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Tag: Sue Frost

  • Guest Column: Why I voted against ban on ‘no-fault’ evictions

    Guest opinion by County Supervisor Sue Frost–
    I voted against the proposed emergency ordinance that would have blocked landlords from legally evicting tenants — and I wanted you to know why.  

    Sue Frost, supervisor
    Sue Frost

    I voted against the ban on “no-fault eviction” because it’s a false promise that does nothing to address the core problem and actually might make it worse.

    The problem is simple — we don’t have enough housing, and scarcity drives up costs and reduces options.

    The situation has received a lot of media attention about the emotion involved — and I do not diminish the stress a person who needs to find a new place to live must feel. But the coverage hasn’t done an outstanding job of explaining the facts. 

    What they are terming “no-fault eviction” is actually when a property owner doesn’t offer a renewal at the end of a tenant’s lease. Typically the property owners give tenants two months’ notice — and most of the time, the tenant chooses to leave and find a new place to live.

    But sometimes they refuse to move out, and the owner is forced to evict them.  

    So why is there so much fervor? Because one apartment complex decided not to renew leases for a large group of tenants that were on month-to-month leases.  

    I have great sympathy and compassion for the renters who were impacted by this isolated situation, and I do not condone the actions of this particular apartment owner.

    After this incident happened, financial assistance was negotiated for the tenants who received termination notices. These tenants will receive $2,500 in relocation or rent assistance plus the return of their full security deposit from the current owners. In addition, several tenants with Housing Choice Vouchers may be able to stay at the property after its sale to the new owners.

    This proposal, as well as statewide rent control that is coming Jan. 1, both suffer from the same misguided notion that renters will be better off with government controls on rent. Nothing is further from the truth.

    GUEST OPINION: Rent control won’t solve housing crisis, but more construction will

    Economists across the world, as well as everyone with basic knowledge of economics, understand that this is simply not the case. While price controls do hold down costs in the short-run for current tenants, in the long-run, it decreases rent inventory and affordability and creates blight in the surrounding neighborhood. In short, it increases housing costs, discourages construction of more affordable units, and reduces housing options.

    Laws like rent control and bans on “no-fault evictions” are barriers to building the housing and apartments we desperately need. They create economic pressure for landlords to convert their properties to different uses entirely.  

    My supervisorial colleague, who has been so publicly critical of my vote, should review the results of similar policies in areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Then he needs to ask himself if he would consider either of those cities affordable.

    In 2019, the National Apartment Association conducted a survey of firms that build multifamily housing. The results showed that the Sacramento metropolitan area is one of the hardest places to build multifamily housing in the entire country.

    Read the full 67-page NAA report: Click here

    Nationally, our region ranked 56 out of 58 for the most barriers to building multifamily housing. Meaning it is more difficult to build apartments in the Sacramento area than the surrounding areas of Honolulu, New York, or San Diego.

    This is unacceptable to me — and for anyone who honestly wants to deal with the housing shortage and price inflation. We have to do better.

    That’s why I will hold a series of meetings with county staff, apartment owners, builders, and tenants’ rights groups. Together, we will find out what can actually be done to solve the problem and reduce barriers preventing us from building new multifamily and affordable housing in our County.  

    I want real solutions, like offering tax incentives to property owners who keep rent low and build new units. Or allowing housing projects to get the same incentives and environmental exemptions sports facilities get.  

    I do not have all the answers; however, it is clear to me that we cannot continue to pass half-baked policies that feel good but in reality, make the situation significantly worse.

    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights.  She can be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

    Want to share your own thoughts on this topic or another local issue? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Guest Opinion: AB 392 is not the answer for police use of force

    Guest opinion column by County Supervisor Sue Frost–
    There is a bill quickly making its way through the California Legislature (AB 392) that, if passed, will create a highly subjective standard for evaluating and holding law enforcement officers criminally liable for using force when responding to life-or-death situations based on hindsight, without providing any extra training to officers.

    Sue Frost, supervisor
    Sue Frost

    Because this bill would have a direct impact on the law enforcement officers that work for us here in Citrus Heights, I want to take an opportunity to give you more detail on this important issue, and explain why I am staunchly opposed to this bill.

    Law enforcement officers today are allowed to only use deadly force when there is a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or another person. Due to this, peace officers are held to the standard of what an objectively reasonable officer on the scene would do.

