News Briefs

Online voting spreads
On January 20, 2016, the California’s Secretary of State Office issued a notice that nearly 80 percent of California counties have deployed the new voter registration database.
According to the information given, forty six of 58 California counties have now successfully deployed VoteCal, the voter registration database that will ultimately serve the entire state.
VoteCal will have many functions that will improve service to California voters by allowing voters to register online, check the status of their ballot, and find their polling place. It will also provide a single, official statewide database of voter registration information.
VoteCall will connect all 58 county elections offices to the Secretary of State’s database and give voters the ability to see if their vote-by-mail or provisional ballot was counted by their county elections official, and, if was not, why not.
The remaining 12 counties are scheduled to adopt VoteCal by March 14, 2016. After VoteCal is deployed in all counties and the Secretary of State has validated that VoteCal is working properly, VoteCal will be declared the official system of record for voter registration in California. This is expected to occur in June 2016.
Measure seeks to tax political advertisements
Staff
This initiative imposes a 1,000 percent sales tax on political advertising delivered in spending within a calendar year by a single entity or group of related entities. Political advertising includes, but is not limited to, all media spending by political parties, political action committees, or candidates. It requires that proceeds of the tax be used for public education.
A summary of the estimate by the Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Unknown increase in state revenues to be provided to public educational entities, assuming that the measure goes into effect after voter approval, executive branch implementation decisions, and court challenges.
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1765 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 15-0106.
The proponent of the measure, Terrance Lynn, must collect the signatures of 585,407 registered voters (eight percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the November 2014 general election) in order to qualify it for the November 2016 ballot. The proponent has 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials by July 11, 2016. The proponent can be reached at

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. No phone number was provided.
SLVWD seeks grant proposals
Press-Banner Staff Report
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is now inviting proposals for Classic Watershed Education Grants to be funded under its 2016 Education Grant Program. The mission of the Education Grant Program is to provide funding for educational and other projects that enhance the understanding of the San LorenzoRiver watershed or improve the watershed’s environmental health.
The District will consider funding up to six Classic Watershed Education Grants at levels of $2,500.00 or less. An additional $500 per project may be awarded to fund a public outreach component.
Application deadline: Applications may be submitted to the District beginning February 8 and must be received by Friday, March 11 at 5 p.m.
For more information on types and availability of grants, contact:


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or mail to: Jen Michelsen, San Lorenzo Valley Water District, 13060 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA95006.
‘Locals Only’ program
Press-Banner Staff Report
Residents of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties are being offered a special promotion. “Locals Only” is a new program which includes special prices on admission during spring and summer and two extra months of benefits to those who join the aquarium as members.
All aquarium members will be able to enjoy previews of a new special exhibition that explores the diverse habitats and amazing animals of Baja California. “Viva Baja! Life on the Edge,” opens on March 19.
The “Locals Only” offer is available only on-site at the aquarium and residents of the three counties must present valid a ID to take advantage of the special.
Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org.
Beware Zika Virus
Press-Banner Staff Report
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith advised that although there is no evidence of mosquitoes carrying Zika virus in California, the public should be aware of the threat by taking precautions.
It is advisable to remove any standing water and to wear insect repellant when necessary.
Californians should also be advised of international travel alerts for the countries where Zika virus is circulating, primarily in Central and South America.
As of Jan. 29, 2016, there are six confirmed cases of Zika virus in California, all of which were contracted when traveling in other countries. For more information on Zika virus disease and other mosquito-borne illnesses, please visit the CDPH Zika virus information webpage.
active probation for possession of a firearm with court ordered search terms. The passenger in the vehicle was identified as Michael J. Schwartz.
During a search of the vehicle, two firearms were located, a 9mm semi-auto handgun and a .357 caliber revolver. Both occupants of the vehicle were reportedly determined to be associates/participants of a criminal street gang. Schwartz and Mr. Solorsano were arrested and booked into the CountyJail on the charges listed above.
Water for all
Press-Banner Staff Report
The California Water Alliance Initiative Fund Committee works to solve our long-term water problems by increasing our water storage. The ballot measure re-prioritizes the needs of California by shifting up to $8.0 billion in unspent California High Speed Rail bonds and $2.7 billion from the 2014 Proposition 1 Bond Act to build vitally needed surface and groundwater storage projects across California.
“California is suffering from an infrastructure investment priorities deficit, and this measure allows California voters to directly choose its top priorities,” said Aubrey Bettencourt, executive director of the California Water Alliance, sponsor of the ballot measure.
She continued, “With statewide support for the Water For All ballot measure, the committee has taken the step to contract with Arno Petition Consultants to ensure the people of California have a choice in stopping the money-wasting, oft-delayed High-Speed Rail Project and using its funds to build water storage and other infrastructure projects that will benefit both the people of our state and help the environment.”
The measure incurs no new debt, levies no new taxes, and creates no new user fees. It directs that water from the new projects will go to domestic users first, followed by irrigation, environment and recreation.
For more information on the “Water For All” ballot measure, visit: www.CAWater4All.com