FEBRUARY 13, 2014
JACOBS
from page A-1
government is good. But I don’t want to settle for good. We have so much to do on so many fronts,” Jacob said. Jacob noted that one of the challenges facing the county is the state’s transfer of nonviolent inmates from state prisons and parole programs into county custody and supervision. “The state calls this process ‘realignment’. I call it a mess. It crowds our jails. It makes it tougher to keep the peace. It means some criminals get out before they should,” Jacob said. “The state is dumping a big part of its law-and-order duties.” The county’s plans including expanding detention centers and adding 400 jail beds while opening Sheriff’s stations in Rancho San Diego, Lakeside, and Pine Valley and improving rehabilitation programs to help released inmates return to society. However, Jacob cited a statewide study which found a strong relationship between realignment and the recent rise in property crimes. Jacob added that 10 years ago one-fourth of the county’s budget was spent on public safety while the current budget allocates onethird of the county’s revenue to public safety. “This money also helps fight our biggest natural threat, which is wildfire. Those deadly firestorms that rocked our region in 2003 and 2007 shook us all, but they also spurred radical improvements,” she said. “Through our county fire authority we continue to beef up rural protection. We’re improving our Regional Communications System and building partnerships with other fire agencies, and next year we plan to wrap up the last phase in our efforts to consolidate many rural fire departments,” Jacob said. “We’ve seen some brutal fire seasons in our county. We’ll see others. When they strike, we need to make sure we’ve done all we can to protect people and property. We no longer just hope for the best during a wildfire. We aim for the best. “Keeping the public safe takes more than dollars, though. It takes a top-notch team,” Jacob said of law enforcement and fire and emergency medical services personnel. “I think we appreciate your service, your commitment to our community, and your vigilance. “The county needs to also remain vigilant on another front - our budget. Taxpayers expect it. They demand it,” Jacob said. “Running a county government is a very complex business. We have a nearly $5 billion budget. Yet the principles that guide our spending are straightforward, common sense. We don’t spend more than we take in.” The Board of Supervisors tries to pay for capital projects in cash, which over the past decade has saved taxpayers $1.3 billion in interest and has contributed to the county’s AAA credit rating. In the past dozen years the county’s capital and major maintenance projects have created more than 20,000 private-sector jobs. “Our region has a brighter economy and job market because of it,” Jacob said. Jacob noted that a new program in Reno, Nev., may help the County of San Diego trim workers’ compensation claims. The Reno program offers specialized health services to police officers and other first responders who may be at high risk for heart attacks. In addition to a physical exam, the program uses advanced lipid testing to determine the true threat of cardiovascular disease and treats specific types of cholesterol. Reno public officials indicate not only that their law enforcement officers and firefighters are healthier since the program was enacted but also that the program can save the city more than $1 billion in medical claims and related costs over the next 30 years. Jacob noted that the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association has agreed to work with the county on a similar volunteer program. “This is more than a smart financial move. It’s about helping those who risk their lives each day to keep us safe,” Jacob said. “Another common-sense step the county is taking: we’re investing money now on initiatives that will pay off for taxpayers in the long haul,” Jacob said. “Lowering energy costs is a perfect example. Solar panels sit on top of this meeting chamber, and they are part of a plan to cut the county’s
Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News TheVillageNews.com monthly power bills.” The new County Operations Center was constructed in phases, and retrofits of existing buildings along with other energy-saving measures have reduced the county’s electricity use by nearly 10 percent since 2008. The county also utilizes the bulk energy market and purchases nearly 90 percent of its electricity from sources other than San Diego Gas & Electric, which combined with lower consumption saves the county nearly $2 million annually. “The problem is consumers don’t have the same right. You can’t shop around like the county can, but if it’s good enough for government it should be good enough for you,” Jacob said. “That’s why I believe the time is ripe to take a hard look at community choice aggregation. That’s a fancy term for a simple goal – to free up consumers and provide them with energy options. “Community choice aggregation programs allow communities to band together to buy and sell electricity on behalf of ratepayers. The power would be delivered through the existing grid, but it could come from an energy company other than SDG&E. Imagine that. You’d have real options. You’d have the power of choice, and that would spur competition and, we expect, drive down rates.” Sonoma County and Marin County already have consumer choice programs, and the City of San Diego is considering a study of such a concept. “Soon it will be San Diego County’s turn to weigh in,” Jacob said. In September, the county supervisors directed county staff to begin the research phase of a comprehensive renewable energy strategy for the county. “We could then analyze what it would take to bring community choice here. It deserves a serious look, and I think consumers will welcome it, and it would finally bring our consumer energy market out of the dark ages,” Jacob said. “Since I’m talking about a fresh approach, I’ve got three words for you: bees, beer, and burgundy,” Jacob said. “Most of our county is rural. A lot of farmers and backcountry entrepreneurs are looking to grow their business. So the county’s giving them a hand. In recent years we’ve made it easier to open farmers’ markets. We’ve cut red tape for horse stable owners. We’ve done the same for winemakers and today many new boutique wineries with tasting rooms are open for business.” Prior to the adoption of the county’s tiered winery ordinance in 2010, Schwaesdall Winery in Ramona was unincorporated San Diego County’s only winery with a tasting room. The number has since grown to 20. “That’s where the burgundy comes in. Now for the bees and the beer,” Jacob said. In October, the Board of Supervisors began the process of relaxing beekeeping regulations in the unincorporated county by directing county staff and stakeholders to work on options for a less restrictive ordinance. “This would help honey production and farmers who need bees to work their crops,” Jacob said.
