Continuing his series of “Card Table Office Hours”, Assemblyman Jeff Gorell will be meeting with the public for an open discussion in Camarillo. As the legislature works to address the significant budget challenges, Jeff is seeking additional public input. Please come by and meet with him in person on Friday, February 4th in front of:

Howie's Grill & Bar
109 West Cochran Street
Simi Valley, CA 93065

Howie’s Grill & Bar is located at the intersection of Madera Road and Cochran Street (right off of the 118 Freeway across the street from the Costco). For complete directions you can visit GoogleMaps at: http://goo.gl/maps/Jyo7

Jeff will be holding a card table format from 11:00 am till 1:00 pm.

Jeff has already held similar card table office hours in Moorpark and Thousand Oaks back in December, in Camarillo in January, and will be continuing these meetings throughout the 37th Assembly District.

For additional information, please call Jeff's district office at (805) 230-9167.

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2011 6:30 P.M.
FILLMORE CITY HALL CENTRAL PARK PLAZA 250 CENTRAL AVENUE FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA
1.
Call to Order: 6:30 P.M.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Brooks, Conaway, Sipes, Walker and Mayor Washburn
4.
Approval of Agenda
5.
Presentations and Announcements
A.
Proclamation Recognizing the Efforts of the Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee.
6.
Public Comments
7.
Consent Calendar
Recommendation for Items A. through D. is to Approve.
A.
Warrant List for January 25, 2011.
B.
Minutes of January 11, 2011 Regular Meeting.
C.
Request the City Council accept the 2010 Federal Overlay Project as complete and Begin the Procedure to Release the Contract.
D.
Request the City Council accept Production Well No. 9 as Complete and Begin the Procedure to Release the Contract.
8.
Public Hearing CONTINUED »

"Sargent Shriver was an inspiration to me and millions of people all over the world, and he will be dearly missed. His life is a blueprint for those of us who aspire to place the needs of others above our own.

“As someone who has always believed very strongly in the power of the body and the power of the mind and the power of will, Sargent taught me a new power: the power of the heart. He said, ‘Tear down the mirror in front of you - the one that makes you look at yourself. Tear down the mirror and you will see the millions of people that need your help.’ In his 95 years, he touched more lives than can ever be counted, and I'm grateful for the example and inspiration he provided me. He was not only a fantastic public servant who constantly found new ways to help and serve, he was also a wonderful and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and father-in-law.

“As we honor Sargent's memory, I hope that each of us can accept his challenge - to tear down the mirror and live as selflessly and as well as Sargent did."

Board of Equalization Member Senator George Runner today announced that the State Coalition of Probation Organizations of California (SCOPO) has named him 2010 Legislator of the Year. This award acknowledges Senator Runner's extensive career as a champion for public safety in California.

"I'm deeply honored to receive this recognition," said Runner. "I'm thankful for the opportunities I've had to work side by side with the law enforcement community to make our communities safer."

Established in 1983, the State Coalition of Probation Organizations (SCOPO) represents and assists probation officers at the state level through legislative action, education and coalition building, while offering leadership and support to local probation organizations.

SCOPO President Paul Brennan said, "We are honored to present this award, as Legislator of the Year, to Senator George Runner for his dedication to public safety. His time in the Legislature was spent fighting to protect those who enforce the law, and for those the law is meant to protect.”

During his twelve year tenure in the Legislature, Runner fought to enhance public safety by promoting effective crime-fighting measures and strengthening the rights of crime victims.

Runner and his wife, former Assembly Member Sharon Runner, are the authors of Jessica's Law, which was passed by more than 70 percent of California voters in November 2006. It created some of the toughest and most comprehensive sex offender management and control laws in the nation.

He also authored the well-known California Amber Alert, which has resulted in more than 200 successful reunions of children with their parents, as well as California's Blue Alert, which uses Amber Alert technology when a peace officer has been killed, seriously wounded or assaulted with a deadly weapon and the suspect has fled the scene.

Senator Runner was recently elected as a member of the Board of Equalization. He represents more than 9 million Californians living in the Second District, which stretches from the Oregon border to San Bernardino. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011 8:30 A.M. FILLMORE CITY HALL CENTRAL PARK PLAZA 250 CENTRAL AVENUE FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA
1.
Call to Order: 8:30 A.M.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Brooks, Conaway, Sipes, Walker and Mayor Washburn
4.
Approval of Agenda
5.
Presentations and Announcements
6.
Public Comments
Pursuant to Government Code § 54954.3(a), Only Issues Listed on This Agenda Shall Be Heard During this Special Meeting.
7.
Consent Calendar – None.
8.
Public Hearing – None.
9.
Department Reports – None.
10.
Committee, Commission, and Board Reports
A.
Appointment of Doug Breeze to Association of Water Agencies Board by the City Selection Committee.
11.
City Council Reports, Recommendations, and Comments
A.
City Councilmember Travel Requests/Brief Reports
B.
Any Councilmember May Propose Items for Placement on Future Agenda
C.
Council Referrals/Brief Comments
12.
City Manager
A.
Follow-Up on Requests from the Public/City Council
B.
Announcements and Upcoming Issues
13.
Closed Session
A.
Public Employee Performance Evaluation pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 – Title: City Manager.
Fillmore City Council Meeting Agenda, Special Meeting – January 18, 2011
14.
Adjournment: City Council adjourns to a Regular Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 250 Central Avenue.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Upcoming Meetings and Related Agenda Items (Info Only)
January 25, 2011
Public Hearing: Ordinance 11-823 to Correct Inadvertent Error in Sewer Ordinance 10-822
Agenda Posted: January 14, 2011, 6:30 p.m.

Written By James Politi

It was the most startling of warnings. If the US does not get its finances in order “we will have a European situation on our hands, and possibly worse”, claimed Paul Ryan, the new Republican chairman of the House of Representatives budget committee.

The consequences of not tackling the country’s mounting debt burden would be dire, he last week told an audience of leading budget experts and economists at a gathering in Washington. “We will have the riots in the streets, we will have the defaults, we will have all of those ugliness problems,” he said, referring to “French kids lobbing Molotov cocktails at cars, burning down schools because the retirement age will be moved from 60 to 62”.

As it stands today, the US borrows... http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/31dbce8a-1f52-11e0-8c1c-00144feab49a.html#axzz...

Sacramento – Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) responded to Governor Brown’s 2011-2012 state budget proposal, stating that he was encouraged about the governor’s plans to reduce spending on a state bureaucracy that we can no longer afford, but he voiced his opposition to the proposal to extend massive tax increases which are slowing the state’s economy.

“While I applaud the Governor’s no nonsense approach to budget cuts and generally support his $12.5 billion in cuts, I cannot support more than $8 billion in continued taxes,” stated Gorell. “As a legislator, my first responsibility is to the people of my district. More than 70% of my constituents spoke loud and clear against additional taxes with their vote in 2009 against Proposition 1A.”

Gorell points out that his Priority Based Budget reform bill, AB27, will be a great tool for identifying savings and forcing focus on our budget priorities as we work together to craft the first honestly balanced state budget in over a decade.

It is also important for the state to demand the federal Government fully reimburse California for costs associated with their failure to secure the border and failure to enact effective immigration policies. Gorell is working with the legislative leadership to organize a bipartisan legislative delegation to DC to ask our representatives in Washington to reimburse the state hundreds of millions of dollars in unfunded federal mandates.

Moreover, any discussion of a balanced budget must include pension reform for public employees. We cannot continue to create billions of dollars at the state and local level in unfunded liabilities. “While I appreciate the hard work of our public servants, it is time to recognize that many enjoy benefits that are far greater than the same private sector jobs and far more expensive than taxpayers can afford.”

Gorell also commented on Gov. Brown’s plans to confront redevelopment agencies. “Without seeing all the details yet, I support the Governor’s efforts to reform California’s redevelopment program. While most people think this is a local program, in fact it is a state program managed at the local level. This has committed the state to billions of dollars a year in a mandated program that restricts both the State and local government’s ability to meet basic services. If the numbers we have seen are correct, this element of the Governor’s budget will return more than 1.5 billion dollars over the next couple of years to local government for schools and law enforcement without hurting the development agencies ability to pay for existing bonded indebtedness.”

For more information about Assembly Member Jeff Gorell and his legislative priorities, you may visit his official state website at http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/37/ or you can reach his capitol office at (916) 319 2037.

Board of Equalization Member Senator George Runner today issued the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget:

"Californians are confronted with a huge budget crisis. The fact is for too many years we've been spending more money than we should. More money has been going out than revenues coming in.

"The real answer to this problem isn't about how much we can cut. The real answer is getting Californians back to work.

"We can solve our budget problem and the best way to do that is by getting Californians jobs. I'm going to be looking at this budget through that lens.

"I applaud the Governor for proposing difficult spending cuts. But I can't support proposals to hurt private sector jobs through punitive tax hikes.

"Californians have already spoken on the issue of taxes by resoundingly rejecting every proposed tax increase on recent ballots. A special election to hike taxes is a waste of taxpayers' time and money.

"Certainly we have to make some hard decision and cuts are necessary. But if we make it harder for the private sector to create employment than this is the wrong way to go.

"Enterprise zones are California's only remaining public policy measure aimed at keeping private sector jobs in our state. Abolishing them would be irresponsible. Instead we should make the whole state an enterprise zone.
"The long-term outlook for California should be great. California has wonderful opportunity. It's up to us to take full use of the blessings and opportunities we have here in this state."

Watch a video of Senator Runner's budget reaction at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ_i6weGGZM

Sacramento, CA, - Sen. Tony Strickland released the following statement on Gov. Jerry Brown's 2011-12 budget:

"Every day, California families have to make difficult choices in their personal budget and it should be no different with state government. To get us out of this nearly $25 billion budget mess, we need to live within our means and not spend more than we're taking in."

"While the past two administrations have relied heavily on gimmicks for their budgets, I have to commend Gov. Brown for making tough cuts.

Unfortunately, Gov. Brown's proposal of taking tax increases to the voters just won't work."

"The voters have already spoken on tax increases - they voted down Proposition 1A in 2009 which would have extended tax increases - so it's clear hardworking Californians simply cannot afford another tax. We need to make better use of the precious dollars that do come to Sacramento and stop treating the people like a personal ATM machine by reaching into their pockets every time the state runs out of cash."

"The only way to truly get us out of this budget mess is to change the policies that drive jobs out of the state. The Legislature should focus on what we will do to put people back to work."

Sen. Strickland is available to the media for an interview or comments.

Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

Ventura County, CA – The public is invited to attend a forum sponsored by the Gold Coast Chapter of The Federalist Society entitled, “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! – Significant U.S. Supreme Court Trends and Decisions”.

The forum will be held Tuesday, February 8, 2011, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at California Lutheran University’s Oxnard Campus, located at 2201 Outlet Center Drive, Oxnard, California 93036. There is no cost to attend the forum.

The forum will feature a panel discussion with three prominent scholars: Joerg Knipprath, Professor at Southwestern University School of Law; Barry McDonald, Professor at Pepperdine University School of Law; and Adam Winkler, Professor at UCLA School of Law.

The panel of constitutional law scholars, including experienced U.S. Supreme Court advocates, will review decisions of the past year and anticipate decisions from the Court during the current term as well as cases that may reach the Court as a result of circuit-splits or otherwise including discussion concerning the health care mandate, terrorist trials, same-sex marriage, Second Amendment, Dodd-Frank Bill, and more.

The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a non-partisan organization, founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. The Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities.
For more information about the event, please contact the Gold Coast Federalist Society at (805) 217-2465 or via e-mail at goldcoastfs@gmail.com. To learn more about The Federalist Society, please visit www.fed-soc.org.

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011 6:30 P.M. FILLMORE CITY HALL CENTRAL PARK PLAZA 250 CENTRAL AVENUE FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

Agenda
1.
Call to Order: 6:30 P.M.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Brooks, Conaway, Sipes, Walker and Mayor Washburn
4.
Approval of Agenda
5.
Presentations and Announcements
A.
Proclamation Recognizing the Efforts of the Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee.
B.
Proclamation Posthumously Recognizing the Contributions of Roy Arnold to the City of Fillmore.
C.
Presentation from the Office of Assemblyman Jeff Gorell Recognizing Bert J. Rapp.
D.
Proclamation from the City of Fillmore Recognizing Bert J. Rapp, P.E., for Valuable Service to the City of Fillmore.
6.
Public Comments
7.
Consent Calendar
Recommendation for Items A. through G. is to Approve.
A.
Warrant List for January 11, 2011. CONTINUED »

All of us at The Heritage Foundation were profoundly saddened by the tragedy that occurred this past Saturday morning in Tucson, Arizona. We mourn all of those who lost their lives and are praying for a full recovery by all of the surviving victims. As Speaker John Boehner said Saturday, “An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve.”

