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Vol. 13, No. 23 – Aug 12 – Aug 25, 2020 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Monday 7-20	1:55pm, received a report of a stingray strike at Harbor Cove from State Parks. Officers responded with Hot water to treat the injury. Patient released on site.
Tuesday 7-21	11:35pm, monitoring a 7.8 earthquake off the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. After a brief investigation, Pacific tsunami center determined no threat to West Coast.
Thursday 7-23	1:45pm, officers untangling fishing line and tackle from the number 14 navigation buoy. The buoy was pulled off station by fishermen apparently attempting to retrieve lost tackle from the buoy near the entrance to the keys.
Friday 7-24	11:30am, observed two jet skis on the beach at the Santa Clara Rivermouth. Officers responded in FireBoat 1 to assist. State Parks lifeguards swam one of the broke-down skis to the boat while the other was able to get started and off the beach. Both were escorted and towed back to the launch ramp.
Saturday 7-25	2:45pm, received a report of an argument in the dry storage area. Officers responded found the two engaged in a heated argument over cleaning up their respective spaces. The two were separated and asked to avoid in the future. 7:50pm, received a report of a suicidal subject on a vessel in the Ventura Harbor Marina. Officers responded with VFD & VPD. No medical, PD assisted subject
Monday 7-27	11:33pm, received a request for mutual aid from Calif Fish and Wildlife. Assisting with night vision and investigation of illegal fishing.

Thursday 7-30	1:35pm, received a report of a stingray strike at Harbor Cove from State Parks lifeguards. Officers responded with Hot water to help treat the injury. The patient was treated and released at the scene to self-transport to hospital.
Friday 7-31	9:05am, dispatched to an unconscious person at Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with a 90-year-old male. The individual had low blood pressure, felt weak & was transported to local hospital. 6:30pm, received reports of three large RV’s parked in the Dolphin lot at VIM. Officers responded and found the RV’s and contacted the RO’s to inquire about their intentions. After a long debate, the group relocated to the street.
Saturday 8-01	2:55am, while on patrol in the vehicle, officers observed a male transient with a large laceration on his arm. The individual was bandaged and given a blanket. 12:41pm, received complaint about a large group disturbing the peace at VIM J-dock. Officers responded, found the group, issued warnings for the violations. 4:25pm, dispatched to a medical, allergic reaction at Surfers Knoll from State Parks lifeguards. Officers responded and assisted a 7-year-old with an asthma attack. The parents signed an AMA releasing the child at the scene.
Sunday 8-02	12:23am, dispatched to a medical VWM G-dock of a 100-year-old female complaining of nausea and disorientation. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with the call. The patient was transported to hospital by AMR. 2:55am, monitored a mayday call, two men overboard. Officers responded to ensure the call was outside Hueneme Harbor, not Ventura. It was 1-mile S of CI. 10:50pm, received a report of an overdue vessel, a 13ft Boston Whaler. Officers began a search, but the vessel and vehicle were not discovered, the vessel was possibly at Channel Islands harbor, contact numbers provided.
Monday 8-03	5:45am, dispatched to a 78-year-old female complaining of difficulty breathing. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with the call. Patient transported.

Vol. 13, No. 23 – Aug 12 – Aug 25, 2020 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Morgan, a beautiful 7-month-old German Shepherd mix who is in need of a new home as my owners are moving and I can’t go along too.

I’m a very energetic guy who loves to play. I’ll need an active family that can keep up with me. I love my people and I have a bouncy playful energy with other dogs.

Although I’m good with children, since I’m still a puppy, children in the home must be 6 years or older.

I’m house trained, know how to use a doggie door and will even let you know if I have to go outside.

