Registering to Vote in California Takes Just a Couple of Minutes Online

The 2016 primary election took place this past Tuesday, June 7th. The U.S. Presidential election is Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

There are currently 412,924 registered voters in Ventura County, consisting of 138,663 Republicans, 169,759 Democrats, 84,615 Non Partisan and 19,887 Other. Turnout for the primary election was 47.76% (updated), which is actually a significant improvement over the Presidential primary in 2012 at 32.9%. But inversely, of course, it means that a majority of registered voters in Ventura County still did NOT vote in the primary.

The estimated 2015 population of Ventura County was just over 850,000, with roughly 70% age 18 and older. This translates into roughly 600,000 residents eligible to vote in Ventura County, This means that for every two registered voters in Ventura County, there is one unregistered voter. It also means that for every voter in the primary, there were two eligible citizens who did not take part in the voting process.

With all that said, it certainly is EASY to register to vote in California. You can register in less than five minutes online at registertovote.ca.gov. And you can also, as I did, re-register if you would like to change political affiliation, or perhaps change to "No Party Preference."

The screenshots below show you the process. You of course must be an 18+ year old U.S. Citizen on election day, a California resident, and not be deemed incompetent to vote nor happen to be a convicted felon in jail or on parole.

California Online Voter Registration - Home Page

Eligibility (1 of 3)

Eligibility (2 of 3)

Eligibility (3 of 3) - If you want no party preference, click the "No" box.

You're done! Easy peasy!

Compilation of 15 Local Conejo Valley Based Charities to Support in the New Year

As we begin a new year, let's take a look at some local non-profit 501(c)3 charities that are doing great things for the local Conejo Valley community!

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley has supported and promoted the arts in the Conejo Valley since 1969. The non-profit works with the Conejo Recreation & Park District and Conejo Valley Unified School District in supporting local programs including children's music instruction, choral and theatre programs, youth theater, summer concerts in the park, the annual Thousand Oaks Arts Festival and more.

The Conejo Valley based Center4SpecialNeeds ("Bridging the Gaps for Children with Special Needs") offers financial support, educational workshops, networking and other resources for families with children that have developmental disabilities.

The Westlake Village based Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara has provided cancer education, support and hope to thousands of local residents and their families since 1991. Programs are provided free of charge in English and Spanish.

The Conejo Free Clinic’s Medical Services Program serves over 5,000 patients each year with physician and nurse care, lab testing, imaging, prescriptions, referrals and follow up, all without charge.

Established in 1995, the Conejo Open Space Foundation raises funds to promote and maintain the open space and multi-use trails of Conejo Valley.

Founded in 1977, Hospice of the Conejo, is a volunteer hospice and grief support center providing end-of-life services to those of all ages in the community at no cost.

Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank has provided food assistance to friends and neighbors in need since it was founded in 1971.

Based in Thousand Oaks, Musicians on a Mission California provides access to music through instrument "gift-aways," mentorship, and performing opportunities for our youth and members of the community.

Since 1998, the Westlake Village based My Stuff Bags Foundation has given rescued children across the country bright blue individual duffels filled with toys, books, a stuffed animal, school supplies, clothing, personal toiletries, and a security blanked - providing a little happiness and hope to these children.

Conejo Valley based PAUSE4kids was formed in September 1999 and serves hundreds of families with special needs children in the Ventura County area. The organization's goal is to "fill the gaps" by helping to provide whatever is needed for children with special needs that is not now readily available.

With a 13 acre site in Newbury Park, Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship teaches adaptive horseback riding to children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities and provides physical, occupational and speech therapy specializing in using the movement ofthe horse to improve specific medical conditions. Since 1994, Ride On has given over 100,000 safe, effective and individualized lessons and therapy treatments and currently serves 200 individuals each week.

Serving the Conejo Valley since 1975, non-profit Senior Concerns serves the senior community and especially frail and special-need seniors, caregivers and families by providing quality programs, appropriate resources and educational outreach. raising funds and developing and administering quality-of-life programs for seniors with special needs. All programs are offered without regard for the ability to pay. Senior Concerns serves Ventura and western Los Angeles counties, special-need seniors, families, health professionals, caregivers and the community at large.

Thousand Oaks based Many Mansions provides well-managed, service-enriched, affordable housing to low-income residents of Ventura County and its surrounding communities. 

The Thousand Oaks Police Charitable Foundation was organized to promote community welfare through support of public safety and volunteer programs.

The United Cancer Advocacy Action Network (UCAAN) is a Thousand Oaks based non-profit founded by a young cancer survivor that provides support, hope and financial resources to cancer patients, warriors and survivors with any form of cancer, any age, anywhere across the country.

This list is just a fraction of the non-profit 501(c)3 organizations that operate in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Fora more comprehensive list, visit the Local Charities section of the site as well as the Local Service Organizations section.

The Parent Project® Training Program for Parents of Adolescent Children - Upcoming Ventura County Classes Available

The Parent Project® was created for parents with difficult or out-of-control adolescents between the ages 11 and 19. Parents learn and practice specific prevention and intervention strategies for destructive behaviors - truancy, alcohol and other drug use, gangs and other criminal behavior, running away, violence and suicide. Parents are self-referred or can be referred to Parent Project classes by officers in the field, juvenile detectives, diversion programs, court systems, mental health professionals and school officials.

This program is available locally in various Ventura County locations.  Many programs are free or charge only a small fee for a Parent Project workbook. Sessions generally are 10 weeks.

Some upcoming local Parent Project classes as of January 2016 are below. Providers and costs vary. Click the link above to register online for most classes, or call the phone numbers below.

