Using Nature to Steer Teens Away From Violence

• A significant El Niño will continue warming California coastal waters into fall and winter, and likely bring new marine visitors to Monterey Bay.
• Republican lawmakers are pushing new measures with the goal of making California’s top elections office nonpartisan.
• A violence prevention program that brings at-risk teens into nature has been up-and-running for more than a year now. But, the program’s success could threaten its funding.

With this year’s El Niño weather pattern expected to be especially significant, scientists are forecasting changes in marine life.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife manager John Ugoretz says ocean critters that don’t typically call Monterey Bay home will likely be visiting.

These critters include California sheephead fish, the California spiny lobster, and even juvenile white sharks.

Ugoretz says while the super El Niño brings opportunities to see things out of the ordinary, people should always be alert when in the ocean.

Republican state Assembly member’s are pushing to amend the state constitution to prevent candidates for Secretary of State from running under a part affiliation.

The measure, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 23, was introduced on Thursday by Assemblymember Josh Hoover and Assemblymember Natasha Johnson.

“We believe the individual administering our election system should represent the people of California, not a specific political party of perspective,” said Hoover

Currently, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is the only nonpartisan statewide office

In Santa Rosa, Stand for the Land is a violence prevention program that brings at-risk teens into nature. It’s been up-and-running for over a year and organizers say the program is showing signs of working, but its success could threaten its funding.

The program is run by the nonprofit LandPaths. The Santa Rosa-based organization connects marginalized communities with nature by offering land stewardship jobs. It also conserves properties such as Ocean Song/Myers Preserve.

Stand for the Land is funded through Santa Rosa’s Violence Prevention Partnership.

The city-run partnership has been operating since 2003, and gang violence has declined since it began. But that success has made securing funding more difficult.

Because Santa Rosa has become safer, the city no longer qualifies for some grants that once helped support violence prevention programs like Stand for The Land. But organizers say many young people within the community still need these types of programs