MOSQUITO FIRE Disaster loans aim to assist

Mountain Democrat staff

Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to California businesses and residents a ected by the Mosquito Fire. Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration on April 5 announced the loans would be o ered to those impacted in El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter and Yuba counties in California; and Washoe County in Nevada.

“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help California’s small businesses and residents impacted by the Mosquito Fire,” said Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and e ciently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, according to SBA Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

“Beginning Wednesday, April 5, SBA customer

■ See DISASTER LOANS page A7

Coupal Continued from A4 created.”

But this cost is a bargain compared to what the creation of this new Orwellian agency will do to the price of gas and other petroleum products. The regulatory scheme created by SBX1-2 is almost certain to disrupt California’s energy market and threaten the reliability of the state’s already fragile fuel supply.

More fundamentally, ponder the notion of the heavy hand of state government judging what an “excessive” profit is. What industry is next? Will there be a new state agency to put a price cap on automobiles? (Oh wait, there is already a bill that would do that).

But SBX1-2 poses another threat that few are talking about. If the COVID-19 era taught us anything it is that government-declared emergencies — real or imagined — create more opportunities for corruption.

Recall that during the pandemic when no-bid contracts were being handed out, behested payments on behalf of the governor surged. These are “donations” for charitable or governmental purposes that are specifically requested by elected o cials, often from companies with business before the state. In 2020 alone hundreds of millions were “donated” at the “behest” of the governor. The practice was so pervasive it even caught the attention of the Los Angeles Times which wrote, “Many of the donors have other business before the governor, received no-bid government contracts over the last year or were seeking favorable appointments on important state boards,” which

“creates the appearance of a pay-to-play system.”

With SBX1-2, one can easily envision politicians extorting petroleum companies to give campaign contributions or “behested payments” as “protection” money. (“That’s a nice refinery you have there. It would be a shame if something happened to it.”)

So yes, the way SBX1-2 became law was a perversion of the legislative process and, yes, the bill is substantively destructive. (Justifiably designated as a “Job Killer” by the California Chamber of Commerce). But the real threat is the expansion of oppressive state government creeping into more areas of our personal lives and businesses. And that inevitably opens the door to more “pay-toplay” corruption and the flagrant waste of taxpayer dollars.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Raffety Continued from A4 was legal secretary for Daryl McKinstry, who also served as lawyer for the Mountain Democrat until he retired.

John Olson took over the Mountain Democrat account. I occasionally had a freedom of the press issue show up in court. I would call Olson, write an editorial and Olson would show up in court with a legal paper he whipped up overnight. One of his best performances was in a South Lake Tahoe Municipal Court. The Tahoe Tribune’s lawyers from Reno were ready to compromise. Olson spoke extemporaneously and made fools out of those big shot Reno lawyers. The Mountain Democrat won the day again. My editorial had the court sta making jokes highlighted in the editorial.

The third longest serving district attorneys were Gary Lacy and Henry Winkler, both serving 12 years. George Ingham served two di erent times: 1870-71 and 1876-84 for a total of 10 years. The interval in between Ingham was Galusha Carpenter, later Mountain Democrat publisher.

The first district attorney when the state and El Dorado County were formed was Issac N. Quereau, who served in 1850. Not sure how long his service was or if was just an honorific, because the next DA served from 1850-51.

El Dorado was much larger when it was formed. In 1854 Amador County was created from El Dorado County. Thomas Hews was the first district attorney to serve in a smaller El Dorado County, 1854-55.

Michael Ra ety is a retired editor of the Mountain Democrat and a resident of the Placerville area.

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CELEBRATE RECOVERY meets Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm at Bayside Church of Placerville, 4602 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. We are a Christ centered recovery program to find healing and recovery from our hurts, habits, and hangups. Email elebratercovery@ baysideplacerville. com. Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ CRBaysidePlacerville.

Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at

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GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing fourpart harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575

Hangtown Women’s TENNIS Club. Join fun-loving women Wednesdays 9am-11am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $50/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

MARSHALL HOSPITAL

AUXILIARY is looking for volunteers. It is a rewarding opportunity to do something for the community. We will be holding interviews on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Please contact Linda Grimoldi at 530-6202240 or call the Auxiliary Office at 530-626-2643.

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TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY

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