Unfortunately, some have chosen to use this tragedy for political gain. Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, the Democrat who refused to enforce SB 1070, told FOX News‘ Megyn Kelly this weekend that the shooting was caused by an “atmosphere” created when “one party trying to block the attempts of another party to make this country better. ” In case there is any doubt in your mind who Sheriff Dupnik was talking about, one veteran Democratic operative, who, like Sheriff Dupnik, blamed overheated rhetoric for the shooting, told Politico that President Barack Obama should “deftly pin this on the tea partiers.”

Pressed by Kelly to identify ANY evidence... http://blog.heritage.org/2011/01/10/morning-bell-libel-is-no-path-to-a-c...

Applications are being sought from residents of the Third District that includes the areas of Camarillo, California State University–Channel Islands, Port Hueneme, Southeast Oxnard, East Oxnard Plain, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, Lockwood Valley, and Eastern Portion of Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme.

The following Commission and Advisory Boards have openings:

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADVISORY BOARD:
Advises staff and service providers on the needs and quality of services provided through the Ventura County Alcohol & Drug Programs. Meets the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00pm.

FISH AND GAME COMMISSION:
Advises the Board of Supervisors on matters relating to the propagation, conservation, and utilization of fish and game in Ventura County. Meets once a year, as needed.

VENTURA COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD:
Serves as a liaison between the community, the Department of Mental Health Services, and the Board of Supervisors. Responsibilities include making recommendations to improve the care of mental health. Meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 1:00pm.

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT:
Advises and consults with the Air Pollution Control Board and District on making and amending rules and regulations to improve our air quality. Meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm.

For those interested in receiving more information or submitting an application contact Joyce Taylor in Supervisor Kathy Long’s office at (805) 654-2276 or Joyce.Taylor@ventura.org.

Senator George Runner was sworn in Monday as a Member of the Board of Equalization. Runner now represents California’s 2nd Equalization District.

The oath of office was administered by State Controller John Chiang. Former lawmaker and Board Member Dean Andal emceed the ceremony.

"My commitment is to taxpayers," said Runner. "I need to know that taxpayers are honestly and effectively being represented."

He noted that tax policies have consequences, pointing out that more people are now leaving California for other states than are coming to California from those states.

"To me the challenge before us is getting people back to work," said Runner. "A vibrant economy is vital to solving California's long-term fiscal problems."

Runner will represent more than 8 million California residents living in thirty-four counties stretching from the Oregon border to San Bernardino.

Along with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, he authored California’s Jessica’s Law – creating some of the toughest and most comprehensive sex offender management and control laws in the nation.

He also authored the well-known California Amber Alert, which has resulted in more than 200 successful reunions of children with their parents; as well as California’s Blue Alert, which uses Amber Alert technology when a peace officer has been killed, seriously wounded or assaulted with a deadly weapon and the suspect has fled the scene.

As a constitutional officer, along with current Board Member Michelle Steel, Runner now serves as the highest-ranking Republican elected official in California.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization is a publicly elected tax board. The BOE collects more than $48 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.

For more information about Board of Equalization Member George Runner, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Sara Kruzan, who was sentenced to life without parole when she was just 16 for killing her 37-year-old pimp, was granted clemency by outgoing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Governor reduced Sara's sentence to 25 years to life, allowing the possibility of parole. Sara, now 33, has spent over 16 years in prison.

Sara is not now eligible for parole. She must serve additional time to complete more of her new sentence. The exact amount of time before she's eligible for parole is not yet known.

"Sara is grateful to the Governor for commuting her sentence," said Pat Arthur, an attorney with the National Center for Youth Law and a member of Sara's legal team. "In his commutation statement, Governor Schwarzenegger recognized that Sara's sentence of life without possibility of parole was excessive because of her young age at the time of the crime and the significant abuse she endured. Sara will continue to do everything possible to return to society as soon as possible."

Sara was just two months past her 16th birthday when she shot and killed George Howard. She has spent more than half her life in prison, where she is a model prisoner and has earned her associates degree.
She was named by correctional officers as the Honor Dorm "Woman of the Year" in 2009.  

Howard sexually assaulted Sara and then turned her onto the street as a prostitute when she was just 13. In addition to the abuse suffered at the hands of Howard, Sara's life was plagued with physical, sexual and emotional abuse from others.

Sara's clemency petition was based, in part, on the absence of expert testimony at trial explaining how Sara's actions were affected by the years of abuse she endured, as well as by her youth at the time and her subsequent rehabilitation in prison.

In his statement, Schwarzenegger acknowledged the evaluations of Sara by two nationally-known experts who concluded that she was suffering from the effects of what is known as intimate partner battering and the trauma of significant childhood abuse at the time.

