$5.7 Billion Opioids Settlement with Walgreens • 2023 Capitola Parking

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

$5.7 Billion Opioids Settlement with Walgreens

On Dec. 12, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $5.7 billion multistate set-tlement agreement in principle with retail pharmacy chain Walgreens to address its role in fueling the opioid epidemic.

The settlement would resolve allegations the company failed to appropriately over-see the dispensing of opioids at its pharmacies and could bring more than $500 million for California to fight the harms caused by the opioid epidemic.

The announcement comes on the heels of last month’s announcement of a proposed $3.1 billion settlement with Walmart to resolve similar claims.

“To all those struggling with substance abuse disorders, to all those desperately in need of treatment and recovery options — help is on the way,” Bonta said. “The California Department of Justice is working to bring valuable funding to our state’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis from the companies who once chose profits over the well-being of our communities.”

Funds from the settlement will be divided among participating states, local governments, and tribes. The vast majority of settlement funds must be used to combat the opioid crisis, including by providing treatment and recovery services to people struggling with opioid use disorder.

California would be eligible to receive up to approximately $510 million.

The settlement would also have courtordered injunctive relief requirements to help prevent such a crisis from happening again: • A Controlled Substance Compliance

Program to ensure compliance with

injunctive terms, train employees, and help prevent drug diversion; • A requirement to investigate and resolve prescriptions with potentially suspicious “red flags” before dispensing; • Site visits and compliance reviews of individual pharmacy locations; • An agreement to provide unblinded

“867” sales data from the company’s distributor to drug manufacturers, to help identify and prevent drug diversion.

An executive committee of attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas have served as the lead negotiators on this deal. The settlement has been endorsed by the executive committee, attorneys representing local governments, and Walgreens.

Terms of this agreement go to the states for their review. Each state has until the end of 2022 to join.

If sufficient states sign on, the agreement will go to local governments around the country for sign-on during the first quarter of 2023.

California is assessing the terms of a similar settlement agreement with retail pharmacy chain, CVS.

To date, California’s DOJ has secured $30 billion through nationwide settlements against opioid manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Mallinckrodt; distributors Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen; and consulting firm McKinsey & Company. n

Funds from the settlement will be divided among participating states, local governments, and tribes. The vast majority of settlement funds must be used to combat the opioid crisis, including by providing treatment and recovery services to people struggling with opioid use disorder.

2023 Capitola Parking Permits

Parking permits for 2023 are available for purchase.

Village and Neighborhood Parking Permit renewals can be submitted by mail.

Village and Neighborhood Parking Permits

There are four types of residential parking permits — each with different rules and guidelines.

Parking permit requirements are strictly enforced.

Seasonal Neighborhood Parking Permits

Enforcement runs May 20 through Sept. 20

Coffee and Surf Permits

Capitola offers a Coffee and Surf permit that allows a vehicle to park in the Village from 8 am to 10 am, 7 days a week. You do not have to be a resident of Capitola.

This permit is available for purchase at the Capitola Police Department, 422 Capitola Ave., during regular business hours.

The number of permits is limited.

Due to popularity, this permit is only sold in person, mailed requests not accepted, “first come, first serve” and one per customer.

For questions call the Capitola Police Department Business Office MondayFriday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., excluding holidays at (831) 475-4242.

For requests to renew by mail and guidelines, see https://www.cityofcapitola.org/police/ page/2023-parking-permits •••

CASA’s New Program Director

Nicole Irigoyen has joined CASA of Santa Cruz County as program director. She is passionate about uplifting and upholding human rights, particularly the rights of marginalized groups. She has previously worked to prevent gender-based violence, end the school-to-prison

Nicole Irigoyen pipeline through policy change, and create dialogue through restorative practices.

Irigoyen was prevention education director with the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center, then deputy director at Rancho Cielo, a 100-acre ranch that serves as a learning and social services center for underserved and disconnected youth in Monterey County.

She is in her final semester of obtaining dual master’s degrees in public administration and education management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. •••

Jobs in Santa Cruz County Sector Nov. 2022 Change from Nov. 2021

Government 23,400 Up 1,300 Private education 17,800 Up 600 & health Manufacturing 7,700 Up 200 Other 4,800 Up 200 Trade/transportation/ 16,800 Up 100 utilities Professional/business 10,900 Up 100 services Construction 4,900 Up 100 Information 600 0 Financial 3,300 0 Leisure/hospitality 12,600 Down 100 Nonfarm 102,800 Up 2,500 Farm 6,000 Down 300 Total 108,800 Up 2,200 ~~~ Labor force 134,500 Up .2% Employment* 128,600 Up .8% Unemployment 5,900 Down 10.5% Unemployment rate 4.4% 4.9%

Count is on the 12th of the month *Includes commuters out of the county

Source: California Employment Development Department

Unemployment in Santa Cruz County rose from 3.6% in October to 4.9% in November as the labor force declined from 136,700 to 134,500.

Before November, unemployment has hovered around 3.8% for the three months, compared to 17+% in 2020, fueled by pandemic restrictions.

Santa Cruz Community Health and Dientes are hiring for positions at their new complex at 1500 Capitola Road, Live Oak.

Construction, a typically higherpaying sector, is healthy with nearly 5,000 jobs. So is manufacturing, which tops 7,500 jobs.

•••

New Planning Commissioners

With two new City Council members, there are two new faces on fivemember Planning Commission. Each council member gets one appointment.

Gerry Jensen, who finished fourth behind incumbent Yvette Brooks, Alex Pedersen, and Joe Clarke, is a new appointee along with Paul Estey.

Returning are Courtney Christiansen, Susan Westman, and Peter Wilk. Departing are Mick Routh, a former mayor, and Ed Newman.

City Hall will be closed for the holidays, Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 2. The next City Council meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. This is one hour earlier than before. n