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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Assemblyman Bill Dodd’s (D-Napa) bill establishing the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act of 2015, passed the state legislature on Monday with bipartisan support.
The bill now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown who has one month to sign the legislation.
“The gender pay gap not only affects women, it also causes problems for our entire society. This legislation is an important step toward ensuring a stable future for California families,” Dodd said. “I’d like to thank my fellow legislators for their support in delivering this bill to the Governor for his signature.”
Dodd is part of a coalition of California legislators who’ve put the issue of gender pay equity on center stage in Sacramento through the introduction of several measures.
The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act will require companies that contract with the state to have policies in place to help ensure gender pay equity and to provide the state with data on employee income by gender and race.
Collecting this data will help the state in appropriately targeting its efforts to reduce and eliminate the wage gap in California.
“The state of California spends billions of dollars annually on state contracts, and we need to ensure taxpayer money is going to companies that promote gender pay equity,” said Dodd. “The state of California should set the example for the nation. Hard-working women and future generations, including my granddaughters, are counting on us to do the right thing.”
Full-time working women in the U.S. have continued to earn an average of just 77 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts over the last decade.
The disparity is even greater for women of color, and numerous studies have found a gap persists even when controlling for factors like education, experience and career field.
The gender pay gap amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.
Last year, President Obama directed the U.S. Department of Labor to collect gender and race pay data from federal contractors to assist in eliminating the pay gap at the federal level.
Dodd’s bill seeks to accomplish the same goal, while also requiring policies and procedures that will help contractors avoid unlawful pay disparities.
Dodd represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Solano and Colusa counties. Visit his Web site at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Cobb man has been sentenced for illegally killing a deer on a local golf course.
Nicolas George Stuckey, 24, was charged with eight counts of violating the Fish and Game Code for having shot a doe on May 7, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Hinchcliff said that on Aug. 31 Stuckey pleaded no contest to using an artificial light during hours of darkness – also known as spotlighting – to kill a deer and to killing a doe.
On May 8 State Fish and Wildlife officer Doug Willson received a report that Stuckey may have illegally killed a deer the day prior on the Black Rock Golf Course on Golf Road, Hinchcliff said.
According to reports received from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Officer Willson began an investigation and located evidence that a dead deer had recently been located in the vehicle reported to have been involved in the poaching incident.
Willson located Stuckey who, in response to questioning, initially advised the officer that he had hit a deer the night before with his vehicle and he had cut it up and left it in another location, Hinchcliff said.
Upon further questioning and investigation, Hinchcliff said Stuckey admitted that he had not hit the deer with a vehicle but had shot it by the golf course after dark.
Hinchcliff said Stuckey also admitted that he brought the deer home and had hid the carcass across the street. Officer Willson recovered the deer and found that Stuckey had not yet cut the deer up and that it was a doe.
Officer Willson located a witness who said that the night prior, Stuckey had stated he wanted to look for a buck he had been seeing near the golf course. While looking for the buck Stuckey saw a deer’s eyes glowing in the dark, shot it with a .22 rifle, and it turned out to be a doe, according to Hinchcliff's report.
The witness said the doe was standing on the golf course where the golfers tee off when Stuckey shot it. Officer Willson located the place where the doe was killed and determined it was shot less than 100 yards from two structures, Hinchcliff said.
After Stuckey entered the plea, Superior Court Judge Michael Lunas sentenced Stuckey to three years probation and ordered him to pay a fine of $1,915, according to Hinchcliff.
As a condition of probation, Judge Lunas also ordered that Stuckey is not to hunt or kill any animal or bird with any kind of weapon for three years, and he was ordered not to possess any rifle, handgun, shotgun, bow or crossbow for three years anywhere where game animals or birds can be hunted, Hinchcliff said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California is about to enter the most dangerous time of the fire season – the fall months – with the lowest fuel moisture period of the year, and fire officials said it is critical that community members use special care in order to avoid further wildland fires.
The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit has experienced more than 103,000 acres of large and destructive wildland fires in just the last three months.
These fires include the Wragg fire starting in Napa County (July 22), along with the Rocky (July 29), Jerusalem (Aug. 9), Peterson (Aug. 22), Grade (Aug. 24) and Elk fire (Sept. 2), the latter five all starting in Lake County.
