County Grants: Winners & Losers, By Jondi Gumz

COMMUNITY NEWS

County Grants: Winners & Losers

By Jondi Gumz

There were winners — and quite a few losers — in the Santa Cruz County process to award nearly $6 million to nonprofits to provide services the county doesn’t — and the losers are distressed. • United Way’s Cradle to Career got $770,089. • Meals on Wheels, a program of Community Bridges, got $436,221. • Semillitas College Savings Accounts, an initiative of Santa Cruz Community

Ventures, got $436,221. • South County Housing Collaborative (Community Action Board of Santa

Cruz County) got $338,798. • Second Harvest Santa Cruz County got $241,680 for equitable access to food & nutrition. • Dientes Community Dental Care got $208,998 for equitable dental care. ~~~ • Live Oak Family Resource Center,

La Manzana Resource center, Nueva

Vista Family Resource Center, and

Mountain Community Resource

Center in Felton, all programs of Community Bridges, got $0. • Elderday and Liftline, two more programs of Community Bridges, both got $0. • WomenCARE (support for women with cancer), under the umbrella of

Family Service Agency, got $0 • Suicide Prevention Service, under the umbrella of Family Service Agency, got $0.

These services were funded a year ago. What gives? Why are services deemed valuable last year no longer worthy of county funding? It’s all about the process.

The decision arises out of the Collective of Results and Evidence-based investments process adopted in 2015, county spokesman Jason Hoppin said.

The process, which uses a panel of independent reviewers (see names in box), prioritizes Thriving Families and Health & Wellness.

Numerically, 32% of the money went to Thriving Families and 31% to Health & Wellness.

Then 13% for Stable Affordable Housing & Shelter, 12% for Economic Stability & Mobility, 7% for Lifelong Learning & Education and 3% each to Safe & Just Community and Community Connectedness.

The city of Santa Cruz uses the same process to focus its investments.

The two governmental entities are awarding $545,000 more compared to a year ago.

In all, 78 organizations filed 128 applications seeking $15,179,382.

Several agencies submitted multiple requests, and 47% came from new applicants.

The county encouraged new applicants, the goal to achieve equitable health and well-being.

With requests more than double available dollars, “many highly rated proposals,” Hoppin wrote, “unfortunately could not be recommended for funding.”

When the recommendations appeared on the county supervisors’ agenda, more than 100 people emailed them, pleading for mercy for the nonprofits that save

Who Recommended Grants?

Community Members: John Flaniken, Jerry Souza, Linda Wilshusen, Emily Balli, Gail Goudreau, Mary Thuerwachter, Nancy Kashap, Tobias Paige, Antonio R. Rivas, Anne Sawicki

Philanthropy: Katarina Elizabeth Czarniak

Researchers: Loren White, National Association of Broadcasters, Christine Megariotis, UC Santa Cruz

Community Agency: Rebecca Skinner, Cabrillo College, Vicki Boriack, First 5 Santa Cruz County, Priscila Bacio, Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County, Tony Gardner, Homeless Action Partnership, Dana Bunnett, Kids in Common

City of Santa Cruz Staff: Annalise Bryant, Heidi Luckenbach, Larry Imwalle, Michael Lelieur, Morgan Bostic, Tiffany Lake, Robert Oatey.

City of Watsonville Staff: Adriana Flores, Raunel Zavala

County Health Services: Amy Peeler, Andrea Solano, Anthony Jordan, David Davis, Joel Ginsberg, Karen Kern, Lisa Gutierrez Wang, Najeeb Kamil, Shelly Barker, Alicia Morales

County Human Services: Bridget Semlek, Carol Crisman, Dean Kaufman, Gricelda Vazquez, Irma Marquez, Jessica Cirksena, Jessica Scheiner, Julia Sheehan, Karina Aragon, Katy Chevalier,. Monica Lippi, Olga Zuniga, Robin Luckett

Other County Staff: Sarah Shea (Parks), Sara Jamison (Probation)

County Staff Elsewhere: Kat Woolbright, Alameda, Sun Hyung Lee, Alameda, Jessica Regala Paran, Marin, David Dobrowski, Monterey, Matt Green, Solano, Oscar Chavez, Sonoma

Tier

Small

Proposals & Recommended $

This chart shows scores of funded proposals and the minimum funded score

Proposals Funded Highest Ave Minimum

25 15 93 64 68

Medium 89 32 98 73 84

Large Targeted

All

11 5 90 82 88 2 1 81 70 81

127 53 98 72 n/a

Source: County of Santa Cruz

lives, keep families in Santa Cruz or offer a service not available elsewhere.

“The $2.2 million shift from existing programs to new programs will disrupt the lives of thousands of low-income people and kick them ut of the services they need,” predicted Karen Delany, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County.

Hoppin pointed out Community Bridges got the second largest award.