"Considering Ms. Kruzan's age at the time of the offense, and given the abuse she suffered at Mr. Howard's hands from age 11 to 16, her sentence (of life without parole) is disproportionate," the Governor said.

Sara's story has won the support of individuals and organizations across the county. Advocates seeking to eliminate juvenile life without parole sentences have shared Sara's story as a compelling example of how such an extreme sentence is unjust.

Sara acknowledged remorse in her clemency. "I feel a deep sorrow for taking [George Howards's] life. It is daily I experience a level of grief and sadness in my heart and in my thoughts." Sara is grateful to the Governor and her many supporters.

Read Gov. Schwarzenegger's Commutation of Sentence (PDF) http://www.youthlaw.org/fileadmin/ncyl/youthlaw/press/2011-01-03_Sara_Kr...

Watch an interview with Sara recorded in 2007 http://www.youthlaw.org/press_room/video_sara_kruzan_sentenced_to_life_w...

Sacramento-The California Water Quality Monitoring Council (Monitoring Council) now has a plan in place to assemble the widest collection of water quality data ever available about our state’s lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and ocean waters. The Monitoring Council’s internet portals also make that data available to state and community leaders, researchers and the public. And there’s much more to come.

The Monitoring Council was established by the California Legislature in 2006 to reorganize California’s system for collecting information on its water resources and to make that information public. Since that time the Monitoring Council has devised a water quality information network relying on state, local and non-governmental agencies and groups. The Monitoring Council operates under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the California Natural Resources Agency.

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has helped the Monitoring Council develop a two-part system for gathering and sharing water quality information. The California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN) provides a means of gathering water quality data from wide a variety of sources. CEDEN first focused on making water quality information available from the State Water Board and nine Regional Water Boards. CEDEN will next provide public access to data from citizen and regional monitoring efforts and the federal Water Quality Exchange (WQX) network.

All this information and more will be available the second part of the data system: the My Water Quality internet portals. The State Water Board’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) has provided much of the data used on the portal Is It Safe To Eat Fish and Shellfish From Our Waters? and will soon deliver information on the health of our rivers and streams. To additional portals, Is It Safe To Swim In Our Waters? and Are Our Wetland Ecosystems Healthy?, developed by two other Monitoring Council workgroups, keep track of beach contamination and one of the state’s most fragile kinds of ecosystems.

Within the next year additional My Water Quality internet portals will provide the public with information on drinking water safety and the health of our estuaries and tidepool ecosystems.

The Monitoring Council is also developing a new BeachWatch database which will improve the flow of bacterial and beach closure data from coastal county environmental health departments to the Water Boards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Heal the Bay, and the Safe to Swim internet portal via CEDEN.

A unique feature of the Monitoring Council’s efforts is the cooperation and interactivity between dozens of agencies and organizations. The Monitoring Council has just presented a recommended Comprehensive Monitoring Program Strategy designed to increase that interaction, and draw on even more resources to keep Californians informed about their water quality. Accompanying that document is a 2010 update of the Water Boards’ SWAMP Monitoring and Assessment Strategy, designed to complement the Monitoring Council’s efforts.

To visit the My Water Quality Portals, go to:
http://www.CaWaterQuality.net

For more information on the Monitoring Council, go to:
http://www. waterboards.ca.gov/mywaterquality/monitoring_council

For more information on SWAMP, go to:
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/swamp

SACRAMENTO, CA - An airline pilot is being disciplined by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for posting video on YouTube pointing out what he believes are serious flaws in airport security.

The 50-year-old pilot, who lives outside Sacramento, asked that neither he nor his airline be identified. He has worked for the airline for more than a decade and was deputized by the TSA to carry a gun in the cockpit.

He is also a helicopter test pilot in the Army Reserve and flew missions for the United Nations in Macedonia.

Three days after he posted a series of six video clips recorded with a cell phone camera at San Francisco International Airport, four federal air marshals and two sheriff's deputies arrived at his house to confiscate his federally-issued firearm. The pilot recorded that event as well and provided all the video to News10.

At the same time... http://www.news10.net/news/article.aspx?storyid=113529&provider=top&cati...

Acting Gov. Abel Maldonado Proclaims State of Emergency for Three Additional California Counties Due to Weather
Acting Governor Abel Maldonado today proclaimed a state of emergency for Kings, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties due to extreme weather and storm conditions.

