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County Planning Dept. Launches General Plan Update Effort
Last week, the Kern County Planning Department launched the county's General Plan Update effort, a process that is expected to take two years to complete. General plans help determine how a county will grow and how land will be used, but there will be a new wrinkle this time around.
A new law passed by the California Legislature will make general plans different from the past-and more environmentally friendly.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 1000 on Sept. 24, establishing new requirements for counties to incorporate environmental justice in their general plan. The aim is to help ensure environmental equity for disadvantaged communities. Kern will be the first California county to implement an environmental justice element in the land-use portion of the county's plan.
During the kick-off, county officials agreed to dedicate its second hearing solely to discuss the general plan. The series of hearings are scheduled over the first six months of 2017. They also said they will look into holding several workshops in remote areas so that rural communities will have an opportunity to weigh in.
The current general plan was adopted in June of 2004, and the plans usually are in place for 15-25 years.
The State of California requires counties to include seven mandatory elements in their general plan including land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise and a safety element.
S
everal members of Building Healthy Communities, South Kern's Environment Action Team, asked the planning commissioners to consider providing reports early enough for residents to review the reports before they provide comments during public hearings.
Building Healthy Communities South Kern's Environment Action Team is working with residents to help ensure that the plan includes investment in parks, affordable housing and addresses infrastructure needs.
To learn more about this effort please call the Center of Race Poverty and Environment at (661) 720-9140 or Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability at (661) 843-7677.
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La Cultura Cura: A Transformational Healing Training, Nov. 15
Please mark your calendars for a training led by the National Compadres Network (NCN) with support from Building Healthy Communities South Kern on the network's transformative healing informed philosophy and framework.
The framework, called La Cultura Cura recognizes the importance of cultural values, traditions, and indigenous practices on the path to healthy development, restoration, and lifelong well-being. This health and wellbeing framework focuses on building on the natural opportunity factors and on what is healthy within an individual, family, community or culture.
The training will be held Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the David Head Center, 10300 San Diego Street in Lamont. For more information or to RSVP please email Angel Munoz at amunoz@lesd.us by Oct. 28.
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KEJC Sends Message to KHSD: Do Not Arm Teachers
Early this month the Kern Education Justice Collaborative held a press conference minutes before the Kern High School District board of trustees monthly meeting to urge the trustees to stop pursuing dangerous policies like arming teachers.
"I want them to focus on us and our education," Aldo Avilas-Rojas told KERO 23.
The school district recently passed a policy allowing non-employee concealed carry weapon permit holders to carry guns to school with permission from the district's superintendent.
The board is now considering enacting a proposal that would allow the Superintendent to approve teachers, and other staff who hold CCW permits, to carry firearms on high
school
campuses.
After the press conference, members of the group addressed the trustees during the public comment portion of the meeting. The item was not voted on because it was not on the agenda that day.
The Kern Education Justice Collaborative was founded in 2013 to address the disparity in suspension rates between minority and non-minority students in KHSD. KEJC is comprised of The Dolores Huerta Foundation, Faith in Action Kern County, California Rural Legal Assistance, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Children First, the National Brotherhood Alliance and Building Healthy Communities-South Kern.
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HIA Helps Inform Land Use and Transportation Decisions at the County Level
We are proud to share this video which features BHC-SK partners and highlights how a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) was instrumental in bringing $2 million dollars for sidewalks in Lamont.
"The assessment helped ensure that the concerns of rural communities were incorporated into the county's final plan, and residents worked with the county to ensure that recommendations translated into action," recounts in the video, Veronica Garibay with Leadership Counsel.
The HIA was completed with support from the Health Impact Project and The California Endowment. Click here for more information. |
Find Out How to Access State Funds to Install Water Stations in Your School
Nearly 25 percent of California schools, almost all in low-income communities, do not provide free and fresh drinking water to students at meal times every day, despite state and federal laws that require it.
Water consumption is critical to good health and a vital component for successful learning and physical development. If water access or quality are concerns at your school,
#Agua4All may be able to help.
For more information about how to access state funds to install water bottle filling stations in your school please fill out a brief survey:
here.
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Music Video Puts the Spotlight on Gang Violence in Kern
Ed. Note: When Danny Morrison launched a music video last month on social media featuring a handful of local artists and musicians, Kern County was on track to hit a record number of homicides for the year. Morrison's video, which took close to six months to produce, focuses on the continued violence, with a message of uplift and healing for those communities most affected. The video first premiered at the #howlong Healing Summit on Sept. 15 at the Fox Theatre. It has since garnered some 60,000 views and has been featured in local print media and broadcast stations. South Kern Sol spoke with Morrison about the video and what inspired him to make it.
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United we can improve health outcomes in our communities when we are civically engaged.
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About Us
Building Healthy Communities is a comprehensive community initiative that is creating a revolution in how Californians think about and support health in their communities.
More than 2,500 residents, youth, businesses and organizations are leading the BHC-SK effort to improve the health of our communities through a shared vision, goals and action plan. Residents in Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch, and the unincorporated areas of Greenfield are proving that we have the power to make health happen in our communities.
BHC-SK is promoting healthy change in the areas of:
- Education: Improving education from pre-K through adult education
- Environment: Creating a healthy environment with clean air and water
- Health Access: Increasing access to a better health care system
- Recreation: Improving recreational activities, facilities and parks
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We have the power to build healthy communities for the next generation.
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College and Career Fair at Golden Valley High, Oct. 22
Click
here
for more information!
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