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California Briefs: Early Screening for Children’s Reading Challenges and Federal Backing for Behavioral Health

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California Briefs: Early Screening for Children’s Reading Challenges and Federal Backing for Behavioral Health

California to Screen 1.2 M. Children for Reading Challenges Earlier Than Ever Before
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California’s reading difficulties risk screener selection panel has identified and approved reading difficulties risk screening instruments. Local educational agencies or LEAs can use these tools to meet a new requirement taking effect for the 2025-26 school year to annually screen all kindergarten through second grade students for risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia.

Current law does not require California’s students to be screened for reading difficulties. Identifying and addressing reading difficulties earlier in childhood can help students succeed and prevent them from falling behind their peers. In partnership with the legislature, the 2023 Budget Act signed by the Governor required that beginning with the 2025-26 school year, students in kindergarten through second grade be screened for risk of reading difficulties using the tools approved by the panel of experts appointed to the reading difficulties risk screener selection panel on Dec. 16, 2024. This change will ensure that 1.2 million students receive risk identification and any needed interventions early in their educational journeys.

The reading difficulties risk screener selection panel — led by Dr. Young-Suk Kim, Professor and Associate Dean at the University of California, Irvine’s School of Education, and Yesenia Guerrero, a special education teacher at Lennox School District — consists of nine experts who were appointed by the State Board of Education or SBE on Jan. 18, 2024. The Panel was tasked with creating an approved list of evidence-based, culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate screening instruments, by Dec. 31, 2024 to assess pupils in kindergarten, first, and second grade for risk of reading difficulties, including possible neurological disorders such as dyslexia.
The list of screening instruments approved this week and associated resources can be found HERE.

State Secures Federal Approval/Support to Better Help Californians with Behavioral Health Challenges

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom, Dec. 16 announced that the state has received approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or CMS for its proposed Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment or BH-CONNECT demonstration waiver. The waiver comes after Gov. Newsom traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for its approval.
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions faced by Californians, with nearly 1 in 26 residents experiencing serious mental illnesses. In 2022, two-thirds of adults with mental illness did not receive treatment. These individuals have historically faced expansive challenges when leaving treatment settings or while experiencing homelessness and stand the most to gain in terms of recovery and community stabilization by accessing services provided through BH-CONNECT. This initiative will help Medi-Cal members — of which there are more than 14 million Californians — with significant behavioral health needs.

BH-CONNECT represents a shift in how California addresses behavioral health care. In partnership with county behavioral health plans, BH-CONNECT strengthens California’s behavioral health workforce, incentivizes measurable outcomes, and fills service gaps to create an equitable and effective system of care — including up to $5 Billion in federal investments. Key features include:
Workforce Investments: Supports a $1.9 billion robust and diverse behavioral health workforce initiative that includes scholarships, loan repayment programs, recruitment incentives, residency and fellowship expansions, and professional development. The workforce initiative will be managed by the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).
Transitional Rent Assistance: Provides up to six months of rental support, through a member’s Managed Care Plan, for eligible Medi-Cal members transitioning from certain health care facilities, congregate settings, or homelessness. This housing support is crucial in stabilizing individuals during vulnerable periods, significantly reducing the risk of returning to institutional care or experiencing homelessness. Transitional rent will serve as a bridge to permanent housing for members who need it. For members with significant behavioral health needs, other program funding dedicated to housing interventions would provide permanent rental subsidies and housing following transitional rent, providing continuity and supporting members in achieving long-term housing stability as they recover.
Support for Foster Children and Youth: Includes funding to improve access and outcomes for youth involved in the child welfare system who receive specialty mental health services.
Incentives for Counties: Supports a $1.9 billion Access, Reform, and Outcomes Incentive Program to reward county behavioral health plans for improving access, reducing disparities, and strengthening behavioral health quality improvement.
Community Transition In-Reach Services: Supports members transitioning from long-term institutional stays to ensure continuity of care and successful reintegration into the community.
Short-term Inpatient Psychiatric Care: Provides new flexibility for federal Medi-Cal funding for short-term mental health care provided in inpatient and residential treatment settings that meet the federal institution for mental diseases (IMD) criteria.