The full text of the proclamation is below:

A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on December 18, 2010, a series of severe winter storms began in California, bringing high winds and significant amounts of precipitation; and

WHEREAS on December 21, 2010, a state of emergency was proclaimed due to the impact of these storms in Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, and Tulare Counties; and

WHEREAS these storms and their effects continue to threaten the state; and

WHEREAS these severe storms are causing harm to people and property, flooding homes and infrastructure, damaging public and private facilities, closing roads and highways, and requiring emergency response and debris clean-up; and

WHEREAS flood conditions caused by these storms have necessitated the evacuation of residents and the opening of emergency shelters; and

WHEREAS on December 21, 2010, the City of Guadalupe, within the County of Santa Barbara, ratified its proclamation of local emergency; and

WHEREAS on December 22, 2010, Kings County declared a local emergency and requested that I proclaim a state of emergency for the county; and

WHEREAS on December 22, 2010, Los Angeles County declared a local emergency and requested that I proclaim a state of emergency for the county; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of these winter storms, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the winter storms in California.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ABEL MALDONADO, Acting Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within the counties of Kings, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and the State Emergency Plan, and that Cal EMA provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 23rd day of December 2010.

ABEL MALDONADO

Acting Governor of California

ATTEST:
DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State

From Newsmax.com

More than 30 former defense or foreign policy government officials and related experts issued an open letter to the Senate Monday expressing their “professional judgment” that President Barack Obama’s proposed nuclear weapons reduction treaty with the Russians, called New START, “is not consistent with the national security interests of the United States,” and “should be rejected by the U.S. Senate,” which is considering it now.

They argue that Russia easily could cheat secretly to our detriment, that it would restrict deployment of new U.S. anti-missile defenses, that it would reduce the survivability and flexibility of our our strategic forces and could be militarily destabilizing, that it permits a continued large Russian superiority in overall nuclear weapons, and that resulting insecurity among our allies about continued extended deterrence could lead to intensified production and proliferation of nuclear weapons—all unintended, harmful consequences, the opposite of the Obama Administration’s announced goals for the agreement.

Among the many signers are: Ambassador Ed Rowny, former U.S. chief START negotiator; Vice Adm. Robert Monroe, U.S. Navy (Ret), former director, Defense Nuclear Agency; Judge William Clark, former national security adviser to President Reagan; Honorable Paula DeSutter, former assistant secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation; Honorable Fred Ikle, former director, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Ambassador Read Hammer, former deputy director, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and former chief U.S. START Negotiator; Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerny, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), former deputy chief of staff; Ambassador John Bolton, former undersecretary of State for arms control and international security, and former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.; Ambassador Henry Cooper, former director, Strategic Defense Initiative of the Department of Defense, and former U.S. chief negotiator, Defense and Space Talks with the Soviet Union; and Hon. Edwin Meese, III, fomer counselor to the president and former U.S. attorney general.

More specifically, despite Obama administration claims to the contrary, the former officials and experts say that the proposed New START treaty has the following major problems, among others:

It would effectively limit further U.S. anti-missile defenses for the American homeland in the face of growing rogue nation/terrorist nuclear threats, saying “it would be folly to limit, let alone preclude, available options to do so” in the future.
It "is simply not adequately verifiable,” and “the Russians could engage in militarily significant violations with little fear of detection by the US,” with years being needed before we could respond adequately.
It “would reduce the survivability and flexibility of our (strategic) forces.”
Its low limits on the number of nuclear launchers could end up being militarily and strategically destabilizing;
It would solidify a large Russian superiority in nuclear weapons when considering its 10-to-1 advantage in tactical nuclear weapons, many of which have strategic capabilities and roles, and which have been termed an “urgent” problem by the Congressional Strategic Posture Commission.
It could force cuts in some of our vital conventional capabilities (i.e., heavy bombers) as well.
It would “create concerns” among our allies about America’s continuing extended deterrent capability to protect them, which could lead to “intensified proliferation” of nuclear weapons.
"It is unnecessary and ill-advised for the US to make these sorts of deep reductions in its strategic forces” so that the Russians are authorized/enabled to modernize and build up to our levels.
The statement closes by saying, “For all these reasons, we urge the members of the US Senate to resist pressure to consider the New START Treaty during the lame-duck session. The Senate should reject this accord and begin instead a long overdue and vitally needed process of modernization of the nuclear stockpile and refurbishment of the weapons complex that supports it. Only by taking such steps can we ensure that we will, in fact, have the 'safe, secure, and effective deterrent' that even President Obama says we will need for the foreseeable future.”

