicot analyzed Trump’s commentary on the conflict in Ukraine, determining that the ex-president is not fit to lead the U.S., especially during a moment of crisis.

He said, the “essential qualities of leadership and human character” are decency, honesty, humility, honor and faithfulness. Donald Trump does not possess those essential qualities of character that leave him fit to lead this nation, most especially in a time of crisis.”

Vol. 15, No. 13 – Mar 23 – Apr 5, 2022 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Adam Project – Netflix

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

In The Adam Project, Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) is a time traveling fighter pilot from 2050 who accidentally lands in 2022 and has to elicit the help of his younger self, 12-year-old Adam (Walker Scobell) to discover what happened to his wife Laura (Zoe Saldana) who was also a pilot he was told died under what he believed to be mysterious circumstances.

While home alone, Young Adam’s dog Hawking alerted him that there was something in the shed. When Young Adam opened the door, he found a man in a flight suit sitting on the floor bleeding from his side while Hawking laid next to him. Young Adam followed the injured man went into the house to tend to the bullet wound on his side, and began to recognize that the man seemed to know things around the house and about him, including his name.

Young Adam noticed that the man was wearing the same watch given to him by his father who passed away and that they shared the same scar on their chin. He realized that the pilot was his future self, which immediately caused him to have a asthma attack. Adam grabbed the inhaler from Young Adam’s pocket and knew exactly what to do, which confirmed the facts even more.

While waiting at the house for his jet and his wound to heal, Adam and Young Adam were confronted by Maya Sorian (Catherine Keener), who was their dad’s original business partner and became head of the time travel division in the future, which Adam fled from when landing in 2022 instead of his intended 2018. Maya sent a team of future soldiers to capture Adam, but to his surprise Laura, who he had been told died, appeared from the woods and aided him in defeating a dozen cyber soldiers.

They all fled to where Laura had been living since 2018, and Laura explained to Adam that she had discovered that Maya had traveled back in time to alter the timeline and insure that she would be head of Sorian and control the time travel division in the future. Adam felt the only one who could help was his father Louis (Mark Ruffalo), who died in 2020, and knew he had to go back to 2018 to fix everything, but Laura had to stay in 2022 as only Adam’s DNA was coded to his jet.

Adam found his father Louis teaching on campus, who quickly accepted that he was his son in the future and both went to his lab to try to prevent the future Maya had altered. Younger Maya showed up at the lab with Maya, who threatened to shoot Young Adam if Adam didn’t give her the hard drive that ran his dad’s invention. Young Adam broke away as Maya fired and hit the core, sending the lab into meltdown and magnetically drawing all the metal, including the cyber soldiers, toward the core, and Maya became her own demise when she fired at Louis, but the magnetic core turned the bullet toward younger Maya and killed her, thus eliminating future Maya as well.

Adam and Young Adam wanted to tell their dad how he was going to die, but Louis refused to let them try to prevent his death as it could change the future fall all of them. Adam and Louis shared a tender goodbye, and all had a group hug before both Adams disappeared back to the future.

The constant witty banter between Reynolds and Scobell is thoroughly entertaining, and Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner (Adam’s mother) also offer strong supporting roles, especially when on the receiving end of Reynolds’ well-known style of wit that is shared seamlessly with Scobell.

Rated: PG-13 (Language|Violence/Action|Suggestive References)
Runtime: 1h 46m

New Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters’ executives sworn in

On Wednesday, March 2, the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters (O.A.H.I) assembled for the first time in 2022. The gathering in the Olivas Adobe exhibit hall was a time for some much-needed fellowship with old friends and some important COVID delayed business. The installation of the 2022 Board of Directors executive committee officiated by Deputy Mayor Joe Schroeder was number one on the agenda for this volunteer group. Sworn into service were Mary Thompson – President, Bob Sandler – Vice President, Lisa McGuirk-Secretary and Joanne Abing-Treasurer. Officers serve a one-year term.

Mary Thompson stated “I would like to thank Joe Schroeder, our city councilman, for doing us the honor of swearing us in. It’s always a pleasure to have Publisher Sheldon Brown with us also.”

“I came to the Olivas for the first time with my 4th grade class from Arnaz Elementary School in Oak View. My sister was married at the Adobe in 1977. I have been a docent for many years and am honored to be your president. I am looking forward to serving as president and keeping the history of the Olivas Adobe alive.”

