Vol. 14, No. 20 – June 30 – July 13, 2021 – Opinion/Editorial

∙The council has approved 50 affordable apartments for seniors on the west side to compensate for the loss of homes in the 2017 Thomas Fire. The Ventura City Council unanimously approved the $4.6 million project to address the post-fire housing shortage. Five of the apartments will be reserved for homeless seniors. The city’s housing authority will market the apartments to those who were displaced by the wildfire. The senior housing project is part of a four-phase redevelopment.

The project is partially funded with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant awarded to the city.

Five of the apartments will be reserved for homeless seniors. The project site is at 232 W. Flint St. (off of Olive).

Councilmember Lorrie Brown stated, “The city has a made a commitment to improving the housing in the city of Ventura and this is one of those steps.”

The project is expected to be completed in fall 2024.

∙The Ventura council has finally passed a city budget after weeks of wrangling over fire department funding. On a 6-1 vote, the City Council approved a $303 million spending plan after reaching a compromise to postpone decisions over additional firefighter positions and equipment by at least six months. See page X for more information.

Councilmember Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios wants the city to first develop a strategic plan that defines the fire department’s goals, priorities and targets prior to committing to additional staff and fire vehicles. Less than 5% of the fire department services are for fighting fires.

∙The New York Supreme Court has announced that it is suspending Rudy Giuliani’s license to practice law in the state. The court concluded that Giuliani made “demonstrably false and misleading statements” to courts, lawmakers and the public when he was representing former President Trump and his campaign in their failed effort to overturn the 2020 election results. In a 33-page decision, the court said the seriousness of Giuliani’s “uncontroverted misconduct can not be overstated.”

∙6’-7” Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib has met widespread support since his groundbreaking decision announcing that he is gay. He became the first (and certainly not only) active player in NFL history to come out.

I have a friend who once told me that he can tell if a man is gay but can’t tell if a woman is. He based this on stereotypes that gay men are effeminate. I doubt if Nassib fits this stereotype. And even if he did, who cares. He’s a pro football player, so obviously he has the required skillset to be in the league. I’m happy for him. How tough it must be to be in a “real” man’s sport and need to hide this. This is not a choice a person makes, as it is implanted in their DNA.

∙A Trump supporter who spent 10 minutes inside the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection was sentenced to probation Wednesday, avoiding jail. He is the first rioter to learn their punishment in the riot investigation.

At a hearing in DC federal court, Judge Royce Lamberth said the insurrection was a “disgrace” and forcefully rebuked the “utter nonsense” coming from some Republican lawmakers and other right-wing figures who are whitewashing what happened.

“I don’t know what planet they were on,” Lamberth said of the GOP lawmakers, without mentioning any names. Recent releases of videos from the attack “will show the attempt of some congressman to rewrite history that these were tourists walking through the capitol is utter nonsense.”

A Michigan Senate Oversight Committee report on the election “found no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud in Michigan’s prosecution of the 2020 election.”

∙A draft report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that unless drastic and immediate action is taken to limit greenhouse gas emissions and keep global temperatures from rising further, life on earth is poised for a catastrophic coming.

The 4,000-page draft states that mankind may have already missed its opportunity to keep the climate from passing a series of thresholds that will further create the warming of the planet. “Life on Earth can recover from a drastic climate shift by evolving into new species and creating new ecosystems,” the report says. “Humans cannot.”

∙Former Vice President Mike Pence reiterated at a speech at the Reagan Library he did not have the constitutional authority to stop the count of the electoral votes on Jan. 6.

“Now there are those in our party who believe that in my position as presiding officer over the joint session that I possess the authority to reject or return electoral votes certified by the states,” Pence said. “The Constitution provides the vice president with no such authority before the joint session of Congress.” Some Republicans, including former President Trump, called for Pence to reject electoral votes on Jan. 6.

He has been booed at Republican meetings even though he had no authority to reverse the election.

∙Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are people who weren’t vaccinated. An indication that deaths per day, now down to under 300, could be practically eliminated if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that “breakthrough” infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. That’s about 0.1%.

At Sanford Health, which runs 44 medical centers and more than 200 clinics across the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa, less than 5% of the 1,456 patients admitted with COVID-19 so far this year were fully vaccinated.

∙Why I hate partisan politics (on both sides): House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy criticized President Joe Biden’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that Biden “gave Vladimir Putin a pass.”

