Page 63 - AAGLA-JUNE 2022

Feature Story
Continued from page 60
Inland Empire Superintendent Earns $600,000 Plus a Year
Including benefits, the superintendent of Ontario Montclair schools routinely receives over $600,000 a year. His high rate of compensation includes various benefits including an ability to cash out sick time, resulting in a 2019 salary of $561,748, more than the President of the United States earns at $400,000 annually.
California Diversity Bureaucrat Doesn’t Even Live in California
California’s Superintendent of Equity, a brand-new position paying $180,000 a year, resigned after Politico revealed he didn’t even live in California, but lived in Philadelphia where he ran a business. Further questions were raised about the ethics of how he was hired. The position was not found to have been publicly posted on the state’s website and the official’s resume did not show any experience working with California school districts. Meanwhile, it was revealed he had a decades-long friendship with the State Superintendent of schools.
Unpaid Utility Bills Rise to $1.25 Billion
A report on COVID-19 by the California Public Utilities Commission revealed the state’s public utilities have unpaid bills totaling $1.25 billion, the costs of which are ultimately shouldered by ratepayers who do pay their bills. Contributing to Californians’ increasing inability to pay their bills may be the state’s “decarbonization” efforts. In fact, in the last seven years, rates charged by San Diego’s electric company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and Southern California Edison, increased 48%, 38%, and 6% respectively.
Carbon Credit Scheme Harming, Not Helping, the Environment, Study Finds
California has sold millions of carbon credits, but a new analysis found there are problems with the official forest maps that create opportunities for participants to game the system. The projects then funded may be counter to the plan’s emission reduction goals. The analysis was conducted by CarbonPlan, a nonprofit organization, in association with experts from universities including UC Berkeley and Columbia. Businesses including large oil companies have had to spend billions to purchase these credits and those costs are ultimately shouldered by consumers, especially fuel consumers.
Residents of Nancy Pelosi’s District to Receive Subsidies to Buy Electric Fireplaces
Residents of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s district will receive $2.1 million in federal tax dollars in partnership with a $205,000 contribution by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to replace their wood fireplaces with electric ones. While ostensibly meant to improve air quality, it certainly
raises questions about why the funds were directed to this particular area. Furthermore, the allocation duplicates incentives for removing wood burning fireplaces which were somehow included in the coronavirus relief plan.
Authorities Charge Four with $20 Million Theft Associated with Non-Existent Solar Project
The Los Angeles County district attorney charged four men including a former state senator with stealing $20 million intended for a solar project. One of the individuals is accused of spending over $8 million of these funds on personal items.
California Bans Gas Powered Lawn Mowers and Leaf Blowers, Pledges $30 Million for Electric Equipment
As part of the California Legislature and the California Air Resources Board’s ongoing drive to save the planet, officials have decided gas powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers will no longer be made available to consumers after 2024. The plan also includes spending $30 million to incentivize the purchase of electric lawn mowers and leaf blowers, which will still be allowed.
Free Money! City of Los Angeles Cuts Police Funding, Diverts Funds to Free Money Payouts
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s budget included $24 million dedicated to no-strings-attached $1,000-a-month payments to Angelenos. Low-income parents and people suffering from medical conditions are expected to receive priority in the selection process. An additional $6 million diverted from the Los Angeles Police Department is set to provide payments to single parents in Los Angeles City Council District 9, which includes the communities of South Central and downtown. Considering that these payments are paid for by police cutbacks, who are the recipients supposed to call if their check is stolen?
25 Lucky LGBT Seniors in West Hollywood to Get $1,000 Checks
25 LGBT senior citizens will receive unconditional $1,000-a-month payments under a new program in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania and an organization of mayors advocating more such “universal basic income” programs be adopted nationally. While some in the community expressed concerns over why the program leaves out other groups considered marginalized, officials argued they lacked full control of the program due to the partnership. Specifics related to funding the program also remained to be finalized.
San Francisco Plans to Pay People $300 a Month to Not Shoot Others
Ten individuals in San Francisco deemed to be at risk of being part of a shooting will receive $300 a month to behave
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