    Under AB 392, this would change so that peace officers would need to pause when contemplating the use of deadly force, only allowing them to use deadly force in circumstances when “the homicide would be justifiable in self-defense or the defense of another person.”

    By requiring officers to further hesitate in their actions, we not only put the officer and his or her partner at an even greater risk, we put the general public at a greater risk.

    Related: Citrus Heights council votes 5-0 to oppose AB 392 use-of-force bill

    In these high stress situations, quick reaction time is imperative and a matter of seconds can mean life or death. Creating doubt in the minds of our officers will make them vulnerable to even greater dangers than those that they already face.

    It is critical that we do not tie the hands of law enforcement and that we uphold the safety of our officers and those they are sworn to protect.

    To understand this issue more clearly, shortly after I was sworn-in as your County Supervisor, I had the Sheriff’s Department allow me to participate in their “use of force simulator” so I could personally experience some of the training our deputies undertake to help them handle potentially deadly situations. The experience opened my eyes to what our deputies have to be prepared to face while on patrol – and the training they receive on how to handle those situations.

    Related: What I learned from a law enforcement training simulator

    Before this experience, it was easy for me to watch a video of a police encounter and say how I would have done things differently. But after going through it, it has changed my perspective on all the police encounters I have watched – and has given me a greater appreciation for how hard it is for the officers.

    The decision to apply this level of force is the most solemn, serious, and scrutinized choice an officer could be asked to make. It must often occur without notice and with only milliseconds to contemplate his or her actions.

    As such, shifting the standard that guides the use of lethal force from one of objective reasonableness in light of the facts and circumstances, to necessity given the totality of the circumstances, is an impossible standard to achieve.

    California’s police officers take an oath that they will run towards danger when everyone else is running away – and they do so to protect our families and communities. The subjective legal standards AB 392 seeks to implement will have a chilling effect on the men and women in uniform by undermining their ability to respond to life-or-death situations – creating new challenges that would threaten the safety of our families, communities and officers.

    Even if this change in standards were appropriate, agency policies would have to be changed and tens of thousands of peace officers would have to receive all new training. But this bill does not provide any additional funding for training – the foundation for minimizing the use of force – nor does it put in place even one proactive measure to reduce the use of force. In addition, this opens the door for trial attorneys to severely reduce law enforcement budgets due to the need for departments to hire more lawyers to defend the sudden rise in lawsuits.

    There is a bipartisan competing bill in the legislature that I do support (SB 230) that attempts to find ways to improve outcomes for use of force incidents. That bill will refine the circumstances by which an officer could discharge their weapon in alignment with U.S. Supreme Court decisions, require all law enforcement agencies to establish a comprehensive policy on Use of Force, require this written policy to be made accessible to the public, and emphasize officer training and education through coursework prepared by the well-established Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training.

    The loss of even one life is too many, and an officer’s use of serious force is — and must be — a last resort. This is a sensitive and important issue that we must proactively address, but AB 392 is not the answer and will only create new problems threatening the safety of California’s families and communities.

    I urge the bill’s authors, sponsors, and supporters to develop truly effective and achievable improvement to help California law enforcement minimize the use of force.

    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights. Her next community meeting will be held at Citrus Heights City Hall at 6 p.m. on May 20, 2019. She can be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

    Want to share your own thoughts on this topic or another local issue? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Guest Column: Even with new gas tax, there’s still not enough money for roads

    Guest Column: Even with new gas tax, there’s still not enough money for roads

    Guest opinion column by County Supervisor Sue Frost–
    As you are undoubtedly aware, California voters went to the polls last November and voted not to repeal the “gas tax”, which is the largest tax increase in the history of California. The gas tax is here to stay, and local roads in Sacramento County will start getting repaved later this fall.

    Sue Frost, supervisor
    Sue Frost

    But strangely enough, even though this tax has only been in place for a little over a year, there are local governmental entities currently having discussions about how to raise even more money. I want to take this opportunity to explain to you why this is happening, and where I think we should go from here.

    Sacramento County does not have enough money to pay for our roads, and even with the gas tax, we are still dreadfully short of what is needed just to maintain the current awful condition our roads are in. The gas tax was advertised as “fixing our roads”, but in actuality it was just a small drop in the bucket.

