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Dear Friends and Second District Residents,
The New Year is the time to embark upon new horizons and realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength and faith within, to rejoice in simple pleasures, and gear up for new challenges. It is also a time when many changes take effect.
Last year, Governor Newsom considered 836 bills and signed 770 into law to start in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the pace of governing California in both 2020 and 2021, with 2021 being the record second lowest number of bills approved by the State Legislature in any year since 1967.
The bills covered a range of topics that will affect California with a mix of proposals prompted by the current COVID crisis, as well as items that have been hotly debated for years. This includes legislation addressing climate change, law enforcement, the housing crisis, criminal justice, voting accessibility, homelessness, environmental protection, animal welfare, workplace, education, traffic and healthcare.
California has one of the biggest changes to “trash” in 30 years, which comes from a law that was passed in 2016 (Senate Bill 1383), and took effect January 1, 2022. The goal of this piece of legislation is to eliminate organic waste, as it requires local governments to provide organics recycling collection to all residents and businesses. It will phase in a requirement for businesses and large food generators to donate unsold food to be distributed to Californians in need.
Additionally, in 2022 California becomes the first state to require a $15-an-hour minimum wage for businesses with more than 26 employees. That’s more than double the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. California businesses with fewer than 26 employees will have to raise their lowest wage to $15 starting the year after. (Senate Bill 3, 2016)
As you may remember from the 2020 election, an executive order sent mail-in ballots to every registered voter in California as a safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic and presidential election. Assembly Bill 37 makes that change permanent and expands it to include local elections. People can still vote in person if they choose.
California now has a new animal welfare law that goes into effect that raises the living standards of pigs, including giving mother pigs at least 24 square feet of space each. We share this as the concern is it may raise the cost of pork/bacon. (Prop. 12, 2018)
The Housing Crisis has been a focus of attention throughout the State and the COVID-19 pandemic has again brought it to the forefront. Most of us agree that there is a need for more affordable housing, this is an issue that needs to be addressed on many levels. Senate Bills 9 and 10 are intended to help alleviate the affordable housing crisis by easing perceived land use and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) barriers to increase density and streamline the production of multi-family housing development statewide. Many local governments (cities and counties) feel that these new bills take away local control. A lot more to come on this as it unfolds.
California became the first state to push back the start of the school day with Senate Bill 328 (2019). Middle schools and high schools will be required to start class no earlier than 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively. Supporters say preteens and teenagers need the extra sleep for their health and development. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2022.
A reminder that California law prohibits all motorists from using a cellphone while driving, except when used in hands-free mode. Beginning July 1, 202 the stakes became a little higher if you’re caught twice within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to your driving record.
I want to thank each of you for your participation in the County redistricting process. The Supervisorial district boundaries are geographically redrawn every 10 years with the last time being 2011. There are lot of changes in the County and our District (see the article on Redistricting). Your input was very valuable whether you sent a message, submitted a map, or spoke at a public hearing or Board Meeting. Now I encourage you to participate in the redistricting process in your cities and schoolboards, which most are beginning in preparation for the November election.
Now that we have said good-bye to 2021 and welcome to 2022, I wish you 12 months of happiness, 52 weeks of fun, 365 days of success, 8,760 hours of good health, 525,600 minutes of good luck and 3,153,600 seconds of joy. May 2022 be a year of love, friendships, health, prosperity, and success.
The Riverside County Second District Supervisor’s office Staff are available Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to assist you. You can reach my office by calling (951) 955-1020 or by emailing District2@rivco.org and staff will assist you promptly.
I encourage you to stay connected by joining District 2 on Facebook @SupervisorKarenSpiegel or Twitter @SupKarenSpiegel and Instagram @SupervisorKarenSpiegel
I hope you enjoy this e-newsletter. Please reach out to my office if we may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Karen Spiegel
Second District Supervisor
REDISTRICTING UPDATE
Redistricting – Who is My Supervisor?
The County of Riverside supervisorial district boundaries are geographically redrawn every 10 years in line with the county's population changes as reported by the U.S. Census, most recently conducted in 2020.