Also, its funding request was cut by $816,778, according to Community Bridges, which is searching for a new kitchengpt Meals on Wheelse as its lease with the Live Oak School District at the Live Oak Senior Center is expiring after 45 years.

“We must ask the simple question of how many families will be served under the new recommendations,” wrote Ramon Cancino, Community Bridges CEO, whose organization hosted a press conference June 7 in protest.

Cancino said he would discontinue the “sliding scale program” for child care families, lose 32 subsidized child care slots and likely close one center.

Hours at the family resource centers will be cut by 50%, he said, and no center will be open more than 3 days a week. Afterschool programs will be reduced, along with counseling and eviction support.

“Elderday will go into a structural deficit for three years until we can find a solution,” he added. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

He said his programs stepped in to serve CZU fire families and took the lead on vaccine outreach, making 25,000 calls and 4,000 appointments.

Capitola parent Tania Ryan emailed to support Community Bridges and especially the Live Oak Family Resource Center, which helped her find Soquel Nursery School for her 2-year-old when she was new to the county.

“Do not drive families out of Santa Cruz County to seek work elsewhere because county and city funding is not designated for childcare,” emailed Melanie Sluggett, a child care administrator at a local school district.

David Bianchi, executive director of Family Service Agency, tallied the county losses for his agency at $121,000, and $53,000 in lost city funding

They include: WomenCARE, $15,000, Suicide Prevention, $16,000, Survivors Healing Center, $25,000, Senior Outreach, $22,000, I-You Venture, $15,000, and counseling, $28,000.

He said Suicide Prevention, I-You Venture, WomenCARE and Survivors Healing Center had merged with Family Service Agency to become cost-effective and that the programs had an “exemplary record of meeting all benchmarks, outcomes and levels of satisfaction to these vulnerable target populations.”

“I don’t know if I would be alive today without their affordable services,” emailed Elky (last name withheld by Aptos Times).

Eva Brunner, a volunteer with WomenCare for nearly 20 years, explained it became clear in 2011 WomenCare could not sustain on its own, and the Family Service partnership allowed WomenCare to survive and thrive.

She added, “Even through the pandemic, WomenCare has not skipped a beat providing services – because cancer has not skipped a beat.”

Randy Peyser emailed, “WomnCare provides a light in the vast darkness, helping women cope with the hardest experience of their lives.”

Two residents pointed out the void for San Lorenzo Valley.

Nancy Macy, Boulder Creek resident since 1974 and a former president of the Valley Women’s Club, said the funding budget “failed” San Lorenzo Valley by not recognizing the importance of Mountain Community Resources, founded by Valley residents. “Keep the volunteers involved,” she advised.

“The recommended recipients offer no programs that take place in the San Lorenzo Valley, home to over 25,000 citizens,” emailed Nancy Gerdt of Felton. n

“COVID Update” from page 7

AB 1419: To prohibit the representative of a minor from inspecting the minor’s patient record when the records relate to medical care related to the prevention or treatment of pregnancy. Passed by Senate. This bill goes with SB 866.

SB 1184: To authorize a health care provider or plan to disclose your child’s medical information to a school-linked services coordinator without parent consent. Passed by Senate. In Assembly.

SB 1479: To mandate Covid testing plans at schools. Passed by Senate. Assembly Health Committee hearing June 14.

AB 1797: To create a state immunization tracking system and give schools and other entities access to all vaccine records. Passed by Assembly. Senate Health Committee hearing June 22.

AB 2098: To classify a physician or surgeon disseminating or promoting misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19 as unprofessional conduct and grounds for discipline. This is supported by Sen. Richard Pan, a physician, and opposed by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. Passed by Assembly. In Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Commitee

To track bills, see https://leginfo. legislature.ca.gov

With SB 871 pulled by the author, Gov. Newsom is delaying plans to mandate Covid vaccine for school children until July 2023.

New workplace rules adopted in California require unvaccinated and vaccinated workers to be treated the same; no mask mandate for the unvaccinated. Employees testing positive can return to work masked five days later.

Omicron has a shorter incubation period then the early coronavirus variants.

Airline Mask Policy

If you’re flying Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, or United, masks are optional. Masks may be required at airports. For airlines elsewhere, check https://www.afar.com/magazine/ which-airlines-require-masks

Airline masks became optional in the U.S. after a federal judge in Florida on April 18 voided the mask mandate ordered by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for airlines, trains and buses on Feb. 3, 2021.

The Justice Department appealed at the CDC’s request but did not ask for a stay, which would have reinstated the mandate.

In a 48-page document filed Tuesday in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Justice Department contends argues the masking order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention i “falls easily within the CDC’s statutory authority.”

The brief said, “None of the district court’s quarrels with the CDC order comes close to showing that the CDC has acted outside the ‘zone of reasonableness.”

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled in favor of Health Freedom Defense Fund and airline travelers Ana Carolina Daza and Sarah Pope.

