Protect Kids California’s effort would require schools to tell parents if their child signals gender changes, prevent biological males in girls’ sports and ban sterilization of children

Claim Attorney General’s ballot title and language change hurt signature gathering effort, lawsuit filed

“Our message is simple. Schools shouldn’t keep secrets from parents” – Protect Kids CA

By Allen D. Payton

California activists seeking to empower parents over their children’s decisions to identify as transgender failed to place a trifecta of restrictions on the November ballot known by the organizers as the Protect Kids of California Act of 2024. Attorney General Rob Bonta changed the ballot title to Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth. Initiative Statute and he changed the ballot language, as well which hampered the signature gathering efforts organizers claim.

According to Students First: Protect Kids California, the initiative will: (1) repeal the California law that permits students to compete in female’s sports and students to be in females’ locker rooms and bathrooms; (2) prohibit schools from deceiving parents about their student’s gender identity crisis and stop them from secretly transitioning a child; and (3) stop sex change operations and chemical castrations on minors.

The organization started late last fall to consolidate their three separate initiatives into one, and its signature-gathering efforts supported by 400,000 voters fell short of the 546,651 verifiable signatures that had to be collected within six months to make the presidential election ballot. The goal was to collect 800,000 signatures to be safe.

Organizers posted their complaint about Bonta’s ballot language changes on the group’s Facebook page on April 2. Initiative committee Executive Team member Nicole C Pearson wrote, “Every Californian, regardless of whether they agree with the initiative, should be concerned about an attorney general who ignores the law and uses his power to sabotage ballot initiatives. We plan to hold Bonta accountable for allowing his political agenda to get in the way of doing his job.”

The post included a link to an opinion on the Orange County Register website  decrying the changes which reads, “As required by California law, proponents submitted the measure to Bonta to receive a neutral official title and summary to use in petitions. Bonta then returned the measure with a new title with a negative and misleading slant: the “Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth Initiative.” And he gave it a summary that was not only completely prejudicial and designed to mislead the electorate — it also contained lies.”

Then on Tuesday, May 28 the group issued a press release announcing the setback in a post on their Facebook page which reads, “We want to thank our tens of thousands of supporters and volunteers for this truly historic effort!Together, we collected over 400,000 signatures – an unprecedented achievement for a 100% grassroots effort. You really are amazing! While it is unfortunate we did not have enough signatures to make the 2024 ballot, we will build off this momentum to continue to fight for the principles set forth in the Protect Kids of California Act.”

The press release reads, “Protect Kids California announced on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, they collected an impressive 400,000 signatures for their proposed ballot measure but fell short of the 546,651 required to be collected within a 180-day timeframe to appear on the ballot.

Tens of thousands of volunteers gathered signatures from every county in California. The largest collection areas were Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties.

A completely grassroots effort, Protect Kids California raised close to $200,000 from over 1,200 donors. This equates to less than 50 cents per signature, a fraction of the amount standard ballot measure committees spend.

“While we are disappointed we didn’t meet the threshold to qualify for the ballot, we are encouraged by the amount of support from every sector of the state. We gathered more signatures for a statewide initiative than any all-volunteer effort in the history of California.” “We had severe headwinds from the beginning. California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a false and misleading Title & Summary for our initiative. That made our fundraising efforts more difficult. While we sued the Attorney General, a Superior Court Judge denied our motion in April. We plan to appeal the Superior Court Judge’s decision, at which time we will decide how to proceed in the future. If we had a little more time or a little more money, we would have easily qualified for the ballot.”

But battles over transgender issues will continue to burn bright in courts, school districts and the Legislature. Despite a setback, initiative organizers were buoyed by the 400,000 signatures that thousands of volunteers collected. They are confident that they will attract more donations and enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot two years from now — and find more support than leaders in heavily Democratic California assume exists.  

“We’re very confident that voters would pass this if it gets to the ballot box,” said Jonathan Zachreson, a Roseville City school board member, co-founder of Protect Kids California and an official proponent of the initiative. “We gathered more signatures for a statewide initiative than any all-volunteer effort in the history of California.”

“We started around the holidays which didn’t help,” he added. “It was an all-volunteer effort. It usually takes about $7 million to get something on the ballot. We raised just under $200,000 which covered our costs. But we didn’t have money to pay signature-gatherers. We had around 25,000 to 30,000 volunteers. Our efforts really took off in the past two months. In the past few weeks, we were collecting so many signatures it was hard to keep up.”

