The Biden administration has unveiled a new $2.2 Trillion infrastructure plan that would be used to upgrade existing bridges, tunnels, and highways. With infrastructure crumbling all over the country, it is something that is greatly needed. One would think that funding this would be a no brainer, but in 2021 the definition of “infrastructure” is more complicated and broader than it has ever been before. It includes expanding broadband internet to more rural communities and funneling $25 billion to build new and upgrade existing child care facilities and public schools with the creation of a new Child Care Growth and Innovation Fund.

Dear Beloved Friends,

It is such a great honor to be writing to you at the start of Pride Month. For any of you who do not know me my name is Pastor Casey Martinez-Tinnin, and I am the Pastor of Loomis Basin Congregational Church UCC, and the founder of The Landing Spot, which is a support group for LGBTQ+ teens and their adult caregivers here in Placer County. When I was asked to write this article, I was invited to speak with “authority” about the experience of being a queer person in this community and to elevate the hopes, aspirations, and needs of the Placer County queer community. For the opportunity to speak I am humbled and thankful, and for the responsibility to speak for such a large umbrella of communities and identities, I am overwhelmed.

Setting The Standard

As in the wise words of the ancient Chinese “curse” – May You Live in Interesting Times - Tomas Vera manages to keep his enthusiasm for electing Democrats despite nightly news that comes at us with the confusion and force of a fire hose. He’s a realist and knows the hills to be climbed and battles to be fought, but always keeps his enthusiasm and firm beliefs that we can do it – we can ultimately turn red to blue.

As Chair of the Placer County Democratic Central Committee, Tomas focuses his goals and drive on our Placer team. He wants to identify how to make our team better to achieve more wins. He identifies with the maxim, “If it has to be someone, let it be me.” There was no “aha!” moment for Tomas, but when Obama ran, it was a seminal moment for him. He volunteered by making phone calls for the Fresno Dems Women’s Auxiliary, the primary political drivers where he lived at the time. When they realized they needed someone who could do wonders on a computer (IT work), Tomas found his niche’ - and the rest is history…

President Biden on Wednesday announced a $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs package that looks to reshape the American economy. If you haven’t heard, our country’s infrastructure is in poor shape. The American Society of Civil Engineers recently upgraded our country’s grade on infrastructure from a D+ to a C-. Not exactly Stanford material for the US of A on infrastructure (think roads, bridges, tunnels, water pipes, water treatment, electric grid, power (renewable and others) and much, much more).

Already, Minority Leader Mitch McConnel has announced Republican opposition to the bill. There will be a litany of reasons, but without reading any press releases as to why, I can tell you the talking points likely to be made and the actual reason why they will oppose the bill.

Part IV. What Can You Do

This is where activism on the part of California citizens can have an active role in utilizing the "art of the possible" in attempting to achieve the aforementioned results. Dave Spencer, City of Auburn Fire Chief, is at the forefront to educate the community of Auburn to take responsibility to fire safe their homes and property. He hypothesized that if homeowners follow-through with enacting the measures of home hardening and defensible space, some of which is required by law, this might motivate some insurance carriers to stop the price escalation or cancellation of homeowner protection policies. This is called the "Empowerment of the people." Empowering Placer County Rural citizens to act on advice put out by the wildfire protection community provided on hand-outs, websites, and other media to follow their instructions in hardening their homes, create required defensible space, and establish approved emergency plans that meet varying wildfire situations.

Part II discussed how disastrous wildfire events negatively affect the California State Budget, and ultimately tax-paying California citizens' pocketbooks. But what about the toll it takes on individual rural homeowner's lives, and what can Joe & Jane Doe Rural California citizen do about it.

Part II: The Consequences

In September, we examined the atmosphere of wildfire threats faced by the people of California as a way of life in our rural areas. Part II explores how the destructive forces of wildfires financially impacts the state government, its residents, and the insurance industry.

As citizens of California, we are all subjected to the costs incurred in enforcing wildfire laws, paying for defense against potential wildfire events, and the cost of living within wildfire prone areas of the state. We must work proactively through our State government institutions to support legislation that provides for wildfire defense, plus work with the wildfire defense community to alleviate the financial economic impact.

As California's rural areas transition through their year they, and environmentally similar communities, are unfortunately unique in having an additional season commonly known as the “Wildfire Season.” Rural California communities, most of which are labeled as the "wildland-urban interface (WUI)," are confronted with the reality that, like any other season, preparation is a must to reduce the possibility of wildfires. When these cataclysmic events do erupt its’ inhabitants, and State government fire defense agencies, must prepare to defend these properties. In the aftermath of such wildfire events, many within these rural communities are forced into the recovery process to salvage what's left of their living environment, filing insurance claims to rebuild their homes and businesses, and re-establishing a way of life that has been destroyed or severely damaged.

Have you ever wondered what the world, your community, your city will be like when you’re gone? What kind of leaders will we have? What kind of choices will they make and what are we doing to help them make those choices?

What do the following dates have in common?

· May 5, 2020

· May 11,2020

· May 19, 2020

· May 20, 2020

· May 26, 2020

· June 9, 2020

Like so many Americans, I’ve never outgrown the fun of seeing what’s in my mailbox every day – and, even if it’s a bill and it’s a rainy day, it’s still a ritual I enjoy. But learning that Donald Trump wants to shut down our Postal Service and quadruple postal rates – largely because he feels it’s a threat to his re-election, I figured I’d better do some research on why.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

If there was ever a time for reasoned and clear-eyed leadership, it’s now.

The coronavirus pandemic is a public health crisis that’s spawned a global economic crisis. Schools and businesses are closed. Jobs are being lost. Retirement savings have been decimated. Citizens are being told to shelter in place. Our health care system is being stressed and providers are sounding alarms about equipment and facilities shortages. Dysfunction in Washington only makes things worse.