• Camarillo: Camarillo Police Department is offering Monday night sessions 3/14/16 to 5/23/16. No charge for sessions. Workbook $20. Call 805.388-5155
• Moorpark: Moorpark USD is offering Spanish language classes 1/5/16 to 4/26/16 on Tuesday nights from 6:15-9:15PM
• Oxnard: Free Spanish language classes 3/3/16 to 5/12/16 from 6-9PM at Channel Islands High School and 2/2/16 to 4/12/16 at Pacifica High School (both Spanish and English)

Additionally, Loving Solutions is a program designed for parents of 5-10 year olds with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) offered locally from time to time.

Previous sessions have also been offered in Simi Valley, Ojai, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Westlake Village. For more details about the Parent Project program, visit www.parentproject.com.

Ventura County Fire Department Offers Free Car Seat Safety Inspections

For those of you with kids looking for some help in ensuring your child safety seats are properly in place, consider the Ventura County Fire Department Child Passenger Safety Program.

Members of the Department are trained and certified through the National Highway Transportation Safety Association as a Car Seat Safety Technicians. The Program educates parents on proper use and installation of child safety seats. The department provides free car seat inspections, installation guidance, product recall checks and informative literature.

Program locations are near the Camarillo Airport, CHP Ventura, Thousand Oaks, CHP Moorpark and Moorpark Family Resource Center. More information at this link.

Volunteers from the VCFD Child Passenger Safety Program are knowledgeable and friendly!

More on California child passenger seat belt laws and safety information

Key Dates Announced for June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election in Ventura County

Ventura County Clerk Recorder/Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn has announced key dates for the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election regarding candidate filing, nomination documents and Vote By Mail Ballots.

Candidates may submit signatures of registered voters in lieu of the filing fee. Signatures in-lieu of the filing fee may be obtained from the Ventura County Elections Division beginning Monday, January 4, 2016, for the following offices (subject to change):

Voter-Nominated: President/Vice President, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress: 24th, 25th, 26th, and 30th Congressional Districts, Member of the State Senate: 19th and 27th State Senate, and Member of the State Assembly: 37th, 38th, 44th, and 45th Assembly Districts.

Nonpartisan: Judge of the Superior Court and Ventura County Board of Supervisors: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Supervisorial Districts.

Signatures in-lieu of filing fee for all offices, with the exception of the office of Judge of the Superior Court, must be filed at the Ventura County Elections Division by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2016. Candidates for the office of Judge of the Superior Court must file their signatures by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.

Official nomination documents for candidates may be obtained beginning Tuesday, February 16, 2016, as February 15, 2016 falls on a holiday, at the Ventura County Elections Division, Lower Plaza, Hall of Administration, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura. Official nomination documents must be filed with the Ventura County Elections Division by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2016.

Information regarding filing for these offices and the filing fee amounts may be obtained by calling the Ventura County Elections Division at (805) 654-2664, or by visiting the Ventura County Elections Division website: www.venturavote.org.

Vote By Mail Ballots for the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election will be available beginning Monday, May 9, 2016 through May 31, 2016. Voter registration will close on Monday, May 23, 2016. Voter registration is available online at www.registertovote.ca.gov. Voters may also call the Elections Division to request a voter registration card be mailed to them.

Ventura County Top Ten Secured Property Tax Bills for Fiscal Year 2015-2016

Last month the County of Ventura Treasurer-Tax Collector published a list of the top 10 secured property tax payers in the county for fiscal year 2015-2016 as a matter of public record. Personally I thought for sure I would be on this list but, whew, I was not!  

Here they are:

#1 biggest taxpayer is Southern California Edison, with taxes of $13.4 million on $933 million of property valuation.

#2 is Thousand Oaks biotech giant Amgen Inc., with taxes of $13.1 million on $1.24 billion of assessed value.

#3 is Aera Energy LLC, with $7.1 million taxes on $679 million of assessed value.

#4 is Vintage Petroleum LLC, with $3.8 million taxes on assessed value of $356 million.

#5 is Proctor-Gamble Paper Products, which pays $3.7 million taxes on $307 million of assessed value.

#6 Macerich Oaks LLC pays $3.1 million in taxes on assessed value of $293 million.

#7 Southern California Gas Co. pays $2.8 million on assessed value of $198 million.

#8 Baxter Healthcare Corp (which I suspect is now called Baxalta) pays $2.8 million on assessed value of $262 million.

#9 Vintage Production CA LLC pays $2.4 million on $205 million assessed value.

#10 Los Robles Hospital pays $2.2 million on $206 million in assessed value.

Now what are you going to use this information for? Maybe a trivia game?

Property taxes are collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector of Ventura County on behalf of the county, most of the city's 10 incorporated cities, 20 school districts and other local taxing agencies. As a resident of Thousand Oaks you will see a variety of taxes in addition to the base property tax of 1% of the assessed value of your property, such as school bonds, service agencies and special assessments.

Personally, perhaps my least favorite moment of the year is seeing the annual Secured Tax Statement in the mail. But heck, that's part of the price of living here in paradise I guess.

The general tax levy is limited to 1% of assessed value. Assessed value can increase no more than 2% per year based on Proposition 13. 

Learn more about Ventura County property taxes at www.ventura.org/ttc.

County of Ventura's VC SafeDiner App Provides Convenient Access to Inspection Results

Ventura County Environmental Health launched the VC SafeDiner app for Apple and Android devices in early 2015.

VC SafeDiner is a quick and easy way to view the latest inspection results for food facilities in Ventura County. The app allows you to search by name, address or city; and also provides a map feature allowing you to view food facilities within a radius of your current location. Full inspection results for the last year are displayed, including recorded violations and inspector comments. 

I've tried it and it works great, replicating the searchable database on the County website at www.decadeonline.com/main.phtml?agency=VEN.