The organizers proposed language for the three-pronged initiative read:

• REQUIRES schools to notify parents regarding children’s mental health concerns identified in school settings, including gender identification issues.
• PROTECTS girls’ competitive sports and school spaces to be for biological girls only.
• PREVENTS the sterilization of children by prohibiting the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, mastectomies and genital surgeries for minors

But Bonta’s ballot language for the initiative was changed to read instead:

• Requires public and private schools and colleges to: restrict gender-segregated facilities like bathrooms to persons assigned that gender at birth; prohibit transgender female students (grades 7+) from participating in female sports. Repeals law allowing students to participate in activities and use facilities consistent with their gender identity.
• Requires schools to notify parents whenever a student under 18 asks to be treated as a gender differing from school records without exception for student safety.
• Prohibits gender-affirming health care for transgender patients under 18, even if parents consent or treatment is medically recommended.

The second issue has sparked a firestorm within the past year.

Last week, a Democratic legislator introduced a late-session bill that would preempt mandatory parental notification. Assembly Bill 1915, by Assemblymember Chris Ward, D-San Diego, would prohibit school districts from adopting a mandatory parental notification policy and bar them from punishing teachers who defy outing policies of LGBTQ+ students.

Last year, Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, introduced a bill that would require parental notification, but AB 1314 died in the Assembly Education Committee without getting a hearing. Committee Chair Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, reasoned the bill would “potentially provide a forum for increasingly hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ youth.”

Ward cited surveys of transgender and gender nonconforming youths that found most felt unsafe or unsupported at home. In one national survey, 10% reported someone at home had been violent toward them because they were transgender, and 15% had run away or were kicked out of home because they were transgender.

The California Department of Education has issued guidance that warns that parental notification policies would violate students’ privacy rights and cites a California School Boards Association model policy that urges districts to protect students’ gender preferences.

But Zachreson argues that even if children have a right to gender privacy that excludes their parents, which he denies exists, students waive it through their actions.  “At school, their teachers know about it, their peers and volunteers know about it, other kids’ parents know about it —  and yet the child’s own parent doesn’t know that the school is actively participating in the social transition,” he said.

In some instances, he said, schools are actively taking steps to keep name changes and other forms of gender expression secret from the parents.

“What we’re saying is, no, you can’t do that. You have to involve the parents in those decisions,” he said.

Ward responds that many teachers don’t want to be coerced to interfere with students’ privacy and gender preferences. “Teachers have a job to do,” he said. “They are not the gender police.”

A half-dozen school districts with conservative boards, including Rocklin, Temecula Valley and Chino Valley, have adopted mandatory parental notification policies. Last fall, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Chino Valley, arguing its policy is discriminatory. A state Superior Court judge in San Bernardino agreed that it violated the federal equal protection clause and granted a preliminary injunction. The case is on appeal.

Last July, U.S. District Court judge for Eastern California threw out a parent’s lawsuit against Chico Unified for its policy prohibiting disclosure of a student’s transgender status to their parent without the student’s explicit consent. The court ruled that it was appropriate for the district to allow students to disclose their gender identity to their parents “on their own terms.” Bonta and attorney generals from 15 states filed briefs supporting Chico Unified; the case, too, is on appeal.

While some teachers vow to sue if required to out transgender students to their parents, a federal judge in Southern California sided with two teachers who sued Escondido Union School District for violating their religious beliefs by requiring them to withhold information to parents about the gender transition of children. The judge issued a preliminary injunction against the district and then ordered the return of the suspended teachers to the classroom.

No California appellate court has issued a ruling on parent notification, and it will probably take the U.S. Supreme Court for a definitive decision. Essayli pledged to take a case there.

The National Picture

Seven states, all in the deeply red Midwest and South, have laws requiring identification of transgender students to their parents, while five, including Florida and Arizona, don’t require it but encourage districts to adopt ther own version., according to the Movement Advancement Project or MAP, an independent nonprofit.

Two dozen states, including Florida, Texas, and many Southern and Midwest states ban best-practice health care, medication and surgical care for transgender youth, and six states, including Florida, make it a felony to provide surgical care for transgender care. Proponents cite the decision in March by the English public health system to prohibit youths under 16 from beginning a medical gender transition to bolster the case for tighter restrictions in the United States.  

California has taken the opposite position; it is one of 15 like-minded states and the District of Columbia with shield laws to protect access to transgender health care. They include New York, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Massachusetts.

