Category Archives: News and Notes

State Beach Bike Path to close intermittently for repairs

California State Parks is closing the bicycle path located at San Buenaventura State Beach, that runs from San Pedro Street to the south side of the Ventura Pier from May 21 – June 8, as the entire bike path is receiving an upgrade and will be repaved.

There is an alternative dirt path adjacent to the paved bicycle path from San Pedro Street to the San Buenaventura State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters.

Past the lifeguard headquarters there is no alternative path. Pedestrians can cross the same area by accessing the beach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at San Buenaventura State Beach.

Crews will be working Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

For more information regarding the closure of the bike please contact Tyson Butzke at 331-8014, or visit ca.parks.gov.

Fire and police units respond to multiple intentionally set vegetation and rubbish fires

On April 30, spanning from 9:43am to 4:57pm fire and police units responded to multiple vegetation and rubbish fires, intentionally set in rapid succession within small geographic areas. Fires occurred at various locations between Harbor/Olivas & Telephone/Portola. No structures or property were significantly damaged, and no injuries were reported. An investigation is ongoing, anyone with pertinent information is encouraged to contact the Ventura Police Dept.

Help the Red Cross meet the needs of patients in emergency situations

This May, the American Red Cross is calling for donors to give blood and platelets regularly to be prepared to meet the needs of patients in emergency situations.

According to the National Trauma Institute, trauma accounts for approximately 41 million emergency department visits and 2 million hospital admissions each year.

In March 2015, Kevin Frame suffered life-threatening injuries in a head-on collision during spring break. He received blood products to treat internal injuries immediately after the accident and during multiple surgeries while recovering.

“Without the blood and plasma products made available from donations, I would not be alive today to continue my rehabilitation journey,” said Frame, who had to relearn to swallow, speak and walk after the accident.

Regular blood, platelet and human plasma donations help ensure that blood is available at a moment’s notice. In fact, it is the blood on the shelves that is used to help save lives at the time of an accident or sudden illness.

In trauma situations, when there’s no time to check a patient’s blood type, emergency personnel reach for type O negative red blood cells and type AB plasma because they can be transfused to any patient, regardless of blood type. Less than 7 percent of the population has type O negative blood, and only about 4 percent of the population has type AB blood.

Platelets may also be needed to help with clotting in cases of massive bleeding. Because platelets must be transfused within five days of donation, there is a constant – often critical – need to keep up with hospital demand.

Donors of all blood types are urged to roll up a sleeve this May to help meet the needs of trauma patients and others with serious medical conditions. Upcoming blood donation in Ventura:

  • May 15: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 36 S. Figueroa St.
  • May 24: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Buena High School, 5670 Telegraph Road
  • May 25: 8:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Ventura High School, 2 North Catalina

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Up to $8,550 in incentives makes rebuilding with more energy-saving systems more affordable

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced that, for customers who lost homes in the Thomas Fire or January 9th debris flow, the company will substantially increase financial incentives for those who wish to rebuild using sustainable designs and ultra-efficient appliances. The incentives will be offered through the California Advanced Homes Program (CAHP), which helps offset the costs of creating environmentally-friendly energy-efficient homes and communities.

“SoCalGas understands that those who need to rebuild their homes are faced with many challenges, and we hope this additional incentive encourages those who want to build to the highest energy-saving standards can do so more a bit more affordably,” said Lisa Alexander, SoCalGas vice president of customer solutions and communications. “The improved energy savings will allow customers to also save money through reduced energy bills.” If you are not someone who has lost their home in the fire but are concerned about the amount of energy you are consuming at home, you could look into a site like Simply Switch, who can help you find the cheapest energy plans and the latest deals around to save money on your energy bills.

For Thomas Fire and January 9th debris flow victims, SoCalGas will increase CAHP incentive dollars by 50 percent and will work with planning officials from Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties as well as the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) to identify those who are eligible. By rebuilding with more efficient appliances, homeowners stand to save on monthly energy costs. The more efficient appliances will also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking of saving, it is not only homes that can switch to become energy efficient. Businesses can make positive changes like these too. It could be as simple as checking out sites like Utility Bidder, in the hopes of making this change to your business. By doing this, you may find that managing this side of your business has never been easier.

“Ventura County is working diligently to assist residents who lost their homes in the Thomas Fire, and we would welcome and support these efforts to make their new homes more sustainable and energy-efficient,” said Chris Stephens, director of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency.

To further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, SoCalGas is working to increase the amount of renewable natural gas – sourced from agriculture and waste – it delivers to customers. A recently-released analysis found that California could achieve the same greenhouse gas reductions as electrifying homes and buildings—but at a much lower cost—by replacing just a fraction of the natural gas that is delivered through our pipelines with this renewable natural gas.

Customers who want to rebuild using CAHP incentives work with their building contractor and a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Rater to have their home features tested and rated using certain California Energy Commission standards. More information is available at socalgas.com.