Following is the text of the letter and the signers:

OPEN LETTER TO THE U.S. SENATE on the New START Treaty

As you know, President Obama insists that the United States Senate advise and consent during the present lame-duck session to the bilateral U.S.-Russian strategic arms control treaty known as "New START" that he signed earlier this year in Prague. It is our considered professional judgment that this treaty and the larger disarmament agenda which its ratification would endorse are not consistent with the national security interests of the United States, and that both should be rejected by the Senate.

Administration efforts to compel the Senate to vote under circumstances in which an informed and full debate are effectively precluded is inconsistent with your institution's precedents, its constitutionally mandated quality-control responsibilities with respect to treaties and, in particular, the critical deliberation New START requires in light of that accord's myriad defects, of which the following are especially problematic:

It is unnecessary and ill-advised for the United States to make these sorts of deep reductions in its strategic forces in order to achieve sharp cuts in those of the Russian Federation. After all, the Kremlin's strategic systems have not been designed for long service lives. Consequently, the number of deployed Russian strategic intercontinental-range ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and long-range, nuclear-capable bombers will drop dramatically, with or without a new arms control agreement.
Russian sources indicate that, within eight-to-nine years, Russian Federation's inventory of strategic launchers will have shrunk from approximately 680 launchers today (some of which already are no longer operational) to approximately 270 launchers, simply as a result of the aging of their systems and the pace of their modernization program. By contrast, the service life of existing U.S. systems extends several decades. In other words, the Russians are going to undergo a substantial contraction in the size of its strategic nuclear arsenal, whether we do or not.

There are serious downsides for the United States in moving to the sorts of low numbers of strategic launchers called for in the New START Treaty. These include:

New START would encourage placing more warheads on the remaining launchers, i.e., "MIRVing" — which is precisely what the Russians are doing. Moving away from heavily MIRVed strategic launchers has long been considered a highly stabilizing approach to the deployment of strategic forces — and a key U.S. START goal.
New START would reduce the survivability and flexibility of our forces — which is exactly the wrong posture to be adopting in the uncertain and dynamic post-Cold War strategic environment. The bipartisan Congressional Strategic Posture Commission concluded that "preserving the resilience and survivability of U.S. forces" is essential. The very low launcher levels required by New START are at odds with both of those necessary conditions.
New START's low ceilings on launchers and warheads can only create concerns about America's extended deterrent. Allied nations have privately warned that the United States must not reduce its strategic force levels to numbers so low that they call into question the credibility of the U.S. nuclear umbrella or encourage China to see an opportunity to achieve strategic parity with the United States. Some of those who have long looked to us for security may feel constrained to develop and field their own deterrents — a formula for intensified proliferation.
New START's limitations could result in the destruction of U.S. multi-purpose strategic bombers, affecting not only the robustness of our nuclear deterrent but cutting into our conventional capabilities, as well.
Were the United States to slash its strategic nuclear forces to match those the Russians can afford, it would ironically ensure that it has far fewer nuclear weapons — not parity with the Kremlin — when the latter's ten-to-one advantage in tactical weapons is taken into account. The Russians have consistently refused to limit their tactical nuclear arms, and will surely continue to do so in the future, especially since Moscow has little incentive to negotiate limitations on such weapons when the numbers are so asymmetrical.
This stance should not be surprising since it is this category of weaponry that makes up the bulk of Moscow's nuclear stockpile. Russian doctrine emphasizes the war-fighting utility of such weapons and their modernization and exercising remain a priority for the Kremlin. In fact, some of those weapons with an explosive power comparable to, if not greatly in excess of, that of the Hiroshima bomb are believed to be aboard submarines and routinely targeted at the United States. Others are targeted against our allies. These were among the reasons that prompted the Congressional Strategic Posture Commission to identify the Russian tactical nuclear arsenal as an "urgent" problem.

Such capabilities constitute a real asymmetric advantage for Moscow. What is more, given that these Russian tactical nuclear weapons are of greatest concern with regard to the potential for nuclear war and proliferation, we cannot safely ignore their presence in large numbers in Russia's arsenal. It is certainly ill-advised to make agreements reducing our nuclear deterrent that fail to take them into account.