I hope my forever family comes to adopt me soon. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Suga is a four-year-old Japanese Bobtail. He is shy, but quite the talker. Suga lived with another cat and a dog. He is neutered and ready to start his new life today. Ventura County Animal Services – Camarillo location – 600 Aviation Drive Suga A754819

Vol. 13, No. 23 – Aug 12 – Aug 25, 2020 – Opinion/Editorial

∙Current, and some former, Ventura residents have sued the City over the removal of the statue of Junipero Serra from in front of City Hall. The Coalition for Historical Integrity filed its suit in Ventura County Superior Court two days prior to the statue being removed and put in storage with the hope of moving it to the Mission San Buenaventura. Ventura council members had predicted that the city would be sued either way whether they decided to remove the statue or keep it at the location in front of City Hall.

∙Oxnard Development Director Jeff Lambert has surprisingly left his position with Oxnard. A reason was not given. Lambert took the position in 2019 when leaving Ventura, where he held a similar position. He told the Breeze that he is going to start a consulting business to help builders get through permitting in Ventura County. I wish him luck.

∙In an effort to improve testing capacity for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ventura County fairgrounds will become the county’s newest drive-through testing site. The fairgrounds site will be able to collect up to 1,500 samples per day. Hopefully, it won’t take 7-10 days to get results –as it takes now, which makes the process somewhat useless.

∙As an Indiana school district welcomed students to the 2020-21 academic year, one of their students tested positive for Covid-19 on the first day of class. This also happened on the first day in Georgia. This is why many parents are reluctant to send their kids back to school.

∙Millions of dollars of American taxpayer money went to China from the Paycheck Protection Program because the economic relief legislation allowed American subsidiaries of foreign firms to receive the loans. According to a review by the strategy consulting firm Horizon Advisory, $192 million to $419 million has gone to more than 125 companies that Chinese entities own or invest in. Many of the loans were quite sizable; at least 32 Chinese companies received loans worth more than $1 million.

∙Five individuals were charged in an indictment with fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and using those funds, in part, to purchase luxury vehicles. Authorities have seized a Range Rover worth approximately $125,000, jewelry, over $120,000 in cash, and over $3 million from 10 bank accounts at the time of arrest.

∙A Houston doctor who praises hydroxychloroquine and says that face masks aren’t necessary to stop transmission of the highly contagious coronavirus has become a star of the right-wing internet. Donald Trump Jr. declared the video of Stella Immanuel a “must watch,” while Donald Trump himself retweeted the video.

Other claims that she has made should also be considered. Immanuel, a pediatrician, and a religious minister, has a history of making bizarre claims about medical topics and other issues. She has often claimed that gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are in fact caused by people having sex in their dreams with demons and witches.

She alleges alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments, and that scientists are cooking up a vaccine to prevent people from being religious. And, despite appearing in Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress on Monday, she has said that the government is run in part not by humans but by “reptilians” and other aliens (this I can agree with).

∙It was not unusual for Garrett Foster to be at a protest against police brutality. And it was not out of character for him to be armed. Foster was carrying an AK-47 rifle as he joined a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Austin, Texas. Gun-rights supporters on both the left and the right often carry rifles at protests in Texas, a state whose liberal gun laws allow it. Later that night, Mr. Foster was fatally shot, but not by the police. The authorities said he was killed by a motorist who had threatened protesters with his car. In Texas, it is lawful to carry rifles, shotguns and other so-called long guns on the street without a permit, as long as the weapons are not brandished in a threatening manner. To me carrying these types of guns always projects a threatening manner.

∙Boris Johnson has admitted the government did not understand coronavirus during the “first few weeks and months” of the UK outbreak. The British PM told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg there were “very open questions” about whether the lockdown had started too late. Mr. Johnson also spoke of “lessons to be learned” and said ministers could have done some things “differently”. How nice to have a leader willing to admit when he makes mistakes.

∙More than 40 people were infected with the coronavirus after attending a multiday revival event at an Alabama Baptist church, according to the pastor. “The whole church has got it, just about,” pastor Daryl Ross of Warrior Creek Missionary Baptist Church stated. The pastor said the churchgoers, including himself, tested positive after the congregation held a series of religious services featuring a guest pastor over several days.