    Right now, even with the gas tax the County would need an additional $15-20 million yearly just to maintain the roads at their current level. To improve the roads to a standard that people would deem as “good”, we would need an additional $50 million yearly.

    What many people do not understand is that local roads in California used to be primarily funded by the state and federal government, but over the past several years they have heavily cut back on local funding. Not only that, but much of the funding that does come in comes in the form of competitive dollars, meaning we are only going to win those funds for major projects that have nothing to do with resurfacing, like the road widening that recently happened along Hazel Avenue.

    The problem Sacramento County is experiencing with our roads is not localized to just our county or even region. This is a problem afflicting the entire State of California, as even with the gas tax, our state has around $85 billion in road maintenance that has been postponed due largely to the state and federal government diverting funds away from local municipalities.

    This enormous bill would feel more understandable if California were broke, but that is not the case.

    Not only did Governor Newsom just announce a nearly $15 billion surplus, but after backtracking on some of his comments, he announced that we are still moving forward with California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR). In my opinion, CAHSR is not even a fraction as important as having reliable roads. CAHSR will be used exclusively on passengers, with a focus on commuters. Roads meanwhile are used by everyone, including passengers, freight, fire service, police service, etc.

    When voters approved CAHSR, it was supposed to cost $40 billion and connect San Francisco to Los Angeles. Experts are now expecting that it could cost over $98 billion, but I suspect given how this has been run so far that it would run far higher than that. Governor Newsom made comments recently that he wants to focus on completing the first section, a 188-mile segment between Merced and Bakersfield estimated to cost $10.6 billion, before moving forward with the full project.

    Instead, I suggest we cut our losses, end CAHSR, and finally make real investments to our crumbling infrastructure. Sacramento County cannot afford to let California prioritize a handful of central valley commuters over the needs of virtually every Californian in the state.

    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights.  She can be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

    Want to share your own thoughts on this topic or another local issue? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Guest Column: Getting local homeless into jobs? It’s about to happen here.

    Guest opinion column by County Supervisor Sue Frost–
    Exactly a year ago, I wrote an article in the Citrus Heights Sentinel outlining why I thought Sacramento County was in need of a work program for people who are homeless. Since then, I worked to help craft a plan that would not only employ people who are homeless, but also work to beautify Sacramento County at the same time.

    Sue Frost, supervisor
    Sue Frost

    I am thrilled to announce to you that the plan was formally adopted at the end of January, and will begin to be implemented in March. I want to take this opportunity to explain the program to you, and share with you why I believe it will work.

    Ten homeless people selected from across the county (including people in cities like Citrus Heights) will be identified who are both willing to work and get clean. They will meet four days a week at a central location and then be driven to the American River Parkway to get paid minimum wage to do cleanup work. The American River Parkway has been completely trashed in many sections, due chiefly to homeless encampments and negligent teenagers, so this work is much needed.

    In the afternoon, they will then be driven downtown to go through a job training program. This job program is aimed to get them various certifications in the construction industry. With the surge in construction in this region, there is a lack of construction workers, and this is the perfect field for them to get entry level work in.

    After ten weeks of working and going through the classes, they will have graduated out, and a new group of ten will start the program. After leaving the program they will then get help in finding employment by getting introduced to employers, receiving job interview training, getting help creating a resume, and getting help obtaining job-appropriate clothing. This is also coupled with trying to find them a permanent housing solution.

    I take great issue with new government programs that are started and turn out to be ineffective, yet get funded for eternity. With that in mind, this will be a trial program that will last for 40 weeks. After those 40 weeks, we will evaluate the program to see if it’s working, whether changes need to be made, or whether we need to end the program entirely.

    To get this job done, the county (with major help from Sacramento Regional Sanitation District) decided to contract with PRIDE industries, a nonprofit headquartered in Roseville. Their primary mission is to help people who have disabilities overcome employment obstacles, and empower them to lead productive, independent lives as contributing members of our community. It seemed to me to be a perfect fit to have them work with people who are homeless, as many of their challenges are similar to people who have disabilities, such as regaining a sense of self-worth and finding reliable transportation.