“The American people suffered massive disruptions because of Russia-linked cyber-attacks,” McCarthy said in a statement released Thursday. “Two Americans, both Marine veterans, are being held as prisoners in Russia. We know Vladimir Putin silences and imprisons his critics.”

He added: “Knowing these facts, President Biden should have used today’s summit to stand up for our national interests and send a message to the world that the United States will hold Russia accountable for its long list of transgressions. Unfortunately, President Biden gave Vladimir Putin a pass.”

McCarthy’s comments come after years of silence from him on former President Donald Trump’s relationship with Putin, which many critics described as him cozying up to the Russian president especially amid intelligence Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

∙ I have concerns about how the recall process is applied and misused. Recall is not meant to remove officials from office because some don’t agree with their policies. It is meant to remove office holders who have committed serious crimes or who just never do their job.’ In a country divided 50-50 on party affiliation every politician would always face recall to just remove them from office.

Ventura County Ballet has been waiting for the darkness of Covid to lift to again share their art

Frances Spencer shares a sample of her works across a variety of media.

Like the flower in this haiku by Frances Spencer, Ventura County Ballet and performers everywhere have been waiting for the darkness of Covid to lift to again share their art.

Ventura County Ballet has joined with a diverse selection of local artists to create two free streaming programs – one classical and one contemporary – now available to watch online anytime.  The Classics and Dance Through a Contemporary Lens came to life through a unique collaboration of dancers, choreographers, musicians, visual artists and filmmakers as a gift to Ventura County and the world at large.

Both programs may be viewed online without charge.

Visit venturacountyballet.com or nambaarts.com to register and view at your convenience.

Kathleen Noblin, Executive Director of Ventura County Ballet, explained, “With the pandemic largely behind us, Ventura County Ballet is ready to emerge. We feel our community, as well as those beyond our borders, need an infusion of beauty into their lives. We were pleased to be able to collaborate with Namba Performing Arts Space to offer these two performances to show that dance has stayed alive through these difficult times.”

Staged at the Namba Performing Arts Space, Ventura County Ballet presents both beloved classical repertoire and new works by local choreographers Marina Fliagina and Emi Pool. Local musicians Rob Allen (guitar), Mikaela Telesforo (violin) and Anya Hess (harp) accompany several pieces live on stage. Allen and Telesforo play The Swan by Saint-Saëns to accompany solo dancer Greta Pankratz.

In addition to the advanced dancers showcased, Ventura County Ballet offers a look at the future of dance. The “L’ Aurore” and “La Travail” variations from Delibes’ classic Coppelia are danced by Sylvie Watts, 12, and Abigail Steiner, 13, students of Ballet Academy Ventura, official school of Ventura County Ballet.

The eclectic program also includes award-winning Ventura visual artist, playwright and poet Frances Spencer. A member of Working Artists Ventura, Spencer shares a sample of her works across a variety of media.

Noblin added that the program was a true collaboration both onstage and backstage. Saint Pierre, local musician and founder of MusicAndArtsForYouth, assisted in staging the programs and donated backdrops.

Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation announces new chairman and new board members

The Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation (VCMRF) Board of Directors is proud to announce a new Chairman of the Board and 4 new members. Founded in 1956, the role of the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation is to provide service to low-income and underserved families throughout Ventura County, and to connect people to resources that support the community. The Foundation’s mission is to improve, in partnership with others, access to needed health care for the most vulnerable and underserved residents in Ventura County. Some of the vital programs and services include: providing dental and vision care to low-income children and seniors, unable to obtain treatment for conditions that interfere with their development and every day lives.

VCMRF’s Board of Directors announced that Sean P. McCulloch AVP/Commercial Loan Officer, at Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU), is the new Chairman of the Board. He has thirty years of leadership, sales and service experience, in the financial services industry, that includes a strong background in commercial real estate, industrial lending, and construction lending experience, to members of VCCU. His community involvement is vast and comprehensive.

The following new members have joined VCMRF’s Board of Directors:

Michael K. Boyko – Founder, Boyko & Reardon Telegraph Road Mortuary & Cremation & Principal of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service

Joe Espino – First V.P Regional Community Manager – Community West Bank

Mark Spellman – Senior Account Executive/Media Consultant, Lazer Broadcasting

Ann Howarth – Real Estate Agent, RE/MAX

Kathryn m. Stiles – Director of Community Well-Being, Adventist Health Simi Valley

Michael k. Boyko is founder of Boyko & Reardon Telegraph Road Mortuary & Cremation; Principal of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service; Founder of the Cremation Society of Ventura County and Santa Barbara Foundation. He served as the Past President of the Los Angeles County Funeral Directors Association and has other professional affiliations with local non-profits and has received many academic awards and published a paper on Microbial Origination of Life on Planet Earth.

