Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/523854
ByJudyLin TheAssociatedPress SACRAMENTO Reducing poverty has emerged as the key theme in Califor- nia after state lawmakers moved closer to raising the minimum wage, expanding health care to immigrants and allowing child care providers to unionize. Among the bills that progressed out of their house of origin are pro- posals to offer subsidies for child care, offer tax credits to low-income Cal- ifornians, expand welfare benefits and build afford- able housing. Health and welfare advo- cates also rallied through- out the week at the Capi- tol for other social spend- ing increases as the state economy rebounds from the recession. "We sucked it up when we had to, and it's time to give it back," Dr. Luther Cobb, president of the Cali- fornia Medical Association, said Tuesday at a rally urg- ing lawmakers to restore higher payment rates to doctors and providers in Medi-Cal, the state's health insurance program for the poor. Democrats who control both houses of the Legis- lature have made it their priority this year to im- prove working conditions for poor and minority Cal- ifornians. But getting Gov. Jerry Brown to endorse higher spending as part of the state budget will be tricky because the Demo- cratic governor wants to avoid increases that he says could lead to another fiscal calamity. Several proposals to as- sist low-income families are expected to be stick- ing points as Democrats negotiate with Brown on the 2015-16 spending plan next week ahead of a bud- get deadline June 15. Brown proposed a re- cord $115 billion budget last month largely devoid of any new programs. He heeded fellow Democrats' call to fight poverty by proposing a targeted $380 million earned income tax credit that his adminis- tration said would help as many as 2 million Califor- nians, but he has refused to back other spending. Lawmakers took the first steps this week to im- plement Brown's earned income tax credit for the working poor. The Sen- ate approved SB38 by Sen. Carol Liu, D-La Canada Flintridge, and the Assem- bly passed AB43 by As- semblyman Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley. The tax credit would go to households with in- come less than $6,580 with no dependents or up to $13,870 for those with three or more dependents. Democrats are hoping to pair the credit with a higher minimum wage to bring workers to the fed- eral poverty level. But that comes over the objection of business groups that say it would lead employ- ers to hire fewer workers and hurt industries such as tourism that rely on mini- mum wage employees. LEGISLATURE Tackling poverty a Dem priority ERICRISBERG—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Catarina Negrin shows an irrigation system using gray water running through the back yard of her home in Berkeley on Wednesday. By Ellen Knickmeyer The Associated Press BERKELEY Showering dur- ing California's drought is a guilt-free experience for homeowners Catarina Ne- grin and Noah Friedman. The Berkeley couple — she runs a preschool, he's an architect — are early adopters of a home plumb- ing do-over that's becoming more popular during Cali- fornia's record four-year dry stretch. Newlookatgraywater California, like many states, long required all water used in homes to be piped out with the sewage, fearing health risks if water recycling is done clumsily. Since 2010, however, the increasingly dry state has come around, and now even encourages the reuse of so- called gray water, which typically includes the gen- tly-used runoff from bath- room sinks, showers, bath- tubs and washing ma- chines. As mandatory conserva- tion kicked in statewide this month, forcing many of Cal- ifornia's 38 million people to face giving up on green- ery, these recycling systems have become attractive op- tions in new homes, right along with granite coun- tertops. California Building Industry Association execu- tive Robert Raymer rattles off the drought-conscious top builders that now rou- tinely offer in-home water recycling. Building code reform And California's build- ing codes are catching up as well, allowing owners of existing homes to create the simplest systems for the safest gray water without a permit. So while others think about hauling buckets to catch stray drips from their sinks and tubs, Ne- grin and Friedman can re- lax: Each gallon they use in the shower means another for the butterflies that duck and bob over their vegeta- ble garden, for the lemon tree shading the yard, and for two strutting backyard chickens busily investigat- ing it all. "I love a lush garden, and so it seems like why not, right? I could have a lush garden if it doesn't go into the sewer system," Negrin said. "So, yes, "I'm going to take a shower." Because pathogens swimming in untreated gray water can transmit disease if humans ingest them, most modern health and building codes have long made recycling it im- practical. Many families did it anyway, without of- ficial oversight or permits. Greywater Action, a group that promotes household water recycling and trains families and installers on the do's and don'ts, esti- mates that more than a million Californians had illegal systems before plumbing codes were up- dated. 