Tragedy strikes Ventura

A memorial has been set up on the Promenade for Anthony Mele.

by Sheli Ellsworth

On April 18th at 6:23pm, a 911 call reported that a homeless man was at the Ventura Promenade yelling and “being disruptive,” according to a statement issued by Ventura Police. Because all patrol cars were on other calls, the command center staff watched the pier’s security camera for twenty minutes and determined that a man matching the caller’s description was not threatening or disturbing.

At about 6:30pm, a homeless man, Jamal Jackson (49) entered the Aloha Steakhouse patio and stabbed patron Anthony Mele (35) in the neck. Mele was eating dinner with his family and had no connection to Jackson. Aloha employees quickly responded with first aid using towels to stop Mele’s bleeding. They took Mele’s family to a back room to comfort them. Mele’s wife appeared to be in shock. His daughter was given ice-cream. Mele was taken to the hospital and later died. The tragedy marks the city’s first homicide this year.

According to the police report, “Officers from the Special Enforcement Team, who were patrolling the area, quickly arrived on scene. The officers observed a group of people standing on the Ventura Promenade who had chased the subject (Jackson) from the crime scene and onto the beach.”

Jackson was arrested without incident. Reports of Jackson using a restaurant steak knife to commit the crime was in error.

“The Ventura Police Department would like to speak with those people and anyone else who had contact with Jackson. The video is available for public view at https://vimeo.com/265835662/ f77c6945d9. If you have information contact Sgt. Matt Cain 339-4488.

Deputy Mayor Matt LaVere says, “As a father of young children, I am truly heartbroken and send my deepest condolences to Mr. Mele’s wife and daughter. My council colleagues and I want to assure the public that the City Council will commit whatever resources are necessary to make sure a senseless crime like this does not happen again . . . .”

Homelessness is a diverse problem. According to the 2015 US Department of Housing and Urban Development report, at least 25% of our nation’s homeless population suffers from severe mental illness and 45% were identified as having some form of mental illness. According to the Ventura County 2017 Homeless Count, the city of Ventura has about 300 homeless people. An extrapolation would indicate that at least 75 of the city’s homeless population is severely mentally ill. However, historically, homeless research has reported that the homeless are no more likely to commit crimes than the general population. To make matters worse, according to the American Journal of Community Psychology (Vol.42, No.3) recent research has found that shuffling homeless people from one shelter to the next actually increases the chance of them committing violent crimes such as robbery and assault.

Is it possible to asses someone’s mental state in a short period of time? The 911 caller felt uncomfortable enough to report the behavior. However, on video tape, the man did not appear aggressive. But the short answer is “no.” Mental illness can be transient or pervasive which is why a 72-hour 5150 (involuntary psychiatric hold) is used for people who might be a danger to themselves, a danger to others or severely impaired (disabled). A 5250 (involuntary confinement for up to 14 days) may follow for certain mental disorders. However, a bi-partisan bill was passed (1967) in California to reform mental health protocol. The Lanterman-Petris-Short Act signed into law by Gov. Reagan was designed to end involuntary indefinite commitment for the mentally ill. It also provided for prompt evaluation (surely more than 20 minutes of video feed?); the safeguarding of individual rights; to provide treatment and placement; to use public funds to accomplish these objectives; to prevent the mentally ill and the disabled from becoming victims of crimes.

Is Jamal Jackson mentally ill? Could this tragedy have been prevented? Perhaps. But do taxpayers want to pay for the evaluation, treatment and temporary placement of what could possibly be up to 75 people in Ventura alone? Can we afford not to? There are also legal fees. The mentally ill and disabled have the right to refuse treatment and dispute their mental diagnoses. Do taxpayers also foot the bill for any legal help they might require? How do you provide treatment for someone who doesn’t want help? And how does an over-burdened police department have the time to evaluate every person who might appear impaired? Important questions to be answered!

As our entire city mourns for the Mele family, maybe we should also mourn our loss of innocence.

Student-driven demonstrations have been held all across the nation

Students from Ventura schools gathered on the lawn and steps at City Hall to call for gun reform. Photos by Michael Gordon

Over 150 Ventura Unified School District students gathered at City Hall on April 20, to call for new gun legislation and an end to gun violence in our schools and country. The National School Walkout on Friday was the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Students from Foothill Technology High School, Buena High School, Ventura High School and other schools gathered on the lawn and steps at City Hall to express their thoughts and listened to speakers which included Ventura City Council Members Cheryl Heitmann and Erik Nasarenko and State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson.

Ventura Deputy Mayor Nasarenko told the gathered crowd “At that time, we thought it was an outlier. How would this ever happen again? How could 13 individuals lose their lives? We just thought it was an aberration. Since then, churches, night clubs, schools, college campuses, Aurora, Newtown, Parkland, Virginia Tech, Pulse Nightclub. We can stop this. Together, we can enact and pass commonsense, reasonable gun control legislation that will save lives.”