Twenty-five states have laws or regulations banning the participation of 13- to 17-year-old transgender youth in participating in sports consistent with their gender identification.

Not one solidly blue state is among those that have adopted the restrictions that Protect Kids California is calling for. But Zachreson and co-founder Erin Friday insist that contrary to the strong opposition in the Legislature, California voters would be open to their proposals. They point to favorable results in a survey of 1,000 California likely voters by the Republican-leaning, conservative pollster Spry Strategies last November.

• 59% said they would support and 29% would oppose legislation that “restricts people who are biologically male, but who now identify as women, from playing on girl’s sports teams and from sharing facilities that have traditionally been reserved for women.”
• 72% said they agreed, and 21% disagreed that “parents should be notified if their child identifies as transgender in school.”
• 21% said they agreed, and 64% disagreed that “children who say they identify as transgender should be allowed to undergo surgeries to try to change them to the opposite sex or take off-label medications and hormones.”

The voters surveyed were geographically representative and reflective of party affiliation, but not demographically, The respondents were mostly white and over 60, and, in a progressive state, were divided roughly evenly among conservatives, moderates and liberals.

Two Versions of Protecting Children

Both sides in this divisive cultural issue say they’re motivated to protect children. One side says it’s protecting transgender children to live as they are, without bias and prejudice that contribute to despair and suicidal thoughts. The other side says it’s protecting kids from coercion to explore who they aren’t, from gender confusion, and exposure to values at odds with their family’s.

Zachreson and Friday wanted to title their initiative “Protect Kids of California Act of 2024.” But Bonta, whose office reviews initiatives’ titles and summaries, chose instead “Restrict Rights of Transgender Youth. Initiative Statute.” Zachreson and Friday, an attorney, appealed the decision, but a Superior Court Judge in Sacramento upheld Bonta’s wording, which he said was accurate, not misleading or prejudicial.

“The ballot title was obviously biased and the summary was intentionally meant to deceive voters and hampered our efforts to get this on the ballot this year,” Zachreson continued. “The statutory requirement is to be impartial and factual. He did the opposite. He was biased and he had descriptions that were false. Bonta claimed there were no exceptions for student safety when notifying parents. But that’s not correct. It’s already in the law.”

Zachreson is appealing again. A more objective title and summary would make a huge difference, he said, by attracting financial backing to hire signature collectors and the support and resources of the California Republican Party, which declined to endorse the initiative. That was a strategic mistake in an election year when turnout will be critical.

“The people who support the initiative are passionate about it,” he said.

The organizers may have to start over but a lawsuit about the biased title and summary was filed asking for a change in the language, to use the signatures already gathered and to grant an extension.

“The appeal won’t be heard until after the November election,” Zachreson shared.

Effort for November 2026 Ballot Continues

If a judge rules in their favor it will make it easier for the group to complete the signature gathering to qualify for the next General Election ballot which will be in November 2026.

Political observer Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine University, agreed that the gender debate could have motivated Republicans and swing voters to go to the polls. 

“There’s no question that the Attorney General’s ballot language had a devastating effect on the initiative’s supporters and it could have almost as much of an impact on Republican congressional candidates this fall,” he said.

“Our message is simple. Schools shouldn’t keep secrets from parents; we should protect girls’ sports and private spaces at school; and we should protect kids from unproven, life-altering and often sterilizing medical procedures. We vow to continue fighting for these principles,” the group’s May 28th press release concluded.

To learn more about Protect Kids California, visit http://www.protectkidsca.com.

John Fensterwald who writes about education policy and its impact in California for EdSource.org contributed to this report.

Mobile franchise expands in Contra Costa, giving back to community, schools and organizations

By Cia Abulencia, PR Associate, All Points Public Relations

BRENTWOOD, Calif.  – Bringing tropical tunes and cups of shaved ice everywhere it stops, Kona Ice is expanding in California. Introducing its distinctive blend of entertainment, frozen treats and FUN-draising, the Kona Ice experience is unlike any other in the area. Serving up good vibes in a cool ride, Kona Ice is now cruisin’ through Contra Costa County.

“I’m thrilled to bring Kona’s refreshing shaved ice to the community. Beyond satisfying sweet cravings, we’re dedicated to supporting local schools and athletic groups through our ongoing fundraising efforts,” said Jordan Sabella, owner of Kona Ice of Brentwood. “The enthusiasm we’ve received for our new business reflects our commitment to being a positive presence in the community.”