    I’m excited about this program because I believe finding jobs for people who are homeless is an important piece to this overall problem that we are not looking close enough at. I like the idea of giving them training in a field that sorely needs jobs, and I like the idea of teaching them what it is like again to feel accomplished for earning a paycheck by putting in a hard day’s work.

    I know this is a drop in the bucket in terms of solving this overall problem, but I am hopeful that we might be onto something really great here, that over time and careful development we can end up putting to work far more than just 40 people.

    Before signing off, I want to invite you to my next Citrus Heights Community Meeting on March 18, 2019, at 6 p.m. at Citrus Heights City Hall (6360 Fountain Square Drive).

    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights.  She can be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

    Want to share your own thoughts on this topic or another local issue? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Guest Column: Court ruling makes crackdown on homeless camps difficult

    Guest Column: Court ruling makes crackdown on homeless camps difficult

    Guest opinion column by County Supervisor Sue Frost–
    Last month, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in the case Martin v. Boise which ruled local governments cannot cite or arrest anyone for sleeping on public property when adequate shelter beds are unavailable. Because of that ruling, Sacramento County Parks Rangers stopped enforcing the County anti-camping ordinance at our regional parks and dependent park districts (like Sunrise Recreation and Park District).

    Sue Frost, supervisor
    Sue Frost

    The Board of Supervisors just finished discussing the implications of this decision, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to update you on the subject.

    As soon as I heard that our Park Rangers had stopped enforcement of our anti-camping ordinance, I reached out to my constituents and asked for their input. There were some great suggestions, but most of those suggestions had some critical flaw that is not immediately obvious.

    Drug-free requirements are not allowed, because we cannot place any conditions on the people who are offered housing. Designating certain areas of the parkway for camping is not allowed, because we have to give access to all locations. Creating a tent city does not count as reducing the housing requirement, because for the housing to count it must have things like running water and minimum space.

    This is an issue that we need to get used to for a while. The ruling is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but since no stay of enforcement has been issued, the court decision is the law of the land (for now). I could easily see this decision being overturned, but we are years away from that ever happening and we can’t hold our breath waiting for that possibility.

    We have to act now and deal with this issue.

    The obvious solution is to build shelter, because if enough shelter is built then we can go back to enforcing our ordinance. We have been actively doing that through our scattered site shelter model, which is where we utilize currently vacant single-family properties that house individuals in need of shelter.

    The houses are spread out so there are only a small amount in each community, each house has 24-hour in-house monitoring, and the residents get connected with the social services they need to fix the problems that were keeping them homeless.

    Earlier this year California allocated nearly $20 million in funding that Sacramento County and Sacramento City are eligible to receive, just so long as we declare a “shelter crisis” in Sacramento County. So, on Oct. 16, Sacramento County made this declaration, which doesn’t really obligate Sacramento County to anything new, given the Ninth Circuit decision.

    Among other things, this money will get us significantly more homes for the scattered site shelter model I described above, increased family shelter capacity, and the creation of a program that connects homeless youths with families who want to house them on a short-term basis.

    Unfortunately, I do not think this will get us the amount of housing needed to go back to enforcing our ordinance, and neither do my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors.

    We told staff that we are not satisfied with the status quo, and want them to report back to us on if we can more rigorously enforce along our parkways. We have health and safety concerns for the people trying to utilize the parkways, and also concerns about the environmental damage being done.

    In 2018 alone we have removed over 6.5 million pounds of trash from our parkways, and that’s not acceptable.

    I have compassion for the homeless, which is why I have authorized funding multiples times now for new homeless programs – but I also have compassion for the residents of our County who want to use our parks/parkways for recreational purposes. I’m committed to finding a solution to this impasse our community is in, and will update you as we work through through it.

    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights. She can be reached at (916) 874-5491, or by email at supervisorfrost@saccounty.net. Frost will host her next community meeting in Citrus Heights at City Hall on Nov. 15, at 6 p.m.

    Want to share your own thoughts on this topic or another local issue? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Citrus Heights News Briefs: dead body, gas tax, guns, fire

    Citrus Heights News Briefs: dead body, gas tax, guns, fire

    Sue Frost
    Supervisor Sue Frost speaks in support of Proposition 6, which would repeal the recent gas tax increase, during a Sept. 13 Sacramento Transit Authority meeting.