City Council Member Heitmann told the students about a resolution that was recently passed by the City Council that included calling on Congress to raise the gun purchasing age to 21 and to enact stricter gun control laws. She stated “These high school students both locally and across the nation are bringing the discussion about gun control to a whole new level. Their commitment, passion and advocacy is vital in getting our federal government to do everything possible to enact stricter gun control as well as allocate additional funds to the CDC to study gun violence. I admire what they are doing and know that their voices are being heard and will continue to be heard as they continue to advocate.”

Breeze contributing photographer said “Welcome to recording history. The students pictures in the attached photographs will be tomorrow government leaders. History because these young adults, not yet out of High School, have taken it upon themselves to exercise the First Amendment of the Constitution of The United States.”

The students disbanded around 1:30 p.m. from City Hall. Because the walkouts were not sanctioned by the school district students who left campus are subject to regular attendance rules, they will be considered truant.

Thomas Fire to be coordinated in Los Angeles County Superior Court

A Ventura County judge has recommended to the Judicial Council that Los Angeles County Superior Court serve as the venue for pretrial coordination proceedings in cases pertaining to the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslide/debris flow disasters against Southern California Edison. The order was issued on Monday, April 16 by Vincent J. O’Neill Jr., Coordination Motion Judge of the Ventura County Superior Court, and designates the Court of Appeal, Second District as the reviewing court.

The Ventura County court determined Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow cases are complex due to the sheer number of existing complaints filed as well as the amount of witnesses and discovery evidence included with each action. As noted by Judge O’Neill in his recommendation, “exceptional judicial management will be necessary to handle the included actions to avoid placing unnecessary burden on the court, to reduce litigation costs, and to expedite the cases.” Coordination of the cases in a single courthouse before a single judge promotes efficient use of judicial resources, streamlined litigation procedures, and, importantly, eliminates the opportunity for inconsistent rulings and orders on the same legal issues.

The court weighed eight factors when ruling in favor of Los Angeles County as the site for pretrial coordination including the convenience of the location to the parties, witnesses and counsel, the parties principal place of business, the ease of travel and availability of accommodations, and the efficient use of court facilities and judicial resources. The court also noted that while attorneys for the parties have offices in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as other counties in California, it was not a factor that weighed in favor of or against a particular venue.

Could you be the next City Council Member?

As you may know, Ventura is moving to district-based elections. This means that residents in each district will elect a City Council Member to represent their district. Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6 are up for election in November of this year. The Ventura Chamber Political Action Committee is actively seeking candidates who support the free enterprise system, fiscally responsible government, and whose views represent the interests of both the private and public sectors of the economy. If this sounds like you or someone you know, they want to hear from you! Please contact the Chamber if interested at 643-7222 or email [email protected]

DACA: Then and Now.

by Manuel Reynoso

With nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants receiving DACA since its inception in 2012, many of which live right here in Ventura and Ventura County, there still exists a lot of misinformation and confusion as to what DACA is. With the current political climate, it’s important to understand it’s history, what it has accomplished, and where DACA stands as of now.

Announced by President Barack Obama on June 15, 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was created due to congress’ inability to pass the DREAM Act, which would have created a pathway to citizenship for those brought to the U.S. illegally as a child. To qualify for DACA one had to be:

  • At least 15 years old when applying but under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.
  • Under the age 16 when entering the United States.
  • Living in the U.S. continuously since June 15, 2007.
  • Present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, and at the time of applying.
  • Not convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor or three or more other misdemeanors.
  • In school or have graduated or completed high school, or have been honorably discharged from the military.

Once granted DACA, recipients would not find themselves faced with the threat of deportation, so long as they did not receive a felony or significant misdemeanor.

While DACA did not provide a path for citizenship, many recipients found themselves much more capable at participating in society. As immigration attorney Vanessa Frank stressed, “It just allowed people to be comfortable in their own skin. They could ask the questions needed to be real participants in the community.” Recipients would now be able to lawfully work, pay their taxes, and actively pursue higher education. Simply put, it allowed recipients to engage and excel in this country.

So where are we now? With President Trump rescinding of DACA, recipients would be unable to renew their DACA status past March 5, 2018. However, On behalf of DACA recipients, the University of Southern California issued a lawsuit challenging Presidents Trump’s action to terminate DACA, and on January 9th a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the repeal of DACA until a decision is made in court. Currently, while it’s certain to reach the Supreme Court, there is little evidence to suggest one outcome over another. Till a decision is made, current recipients of DACA can continue to renew their deferred status for the time being.

DACA has been nothing but a boon for recipients living here in Ventura. DACA recipients have been able to participate in society and give back to the communities they have grown up in. It has safe-guarded many people from being deported to a country they simply don’t know. I would like a special thanks to Immigration Attorney Vanessa Frank for educating me on DACA and its effects.