Tri County Sentry

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The Tri County’s Only Multicultural Newspaper

The Tri County’s Only Multicultural Newspaper

TRI TRICOUNTY COUNTY

ENTRY ENTRY VOL. XXVIII NO. 19

MAY 8, 2020

Investigation finds Molina used keyboard warfare against Oxnard n See page 3

MAY DAY 805 OXNARD HONORS ESSENTIAL WORKERS

AS PEOPLE FACE FINANCIAL RUIN, EDD SHOWS ITS INEPTITUDE

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com

Oxnard-- It was a caravan laced with hope and determination, May 1, as May Day 805 Oxnard gathered at the Food 4 Less parking lot, determined to make a difference for essential workers in the community.

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com

T

HE event, hosted by the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Energy (Cause), the Future Leaders of America, the Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats (The GOOD Club) the Oxnard Chapter of the Association of Mexican American Educators and others celebrated workers and immigrants for their contribution to the community each year. n May Day, see page 6

Oxnard-- As people face layoffs due to the Coronavirus, the state’s lifeline, The Employment D e v e l o p m e n t Department (EDD) in the State of California,

has dragged its feet when it comes to paying benefits.

Residents look to the state EDD as an insurance policy in the event of a disaster; residents are being denied benefits when they need them the n EDD, see page 8

Oxnard City Council removes administrative functions from Molina

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com Oxnard-By a majority vote, the Oxnard City Council voted to remove all administrative functions from City Treasurer Phil Molina after a dramatic report of his actions while in charge of the treasurers’ office, May. 5.

The item drew a heated

exchange between Molina and City Manager Alex Nguyen, and public comments, as Molina accused the city of wanting someone they can keep under its thumb.

City Attorney Stephen Fischer said the Nguyen took action under his authority about the administrative actions of the city treasurer.

“Before the council is an ordinance and two

(Courtesy photo)

City Attorney Stephen Fischer.

resolutions that bring the city code and prior resolutions into conformity with the structuring of functions, updating the delegation of authority for signatures and approvals of financial transactions,” he said. “The reduction of the city treasurers’ salary will be consistent with the reduction of functions.”

Assistant City Treasurer

Eden Alomeri will be the dedicated license collector for licenses and permits, like the bingo permits, and the or­ dinance allows another officer, other than the trea­ surer, to complete those duties.

The treasurers’ benefits will mirror city council benefits at the start of the next term. n Molina, see page 7

2

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

NEWS Frosted Thoughts

The party of intolerance exists in 2020

By Chris Frost chris@tricoun­tysen­try.com Oxnard-- I can’t help but comment on Michigan Democratic State Representative Karen Whitsett, who got censured from her party for thanking President Donald Trump for making hydroxychloroquine available, which she said saved her life.

T

RUMP invited her to the White House and speak about her experience and did not ask her about her political affiliation.

The next thing you know, she’s ostracized from her party because she thanked Trump. If that’s the direction we’re heading, you have to worry about freedom of speech. This is the kind of

thing that happens in places like China or North Korea, and now it’s happening here because Whitsett said thank you.

In 1997, I got seriously sick due to complications from diabetes, and I ended up in intensive care for a week.

Doctors and nurses stabilized my blood sugar, and they kept a close eye on my heart rate as they told me that it was “very unstable.”

When I got discharged, I bought the staff gifts and a thank you card.

It never entered my mind to say, hey, before I buy you guys anything, are you Republicans or Democrats?

It’s stupid, immature, and embarrassing to think that,

as a society, we have to check our political affiliations before expressing gratitude.

Trump isn’t running against just Biden; he’s also running against the Democrats, the party of

hate, and the media who ask the president if he deserves to be re-elected after the worst disaster in history and make every question a speech.?

If you G o o g l e “Did the Democrats destroy the economy to win the election”, the results show a never-ending stream of headlines that say things like the Trump presidency is sinking. Is that an objective non-partisan headline? No, it’s biased and one-sided.

If you’d like to see some history, ask Roseanne who got fired from her own show for posting a tweet about a Democrat, while Samantha

Did the Democrats destroy the economy to win the election Bee comments on Ivanka Trump, and only had to apologize.

Obviously, there is a severe double standard here, and that is nothing compared to the double standard in play when it comes to Joe Biden and Tara Reade. You don’t walk out of a press conference like Nancy Pelosi did last week.

If you can investigate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and dredge his life through the mud, the least you can do is check on Joe Biden. That’s fair and honest. Unfortunately, that does not seem to matter in the party of hate.

We call it the way we see it, and we live in no one’s back pocket at the Tri County Sentry. We are fair and honest, and that’s that.

3

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

NEWS Investigation finds Molina used keyboard warfare against Oxnard

By Chris Frost nicated with the Assistant chris@tricoun­tysen­try.com Chief Financial Officer after Oxnard--The investigation against City Treasurer Phil Molina is complete, and it paints a damning picture of his actions, which led to the report.

A

FTER prepon­ de­ran­ce of the evidence, the report reveals that Mo­ lina interfered with the investigation and commu­

he was told not to and made inappropriate com­ments concerning female employees’ attire stereotypical female roles and sexual innuendo.

Molina’s action violates the city’s sexual harassment policy.

The report, prepared by Jorge J. Luna of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya & Romo, examines allegations against City Treasurer Phillip Molina in detail.

The firm began its investigation into Molina on Aug. 27, 2019, after several

LOVE YOUR DAD!!!

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The Tri County’s Only Multicultural Newspaper

The Tri County’s Only Multicultural Newspaper

TRI TRICOUNTY COUNTY

ENTRY ENTRY

Send him a special message on his special day!!!

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(Courtesy photo)

City Treasurer Phil Molina

individuals and departments complained against Molina.

Luna concluded that Molina improperly accused and investigated employee 1 for theft in connection with a shortfall in parking lot money related to the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp during the summer of 2019.

Molina’s actions violated the city’s personnel rules and regulations.

Luna interviewed a finance department employee, number one, a treasurer’s office employee, number one, the Assistant City Treasurer and Revenue Accounting Manager, the finance department employee, number 2, the Assistant Chief of Police, number 1, the

Purchasing Manager, the Information Technology Director, and Chief Information Officer, finance department employee number three, Treasurer’s Department employee 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the Public Works Director, Assistant City Manager, the City Manager’s employee, number 1, and the Cultural and Community Services Director.

Additionally, the firm interviewed the Deputy City Manager, Community Development Employee, number 1, treasurer’s employee number nine, Molina, and the treasury supervisor, treasurer’s office employee 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 the city manager, public works employee number one, the police department commander and assistant chief of police two, the assistant chief financial officer, the controller, and senior manager of internal control and the management accountant auditor.

“The city and its representatives allowed the Investigator complete discretion to conduct the investigation as he determined to be necessary,” Luna wrote.

“The Investigator was given complete access to all requested witnesses and documents, with the exception of Mr. Molina’s refusal to appear for a second interview session.”

The report asked if Molina interfered with the investigation with the assistant chief financial officer after being told not to do so. Did he circulate an email that included details about this and another investigation into his alleged conduct?

