UKIAH
Public invited to family friendly celebration for South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area reopening
The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office and partners from the off-highway vehicle community invite the public to celebrate the reopening of the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area on Saturday, July 27. Everyone is welcome to come out to this free, family friendly celebration.
The South Cow Mountain OHV Management area has been extensively restored since the Mendocino Complex Fire ignited last summer and burned more than 459,000 acres. Approximately 80 miles of trails have reopened, while work continues on more than 13 miles of trails.
“The OHV community has really rallied to help the BLM repair trails, fix culverts and install new signage to be able to reopen South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area to the public,” says Ukiah Field Manager Amanda James. “We couldn’t have done it so quickly without the help of the dedicated volunteers, and this is a great way for everyone to be able to celebrate their hard work.”
Activities kick off at 8 a.m. at the Westside Staging Area with a certified dirt bike and side-by-side training for new riders, offered by the OHV clubs for kids and adults. Please contact Matt Mattison at mattmattison707@yahoo.com to register for the certified training.
There will also be a barbecue and potluck lunch, raffle, educational booths and outdoor games. The barbecue and potluck lunch and raffle will start at 1 p.m. at the Red Mountain Campground, where the BLM will host “Leave No Trace,” “TREAD Lightly!” and trail etiquette booths and outdoor games from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Camping at the Red Mountain Campground is on a first come, first serve basis. The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area will remain open to the public during the event.
Co-sponsors for the event include the BLM, 707 Trail Riders, Black Diamond 4×4 Club, California Recreation Alliance, Cody Cares, Marin County Motorcycle Association, McBride Racing, Mendocino 4×4 Club, NorCal 4WD Club Coalition, North Bay Motorcycle Club, Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance, Santa Rosa 4×4 Club, Valley Climbers Motorcycle Club and Wine Country Rock Crawlers.
The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area encompasses roughly 23,000 acres of public lands challenging motorcyclists, all-terrain vehicle drivers and four-wheel drive enthusiasts. Click here for more information and directions to the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area.
For specific questions, or reasonable accommodations to participate, please call the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.
—Submitted
WASHINGTON
USDA Proposes to Close SNAP Automatic Eligibility Loophole
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today proposed closing a loophole that allows states to make participants receiving minimal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits automatically eligible to participate in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The proposed rule published today in the Federal Register would limit SNAP/TANF automatic eligibility to households that receive substantial, ongoing TANF-funded benefits aimed at helping families move towards self-sufficiency. The proposed rule would fix a loophole that has expanded SNAP recipients in some states to include people who receive assistance when they clearly don’t need it. In fact, the depth of this specific flexibility has become so egregious that a millionaire living in Minnesota successfully enrolled in the program simply to highlight the waste of taxpayer money. This proposal gives USDA the ability to save billions of dollars, ensuring nutrition assistance programs are delivered with consistency and integrity to those most in need.
“For too long, this loophole has been used to effectively bypass important eligibility guidelines. Too often, states have misused this flexibility without restraint,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “The American people expect their government to be fair, efficient, and to have integrity – just as they do in their own homes, businesses, and communities. That is why we are changing the rules, preventing abuse of a critical safety net system, so those who need food assistance the most are the only ones who receive it.”
Currently, benefits may be as minimal as simply providing a household with an informational brochure describing social services or access to hotline numbers. These nominal benefits are often given without conducting a robust eligibility determination. Congress has established clear eligibility standards. It is USDA’s responsibility to make sure those who receive benefits are eligible.
To confer automatic eligibility for SNAP under the proposal, a household must receive TANF-funded cash or non-cash benefits valued at a minimum of $50 per month for at least 6 months. In addition, non-cash benefits that could convey automatic eligibility would be restricted to subsidized employment, work supports, or childcare. By establishing clear standards and requiring that benefits be ongoing and substantial, the proposal will ensure SNAP benefits go toward Americans most in need.
USDA encourages all interested parties to provide input on the proposed rule throughwww.regulations.gov. The comment period will be open for 60 days.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to reduce food insecurity and promote nutritious diets among the American people. The agency administers 15nutrition assistance programs that leverage American’s agricultural abundance to ensure children and low-income individuals and families have nutritious food to eat. FNS also co-develops the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide science-based nutrition recommendations and serve as the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy.
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
Take a number: 483,100
With little fanfare, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on July 12 granting California’s 27,000 correctional officers a 3% pay raise, effective July 1, 2020, at an annual cost of nearly $200 million.
That bill signing coincided with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association’s annual Governor’s Cup, a fundraiser at the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Newsom didn’t attend.
The 3% raise will be on top of the 5% pay hike negotiated in 2018 by Jerry Brown. That kicked in on July 1.
California correctional officers are paid 40% more than local counterparts, the Legislative Analyst reports, adding:
“We find no evidence to justify pay [the] increase.”
Money matters: The union spent $2.825 million to elect Newsom in 2018, and has donated $483,100 to state politics and parties in 2019, including $125,000 to the California Republican Party on July 17.
Counting votes: In bipartisan votes, the Assembly passed the bill ratifying the contract 75-0, and the Senate approved it 34-4.
—CalMatters