Vol. 14, No. 20 – June 30 – July 13, 2021 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Fatherhood – Netflix Originals

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

Fatherhood shares the emotional true story of a widowed father faced with raising his newborn daughter on his own after losing his wife in the hospital shortly after giving birth the their first child. Matt (Kevin Hart) certainly didn’t plan on coming home without his wife Liz, leaving him on his own to raise little Maddy (Melody Hurd). Matt felt completely unprepared to raise his daughter on his own, especially while still grieving over the loss of his wife, so his mother and his overbearing mother-in-law Marian (Alfre Woodard) stayed for several weeks to help.

Marian was continually trying to convince Matt to go back to Minnesota to raise Maddy near her and other family, but soon Matt grew irritated with the constant pressure and belittling that Marian kept doing and though she wanted to stay for 6 months sent her home after 5 weeks at the same time as his own mother. Marian was reluctant to go having concerns over Matt’s ability to raise Maddy on his own, but Matt said that he wouldn’t be able to develop the skills to raise her if he wasn’t given the chance.

Matt quickly discovered clever ways to help deal with his challenging situation, like putting a basketball hoop above the diaper bucket. He also joined a parenting group to get help and tips how to raise children, which is where he discovered that Maddy’s constant crying was no fault of his, that is was colic and a normal issue with newborn babies. In order to avoid difficult conversation whenever anybody asked where the mother was, he made up stories like she’s an astronaut or she’s in prison, which made it easier for him to not have to discuss his wife.

Matt’s very supportive boss Paul (Paul Reiser) let him bring Maddy to work, but unfortunately his work started suffering with him falling asleep in meetings and bringing his baby and a vacuum to help stop her crying. Fortunately the clients understood and gave Matt some good baby tips. Matt also had the support of his two best friends Jordan (Lil Rell Howery) and Oscar (Anthony Carrigan) who did things like playing poker for cookies with Maddy and Matt.

Fast forward and Maddy is now in elementary school and Matt’s faced with the challenges of young black women’s hair, fashionable dress and sent Maddy to the school that his wife Liz wanted her to attend. It was a private school run by nuns and though the school has a dress code requiring girls to wear skirts, Maddy decided to wear pants which her father definitely supported.

Matt’s friend Oscar decided to set Matt up with his friend Lizzy at a birthday party in the park, and they definitely seemed to have great chemistry. When Matt was finally ready to have Maddy meet Lizzy, Lizzy told Maddy she can call her Swan, to avoid any issues with her mother’s name, and they too hit it off right from the start. Matt decided to call things off with Swan after feeling guilty that Maddy was injured at school while they were out on a date.

Matt had to take a trip for work, so took Maddy to stay with Marian, but ended up ditching the work trip and got on a plane to Minnesota to bring Maddy back to Boston. Matt took Maddy to see Swan to apologize which made Maddy happy as she really liked Swan. Upon returning for the new school year, Maddy again wore pants and Matt wore a skirt, and the nuns seemed happy to share that due to an incident with Maddy at school they were changing the dress code.

Kevin Hart shows the perfect combination of comedy and compassion in his role in this true story.

Rated: PG-13

Vol. 14, No. 20 – June 30 – July 13, 2021 – 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, Delaying a Peace Officer, and Vandalism Arrest

On June 11, at approximately 9:00 pm, Ventura Police Patrol officers responded to a report of a theft which just occurred in the 1000 block of East Thompson Blvd. The suspect had entered the business and after a brief altercation with the employees, stole an item from the business. The suspect then left the business and was reported to be armed with a knife.

Patrol officers and a K-9 officer arrived on scene and contacted the suspect, 36-year-old Pete Holder. Holder was armed with a knife and a blunt object. Holder refused orders to drop the knife however was taken into custody. Officers on scene determined Holder had brandished the knife at an employee of the business after stealing property and threatened to stab the employee. It was also determined just prior to the robbery; Holder had slashed multiple tires at a separate business in the area.

Holder was arrested and booked at Ventura County Jail for Robbery, Delaying a Peace Officer, and Vandalism.

