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No more birthright citizenship in the US: Trump seeks executive action to revoke right

USA USA and World

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.09

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President-elect Donald Trump has no intention of backing down on his campaign promises and has said that from day one in office he will seek to end birthright citizenship through an executive order that nullifies the right.

In a wide-ranging interview for NBC News' "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker," Trump again said that the United States is the only country that grants birthright citizenship, a fact that is completely false, as more than 30 nations grant such a right.

“We’re going to have to get it changed, or maybe it would go back to the people, but we have to end it. We’re the only country that has it,” he said, noting that he would achieve that through executive action.

“If we can do it, through executive action. I was going to do it through executive action, but then we had to fix Covid-19 first, to be honest with you,” Trump stressed.

The president-elect explained that he does not want to “break up” families through deportations, hence his decision.

“I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way to not break up the family is to keep them together, and you have to send them all back,” he said.

He also said that his administration's mass deportation efforts would focus on people with criminal records, but made it clear that it could go beyond deporting criminals, without specifying who the "other people besides criminals" would be.

“I think it should be done,” Trump said when asked by host Kristen Welker if he plans to deport all people who have entered the country illegally. “It’s a very difficult thing to do,” he said. “You know, you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally.”

The next president, who will take office as President of the United States on January 20, 2025, also said he was willing to work with Democrats to develop a plan to protect "dreamers," immigrants who were brought to the United States when they were children.

“We have to do something about the ‘dreamers,’ because these are people who were brought here at a very young age, and many of them are now middle-aged. They don’t even speak the language of their country. And yes, we are going to do something about it,” he said.

“I will work with the Democrats on a plan, and if we can come up with a plan, but the Democrats have made it very, very difficult to get anything done. The Republicans are very open to the Dreamers,” he added.

With information from CNN.

You may be interested in: Mexico reaffirms its support for its fellow citizens in the United States: “You are not alone”

Santa Clara County seeks to challenge Trump policies against vulnerable communities with bill

Santa Clara

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.09

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Officials of the Santa Clara County strongly support a new state bill introduced last week that aims to bolster funding available to local jurisdictions to legally shield residents from policies instituted by the incoming Trump administration.

Senate Bill X1-1, authored by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Scott Wiener, would provide $10 million in grants to county and city attorneys across the state to support the filing of civil actions against the federal government.

Among the things that are sought to be protected are reproductive health, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ civil rights, and the rights of immigrants and other vulnerable communities.

Santa Clara County General Counsel Tony LoPresti said the grants, if approved, would scale and align with internal county actions, such as the $5 million in additional immigrant advocacy funding approved by the Board of Supervisors last week.

The county is also conducting an intensive review of other measures that can be taken before the new president is inaugurated on January 20.

“What is happening at the state legislative level encourages us to prepare for the multitude of threats that are being fostered within the incoming administration,” LoPresti said.

“Local governments play a vital role in advocating for their residents, and that includes challenging policies through legal action; Senator Wiener’s proposal is a welcome aid in achieving those ends,” he added.

In addition to $10 million for local law firms, the bill would provide $25 million in grants to legal aid organizations that defend residents from issues such as deportation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom also proposed allocating $25 million to state agencies and the California Department of Justice as a defense fund against Trump's policies.

Notably, during Trump's first term, Santa Clara County fought against several Trump measures. Together with San Francisco, they challenged Trump's executive order to withhold funding from cities and counties that do not help him deport immigrants, and obtained the first injunction nationwide.

Santa Clara County and San Francisco also filed the first lawsuits to challenge Trump’s public charge rule, winning an injunction blocking the administration from requiring a wealth test for immigrants entering the country or seeking to adjust their immigration status.

Santa Clara County also joined Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City in supporting a lawsuit challenging a travel restriction targeting Muslim-majority nations.

Outside of the courts, during Trump’s first term, the county funded immigration legal services and programs to educate the community about their rights, launched the “One County, One Future” campaign, and implemented the Rapid Response Network, a community-based advocacy project developed to protect immigrant families from threats of deportation.

County Executive James R. Williams applauded the state’s efforts to secure funding and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to resist unjust federal actions.

“We are prepared to protect our community and we know this fight will require considerable resources,” Williams said. “It is encouraging to know that we have representatives at the state level who are equally committed to standing up to the attacks on our values that we know are coming.”

The state Senate is expected to consider Bill X1-1 in January 2025.