∙A new poll released by NBC News shows who is more likely to say they wear a mask when leaving home. The NBC News/SurveyMonkey Weekly Tracking Poll found 97% of Democrats or people that lean Democratic say they wear a mask at least most of the time when they leave their homes and might be in contact with others. Republicans and those who lean Republican were at 70%. Who could have ever imagined that wearing masks and saving lives would be political?

∙In an abrupt reversal, President Donald Trump now is encouraging voters in the critical swing state of Florida to vote by mail after months of criticizing the practice, and only days after threatening to sue Nevada over a new vote-by-mail law. I’m sure this decision isn’t meant to favor his voting base.

∙A Senate GOP leader raised concerns on Wednesday over President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that mail-in-voting leads to mass fraud, arguing that Republicans should instead be encouraging voters to use the method in order to compete in a consequential election that will determine control of Congress and the White House. “Mail-in voting has been used in a lot of places for a long time (5-states only use mail-in voting),” Senate Majority Whip John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said in the Capitol.

Vol. 13, No. 23 – Aug 12 – Aug 25, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix Original Series

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

On October 1, 1989, 43 children were inexplicably born around the world to mothers who had not been pregnant that morning. An eccentric billionaire named Reginald Hargreeves sought out these special children and adopted seven, which later revealed had special powers to save the world and made a superhero squad called “The Umbrella Academy”. In their teen years, various issues arose and the team disbanded. Years later as they reached their 30’s, Hargeeve’s passed brings the surviving six of them back together to work through their shared challenging experiences from their childhood and to save the world from a rapidly approaching apocalypse.

Number 1 “Luther” (Tom Hopper) had superhuman powers derived from a near death experience when Hargreeves brought him back to life and was an astronaut living on the moon. Number 2 “Diego” (David Castaneda) was super skilled with knives and blades and spent his time listening to the police scanner to help victims. Number 3 “Allison” (Emmy Raver-Lampman) could plant thoughts in people’s minds. Number 4 “Klaus” (Robert Sheehan) could see entities that had crossed over into the Afterlife, though struggled with drug addiction to deal with his gift. Number 5 (Aidan Gallagher) had disappeared when he was 13 years old, his gift being able to move invisibly through space. Number 6 “Ben” had giant tentacles that would appear when he was forced to fight that passed away in his teens, though became a constant spirit companion of Klaus. Number 7 “Vanya” (Ellen Page) was a talented violinist who was always taught that she was not special and had no powers, taking medication to control her nerves. She wrote a book about being Number 7 that exposed many family secrets and was shunned by many of her siblings.

Though they called him father, Reginald Hargreeves was cold and distant, using the children primarily for experiments while controlling the use of their powers and formally named them “The Umbrella Academy”, publicly wearing school uniforms with masks. As teenagers, he they would be sent on fighting crime missions to thwart things like bank robberies using their individual special skills, except for number 7, who was constantly told that she just wasn’t special. The grew up with a nurturing cyborg mom and Pogo, a humanized chimpanzee that was somewhat of a caring father figure to them, though was loyal to their father.

On the day they all return for their father’s funeral, a vortex appeared and out fell 13 year old Number 5, who had traveled through time to warn them that there was an impending apocalypse happening in 8 days that they had to prevent. Number 5 had learned to travel through time and was 58 in his mind, but appeared back into a 13 year old body. His father warned him that jumping through time was extremely challenging and forbid Number 5 from trying it, though of course that’s exactly what Number 5 did. Unfortunately, he traveled to a time just after the apocalypse and got trapped there for 17 years family time, though 45 years in time travel.

Number 5 had one clue, a prosthetic eye, and determined that there was a single person that needed to be taken out in order to avoid the apocalypse whose name was Harold Jenkins. Harold Jenkins was actually the past identity of Leonard Peabody (John Magaro), Number 7’s new boyfriend who unbeknownst to her had found their father’s journal and was grooming her powers that she was unaware she even had since her father hid them from her. The group decided that regardless of the issues between them, they needed to work together to find a way to stop the apocalypse, along the way finding out many unknown truths about their past with their father.