A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website revealed Holder has arrests for Resisting an Executive Officer, Removing a Weapon from a Peace Officer, Battery with Injury on a Peace Officer, and Arson. Holder is also currently on Parole Supervision.

Stolen Vehicle Arrest

On June 6, at approximately 8:00 am, Ventura Police Officers responded to the area of Shenandoah St. and Chalmette Ave. regarding a Chevy S-10 pickup truck that had just been stolen. At approximately 3:00 pm, the truck was seen in the 1200 block of N. Ventura Ave. Patrol Officers responded and, on arrival, conducted an enforcement stop as it entered the parking lot of a business.

Carlos Martinez, 24-year-old Ventura resident, and 23 year old Ventura resident Juan Solis were taken into custody without incident. During the investigation, officers determined that the suspects had painted the vehicle to cover the original color. Martinez and Solis were arrested for the unlawful taking of a vehicle, grand theft auto, felony vandalism, and conspiracy.

The vehicle was returned to the owner.

Narcotics Arrest

On June 23, at approximately 7:00 am, Ventura Police Department patrol officers responded to a call for service of a subject passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle that was running. Officers arrived and discovered the driver, 52-year-old Ventura resident Michael Arellanes, was asleep behind the wheel and under the influence of a controlled substance.

During the subsequent investigation, officers discovered and recovered a large quantity of Fentanyl and evidence of narcotics sales inside Arellanes’s vehicle.

As a result of the investigation, Arellanes was arrested for under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics for sales.

A search of the Ventura County Superior Court shows that Michael Arellanes has several prior arrests for narcotics violations including numerous arrests for narcotics sales.

Stabbing Arrest

On June 26, at 7:45am, the Ventura Police Command Center received multiple calls about a stabbing in progress in the shopping center at 1145 S. Victoria Ave. The first patrol officer arrived on scene in less than 3 minutes and was directed by witnesses to the suspect’s exact location, which was now inside Vons. The suspect (later identified as 49 year old Daniel Rodriguez) was located by officers inside Vons still holding a knife. When given verbal orders, the suspect put down the knife but would not comply with any other commands. After a brief struggle, officers were able to safely take Rodriguez into custody.

After speaking with multiple victims and witnesses, officers learned Rodriguez was responsible for stabbing one person inside Wing Stop and another person inside I Love Sushi. While walking between the two businesses, Rodriguez threatened to stab one other person in the parking lot. There was no relation between any of the victims. Both victims who were assaulted inside the restaurants received non-life- threatening injuries and are being treated at a local hospital.

After being interviewed by Detectives, Rodriguez was arrested for 3 counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Shooting Investigation with Arrest

On June 26, at approximately 7:00 pm, hours the Ventura Police Department responded to a call of a shooting victim in the 600 block of Cedar St.

Officers arrived on scene and found the victim suffering from a single gun shot wound to his torso. He was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center for life threatening injuries.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect and victim had a brief encounter while in their vehicles near Olive St and Harrison Av. The suspect followed the victim to the 600 block of Cedar St where an altercation ensued.

The suspect, later identified as James Cruz, produced a handgun, and shot the victim. Cruz fled the location in his vehicle.

Later in the evening, officers located the suspect vehicle on Victoria Av. The suspect was stopped and taken into custody without incident.

Cruz was booked into the Ventura County Jail on charges of attempted murder. The victim remains in serious condition in the hospital.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Ventura Police Department.

Teaming up to expand Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome research

by Laurie Ryan Chief, Clinical Interventions and Diagnostics Branch,

Division of Neuroscience and Nina Silverberg Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program, Division of Neuroscience

Each year, about 6,000 American children are born with Down syndrome (DS), the most common chromosomal disorder. Adults with DS are at very high risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Virtually all adults with DS have brain changes consistent with AD by age 40, and a high percentage of them go on to develop dementia by their late 60s. But there is wide variation in age at dementia symptom onset, which suggests there are additional genetic, biological, and environmental factors that modify disease progression. We need further and more intensive research to better understand how AD develops in people with DS and to develop possible treatments to delay or prevent it.

To tackle this challenge, in 2018, NIH launched the Investigation of Co-occurring Conditions Across the Lifespan to Understand Down Syndrome (INCLUDE) Project. INCLUDE supports DS-related research across the lifespan via basic science, clinical studies, and clinical trials. INCLUDE prioritizes the rapid and broad sharing of data, biosamples, knowledge, and tools to the wider research community along with training the next wave of DS-integrated scientists.

The Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium-Down Syndrome (ACTC-DS) is one such INCLUDE-supported program. It builds upon the NIA-supported Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium to conduct AD clinical trials in adults with DS in the United States and Europe, including sites that are part of the NIH-supported Alzheimer’s Biomarkers Consortium – Down Syndrome (ABC-DS). ACTC-DS’s first project is the Trial-Ready Cohort – Down Syndrome, which aims to create a cohort of adults living with DS who are interested in participating in future AD clinical trials and willing to undergo blood tests, brain imaging, and cognitive testing.

NIA and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) have a long-standing history of collaboration in AD and DS research. In September 2020, we were pleased to build upon this history and host a virtual meeting of the NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) and the NICHD-supported Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs). The workshop connected a wide range of investigators from multiple institutions and encouraged collaborations within and among the sites.

Several joint projects are now in development as a result of the introductions fostered during this meeting. Attendees discussed and were encouraged to use the Down syndrome-specific module developed by the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center and available for use by ADRCs and IDDRCs. This DS clinical and cognitive assessment module is harmonized with some of the ABC-DS clinical and neuropsychological measures. Data and biosamples generated from the participants who are being evaluated with the module will also be available for broader sharing.

If you’re passionate about DS and AD research, join us! The resources from these important collaborative efforts will be available for investigators who are interested in further expanding DS and AD research. To learn more about INCLUDE Project funding opportunities and supported investigators and projects, visit the INCLUDE website. Please reach out to Laurie Ryan, Nina Silverberg, and Melissa Parisi with additional questions.

Vol. 14, No. 20 – June 30 – July 13, 2021 – A View from House Seats

Each character has an opportunity to delve into their needs and depths of emotion.

by Shirley Lorraine
Theater is Live on Ojai Stage!

The silent stage drought is finally coming to an end. Ojai Art Center Theater opened Friday to an enthusiastic audience with Family Furniture, written by A.R. Gurney. Gurney is perhaps best known for his Pulitzer prize-winning play Love Letters and his hit scipt Sylvia.

Set in the 1950’s, Family Furniture is an exploration into the coping and evolving skills of a family summering on the Canadian shore of Lake Erie as they navigate the slippery path that is maturation, growth and acceptance as a unit. The central theme is value of renewal rather than replacement. The play is performed with no intermission.

The “children”, Nick (Benjamin Wilson) and Peggy (Kisea Katikka) are moving into adulthood with its attendant complications of infatuation, a need for exploration and a desire for autonomy and clarity. At the same time, Mother, Claire (Ashley Osler), is coping with some emotional mid-life challenges of her own. Father, Russell (Buddy Wilds) does his best to keep the family on an even keel throughout, while he goes about his own style of maintaining equilibrium for himself and for his family. Nick’s girlfriend Betsy (Amber Shea Hodge) provides a measure of perspective from another viewpoint.

The play is well crafted. Each character has an opportunity to delve into their needs and depths of emotion. Each grapple with some potentially life-changing issues and as a family they ultimately discover what is truly important and how to best cope until the next thing comes up. Seasoned director Tom Eubanks chose this work well as his final directorial project before he retires out of the area. He will be missed.

All the actors portray their roles with clarity and confidence although at times vocal volumes dropped and were a challenge to hear. Opening night provided numerous opportunities for the actors to learn to take a breath so lines would not be drowned out by audience laughter. There are myriad patches of familiar situational humor that deserve to be heard. This production is not amplified so the actors must remember to project even in more intimate moments.

The setting is minimal, having the actors move the few basic pieces of furniture about to indicate scenery changes. Costuming is simple and effective, giving just enough flavor of the era to augment the story. The many references to happenings of the time transported the audience but the story could easily have been played to any era. The situations are familiar to all age levels.

Clearly, audience members were excited to be attending live theater again and the actors and crew were thrilled to be doing what they do best. Masks are optional. It’s been a long haul.

Summer curtain time is 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. For reservations, call (805) 640-8797 or go to OjaiACT.org to secure your seat. General admission tickets are $20, Art Center members and seniors $18 and just $10 for under 25.

Disability advocate role right up her alley

The role of Disability Advocate is uniquely suited to Carol.

by Shirley Lorraine

Carol Leish has recently been appointed to the position of Disability Advocate for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA). Her two-year term, from 2021-2023, will include working on the Optimal Aging and Workforce committees as well as being available as a speaker and advocate.