The funding would support the litigation activities of local civil prosecutors, including members of the Civil Prosecutors Coalition, which is comprised of many of California's largest city and county attorneys' offices, representing more than 40 percent of California's population and millions of residents across those jurisdictions.

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San Mateo County citizens will vote on whether to give supervisors the power to remove an elected sheriff

Community

sandra martinez

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2024.12.07

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San Mateo County citizens will vote on whether to give supervisors the power to remove an elected sheriff

remove a sheriff — Voting on whether or not to give supervisors the power to remove an elected sheriff, San Mateo County voters will be asked to determine whether or not they favor amending the county charter to grant the Board of Supervisors authority through Dec. 31, 2028.

A Special Election will be held on March 4, 2025, at which San Mateo County voters will be asked to determine whether or not they are in favor of amending the county charter to grant the Board of Supervisors authority until December 31, 2028, to remove an elected sheriff for cause.

Persons interested in presenting an argument in the primary for or against this measure have until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10 to submit their arguments to the Division of Registration and Elections, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo.

Those who are for or against the measure will be required to provide a list of their supporters or opponents for printing on the official ballot to the Elections Officer when presenting primary arguments for or against the measure, said Mark Church, chief elections officer and county assessor, councilman and recorder.

He also stressed that the list of supporters or opponents should be taken from the signatory or from the text of the argument for or against the measure.

Following the closing of the period for the submission of primary arguments, a 10-calendar-day public review period for primary arguments will open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20.

“During the 10-calendar-day public review period, the public has the opportunity to read and challenge the language of the primary arguments before they are published on the sample ballot and the county’s official voter information pamphlet. The primary arguments will be available for review in our office and on our website,” Church said.

This review period is the first of three separate public review periods in connection with the March 4, 2025 Special Elections.

Documents filed with the Registration and Elections Division will also be available for review at www.smcacre.gov/elections, in the Current Elections section.

It is worth noting that the public review period ends on December 16 at 5:00 p.m., and December 10-20 will be the period for the main arguments for and against the electoral measures.

Thus, from December 17 to 27, rebuttals to the main arguments for and against the electoral measures will take place, and the public review period ends on December 27 at 5:00 p.m.

During each 10-day public review period, the election official or any registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the election is being held may seek a writ of mandamus or preliminary injunction requiring that any or all materials be amended or removed if they are found to be false, misleading, or inconsistent with the Election Code.

Please note that the Registration and Elections Division will be closed from December 25 to 27.

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San Mateo County Sheriff Offered $1 Million in Exchange for Resignation

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.07

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San Mateo County Sheriff Offered $1 Million in Exchange for Resignation

Sheriff offered $1 million — Sheriff Christina Corpus offered $1 million after high-profile fight between San Mateo County and the sheriff.

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Luego de una mediática lucha entre el condado de San Mateo y la sheriff del mismo, Christina Corpus, por una investigación independiente que la acusa de abuso de poder, represalias, intimidación, homofobia y racismo en su oficina, el ayuntamiento ha ofrecido a Corpus 1 millón de dólares y cuatro años de cobertura médica a cambio de su renuncia.

This according to the media ABC 7 News, quien precisó que fuentes cercanas a la negociación entre el condado y Corpus le dijeron al reportero Dan Noyes del I-Team que, tras el rechazo de la alguacil y su abogado a esta oferta, el Ayuntamiento ofrecería más dinero.

El fiscal del condado de San Mateo, John Nibbelin, dijo que no confirmaría lo que se supone que son conversaciones confidenciales entre abogados.

Sin embargo, la cadena de noticias precisó que cuando se contactó el viernes por la noche con la sheriff Corpus, esta no quiso hacer comentarios sobre el informe, pero anteriormente la alguacil ya había dicho al medio que estaba “disgustada” por la campaña en su contra y que no renunciaría a su cargo como sheriff del condado de San Mateo.

Apenas este martes pasado, la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de San Mateo disparó otra salva en su batalla en curso contra la sheriff Christina Corpus cuando votaron para seguir adelante con una enmienda a la carta que les permitiría destituirla de su cargo.

The board voted 4-0, with Supervisor David Canepa absent, to approve the second reading of an ordinance placing the amendment on the March 4 ballot so voters can decide whether supervisors should be allowed to expand their authority to fire Corpus.