A full spring season was planned to begin with, March 13 from 11am -3 pm, when the Olivas grounds and building are open for tours, an al fresco gift shop and a new exhibit in the small adobe by artists Laura Jean Jespersen and Lisa Mahony featuring paintings of local flora and landscapes. Two additional spring events are planned for the second Sundays in April and May.

Interesting in gardening, event planning or local history? a volunteer open house is planned for 1 pm on March 13 in the exhibit hall- 4200 Olivas Park Drive. Come see how this volunteer group is keeping the Rancho Period of California alive. www.cityofventura.ca.gov/OlivasAdobe.

The wonderful Music Under the Stars music concerts will be returning to the Adobe once again. Watch for more information in a future issue of the Ventura Breeze.

The City of Ventura Parks & Recreation Department who manages and maintains the Olivas Adobe Historical Park is happy to see the OAHI volunteers meeting in person again. “Even though it’s only been a couple of months since they presented the Holiday Candlelight tours- this is a living site that takes you back to an era with costumed volunteers sharing history about the gardens, the two story Rancho home and the family who lived in it, artists talking about their work and inspiration garnered from painting on site-this place is intended for visitors to experience in person.” says Ventura Cultural Supervisor, Kathryn Dippong Lawson

The Olivas Adobe historic site features the restored two-story adobe home of Don Raymundo Olivas. Built in 1847, this Monterey-style adobe home, Historical Landmark No. 115 from the Rancho-era, celebrates Ventura’s Rancho and Latino heritage through docent-led weekend tours, educational outreach programs for school groups, and community events.

The docents and board members perform a most valuable service of not only protecting the historic Olivas Adobe, but also keeping relevant by planning and staffing its many activities year-round. The docents are chiefly responsible for keeping alive the rancho’s many seasons of history and celebrate the skills, traditions and heritage that belong to Ventura’s many peoples.

The Board of the Olivas Adobe Historic Interpreters oversee the docent operations and ensures that they run smoothly and successfully. Thanks to the OAHI docents, the Olivas Adobe continues its long tradition of hospitality by hosting a full calendar of diverse cultural events for all ages. And very exciting the wonderful Adobe Music Under The Stars will return this year. Watch for more information in a future issue of the Breeze.

Joe Schroeder stated “It is now my pleasure to swear in the new board’s elected officers. Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I promise to conduct myself with dignity and decorum when representing the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters and the City of Ventura. “

“I swear to uphold the By-Laws of the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters and to do my job as an elected officer to the best of my ability. “

“It is my pleasure to present to you the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters elected and installed officers for 2022. Thank you, everyone for attending tonight’s Olivas Adobe swearing in ceremony and congratulations to the new board members.”

 

Soroptimist International of Oxnard and Ventura holds 15th Annual Human Trafficking Symposium

by Richard Lieberman

To raise community awareness of human trafficking and sexual slavery Soroptimist International held a public meeting at the Museum of Ventura County Saturday March 5. One goal of the group is to raise community awareness that human trafficking is not just a global problem, but a local one.

Featured speakers included Dr. Lowell Smith, National Extreme Terrorism Consulting and Gang Enforcement and Opal Singleton Hendershot CEO & Founder of “Million Kids.”

Smith is the former Department Chair for La Sierra University’s Criminal Justice Department. He is a retired Deputy Probation Officer and a widely known expert on white supremacist gangs, white nationalism, sovereign citizens, and anti-government movements.

Another featured speaker Opal Singleton Hendershot, CEO and Founder of “Million Kids” dedicated to keeping kids safe from predators. A leading voice for combating human trafficking, social media exploitation and the impact of advanced technologies on child sex crimes.

Sherriff “Bill” Ayub also gave a brief talk to the crowd emphasizing the importance of realizing that sex trafficking occurs on the local level, and for all of us to be aware of the signs that indicate human trafficking is occurring right here in Ventura County.

The presentations covered subjects related to keeping kids safe from predators, to identify and combat human trafficking, and how to identify signs of technology and video game addiction. White supremacy and extremism were also discussed. “One of the most crucial factors is how accessible a young person is to a pedophile is the amount of time they spend on the internet and their willing ness to take chances when talking to individuals they have never met,” said Opal Hendershot.