The investigator found that Molina interfered with the investigation in three aspects.

“First, he interfered by communicating with the Assistant Chief Financial Officer after being explicitly directed not to do so in his Notification of Investigation,” Luna wrote. “He interfered by meeting with members of his department to discuss the investigation after being directed not to do so in his Notification of Investigation.

Five members of his staff stated they found these meetings intimidating and inappropriate. Finally, he interfered by circulating an email discussing this and another investigation into his alleged conduct. Each of these acts would reasonably impact an individual’s willingness to participate in the investigation openly and to provide information related to the allegations. As such, each qualifies as an independent act of interference. Mr. Molina’s interference with the investigation affects his n Investigation, see page 8

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TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

SENIOR Savvy Senior

How the Coronavirus Relief Law Helps Retirement Savers and Retirees Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about the retirement account changes that Congress recently passed in response to the coronavirus crisis?

Seeking Answers Dear Seeking, Tucked into the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, that President Trump signed into law in late March were a series of changes that can help retirement savers in need of cash, as well as help preserve the retirement savings accounts of current retirees while the stock market is down. Here’s a rundown to how three provisions in the CARES Act might help you, or someone you know.

Hardship Withdrawals Normally, if you took money out of an employersponsored retirement plan or IRA before 59 ½, you’d be hit with taxes and a 10 percent tax penalty on that amount. But the CARES Act waives the early distribution penalty on up to $100,000 of such distributions in 2020 for what the law calls “affected individuals.” You are, however, still on the hook for income taxes on any amounts withdrawn, but the new law allows you to pay them over three years.

To qualify for this penaltyfree hardship withdrawal, you must either have been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19), have a spouse or dependent diagnosed with it or experienced adverse financial consequences as a

result of being quarantined, furloughed, laid off, having work hours reduced, being unable to work due to a lack of child care due to COVID-19, or closing or reducing hours of a business you owned or operated if you had COVID-19.

Bigger Loans The CARES Act will also

allow you to take larger loans against the money you’ve saved in your 401(k) or 403(b) during the sixmonth period after the law was implemented, which was March 27. IRAs do not allow loans.

Normally, you can borrow only up to $50,000 or 50 percent of your vested account balance, whichever

is less. The CARES Act will double that: up to $100,000 against the amount you’ve saved in your plan.

Borrowers typically have five years to repay a loan or the amount will be treated as a distribution and taxed. But you also need to know that if you leave or lose your job, you may be required to pay back the balance early, or

owe taxes and, possibly, an early-withdrawal penalty.

This prevision also helps those with an existing 401(k) loan by allowing them to delay repayments that are due in 2020 for one year.

Suspended RMDs Starting in 2020, individuals who turn 72 n Savvy Senior, see page 5

CORONAVIRUS HEROES | POLICE WORK

Law Enforcement Officers Law enforcement workers have some of the toughest jobs in America any time, but the difficulties and potential dangers of police work have only gotten more complex in the current pandemic.

Law enforcement authorities have taken on a major role in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Police officers have been under pressure to make sure shelter-in-place laws are being followed while still maintaining good relations with the community.

This means most officers are going to be face-to-face with multiple people in one day who may or may not be carriers of the virus.

Despite the importance of a police officer’s job, they largely don’t have many extra precautions they can take to protect themselves from catching a virus. In fact, the only defense they have is washing their hands, avoiding touching their face, and keeping a distance of six feet from other people, just like the rest of the population is advised to do. And due to the nature of their job, sometimes they have to be much closer to people than they would like.

This cannot be said

© ADOBE STOCK

enough: police officers are on the front lines, risking their lives, to protect other United States citizens. They are at risk of getting sick, just like everyone else, but they put others before themselves in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus and keep their communities safe.

The coronavirus is new territory for everyone, but at least doctors and nurses are well-informed on the behavior of the virus. Police officers and other law enforcement workers aren’t typically medical experts. Most of them are having to take this situation

one step at a time, and they don’t have the luxury of staying home and avoiding contact with others.

ROLE CHANGING

Much like every other profession in America has adapted, law enforcement has changed its operations to better suit these trying times.

Some departments are focusing on breaking up small gatherings that pose health risks. Others are changing the way they respond to typical service calls to minimize the risk of getting or spreading infec-

tions.

According to a CNN report, many police departments are closing their front desks to avoid spreading germs in public places. Some, such as the Syracuse Police Department in New York, have said they will not respond in person to non-urgent calls.

Others are encouraging people to report criminal incidents via online portals.

The Arlington County Police Department in Virginia, for example, is encouraging citizens to use its online reporting system for non-violent

incidents such as theft, credit card fraud, vandalism or vehicle tampering, according to the CNN report.

STILL SERVING

Even in a pandemic, though, police officers are responding in a way that keeps communities safe and orderly.

If a crime requires an immediate response, or citizens are in danger of imminent harm, it’s America’s brave and often under-appreciated police officers who will show up, ready to help, as always.

5

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

SENIOR

Smash Burgers This week I am going to de­ monstrate to you how to make a twist on an American clas­ sic, the Ham­burger. A Smash­Bur­ ger takes a hamburger and smashes it into a thin patty.

This creates a textural explosion of crispy bits and soft tender parts. It Is a heavenly treat that is quick and easy to make, albeit a little messy.

Ingredients for 2 quar­ ter pound Burgers • 8 oz Ground Beef • 4 slices of cheddar cheese • 2 Rolls • Neutral Oil • 2 Tbsp Ketchup • 2 Tbsp Mayo • Salt (to taste) The Cook 1.

Form beef patties into 2 ounce balls. I use 100% all beef patties (90/10) fat content.

2. Heat a pan on high heat. I love cast iron but any pan will technically work.

3. Once pan is visibly hot with some smoke you are ready to lay down some oil. I use cano­la or vegetable oil.

4. Place the beef balls on the oil and with a spatula smash from the center of the ball until the patty is ¼ inch thick all the way around. Your

10. Once cheese is melted, rolls are toasted, and sauce is made it is time to assemble the burger.

Roll, 2x Patty and Cheese and Fry Sauce.

11. EAT! *Note: you can add any of your favorite burger ingredients as you please.

I particularly like to grill onions and mushrooms.

Connor Forbes is a home-cooking Dad making delicious meals for his family. Growing up in Southern California, his cooking utilizes a lot of fresh produce, meats, and other locally sourced ingredients. California grows it all! So, he cooks with it all. If you would like to see more recipes and meal ideas follow him on Instagram @connor. cooks or visit his website www.connor­cooksfood. com.

patty may not be perfectly round. This is totally fine!

The jagged edges get nice and crispy and make this a SmashBurger.

5. Salt Patties.

6. Cook untouched for 3-4 minutes on High to get a great sear.

7. Flip patties and cook

for 1 more minute before adding a slice of cheese to each patty.

8.

While cheese is melting, toast rolls directly on the pan. I love to use Hawaiian rolls.