    Latest news briefs in Citrus Heights include a dead body being found inside a Citrus Heights home on Thursday, flames engulfing a garage on the outskirts of town, a local gun shop winning a lawsuit against the state, and Supervisor Sue Frost taking some heat for her position against the “gas tax” during a regional transportation board meeting.

    Dead body found inside Citrus Heights home
    Police responding to a home on Glen Creek Way Thursday afternoon found a woman’s body inside the residence, CBS-Sacramento reported. An elderly man was also found alive inside. The home is listed on a state database as a licensed care home facility for up to six people, primarily for those with Alzheimer’s over age 60. According to the news report, police did not believe foul play was involved.

    CBS also reported neighbors were “rattled” about the news, as the home is located near where suspected serial killer Joseph DeAngelo lived on Canyon Oak Drive. “Bad luck, you know DeAngelo lived right down the street,” one neighbor was quoted telling the news station. As of Saturday, the deceased woman’s identity has not been released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. (See CBS video)

    Citrus Heights gun shop wins lawsuit against state
    Sacramento Black Rifle, located on Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, was handed a victory by a U.S. District Judge on Tuesday. The gun shop, along with another firearms dealer in Tracy, sued the state four years ago after both argued they should be allowed to advertise the sale of handguns on their storefronts, a practice banned by California law for nearly the past century.

    According to story in the Sacramento Bee on Wednesday, state lawyers argued the law was needed to “stop impulsive individuals from purchasing a handgun and using it in a suicide or crime.” But Judge Troy L. Nunley found the law violates gun shops’ First Amendment rights. Sacramento Black Rifle store manager Nate Woodward told The Bee the lawsuit victory was “really big,” and a win for free speech. The ruling could be appealed by the California Attorney General’s Office. (See SacBee story)

    Frost sole vote opposing gas tax on Transit Authority board
    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost, who is a Citrus Heights resident and former mayor of the city, took to Facebook on Wednesday calling out a vote of the Sacramento Transit Authority to officially oppose Proposition 6, which would repeal the controversial $52 billion “gas tax,” also known as SB 1. Frost was the sole “no” vote out of 10 representatives present for the Board’s Sept. 13 meeting, and said many of her fellow board members were “upset” with her vote. Six members were absent, including Citrus Heights Councilman Al Fox, and his alternate, Jeff Slowey. The Transit Authority Board is made up of representatives from the Board of Supervisors and other elected officials from cities in the region.

    Frost said 83% of her constituents were opposed to the new gas tax, citing a Facebook poll she conducted where 315 people responded. She also said roads could be repaired by abandoning plans for California’s high speed rail project, which is estimated to approach nearly $100 billion, and instead prioritize the funds to go towards road repair instead. The Transit Authorities’ resolution in favor of keeping the gas tax argues that Proposition 6 would “take away approximately $50 million annually that is dedicated to the County of Sacramento and the incorporated Cities within Sacramento County for street and road repairs, road reconstruction, and street maintenance.” (See resolution here, and see Frost’s full comments here)

    Fire takes out detached garage in Citrus Heights
    A structure fire on the outskirts of town off Twin Oaks Avenue ripped through a detached garage Monday morning. Video posted on social media by Metro Fire showed the garage still smouldering, with a gaping hole observable on the roof. Fire crews reported knock down of the blaze around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 and said no additional structures had been threatened by the fire.

    According to a news report from KCRA, the fire resulted in a complete loss to the garage, but no injuries were reported.  The cause of fire was under investigation as of Monday, and no further updates were released by fire officials. (See video)

    More briefly:

    • Cleanup. On Sept. 8, the City of Citrus Heights posted a video slideshow of volunteers cleaning up a poorly maintained residential property. (See video)
    • Disbarring. The State Bar is recommending a Citrus Heights attorney be disbarred over an alleged ethics violation, according to the NorCal Record. (See story)
  • (Premium) News Briefs: homelessness, microtransit, obituary, Frost

    (Premium) News Briefs: homelessness, microtransit, obituary, Frost

    Sue Frost, Supervisor, Citrus Heights
    Supervisor Sue Frost speaks at a standing-room-only community meeting at Citrus Heights City Hall on Jan. 18, 2018. // Image Credit, Sue Frost

    Latest local news briefs include a report from Supervisor Sue Frost’s community meeting at city hall, a celebration and reception held in memory of a local veteran and chaplain, more news about RT’s plan to bring a “microtransit” model to Citrus Heights, the Citrus Heights Chamber celebrating 60 years at an awards dinner, as well as details about a power outage on Friday and a fatal crash on Saturday morning.