While these fires continue to be in different stages of investigation, Cal Fire advises the public that the majority of these fires appear to have been caused by people who allowed a spark or hot material to come in contact with dry grass, without realizing it was going to result in an unwanted fire.
Examples would include mowing dry grass with a metal blade or mowers designed for green grass, and hot engines or exhaust in direct contact with dry grass.
“Residents need to use extreme caution and avoid any activity that may cause a spark during these critically dry conditions,” said Scott Upton, Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit chief. “Doing the right thing the wrong way or at the wrong time puts citizen and firefighter lives at risk. We want folks to maintain their defensible space around their homes but this must be done during the winter, spring, and early summer months when conditions are less dangerous, not during this critical fire hazard time.”
Penalties for causing a fire that escapes control and/or burns the property of others can be devastating. State law includes civil cost collection for the public cost of the fire and can include criminal charges, especially when there are injuries or death as a result of the fire.
Are you doing the right thing, the wrong way? Here’s how to do it the right way:
· Do yard maintenance with powered equipment before 10 a.m., not during the heat of the day or when the wind is blowing.
· Never use lawn mowers on dry grass or brush.
· Remove any rocks in and around the area before operating equipment.
· Be sure your portable gas powered equipment has a spark arrester.
· Never refuel while equipment is still hot from use.
· Keep the equipment maintained and free of carbon and other buildup.
With the continued threat of wildfires, Cal Fire is asking all Californians to ensure they are prepared for wildfires and help prevent sparking a wildfire.
Visit www.PreventWildfireCA.org to learn more on how to prevent wildfire. To learn more on how to be prepared for a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org . Additional fire safety tips can be found at www.fire.ca.gov .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lakeport Planning Commission will consider an updated application for an auto sales office project and a fence variance.
The commission will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St. Documents for the meeting can be found at http://www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/docs.aspx?deptID=68&catID=31 .
Staff will take to the commission a revision to the architectural and design review application approved last year for Kathy Fowler Chevrolet's plans for a 558-square-foot used car sales office at 1277 Parallel Drive and 1305 Todd Road Extension
The commission also will consider an application from Suzanne Russell for a variance to permit an existing 6-foot -high wooden fence constructed within the street side lot setback area of Cherry Street. The fence is located at 600 Sixth St.
Also on Wednesday, the commission will discuss potential changes to the zoning ordinance section dealing with outdoor food service, tables and seating placement on sidewalks, and get an update on pending projects or projects approved at a staff level.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee will meet this week to discuss a number of upcoming events as well as group projects.
LEDAC will meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda includes updates from Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira on the Carnegie Library, business loans, downtown improvement and the waterfront development planning.
Taira St. John will give an informational update on a film project.
Rebecca Southwick will discuss the Lake Leadership Summit coming up in October, and LEDAC Chair Wilda Shock will lead the discussion on a regional collaboration and organizational structure.
There also will be time for citizen input.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members do not have to be Lakeport residents.
Wilda Shock chairs LEDAC, the membership of which also includes Vice Chair Christine Hutt, Secretary Rebecca Southwick, and members Bill Eaton, Melissa Fulton, Rick Hamilton, Pam Harpster, Chris King, George Linn, Paula Pepper-Duggan and Taira St. John.
City Community Development Director Kevin Ingram and City Manager Margaret Silveira serve as ex-officio committee members.
LEDAC's next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Lakeport City Hall.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Small Business Administration said it is opening its Disaster Loan Outreach Center this week in Clearlake in response to the damage the county sustained in the Rocky fire.
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to California businesses and residents affected by the Rocky fire, which occurred from July 29 to Aug. 14, according to U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.
SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to the request SBA received on Aug. 28 from Gov. Jerry Brown's designated representative, Mark S. Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
“SBA is strongly committed to providing California with the most effective and customer-focused response possible, and we will be there to provide access to federal disaster loans to help finance recovery for businesses and residents affected by the disaster,” said Contreras-Sweet. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”
“Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster,” said SBA’s San Francisco District Director Mark Quinn.
“Beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, SBA representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application,” Quinn continued.
The center will be located at Highlands Senior Services Center at 3245 Bowers Ave., one block behind Safeway Market in Clearlake.
It will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It closed at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
No appointment is necessary.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.875 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela .
Disaster loan information and application forms also are available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing
For more disaster assistance information, or to download applications, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster .
Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is Nov. 2, 2015.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 3, 2016.