9. Mix ketchup and mayo together to make fry sauce.

Savvy Senior continued from page 4

are required to take annual mandatory distributions from their tax-deferred 401(k)s and IRAs. In prior years, this requirement kicked in after savers turned 70½

years of age. This is known as the required minimum distribution or RMDs. The CARES Act suspends RMDs for 2020, including those for inherited IRAs, which means

you can skip taking your required distributions this year if you wish.

The one-year waiver of RMDs will help retirees, who would otherwise have

been forced to base their minimum withdrawals for 2020 on their account balances as of Dec. 31, 2019, when the stock market was near record levels.

‘Is this ever going to end?’

By Marian Wright Edelman FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT EMERITA Recently actor Will Smith conducted a video interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci, our nation’s leading expert on the White House Coronavirus Task Force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in which Dr. Fauci answered several questions from children and teenagers.

Dr. Fauci explained what COVID-19 stands for, what coronaviruses are, and what makes this one different and dangerous. He answered 7-year-old Ava’s questions about whether the tooth fairy can still visit (yes!) and whether the tooth fairy could catch the virus from people (no!). Another girl asked if she and her brother can still go outside for walks (yes, but stay six feet away from other people). Eventually 16-yearold Jaelynn asked a question many of us have: “Is this ever going to end, or is this something we’re going to have to be doing for a good portion of our lives?”

Dr. Fauci told Jaelynn: “I have confidence that this is going to end.” He continued: “I don’t think it’s going to go away completely…but we are working on a vaccine, and I believe that when we have enough baseline immunity in the community that this is something you’re not going to have to worry about for the rest of your life. It’s tough now, and it may be tough for another year, but this something that will go away. I promise you.”

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TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

NEWS May Day continued from page 1

The caravan traveled from Oxnard to State Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin’s office in Camarillo and asked that Governor Gavin Newsome cancel rent while honoring essential workers who are struggling because of COVID-19.

CAUSE Community Organizer Nidia Bello said the May Day caravan is vital for everyone.

“We work with farmworker families, and we see that rent is a huge problem for them,” she said.

“They’re essential workers and risk their health by going to work every day.

They get paid low wages,

have to pay for child care, and have trouble buying groceries. They’re going into debt to pay rent, so we need to be here today.”

They (CAUSE) are asking Newsome to cancel rent for millions of families who are struggling and need relief.

“Farmworkers are one of the most impacted groups because of COVID-19,” she said. “A lot of them can’t apply for unemployment or any kind of assistance.”

Newsome approved funds for undocumented workers, and she called it a significant first step.

“That would only help about one-in-five

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: 21ST CENTURY

undocumented families,” she said. “We have about 7,000 people on the waiting list.”

Roni Miranda and Dolly decorated her car for the trip and said any event that supports front line workers is vital.

“They’ve been working throughout this whole pandemic,” she said. “They show up and deliver the goods to our stores so we can eat and have fresh food.

There is a different event going on today that is trying to force the state open. It’s not lost upon me, the irony of it, they want to open the state, and these people are still working. They are

marginalized from the relief efforts that still aren’t coming to the people who need it.

Rent is due, and they have to stay home and educate their kids because there is no school. They’re at risk, and they are going out and are subject to compromised health conditions.”

GOOD Club President Steven Auclair said it’s important they recognize the essential workers.

“We often think about doctors, paramedics, and nurses that we certainly support, but our focus today is grocery workers and farmworkers who put their lives on the line to give us

ACROSS 1. A bit cracked 5. Traitor’s blow?

9. Cause of Princess’ downfall 12. Hawaiian tuber 13. Prospector’s mother?

14. Heavy footsteps 16. “Iliad” or “Odyssey” 17. Caribbean color 18. Frustration, in print 19. *Proponent of colonization of Mars 21. Small island 22. *Edmond Halley’s apparition, 2061-2062 23. Expression of disgust or recoil 24. *2007 “Invention of the Year” 27. Give satisfaction 31. Neither a win nor a loss 32. Having no courage 35. Medicinal houseplant 36. Dodge, as in a tax bill 38. Take the gold

food,” he said. “We want to raise awareness that many of these workers don’t qualify for traditional government assistance that many of us rely upon.”

Auclair wants Newsome to provide more money for undocumented workers because they are an essential part of the economy.

“I recommend an article that came out yesterday called the undocufund, and there are 7,000 families on the waiting list,” he said.

The GOOD Club had to shift all its political activities online because of COVID-19. n May Day, see page 11

39. Anti-seniors sentiment 40. Immigrate 41. Bold and without shame 43. Take illegal drugs 44. Adverb of steep 46. Tower of London guard 48. *Legalized in many states 49. Cambodian monetary unit, pl.

51. Gift toppers 53. *Major spring 2020 occurance 56. *23andMe unit 57. Baron Munchhausen, e.g.

58. Original thought 60. Not yes or no 61. Nobel Peace Prize home 62. Long forearm bone 63. Formal wear, colloquially speaking 64. *Review service 65. *Walter White’s concoction DOWN 1. Polished off

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

2. Mock or make fun of playfully 3. Seed covering 4. Late Baroque 5. *Harvey Weinstein’s new home, slangily 6. Part of chef ’s uniform 7. Sunbaked, archaically speaking 8. Bird’s groomer 9. Opposite of knit 10. Competitive advantage 11. Combustion product 14. Boreal forest, in Russia 15. *Number sign turned metadata tag 20. Time being 23. Coffin alternative 24. Agenda entries 25. Turning point 26. Launch or throw 27. *Millennials’ followers, for short 28. One hipbone 29. “Madagascar” predator 30. *Site of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi/Houthi conflict 33. Best-laid plans often go ____ 34. Roman road 37. *Sites with no easy access 39. Anoint 41. Sandwich with acronym name 42. Ophthalmologist’s prescription quantity 45. Wild West group 47. Os 49. Pay hike 50. All told 51. One of the Bridges 52. December stone 53. Clever tactic 54. Opposite of busy 55. Copper coin 56. Greenwich-related acronym 59. Expression of pleasure

7

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

NEWS Molina continued from page 1

Nguyen presented background on the item and gave some detail about how the city decided to address this matter with the council.

He said the city received complaints from two employees who alleged that Molina engaged in workplace harassment and bullying.

When the city gets those complaints, they must take them seriously, and it has a legal obligation to investigate any claims of harassment or bullying.

“Mr. Molina was provided with formal written notice of the investigation and was instructed to cooperate and not interfere with the process,” Nguyen said. “These are standard directives given to anybody who is the subject of an investigation. They are necessary to preserve the integrity of the investigation and protect the employees who made the complaints.

Mr. Molina ignored the

instructions and contacted one of the complainants, outed her publically, and he spoke to witnesses who were about to be interviewed. These actions violated the written instructions given to Mr. Molina, and it was his effort to compromise the integrity of the employee complaint and investigation process. I believe it was an attempt to intimidate the complainants and potential witnesses. His actions, in my mind, were a flagrant violation of the city’s harassment, complaint, and investigation procedures and caused me to remove his administrative duties, temporarily.”

When the investigation concluded, Nguyen said seven of the nine allegations were correct, and he was forced to separate Mr. Molina’s administrative duties permanently.