Along with some intriguing super hero creation stories, The Umbrella Academy is filled with relatable family dynamics, dark humor and unpredictable plot twists interestingly revealed.

Rated: TV-14
10 Episodes – 60 min each

Vol. 13, No. 23 – Aug 12 – Aug 25, 2020 – Mailbox

Editor,
Now that the controversial statue of Father Junipero Serra has been removed, I would like to suggest that we replace it with someone who is not controversial, who worked in the arts, and whose most famous creation was “born” here in Ventura. I would like to see a statue of Erle Stanley Gardner standing in front of City Hall where he used to practice law when it was the county courthouse.

Many people, even long time Ventura residents, do not know who he is or that Mr. Gardner was a member of the firm of Sheridan, Orr, Drapeau, and Gardner in Ventura from 1921 to 1933. During that time be became increasingly disenchanted with the practice of law and started writing pulp fiction for crime magazines around the country. He did well at this but his greatest success came when he started writing novels, 82 in all, about a hard-driving attorney by the name of Perry Mason.

The first Perry Mason novel, “The Case of the Velvet Claws”, used the Pierpont Inn as the backdrop to the story.

A television show based on Mason ran for nine years and many more special made-for-television movies followed after its cancellation. Gardner himself appeared in the last episode of the series.

Recently, HBO launched a mini-series based on Gardner’s work.

At the time of his death in 1970, Gardner was the best-selling writer of the 20th Century.

All of this success, which started here in Ventura, should be celebrated by all of us.

Regards,
John Darling

Sheldon:

Thank you for bringing our community such fantastic local and national coverage, and editorials. I always look forward to each Breeze being published.

Robert Aronson

Mr. Brown —

In response to opinions expressed in the July 29, 2020 edition of the Ventura Breeze criticizing the words and actions of our president, I ask that you please consider them from a different perspective:

Ever the optimist and with endless vistas of free time I believe that I have figured out how the dots connect so that much human suffering will end and very soon at that.

I never thought I would have anything good to say about the man, but from what I observe President Donald Trump is succeeding in “draining the swamp”. His actions are exposing the weaknesses in various systems and are providing the impetus for people the world over to look into the abuses perpetrated by many in authority and their associates whether by design, incompetence, or a policy of “see no evil, hear no evil”.

At one point in my career I worked for the District Attorney’s Office and learned that pedophiles and those that similarly prey on the vulnerable do not do well in prison. That thought cheers me. Imagine the fear running through the veins of the super elite, the friends, associates, and clients of billionaire child sex trafficker the now deceased Jeffrey Epstein and others in similar trade. These people face the very real threat of public exposer (black mail is like that), and I seriously doubt that Mr. Epstein’s secrets died with him. When exposed, the corrupt will lose their positions of authority hopefully to be replaced by those more fit for command.

Finally, I feel there is a connection between mask wearing and the missing part of “see no evil, hear no evil”, which is “speak no evil.” To quote Ralph Smart, “Speak the truth even if your voice shakes.”

Julie Schaab Ventura

There is so much apathy in the world today…..but who cares?
~Steven J. Paul

CAPS Media collaborates with county on community forum

CAPS crews facilitated an informative countywide community forum

The CAPS Media crews are staying very busy and socially distanced during the current COVID-19 crisis producing educational and information videos for the City and County. As one example, CAPS crews facilitated an informative countywide community forum with government, law enforcement and agency officials with the topic “The intersection of race and law enforcement in our community.”

Days before the event, CAPS crews collaborated side-by-side with county staff to set up the logistics for the elaborate livestreamed, zoom meeting. The night of the meeting, CAPS covered the event with a four camera set-up, and documented the online forum which was livestreamed via social media on the County’s Facebook and Spanish pages.