Gov. Newsom Unveils Plan to Expand High-Paying Career Pathways Beyond Four-Year Degrees

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Gov. Newsom Unveils Plan to Expand High-Paying Career Pathways Beyond Four-Year Degrees

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom Dec. 16 unveiled the final framework for the master plan for career education to strengthen career pathways, prioritize hands-on learning and real-life skills, and advance educational access and affordability. The master Ppan will be supported by funding in the upcoming state budget.

The master plan for career education recognizes the need for a more coherent skill-building infrastructure that is forward-looking, accessible and aligned with California’s diverse workforce needs. The framework paves the way to help ensure that all Californians can navigate toward career-sustaining jobs with the tools necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

This framework will be followed by the final master plan for career education, which will be published early in the new year.
Career Passports
As part of the master plan, the state will establish career passports to help workers showcase their skills and experiences to potential employers. This tool is designed to make it easier for people, especially those without a four-year degree, to prove their qualifications and access good jobs.

The digital tool will combine traditional academic records, like college transcripts, with verified skills and credentials earned outside the classroom, such as military service, job training, or volunteer work. The concept, also known as a Learning and Employment Record or LER, provides a mechanism for workers to demonstrate knowledge and skills already learned. Employers will be able to use the career passport to see a clear, validated record of a person’s abilities, helping to shift hiring practices toward valuing skills over just degrees.

This builds on and supports the Governor’s efforts to create pathways to sustainable, well-paying careers across diverse sectors through earn and learn apprenticeships. Since 2019, over 190,000 Californians have completed state-registered apprenticeship programs, helping put the state on track to meet the Governor’s goal of serving 500,000 earn and learn apprentices by 2029.
By recognizing prior learning, California is also closing workforce gaps, advancing opportunity, supporting veterans, and strengthening the economy.

College credit for veterans and workers
As part of a $100 million budget investment to implement key components of the master plan, including a career passport, Gov. Newsom is proposing scaling the state’s credit for prior learning or CPL effort to make it easier for Californians — especially veterans and military members — to turn their real-world experience into college credit.

The economic impact of this investment would be immediate and substantial — veterans would receive an estimated average of $26,115 in immediate savings and $161,115 in lifetime benefits, translating to $3.7 billion in preserved educational funds and $28.8 billion in long-term economic benefits over 20 years, while also closing equity gaps.

While some colleges already award credit for prior experience, this new effort aims to create a statewide system so more people can benefit. The goal is to help Californians translate their skills and knowledge into real progress toward a degree or career. The budget investment is expected to benefit 250,000 Californians, including 30,000 veterans.

New coordinating effort & strengthened local coordination
Today’s framework also calls for the creation of a new statewide planning and coordinating collaborative to connect California’s education systems, workforce training providers, and employers while also strengthening regional partnerships. This body would evaluate economic changes and workforce needs, coordinate efforts to maximize funding and programs, and develop strategies to prepare students and workers for high-demand careers.

Removing barriers to state employment
Today, in line with his Freedom to Succeed Executive Order, the Governor also announced the state has now removed college degrees or other certain educational requirements for nearly 30,000 state jobs and a new goal to double that number next year.

The California Human Resources Department or CalHR evaluates whether a college degree or other educational requirements are truly necessary for a position. The administration is proposing further simplifying civil service jobs by consolidating about 70 job classifications, modernizing descriptions, and removing restrictive qualifications. This effort is part of the Newsom administration’s work to modernize state government and improve the hiring process by removing unnecessary barriers to public service jobs. The proposal for an additional roughly 32,000 positions statewide, is currently being negotiated with employee unions and will be submitted for approval in 2025.

Latest Update: RPV Land Movement and Stability Report

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Latest Update: RPV Land Movement and Stability Report

 

Dec. 17 RPV City Council Meeting
At the Dec. 17 city council meeting, city geologist Mike Phipps presented the latest land movement data showing the overall average rate of movement across the landslide area has reached 2.7 inches per week. City staff continues to line canyons with protective material and fill fissures as part of “winterization” efforts to prepare for the rainy months. Both local emergency declarations in the landslide area were extended through February 17, 2025.