“This is necessary to protect the city’s employees

from Mr. Molina’s behavior and protect the integrity of our personnel policies, and the integrity of our complaint and investigation process,” Nguyen said. “I want to be clear about this. Had this been a case about any other executive or manager at any level, the city would have fired the person.”

The investigator interviewed 41 city employees across multiple departments and ranks, including the city manager’s office, the finance department, the police department, the information technology department, code compliance, public works, community services, community development, and 16 employees in the treasurer’s department.

“The investigation also reviewed numerous relevant documents,” Nguyen said.

“Mr. Molina has been trying to make this all about the city manager and how I want to be the king of Oxnard or how I am a dictator and how this is about some power struggle between him and me, and how I have a vendetta against him.”

Nguyen pointed out that he has been the city manager for less than two years, and doesn’t know how or why he would have a vendetta against anyone in the organization.

“There is no dispute or power struggle between myself and the city treasurer,” he said. “We are here tonight because this is about Mr. Molina, his behavior, how he treats city employees, and how he consistently disregards all the rules. It’s clear to me that since he’s an

elected official, he is above the rules and the law.”

Nguyen read from the 83-page report and read that Molina interfered with the investigation and made inappropriate comments about female employees’ attire, stereotypical female roles, and sexual innuendo in the workplace that violated the city’s sexual harassment policies.

“The investigator did find that Mr. Molina did improperly investigate city manager employee number one for theft in connection with a perceived shortfall in parking lot money related to the Dallas Cowboys training camp,” Nguyen said. “The investigator found that Mr. Molina engaged in keyboard warfare, using misleading copy or blind copy to various individuals, including members of the public to enhance his image at the public works department’s expense, which violated the city’s personnel rules.”

Molina did not exceed the scope of his position as treasurer by engaging a review of accounts payable, the register of checks, and holding those checks, including those checks requested by the public works department, that he determined lacked sufficient funding and supporting documentation.

“Mr. Molina exceeded the scope of his position, as treasurer, by weighing in on procurements and exceeded his position by injecting himself into general accounting issues that are the finance department’s exclusive responsibility,” Nguyen said.

The city does not tolerate any retaliation against anyone taking part in an investigation, Nguyen said, and Molina was ordered to refrain from any conduct that would be perceived as retaliation.

“During the interviews,

16 individuals in his office, including Mr. Molina, did confirm that he held meetings with members of their office to discuss anticipated interviews in the investigation,” Nguyen said.

“Treasurer’s office employee number two stated that I don’t think it should have happened. I think it was unprofessional, and I’m pretty sure it was against the rules of the whole confidentiality agreement. I don’t feel like his lawyer will be there to protect us. I feel like the lawyers are there to protect him. That’s what I took from that.”

She felt intimidated by Molina calling her in for a meeting.

“A little bit because he knows I’m coming, and he’ll probably hear what I said,” Nguyen said.

She did not fear specific retaliation against her but stated that he is someone who would retaliate.

“Clearly, he looks like it,” Nguyen said. “I get that vibe from his meeting and his email. That’s his form of retaliation.”

Treasurers’ office employee number three stated during her interview that she’d seen retaliation happen.

“As a basis of her concern, treasurers’ office employee number three identified Mr. Molina’s meetings with staff and said it was intimidating,” Nguyen said. “It’s kind of like, hey, we’re going to know what you are going to say.”

Nguyen said he’s heard the city has lost good employees because of his behavior, and it has to stop.

“I have removed all administrative duties from Mr. Molina, as well as removing him from the treasury department,” Nguyen said. “He’s now permanently located on the second floor of city hall.”

For the complete story, visit tricountysentry.com.

8

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

NEWS EDD continued from page 1

most.

Adding to the misery is the department itself, that provides no explanation for refusing benefits, which makes it almost impossible to appeal the decision. EDD is not accepting phone calls, and its online portal for questions provides no direct answers.

An appeal can take up to 30 days, which means no money.

As independent contractors file for pandemic insurance, the state continues to drag its feet and does not acknowledge receipt of the claim.

Meanwhile, approximately 3.9 Californians have filed for benefits, with only 9 percent receiving anything.

The Tri County Sentry reached out to the media relations department at EDD and asked the following questions, based on the experiences encountered by employees seeking relief: 1. Alternate Base Period (ABP) program requires the Employment Development Department (EDD) to use more recently earned wages to calculate monetary eligibility for new Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims for unemployed individuals that

do not qualify for a UI claim using the Standard Base Period. A) Is the current base standard the quarter ending Dec.31, 2019? B) If so, why does it not include the quarter from Jan. 1-March 31? C) If a company only employed an employee during the last quarter, Jan. 1-March 31, would EDD not use the alternative base period instead of denying the claim?

2. Many who filed for unemployment and have been denied, have filed appeals.

What is the turnaround time for a determination? If an applicant requests a hearing before an administrative law judge, what is that timeframe?

3. Many who have been denied benefits or have not had their claims processed have no source of income. Some have been out of work since early April. Families are desperate for money for basic living expenses. What can EDD do, if anything, to expedite these claims? Additionally, I have seen a determination letter that says you’ve been awarded no money, with no explanation as to why. The whole idea behind an appeal is pointing out to the reviewing body why the

original decision was in error.

If you don’t know the facts on which the decision was based, it’s virtually impossible to provide evidence as to why the decision was incorrect.

2. On Tuesday, April 28, the EDD indicated that those not eligible for traditional unemployment might qualify for PUA and opened the application process. The website indicated that claims would be processed within 24-48 hours. To date, we’ve spoken to numerous people who applied on the 28th, yet still have not received a response. What is the actual time frame?

3. During an April 13, Town Hall, Senator Henry Stern encouraged his constituents to use the “Ask EDD” feature on the website. He assured that inquiries would be responded to quickly. The Tri County Sentry submitted a question the same day (not as media but as an employer who has laid off staff and had a legitimate inquiry). To date, nearly two weeks later, there’s been no response. Is EDD responding to questions received through the link? If so, what is the timeframe for responses? If

not, why not remove it?

4. During the same Town Hall, Senator Stern indicated that EDD’s working hours had been increased to a full 8 hours a day. Yet, callers are instructed that the hours of operation are only until noon. Have normal operating hours resumed, and if not, when is that expected?

With no answers from the EDD, the Tri County Sentry reached out to Assembly Member Monique Limon’s office and asked the following questions: How much money did California budget for EDD this fiscal year, 2019-2020, and how much money has been paid to applicants?

Additionally, the Tri County Sentry asked if the statehouse added money to the fund to meet the unexpected need.

Jorge Reyes Salinas from Assembly Member Monique Limon’s office sent my questions to EDD about the budgeted amount in the current fiscal year, but they didn’t respond.

“There has not been an additional increase in the EDD budget allocation,” he said.

“There was the allocation from

the legislature for COVID-19, but I don’t see dollars listed. I did hear that California has now applied for a loan from the federal government for EDD since EDD is federal dollars.”

From there, the paper asked the same questions to Senator Henry Stern and asked if the EDD is out of money.

The Tri County Sentry received no response once again.