Kona Ice’s escape from the ordinary begins as tropical calypso music fills the air at each event and group gathering. Thanks to Kona’s customizable self-service system, everyone continues the fun with overflowing cups of shaved ice and choosing from 10 of the most popular flavors on the truck’s Flavorwave™. Guests also have the option to choose from the additional 20-plus flavors and 500 different combinations offered.  

“With a background rooted in both sales and engineering, I understand the intricate dynamics of business and the importance of forging meaningful connections,” said Sabella. “My mission with Kona Ice is to spread joy and make a tangible difference. I aspire to expand our reach with additional trucks, ideally covering Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch and Pittsburg.”

Dedicated to making a difference in local areas, Kona Ice continues to be committed to philanthropy in the communities it serves, raising $180 million in total donations nationwide since 2007. Jordan Sabella is continuing the world’s largest food truck franchise’s tradition of donating thousands of dollars each year to local school groups, teams, and community organizations. Sabella pledges to give back a percentage of the proceeds from each event he hosts. 

“I’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless inspiring stories within our franchise system. Jordan embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and community engagement that defines our brand,” said Tony Lamb, founder and president of Florence, Kentucky-based Kona Ice. “His dedication to spreading joy and making a difference through Kona Ice of Brentwood is a testament to the values we hold dear. With his background in Sales and Engineering, coupled with a passion for helping others, Jordan will continue to thrive, bringing smiles and support to his community with every shaved ice served.”

Beyond fundraisers, popular spots for the food truck franchise include stops throughout East County at fairs, festivals and high school events.

To learn more about Kona Ice of Brentwood and to book your next event, contact Jordan Sabella by email at jsabella@kona-ice.com or by phone at (510) 423-8604.

About Kona Ice

Founded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, Kona Ice launched its first Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV) in Florence, Kentucky, offering a unique combination of cleanliness, friendliness, and a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring the opportunity to create your very own shaved ice on the self-serve Flavorwave™, while enjoying the soothing sights and sounds from the tropics, all while giving back to each community Kona Ice serves. Since its inception, Kona Ice has given back more than $180 million to neighborhood schools, organizations and teams. Today, Kona Ice has grown to more than 2,800 mobile units that serve 49 states across the country.

Kona Ice has been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500^® list for 11 consecutive years, earning a spot on the Franchise 500^® Hall of Fame, and most recently being named #1 in the “Frozen Desserts” and “Ice Cream” categories. In addition, Kona was named to the Franchise Business Review Top 200 list in the overall “Top 50” and “Enterprise” categories. Other accolades include being named a “Top 100 Most Innovative Franchise” by Franchise Business Review and a “Top Franchise for Veterans.” The brand has earned many other nationwide, industry and local awards. For more on Kona Ice, visit the brand’s online Newsroom and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news.

For more information about booking Kona Ice for a fundraiser or event, visit www.kona-ice.com. To learn more about available franchise opportunities, visit www.ownakona.com or call (800) KONAICE.

By Ders Anderson, Open Lands

The American Discovery Trail Society announces its second annual trail challenge! In honor of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, June 1, the Challenge is an invite to anyone and everyone living near the 6800-mile American Discovery Trail. (See related article)

The goal of the Challenge is meant to be a personal one, a trail challenge that hikers, bicyclists, runners, baby stroller pushers, skaters, and wheel-chair users set for themselves. It could be…adding miles to their personal best so far. It could be…enlisting friends who don’t often exercise. It could be… the first time for a family hike. It could be… a distance hike-bike-or run relay with a group of friends. It could be…a first, really-long-distance hike, whether it’s 20, 50 or 500 miles.

Participants are asked to register at  https://discoverytrail.org/american-discovery-trail-home/trailchallenge/  where ADT trail access and route info, local trail agency contacts, and general trail use guidance will be available

Think…Outdoors…Healthy Exercise…Fresh Air…Inspiration…America’s Beautiful Landscapes…Participating in a national event with thousands of National Trail Day partners.

