One key problem: State law doesn’t require mental health clinicians to evaluate inmates’ mental health needs during their initial screening. In one case at the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, a registered nurse determined an inmate who had requested urgent mental health services didn’t qualify for an immediate appointment — only for the individual to commit suicide two days later. Another issue: Although state law requires jails to conduct inmate safety checks at least hourly, it doesn’t define what counts as an adequate safety check . The auditor’s office observed “multiple instances” at the San Diego Sheriff’s Department in which “staff spent no more than one second glancing into the individuals’ cells, sometimes without breaking stride” — only to later discover some inmates had been dead for hours.
Acting State Auditor Michael Tilden wrote :“Given that the annual number of incarcerated individuals’ deaths in county jails across the state increased from 130 in 2006 to 156 in 2020, improving the statewide standards is essential to ensuring the health and safety of individuals in custody in all counties.” Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assemblymember Akilah Weber, both San Diego Democrats :We “remain committed to accountability and to ensuring that the recommendations laid out by the State Auditor are implemented.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed reforming California’s conservatorship laws to give the state a “few more tools” for helping those with severe mental illness and is pouring billions of dollars into cleaning encampments and moving homeless people into housing with wraparound services .San Francisco is grappling with a drug overdose epidemic that in the last two years killed nearly twice as many people as COVID-19 did. Santa Clara County, torn between building a new mental health treatment center or a new jail, chose the jail — but noted that a brand-new facility with expanded mental health services and rehabilitative programs could help improve inmate outcomes.
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Among the duties for which Richardson was responsible, according to her state bio : Spearheading California’s vaccine rollout and ensuring the equitable distribution of shots; leading a Newsom-appointed strike team to find solutions to EDD’s myriad problems (which released its report five days late ); procuring “millions of pieces” of personal protective equipment; directing state workers’ transition to telework; and leading California’s 2020 U.S. Census efforts .Richardson’s next role: serving as CEO of the San Francisco Health Plan , which administers Medi-Cal in the city.
That didn’t sit well with the state Assembly Republican Caucus , which pointed out that Weber also said during the hearing , “Government is never too expensive. Democracy is never too expensive, if it’s done right.” Case in point: California is holding five special elections in the next few months to fill Democratic vacancies in the state Assembly, including one that Newsom proclaimed Thursday to replace recently resigned Assemblymember Autumn Burke of Los Angeles.
In a shift that aligns its position with labor groups, the powerful California Chamber of Commerce this week announced its support for the bill after the governor’s office “considerably improved” it to make it more affordable and manageable for businesses. The proposal “is a balanced approach to protect both workers and our economy,” said Cal Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera, adding that “healthy workers and healthy customers are good for business.” Nevertheless, concerns remain. Steve McCarthy, vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs for the California Retailers Association, noted that employees exposed to COVID at work are already eligible for paid leave under separate rules from Cal/OSHA, the state’s workplace safety agency . “This measure acts as an additional layer of leave on top of what employers are already required to provide and will apply whether the employee contracted the virus at work or not,” McCarthy said.
Never formally disciplined Frank Lamas, whom he hired to lead Fresno State’s division of student affairs, even after two parallel internal investigations found Lamas responsible for sexual harassment and creating an abusive work environment. Praised Lamas in annual performance reviews and endorsed him for a prestigious lifetime achievement award. Reached a settlement agreement with Lamas — instead of firing him or asking for his resignation — that included $260,000, full retirement benefits and the promise of a letter of recommendation for any college job not in the CSU system.