Mizzelle wrote that historically, public health has been regulated at the state level, and the 1944 law on which the mask order was based has no clear language that Congress intended the CDC to take over.

To read Mizzelle’s ruling see https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/ show_public_doc?2021-01693-53-8-cv

Santa Cruz County, which updates its dashboard on Monday and Thursday, reports 1,705 active cases, on the rise but down from the January peak of 10,000.

Omicron Less Deadly

The Omicron variants are less deadly than the Delta variant, which raged in 2021.

Santa Cruz County reported 39 Covid deaths after Omicron, compared to 225 as of Dec. 15, before Omicron.

One statistic is similar: 79% to 81% of those who died had medical conditions.

Why do people fear Omnicron?

They may have a medical condition (diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure).

Half of Americans do, so they are at higher risk for severe Covid illness.

So are people 85 and older.

California reports 83.7% of residents age 5 and up have had at least one shot.

On the CDC Covid tracker, Santa Cruz County reports 91.2% of residents age 5 and up have at least one shot and 83.2% fully vaccinated.

Pajaro Valley Schools

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District, where the school year has ended, reports 29 active student cases and 20 staff cases in June. Aptos High has two student cases and 5 staff cases. Aptos Junior High has 5 student cases and zero staff cases. Mar Vista Elementary has 1 student cases and zero staff cases. Rio Del Mar Elementary and Valencia have zero cases.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, with Inspire Diagnostics, has provided 532,400 tests.

Cases in local schools peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropped to 44 on April 1, rose to 1,025 on May 23 and dropped to 442 on June 11. The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% on January, dropped to .79%, then rose to 5.4% and 11.38%.

Fully vaccinated means having two shots (Pfizer or Moderna) or one Johnson & Johnson shot. All were developed for the initial Wuhan Covid-19 strain.

For Omicron, a booster shot is needed after the Pfizer vaccine, because protection against hospitalization wanes after three months, a Kaiser Permanente study of 11,000 hospital admissions and emergency room visits found.

Adverse Effects Database

In a 2022 report in the Journal of American Medical Association online, Dr. Matthew Oster of the CDC reported the government’s VAERS database received 1,991 reports of myocarditis after one dose of mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine and 1,626 met the CDC’s definition for probable or confirmed myocarditis.

Oster’s conclusion: “The risk of myocarditis after receiving mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines was increased across multiple age and sex strata and was highest after the second vaccination dose in adolescent males and young men. This risk should be considered.”

Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but some are skeptical about relying on science from drug-makers, which saw profits rise in 2021. They point to the U.S. government database, https://vaers.hhs.gov/, where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine.

The reporting site was created after Congress passed a law in 1986 protecting vaccine manufacturers from civil personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vaccine injuries.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law allowing him to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies such as vaccines unless there’s “willful misconduct” by the company. This protection lasts until 2024.

The VAERS database lists reports of injuries after a vaccine, but there’s been no follow-up study to evaluate if the injury was cuased by a vaccine.

Renz Law, representing military whistleblowers, sued the federal government to lift the vaccine mandate for military personnel and appeals for passage of legislation repealing immunity for vaccine manufacturers.

“If vaccines are truly safe and effective no one should oppose this,” the lawsuit reads.

After mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were mandated for the military in 2021, cases of heart attack, pulmonary embolism, cancers, and myocarditis spiked dramatically, according to the Defense Military Epidemiological Database queries by the whistleblowers.

The Department of Defense’s responded that a glitch in the database affected the data from 2016-2020.

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart, which can lead to clots, a stroke or heart attack.

Testing

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education offers drive-though testing for students, staff and families at:

Cabrillo College, Aptos, Parking Lot K, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

See: https://tinyurl.com/get-tested-santa-

cruz.

Booster shots: https://myturn.ca.gov/

Vaccine providers: www.santacruzhealth. org/coronavirusvaccine.

Local information: www.santacruzhealth. org/coronavirus or (831) 454-4242 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

Total COVID cases: 1,705

••• COVID Deaths: 264 As of June 13 Age 85 and older: 114 • 75-84: 62 • 65-74: 46 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 214 • No: 50 Race White 152 • Latinx 89 • Asian 16 Black 3 • Amer Indian 1 Hawaiian 1 • Another 2 Gender Men: 136 • Women: 128 Location At facility for aged: 116 • Not at a facility: 148

Plenty of Free Customer Parking

Wilder Associates Inc.

Property Management Specialists 662-0291

Kumon Math & Reading Center

Learning for the Long Run 508-8200

Village Liquors

For All Your Beverage Needs 688-5691

Joy of Movement Pilates & Gyrotonic®

More Zest for Life 688-8077

Epicenter Cycling

Trek Bicycles for All Types of Riders 662-8100

Dentistry for Animals

Dr. Judy Force, DVM 768-7148

CQENS

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