California Trails

• Briones to Mount Diablo Regional Trail   https://www.ebparks.org/trails/interpark/briones-mt-diablo
• SCA Trail (Golden Gate)  https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/sca-trail     https://www.nps.gov/places/000/sca-trailhead.htm
• Coast Trail (Point Reyes)  https://www.nps.gov/places/point-reyes-coast-trailhead.htm
• Tahoe Rim Trail      https://tahoerimtrail.org/
• Forest Hill Divide Loop Trail     https://www.visitplacer.com/discover/foresthill-divide-loop-trail/

If you participate in the ADT Challenge, the American Discovery Trail Society will report back to the American Hiking Society on the level of participation in the ADT Challenge. National Trails Day (NTD) is an annual event that has been sponsored by the American Hiking Society (AHS) for the past 31 years. Your experience will be added to this years’ overall NTD national participation. In 2022, over 125,000 people participated in National Trails Day.

About ADT

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is the nation’s first coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreation trail. The ADT was conceived in 1989 and initially led by the American Hiking Society. In 1996 the ADT Society (ADTS) was created and has been the prime advocate for the completing a continuous trail across the United States. The ADTS considers it the east-west “backbone” of our country’s national trails system, connecting to the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, East Coast Greenway Trail and 50 other national scenic, historic and recreational trails. In the Midwest, two options are possible: either thru Iowa and Nebraska, and northern Illinois and Indiana, or through Missouri and Kansas and southern Illinois and Indiana.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Senator Glazer’s request leads to findings of workers cheated out of $63.9 million in past wages

Calls it a failure to act on behalf of workers

Report claims inadequate staffing, poor oversight have weakened protections for workers

SACRAMENTO – California Labor Commissioners have stood idly by as a massive backlog in wage theft cases piled up worth $63.9 million in lost wages to workers as its enforcement unit failed to enforce and collect wages in 76 percent of cases in which employers were found to owe wages, according to a report released Wednesday by Grant Parks, the California State Auditor.

The scathing audit came as a result of a March 2023 request through the Joint Legislative Audit Committee by Senator Steve Glazer, D-Contra Costa, and Assemblyman David Alvarez, D-San Diego. It was based on news reports about the lack of wage theft enforcement.

Parks reported his findings to the Governor, President pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the Assembly about the “Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, also known as the Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO).” Lilia García-Brower is the current state Labor Commissioner and was appointed to the position by Governor Newsom in July 2019. Neither her name or photo appears on the website for the Labor Commissioner’s Office. Ironically, according to the agency’s website, “The mission of the LCO is to ensure a just day’s pay in every workplace in the State and to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor laws. By combating wage theft, protecting workers from retaliation, and educating the public, we put earned wages into workers’ pockets and help level the playing field for law-abiding employers.”

The audit “reviewed the backlog of wage claims submitted by workers from fiscal years 2017–18 through 2022–23, and determined that the LCO is not providing timely adjudication of wage claims for workers primarily because of insufficient staffing to process those claims.”

Furthermore, the state Auditor reported, “In addition to its delays in processing wage claims, the LCO has not been successful in collecting judgments from employers. A possible factor contributing to its low collection rate is that the Enforcement Unit does not consistently use all of the methods available to it for collecting payments owed to workers.”

Senator Glazer released this statement on the audit’s findings:

“The California State Auditor’s report makes clear that our State Labor Commissioner is a toothless enforcer of our wage theft laws. This deeply troubling assessment exposes a system that has fundamentally failed the workers it is supposed to protect. According to the auditor, there is a backlog of 47,000 claims registered on June 30, 2023. This is a state embarrassment and a stain on the department that workers depend on for justice.

The report also highlights an alarming increase in the average number of days to resolve claims, which has skyrocketed from 420 days in 2017/18 to an astounding 890 days in 2022/23. This drastic decline in efficiency is not just a statistic; it represents thousands of workers enduring prolonged injustice and financial hardship.

This lack of enforcement emboldens companies to exploit workers, knowing they can likely escape any real consequences, thus perpetuating and increasing further abuse. These findings paint a grim picture of an agency overwhelmed and ineffective, leaving workers vulnerable and without recourse. Immediate and decisive action to restore integrity and effectiveness to the Labor Commissioner’s office is needed. The workers of California deserve nothing less than a robust system that ensures timely and fair resolution of wage theft claims.”

The report can be found here: www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/the-california-labor-commissioners-office/

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

MARTINEZ, CA—District 15State Assembly candidate Anamarie Avila Farias today announced the endorsement of California Governor Gavin Newsom for her campaign to represent portions of Contra Costa County in the State Legislature. 

“Anamarie’s experience and dedication to her community, to progress on the challenges facing our state, and her commitment to charting a fundamentally strong future for all Californians make her the best candidate for State Assembly,” said Governor Newsom. “I’m proud of the work she’s done as an appointee of mine on the California Housing Finance Agency and look forward to working with her when she’s elected to the Assembly in November.”