A Corpus se le acusa de tomar represalias contra los empleados de la Oficina del Sheriff, usar insultos racistas y homofóbicos y darle demasiado poder a su jefe de personal civil, Victor Aenlle, a quien la investigadora independiente y jueza jubilada LaDoris Cordell encontró en su informe de 400 páginas que tenía una relación personal inapropiada con la alguacil, una acusación que Corpus niega.

Corpus has repeatedly rejected calls for his resignation that have come from the board and from local, state and federal leaders such as U.S. Reps. Kevin Mullin and Anna Eshoo, state Sen. Josh Becker and Assemblymembers Marc Berman and Diane Papan.

Since Corpus took office in 2023, more than 100 sworn employees have left the Sheriff's Office and she has been the subject of votes of no confidence by unions representing her department's deputies, sergeants and lieutenants.

Si bien los supervisores votaron a favor de seguir adelante con la medida, también acordaron extender una invitación formal a Corpus para que se explique bajo juramento frente a la junta en su reunión del 10 de diciembre.

Si es aprobada por una mayoría simple de votantes en el condado, la enmienda permitiría a los supervisores destituir al sheriff con un voto de cuatro quintos “por causa justificada, incluyendo la violación de la ley relacionada con los deberes de un sheriff, negligencia flagrante o reiterada de los deberes, malversación de fondos públicos, falsificación intencional de documentos u obstrucción de una investigación”.

It would also require supervisors to give written reasons for their dismissal and hold a hearing before the vote.

The charter amendment would expire on Dec. 31, 2028, ending the board's ability to fire the sheriff.

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There have been 193 aftershocks from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake recorded this Thursday in Cape Mendocino, California

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.06

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There have been 193 aftershocks from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake recorded this Thursday in Cape Mendocino, California

aftershocks of the California earthquake — There have been 193 aftershocks since the California earthquake, since the strongest quake occurred on Thursday morning, with aftershocks ranging from 2.1 to 4.7 magnitude.

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Following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake recorded Thursday morning in Cape Mendocino, California, 193 aftershocks of lesser intensity have been recorded in the area, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Since the strongest tremor struck Thursday morning, aftershocks have ranged from magnitude 2.1 to magnitude 4.7.

The December 5 magnitude 7.0 Cape Mendocino earthquake occurred approximately 100 km southwest of Ferndale, California, off the coast of Northern California, in the vicinity of the Mendocino Fracture Zone.

According to the USGS, this earthquake occurred near the Mendocino triple junction, the region where the Pacific, North American and Juan de Fuca/Gorda plates meet.

The quake occurred at 10:44 a.m. off Cape Mendocino in Humboldt County and the National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning that was later canceled shortly before noon.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said in an update Thursday night that damage assessments are ongoing throughout the county, but no major earthquake-related damage has been reported so far.

Earlier in the day, Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties that authorizes state agencies to enter into contracts to quickly assist with any emergency response in the counties and allows fairgrounds and state property to be used for shelters and other efforts.

According to the USGS, there is a 53 percent chance of one or more aftershocks greater than magnitude 5 occurring during the next week.

"The number of aftershocks will decrease over time, but a large earthquake may temporarily increase the number of aftershocks," the agency said.

The focal mechanism solutions, he said, indicate that the rupture occurred as a result of a tear fault on a steeply inclined fault that trends east-southeast or north-northeast.

The location, depth and fault mechanism indicate that this event likely occurred at or near the Mendocino Fracture Zone, an east-southeast-trending fault zone that forms the boundary between the Pacific Plate to the south and the subducting Gorda Plate to the north, he added.

The agency noted that earthquakes are common in the region around the Mendocino triple junction because oblique motion between the southern Juan de Fuca/Gorda plate and the Pacific plate causes north-south compression within the Gorda plate and right-lateral translation along the plate boundary.

In the past century, there have been at least 40 other earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater, including five earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater, within 250 km of the December 5, 2024, earthquake. These previous earthquakes occurred primarily along the Mendocino transform fault, in the Cascadia subduction zone, or within the Juan de Fuca/Gorda plate.

With information from Bay City News.

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Mexico reaffirms its support for its fellow citizens in the United States: “You are not alone”

USA USA and World

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.06

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Durante la primera visita del canciller de México, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, al consulado general en Dallas, Texas, el canciller anunció que México refrenda su respaldo y apoyo a connacionales en Estados Unidos. Foto: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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El canciller de México, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, refrendó este jueves el respaldo y apoyo del gobierno mexicano a los connacionales en Estados Unidos, durante su primera visita de trabajo al consulado general en Dallas, Texas.