Dr. Lowell Smith in his presentation talked about white supremacy and its ever-increasing activities in California. “There’s been a major recruiting effort in the white supremacy, white nationalist movement over the past few years in California’” he said. Smith also added “California with its increasingly diverse population and left-of center politics, has become a breeding ground for hate groups.”

An awareness march was scheduled to begin at the museum and walk downtown streets to arose awareness was canceled due to weather conditions.

New council district map waiting for final approval

The Ventura City Council has unanimously approved the revised district map of its seven council districts. The Monday vote was a first reading of the ordinance, the final vote to formally adopt the map will be at the March 21 council meeting.

“The redistricting process is something that’s done every ten years and impacts how residents elect their city council members. The primary goal when developing election districts is to draw lines that respect neighborhoods, history, and geographical elements,” said Interim City Clerk Tracy Oehler.

Some of the biggest changes were based upon population increases in Districts 5 and 6 and decreases in Districts 4 and 7.

Mayor Sofia Rubalcava’s District 1 contains the city’s biggest Latino district at 60%. The new map will not change this district.

Spokeswoman Heather Sumagaysay said with the new district maps, some residents will realize they will vote for a council member of a different district. “When the maps are finalized, residents can go to the city’s website and type in their address to determine what district they are in”, Sumagaysay said.

There are 7 members of the Ventura City Council.  Starting with the 2018 Election, four (4) Councilmembers were elected by Districts with the remaining three (3) Councilmembers elected by Districts in 2020.  While elected by Districts, each member represents the interests of the City as a whole and serve for a term of four years. At the same time, the Council is reorganized and one of its members is selected to be Mayor. The Mayor serves a term of 2 years.

Council members are:
Sofia Rubalcava Mayor – District 1, Joe Schroeder Deputy Mayor – District 7,
Lorrie Brown Councilmember – District 6, Jim Friedman Councilmember – District 5,
Doug Halter Councilmember – District 2, Mike Johnson Councilmember – District 3,
Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios Councilmember – District 4

Two more viewpoints of the closure of Main St. and California St. to traffic

by Carol Leish, MA

Roylin Downs, the owner of Trystology, said, “I love that the street is closed. Business has been doing well. I’d love to keep it that way. Customers come from all over, as they walk up and down Main Street. This helps our business. I love that we have been able to get more foot traffic.”

“I also like that they are trying to get some standards for the restaurants, along with outdoor qualifications. I haven’t disliked most of the offerings presents. I’m all in for keeping it this way!”

Visit Trystology at: 588 E. Main St. (888) 801-8952. Look at: https://trystology.com/.

Deborah Yahner, the owner, along with her husband Joe, of Ikat & Pearls said, “I think that the closure of the streets has been wonderful. And, we have received incredible feedback. Time and time again shoppers comment on the fact that it has made Ventura have a European appeal, which they really like. I would prefer that things stay this way, with the street closures.”

Visit Ikat & Pearls at: 28 S. California St. (805) 448-9526. Look at: https://ikatandpearlsboutique.squarespace.com/.

Multi-Sport Day for physically disabled kids and adults held at Ventura Family YMCA

by Richard Lieberman

Angel City Sports, an organization that provides free, adaptive sports clinics and equipment for kids and adults with physical disabilities or visual impairment, hosted an event at the Ventura YMCA. The multi-sports day included wheelchair basketball, powerlifting, and blind soccer. “We are thrilled to host our first event in Ventura,” said Clayton Frech, CEO, and founder of Angel City Sports. “People are demanding more adaptive sports across the nation; it’s an honor and privilege to bring our platform to new communities,” added Frech.

Angel City Sports sponsors and provides free year-round adaptive sport clinics, equipment, and opportunities for adults and, kids with physical disabilities or visual impairments. The annual Angel City Games, the organizations “flagship event” sponsored by the Hartford Insurance Agency began in 2015 and is the largest multi-sport Paralympic competition in the United States. Some disabilities included in the competitions are individuals with limb differences and amputations, spinal cord injuries, quadriplegia, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, blindness or visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, stroke, muscular dystrophy, and dwarfism. The groups’ goal is to create a community and sense of belonging for people with physical disabilities supporting them to reach their full potential.