Prohibition of Bicycles and Motorcycles Extended for two-Mile Stretch of Palos Verdes Drive South
The council extended the temporary prohibition of bicycles, motorcycles and other similar wheeled devices along Palos Verdes Drive South in the Portuguese Bend landslide area for an additional 90 days (thru mid-March 2025) due to ongoing land movement creating hazardous riding conditions.
Although ground movement in the area has decreased since then, the land is still moving up to four inches per week in certain areas along the roadway, and pavement conditions remain poor. The council will revisit the temporary prohibition and consider whether to lift or extend it in 90 days.

Voluntary Property Buyout Program Update
City staff gave an update on the voluntary property buyout program in the landslide area. Of the 85 applications received, 16 red-tagged properties and 20 yellow-tagged properties were prioritized and provided to FEMA for further review. Applicants will receive letters by mail this week notifying them of whether or not they made the priority list for this round. The city anticipates being able to offer buyouts for an estimated 20 homes during this round of program funding.
Of the 16 red-tagged properties, 11 are located in the Portuguese Bend Community Association or PBCA neighborhood, and five are in Seaview. Of the 20 yellow-tagged properties, 10 are in PBCA, seven are in Seaview, and three are in the Portuguese Bend Beach Club. The yellow-tagged properties are prioritized based on alignment with the path of fissures, sewers and drainage, or whether they are in imminent danger of being red-tagged.
Some red-tagged properties were excluded due to different eligibility criteria. For example, one red-tagged home was deemed ineligible due to being bank-owned. Three other red-tagged properties were deemed ineligible, as they were part of past litigation challenging the city’s building moratorium in the landslide area. The lawsuit prevailed, and owners at the time signed hold harmless agreements (a clause is used as a release of liability in a contract that protects one party from injury or property damage caused by another) with the city, allowing for their properties to be developed with homes.

Over the next few months, city staff will enter contracts for appraisal, surveying, titling, and escrow services to prepare to further advance the buyout program, while FEMA further evaluates the applications.

Dewatering Wells Update
During the meeting, the council allocated another $1.1 million toward maintaining the city’s network of 11 deep dewatering wells, which have extracted approximately 83 million gallons of groundwater from the toe of the Portuguese Bend Landslide. The wells are running on costly, fuel-powered generators due to the SCE electricity shutoffs. The council is scheduled to consider the potential of deprioritizing other city capital projects to expand the network of wells, on Jan. 21.
Details: landmovement@rpvca.gov

Carson: Officers Respond to Armed Barricaded Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Kidnapping Suspect

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Carson: Officers Respond to Armed Barricaded Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Kidnapping Suspect

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau or SEB personnel responded to assist Lakewood Sheriff’s Station with an armed barricaded assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping suspect. The incident was reported about 11 p.m., Dec. 17, on the 21800 block of Water Street, in the city of Carson.

SEB personnel assumed tactical command and the Crisis Negotiation Team or CNT attempted to make contact with the suspect to bring this to a peaceful conclusion.

The surrounding homes were evacuated for the safety of the residents.

At about 6 a.m., Dec. 17 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau concluded its tactical response regarding the barricaded suspect.

The area was deemed safe, and all neighborhood evacuees were allowed to return to their homes.

There is no additional information available at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Lakewood Station at (562) 623-3500, or anonymously at 800-222-8477, http://lacrimestoppers.org

County Public Health Department Launches New Medical Debt Relief Program

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County Public Health Department Launches New Medical Debt Relief Program

