Law Would Bring in $140M Annually To Help Bring Safe Water To California Communities
While state and federal funds and loan programs intended to help communities solve their water problems currently exist, there is an operations and maintenance gap. The proposed legislation would attempt to close that, though some worry it still won't bring in enough money.
The California Health Report:
Californians With Unsafe Tap Water May See Relief With Budget Trailer Bill
Every month, Bartolo Chavez goes to the Arvin Community Services District building to pay his water bill for the home he and his wife live in. But he doesn’t use that water for drinking or cooking. To drink, he buys bottled water. For cooking, also bottled water. This the way of life in Arvin, where the tap water has been in violation of state health standards for arsenic since 2006. “It’s very hard,” said Chavez, 22. “We buy water to drink and cook with, and I also pay my water bill every month. Basically I have to pay two bills.” (Morones, 6/14)
In other news from Sacramento —
The Mercury News:
How VTA's Human Trafficking Awareness Training Inspired A State Assembly Bill
A state assembly bill would make a human trafficking awareness training modeled after the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority’s procedure mandatory for public transportation workers across the state. Inspired by the VTA training started in 2015, the bill aims to equip public transit workers with the skills to identify and report signs of human trafficking in and around transit systems. (Lam, 6/14)