Meanwhile, one resident, who asked not to be identified, is out of money and patience.

“I filed for unemployment the day I got laid off, April 1, and got a determination letter that said I get no benefits at this time,” the resident said.

“This is nonsense. If I don’t qualify for benefits, let me know why. I can deal with honesty, but this seems like a bad idea during an election year to have a secret plan. It is not going away, and you can bet there will be a whole bunch of us working on voting these people out of office.”

If you would like answers to these questions, call the office of Governor Gavin Newsome at 916-445-at 916-445-2841.

Financial Officer on six different occasions by email, directly or by copying her.

“The undisputed facts, including Mr. Molina’s admissions during his interview, show that Molina knew that he was not to communicate with the Assistant Chief Financial Officer during the pendency of the investigation and he nevertheless communicated with her six times after receiving the directive,” Luna wrote. “Mr. Molina demonstrated a complete disregard for the directives issued in connection with this investigation. Second, the preponderance of the evidence supports the

conclusion that his conduct would have a negative impact on the Assistant Chief Financial Officer in terms of her willingness to share information related to this investigation or to participate otherwise fully. Since Mr. Molina failed to comply with the simple instruction not to communicate with the Assistant Chief Financial Officer, she could reasonably fear that he would also fail to comply with the directive to refrain from any retaliation.

Such conduct would likely have a chilling effect on the Assistant Chief Financial Officer.”

After Molina learned that human resources were

scheduling meetings with his staff, he confirmed that he held separate and smaller meetings with his staff so the investigation wouldn’t pull them all off the floor at once and calm the team down.

“The HR Director and one of the City Attorneys came into the department without letting me know they were coming, handed envelopes to people, without telling me that they were gonna do that,” he said. “As a department head, I would’ve thought that they might’ve let me know.

They scared people because a few months earlier, the City Manager had fired seven video employees, and people were scared. Are these letters

– are termination letters – what’s going on?”

Molina admitted that none of the staff came to him, indicating that they were scared. Instead, he claimed that he concluded that they were scared “because of the look in their eyes, the look in their face, concern about what’s going on.”

Molina confirmed that it was not his intent to intimidate the staff or to interfere with this investigation. As to this latter point, Mr. Molina repeated that “I told them to tell the truth. That’s all I said.

‘Please tell the truth.’”

Investigation continued from page 3

credibility and the weight to be given overall to his statements.”

City Manager Alex Nguyen issued a memorandum of understanding to Molina on Sept. 10, notifying him of the investigation.

Nguyen directed Molina to have no contact with the Assistant Chief Financial Officer during the pendency of the investigation. If he needed to contact her, he should do it through the Chief Financial Officer.

On Oct. 16, 2019, Nguyen issued a memorandum to Molina that said his adminis­ trative duties were suspended.

Despite the directive, the report said that Molina contacted the Assistant Chief

For the complete story, visit tricountysentry.com.

9

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

LEGAL File No.: 20200316-10005200-0 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. Kim Digital Electronics 3331 Wolf Creek Court Simi Valley, CA 93063 Ventura COUNTY Full Name of Registrant: 1. Meesun Sandra Kim 3331 Wolf Creek Court Simi Valley, CA 93063 This Business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 6/18/2018.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares information as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/Kristi Hamlet NOTICE - In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in residence address or registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or Common Law (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code).

THIS STATEMENT WAS FILED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK OF Ventura ON 3/16/2020.

MARK A. LUNN

MENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. My Mobile Notary 2. Ventura County Apostille 3. Thousand Oaks Notary 2998 dogwood circle Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Ventura COUNTY Full Name of Registrant: 1. Karen Stevens 2998 dogwood circle Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 This Business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 02/01/2004.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares information as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/Karen Stevens NOTICE - In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in residence address or registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or Common Law (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code).

THIS STATEMENT WAS FILED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK OF Ventura ON 4/20/2020.

MARK A. LUNN

File No.: 20200421-10006086-0 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. Heirtofunds.org 4330 Adam Rd. Simi Valley, CA 93063 Ventura COUNTY Full Name of Registrant: 1. Randall Eric Johnson 4330 Adam Rd. Simi Valley, CA 93063 This Business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 04/21/2020.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares information as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/Randall Eric Johnson NOTICE - In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in residence address or registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or Common Law (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code).

THIS STATEMENT WAS FILED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK OF Ventura ON 4/21/2020.

MARK A. LUNN

SchId:79676 AdId:26609 CustId:1311 ------------

SchId:79707 AdId:26623 CustId:1313 ------------

SchId:79724 AdId:26628 CustId:1315 ------------

File No.: 20200414-10005951-0 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. Handymanny 9350 Feather ST. Ventura, CA 93004 Ventura COUNTY Full Name of Registrant: 1. Sandra Dorado 9350 Feather St. Ventura, CA 93004 This Business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares information as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/Sandra Dorado NOTICE - In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in residence address or registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or Common Law (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code).

THIS STATEMENT WAS FILED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK OF Ventura ON 4/20/2020.

MARK A. LUNN

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME 20200414-10005944-0 The following person(s) has (have) abandoned the use of the Fictitious Business Name: 1.

Families Counseling 2. Families Counseling Center 3. Families 4. Simi Valley Family Magazine, 1633 Erringer Road Suite 204, Simi Valley, CA 93065.

The Fictitious Business Name referred to above was filed in Ventura County on January 15, 1993.

FILE NO. 20170929-10019240-0.

Full name of Registrant: 1. Deborah Tucker, 802 Devore Ave., Simi Valley, CA 93065..

This business is conducted by a corporation. /s/ DEBORAH TUCKER, OWNER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Ventura County on APRIL 14, 2020.

SchId:79690 AdId:26615 CustId:1312 ------------

File No.: 20200421100061070 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. Whanau Nursing Services 5344 Gibson Place Oxnard, CA 93033 Ventura COUNTY Full Name of Registrant: 1. Ira Mae Nunag 5344 Gibson Place Oxnard, CA 93033 2. Benniefredo Sagad II 5344 Gibson Place Oxnard, CA 93033 This Business is conducted by: MARRIED COUPLE. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 04/27/2020.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares information as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/Ira Mae Nunag NOTICE - In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in residence address or registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or Common Law (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code).

THIS STATEMENT WAS FILED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK OF Ventura ON 4/25/2020.

MARK A. LUNN

File No.: 20200420100060630 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATE-

SchId:79717 AdId:26626 CustId:1314 ------------

SchId:79732 AdId:26631 CustId:693 -----------In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans a new Ameron Octagonal concrete light pole at 2242 H STREET, OXNARD, CA 93036.

Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-898-4866 regarding site CRAN_VENTR_012.

5/1, 5/8/20 CNS-3361572# TRICOUNTY SENTRY SchId:79736 AdId:26632 CustId:61 -----------In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans a new Ameron Octagonal concrete light pole at 997 MORADO PL, OXNARD, CA 93030.

Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-898-4866 regarding site CRAN_VENTR_021 .

