In brief
By Ailene Sankur , Saundra Sorenson 10/04/2007
Toasting the mayor
Ventura Mayor Carl Morehouse will receive the Outstanding Distinguished Leadership Award for an Elected Official from the California Chapter of the American Planning Association, according to an Oct. 2 release from the City of Ventura. This honor recognizes the individual implementation of innovative planning strategies to create communities of sustaining value. Morehouse, a retired county planner, has served as mayor since 2005 and has been a Ventura City Council member since 1999.
The statement said Morehouse was recognized for his support of affordable housing, form-based codes, downtown revitalization, and green building. As part of the City of Ventura’s partnership project with California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, Morehouse tried to engage Ventura residents in the planning process by gathering and analyzing their feedback on specific projects. Morehouse was set to receive the award Oct. 2 at the annual CCAPA awards luncheon in San Jose.
Writing the book on transit
Gold Coast Transit (formerly SCAT) will publish its first Gold Coast Transit Bus Book, according to their Oct. 1 news release. The new book will detail route maps, schedules, bus stop listings, fares, as well as provide guide on how to read schedules and information on ACCESS paratransit service for senior citizens and passengers with disabilities. The change from individual bus schedules to a comprehensive guide will occur on Oct. 7. Gold Coast Transit also announced new routes and other service changes
The new Bus Book will be available on all buses, at the customer service center in the Oxnard Transportation Center, libraries, city halls, community colleges, and other locations.
Learning the fight for what’s right
The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County is offering the Giving Circle, a program aimed at teaching citizens about social justice and effecting social change within the county, including combating poverty and directing philanthropic grants to social justice projects.
The SJF’s stated goal is to strengthen democracy in Ventura County by providing at least $50,000 in grant money to relevant organizations in the area, all in order to “reduce inequities, lack of opportunity and discrimination,” according to an Oct. 1 press release.
The SJF is advised by the Ventura County Community Foundation, which promotes philanthropy within the community and aims to build charitable capital for the long term in the county. Currently, assets exceed $100 million, and VCCF distributed a reported $8.5 million in grant money and pledges in 2006 alone.
In related news, the VCCF awarded a total of $60,000, in the form of eight grants, to programs that focused on domestic violence prevention and service programs, as well as programs that provided educational, vocational and economic training to women and girls. This endowment came courtesy of the Women’s Legacy Fund. Recipients included the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ventura County and Santa Clara Valley, the Foundation for Educational and Employment Resources Development, Inc., Interface Children Family Services, Many Mansions, Rain Communities, Inc., Rescue Mission Alliance and Westminster Free Clinic.
Currently, the SJF counts among its steering committee members 14 county residents and is holding an informative wine and cheese meeting Thursday, Oct. 18, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the CCF Community Room, 1317 Del Norte Rd., Camarillo.
Fining Amgen
In the wake of bad publicity for its recently announced lay-offs, Amgen received another PR blow when the company was censured by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for violations of federal hazardous waste handling laws.
The biotechnology firm was fined a reported $24,328 for failing to inspect or monitor equipment and hazardous waste storage facilities in agreement with the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Charges dated back to November 2005, when EPA inspectors noted Amgen’s failure to keep solid records in compliance with the state’s hazardous waste management program. The agency found that Amgen had also failed to comply with air emission standards for tanks and containers, as well as for equipment leaks.
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