“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California has been in great hands,” said Anamarie. “I’m proud to have served in his administration at the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development of the City and County of San Francisco and as a Gubernatorial Appointee on the California Housing Finance Agency Board while he’s been governor.

“In the Assembly, I’ll seek to partner with him on bold policies to tackle housing, education, homelessness, and climate challenges,” she added.

Avila Farias placed second in the March Primary election behind her Republican opponent Sonia Ledo, but the top vote-getter in a field of three Democrats. Democratic voters outnumber Republicans 52%-19% in District 15’s registration numbers.

She currently serves as Area 3 Trustee on the Contra Costa County Board of Education where her focus is on quality education in Contra Costa public schools. The candidate touts her extensive record serving her community, including as a Martinez Councilwoman and in setting state policy.

Avila Farias is running to represent California State Assembly District 15. The district encompasses Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Clayton, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Antioch, Crockett most of Brentwood and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. 

For more information about her campaign visit www.anamarie4assembly.com.

32nd annual event brings communities together outdoors to celebrate and give back to trails

Take the 2024 National Trails Day® Pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.

East Bay Regional Park District offers variety of trails to hike

By American Hiking Society

The nationwide celebration of National Trails Day^® on Saturday June 1, 2024, will bring together people from across the country, Puerto Rico, and beyond, to celebrate, enjoy, and give back to the trails. American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day^®, is an annual event aimed at advocacy, trail service, and encouraging local communities to connect in the outdoors. 

Trail users, including hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, paddlers, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, and various organizations, unite on National Trails Day® to improve the trails and outdoor community. This is accomplished through collective efforts toward advocating for, maintaining, cleaning up, and celebrating trails and nature. By working together, this diverse coalition can ensure that these outdoor spaces remain accessible, safe, and enjoyable for everyone now and in the future.

National Trails Day® is an event that people of all ages, abilities, and lifestyles can celebrate by participating in a local trail event. Participants can also take the National Trails Day® pledge to commit to leaving the trails and the outdoor community better than they found them. Additionally, individuals can share their trail experience by tagging #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking on social media.

Last year, more than 700 sites across the U.S. brought people together for various recreational and volunteer opportunities. More than 7,044 trail volunteers built and maintained more than 558 miles of trails as part of the festivities. 

The East Bay Regional Park District offers multiple trails to hike this Saturday. See list, locations and maps, here: www.ebparks.org/trails.

“National Trails Day® provides a unique opportunity to bring community members of all walks of life together in the outdoors, all with a common goal of enjoying nature and preserving it,” said Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of American Hiking Society. “This is our 32nd annual celebration of National Trails Day®, and it’s incredible to see how the trails unite us and remind us of the power of our collective action and passion. Spending time on the trails offers us time to reflect on nature’s positive impact on our physical and mental well-being and the positive impact we can have on it, too. This annual event reminds us to appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors and commit to doing our part to protect it for generations to come.”

2024 National Trails Day® Pledge

“In honor of #NationalTrailsDay, I’ll leave the trails and the outdoor community better than I found them.” Take the pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.

Corporate & Federal Sponsors

American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day^® is made possible by the generous support of Corporate Sponsors – Exclusive Beer Sponsor Athletic Brewing, Aflac, AKHG by Duluth Trading Company, REI, Osprey Packs, Fjallraven, GORE-TEX Brand, Zevo Insect, and GOES Health. Federal Partners include: National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau Of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Federal Highway Administration.

Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all to enjoy, share and preserve the hiking experience.

Unveiling the top 10 U.S. states with highest cybercrime losses last year

By CyberNut

Cybercrime surged to unprecedented levels in 2023, resulting in over $12.5 billion in losses across the United States. Discover which states suffered the most significant financial impacts and delve into the factors driving these staggering losses in our comprehensive analysis.

• California ranks #1 among states that experienced cybercrime loss
• California lost around $2.16 billion in 2023. due to cybercrimes
• California alone accounted for approximately 17.3% of the total cybercrime losses in the U.S. in 2023

Cybercrime has become a growing threat to businesses, schools, and individuals all over the United States, with more than $12.5 billion in potential losses incurred in the last year alone. But some states are bearing the brunt of the financial losses – is your state one of them? 

“This can be attributed to the state’s large population (the largest in the U.S.), thriving tech industry, and high concentration of affluent individuals and businesses, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals,” notes Oliver Page, CEO of CyberNut.

