Santa Maria Sun / Community

Citizen's Alert

Political Watch - 2.2.12

• The California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) recently released a statement regarding AB 889. Nicknamed the “babysitting bill,” AB 889 would regulate wages for domestic workers. Specifically, it would give domestic workers additional rights when regulations are violated by their employers and provide an overtime compensation rate. Jordan Lindsey, policy director for CAHSAH, said in the statement that home-care workers need fair and adequate wages for the important work they do. “CAHSAH agrees with this message and would take it further to state that home-care workers also deserve a career path and health care,” Lindsey continued. “At the same time, however, we are concerned that if AB 889 becomes law, then it is the children’s grandparents who could suffer. AB 889 would drive up the cost of in-home care for the seniors and people with disabilities who need it by nearly tripling the cost of 24-hour homecare and adding rules that are nearly impossible to follow, such as requiring caregivers have an uninterrupted eight hours of sleep, even if they are hired to care for the elderly or ill overnight. ... Most seniors and their families who use in-home care don’t have limitless funds. Once they have depleted their ability to pay for the care they need, they will be forced into government-funded programs or may forego the care they need all together.  While the supporters of [Assemblyman Tom Ammiano’s] bill have admirable motives, the bill itself is simply unworkable.”

Community Notebook - 2.2.12

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

• The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Agendas are available at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current.

• The Vandenberg Village Community Services District has its regular board meeting at 7 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room, 3757 Constellation Road, Vandenberg Village.

• The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. Agendas are available at www.ci.santa-maria.ca.us. 

• The Lompoc City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc. Agendas are available at www.ci.lompoc.ca.us.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8

• The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. at The Betteravia Government Center, 511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria. The agenda is available at www.co.santa-barbara.ca.us.

• The Nipomo Community Services District has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the NCSD Boardroom at 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo.

• The Lompoc Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Lompoc City Hall Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc.

• The Lompoc Parks and Recreation Commission has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. at the Anderson Recreation Center, 125 West Walnut Ave., Lompoc.

• The Santa Maria Joint Union High School Board has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Support Services Center, 2560 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria.

• The Orcutt Union School Board has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the District Office Board Room, 500 Dyer, Orcutt.

THURSDAY, FEB. 9

• The Guadalupe Union School Board has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at McKenzie Jr. High, 4710 West Main St., Guadalupe.

• The Santa Maria Airport Board has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the airport boardroom in the administration building, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.

• The Santa Maria City Code Compliance Board has its regular meeting at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria.