CalMatters reported yesterday about state aid that is finally coming to Pajaro, which was flooded in late March when a levy broke under the pressure of rainfall from a series of atmospheric rivers. The headline for Nicole Foy's story is "California to send $95 million to undocumented flooding victims – months after promising ‘rapid response.’" Here's an excerpt:
The money will be available in many affected counties starting in June, according to the state’s Department of Social Services.
The announcement comes two months after Gov. Gavin Newsom promised flood victims that help would come from the state’s Rapid Response Fund. Since then his office provided few details despite repeated queries and criticism.
Alex Stack, a spokesperson for Newsom, said state officials were trying to ensure the program would be accessible to a population that is often hard to reach, while also protecting taxpayer funds from fraud.
“This program is going to serve folks who might be reticent to take advantage of public benefits for fear of it affecting their immigration status, and this is a population that moves around a lot because of farm work or other issues,” Stack said. “We’re trying to make sure folks can access this program without hurdles, and do it the right way.”
Eligible households could qualify for up to $4,500 — each qualifying adult receiving $1,500 and children receiving $500. Stack said a percentage of the $95 million will go to launching and administering the program.
The funds would be available to residents living or working in counties that were federally designated major disaster areas and that were approved for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Applicants for the state funds must show they are not eligible for FEMA assistance but experienced hardship from storms beginning in December 2022 to April 2023.
In other disaster news, a California Superior Court Judge in Shasta County dismissed criminal charges against PG & E for its role in starting the Zogg fire, which burned through far northern California in September 2020. The charges were dismissed after PG & E the utility agreed to pay $50 million in civil damages. In addition, State Farm Insurance announced this week that it would no longer write policies for new homes in California because wildfire risk has made doing so fiscally untenable.
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