Page delves into the top ten U.S. states that experienced the highest cybercrime losses in 2023, exploring the potential reasons behind these staggering figures. 

Rank	State	Loss (in USD)
1	California	2,159,454,513
2	Texas	1,021,547,286
3	Florida	874,725,493
4	New York	749,955,480
5	New Jersey	441,151,263
6	Pennsylvania	360,334,651
7	Illinois	335,764,223
8	Arizona	324,352,644
9	Georgia	301,001,997
10	Washington	288,691,091

10. Washington

Washington’s thriving tech industry makes it a prime target for cybercriminals. Oliver Page says, ‘With major tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon headquartered here, the state holds vast amounts of valuable data.’ Attacks on these giants and smaller businesses contributed to the state’s losses in 2023, which amounted to over $288 million.

9. Georgia 

Atlanta’s status as a significant financial hub plays a role in Georgia’s cybercrime losses, which reached over $300 million last year. Oliver Page notes, ‘The state houses numerous banks and financial institutions, attracting cybercriminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in the financial sector.’

8. Arizona

Arizona’s growing population and businesses make it susceptible to cyber threats. Small to medium-sized companies, often with fewer cybersecurity resources, become easy targets. The state’s focus on healthcare and education makes it a prime target for ransomware attacks.

Arizona lost over $320 million to cybercrimes last year.

7. Illinois 

Illinois, particularly Chicago, is a center for business and commerce. The state’s diverse economy, including finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, offers cybercriminals a variety of lucrative targets. Cybercrimes in Illinois in 2023 reached over $335 million.

6. Pennsylvania 

‘Pennsylvania’s large number of healthcare providers and insurance companies make it a prime target for data breaches,’ said Oliver Page. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in these sectors to steal sensitive information, leading to significant financial losses. In 2023, these losses amounted to some $360 million.

5. New Jersey

New Jersey, in fifth place, experienced over $441 million in cybercrime losses, potentially due to its proximity to New York and its own thriving financial and pharmaceutical sectors. 

4. New York

Oliver Page says, ‘New York, the fourth-highest state, suffered nearly $750 million in losses, reflecting its status as a global financial hub and the presence of numerous high-profile companies and organizations, all of whom are a prime target for cybercriminals.’ 

3. Florida 

Florida ranks third, with nearly $875 million suffered in cybercrime losses. ‘The state’s reliance on tourism, real estate, and financial services, as well as its large elderly population, make it vulnerable to scams and data breaches,’ Oliver Page says. 

2. Texas 

The state of Texas comes in second with over $1.02 billion in losses, likely due to its large population, diverse economy, and significant presence in industries like energy, finance, and healthcare, all of which are prime targets for cyberattacks. 

1. California 

California tops the list as the state with the highest cybercrime losses in 2023, reaching a staggering amount of nearly $2.16 billion. 

Oliver Page notes, ‘This can be attributed to the state’s large population (the largest in the U.S.), thriving tech industry, and high concentration of affluent individuals and businesses, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals.’ 

Cybercrime’s Devastating Impact

These staggering cybercrime losses have a significant impact on the overall economy and financial system. Oliver Page says, ‘The theft of sensitive data, financial fraud, and disruption of critical infrastructure can lead to decreased consumer confidence, higher insurance premiums, and increased costs in every area for businesses and individuals.’

To mitigate these risks, businesses, organizations, and individuals in these high-risk states should implement robust cybersecurity measures, such as:

• Regularly updating software and systems to address known vulnerabilities.
• Implementing strong access controls, including multi-factor authentication and password management.
• Providing comprehensive cybersecurity training for employees to recognize and respond to phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics.
• Regularly backing up data and testing incident response plans to ensure business continuity in the event of a breach.
• Cyber insurance should be considered to transfer some of the financial risk associated with cyber threats. 

About CyberNut

CyberNut is a security awareness training solution built exclusively for schools. CyberNut’s automated campaigns train your school’s faculty, staff, & students to recognize and report the phishing emails and deep fake Al scams that are targeting your school district, making CyberNut the easiest and the most painless security awareness training solution to implement and manage for school IT departments.

Methodology

The data on U.S. states with the highest cybercrime losses is taken from the FBI’s Internet Crime Report 2023, Page 25 (https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2023_IC3Report.pdf).  After collecting the data, we ranked it based on the highest losses to the respective state. The total amount of money lost ($12.5 billion) was taken from the same report.