The socially-distanced discussion took place in a conference room at the county government center for online viewers and included questions and comments from the “virtual” audience. The engaging and extremely topical and vital roundtable discussion was open to all members of the public who were invited to submit questions to the panelists that included Bill Ayub, Ventura County Sheriff; Claudia Bautista, Assistant Ventura County Public Defender; Regina Hatcher-Crawford, President, Ventura County NAACP; Sevet Johnson, Director, Ventura County Behavioral Health; Marcus Mitchell, Director, Ventura County Department of Child Support Services; Mike Powers, Ventura County Executive Officer; Greg Totten, Ventura County District Attorney; and Roslynn Wilfert, Representative, Black Lawyers of Ventura County. The forum was moderated by Monique Nowlin, County of Ventura Diversity and Inclusion Task Force representative and Deputy Director of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging.

The community wide forum on race and law enforcement was the final production of the day for the tireless CAPS Media crews that started with an early morning production in the CAPS Media studio with Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere and Heather Sumagaysay, the City’s Public Information Officer (PIO), then the production day continued with CAPS crews covering the midday weekly COVID-19 County update staged at the Foodshare Center in Oxnard with numerous county officials including coverage, documentation and live streaming of the press conferences by the County, and editing including Spanish language translations of the messages found at vcemergency.com.

The day continued with production returning to the CAPS studio for a special message by city councilmember Erik Nasarenko, while at the same time, the CAPS staff covered back-to-back meetings of the Historic Preservation and Design Review committees at City Hall.

The one day activity was only a segment of production activity for the week that included a morning studio recording with Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen, evening coverage of the Ventura city council meeting on Monday night, and on Tuesday, a full day of production with colorful and engaging docents acting out historic reenactments, in period wardrobe, at the Olivas Adobe. Plus, hours of post-production editing by the CAPS crews.

All the City and County informational videos are distributed on multiple platforms including City and County websites, CAPS Media outlets; television, streaming, radio, and social media. Rest assured; CAPS Crew members are taking every precaution to stay safe during these productions.

Due to the COVID-19 emergency the CAPS Media Center is closed to Members and the public until further notice. CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6 and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM. All of us at CAPS Media hope everyone is Staying Safe and Healthy during this challenging time.

Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation welcomes two new board members

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation is proud to announce two new members elected to the Board of Directors in 2020.

Roy Schneider, of Schneider & Associates, LLP, was elected to serve on the Board of Directors in January 2020 and will share his expertise in estate planning, intellectual property, and real estate, family and non-profit law.

Michael Farrell, of Decker, Farrell & McCoy, LLP, was elected to serve on the Board of Directors in June 2020. Farrell is a local CPA in Camarillo and lives in Oxnard with his family.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation, chaired by Foundation President Lydia Hopps, is a charitable, nonprofit organization that helps elevate the quality of healthcare in the community by supporting and fundraising for Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) to offer state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, industry-leading programs and equipment, and comprehensive, accessible health services.

The Foundation is led by a member-elected Board of Directors that includes dedicated, hardworking people from throughout the Ventura County area. The board members volunteer their time because they are passionate about supporting healthcare in the community, and they receive no compensation for their services. Each member contributes a unique blend of knowledge, skills and resources, and together their diverse capabilities and strengths position the Board to achieve its goals now, and in the future.

The CMH Foundation looks forward to working with both Schneider and Farrell and congratulates them on their election to the Board.

To support the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation and its efforts to aid Community Memorial Hospital during this health crisis, please visit www.cmhfventura.org/donate/.

The State of California requires face coverings to be worn on public transit

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), has promptly adhered to recent state requirements released by Governor Gavin Newsom. The mandate requires face coverings to be worn state-wide in public settings, including public transportation. If a VCTC Intercity bus rider doesn’t have a mask, one will be provided.