El funcionario encabezó diversas reuniones para fortalecer la estrategia de atención y protección integral que se brinda a través de la red consular a los mexicanos radicados en este país.

“Estoy aquí para transmitirle un mensaje muy claro a toda la comunidad de mexicanas y mexicanos en Estados Unidos: no están solos, nuestra red de servicios consulares está preparada para apoyarlos y protegerlos ante cualquier eventualidad”, precisó el funcionario, quien instruyó a los consulados a eficientar los servicios que brindan, atender las necesidades de los connacionales y dar respuestas rápidas, ofreciendo un trato más cálido.

En este sentido, informó que la próxima semana comenzará el proceso de digitalización de algunos de los servicios que más se demandan en los consulados como actas de nacimiento, matrimonio y defunción, lo cual permitirá brindar un mejor servicio a los connacionales.

El canciller De la Fuente, quien viajó hasta esta ciudad por instrucciones de la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, se reunió con los once cónsules del país radicados en el estado de Texas, de Oklahoma y Albuquerque, y saludó a representantes de la comunidad mexicana, a quienes reiteró que la defensa de sus derechos humanos es una prioridad para esta administración federal.

De igual manera, el funcionario conversó con abogados aliados y del Programa de Asistencia Jurídica a Personas Mexicanas a través de Asesorías Legales Externas en los Estados Unidos de América (PALE), para planear la defensa de las y los mexicanos en el norte de Texas, así como las estrategias legales para hacer valer sus derechos.

A través del programa PALE, 232 familias mexicanas asentadas en Dallas han recibido asesoría y representación legal para la defensa de sus derechos y regularizar su estatus migratorio.

Como parte de esta visita, y en compañía del jefe de la Unidad para América del Norte, Roberto Velasco, y el cónsul general de Dallas, Francisco de la Torre, el canciller se reunió con mujeres líderes mexicanas quienes compartieron sus historias y las aportaciones de cada una a la comunidad hispana residente en Texas. De la Fuente les transmitió el compromiso de México de velar por los derechos de la comunidad migrante.

Asimismo, el canciller visitó y recorrió el Centro de Procesamiento de la Oficina del Servicio de Control de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE) en Dallas, para conocer, de primera mano, los procesos que siguen en dicho centro para garantizar que los derechos humanos de los connacionales sean respetados en todo momento.

En una atención a medios, el canciller destacó el esfuerzo que está realizando el Gobierno federal para combatir al fentanilo, a través de una nueva estrategia de seguridad, como quedó demostrado con el reciente decomiso de esta droga en territorio nacional el cual no tiene precedentes en la historia de este opioide.

Finalmente, De la Fuente se reunió con directivos de empresas de inversión mexicana en Estados Unidos, donde generan miles de empleos, con el propósito de fortalecer y generar puentes de entendimiento en la relación comercial bilateral.

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Colleen Chawla, San Mateo County's new health chief

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.06

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Colleen Chawla, San Mateo County's new health chief

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County Executive Mike Callagy announced Thursday the appointment of Colleen Chawla as the new chief of San Mateo County Health, the largest department in the organization.

“I am very excited to introduce Colleen to our community. She brings tremendous enthusiasm to take on this leadership role that has a huge impact on so many of our residents,” Callagy said. “Her extensive experience in executive and health leadership will serve the county and community well today and in the future.”

Chawla comes to the Peninsula from Alameda County Health, where she has served as agency director since 2017.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is expected to confirm Chawla's appointment on Tuesday. Chawla will take office Feb. 18, 2025, as head of a department with 2,200 employees and an annual budget of $1.3 billion.

Chawla attributes her interest in health policy and administration to her volunteer work more than three decades ago for an AIDS information hotline.

“That volunteer position marked the beginning of a career in health policy and public health, sustained over the years by the things I care most about: the right to health, equity and justice, and managing public trust,” Chawla said.

Chawla emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Louise Rogers, who has served as health chief since 2015. Rogers announced this fall that she would retire after 22 years of serving in numerous leadership roles at San Mateo County Health.

“I have known Colleen for many years,” Rogers said. “Together we have navigated many of the challenges of the pandemic as Bay Area health directors and she has always been calm and thoughtful in the face of everything that has come our way. She also seems to find grace and a sense of humor, as is often needed. I will retire with great confidence that the County Health Department is in good hands.”