Camille Mahlknecht, Associate Director of Angel City Sports “We are here to unite the community and give everyone a chance to try an adaptive sport”, Mahlknecht said. The group wants to increase its sport activities in Ventura partially because there is a demand for it and giving Ventura’s disabled community a chance to participate in sports activities not normally available to them. “There is a demand here and there isn’t as many opportunities here as there are in the Los Angeles area” she said. “So, whatever we can do to bring programming to areas that have a need for it we want to make it happen,” Mahlknecht added. Mahlknecht was a professional volleyball player and played with Katy Holloway two-time Paralympian medalist who introduced Camille to sitting volleyball.

Local resident Susana and her son Carmelo both voiced their support of the games and the opportunities to meet others with disabilities. “We really have a lot of fun as well,” she said.

You can learn more about the program at angelcitysports.org.

Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program

The mission of The Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program is to “preserve, protect and enhance surface water resources within Ventura County. Photos by Patricia Schallert

by Patricia Schallert

The Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program is a collaborative effort by ten cities, the County of Ventura and the Watershed Protection District. The “Every Litter Bit Matters Campaign” kickoff presentation on Feb.22, 2022, at Marina Park in Ventura emphasized the Ventura cities and county’s efforts to protect Ventura County’s Watersheds and to reinforce the importance of putting trash and recyclable items in proper bins to prevent litter of waterways. This program encourages all County residents to be involved in local community clean up programs which will reduce pollutants in the storm drains and watershed.

Ventura County’s Community for clean watersheds “Every Littler Bit Matters” campaign was developed to educate area residents on the harm caused when trash and other contaminants are left in our environment, which are eventually washed or blown through storm drains to the Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers, Malibu and Calleguas Creeks and the streams and estuaries making the way eventually to the Pacific Ocean.

Representatives from each of the ten cities pledged to continue to work cooperatively to improve stormwater quality throughout Ventura County. This joint effort assures consistency and efficiency in stormwater programs county wide and is guided by formal implementation agreements.

The speakers were:

  • City of Ventura: Sofia Rubalcava, Mayor
  • County of Ventura: Matt LaVere, Supervisor of District 1
  • City of Thousand Oaks: Claudia Bill-de la Pena, Councilmember
  • City of Ojai: Betsy Stix, Mayor
  • City of Port Hueneme: Laura Hernandez, Councilmember
  • Ventura Land Trust: Leslie Velez, Development Director

Watershed encompasses all lands that drain to a common waterbody such as a lake, river, estuary, lagoon or ocean when rain falls or snow melts. As runoff flows downhill, it picks up pollutants like trash, chemicals, pesticides, oils, pet or animal waste and dirt sediment that travels into the storm drain systems and eventually to the ocean.

Pollutants are a primary concern to the environment and are preventable. Litter needs to be put into proper bins. Chemicals can end up in rivers, creeks and the ocean through wind, sprinkler runoff or rain. Pet poop has harmful bacteria that can also end up in rivers creeks and the ocean.

The City of Ventura prides itself in presenting its five miles of beautiful coastline though measures aimed at reducing litter and pollution.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Ban was adopted in 2020 to eliminate the used of stylophone food and beverage containers which are a prevalent form of litter. See www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/EPSban.

The Safe and Clean initiative was developed to maintain clean public spaces and ensures that illegal dumping and waste in streets are removed promptly and properly. See www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/SafeAndClean

Sofia Rubalcava stated “The Countywide Community for a Clean Watershed program was established to help residents understand how to respect and protect our watersheds and provides information on how simple changes in our daily lives can bring water quality benefits countywide.”

“The “Every Litter Bit Matters” Campaign aims at controlling the preventable pollutants that accumulate throughout our communities that can damage our waterways and impact public and watershed health. Simple changes, such picking up litter in and around our homes and businesses, can make a big difference in keeping our watersheds vibrant and healthy for generations to come.”

Matt LaVere, District 1 Supervisor, Ventura County (and former Ventura city council member)

stated “Being a second generation in Ventura County one of the primary reasons I became Supervisor was the preservation of the environment.”

“ Collaborative partnerships are so important to accomplish the task at hand.”

Leslie Velez went on to say “Since 2003, Ventura Land Trust has conserved and stewarded open spaces in Ventura County. Ventura Land Trust protects over 3,800 acres of land in the Ventura hillsides, Ventura River, and coastal estuary. We recognize the importance of the Ventura County Community for a Clean Watershed and look forward to a continued partnership with the organization.”

For more information and resources on how to be involved, please visit wwwcleanwatershed.org or www.vcstormwater.org