    Celebration of life held for Chaplain Jerry Smith
    Jerry C. Smith, a regular figure in the annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies at Sylvan Cemetery, passed away last month after a battle with cancer. A reception and celebration in his honor was held on Jan. 13 at Reichert’s Funeral & Cremation Services in Citrus Heights.

    According to an obituary published on Legacy.com last week, Smith had several children and grandchildren and served as chaplain for the Citrus Heights chapter of the American Legion. After graduating C.K. McClatchy High School, he served in the Navy from 1964-67, followed by his earning of a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento in 1973. He then became an instructor in the Sacramento City Unified School District, where he later retired. Smith was also a member of the Sacramento Story Tellers Guild, participated in the “No Soldier Left Behind” program, and was granted Aaronic Priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (See obituary)

    SacBee covers plan for RT’s ‘microtransit’ service in Citrus Heights
    Sacramento Regional Transit’s plan to launch an Uber-style on-demand service in Citrus Heights next month was covered in a story in the Sacramento Bee last week, headlined “Sacramento’s transit future: Order a bus to your door.” As previously reported on The Sentinel last month, RT’s Deputy General Manager Mark Lonergan said the program will focus on the existing City Ride service in Citrus Heights and will allow riders to download an app or make a phone call to book a ride the same day, rather than the current system which requires booking a day in advance.

    Transit agencies have long-struggled with offering efficient services in suburban areas, but RT is hopeful its partnership with TransLoc to provide on-demand service will help improve service and efficiency where fixed-routes have struggled. “It’s a great opportunity to really try something at a very minimal cost that has a huge, huge potential to be a real game-changer in communities where, you know, traditional fixed-route frankly hasn’t cut the muster,” Lonergan said.

    Supervisor Frost talks homelessness, roads at community meeting
    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost held her first community meeting of 2018 on Thursday night at a standing-room-only event held in the Citrus Heights City Hall community room. About 100 people attended the hour-long meeting, asking the supervisor questions about a wide range of topics, including roads, homelessness, the “bullet train,” abandoned RV’s, California’s status as as “sanctuary state,” and other issues — some of which Frost said were outside of her purview as a county official.

    Frost, who lives in Citrus Heights and previously served on the city council, said a survey she conducted of her constituents in Citrus Heights found that 76% oppose the recent gas tax increase, SB 1, and said she believes the tax could be overturned by voters. She said the county is expected to receive $9-11 million the first year from the new gas tax, which will then rise to $28-36 million per year. The supervisor also said her survey found 66% of her constituents in Citrus Heights “feel that homelessness is a problem and we should spend the same amount or more on homelessness.” She said at the county level she is looking into bringing a jobs program for homeless, based off of a model in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the city has partnered with a nonprofit to pick up panhandlers and pay them for doing various day jobs beautifying the city. Frost’s next community meeting in Citrus Heights is scheduled for March 15 at 6 p.m.

    Citrus Heights chamber celebrates 60 years with awards dinner, packed house
    News brief content submitted by Michael Bullington– The 2018 Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, celebrating its 60th anniversary with a packed house at the community center, began its annual Board Installation Dinner on Friday night with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails provided by Randy Peters Catering, and Courtney Dempsey of Good Day Sacramento serving as master of ceremonies. Johnnise Downs of Republic Services, outgoing chamber chair, gave opening remarks and recognized several elected officials in the audience, which included Senator Jim Nielsen and Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost.

    Nineteen members of the Chamber’s board of directors were sworn in by Citrus Heights Mayor Steve Miller, and Amanda Blackwood of Stone’s Gambling Hall was announced as the new board chair. Among awards presented, Chief Ron Lawrence presented the award for Policeman of the Year to Jeff Schouten, a founding member of the police department in 2006, who was assigned as liaison to the Sunrise Mall in 2014.

