The high cost of EDD fraud

One of the biggest problems confronting Newsom — and which he hasn’t yet addressed as substantively as other pandemicera issues — is California’s beleaguered unemployment department, which may have paid as much as $31 billion to fraudsters even as more than 1 million jobless claims remain backlogged. As the Employment Development Department prepares for another extension of federal jobless benefits, Calmatters’ Byrhonda Lyons and Lauren Hepler recently posted a video report on the winners and losers in California’s unemployment fraud scandal. (One winner, ironically, may be EDD itself, which reaped $22.5 million from March to October last year thanks to unemployment debit card transaction fees.)

Right Tree, Right Place web resource can be found at pge.com/righttreerightplace and includes free downloadable brochures on how to plant with fire safety in mind and creating defensible space.

“Trees play a vital role in our environment and make California a beautiful place to live, work recreate. They also need space to grow both above and below ground. Planting the right tree in the right place helps promote fire safety, reduces power outages, provides shade benefits, enhances property values and ensures beauty for years to come,” said Eric Haggerty, PG&E Vegetation Management Supervisor for the North Coast.

“If the right tree is not planted in the right place and too close to power and gas lines, it can create public safety issues and power outages.”

Using the free safety guides, customers can learn which trees are safe to plant near electric and gas lines, and in which regions; information on what to do before planting; how to plant and care for a tree; characteristics of recommended small trees and more. For example, residents and business should always call 8-1-1 at least two days before landscaping or planting trees to have underground lines and other utilities marked to ensure safe digging.

Before planting trees near overhead lines, it’s also recommended to know if you live in an area of increased fire risk by visiting the California Public Utilities Commission’s High Fire-threat District (HFTD) map.

If the property is outside a HFTD, any trees that can grow taller than 25 feet at maturity should be planted at least 50 feet away from power lines.

If the property is within a HFTD, follow safety clearances of the following zones, which are categorized by the horizontal distance between power lines and desired plant:

• Small zone: Within 15 feet away from the power line easement (along the ground), plant only lowgrowing plants less than 12 inches at maturity that have high moisture, and low sap or resin content.

• Medium zone: From 15 to 50 feet away from the power line easement, plant trees that reach no taller than 40 feet at maturity.

• Tall zone: At least 50 feet away from the power line easement, trees that grow taller than 40 feet at maturity are acceptable.