Chawla holds a master's degree in public administration/health services administration from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Southern California. Prior to joining Alameda County, she held several positions during her 13 years with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, including deputy health director.

As Alameda County health director, Chawla has overseen 1,900 employees and a $1.2 billion annual budget in a county with a population more than twice that of San Mateo County.

The agency’s portfolio includes public health, behavioral health, environmental health, and housing and homelessness. One key difference: San Mateo County operates its own public hospital, San Mateo Medical Center; Alameda County has a separate agency that operates its public hospitals and clinics.

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No date for agreement: Half Moon Bay councilors fail to finalize Kelly Project 555

Emma Garcia

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2024.12.04

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No date for agreement: Half Moon Bay councilors fail to finalize Kelly Project 555

Kelly Project 555 — Proyecto Kelly 555 se encuentra en conversación entre los miembros del miembros del Ayuntamiento de Half Moon Bay, los concejales señalaron que, debido a que aún se está negociando un contrato de arrendamiento entre la desarrolladora Mercy Housing y la ciudad, dejando sin fecha fija para un acuerdo que finalmente permita que trabajadores agrícolas de edad avanzada obtenga.

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El martes por la noche, miembros del Ayuntamiento de Half Moon Bay celebraron una reunión a puerta cerrada sobre el Proyecto 555 Kelly. Sin embargo, los concejales señalaron que, debido a que aún se está negociando un contrato de arrendamiento entre la desarrolladora Mercy Housing y la ciudad, dejando sin fecha fija para un acuerdo que finalmente permita que trabajadores agrícolas de edad avanzada obtengan una vivienda asequible.

Así, el proyecto que nació a raíz del tiroteo de 2023, donde siete trabajadores agrícolas murieron y una más resultó lesionada, parece no tener resolución en el horizonte.

Entre los concejales, estaba Patric Johnson, miembro entrante al Concejo, que dijo que aún estaba informándose sobre el proyecto 555 Kelly y que, dado que aún se estaban llevando a cabo las negociaciones, no se sentía cómodo hablando sobre el asunto, pero que tendría más que decir de cara al 2025.

Una fuente que asistió a la reunión a puerta cerrada, explicó que al proyecto 555 Kelly aún le queda un largo camino por recorrer antes de que se pueda poner la primera piedra.

Y es que, precisó que el proyecto aún tiene que trabajar en la recaudación de dinero para construir y explotar el edificio. Además de negociar un contrato de arrendamiento que satisfaga las necesidades de la comunidad.

Menos de una docena de personas asistieron a la reunión del Ayuntamiento de Half Moon Bay de este martes. Al cabo de una hora, la gente empezó a marcharse, dejando la sala del concejo casi vacía y fría hacia el final.

La reunión del concejo duró alrededor de dos horas e incluyó actualizaciones sobre nuevas leyes como la SB 423 y la SB 35, entre otras. Esencialmente, estas leyes exigen que se desarrollen más viviendas asequibles, al tiempo que buscan reducir el lapso para obtener un permiso de construcción, y exigen que el Ayuntamiento elabore una norma clara y específica sobre qué diseños de estructuras están permitidos.

Estas nuevas leyes entrarán en vigor en menos de 30 días. El Ayuntamiento teme que las empresas urbanizadoras que tienen mucho dinero intenten entrar en Half Moon Bay y construir estructuras que no se ajusten al ambiente y el encanto de la ciudad. Por ello, el concejo acordó reunirse nuevamente y aprobar una norma temporal sobre el aspecto que debe tener la arquitectura y el estilo antes de que la ley entre en vigor, y revisarla al entrar 2025.

A su vez, se retiró el punto 1E para debatir si la ciudad debe continuar su contrato de alquiler con Kathy Oler. Half Moon Bay lleva alquilando el estacionamiento del 730 de Mill Street desde 1998 y quiere renovarlo por otros 5 años.

Sin embargo, la concejal Debrah Penrose expresó que quiere que el estacionamiento se convierta en en uno con parquímetro. No quiere que la ciudad asuma el coste del alquiler de un estacionamiento debido a que los pequeños comercios no quieren pagar una tasa por tener estos espacios de manera gratuita para sus clientes.

A la concejal Penrose también le preocupa que el estacionamiento lo utilicen principalmente los empleados y no el público. Sin embargo, el administrador municipal, Matthew Chidester, dijo que en el momento en que pidió a las empresas locales que contribuyeran con una cuota para este espacio, no estaban en condiciones de hacerlo.

