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- Written by: Lake County News reports
On Wednesday the commission granted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife the ability to temporarily delay, suspend or restrict recreational fishing if the agency’s director, in consultation with the commission president, finds that such action is necessary to protect against the threat from COVID-19 based on state, federal, local, and tribal public health guidance and public safety needs, as Lake County News has reported.
On Thursday, the commission acknowledged robust public participation using remote technology.
"While we all are learning this remote world together, this meeting proved that government can continue with public input," said Commission President Eric Sklar. "Gov. Newsom recently said we expect a mid-May peak of COVID-19. I implore Californians to stay healthy and stay home to help save lives."
The commission approved the mammal hunting regulations and increased the number of elk tags in the northwest management unit. This increased hunting opportunity for the state's hunting public, based on the best-available scientific data, is due to robust elk populations in this part of the state. The recovery of these elk is a great success story in California wildlife conservation.
Additionally, the commission approved the waterfowl daily and seasonal limits for ducks and geese for the 2020-21 hunting season. The northern pintail limit will remain at one pintail per day due to the current status of the population. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to improve the models to address the public's concerns that pintail limits are too low.
Commissioners adopted proposed regulations for public use on CDFW lands, including wildlife areas and ecological reserves. The regulations designate one new wildlife area and seven new ecological reserves, remove areas from the regulations where CDFW no longer has management authority, authorize site-specific public uses and make minor changes to clarify the regulations.
In other business, the commission voted unanimously that listing of the Shasta snow-wreath may be warranted. This commences a one-year status review by CDFW.
It also voted unanimously that listing of an evolutionarily significant unit of mountain lions may be warranted. This commences a one-year status review by the CDFW.
Commission President Sklar, Commission Vice President Samantha Murray, and Commissioners Jacque Hostler-Carmesin, Russell Burns and Peter Silva participated in the call.
The full commission agenda for this meeting along with supporting information is available at www.fgc.ca.gov. An archived audio file will be available in the coming days. The next meeting of the full Commission is a teleconference scheduled for May 14.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
This will be the first in a series of virtual town halls over the coming weeks where Thompson will answer questions on what Congress is doing to respond to the fallout from coronavirus.
Experts from each county in the district will join in to answer questions.
All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
For this week’s virtual town hall, Thompson will be joined by Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin and Lake County Public Health Office Dr. Gary Pace.
This event will be held over Zoom and interested participants must email Thompson’s office in order to join, as the platform has a capacity of 500 people.
Interested participants will be notified via email with instructions on how to join. The event will also be streamed on Facebook Live via Thompson’s page, https://www.facebook.com/RepMikeThompson/ .
For security reasons, interested participants must email
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, the $2.2 trillion relief bill passed by Congress last month, established the Paycheck Protection Program.
The program offers forgivable loans to employers who retain employees while dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, tribes and their supporters are asking the federal government to address an action taken by the US Small Business Administration at the end of March which disqualifies tribal gaming businesses from assistance.
On April 8, a bipartisan group of nearly 40 members of Congress – among them, Congressman Mike Thompson, whose district includes southern Lake County – sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, also raising issues with the SBA’s action.
The letter pointed out that Congress specifically included tribal business concerns, as defined in the HUBZone program, with under 500 employees as being eligible for Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Yet, in spite of Congress’ intent, the Small Business Administration adopted the final rule for implementing the Paycheck Protection Program that makes ineligible tribal businesses such as gaming.
Based on the intent that members of Congress said existed to help tribes, all four of Lake County’s casinos – Konocti Vista, Robinson Rancheria, Running Creek and Twin Pine – would be eligible for the program, as the California Employment Development Department reports each has 249 employees or less.
County officials reported at Tuesday’s board meeting that an estimated 1,000 people work for local gaming businesses, which equates to about 5 percent of Lake County’s workforce.
Tribal chair shares letter
Sherry Treppa, chair of the Habematolel Pomo, which owns and operates Running Creek Casino in Upper Lake, shared with Lake County News a letter she sent on April 6 to the Treasury Department, the White House and the SBA opposing the SBA’s plans for implementing the Paycheck Protection Program.
In her five-page letter, Treppa challenged the SBA’s interpretation of Congress’ wishes and pointed out the damage it would do to tribal businesses as well as local economies.
“Tribes engage in economic development because they lack anything resembling a traditional tax base, owing to centuries of ruinous federal and state policy toward tribes. The role that tribal
economic development plays in ensuring that members of Indian tribes have access to necessities and crucial services cannot be understated. The enormous role tribal enterprises play in regional economies should not be underestimated,” Treppa wrote.
She warned, “If the losses that my Tribe, and others in our situation, have experienced and will continue to experience due to COVID-19 are not remediated the consequences could be truly dire not only for our tribal governments but for the surrounding economies as well – the ripple effect will be felt far beyond our borders.