    More Briefly:

    • Power outage: Nearly 200 residents in Citrus Heights were affected by a power outage near Greenback Lane and Mariposa Avenue around 5 p.m. Friday. A SMUD spokeswoman said the outage was restored by 5:45 p.m., but said the cause was still being looking into, as of Friday evening.
    • Chamber dinner: The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce held its 60th installation and awards dinner at the community center on Fountain Square Drive, Friday evening.
    • Fatal crash: A 49-year-old Citrus Heights man died after his vehicle crashed into a tree on Isleton Road in the Delta around 4 a.m. Saturday, The Sacramento Bee reported. His name has not been released and the use of drugs and/or alcohol is under investigation according to the California Highway Patrol. (See story)
  • Supervisor Frost to host community meeting at Citrus Heights city hall

    Supervisor Frost to host community meeting at Citrus Heights city hall

    Sue Frost community meeting
    A photo posted on Supervisor Sue Frost’s Facebook page shows residents at her October community meeting at Coco’s restaurant in Citrus Heights.

    Sentinel staff report–
    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost will hold her first Citrus Heights community meeting of the year at city hall on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m., where she will give an update to residents on county issues and answer questions from the community.

    The supervisor previously held her community meetings on Friday mornings at the Citrus Heights Denny’s on Sunrise Boulevard until the restaurant abruptly closed last summer and the venue was changed to Coco’s restaurant on Madison Avenue. The venue and times were changed for 2018 due to increasing attendance and requests from residents for an evening meeting time, according to Matt Hedges, the supervisor’s chief of staff.

    Frost, who previously served on the Citrus Heights city council until being elected as supervisor for District 4 in 2016, had pledged to continue the tradition of “community cabinet meetings” set by former supervisor Roberta MacGlashan, who typically held about 10 meetings throughout the year at Denny’s in Citrus Heights. The meetings are used to inform constituents of current issues at the county level, as well as address questions from attendees on topics that have ranged from budget issues to homelessness and crime.

    Frost’s calendar for 2018 includes 25 meetings held in five different communities she represents on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, including Rio Linda, Orangevale, Antelope, and Folsom. Her Citrus Heights meetings will be held at city hall on the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m., during the months of January, March, May, September and November.

    As part of her community engagement plan, Frost also writes a monthly column that is submitted to newspapers in the region. Her past columns have been featured on The Sentinel and address topics including homelessness, police body cameras, and the county budget.

    —
    If you plan to go:

    Community Cabinet Meeting, District 4
    6 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2018
    City Hall, conference room
    6360 Fountain Square Dr.

  • Supervisor Frost: 3 reasons why I support body cameras

    Supervisor Frost: 3 reasons why I support body cameras

    Guest opinion column by County Supervisor Sue Frost–
    It is a difficult time to be a police officer in the United States. While it may or may not be fair, incidents across the country have left many people feeling deeply negative towards how officers handle difficult situations. In response, many departments are equipping their officers with body cameras.

    Sue Frost, supervisor
    Sue Frost

    Related: Citrus Heights police chief says body cameras ‘likely,’ but too early

    I bring this up because it was recently announced that the Sacramento County Sheriff will soon be conducting research to identify possible vendors to supply the department with body cameras for officers to wear. In a day and age where transparency, accountability, and building trust are more important than ever for departments across the country, I applaud our Sheriff for seriously looking at implementing this emerging technology.

    I have three main reasons for supporting body cameras.

    First, the video collected by body cameras helps juries paint an accurate picture of what happened in an incident. Whether that comes in the form of helping convict more criminals, or proving the innocence of the accused, society is better off for it. It will also provide clarity in cases of suspected police misconduct, as corrupt police officers will be more likely to be caught, and the honorable ones will be more likely to be exonerated.

    Speaking of police misconduct, my second reason for supporting body cameras is that it causes improved behavior by everyone involved. Officers tend to be on better behavior when they know they are being watched, and the likelihood of citizens acting aggressively towards officers also diminishes. It also allows officers to review their own footage and improve how they handle their interactions. Speaking personally, when I was interviewed on TV for the first time I cringed a little as I evaluated my performance, but it served as a great learning opportunity and helped me improve.

    My third reason is because it quantifiably reduces complaints and related expenses, as departments across the country are seeing positive results. In one study performed by the Rialto police department, it was found there was a 60% reduction in use of force incidents and an 88% reduction in the number of citizen complaints. I also believe these cameras could present a fantastic opportunity for the Sheriff’s Department to give the public a good idea of what the average day is like for an officer and potentially highlight the everyday good that officers do for our community.