5/1, 5/8/20 CNS-3361567# TRICOUNTY SENTRY

SchId:79738 AdId:26633 CustId:61 -----------NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Trustee Sale No. : 00000008794802 Title Order No.: 200003111 FHA/VA/PMI No.: ATTENTION RECORDER: THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE TO AN ATTACHED SUMMARY APPLIES ONLY TO COPIES PROVIDED TO THE TRUSTOR, NOT TO THIS RECORDED ORIGINAL NOTICE. NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT ATTACHED YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 03/29/2007.

UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TREDER and WEISS, LLP, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust Recorded on 05/14/2007 as Instrument No. 20070514-00097733-0 of official records in the office of the County Recorder of VENTURA County, State of CALIFORNIA. EXECUTED BY: PIERRE KIRK AND ANNI KIRK, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK/CASH EQUIVALENT or other form of payment authorized by California Civil Code 2924h(b), (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States). DATE OF SALE: 06/02/2020 TIME OF SALE: 11:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT CENTER HALL OF JUSTICE, 800 SOUTH VICTORIA AVENUE, VENTURA, CA 93003. STREET ADDRESS and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 11800 PRADERA ROAD, SANTA ROSA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 93012 APN#: 516-0-181-155 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust.

The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $344,630.42. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the

public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 714-730-2727 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this Internet Web site www.servicelinkASAP.com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case 00000008794802. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. FOR TRUSTEE SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: AGENCY SALES and POSTING 714-7302727 www.servicelinkASAP.com BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TREDER and WEISS, LLP IS ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TREDER and WEISS, LLP as Trustee 3990 E. Concours Street, Suite 350 Ontario, CA 91764 (866) 795-1852 Dated: 04/28/2020 A-4723702 05/08/2020, 05/15/2020, 05/22/2020 SchId:79745 AdId:26636 CustId:64 -----------File No.: 20200501-10006498-0 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. Marc my Words 2. Marc Words 6645 Thille St, Apt 179 Ventura, CA 93003 Ventura COUNTY Full Name of Registrant: 1. Marc Anthony Matthias Catchpole 6645 Thille St, Apt 179 Ventura, CA 93003 This Business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 04/22/2020.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares information as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/Marc A. M. Catchpole NOTICE - In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in residence address or registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or Common Law (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code).

THIS STATEMENT WAS FILED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK OF Ventura ON 5/4/2020.

MARK A. LUNN SchId:79754 AdId:26641 CustId:1316 -----------NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT At the regular meeting of May 4, 2020, the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme held a public hearing and introduced for first reading the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT HUENEME ADDING A NEW PART E TO CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE II, COMMENCING WITH SECTION 3914.21 TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE PROHIBITING THE RELEASE OF LATEX OR OTHER LIGHTERTHANAIR BALLOONS

n Continue to page 11

10

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

HEALTH

Most volunteers not eligible to join California Health Corps

By Don Thompson SACRAMENTO (AP)—For days after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the allvolunteer California Health Corps, he provided updates on how many retired medical workers had signed up and marveled at the numbers—34,000 in the first 48 hours, 82,000 a week later.

N

EWSOM said the state would move quickly to get them to assist with the expected crush of coronavirus cases.

The sign-ups reached 93,000, but the wave Newsom worried would overwhelm hospitals hasn’t arrived. And the ranks of those in line to join the corps have fallen precipitously.

The state’s initial vetting revealed two-thirds—60,000 volunteers—didn’t have the most basic requirement: a valid license to practice their specialty. And about 20,000 of those remaining have not filled out an application, despite being sent a reminder.

State data requested by The Associated Press shows about 10,500 people are in a final review and of those, 4,900 or about 5% of those who initially volunteered are cleared to participate.

With hospitals able to handle their caseload, there isn’t a clearly defined

role for the corps, but that hasn’t stopped the first deployment—233 doctors, nurses, respiratory specialists and support staff have been working for more than a week at the emergency hospital at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.

They are being paid even though there are no patients.

“Staff are standing by to support patients if needed.

They are also continuing to vet processes and standardize operations,” California Health and Human Services Agency spokesman Rodger Butler said in an email Thursday.

“We fortunately, to this day, haven’t needed them,” Newsom said Friday. But he said officials identified 200 people from the corps for what he said last week will be a total of 600 nurses formed

into regional “strike teams” to help control the infectious disease in skilled nursing facilities.

Newsom previously said they would come from temporary staffing agencies.

Butler on Thursday said the state is “still early in the process” of establishing the teams and couldn’t provide details.

Professor Joanne Spetz, the associate director of research at the Healthforce Center at the University of California, San Francisco, described the Sleep Train situation as “All dressed up and where’s your prom date?”

“But it’s kind of a good thing there is no prom date,” said Spetz, whose center researches issues related to health care workers and services.

Poll: Cost makes nearly 1 in 10 leery of seeking COVID care

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar WASHINGTON (AP)— As states gear up to reopen, a poll finds a potential obstacle to controlling the coronavirus: nearly 1 in 10 adults say cost would keep them from seeking help if they thought they were infected.

The Gallup-West Health Healthcare Costs Survey out Tuesday finds that 9% of those age 18 and over would avoid seeking treatment because of concerns about the cost of care, even if they

number, 14%, would avoid seeking treatment because of pocketbook worries if they had fever and a dry cough, two widely publicized symptoms of COVID-19.

Although Congress and President Donald Trump have made coronavirus testing free to patients, and some insurers are waiving copays and deductibles for treatment within their networks, the survey suggests such messages may thought they were infected not be getting to the public. with the coronavirus.

The survey delivers A significantly higher “important and distressing

information,” said John Auerbach, head of the nonpartisan Trust for America’s Health. “I hope that policy makers take note.”

With so many reluctant to seek care, “it could pose problems in testing people,” Auerbach added. “Without widespread testing, it will be problematic to lift the restrictions.”

Auerbach’s group works with government at all levels to strengthen public health, and was not involved with the poll.

New York City neighborhood comes together to bury a stranger NEW YORK (AP)—The request, posted on an online neighborhood forum by a Brooklyn funeral director, was simple but heartfelt. A 91-year-old woman had died from the coronavirus. Her family was scattered in other states. Would anyone like to contribute items for her funeral, like flowers?

This wasn’t a funeral for anyone who lived in the neighborhood, Brooklyn’s Prospect Leffert Gardens section, or for anyone that neighbors knew. It was for a complete stranger who died at a Manhattan assisted living facility.

Yet within minutes, people began to respond.

One resident, Rebecca Benghiat, embroidered the word “Mom” onto a fabric nameplate that went onto the eco-friendly felt casket.

“I will contribute lilacs -- our lilac bush is bursting with blooms!” another resident wrote.

“I should have some white daffodils opened by then,” wrote another.

Those modest gifts helped give a human touch to a socially distant funeral for Winifred Pardo, who was buried Wednesday at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

Pardo’s family abided by New York’s rules barring gatherings of any size and watched the ceremony via an online chat, with video streamed by one of the funeral director’s assistants.

One of Pardo’s daughters, Beth Pardo watched from Pennsylvania. She said she was touched by the support from strangers.

