Air Quality, Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Benicia CA, Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP), Community-wide air monitoring, Fenceline monitoring, Keeping Watch on Earth News, Refinery emissions, Valero Benicia Refinery

Air Quality District to host Benicia meeting on long-awaited new Air Monitoring Station

[BenIndy editor: Residents of Benicia have for years expressed serious concern about the lack of adequate air monitoring in our “refinery town.”  For an excellent background on the lead-up to this important meeting, see Marilyn Bardet’s “Letter to BAAQMD: Must Enforce Refinery Air Monitor Requirements”.  Mark your calendar & plan to attend on June 30.  – R.S.]

Virtual Meeting on Benicia Community Air Monitoring Site Selection

Invitation to public, sent via email on May 27, 2021

Dear Benicia Community and Stakeholders,

You are invited to attend a virtual community meeting to learn about air quality monitoring and help shape the future of community air monitoring in the Benicia area.

In a joint effort with the City of Benicia, the Air District identified candidate locations in Benicia for a new community air monitoring station. At this meeting, Air District staff will share the sites under consideration and information about how the sites were selected. Community members and stakeholders will have the opportunity to inform final site selection.

When:

The workshop will be held using Zoom and will take place on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Login information to follow in a subsequent notice.

Why:

The Air District monitors air quality as part of ongoing efforts to inform and protect public health. One of the ways the Air District does this is by collecting fees to install, operate, and maintain air monitoring stations in communities near refineries. These air monitoring stations will provide additional information about the levels of pollution experienced by these communities.

The Air District invites you to participate in this community meeting to discuss and review the site selection process and provide feedback on a community air monitoring station within the Benicia community.

Air District staff want to ensure a fair and equitable virtual workshop experience and provide opportunities for all interested parties to participate. Workshop materials will be available on the Air District’s Special Air Monitoring Projects web page beginning June 7, 2021.

Simultaneous language interpretation can be provided upon request at least 72 hours before the event. Contact Brian Butler at bbutler@baaqmd.gov or 415-603-7721 to request interpretation.

Questions may be sent by e-mail to iperkins@baaqmd.gov.
Para información en español, llame al 415-749-4609
中文聯絡電話 415-749-4609
Nói Tiếng Việt xin gọi 415-749-4609

Working to protect public health, air quality, and the global climate,
Your Air District

#BBLM, #BlackLivesMatter, Anti-government, Local elections, Local vigilance, Solano County Board of Supervisors, Solano County Sheriff, Solano Sheriff Tom Ferrara, Three Percenters, U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Solano Sheriff to seek reelection, despite controversy

JohnGlidden.com, by Scott Morris, May 28, 2021
Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara. (Courtesy Elect Thomas A. Ferrara Sheriff-Coroner 2022).

VALLEJO – Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara announced on Friday that he would run for reelection in 2022, seeking another four-year term after 10 years in the position.

Ferrara has faced recent controversy after it was revealed that several deputies posted symbols of the Three Percenter anti-government militia on social media. Ferrara declined to investigate the extent of extremism in his department, falsely said the FBI cleared the deputies of association with extremist groups, and has faced calls for new oversight of his office.

In a video message posted on Facebook Friday morning, Ferrara touted the support of the deputies’ union and the correctional officers’ union. “Now more than ever Solano County needs proven leadership,” Ferrara said. “I have shown this type of leadership through multiple disasters, civil unrest and the pandemic, which we’ve all experienced in the last few years.”

Ferrara was appointed sheriff in 2012 after his predecessor retired. He won his first election unopposed in 2014 and fended off challenges from sheriff’s Deputy Daryl Snedeker and Fairfield police Lt. Dan Marshall in 2018.

But Ferrara has faced political controversy and protest in recent months after an investigative report revealed that three high-profile members of his staff had openly displayed Three Percenter emblems on social media pages.

They included Sgt. Roy Stockton, a Vacaville councilmember who was endorsed by Ferrara, Sgt. Cully Pratt, the department’s former public information officer, SWAT team member Sgt. Ty Pierce, and Deputy Dale Matsuoka, the department’s homeless outreach coordinator.

In response to the revelations, Ferrara said in a statement that the employees named “all serve this agency and this community with passion and dedication.”

Ferrara argued that the deputies had intended to show support for the 2nd Amendment, but Three Percenter groups often call for violent resistance to the federal government if they interpret restrictions on gun possession as against their interpretation of the Constitution. Three Percenter groups have been implicated in bombing and kidnapping plots and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The sheriff later defended the deputies by writing in letters to Benicia Black Lives Matter and the Solano County Democratic Central Committee that he “consulted with the FBI, who confirmed none of my employees are members of any extremist organizations.”

But the FBI disputed Ferrara’s statement, saying that it did not track participation in extremist groups nor is it “sufficient basis for an FBI investigation.”

Unsatisfied by the sheriff’s response, members of Benicia Black Lives Matter have called for the Solano County Board of Supervisors to create an oversight board of the sheriff’s office.

But only Supervisor Monica Brown supported even discussing the suggestion. Meanwhile, the Solano County Republicans have organized in opposition to any new oversight.

Benicia Black Lives Matter has continued to protest the sheriff’s office, including staging a rally outside the sheriff’s office on the anniversary of the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Scott Morris is an independent journalist in Oakland covering policing, protest and civil rights. If you appreciate his work please consider making a contribution.

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, COVID-19 tier assignments, Re-opening, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Officer Bela Matyas

Four new COVID deaths reported in Solano County today, 32 new infections

By Roger Straw, Friday, May 28, 2021

Solano County reports 32 new infections today, and 4 new deaths.  Stay safe, and remember…

Solano County COVID report on Friday, May 28.
[Source: see far below.  See also my ARCHIVE spreadsheet of daily Solano COVID updates.]
Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard – SUMMARY:

Solano County reported 32 new COVID cases today adding to yesterday’s 43 new cases.  We saw 1,288 new cases in April, an average of 43 per day.  In the first 28 days of May, Solano reported 816 new cases, an average of 29 per day.

Solano County also reported 4 new COVID deaths today, a total of 238 deaths here since the pandemic began.  The four reported today were all seniors over 65 years of age.

JUNE 15 RE-OPENING – Solano County Public Health highlighted on its dashboard this week that the State of California will discontinue COVID tier assignments on June 15.  The County references a thorough but outdated California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announcement of April 4, 2021.  A more current but less detailed CDPH announcement is “Beyond the Blueprint for Industry and Business Sectors – Effective June 15.”  The ending of the State’s tier system is being hailed as a return to normal, but it falls short of that for Mega Events (gatherings of crowds greater than 5,000 [indoors] and 10,000 [outdoors]).  And… ALL of us are advised to get vaccinated and continue to take precautions when sharing indoors air with others who may or may not be vaccinated.

RED TIER / ORANGE TIER – Solano County remains in the red tier, unlike all other Bay Area counties which have moved into less restrictive tiers.  The Sacramento Bee reported on the State’s tier update on Tuesday, “Just eight counties remain in red.  Half of them — Sacramento, Nevada, San Joaquin and Solano — came in below six cases per 100,000 and may therefore move to orange next week if their rates hold below that mark. The other four — Del Norte, Shasta, Stanislaus and Yuba — came in over the threshold.”  (Note that Solano Public Health Department does not include ‘cases per 100,000’ in it’s daily update, and it’s only one of several metrics the State uses in determining tier assignments.  Stay tuned….)

MASKS – Governor’s update: “California will align its mask guidance with CDC’s on June 15, 2021.  California will keep existing mask guidance in place until June 15 when it aims to fully reopen the economy. After that, the state plans to allow fully-vaccinated Californians to go without a mask in most indoor settings. You will still have the option to wear a mask if you choose.”  Governor’s update based on a May 3 CDPH guidance.

Solano’s Active cases are now at 181 down slightly from yesterday’s 184.  Our percent positivity rate rose today from 4.4% to 4.9%.

>> The virus is still active here.  Stay safe, get vaccinated, wear a mask in crowds and social distance if you’re not sure who’s vaccinated!  We will get through this together.