The role of Disability Advocate is uniquely suited to her. She will assist in navigating challenges faced by many seniors and persons with disabilities.

Leish is CEO and founder of Call Me Capable, a disability consultant, motivational speaker and writer. She is also a frequent contributor to The Ventura Breeze on a range of subjects.

Carol holds a Masters Degree in Education and Counseling, building on her personal experience as the basis of her understanding of the needs of persons with a variety of disabilities. She prefers to focus on “capabilities”, thus her website, CallMeCapable.net.

VCAAA is one of 33 public Non-Profit agencies designated by the State of California to carry out the mandates of the Older Americans Act of 1965. VCAAA was formed in 1980 under the auspices of the County of Ventura Executive office and Board of Supervisors. The agency serves the over 196,000 older adults and people with disabilities Ventura County. Open public meetings are held the second Wednesday of every other month at the VCAAA office on County Square Drive.

The Agency offers myriad resources ranging from social services, programs and educational services, work development resources, housing resources, including a rent-share program, health and nutrition services and much more. For more information, visit www.vcaaa.org

Change has been slow in the Permit Services Department

by Venturans for Responsible & Efficient Gov’t

Nine years after the Ventura Grand Jury ruled that Ventura’s Code Enforcement Division was too aggressive, change has been slow in the Permit Services Department. Now the City of Ventura believes that things will get better if it follows the consultant’s report titled the Matrix Report. However, those changes don’t go far enough. There needs to be a change in the philosophy within the department to make meaningful changes.

It was clear to residents that a problem existed in 2012. The feeling among residents was to avoid the building process as much as possible.

The 2011-2012 Ventura County Grand Jury opened an inquiry into the City of Ventura and its Code Enforcement Department’s practices and fee policies. At the time, many citizens complained of aggressive enforcement actions, verbal threats from code enforcement officers, unauthorized searches, threatening documents, preferential treatment, and an unfair appellate system. The Grand Jury condemned these code enforcement practices.

What Hasn’t Changed With Ventura Permit Services
By mid-August, the city will have completed 50% of the recommendations in the Matrix Report. Despite that, several things remain troublesome within Code Enforcement and Permit Services.

  1. To residents, Code Enforcement and Permit Services appear to be punitive. For 40 years, department managers have said, “We work with people to make it user-friendly.” However, that statement is no more than ‘lip service.’ In reality, inspectors act as if they were police officers. They flash an official badge and demand entry, or they will get a warrant—the same behavior listed in the Grand Jury report.
  2. Code enforcement employees defend their actions by saying they are looking out for everyone’s safety by enforcing state building codes. They didn’t create the regulations; they enforce them—the Nüremberg defense.

Property owners told us about inspectors that enter older buildings. They try to apply current building standards to them instead of researching the building standards at the time of construction.

Protesting an accusation is difficult, time-consuming and frustrating. Once Code Enforcement receives a complaint, they assume the property owner is guilty until proven innocent. This mindset is contrary to the legal system in our country.

Inviting New Problems Into Your Home
Permit Services still uses intimidation as a weapon. For example, the property owner calls for an inspection after installing a water heater replacement. The inspector arrives to make sure the water heater is hooked up correctly. While there, the inspector looks for other building issues such as electrical, gas, venting, unpermitted structures, and more. If they see something, then off it goes to Code Enforcement. The homeowner soon receives a letter demanding corrections and threatening penalties unless the property owner makes changes within a limited time.

Complaints drive almost all the code enforcement investigations. Reacting to accusations leaves little time for inspectors to discover infractions on their own.

Fear of Retaliation and Horror Stories
We heard many horror stories researching this topic, yet we cannot write about them because the property owners feared retribution or retaliation.

The Building and Planning Process Gets Longer
In the recent past, it took about 90 days to get a construction permit in Ventura. Today, it could take years.

Nine years ago, the Ventura Grand Jury recommended changes in Ventura’s Permit Services Department. Today, the city is making changes slowly. Unfortunately, stifling regulations, protracted processes and fees provide property owners no compelling reason to improve their properties.

The city is implementing the Matrix Report. Yet, according to the timetable, the implementation will be 50% complete at best by mid-August 2021. And nothing in the Matrix report addresses the core problem: the attitude within the department.

If the department changed their attitudes ever so slightly to work with people and make the permitting and building process user-friendly, citizens wouldn’t fear working with Permit Services.

Now is the time to act before the city loses focus on making the needed changes to Permit Services.