11

TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

LEGAL / NEWS Summary NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 18, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., or soon thereafter, in the City Hall Council Chamber, located at 250 North Ventura Road, Port Hueneme, CA 93041, the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme will consider said ordinance and adoption of a new ordinance prohibiting the outdoor release of balloons made of any material, including, without limitation, latex, mylar, rubber, nylon fabric, or any petroleum product, filled with a gas lighter than air, as part of a public or civic event, promotional activity, product advertisement, celebration, or party.

A copy of the ordinance is available for viewing in the City Clerk’s Office or can be requested to be sent electronically, and written comments can be submitted to the address notated above prior to 5:00 p.m. on the stated meeting date.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this project may be obtained by contacting the Department of Community Development, City of Port Hueneme, 250 North Ventura Road, California 93041, telephone (805) 986-6500. Be advised, if you challenge the actions taken on the project described in this Notice in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this Notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Department of Community Development of the City of Port Hueneme at, or prior to, the public hearing.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate at this meeting, please contact the office of the City Clerk, at (805) 986-6501, or the California TDD Relay Service. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to allow participation.

Kristy Buxkemper, City Clerk Date: May 8, 2020 SchId:79758 AdId:26642 CustId:699 -----------NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT At the regular meeting of May 4, 2020, the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme held a public hearing and introduced for first reading the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A DEVELOPMENT AGREE-

MENT UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 65864 TO 65869.5 AND ORDINANCE NO. 727 AND ORDINANCE NO. 734 OF THE PORT HUENEME MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF A CANNABIS FACILITY [HIGH FARMS DELIVERY, LLC] Summary NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 18, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., or soon thereafter, in the City Hall Council Chamber, located at 250 North Ventura Road, Port Hueneme, CA 93041, the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme will consider said ordinance and adoption to consider an application by Eddie Mora on behalf of High Farms Delivery, LLC, 501 W. Channel Islands Blvd., #201, Port Hueneme, CA 93041, for a Development Agreement.

The Development Agreement will regulate the operation of a marijuana business by the applicant, and will set forth certain rights and obligations of both parties relating thereto, including the right of the City to receive certain revenues. The Development Agreement requires that the facility be operated in accordance with all applicable laws of the State of California and all applicable ordinances of the City.

The Development Agreement requires the applicant’s compliance with the Development Agreement, including payment of the City’s revenues, be reviewed on an annual basis. If the applicant is found by the City not to be in compliance with the Development Agreement, a variety of remedies are available to the City, up to and including revoking the applicant’s right to operate the cannabis facility.

A copy of the ordinance is available for viewing in the City Clerk’s Office or can be requested to be sent electronically, and written comments can be submitted to the address notated above prior to 5:00 p.m. on the stated meeting date.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this project may be obtained by contacting the Department of Community Development, City of Port Hueneme, 250 North Ventura Road, California 93041, telephone (805) 986-6500. Be advised, if you challenge the actions taken on the project described in this Notice in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this Notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Department of Community Development of the City of Port Hueneme at, or prior to, the public hearing.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate at this meeting, please contact the office of the City Clerk, at (805) 986-6501, or the California TDD Relay Service. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to allow participation.

Kristy Buxkemper, City Clerk Date: May 8, 2020 SchId:79759 AdId:26643 CustId:699 -----------NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT At the regular meeting of May 4, 2020, the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme held a public hearing and introduced for first reading the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 65864 TO 65869.5 AND ORDINANCE NO. 727 AND ORDINANCE NO. 734 OF THE PORT HUENEME MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF A CANNABIS FACILITY [INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS INVESTMENTS GROUP, LLC] Summary

available to the City, up to and including revoking the applicant’s right to operate the cannabis facility.

A copy of the ordinance is available for viewing in the City Clerk’s Office or can be requested to be sent electronically, and written comments can be submitted to the address notated above prior to 5:00 p.m. on the stated meeting date.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this project may be obtained by contacting the Department of Community Development, City of Port Hueneme, 250 North Ventura Road, California 93041, telephone (805) 986-6500. Be advised, if you challenge the actions taken on the project described in this Notice in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this Notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Department of Community Development of the City of Port Hueneme at, or prior to, the public hearing.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate at this meeting, please contact the office of the City Clerk, at (805) 986-6501, or the California TDD Relay Service. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to allow participation.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 18, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., or soon thereafter, in the City Hall Council Chamber, located at 250 North Ventura Road, Port Hueneme, CA 93041, the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme will consider said ordinance and adoption to consider an application

by Joel Conception on behalf of Innovative Concepts Investments Group, LLC, 521 W. Channel Islands Blvd., #11, Port Hueneme, CA 93041, for a Development Agreement. The Development Agreement will regulate the operation of a marijuana business by the applicant, and will set forth certain rights and obligations of both parties relating thereto, including the right of the City to receive certain revenues. The Development Agreement requires that the facility be operated in accordance with all applicable laws of the State of California and all applicable ordinances of the City.

The Development Agreement requires the applicant’s compliance with the Development Agreement, including payment of the City’s revenues, be reviewed on an annual basis. If the applicant is found by the City not to be in compliance with the Development Agreement, a variety of remedies are

Kristy Buxkemper, City Clerk Date: May 8, 2020

are the last ones to get tested.

“The county is trying to help undocumented workers get healthcare,” he said. “They are essential for all of us.”

Kim Marra Stephenson said the city must support its food workers, farmworkers, and all the essential workers.

“They provide us comfort and essential services that we need during the COVID-19 outbreak to stay safe,” she said. “We should recognize the ones who do the most.”

Stephenson is a teacher, and she is trying to keep her kids busy.

“I know what it’s like, but I also can be working from home with my kids,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of

people who can’t do that.” She’s involved with a Lego Drive with LULAC Camarillo, she said, to provide educational toys for farmworkers’ children.

“So, the kids who are home educate their brothers and sisters and have things to keep them busy naturally,” she said. “They don’t have to be skilled teachers to do that.”

COVID-19 affects her just like everyone else.

“I have to do things a little differently and practice safe habits,” she said. “We have to keep our social distances, stay on top of the news, and learn how to do things remotely.

It jumpstarted our teaching workforce going into the 21st Century faster than we

SchId:79760 AdId:26644 CustId:699 -----------NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: BETTY JEANE CORNICK CASE NO. 56-2020-00541228-PRPWOXN To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of BETTY JEANE CORNICK. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CARLA S. COLE in the Superior Court of California, County of VENTURA. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CARLA S. COLE be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 05/27/20 at 9:00AM in Dept. J6 located at 4353 E. VINEYARD AVENUE, OXNARD, CA 93036 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing.

Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor.

You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250.

A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner JOHN D. SPECIALE SBN 78274 SPECIALE & BURTON APC 21243 VENTURA BLVD. SUITE 210 WOODLAND HILLS CA 91364 BSC 218220 5/7, 5/8, 5/14/20 CNS-3363773# TRICOUNTY SENTRY SchId:79762 AdId:26645 CustId:61

May Day continued from page 6

“We have nearly 300 members of the GOOD Club, so we’re reaching out to them and making sure they’re okay and have all the resources they need,” he said. “We’re the party who cares about people, feels their pain, and wants to get them connected.” Rick Sanchez came out with mem­bers of The GOOD Club, and they worked with ot­ her organizations to draw atten­ tion to working people at Food 4 Less, who are working without a contract.