LOS ANGELES —The County Department of Public Health Dec. 16 launched the Los Angeles County Medical Debt Relief Program, an initiative designed by the Medical Debt Coalition, which is working together to address the growing crisis of medical debt that disproportionately affects vulnerable communities across the county.
The Medical Debt Relief Program will initially eliminate $500 million in debt by leveraging a $5 million investment from a motion introduced by Supervisors Hahn and Mitchell, approved by the LA County Board of Supervisors, to purchase medical debt for pennies on the dollar for low-income residents.
The Medical Debt Coalition, a multi-sector group, seeks to reach the goal of eliminating $2 billion in medical debt for Los Angeles County residents with continued contributions from philanthropic partners, hospitals, and health plans. L.A. Care Health Plan is supporting this effort with a $2 million contribution for debt relief and critically, its prevention, by expanding the availability of tools to improve financial assistance programs. The Los Angeles County Medical Association has also contributed funds to relieve another $1 million of medical debt.
Initial participating hospitals include MLK Community Hospital and Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital, which will work with the national non-profit organization Undue Medical Debt to retire qualifying medical debt and close accounts. Qualifying medical debts are past due medical bills owed by Los Angeles County residents who earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Residents with past due medical bills do not need to apply and will receive a letter from Los Angeles County and Undue Medical Debt notifying them that their debt has been fully canceled.
“There are thousands of people in our communities who could work for the rest of their lives and never get out from under the debt they incurred from seeking the care they needed. It’s absolutely crushing them. This opportunity to relieve that burden is County government at its best,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I’m thankful to our partners on this program. Together we’re going to help transform lives for some of our most vulnerable residents.”
Medical Debt Coalition partners include multiple sectors from healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and legal aid groups. The coalition’s mission is to alleviate the burden of medical debt, prevent its occurrence, and promote health equity. Medical debt impacts approximately 785,000 residents — one in ten adults in LA County—creating barriers to essential health care, exacerbating inequities, and forcing many families to make impossible choices between medical care and basic necessities like food and housing.
In 2022, medical debt in Los Angeles County exceeded $2.9 billion, an increase of $300 million from the previous year. This burden is similar in prevalence to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and disproportionately impacts families with children, low-income households, and communities of color, including Latinx, Black, American Indian, and Pacific Islander residents.
Medical debt not only undermines financial stability but also exacerbates physical and mental health challenges by delaying or preventing necessary medical care. Even insured residents are vulnerable, as high out-of-pocket costs can accumulate rapidly.
Residents that receive a medical bill they can’t pay or did not expect can visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/hccp/medicalDebt/ for information and resources, including how to apply for free or discounted hospital services (charity care), legal advice and assistance, consumer counseling and tips for dealing with billing and collections.

Lomita Assistant City Manager Gary Sugano Set to Retire

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Lomita Assistant City Manager Gary Sugano Set to Retire

After an impressive 30 year career in government service including 21 years of dedication and commitment to serving the residents of Lomita, assistant city manager Gary Sugano will retire. Sugano joined Lomita in 2003 as the community and economic development director, where his visionary leadership and commitment to progress shaped the city’s growth and future. He was appointed assistant city manager in 2010 and has served in that role since that time. His legacy and commitment to Lomita will be cherished for years to come.

Long Beach Playhouse’s annual “A Christmas Carol” never better nor more needed

Greggory Moore
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Long Beach Playhouse’s annual “A Christmas Carol” never better nor more needed

You might ask why, nine days after my second eye surgery in a month, I dragged myself out to Long Beach Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol despite having seen them do it maybe a dozen times over the years. Am I that much of a Dickens fanboy? Do I live for all things Xmas? Is the money I make as a theatre critic that good?

The actual answer has something to do with my favorite line: “I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow–passengers to the grave and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And […] though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good.”

It’s a reminder that does me good, every year — and one that feels all the more needful just a month after an election that confirmed (as if we didn’t already know) that more than half of my fellow passengers are profoundly, dangerously misguided on their journey.

I’m particularly glad I made it out, because despite the Playhouse’s once again hewing to a traditionalist take (which they’ve done for several years now, after a few highly satisfying departures during the previous decade), this was the best yet.

We are led into the Playhouse’s re-telling by a present-day prelude full of familiar passers-by (Xmas-shopping hustle-bustle, a crypto bro with eyes full of $$$), including a daddy who finds his daughter doesn’t know from whence we get the term ‘Scrooge.’ “You don’t know the story of A Christmas Carol?” he marvels. “I have really failed as a parent.”