Not all based in the city; one Antioch-based organization receives $85,000

By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved funding of a total of $307,275 of awards for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to the following community-based organizations (CBOs) and non-profits providing essential services to youth and young adults in Antioch.

Before the vote, District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker asked for explanations on some of the grants from Department of Public Safety and Community Resources Director Tasha Johnson in addition to the information included in the meeting agenda.

Following are the grants awarded by the council.

• Architecture Foundation of San Francisco – $20,000 – Workforce Development for Interns to participate in a design studio led by a design professional.
• CASA of Contra Costa County – $5,000 – Academic Support/Mentorship: CASA Contra Costa County seeks funding to expand and strengthen its trauma-informed tutoring program, which is specifically designed to support foster children and youth in Antioch and throughout the county.
• RR Transitional Housing (Fall) – $5,290 – Academic Support/Mentorship: The tutoring program operates on a structured schedule, convening twice a week for two hours each session during the summer months.
• RR Transitional Housing (Fall) – $16,050 – Academic Support/Mentorship: The tutoring program operates on a structured schedule, convening twice a week for two hours each session during the fall months.
• RR Transitional Housing (Spring) – $16,934 – Academic Support/Mentorship: The tutoring program operates on a structured schedule, convening twice a week for two hours each session during spring months.

RR stands for Rey de Reyes Ministries, and is a church on W. 2nd Street in Antioch which provides tutoring services to youth, Johnson shared.

• Richmond Community Foundation, now known as RCF Connects – $50,000 – Civic and Social engagement: youth will cultivate a deep sense of civic engagement and social responsibility among the youth, especially focusing on those from underserved communities.

RCF President and CEO Jim Becker, an Antioch resident, offered additional information about the organization and program.

• One Day at a Time (ODAT) – $40,000 – Civic and Social engagement: Youth will understand privilege, racism and intersectionality in a welcoming and encouraging environment. ODAT is based in Brentwood.
• Bridge Builders to the New Generation (Summer) – $65,000 – Personal Enrichment: This is a highly engaged camp experience for Antioch youth, who will participate in an interactive, dynamic, and transformational learning cohort. Each day is themed to reflect the day’s learning objective during summer.
• Bridge Builders to the New Generation (Spring) – $10,000 – Personal Enrichment: This is a highly engaged camp experience for Antioch youth. They will participate in an interactive, dynamic, and transformational learning cohort. Each day during spring break is themed to reflect the day’s learning objective.
• Bridge Builders to the New Generation (Fall) – $10,000 – Personal Enrichment: This is a highly engaged camp experience for Antioch youth. They will participate in an interactive, dynamic, and transformational learning cohort. Each day during fall break is themed to reflect the day’s learning objective.

Bridge Builders is based in Antioch.

• Antioch Unified School District – $20,000 – Physical Health: This program promotes physical activity and teaches foundational skills to students in grades K-6. It helps bridge the equity gap and ensures that every student has access to the benefits of physical activity.

On that funding, Torres-Walker said to Johnson, “be careful or you might have your desk end up on a roof,” referring to the recent accusations of bullying in the school district’s Maintenance Department.

• J6 – $24,000 – Physical Health: Youth are engaged in and assisted in personal growth, academic success, and avenues for future advancement through basketball and broader professional arenas.
• Trade Jobs for You – $25,000 – Workforce Development: The new innovative leader in the beauty industry is an apprentice program in cosmetology and barbering. It includes training and placement.

Questions were sent to Johnson, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Acting Assistant City Manager Brad Helfenberger asking about the latter two organizations as no information about them could be found from an internet search. Please check back later for any updates to this report.

6/3/24 UPDATE: In response, Johnson wrote, “J6 is…an organization with a program and platform for empowering our future leaders through a basketball program and engagement in a transformative manhood development program. Through mentorship, skill development, and instilling essential values, they aim to shape confident, responsible, and successful community members.

Trade Jobs 4 You is a comprehensive organization whose programs include funding, training, access to necessary tools and equipment, and connections to employment opportunities. They empower and guide individuals toward success in their chosen trade. Their ultimate goal is to create a ripple effect of positive change in the lives of our program graduates, ultimately leaving a legacy of fulfilled dreams and thriving communities.”

However, no websites or Facebook pages for the organizations were provided by Johnson. She was then requested to provide that information and if they don’t have an internet presence, to provide the groups’ contact information.

Please check back later for any additional updates to this report.