New START imposes de facto or de jure limitations on such important U.S. non-nuclear capabilities as prompt global strike and missile defenses. In the future, the nation is likely to need the flexibility to field both in quantity. It would be folly to limit, let alone effectively preclude, available options to do so.
New START is simply not adequately verifiable. Lest assurances that the treaty will be "effectively" verifiable obscure that reality, the truth is that the Russians could engage in militarily significant violations with little fear of detection by the United States. And, for reasons discussed below, it could take years before we could respond appropriately.
These and other deficiencies of the New START treaty are seriously exacerbated by the context in which Senators are being asked to consent to its ratification. Specifically, the Senate's endorsement of this accord would amount to an affirmation of the disarmament agenda for which it is explicitly said to be a building block — namely, Mr. Obama's stated goal of "ridding the world of nuclear weapons."

This goal has shaped the administration's Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and would, if left unchanged, condemn the United States to a posture of unilateral nuclear disarmament. (See, in this regard, the attached essay by Vice Admiral Robert Monroe, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal on August 25, 2010.) By precluding the development and production of new nuclear weapons and the realistic testing of those currently in the stockpile and by "devaluing" the role played by these weapons and the mission of those responsible for maintaining our deterrent, the NPR sets the stage for the continued obsolescence and atrophying of our arsenal. No other nuclear power is engaged in such behavior. And, given our global security responsibilities and the growing dangers from various quarters, neither should we.

For all these reasons, we urge you to resist pressure to consider the New START Treaty during the lame-duck session. The Senate should reject this accord and begin instead a long-overdue and vitally needed process of modernization of the nuclear stockpile and refurbishment of the weapons complex that supports it. Only by taking such steps can we ensure that we will, in fact, have the "safe, secure and effective deterrent" that even President Obama says we will need for the foreseeable future.

Sincerely,

Judge William P. Clark, former national security advisor to the president

Hon. Edwin Meese III, former counselor the president; former U.S. attorney general

Hon. Kathleen Bailey, former assistant director, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

Norman Bailey, former senior director of International Economic Affairs

Hon. Robert B. Barker, former assistant to the secretary of Defense (atomic energy)

Amb. John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, former assistant secretary of State for international organization affairs

Brig. Gen. Jimmy L. Cash, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), former vice commander, 7th Air Force

Honorable Fred S. Celec, former assistant to thesecretary of Defense for nuclear and chemical and biological defense programs

Ambassador Henry F. Cooper, former director, Strategic Defense Initiative, former chief U.S. negotiator, defense and space talks with the Soviet Union

Honorable Paula DeSutter, former assistant secretary of State for verification, compliance, and implementation

Honorable Fritz W. Ermarth, former chairman and national intelligence officer, National Intelligence Council; former member of the National Security Council staff

Frank J. Gaffney Jr., former assistant secretary of Defense for international security policy (acting)

Daniel J. Gallington, former secretary of Defense representative, defense and space talks; former general counsel, United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and former special assistant to the secretary of Defense for policy

Honorable Bruce S. Gelb, former director, U.S. Information Agency, former ambassador to Belgium

Honorable William Graham, former chairman, General Advisory Committee on Arms Control, former science adviser to the president, former deputy administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Ambassador Read Hammer, former U.S. chief START negotiator; former deputy director, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

Honorable Fred Iklé, former undersecretary of Defense for policy

Sven F. Kraemer, former arms control director, National Security Council

Dr. John Lenczowksi, former director of European and Soviet affairs, National Security Council

Admassador James "Ace" Lyons Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.), former commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Tidal W. McCoy, former secretary of the Air Force (acting)

Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), former deputy chief of staff

Honorable J. William Middendorf II, former secretary of the Navy, former ambassador to the European Union, the Netherlands, and the Organization of American States

Vice Adm. Robert Monroe, U.S. Navy (Ret.), former director, Defense Nuclear Agency

Dr. Peter Vincent Pry, former senior staff, Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States; former senior staff, Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack

Roger W. Robinson Jr., former senior director of International Economic Affairs at the National Security Council, former executive secretary of the Cabinet-level Senior Inter-Governmental Group for International Economic Policy

Ambassador Ed Rowny, former U.S. chief START negotiator; former special adviser to President Ronald Reagan on arms control

Michael S. Swetnam, former program monitor, intelligence community staff with liaison responsibilities to INF and START Interagency Groups, and former member of the Technical Advisory Group to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely, U.S. Army (Ret.), former deputy commander, U.S. Army Pacific

Honorable Michelle Van Cleave, former national counterintelligence executive

Dr. William Van Cleave, former director, Department of Defense Transition Team

Honorable Troy Wade, former director, Defense Programs, U.S. Department of Energy.