En general, la ciudad acordó permitir al administrador municipal, Matthew Chidester, que siguiera adelante haciendo lo que considerara mejor, con la condición de preguntar a la propietaria, Kathy Oler, si la ciudad decide añadir parquímetros en el futuro.

El concejo terminó la noche con una actualización del presupuesto, que parecía ir por buen camino, y aprobando la 2ª enmienda al acuerdo de empleo del administrador municipal con Matthew Chidester para aumentar el salario base anual de 272 mil 950 dólares a 281 mil 138.50 dólares.

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New labor contracts approved for San Mateo County employees

Community

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.04

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New labor contracts approved for San Mateo County employees

employment contracts — New labor contracts were approved, including a five percent raise in each of the next two years and a four percent raise in 2026.

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San Mateo County supervisors on Tuesday approved new three-year labor contracts with the county's largest employee unions.

The new contracts include a five percent raise in each of the next two years and a four percent raise in 2026. Employees will also receive additional contributions toward health care premiums.

“Our residents expect the highest quality public service and we firmly believe that we have the best public service workers in the state,” said the board president, Warren Slocum.

“These wage increases will help us ensure that we can retain and attract a workforce that will continue to serve our community now and in the future. We are truly investing in the people who make our community run smoothly,” he added.

The covered bargaining units include the county’s two largest unions: the Service Employees International Union Local 521, as well as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. These unions combined represent 3,690 regular employees and 1,140 employees on additional help.

Supervisors also approved new resolutions for managers, attorneys and unrepresented confidential employees who are not covered by union contracts. These new resolutions closely reflect the changes made in the new union contracts.

All workers covered by the contracts and resolutions will receive two wellness days, which encourage employees to take time off to focus on their health. All workers will also receive Cesar Chavez Day as a paid holiday beginning in 2025.

Employees covered by the SEIU contract and resolution with managers, attorneys, and unrepresented confidential employees will receive three days of “winter break” at the end of December 2024, 2025, and 2026.

The contract with SEIU Local 521 includes a wide range of job classifications, including accountants, library assistants, office specialists, criminal records technicians and election specialists, among others.

Positions covered by the AFSCME contract include cardiac sonographers, epidemiologists, forest rangers, veterans services officers and child services workers, among others.

The contracts approved by the supervisors add up to approximately $57 million in additional spending in the first year of the agreements.

Under all agreements, employees would receive an additional 1 percent pay increase in 2026 (up to 5 percent) if legislation is signed ensuring the county receives the full amount of the vehicle license fee adjustment. This is an ongoing dispute between the county and state officials with tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue at stake annually.

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CARE program for people with schizophrenia expands to all California counties

Pamela Cruz

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2024.12.04

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The Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program is now open in all California counties to help the most severely ill people with untreated or undertreated schizophrenia get the life-saving treatment and housing they need to stabilize, recover and thrive.

CARE Court was implemented statewide through a phased approach that began last October. The first locations to open CARE Court opened in October 2023 and included Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Glenn and Tuolumne counties; Los Angeles will open in December 2023, San Mateo in July 2024 and Kern in October 2024.

“Finding treatment, housing and support for Californians with the most serious mental illnesses has been a top priority of my administration, and I am proud to see the early successes of this innovative new model,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

And, CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson said, “Starting today, all 58 counties are offering this new pathway to safety and well-being for Californians with some of the most complex behavioral health needs.”

The CARE Act builds relationships and trust between people who need the most care and those seeking it, including families, behavioral health and outreach professionals, hospitals, first responders, public defenders, and legal services attorneys. CARE also includes a special civil court that protects your rights and focuses on progress toward recovery.

First results

Initial results from CARE Court’s early implementation demonstrate that the program is having a significant impact in addressing some of the most severe cases of mental health crises on California’s streets, the state said.

She added that in the nine counties where CARE Court has already opened, the program is providing hundreds of people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders with crucial treatment and housing plans.

More than 1,400 people have connected to CARE Courts or county services directly, according to preliminary data.

CARE Court’s path to recovery is bolstered by $15.3 billion in state funding to address homelessness and $11.6 billion annually in behavioral health services.

In September, Governor Newsom signed SB 42 by Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) to streamline county and court implementation of the CARE Act by improving the petition process, facilitating communication between petitioners, respondents, judges, and county behavioral health departments, and strengthening CARE as a means to ensure long-term stabilization of participants.

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