'Huge interest' But interest in doing it the right way has soared since April 1, when Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a 25-percent cut in water use by cities and towns. Palo Alto gray-water sys- tem installer Sassan Golaf- shan saw his website crash within a day from the surge in traffic. "There's huge interest," said Laura Allen, a co- founder of Greywater Ac- tion. Contractors "told us they're getting so many more calls than before." Water savings could be significant. A 2009 study by the University of California at Los Angeles found that if everyone in the southern part of the state recycled the water that currently goes down drains from their showers and washing machines, there would be enough to satisfy Southern California's entire outdoor residential water use needs. At the California Wa- ter Resources Board's re- cycled water unit, chief Randy Barnard is fielding many calls from homeown- ers desperate to save their beloved lawns and gardens. "If they've got a prize fruit tree they've been babying for years, they don't want to lose that tree," he said. But for many, he has some bad news to share. Recycling water at home is not as easy as just hooking your shower up to the lawn sprinklers, and recycled wa- ter probably won't save the lawn. "Just like there's no one sure way to fight the drought, there's no one sure way for gray-water treat- ment," the state gray-water chief said. "Everybody has to look at all the options and figure out what works for them." Water from toilets is con- sidered "black" water and sent straight to wastewa- ter treatment plants. Many states also bar water from kitchen sinks, since home- owners may have contam- inated it by washing raw meat. Irrigation techniques In California, home- owners are now allowed to irrigate with untreated water straight from bath- room sinks, washing ma- chines and bathtubs, as long as — among other requirements — the wa- ter lines run beneath soil or mulch, so as not to come in contact with people. That rules out us- ing untreated gray water on lawns, which typically need above-ground spray heads or sprinklers. Gray water can even go to vegetable gardens like Negrin's and Friedman's, as long as it doesn't touch root vegetables or any other plant part that's eaten. To- matoes are fine, but forget about carrots. Drought spurs water recycling at home CALIFORNIA REDBLUFF,CA JUNE18,2015 7:00 PM BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Groups 10 or more - $17 (For group tickets, call 423.218.1926) General Admission - $20 At the Door - $25 Artist Circle - $25 LOCAL TICKET OUTLETS: First Church of God, Red Bluff; 530.527.5717 Tree of Life Christian Outlet, Anderson; 530.378.2985 Bible Books & More, Redding; 530.222.2944 Family Christian Stores, Chico; 530.894.1650 FOR TICKET INFORMATION CALL 800.965.9324 OR VISIT www.IMCconcerts.com All ticket sales by phone or internet may be subject to additional service fees. There will be no refund or exchange of tickets given. 10DamonAve.,RedBluff 530-527-3262 • www.tuscanpools.com TuscanPoolSupply 50lb.ClearviewTabs on SALE $ $ 140 14 0 .00 .00 thru end of June OPEN YEAR ROUND The Salvation Army is cordially inviting your children 1 st grade through 6 th grade to attendVacationBibleSchool. We will be running our "Everest" themed VBS from 9:00 to 3:30, June 15 - June 19, 2015. If you are interested in details and would like to enroll your child please call Maria Navarrete at 530-527-8530 or come by our office at 940 Walnut Street, Monday to Friday from 1:00 to 3:30. An entry fee of $20 per child will be asked at time of registration. Space is limited so respond quickly. The Salvation Army is also sponsoring a "Reading Literacy" program to help increase a child's reading skills and improve their comprehension. At this time our "Reading Literacy" program is designed for children 1 st grade through 6 th grade each Friday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. The "Reading Literacy" program is free. On Friday's 5:00 to 6:30 pm The Salvation Army offers Troop programs, Sunbeams (girls 1 st to 6 th grade) and Explorers (boys 1 st to 6 th grade). These Troop programs are fun Bible based lessons and activities that enhance a child's life. The Salvation Army offers Troop programs for teens called "YPL" or Young People's League. This program is also Bible centered lessons and activities that are designed to help teens with self-esteem, peer pressure and life skills for today's Teen. programs at programs at The Salvation Army Please call Maria Navarrete at 530-527-8530 for information and enrollment of any of our Children's programs. | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015 6 A