From Project Vote Smart (click for website)

5/5/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HR1230, “Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act” – bill text here – bill passed House

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct offshore oil and gas lease sales.

-Requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct the following offshore oil and gas lease sales (Secs. 2-5):

-Lease Sale 216 in the Central Gulf of Mexico no later than 4 months after the enactment of this bill;
-Lease Sale 218 in the Western Gulf of Mexico no later than 8 months after the enactment of this bill;
-Lease Sale 220 on the outer continental shelf offshore Virginia no later than 1 year after the enactment of this bill; and
-Lease Sale 222 in the Central Gulf of Mexico no later than June 1, 2012.

5/4/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HR3, “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” Prohibiting Taxpayer Funding of Abortion – bill text here – bill passed House

5/4/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HR1214, Repealing Funding for School-Based Health Center Construction – bill text here – bill passed House

5/3/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HR1213, Repealing Funding for State Health Benefit Exchanges – bill text here – bill pass House

To repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges

4/14/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HR1473, the 2011 Budget,  “Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011” – bill text here – bill passed House and Senate

4/13/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HR1217, “To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund” – bill text here – bill passed House

Vote to pass a bill that repeals the Prevention and Public Health Fund of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”) and rescinds any unobligated funds.

4/8/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HJRes37 (House Joint Resolution), Disapproving FCC Rules Concerning Internet Providers, “Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Federal Communications” – bill text here – bill passed House

Vote to pass a joint resolution that disapproves a rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to open Internet and broadband industry practices.

4/7/11 – Rep. Garamendi voted “NO” on HR910, “Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011” – bill text here – bill passed House

From GovTrack (website here)

Rep. Garamendi has missed 6% of his votes this year, 7% since he was elected in 2009.

“John Garamendi has sponsored 11 bills since Jan 6, 2009 of which 11 haven’t made it out of committee and none were successfully enacted. Garamendi has co-sponsored 244 bills during the same time period”. He has introduced the following, recent legislation

	H.R. 486: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Establishment Act
	H.Res. 64: Honoring the life and work of Robert Sargent Shriver.
	H.R. 487: Manufacture Renewable Energy Systems: Make it in America Act of 2011
	H.R. 612: West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2011
	H.R. 613: Airports, Highways, High-Speed Rail, Trains, and Transit: Make it in America Act

On two weekends in May and June, there will be major delays for some customers traveling through BART’s Transbay Tube due to vital maintenance and repair work. The delays are necessary to accommodate work on the cables that provide power to the track.

BART’s best estimate is that delays for trains in both directions will be approximately 20 to 40 minutes on the lines requiring transfers (trains coming from or going toward Dublin or Fremont) and 5 to 10 minutes on the other lines (trains coming from or going toward Richmond or Pittsburg/Bay Point) during the hours listed below.

During the hours listed below, customers who are traveling from any San Francisco or Peninsula station toward Dublin or Fremont will need to take a Pittsburg/Bay Point-bound train to travel through the Tube. You will need to get off the train at 12th Street Station in Oakland and go downstairs to transfer to a special Dublin or a Fremont-bound train.

During the hours listed below, customers who are traveling from Fremont or Dublin to San Francisco and Daly City will need to board their usual train. These trains will be diverted to MacArthur Station. This diversion is necessary because the trains originating in Fremont and Dublin during the hours work is performed will not travel through the Tube. Customers should get off the train at 12th Street Station in Oakland and go downstairs to transfer to a San Francisco-bound train.

BART recommends that you adjust your travel plans accordingly to take into account these delays, and apologizes for the inconvenience.

SATURDAY, MAY 28: Work starts after the last train on Friday. Work ends at 7:30 am
SUNDAY, MAY 29: Work starts after the last train Saturday. Work ends at 2:30 pm
MONDAY, MAY 30: Work starts after the last train Sunday. Work ends at 2:30 pm (Also please note that BART will be running on a Sunday schedule on Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday)
SATURDAY, JUNE 4: Work starts after the last train Friday. Work ends at 7:30 am
SUNDAY, JUNE 5: Work starts after the last train Saturday. Work ends at 2:30 pm

If you need language assistance services, please call BART’s Transit Information Center at (510) 465-2278.

The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld a federal court decision that mandated the release of up to 40,000 inmates from the California prison system.

“Fortunately, we’ve been working on this issue for almost two years,” said County Supervisor Federal Glover. “We have a strategic plan for the county and are actively seeking grants to fund its implementation. Having a strategic plan puts us — as a county – ahead of the eight ball.”

In a 5-4 decision, the high court agreed that having about 160,000 inmates in California’s prisons created overcrowded and unhealthy conditions for a system designed to accommodate 80,000 inmates.