“I believe they are unionized,” he said. “We want to show support for people working in grocery stores because they are essential workers. It’s the same thing with the farmworkers in the

area here who work seven days a week out in the fields in close proximity to others without protective gear. The Cause Organization is going to be taking protective gear in a few days to the farms in the area.”

Sanchez said he’s the beneficiary of working people, and his family grew up poor.

He grew up as part of the middle class, and that makes May Day a critical event.

“I reaped the benefits of everything, and I want everyone else to have the same opportunities that I’ve had,” he said. “It’s a tough world out there, but it’s really tough if you’re an immigrant or undocumented.”

Sanchez said poor people

had to in the past. Before, it was a choice, and now it’s essential. We can’t see our kids every day, so we have to do it a different way, and it’s been working well as long as we can get devices, WiFi, and hot spots to all our kids.”

Kim’s daughter, Grace Stephenson, from the Diversity Collective, was out supporting the essential workers in the community.

“It’s exciting to get outside, and we’re used to protesting and marching,” she said.

“It’s nice to be able to get out during the quarantine and do this for the essential workers.”

For the complete story, visit tricountysentry.com.

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TRI-COUNTY SENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

‘Field of Dreams’: Fathers & sons, phantoms and phenoms

By Ronald Blum NEW YORK (AP)— Baseball and tears, the ones streaking down cheeks.

Tears, the kind leaving rifts between fathers and sons.

“Field of Dreams” is about phantoms and phenoms on an unlikely diamond in an Iowa cornfield.

Emotions gush like water across the grass, resonating three decades later because of the nerves the movie digs down to reach.

“I remember, I think it was the very first test screening we had, it was in the LA area and it was a recruited audience and they didn’t know anything about the movie,” director Phil Alden Robinson recalled this week. “And towards the end, I was sitting in the back, and I noticed a woman about two, maybe three rows in front of me on the aisle, just weeping.

“Her head was in her hands, she was sobbing heavily,” he went on. “I started to get out of my seat. I was going to go over to her and just put my arm on her shoulder and say, ‘It’s just a movie.’ And I got one or two steps towards her and I recognized her. She was somebody from the marketing department of the studio and she’d already seen the film. And I thought, oh my God, this is really something.”

Released in April 1989, two weeks after “Major League,” 10 months after “Bull Durham” and eight months after “Eight Men Out,” “Field of Dreams” was No. 6 in The Associated Press’ Top 25 favorite sports movies poll.

Robinson adapted W.P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel “Shoeless Joe” into a screenplay that trimmed and focused the story about a farmer who replaces corn with a ballfield as he seeks a reunion with and redemption from his long-dead father. Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, hears a mysterious, unidentified voice telling him: “If you build it, he will come,” “ease his pain” and “go the distance.” The movie culminates to leading to him playing catch with his dad’s ghost.

Along the way, his quest takes him to Boston’s Fenway Park and to Chisholm, Minnesota. He is assisted by his wife Annie (Amy Madigan), embittered novelist Terence Mann (James Earl Jones); and Moonight Graham (Burt Lancaster), who got into one game for the 1905 New York Giants, never stepped to the plate and later became a doctor. The ghost team that plays on the Iowa field is led by Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta), banned along with the rest of the 1919 Chicago White Sox for accepting money to throw the World Series.

Former baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent concluded the themes were much the same as those emphasized by his predecessor, A. Bartlett Giamatti, a Yale professor of Renaissance literature who reveled in baseball’s poetic side.

NEWS Oxnard Performing Arts Center opens for COVID testing

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com Oxnard-- City Manager Alex Nguyen updated the viewing audience, May 5, about the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic.

He had a bunch of things to report, starting with Fire Chief Darwin Base, who told everyone about the COVID testing going on at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

Base visited the site and said the operation is put together well.

“This is a state-sponsored test, and Ventura County and Oxnard are supporting it,” he said. “On top of that, we had the Performing Arts Center identified as a site we can do this expanded COVID testing.”

The performing arts center was one of nine sites identified in Ventura County, and it is an essential worker site.

“I talked to a nurse named Bella, and she said a number of the individuals coming through have been with the postal service, and some are from the food service,” he said. “The one thing that’s standing out here is they are not seeing the numbers they had expected, and that is kind of sad. Initially, we heard they are only doing testing here only for a week.

We walked away today with some additional information, and they want to stay here for 90 days.” There is an issue, he said, and it may become a week-to-week testing site if the numbers don’t come up for testing.

“I think that’s in part because it has not been advertised well,” Base said.

With the low numbers, the

site is now open for anyone, which benefits everyone in the city.

“If you have any of these signs, like a cough, or shortness of breath or a 100.4 fever, headache, chills, a sore throat, muscle pain, a headache, or a new loss of taste or smell, that’s part of the criteria,” he said. “If you have any of these, you call or get online and make an appointment; they would be more than happy to test you.”

OptomServe is doing the front line testing in partnership with the State of California. People can preregister by calling 1-888-6341123. “They will take walk-ins, but they are asking that you register over a computer at https://lhi.care/covidtesting,” he said. “Testing is offered Mon. through Fri. at the Performing arts Center from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at 800 Hobson Way. For people who can’t get to the Performing Arts Center, testing is available at Las Islas Family Medical Group South at 325 W. Channel Islands Blvd. in Oxnard.

“This is also a countyrun site,” he said. “We sent a couple of firefighters there that had signs and symptoms.

They came back negative, which is a good thing for us.”

The state is looking for people who have an active COVID virus and have developed antibodies.

“We’re going to start here in the city first,” he said.

“This is a private/public partnership between the Oxnard Fire Department and St. John’s Regional Medical Center to set a baseline for antibodies in our workforce.

We’ll start out with the first responders, and we’ll expand

on that.”

That allows for informed decision making, he said, if you have antibodies in you, it means that you might already have some immunity.

“It doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to be susceptible in the future, and there is a potential there you can get the virus once again,” he said. “This helps us establish a workforce that is coming back at some time. You may also have plasma that can help people who are in intensive care and need antibodies.

It can help in the process of developing a vaccine.”

If you have not been exposed and have no antibodies, Base said you need to stay diligent and protect yourself.

Councilman Bert Perello is a plasma donor in Ventura, and he wanted to know if he should donate in Oxnard.

“If you want to keep it local, we’ll work with St. John’s on that,” Base said.

Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez congratulated Base and advised people to stay focused on safety.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, and we have a long way to go,” she said. “Everybody, please be conscious of your family and your neighbors.”

Oxnard Police Chief Scott Whitney said the existing county health order goes through May 15, and residents need to support the county health officer.

“That means all of us are supposed to stay at home,” he said. “It’s called a stay well at home order. You only go out for essential business, and it’s good to remind people of that.”

For the complete story, visit tricountysentry.com.