    From Oct: Supervisor Frost: Here’s a hidden reason why homelessness is exploding

    But while there are numerous proven benefits to recording police interventions, there are also potential pitfalls, and this makes the careful approach the Sheriff is taking all the more important.

    Like all new technology, there are large upfront costs associated with the cameras. This cost takes the form of the physical cost of the cameras themselves, and also the cost of storing the evidence and public records requests. While agencies certainly save time collecting and managing digital photographic evidence – video evidence requires an investment in either cloud-based storage systems or physical storage hardware, both of which are expensive.

    I also have concerns about personal privacy while officers are in private residences and how evidence that could impact the outcome of a trial would be managed. Additionally, there’s also the problem of doing too much too fast, as when you have been doing the same job for twenty or more years, it can be a challenge to suddenly change procedures.

    But these issues should be solvable. It seems clear that bodycams for our deputies could be worthwhile if we implement them carefully, and based on initial results from other agencies who are using bodycams, they can potentially add clarity and save money in the long run. The Citrus Heights Police Department will benefit by this as well. There are many lessons that they can learn from the Sheriff’s Department, who share most of their jurisdictional borders with Citrus Heights.

    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights. She currently is seeking input on a community survey which can be taken online by clicking here. She can also be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

    What do you think of body cameras? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Citrus Heights News Briefs: Spooktacular, fire donations, theft recovery

    Citrus Heights News Briefs: Spooktacular, fire donations, theft recovery

    Spooktacular, Citrus Heights
    Attendees line up for some fun and games at Spooktacular 2017 in the Citrus Heights Raley’s parking lot. // CH Sentinel

    Latest news briefs include a wrap-up of Spooktacular at Antelope Crossing, Citrus Heights police helping unite a man with a stolen $3800 paint sprayer, a clothing drive at a local fitness franchise to help northern California fire victims, and more.

    Spooktacular draws crowd to Antelope Crossing, Raley’s shopping center
    Families and kids packed out the Raley’s shopping center parking lot in Citrus Heights for the 9th annual Spooktacular event on Saturday, enjoying game booths, free popcorn, stage entertainment, various prize giveaways, and a popular costume contest. The event, held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., also drew area dignitaries, including Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost and members of the Citrus Heights City Council. Councilman Albert Fox was among the attendees and said the event featured “great weather” and a “great crowd.”

    The annual event is sponsored by the City of Citrus Heights and the Antelope Crossing Business Association, which was formed in 2009 to help support and promote the two commercial and retail shopping centers located off Antelope Road at Interstate 80. Nevin Gill, who serves on the association’s governing board, said the annual Spooktacular event has helped draw attention to the shopping centers and has helped fill vacancies.

    Citrus Heights PD help unite man with stolen $3800 paint sprayer
    Citrus Heights police tweeted a photo of several officers and a smiling theft victim being reunited with his stolen $3,800 paint sprayer on Monday. The department captioned the photo: “Look on perps face when CHPD ansrd Craigslist add – Awesome. Look on owners face when returned – PRICELESS!” The photo quickly garnered over 100 likes on Twitter. (See tweet)

    Metro Fire sends specialist to Citrus Heights city hall to speed up permit process
    Due to increased submittals of construction-related plans, the City of Citrus Heights announced this month that a Metro Fire Plan Intake Specialist will now be at city hall three days a week. The staffer will be on site on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the goal to serve as a “more convenient location for plan submittal and faster turnaround in the development process,” the city said in a news update posted on citrusheights.net earlier this month. (See news update)

    Curves of Citrus Heights launches clothing drive to help Nor Cal fire victims
    A local women’s fitness franchise announced it is gathering new and gently used clothing to help victims of northern California fires. Curves of Citrus Heights announced the clothing drive on its Facebook page on Thursday and began accepting clothing at its Sunrise Boulevard location on Friday. The drive will also take place on Monday, Oct. 16, from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 3-6:30 p.m.

    Other items being sought include toiletries for men, women and children, as well as grip socks, reading glasses, brushes, washcloths, and twin bed sheets. Donations can be brought to the local Curves location at 5489 Sunrise Blvd., Suite G. (See original post)