MIDDLETOWN
Charise Reynolds announces candidacy for MUSD school board
Charise Reynolds, South Lake County parent and former Student Site Council member, has announced her candidacy for the June MUSD school board election. Reynolds has led and participated in several school and extracurricular committees and groups, works in a supervisory role for Lake County, was the Co-Chair for the 2020 Lake County Complete Count Census Committee, has experience serving on governing boards, and was part of the team that secured the Title I designation for Minnie Cannon Elementary School.
Charise sees a need to put education first and wants to focus decision making on the needs of the community’s children. Reynolds states, “I will work to foster caring, excellence, communication, and participation.”
As a board member, Reynolds’ priorities will be to move the district forward with a focus on the budget, the bond, the LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan), supporting teachers, and ensuring a constructive and positive learning environment for our students while engaging our community via interactive live streamed board meetings.
Says Reynolds, “South Lake County has pulled together before and we know that by helping each other, no matter our differences, we are stronger. Now is the time to stand together and make a difference.”
To learn more about her campaign or for further information, please visit www.ChariseReynoldsforMUSDBoard2022.com
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
California intensfies rivalry with Texas, Florida
California’s Democratic leaders have a message for Texans and Floridians opposed to their states’ stances on abortion, LGBTQ rights and gun control: You’re more than welcome in the Golden State.
The latest offering came from Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, who on Thursday announced forthcoming legislation that would “protect and provide refuge for transgender kids and their parents if they flee to California” from states such as Texas or Idaho, which have advanced measures to investigate or criminalize parents seeking gender-affirming care for their trans kids.
Wiener’s bill would:
- Prevent California courts from enforcing any out-of-state court rulings that deny parents custody for allowing their trans kids to get gender-affirming care.
- Block California agencies from complying with any out-of-state subpoenas seeking information about people who come to the Golden State for gender-affirming care.
- Declare as the lowest priority for California law enforcement any out-of-state criminal arrest warrant linked to someone receiving gender-affirming care.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, name-checked Disney, whose staff members are staging walkouts over the corporation’s refusal to publicly condemn Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill that would ban teaching kids in kindergarten through third grade about sexual orientation or gender identity “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”
Newsom tweeted: “Disney, the door is open to bring those jobs back to California — the state that actually represents the values of your workers.”
The governor has maintained a relentless focus on Texas and Florida, slamming both in this month’s State of the State speech and a flurry of recent tweets. He’s also sponsoring a gun control bill modeled on Texas’ controversial abortion ban and has called on California to be a “sanctuary” for out-of-state patients seeking abortions.
Democratic lawmakers have answered with a package of reproductive health care legislation, including a bill that would create a fund — filled with both state and philanthropic money — to help low-income Californians and out-of-state women access abortions.
The bill language, released Wednesday night, says the fund would help cover abortion patients’ airfare, lodging, ground transportation, gas money, meals, child care, doula support and translation services.
- State Sen. Nancy Skinner, a Berkeley Democrat and bill co-author: This proposal “sends a clear message to the rest of the nation: We are fully committed to ensuring that California women and those who may seek refuge here have access to all reproductive services, including abortion.”
- On Thursday, the Assembly passed a bill that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for abortions and abortion-related services. It now faces a procedural vote in the Senate before heading to Newsom’s desk.
By framing California as a “refuge” and “sanctuary” for people who want to “flee” Texas and Florida, elected officials may be attempting to counter the narrative that Californians are fleeing to red states in search of lower taxes and more affordable homes. - Intensifying the rivalry: Population growth trends that saw California lose a congressional seat for the first time in history, while Texas gained two and Florida added one.
—Emily Hoeven, CALmatters
CALIFORNIA
Community clinics owed millions
For more than a year, California’s community clinics — which serve the state’s poorest and most vulnerable residents — have been waiting for the state to reimburse them for the 6.1 million COVID-19 vaccinations they’ve administered, about 80% of which went to people of color. The total price tag could reach as much as $408 million — but state health department officials told CalMatters’ Kristen Hwang that they have no idea how much money they owe the clinics. The state also hasn’t released guidance for submitting claims, and clinics don’t know how long it will take to get paid after sending the state their bills.
- Jim Mangia, CEO of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center in South Los Angeles, which is awaiting $7 million in state reimbursements: “It’s frustrating because the state says they’re committed to vaccine equity, but they’re not paying the vaccine equity providers.”
For some clinics, the money could mean the difference between staying open and reducing essential services. Mangia said St. John’s will have to shut down vaccination efforts by April 1 if it doesn’t receive funds from the state. Staffing is also a challenge: “We can’t pay what the market demands,” Mangia told the Los Angeles Times. Last year, community clinics had an average employee turnover rate of 20%, according to a survey from the California Primary care Association.
One possible solution: A bill from state Sen. Bob Hertzberg, a Van Nuys Democrat, would invest $400 million in community health centers for wages, workforce training and improved care, Kristen reports.
—Emily Hoeven, CALmatters