And so we are transported into the tale: Scrooge, rich in pocket but poor of heart, is shown the error of his humbug ways via a series of ghostly visitations (Christmases Past/Present/Future, plus his poor old miserly partner Jacob Marley), then turns it all around in time to save Tiny Tim from early death, and “God bless us, everyone!”

While your typical Scrooge is a fairly bombastic curmudgeon (which can work fine), Scott Ruiz seethes more than he expectorates, less a caricature of miserliness at war with the world than a genuine human with a closed heart who simply doesn’t want to be bothered with sentimental claptrap like charity goodwill towards etc. It’s a wonderful choice, understated yet rich (no pun intended).

Director Joy Arzaga has thought through this show’s every beat. I’m not sure where her “production design” ends and the lighting (Melissa Mejia) and sound design (Sean Gray) begin, but never has the Playhouse’s Main Stage multidimensional sound rig and lighting been used to smarter effect, always the perfect complement to action and mood. This includes numerous sound cues meant to sync with actors’ dialog, which they nail every single time.

One of Arzaga’s boldest choices is to score this 19th-century story with a variety of 20th-century Christmas music (rendered by string quartets, a cappella, etc.). She never hits a wrong note, with tunes by Mariah Carey and John Lennon & Yoko Ono helping to generate a couple of especially touching moments.

Arzaga also injects some unexpected humor into the proceedings. Scott Ruiz excels here, too, as does Kaylie Jackel as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Benjamin Rasmussen in an uncredited bit of slapstick (which he takes on in addition to his Fred Hollowell) that gets maybe the biggest laugh of the night.

This year’s installment of Long Beach Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol is getting a particularly short run, which, coupled with my missing opening night, means that this weekend is your only chance to catch it. By all means, do. You may be surprised at the good it’ll do ya.

A Christmas Carol at Long Beach Playhouse
Times: Thurs–Sat 8:00 p.m., Sun 2:00 p.m.
The show runs through Dec. 22.
Cost: $14 to $24
Details: (562) 494-1014; LBplayhouse.org
Venue: Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach

Ports Briefs: LA and LB Ports Poised to Exceed 20 Million Cargo Containers in 2024

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Ports Briefs: LA and LB Ports Poised to Exceed 20 Million Cargo Containers in 2024

Port of Los Angeles Cargo Volume Up 16% in November
LOS ANGELES — The Port of Los Angeles processed 884,315 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in November, a 16% increase over the previous year. Eleven months into 2024, the Port of Los Angeles has moved 9,375,735 TEUs, 19% ahead of its 2023 pace.

“We are well on pace to exceed 10 million container units for only the second time in our 117-year history,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “It’s a remarkable milestone that we owe to the collective efforts of our partners: The women and men of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, our trucking community, terminal operators, rail partners and many others whose efforts continue to elevate the Port of Los Angeles to new heights.”

Scott Kelly, vice president of Ocean Services, The Americas for Expeditors International joined Seroka at the Dec. 17 media briefing. Kelly discussed tariffs, East and Gulf coast labor issues and the role that logistics companies like Expeditors play in the global supply chain.

WATCH BRIEFING HERE

November 2024 loaded imports came in at 458,165 TEUs, a 19% increase compared to the previous year. Loaded exports came in at 124,117 TEUs, an 11% increase over 2023. The port processed 302,033 empty containers, a 13% jump compared to 2023.

Port of Long Beach Achieves Busiest November
Buoyed by six straight months of historic volumes, the Port of Long Beach is on course to reach 9.6 million cargo containers by the end of 2024 without congestion or other disruption and exceeding the previous record set during the pandemic in 2021.

The Port of Long Beach also achieved its busiest November, when dockworkers and terminal operators moved 884,154 twenty-foot equivalent units, up 20.9% from the same month last year and surpassing the previous record set in November 2020 by 12.8%.

Imports grew 21.8% to 432,823 TEUs and exports rose 9.5% to 119,083 TEUs. Empty containers moved through the Port increased 24.5% to 332,250 TEUs. November also marked the port’s sixth consecutive monthly year-over-year cargo increase.