Following several weeks of public hearings and reviewing 38 versions of district maps, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors adopted new lines for the elected supervisors’ districts on Dec. 14, 2021.
Hours of public comment were heard during five public hearings, along with numerous written comments providing feedback on the redistricting process and draft maps. Revisions were made to draft maps based on input provided by community members.
You may see the newly adopted map by clicking HERE
When do the new districts go into effect?
Although the supervisorial district boundary changes are considered adjusted once a plan proposal has been approved and the necessary implementing ordinance has been adopted, they do not go into effect immediately.
California Elections Code section 21506 states in pertinent part: “The term of office of any supervisor who has been elected and whose term of office has not expired shall not be affected by any change in the boundaries of the district from which the supervisor was elected. … The boundary adjustments to District 1 and District 3 will not take effect until the election that is held in 2024 (for elected supervisor taking office in January 2025), and District 2, 4 and 5 will not take effect until the election that is held in 2022 (for elected supervisor taking office in January 2023).
As a result, during the elections held in 2022 and 2024, voters will vote according to the new adjusted boundary lines.
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
WESTBOUND 91 FREEWAY
We are excited that the new westbound 91 lane opened to help improve traffic flow in western Riverside County. The new two-mile, non-tolled lane from the westbound Green River Road on-ramp in Corona to the 241 Toll Road in Anaheim is the centerpiece of Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) 91 Corridor Operations Project.
Supervisor Spiegel has worked as a Commissioner and past Chair of RCTC, in partnership with the Orange County Transportation Authority, Caltrans, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), and the City of Corona to construct this new westbound 91 lane.
We want to recognize City of Corona Mayor Wes Speake for his dedication and commitment to help make it a reality. As a representative of Corona, Wes serves as a commissioner on RCTC. He brought the voice of the Corona residents who lobbied for the project.
The partnership allowed us to begin construction of this $29 million investment in November 2020. RCTC used strategic project staging and financial incentives for the contractor to deliver the project quickly and reduce the effects of construction on motorists and neighbors.
As a reminder, additional work is needed to close out the project, including installation of a large overhead sign which requires a closure of all lanes on westbound 91, between the 71 and the 241, on Friday, January 7 at 11 p.m. to Saturday, January 8 at 5 a.m. Other highways and interchanges will be closed to support this overnight installation.
The project marks one of many planned and completed improvements along the 91 and 15 corridors to help manage traffic congestion in this growing area. RCTC continues to work with residents on mobility solutions that connect our communities safely, reduce traffic congestion, support clean air, and promote economic prosperity in our region.
JURUPA GRADE SEPARATION
VETERAN SERVICES
FARMERS MARKETS IN THE AREA
As the summer season heats up, so does the popularity of Farmers Markets. We are pleased to share the following information on Farmers Markets located throughout the Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley and Riverside areas. Enjoy!
 Looking for some Friday night fun? Come and hang out at the Eastvale Farmers Market, every Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the New Day Christian Church: 7155 Hamner Ave., Eastvale CA 92880.
Fresh produce, farm fresh eggs, freshly baked bread, microgreens, farm fresh honey and MUCH MORE!! For more information or on how to become a vendor, please email: eastvalefarmersmarket@gmail.com
COMMUNITY EVENTS
There is an urgent need for blood throughout Riverside County. Our local hospitals and blood banks are in critical need of donations. LifeStream Blood Bank has ZERO units of Group O blood on hand, and several patients in the community need blood now. Without blood on our shelves, these patients' lives are at risk.
Make an appointment to donate blood today: call 800-879-4484, visit LStream.org, or download the LifeStream app TODAY.
HIGHGROVE MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (MAC) BOARD MEMBER POSITIONS - APPLY NOW!
Are you interested in what’s going on in the community of Highgrove? If you live within the unincorporated community of Highgrove, be sure to apply for two (2) Alternate Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) positions . Get to know your Sheriff Deputies, Code Enforcements Officers, School Board Members, Animal Control Specialists and more! Interested parties may apply online at www.rivcodistrict2.org under Boards-Committees & Commissions.
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