Earlier this year, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill to transfer about 40,000 state prisoners to county jails. This has not been implemented due to a lack of funds. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger moved about 10,000 to out-of-state for-profit prisons to relieve the overcrowded conditions.

In 2009 after a lower court ordered the state to release thousands of prisoners, the supervisors’ Public Protection Committee chaired by Glover and with Supervisor John Gioia, asked the county to partner with a host of community-based organizations to create a plan to reduce inmate recidivism. Released inmates have a 75 percent recidivism rate, which creates a burden on law enforcement agencies and the courts as well raises a concern for public safety.

Two months ago, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors approved the strategic plan written up by Oakland-based consultant Urban Strategies.

To see the Contra Costa Reentry Strategic Plan, click on http://www.cocoreentry.org/?p=381.

San Pablo home - site of news conference

UPDATE:
The health and safety of communities will be at risk if Contra Costa County lays off up to one-third of its building and grading inspectors by the end of the months, said officials representing the public workers Monday at a news conference Monday.

This information was disclosed in front of a blighted house with boarded-up windows, graffiti and tall weeds – an example of what is happening
in neighborhoods without inspectors, according to Rollie Katz, of the Public Employees Union Local 1.

Katz said his workers will speak to the Board of Supervisors Tueday, at 9:30 a.m. at the Contra Costa County Administration Building, 651 Pine St.,
Martinez. Katz will hold a news briefing at 9 a.m. at the Supervisors meeting.

See the blighted property at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63133121@N03/?saved=1. It’s one of many examples properties that pose a real health and safety risk to the community when Contra Costa County lays off one-third of the county’s building and grading inspectors May 31 – even though money is in the budget for them, said Katz.

—————-
A major news conference Monday morning in San Pablo will disclose evidence the public’s health and safety is being put at risk – beginning May 31 – in Contra Costa County when 16 Contra Costa County Building and Grading Inspectors will be laid off. The news conference property is blighted, and an example of what is to come.

It’s one of many examples properties that pose a real health and safety risk to the community when Contra Costa County lays off one-third of the county’s building and grading inspectors May 31 – even though money is in the budget for them, according to Rollie Katz, of the Public Employees Union Local 1.

The County has already reduced the number of inspectors by about 25 percent over the last three months through attrition and retirements.

“We are concerned about the public’s safety. Blighted, illegally modified and out of compliance properties will go months without being inspected,” Katz said, noting that the daily case load for building inspections will nearly double the national average, and increase to 70 (from 30) for code enforcement inspections.

Katz, who will provide additional details Monday, added that County has the money budgeted to employ the needed inspectors. The County has budgeted $500,000 for new furniture for the department that employs the inspectors even though it admits it does not need the furniture. The County has refused to apply those funds to preserve these critical jobs.

East Contra Costa County’s future recycled water and Delta drought relief efforts have received a boost thanks to a $150,000 grant for Delta Diablo Sanitation District’s Recycled Water Master Plan from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation.

Delta Diablo Sanitation District (the District) currently operates a recycled water facility generating nearly six million gallons of recycled water each day. The Master Plan will help staff identify potential capital improvement projects which can provide a cost-effective, reliable recycled water supply to users in the District’s service area of Antioch, Bay Point and Pittsburg. It will also help reduce demand on freshwater Delta supplies.

Since 2002 the District’s Recycled Water Facility has produced over 21 Billion gallons of recycled water. The District’s Master Plan project will provide guidance to optimize and expand recycled water use for existing and new customers. It will also allow a comprehensive analysis of the District’s recycled water system to ascertain project alternatives such as new and modified pipelines, pump stations, and storage.

The $150,000 grant is the maximum awarded by this WaterSMART Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse funding opportunity. Feasibility studies under the Title XVI Program balance technical, institutional and economical potential for stretching water supplies using both time-tested methodologies and piloting new concepts to reclaim and reuse wastewater. The studies also focus on water and energy efficiencies with the goal of well-planned water projects that are sustainable and use less energy.

The District’s Master Plan is considered another “success story” for the Bay Area Recycled Water Coalition. The Coalition, a partnership of fourteen San Francisco Bay Area regional water recycling agencies, works collaboratively to proactively pursue highly leveraged, locally-managed projects that will help ensure the security of water supplies in the Bay-Delta for years to come.

To date, projects undertaken by Coalition members have resulted in over 22,000 acre feet of recycled water being supplied to Bay Area communities and businesses. This is equal to the annual water use by 66,000 single family homes. All projects have received support from Bay Area elected delegates.

“California’s limited water resources are best extended through a smart water recycling and conservation strategy like that implemented by the Delta Diablo Sanitation District,” said Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA), a Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. “I congratulate Delta Diablo on earning this important grant which will help our region responsibly manage our precious water supply.”