“VCTC is committed to keeping both our riders and drivers safe,” said Darren Kettle, VCTC executive director. “Thankfully, we had already seen compliance with the CDC’s recommendation to wear face coverings, so we do not foresee an issue with this update.”

For more information on the state of California’s requirement, visit cdph.ca.gov.

To read about VCTC’s response to COVID-19 and to stay updated on Intercity bus service, riders can:

Call: 1.800.438.1112 (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Check goventura.org and/or GOVCbus app

Email questions to [email protected]

The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency committed to keeping Ventura County moving. Program information is available at goventura.org.

Ventura Community Council meeting

East Venturans have an important opportunity to weigh in on how their city grows at the next East Ventura Community Council meeting on August 20.

The consultant firm which is working on the city’s General Plan update, Raimi Associates, has asked to speak to residents about the process and will be soliciting input. Joining the meeting will be Simran Malhotra, AICP, AAIA.

Also attending the meeting will be Derek Poultney, the executive director of the Ventura Land Trust. East Ventura is fortunate to be home to Harmon Canyon, Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve. The 2,100-acre area is now open to hiking, biking, running and exploring. Visitors enjoy hills and canyons that feature oak groves, stream crossings, and breathtaking views of Southern California mountain ranges, coastlines, and Channel Islands National Park.

The meeting will be held online via the Zoom application. Go here to view: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82636698280

You will first need to download the Zoom app on your computer or smart phone. You do not need an account. If you miss the meeting, you can always view later on the website, www.eastventura.org. The July meeting can be viewed there now.

The Zoom meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact EVCC Chair Marie Lakin at [email protected].

Ventura County votes to update antiquated laws around oil permitting

The Ventura County Planning Commission voted 4-1 to update the Zoning Ordinance for oil and gas wells operating under antiquated permits. Thousands of oil wells in Ventura County operate under “antiquated permits” that were issued up to 75 years ago—before environmental and human health impacts were known, and long before many bedrock environmental laws existed. Many of these wells are located within or adjacent to the Los Padres National Forest. Others are dangerously close to communities like Ventura, Oxnard and Fillmore. Community members and environmental and climate justice organizations gave public comment asking for updated oil permitting to better protect the health and safety of the community, the climate, and public lands.

Rebecca August, Director of Advocacy with Los Padres Forest Watch stated, “Oil companies should not be allowed to drill an unlimited number of wells, for an unlimited amount of time, and without thorough evaluation of potential impacts to public health and the environment. All new wells in Ventura County should abide by the same modern environmental standards that other businesses in Ventura County must follow.”

Last fall, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors directed County staff to update the County’s oil drilling ordinances so that any new wells under these antiquated permits will be subject to greater transparency and environmental review.

Under current rules, an oil company only needs to submit a short application along with a $330 permit fee to receive a “zoning clearance” to drill or frack a well in Ventura County. A zoning clearance process is considered ministerial, in that if the applicant checks all the boxes and pays the fee, the county must approve it, no discretion allowed. Other ministerial actions include marriage licenses and backyard gazebos.

Most antiquated permits have no limit on the number of wells that can be drilled, have no expiration date, and do not stipulate what drilling techniques can be used. Also, under antiquated permits, new wells are approved without public notice or hearing and have never undergone environmental review.

In response to the vote Tomás Rebecchi, Central Coast Organizing Manager with Food & Water Action said, “This is a huge victory for communities living near oil and gas production. Before this update, oil companies could avoid all current environmental laws and reviews by checking a few boxes and paying a small fee.”

“Now the true cost to public health and our resources will be evaluated when approving oil wells. Any new analysis will show that we should not drill any new wells given what we now know about climate change and the health impacts on the communities near these wells,” said Rebecchi.

This update will only apply to new wells, despite comments from many in favor of the oil industry claiming it will shut the industry down. Commissioner King mentioned in his final remarks that “I don’t see any evidence that this will be capping existing wells.”

It will now go to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for a final vote in the coming months.

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