Struggling with rising prices and a stalled economy, growing numbers of Bay Area families are turning to food stamps. Here, as across the nation, enrollment in the federal entitlement program has jumped significantly over the past year. Comparing January 2007 to January 2008, the overall number of people receiving food stamps grew 8.2 percent in Contra Costa and 5 percent in Alameda County. In January, 2.2 million state residents received the benefit, compared to 3.5 million in California's peak enrollment month, February 1994. Still, the number of Californians receiving food stamps did rise significantly last year. Inside Bay Area 4/5/08
In the inner cities of western Contra Costa County, where corner liquor stores far outnumber grocery stores, it's easier to buy a beer than a fresh apple. Now the county Board of Supervisors is taking steps to correct this problem by trying to link the vast agricultural fields of East County with the produce-scarce neighborhoods of West County. Last week, the board voted to direct the county Health Services and Agriculture departments to begin working with nonprofit groups and farmers to increase food education and improve distribution methods in order to get East County produce into West County kitchens. CC Times 4/6/08
East Bay recreation advocates won voter approval 74 years ago for a property tax to start a system of regional parks -- swaths of nature close to urban areas. Now they propose to complete it with 66 parkland purchases and improvements that would be funded by a $500 million bond measure the district is considering for the November ballot in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. CC Times 4/7/08
Hundreds of families in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties reported health problems last year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture ordered an aerial spray of pesticides containing synthetic insect pheromones and other ingredients in a campaign to eradicate the light brown apple moth. In spite of the complaints, U.S. and state agricultural officials say they intend to aerial spray every county in the Bay Area starting in August. They'll return to Monterey and Santa Cruz counties in June. Five state lawmakers have introduced bills to control aerial spraying. SF Chronicle 4/7/08
A pilot program taking root in a nondescript business park in Sonoma County would use highly treated wastewater pumped from a nearby plant to heat and cool buildings, with the additional promise of using the piped water to irrigate landscaping and vineyards. The project has gained steam in the past few months as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and some of the biggest names in the wine business have signed on; in March, county supervisors approved $1 million for a feasibility study. SF Chronicle 4/7/08
Agencies charged with protecting California's water quality are inconsistently enforcing the law and levying fines that have not increased since 1984, according to a new staff report. Environmentalists have long complained that the State Water Resources Control Board and nine other regional boards are not properly safeguarding water quality. RecordNet4/7/08
In 2002, San Francisco voters approved a bond to pay for their share of repairs to the aging system. Some of those projects have started or are in the works. ABC7 4/4/08
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