Media

SEASIDE, Calif. —

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, plans to introduce a bill that would improve military housing on the Central Coast and across the country.

The Better Military Housing Act would require the Department of Defense to work with military families to improve privatized military housing. The goal is to provide better oversight and enhance the health, safety, and quality of housing leased out through private contractors.

MONTEREY – A bill seeking to improve oversight of privatized military housing is being introduced by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, Thursday in an effort to increase transparency and communication for tenants.

SANTA CRUZ — Following thousands of noise complaints from residents of Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the long-awaited San Francisco International Airport flight path changes are in motion.

The federal Bureau of Land Management on May 10 announced a plan to open approximately 800,000 acres of public lands and underground federal mineral rights across California's Central Coast to new oil and gas drilling, with specific targets in San Benito County—including areas surrounding Pinnacles National Park.

The BLM said the new plan, coming less than a month after it announced a plan to allow drilling on more than one million acres of federal land near Bakersfield, should result in 75 new oil wells in California over the next 20 years.

Just as California Attorney General Xavier Becerra prepared to launch his 50th lawsuit against the federal government over policies that go against state priorities, the Trump administration unveiled a proposal last week to open up more than 700,000 acres of land in Monterey County and other regions in central California for oil and gas drilling, including fracking.

Local elected officials are voicing their opposition to the plan likely setting the stage for further confrontation between the state and federal government.

oday, Representatives Donna Shalala (FL-27), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and members of the LGBT Equality Caucus, introduced the House version of the Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act. This bill prevents the maltreatment of LGBTQ youth and improves outcomes for LGBTQ kids who enter the child welfare system.

SALINAS — Supervisor Luis Alejo is calling for the full Board of Supervisors to join the chorus of local elected officials opposing a new plan that could open more than 725,000 acres of federal land on the Central Coast to oil and gas exploration under the Trump administration.