“I also want to bring the craft beer boom to the backcountry. The San Diego area has become one of the great beer capitals of the world, and the county is looking at ways to make it easier to open a microbrewery and other farmrelated businesses in our outback with the aim of creating jobs and tourism,” Jacob said. “The way
need more eyes and ears in the field. We need more professionals like Lyn Devereaux,” she said. Jacob is working with District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to create a special prosecution unit which would target assisted living homes which do not comply with legal requirements and is also working with the Better Business Bureau on a standards system to reward compliant care facilities. “These steps will put more weight - Diane Jacob into protecting our oldest and our most vulnerable citizens,” Jacob said. “Most have already traveled a long, tough road. They made it through the Great Depression. They fought in Europe, the Pacific, Korea, and Vietnam. But for a growing number of our elderly and their families, the toughest trial lies ahead. I’m talking about Alzheimer’s disease,” Jacob said. “Alzheimer’s isn’t just about losing your memory. It’s a killer. The death rate from Alzheimer’s in San Diego County is one of the highest in California.” In the San Diego region, Alzheimer’s disease is now the third leading cause of death. More than 60,000 county residents are afflicted, and that number is expected to double during the next 15 years. “No one survives it. There’s no way to prevent or cure it. Not yet, anyway,” Jacob said. “Families carry the greatest burden. Watching your father or mother, a grandparent or a spouse, lose their memory and judgment, it’s heartbreaking.” On June 12, Jacob and supervisor Greg Cox will co-chair a San Diego County Aging Summit which will emphasize Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. Jacob
“On many key issues, the course of county government this year is clear” Julian is known for its apple pie, the backcountry can be known for its brews.” Jacob noted that economic growth would not be at the expense of recreational amenities. “Let’s remember what makes San Diego County special and build on that, too. It’s our parks and our hiking paths, it’s our backcountry and beaches,” she said. Jacob noted that the county’s plans during 2014 include expanding the county’s trail system, acquiring an additional 300 acres of open space, working to develop the new equestrian center in Lakeside, and opening the Waterfront Park south of the County Administration Center. “On many key issues, the course of county government this year is clear,” Jacob said. “On public safety and the county budget, we remain vigilant. On energy issues, it’s time to take a hard look at community choice. On the economy, we continue to help it grow. On our quality of life, we have new parks and recreation taking root.” Jacob then addressed the county’s aging population. “We’ve got a big challenge in front of us. A seismic shift is under way. The number of San Diego County residents living long into their 70s and 80s and older is surging, and by 2030 the number of people who are at least 75 years old is expected to triple, rapidly outpacing the growth in the rest of the population. This huge shift will test our communities and county government, our homes and hospitals, our public policies and our personal lives. I’d like to say we’re prepared – we are not.” The State of California is responsible for licensing and regulating assisted living homes and other long-term care facilities, but the County of San Diego has an ombudsman program which investigates complaints and allegations of abuse. Jacob recently accompanied full-time patient advocate Lyn Devereaux who made two unannounced visits to East County nursing homes. “I was impressed with Lyn’s eagle-eyed focus. However, it’s also clear to me that our advocacy program is overwhelmed,” Jacob said. “Just as the need for oversight is growing and will continue to rise, the program has been shrinking.” The ombudsman program was stripped of state funding in 2009, reducing the county’s full-time advocates from eight to four. “No question about it; we’re going in the wrong direction,” Jacob said. Jacob will be seeking Board of Supervisors approval for full restoration of the program. “We
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Page B-13 invited the public to attend, and she also called for public participation in clinical studies involving the University of California, San Diego, the Scripps Institute, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. “They need the public’s help. Clinical trials often require thousands of volunteers,” she said. Dr. Paul Aisen of UCSD is directing the clinical study and is seeking as many as 6,000 volunteers age 65 or older. “It’s not unusual for folks to donate blood. Some will even donate an organ. But convincing them to take part in a clinical trial is not easy, so I encourage San Diego County residents to step forward and volunteer. Lives depend on it. The simple act of helping out could bring us one step closer to a cure,” Jacob said. Citizens willing to take part in the study can express their interest by e-mail to brainlink@ ucsd.edu and information can also be found on the supervisor’s www.diannejacob.com website. Jacob hopes to bring researchers, caregivers, and other Alzheimer’s experts into a single room to craft a regional plan and hopes that the task force will provide recommendations by the end of 2014. “This group will look at issues of both cure and care. Time is not on our side, but hope is,” Jacob said. “We have faced great tests before, and we have met those tests. San Diego County is a place of pioneers. It was here that the polio vaccine was created. Researchers here are tapping into that same pioneer spirit in their bid to conquer Alzheimer’s. Our region needs to join with them in facing the disease head-on.” To comment on this story online, visit www.thevillagenews.com.
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