3rd District Supervisor Report: March 2024 update
March has arrived with a fury. There's news of the Leggett Post Office burning down, drug overdoses in the jail resulting in one death, and the snowstorm reminding us of what needs to be better prepared. The Office of Emergency Services has been preparing and communicating with emergency responders throughout the County. The lack of a post office in Leggett reminds us of the central role these community centers play in our lives.
I am sending good healing thoughts to Jim Shields of Laytonville and Bruce Anderson of Booneville. Both are intrepid newspaper people and community-minded citizens. May they get back to doing what they do best which is informing the community of the good and bad keeping us all on our toes.
The election was bumpy with the ballot misprints and problems with redistricting. People are asking how did this happen. To assure voters that these incidents will not happen again, the Board and Katrina Bartolomei, Clerk Recorder in charge of elections, must work together, find out where things went wrong, and make sure those problems are fixed.
The Board decided to move the Veterans Services Office back to the Observatory Ave. location. Kudos to the persistence of the veterans who returned time and again to the Board chambers to voice their disapproval of this move. I worked with staff and veterans to make the move as good as possible but the base issues were unresolved. I appreciate that the veterans said that they would help with the move back to Observatory. When the time comes to move, we will be calling on them and they will show up.
The CEO rolled out her plan to balance the budget. The Board, with a few changes, adopted the plan. It will raise revenue, cut costs, and create efficiencies. Overall, about $10 million needs to be raised or cut. I see County staff working to do more with less across the many departments.
There will be a Talk with
the Supervisor Thursday, March 14 at 10 a.m. at Brickhouse Coffee in Willits. I am available by email haschakj@mendocinocounty.gov or phone 707-972- 4214.