“Imports are being driven by strong consumer demand while retailers continue to move cargo here out of concern for labor negotiations at ports on the East and Gulf coasts,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We will continue to handle this influx of cargo smoothly and with zero disruptions through the end of 2024.”

The port has moved 8,788,718 TEUs through the first 11 months of 2024, up 20.2% from the same period last year.

Community Announcements: VTB Closure Survey, Food Distribution Events, Ollie Winter Courses and Scam Protection Tips

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Community Announcements: VTB Closure Survey, Food Distribution Events, Ollie Winter Courses and Scam Protection Tips

Give your input VTB Closures
The Vincent Thomas Bridge is going to be closed for 16 months starting late next year as Caltrans works to replace the entire bridge deck. Caltrans is planning detour routes right now and is asking for input from people who will be impacted by this closure.
Details: Fill out the survey, https://tinyurl.com/VTB-Traffic-Survey

Holiday Food Distribution
Join on Dec. 23 (while supplies last) for a holiday food distribution event at the Self-Help Federal Credit Union on Avalon Blvd., in Wilmington. Food boxes, toys and resources for the community will be distributed. Plus, a very special guest will join, Santa Claus
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 23
Venue: Self-Help Federal Credit Union, 1000 N Avalon Blvd, Wilmington

Winter OLLI Registration Now Open
Long Beach State’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) hosts non-credit courses for persons 50 years of age or older. The eight-week session will begin January 6th. Registration for the winter 2025 is now open, with over 80 classes offered. Courses start on Jan. 6
Time: Winter 2025 classes run from Jan. 6 to Feb. 28
Cost: $15
Details: Find more information here, Registration Link; 562-985-8237
Venue: Long Beach State, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach

Protect Yourself from Holiday Scams
The joy of the holiday season can quickly be ruined by scams, theft, and fraud. Before making a purchase or donation, it’s important to stay cautious. The Department of Consumer and Business Affairs made a list of common holiday scams and tips to help you recognize and avoid them. From phishing emails to suspicious gift sites, and fake delivery notifications to tampered gift cards, there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Details: Visit DCBAs website to learn how to stay safe and keep your holiday season scam-free.

California Briefs: Governor’s Appointment, 3K Miles of Broadband Milestone, GenAI Tackles Housing & Jobs, $135M for Zero-Emission Vehicles

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California Briefs: Governor’s Appointment, 3K Miles of Broadband Milestone, GenAI Tackles Housing & Jobs, $135M for Zero-Emission Vehicles

Gov. Newsom Announces Appointment

David Sadwick, of Los Angeles, Dec. 12 was appointed chief counsel at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Sadwick has been deputy chief counsel at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control since 2024. He was assistant chief counsel for Enforcement at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2021 to 2024. Sadwick was a co-founder and managing partner at Tatro Tekosky Sadwick LLP from 2003 to 2021. He was counsel at Johnson & Tekosky LLP from 2000 to 2003. Sadwick had two roles at Preston Gates & Ellis LLP from 1995 and 2000, including Los Angeles managing partner from 1999 to 2000 and Los Angeles recruiting partner from 1995 to 1999. He was a senior environmental associate attorney at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft from 1992 to 1995. Sadwick was a senior environmental associate attorney at Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe from 1990 to 1992. He was an associate attorney at O’Melveny & Myers from 1987 to 1989. Sadwick was a judicial law clerk at the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1986 to 1987. He was a summer law clerk at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office in 1984. Sadwick is a member of the California Lawyers Association. He earned his Juris Doctor’s degree from Stanford Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $211,452. Sadwick is a Democrat.

California on Track to Surpass 3,000 Miles of Broadband Construction by End of Year

SACRAMENTO — By the end of 2024, more than 3,000 miles of the backbone “middle mile” broadband network will be under construction and expansion, paving the way to connect millions of Californians to high-speed internet. This publicly funded, owned and open-access network is set to be the nation’s largest.
The California Department of Technology or CDT recently sealed two more joint-build agreements with the Karuk Tribe in the northern part of the state and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments in the southern part of the state. These joint-build partnerships pave the way for 46 miles across county and tribal lands and a 73-mile stretch of network in southeast Los Angeles County, connecting 26 cities, many of them historically underserved communities.
Expanding the state’s broadband network is a key part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades across the state. Find projects building your community at build.ca.gov.
No matter where you live, access to reliable and affordable internet is essential to life in the 21st Century. The partnership with the Karuk Tribe and Gateway Cities Council of Governments combines grassroots planning with state resources to ensure the middle-mile broadband network enables locally planned last-mile broadband infrastructure projects.