“I congratulate Delta Diablo Sanitation District on this grant, which represents a critical next step in an ongoing campaign to move regional water recycling projects forward and add more alternative water supplies to our water infrastructure. Delta Diablo is continuing to show why it is considered a leader in the effort to stretch our state’s water supplies.” said Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez, CA), a leader in California water issues and an advocate for water recycling projects in Congress.

Recycled water has been used for over 50 years in California. Recycling water is a safe way to preserve our natural water resource from the Delta by allowing reuse of tertiary-treated wastewater. The recycled water produced by the District meets the most stringent standards established by Title 22 California Code of Regulations. Extensive monitoring and testing is performed to ensure that this water supply meets the highest quality standards.

The California Energy Commission has approved construction of the 624-megawatt Oakley Generating Station Project on the old DuPont property on Bridgehead Road near Wilbur Avenue – as well as a power plant in Alameda County.

“Approving these natural gas power plants will help meet California’s growing energy needs,” Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert B. Weisenmiller said. “When these facilities come online they will provide reliable power for homes and businesses all around the East Bay.”

Natural gas-fired power plants facilitate the expansion of renewable energy power plants such as wind and solar because of their consistent and reliable power.

The environmental reports for the two projects said the facilities, as mitigated, will have no significant impacts on the environment and comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, and standards. The decisions were based solely on the records of the facts, which were established during the facilities’ certification proceedings.

Both reports determined that the records, which contain detailed environmental impact assessments required by the California Environmental Quality Act, were adequate. The records for the projects include the Energy Commission staff’s thorough independent assessment of the projects’ potential impacts on the environment, public health, and safety.

The Oakley Generating Station Project is being proposed by Contra Costa Generating Station, LLC, a limited liability corporation owned by Radback Energy, Inc. The proposed project is a combined-cycle electrical generating facility. The project is located on a 21.95-acre site in Oakley. Construction of the plant, from site preparation to commercial operation, will occur over a 33-month period.

The applicant has a purchase and sale agreement with PG&E to guarantee commercial availability of power by June 1, 2016.

On May 17 just after 10:30 a.m., Antioch police officers responded to a report of suspicious people in the area of Arbol Court in Antioch. As officers arrived on scene, the suspects were seen fleeing in a vehicle down Silverado Drive.

The vehicle was found a short time later abandoned on Grimsby Drive. As officers were searching the neighborhood for the suspicious subjects, it was discovered that the residence at 2436 Silverado Drive had been burglarized. The vehicle that fled the area with the suspects had property from that burglary inside.

An extensive area check was done, and one of the suspects, Rodney Lewis, 25, of Richmond, was found hiding in the backyard of a home in that area and taken into custody by patrol officers. Eric Wilson, 21, of Richmond, was later found trying to leave the area in a vehicle and was stopped by detectives who were also in the area.

Darryl Lewis, 23, of Richmond, was found trying to leave the neighborhood in a vehicle along with Wanisha Hall, 20, and Tashanique Brown, 21, both of Richmond. Those three were also stopped and detained by detectives in the area.

Rodney and Darryl Lewis and Eric Wilson were all positively identified by witnesses as suspects in the burglary, according to police. They were arrested and sent to County Jail on charges of Residential Burglary. Hall and Brown were found to be aiding in the escape of these suspects and were arrested as accessories and sent to County Jail.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department at (925)778-2441.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) are widening Highway 4 through Pittsburg and Antioch. As part of this construction work, the contractor for the Loveridge Road project needs to close all lanes on eastbound State Route 4 at Loveridge Road for several hours in the early morning for approximately four more weeks.

The work began Monday, May 2, 2011 and was expected to continue through May 20, 2011. After completing two weeks of the work, it has been determined that the contractor will not be able to complete the work until mid-June. This work is to ensure public and crew safety while crews are working to install rebar cages for the bridge structure at Loveridge Road.

The highway closure is taking place Monday through Friday beginning at 12:30 a.m. and continuing to 5:30 a.m. Eastbound Highway 4 at the Loveridge Road undercrossing will be closed to all traffic. The detour will be as follows: motorists will be directed off the highway at Loveridge Road and immediately back on the highway at the eastbound on ramp from Loveridge Road. Work may be rescheduled if there is inclement weather.

During the same time, the loop on ramp to eastbound Highway 4 from southbound Loveridge Road will be closed as well. The detour for this closure will be as follows: motorists will drive south on Loveridge Road, turn left on Leland Road, continue on to Delta Fair Boulevard, turn left on Somersville Road, then right on to Highway 4 east.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their commute. Please drive cautiously through the detour and leave a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the highways.