Cases by City on Friday, May 28:

  • Benicia added 2 new cases today, total of 999 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 1 case today, total of 1,916 cases.
  • Fairfield added 13 new cases today, total of 9,062 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 2 new cases today, total of 387 cases.
  • Suisun City added 2 new cases today, total of 2,279 cases.
  • Vacaville added 9 new cases today, total of 8,690 cases.
  • Vallejo added only 3 new cases today, total of 9,857 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 103 cases.

COMPARE: Screenshots from Solano County COVID Dashboard on Thursday, May 27:

The data on this page is from today’s and the previous Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Dashboard is full of much more information and updated weekdays around 4 or 5pm.  On the County’s dashboard, you can hover a mouse or click on an item for more information.  Note the tabs at top for Summary, Demographics and Vaccines.  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

Sources
Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, COVID-19 tier assignments, Re-opening, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Officer Bela Matyas

Solano County reports large number of new COVID cases today

By Roger Straw, Thursday, May 27, 2021

Solano County reports 43 new infections today, now totaling 33,261 cases over the course of the pandemic.  Stay safe, and remember…

Solano County COVID report on Thursday, May 27.
[Source: see far below.  See also my ARCHIVE spreadsheet of daily Solano COVID updates.]
Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard – SUMMARY:

Solano County reported a large number of new COVID cases today – 43 new cases overnight.  We saw 1,288 new cases in April, an average of 43 per day.  In the first 27 days of May, Solano reported 784 new cases, an average of 29 per day.

JUNE 15 RE-OPENING – Solano County Public Health highlighted on its dashboard this week that the State of California will discontinue COVID tier assignments on June 15.  The County references a thorough but outdated California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announcement of April 4, 2021.  A more current but less detailed CDPH announcement is “Beyond the Blueprint for Industry and Business Sectors – Effective June 15.”  The ending of the State’s tier system is being hailed as a return to normal, but it falls short of that for Mega Events (gatherings of crowds greater than 5,000 [indoors] and 10,000 [outdoors]).  And… ALL of us are advised to get vaccinated and continue to take precautions when sharing indoors air with others who may or may not be vaccinated.

RED TIER / ORANGE TIER – Solano County remains in the red tier, unlike all other Bay Area counties which have moved into less restrictive tiers.  The Sacramento Bee reported on the State’s tier update on Tuesday, “Just eight counties remain in red.  Half of them — Sacramento, Nevada, San Joaquin and Solano — came in below six cases per 100,000 and may therefore move to orange next week if their rates hold below that mark. The other four — Del Norte, Shasta, Stanislaus and Yuba — came in over the threshold.”  (Note that Solano Public Health Department does not include ‘cases per 100,000’ in it’s daily update, and it’s only one of several metrics the State uses in determining tier assignments.  Stay tuned….)

MASKS – Governor’s update: “California will align its mask guidance with CDC’s on June 15, 2021.  California will keep existing mask guidance in place until June 15 when it aims to fully reopen the economy. After that, the state plans to allow fully-vaccinated Californians to go without a mask in most indoor settings. You will still have the option to wear a mask if you choose.”  Governor’s update based on a May 3 CDPH guidance.

Solano’s Active cases are now at 184 up from yesterday’s 148.  Our percent positivity rate remained even today at 4.4%.

>> The virus is still active here.  Stay safe, get vaccinated, wear a mask in crowds and social distance if you’re not sure who’s vaccinated!  We will get through this together.

Cases by City on Thursday, May 27:

  • Benicia added 1 new case today, total of 997 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 2 cases today, total of 1,915 cases.
  • Fairfield added 10 new cases today, total of 9,049 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 4 new cases today, total of 385 cases.
  • Suisun City added 1 new case today, total of 2,277 cases.
  • Vacaville added 12 new cases today, total of 8,681 cases.
  • Vallejo added 13 new cases today, total of 9,854 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 103 cases.

COMPARE: Screenshots from Solano County COVID Dashboard on Wednesday, May 26:

The data on this page is from today’s and the previous Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Dashboard is full of much more information and updated weekdays around 4 or 5pm.  On the County’s dashboard, you can hover a mouse or click on an item for more information.  Note the tabs at top for Summary, Demographics and Vaccines.  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

Sources