Treppa also faulted the SBA for applying “outdated morality and public interest concerns” in singling out tribal casinos as part of its program implementation.
She told Lake County News ahead of the supervisors’ discussion that a letter from the board in support of tribes would be great.
“Everything helps,” she said.
Board takes action to support tribes
On Tuesday, Supervisor Rob Brown asked for the Board of Supervisors to also send a letter to the SBA in support of tribal casinos being able to apply for assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program.
The board’s draft letter said that disqualifying tribal government-owned gaming businesses and their employees from receiving help through the program “directly conflicts with both the text and overarching goals of the CARES Act.”
Before the board discussed the letter on Tuesday, Board Chair Moke Simon and Supervisor EJ Crandell recused themselves from the discussion.
Simon is the tribal chair for the Middletown Rancheria and Crandell chairs the Robinson Rancheria tribal council. Both tribes operate casinos, and Simon and Crandell said their tribes have separately written to the government to ask for relief under the program.
Following their recusal, Brown said he wanted to let the public know, “There is no financial conflict for either supervisor,” because not one dime of the relief funding would go to them personally, but would instead be used to pay employees.
Brown said helping the nearly 1,000 employees of tribal businesses in Lake County is what the request was all about.
He added, “I don’t think it’s fair that one group would be denied this just because they’re tribal and other groups would be allowed this because they are not tribal.”
Supervisors Tina Scott and Bruno Sabatier agreed that the county should support the tribes.
The county’s gaming industry, Sabatier noted, is “a huge part of our community. It’s a huge draw for our community,” and also is a part of Lake County’s hospitality industry. He said everyone in the county should be supportive.
There was no public comment before the board voted 3-0 to support sending the letter to the SBA.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
“The health and well-being of our community and visitors is our highest priority. While the Lake County community, like so many around the globe, is reeling from business impacts due to COVID-19, we extend our thoughts and deep gratitude to our beloved visitors, who have generously supported our local economy through tourism and adjacent industries,” the county said in a Wednesday announcement.
“With immense appreciation for everyone’s wish to be in the fresh air, enjoying our beautiful county and recreating on Clear Lake, now is NOT the time to visit Lake County. Please remain at your primary residence, and don’t travel to Lake County for non-essential activities, even if you have a vacation home here,” the county’s statement explained.
The request to visitors comes as all lodging in Lake County, including short-term and nightly rentals, is closed until May 3, under the current public health orders.
If you are renting out your home through Airbnb, VRBO, or any other rental agency, the county asks that you immediately remove your listing to help protect the community.
“Lake County’s healthcare system is very good, but has limited capacity to respond to a large-scale outbreak. The consequences of COVID-19 for our small, rural county, would be devastating if we experienced a large surge in cases requiring medical care,” the county reported.
The county reported that local residents and businesses, many of whom are still recovering from severe hardship and displacement brought by fires, floods and public safety power shutoff events, are doing their part to reduce COVID-19 risks. Retail shops, recreation services including the lake, parks and hiking trails, movie theaters, wineries, casinos, bars, restaurants and nightclubs for indoor or outdoor service are all closed.
“We ask that our valued visitors and those with vacation homes in the area do your part, as well, to protect the communities so many of us have come to know, love, and even call home, or home away from home,” the county statement said.
Officials asked that visitors support Lake County businesses from afar, while Lake County continues to shelter in place.
They are urged to:
– Rebook lodging for a later date.
– Reach out to businesses you enjoyed in the past – send an email, post a photo, tag words of encouragement, and follow them on social media to stay up to date on their latest services and offerings.
– Consider making donations to local businesses and nonprofits.
– Buy gift cards from local businesses to be used at a later date.
– Ask for store credit, versus refunds.
– Pay for an online yoga or fitness class.
– Order books, sports gear, and more online from our local shops – many shops can ship or deliver items to your house.
– Extend memberships and renew pledges with any local organizations you regularly support.
For those living in Lake County:
– Order delivery and curbside pickup from restaurants, and shop at Lake County’ grocery stores; they are adapting their practices and supporting social distancing, we can help them out, too.
– Ordering takeout? Leave an extra tip. Your generosity will help support restaurant staff that are now under or unemployed.
Cash flow is critical for Lake County businesses right now. There’s no amount too small, and every dollar spent is a vote for the small businesses that make Lake County unique, the county said.
“Lake County will be ready to welcome you when the world is ready to travel again. Our communities, mountains, lakes, fishing, boating, trails, wineries, casinos, restaurants and local business will be here to welcome you back when the Shelter-in-Place and Stay at Home Orders are lifted,” county officials reported.
The county statement concluded, “But again, now is NOT the time to visit.”