Eviction protections extended | Farmworkers rally for unions | Study shows Prop. 47 saves CA millions

By Angel Huracha,

Published April 1, 2022 at 8:46 AM PDT

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Friday, April 1.

Lieutenant gov. signs legislation extending eviction protections

On the final day of Women’s History month, California’s lieutenant governor became the first woman in state history to sign a bill into law.

Gov. Gavin Newsom left the country Wednesday night for a family vacation, leaving lieutenant governor Eleni Kounalakis to take over official duties.

She signed legislation extending eviction protections through June for the hundreds of thousands of people who’ve applied for rent relief but haven’t received it yet. She also signed a bill allowing military and overseas voters to apply for same-day voter registration.

In a statement, Kounalakis said she was humbled to be the first woman in California history to sign legislation. She added that she’s determined to ensure she’s not the last.

— CapRadio Staff

How California’s new composting law will affect residents in the North State

California’s new residential composting law went into effect in Jan. of this year, but many residents in the North State are still uncertain about how and when it will affect them.

SB 1383 requires that all residential and commercial food waste be recycled in the same way yard waste is now.

Paul Rosynsky is with Waste Management, a garbage collection and recycling company serving much of Northern California.

“The biggest change with SB 1338 is the fact that food scraps and food soiled paper should be separated from your trash and placed in what will be called the organics bin,” he said.

Rosynsky said local trash collection agencies will advise customers before the program begins in their areas. Some rural and low population counties may be allowed to opt-out of the program initially if they meet certain criteria.

— Ken Devol, NSPR

Farmworkers rally for more protections on César Chávez day

Farmworkers rallied throughout the state Thursday to call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to support a bill they say would give farmworkers a fair shot at joining unions if they want to.

Federal protections exclude agricultural laborers from the right to choose if they want a union, but in California farmworkers can decide that through an election overseen by The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB). Maria Garcia, a longtime farmworker, said the problem is that those elections generally take place at their work sites.

“Colleagues are afraid of retaliation, because supervisors are watching them when they vote,” she said.

Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay), is proposing legislation that would allow farmworkers to vote in elections by mail or by dropping their sealed ballot off to the ALRB.

In the state's $60 billion agricultural industry, farmworkers continue to be among the lowest-paid and are especially vulnerable to heat illness and toxic wildfire smoke.

— Farida Jhabvala Romero (KQED), The California Report

Study finds Prop. 47 saved state $600 million in costs

More than seven years after its passage, Proposition 47 has saved California $600 million in prison costs, according to a new report by a Bay Area nonprofit. Proposition 47 reclassified many non-violent offenses as misdemeanors, such as drug possession and property crimes. That resulted in far fewer people being sent to prison, according to the report.

"We're spending $3,000 a person compared to $100,000 a person for prison," said Maureen Washburn, a senior policy analyst for the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. "It's extremely cost effective and the results are strong."

Washburn said some 40,000 Californians have benefited from the savings in the form of substance abuse, mental health and housing services.

— Tara Siler (KQED), The California Report

Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.

In other news

Motorcyclist dies in North Lake crash: “A Coffee Creek man reportedly died of injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash Wednesday evening near Coffee Creek. According to a California Highway Patrol report Thursday morning, officers were dispatched to the area of Carville Pond off Highway 3 at 4:35 p.m. for a report of a solo motorcycle crash and that bystanders were doing CPR on the rider.” — The Trinity Journal

Redding police surround apartment of man armed with a meat cleaver: “Redding police spent several hours Thursday trying to get a man armed with a meat cleaver and threatening neighbors to come out of his apartment.” — Redding Record Searchlight

Chester Fire resumes full operations: “Chester Public Utility District Manager Adam Cox announced this evening that the district has resumed full operations at the Chester Fire Department effective immediately, March 31, 2022, after having worked diligently to secure adequate liability coverage to protect the community.” — Plumas News

Middle Fork Feather River open under modified closure: “The Plumas National Forest has modified Forest Closure Order 05-11-00-21-06 to reopen the Middle Fork of the Feather River to recreational use.” — Lassen County Times

Man allegedly flees courthouse in fraud appearance: “A man facing felony charges related to 2019 construction fraud in Paradise after the Camp Fire allegedly fled the Butte County Superior Courthouse on Wednesday.” — Chico Enterprise-Record

Child killed by vehicle in Red Bluff Wednesday night: “A child was struck by a vehicle and killed Wednesday night on Kimball Road in Red Bluff.” — Red Bluff Daily News

Sutter County COVID-related death reported: “As cases and hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to remain at lower levels than at previous times during the heights of the pandemic, health officials reported one death related to the virus for the past seven days on Wednesday.” — The Appeal Democrat