Page 5 - Dinuba Sentinel 1-31-19 E-edition

The Dinuba Sentinel
Community
Thursday, January 31, 2019 | A5
California Assemblymember Devon Mathis (third from left) introduces a bill with Assembymember Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Mike Gipson that aims to deal with the growing homeless problem in the state. Mathis is the Assembly representative for the 26th District, which includes Dinuba.
Mathis reintroduces
bill to tackle growing
homeless proplem
Bill would expand access to emergency homeless shelters and feeding programs
Contributed
On Wednesday, Jan. 23, Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) reintroduced a bill to address the severe shortage of emergency shelters and feeding programs for homeless Californians in disadvantaged communities. The bill (AB 246) would authorize the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to lease certain properties to cities and counties at a cost of $1 per month to build emergency shelters, food pantries and recreational parks. This bill is a bipartisan measure authored by ASM Mathis (R-Visalia), ASM Bonta (D-Oakland), and ASM Gipson (D-Carson).
“Homelessness is a growing problem in California, especially in the Central Valley,” said Mathis. “It can be found in many forms, like when you’re less than one paycheck away from losing your home or a veteran who’s suffering from PTSD. Everywhere, there are families in the street, and it’s becoming more frequent. This bill is a common sense, low cost way to provide immediate relief to Californians in need.”
Caltrans owns numerous unused parcels of land, many of which are located in disadvantaged communities. These communities often lack the financial resources to provide homeless services, food assistance, and parks for their residents. This bill would ease the financial burden by
allowing local governments to put vacant land to good use at a nominal cost.
“I am excited to announce my co-authorship of Assembly Bill 246 with my colleague Assemblymember Devon Mathis. Last year I advanced a proposal with Senator Beall to help expand access to emergency homeless shelters and feeding programs by authorizing Caltrans to enter into leases with the cities of Los Angeles and San Jose for such programs. I am confident that this effort has helped ease the homelessness crisis in my community and now I look forward to collaborating on this measure to help bring these benefits statewide,” said ASM Gipson.
“AB 246 will build on the progress made last year in Oakland and advance it to all of California. By using every tool in the toolbox, we can make an impact and address the state’s growing homelessness crisis,” said Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland). “Allowing local governments to lease surplus state property for $1 per month will help create much-needed temporary emergency housing. This model is an example of how we can work together to address our most urgent needs.”
Assemblymember Devon J. Mathis represents the 26th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Tulare, Inyo, and Kern Counties.
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Council
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that could potentially save the city over $20 over the span of the next thirty years.
The council approved an agreement with ENGIE Services US, Inc to perform an integrated assessment to identify ways to conserve energy on various city properties.
Part of the presentation, given by representatives from ENGIE Services, was a preliminary assessment that featured proposed solar projects at various city locations, including the Dinuba Police Department, Sportsplex center, Community Center and Waste Water Treatment Facility.
The preliminary plan calls for solar parking structures to be added to the police department and sportsplex, as well as at Roosevelt Park. In addition, the plan calls for additional solar panels near the waste-water treatment facility and a buy-out of the city’s current contract with Tioga Energy, from whom the city current leases the panels from. A buyout, or refinance, of the current contract could potentially save the city $350,000.
Though the proposed project, in its entirety, will cost the city over $24 million, the savings over the life of the agreement is expected to be approximately $45 million.
have a semi-vacant shopping center, it makes it more challenging.”
James said the city will be refocusing its efforts to come up with more ways to offer incentives to retailers and housing developers.
Either way, the efforts to revitalize the east side, from the city’s perspective, is a long-term approach.
East
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That sparked the Randle Avenue extension to allow for better accessibility. And a new housing development east of Crawford Avenue will provide more rooftops.
But the closure of the store still hurts the efforts.
“It’s not going to make it easier,” said Dinuba Assistant City Manager Daniel James. “When you
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