"There will never be enough taxes to make up for what the Mercury News says will be a $223 million federal cut. The county politicians have done nothing to reduce expenditures, and they've been negligent in not telling us the truth. It's obscene that County Executive James Williams would have asked for more in Measure A had there not been legal limits."
"Fire-resistant roofs, noncombustible siding, double-paned windows and appropriately sized vents are crucial defenses against embers. A recent UC Berkeley study found that clearing flammable vegetation within a 5-foot perimeter around homes (Zone 0) can reduce structure losses by 17%. When combined with defensible space and structural hardening, this reduction can approach 50%. The study also emphasizes that collective action is crucial; individual household efforts have minimal impact, while communitywide participation yields the best results."
Measure A would raise sales taxes without guaranteed spending cuts and grants the county broad, general-tax authority, while county leaders have not reduced expenditures despite federal aid reductions. The county faces large federal funding shortfalls, and Measure A is criticized as an unjustified request given existing legal limits. Home wildfire resilience requires both defensible space and structural hardening, including fire-resistant roofs, noncombustible siding, double-paned windows and appropriate vents. A UC Berkeley study shows clearing flammable vegetation within 5 feet reduces structure losses by 17%, and combined communitywide measures can approach a 50% reduction in losses.
Read at The Mercury News
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