The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative ensures that California has a resilient, open-access broadband network enabling communities to connect to high-speed internet for generations to come. Roughly one in five Californians do not have access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet. Once complete, funding for last mile projects will support internet connections from middle mile lines to homes and businesses, as well as efforts to ensure individuals can afford broadband service where it already exists.

 

California Advances GenAI Projects to Streamline State Work on Housing, Budget and Jobs

SACRAMENTO — California has announced new progress in efforts to explore using GenAI to address issues for Californians: housing, budget, and jobs. The state is also launching a new website, GenAI.ca.gov, focused on the work happening in California.

This announcement follows September’s first large-scale GenAI innovator showcase event, where more than 30 tech innovators including Esri, Microsoft, OpenAI, Google and My Town AI presented how they can leverage GenAI to help solve critical challenges. Using the research gathered, the state has chosen to move into the next phase, a formal procurement process where innovators will bring solutions to the table and compete to partner with the state.

GenAI solutions for housing

Within the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the Department of Housing and Community Development or HCD is seeking to track the creation and implementation of housing plans, programs, and initiatives across the state more efficiently and quickly. The state posits that using GenAI may increase transparency and accuracy, enabling HCD to provide more equitable housing services across California.
Learn more about this work here.
GenAI solutions for workforce planning
The EDD is also working with the State Labor and Workforce Development Agency or LWDA to find innovative GenAI solutions to strengthen state and local workforce planning and policy development. The solution would refine statistical models to enhance recession forecasting and align economic predictions with emerging employment trends. The solution would help provide real-time data to address workforce challenges during recessions. In utilizing GenAI solutions the stated aim is to possibly produce more accurate recession forecasts to better inform state and local workforce planning and policy development.
Learn more about this work here.

GenAI solutions for finance
The DOF is seeking a solution to synthesize legislative bill analysis, which is a complex and lengthy process throughout the year. DOF staff work across multiple systems to complete this analysis, which is vital to the state budget. This work includes considering fiscal impacts to the state, stakeholder feedback, previous years’ analyses and other intricate information. The goal of the GenAI solution is to find ways to bring all data sets together and provide staff with comprehensive summaries they can consider early in their process.
Learn more about this work here.

 

Padilla Applauds Over $135 Million Coming to California for Zero-Emission Heavy-Duty Vehicles

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) Dec. 13 applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s or EPA announcement of $135.2 million to help 12 California recipients purchase a combined 455 zero-emission vehicles. The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act as part of EPA’s new Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program.

This program will replace existing internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicles or HDVs nationwide with zero-emission vehicles, while supporting the build-out of clean vehicle infrastructure and the training of workers to deploy these new technologies. The selected projects across California will reduce harmful emissions from HDVs, support good-paying jobs, and improve air quality in heavily trafficked communities that have been disproportionately harmed by air pollution.

Local California applicants receiving awards Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program include:

South Coast Air Quality Management District — $58.74 million. This investment for two projects will help replace up to 74 fossil fuel-powered school buses with zero-emission electric models and 126 high-mileage HDVs with battery-electric models. The school bus project will install 74 new chargers, while the HDV project will deploy 94 electric chargers. The projects will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases, improving air quality and reducing district transportation costs.

Los Angeles Unified School District or LAUSD, Transportation Services Division — $20.37 million. This investment will help replace 50 fossil fuel-powered school buses with zero-emission electric models and install supporting electric charging infrastructure. This project will reduce emissions that contribute to poor air quality and support workforce development activities to train and recruit local community members for zero-emission technology-related jobs.

Details: Find a full list of the California projects selected here.

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