Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, February 3, 2018

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2018 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2018 
SECTION B 


AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 
SOCALGAS SMART THERMOSTAT PROGRAM 
OFFERS CUSTOMERS UP TO $75 IN INCENTIVES TO 
CONSERVE NATURAL GAS THIS WINTER CUSTOMERS 
WITH ECOBEE OR NEST SMART THERMOSTATS ARE 
ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THISNEW NATURAL GAS 
CONSERVATION PROGRAM 

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30, 2017 – Southern California receive $25 for their full participation in the SmartGas Co. (SoCalGas) is offering customers up to $75Thermostat Program this year.
in incentives to participate in its Smart ThermostatSoCalGas is a leader in energy conservation, helping 
Program. The program is designed to help householdsto keep natural gas bills affordable for customers and 
that have purchased, installed and registered anprotecting the environment. Since 1990, the company’s 
ecobee or Nest smart thermostat conserve natural energy efficiency and rebate programs have helped 
gas for home heating this winter. “Smart thermostats families and businesses save approximately $672 
can help customers save money and energy, and themillion on their natural gas bills and reduced emissions 
incentives that SoCalGas is offering as part of the Smartequal to taking almost 700,000 cars off the road. 
Thermostat Program makes purchasing a device anFor more information about the Smart Thermostat 
even more worthwhile investment,” said Dan Rendler, Program, go to www.socalgas.com. About 
director of customer programs and assistance atSoCalGasHeadquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is 
SoCalGas. “Participating in the program is an easythe largest natural gas distribution utility in the 
way for customers to conserve natural gas duringUnited States, providing clean, safe, affordable and 
critical periods while still being comfortable in theirreliable natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in 
homes.” Residential owners of ecobee or Nest-registeredCentral and Southern California. Its service territory 
devices with gas heating in SoCalGas’ service territory,spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican 
except those who are currently enrolled in Southernborder, reaching more than 550 communities throughCalifornia Edison’s (SCE) Save Power Days electric5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles of pipeline. More 
demand response program, are eligible to participate inthan 90 percent of Southern California single-family 
the Smart Thermostat Program. SoCalGas and SCE arehome residents use natural gas for home heat and 
working on a process that will allow dual-enrollmenthot water. In addition, natural gas plays a key role in 
across both programs by next winter. By participatingproviding electricity to Californians—about 60 percent 
in the Smart Thermostat Program, customers agreeof electric power generated in the state comes from gas-
to allow minor adjustments to be made to their smartfired power plants. SoCalGas has served communities 
thermostat temperature settings for a few hours on daysin California for 150 years and is committed to being 
when SoCalGas calls a Natural Gas Conservation event. a leader in the region’s clean energy future. The 
These events will help lower the risk of possible naturalcompany is working to accelerate the use ofrenewablegas shortages when demand is at its highest. Participantsnatural gas, a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel 
are notified two hours before any adjustments are madecreated by capturing and conditioning greenhousevia their smart thermostat, web portal, mobile appgas emissions from farms, landfills and wastewater 
and/or email. SoCalGas customers who enroll in the treatment plants. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempraprogram will receive a $50 check for signing up by Mar.Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services 
1st and another $25 for staying enrolled through theholding company based in San Diego. For more 
duration of the program, which concludes on Apr. 1st.information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect 
Customers who participated in the SoCalGas Advisorywith SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@
Thermostat Program with ecobee devices last year will SoCalGas) and Facebook. 

HARASSMENT RETALIATION PREVENTION ACT 
PASSES STATE SENATE 

Sacramento, California – Today, SB 429, the Harassmentbe tolerated and both houses of the legislature are mandated toRetaliation Prevention Act, passed the State Senate withmaintain all complaint records for twelve years,” said Senatorunanimous bi-partisan support. SB 419 is jointly authored byPortantino.The Harassment Retaliation Prevention Act, 
Senators Anthony J. Portantino, D – La Cañada Flintridge andprotects victims from all forms of harassment in and around theConnie M. Leyva, D – Chino. It has numerous co-authors from Legislature. It also serves to protect against retaliation once casesboth parties. The Act, proposes to extend protections against allare reported. The bill enhances the anti-retaliation provisions offorms of harassment for legislative staff, legislative advocatesCalifornia’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, which protectsand others who have business within the California State legislative employees and lobbyists who report sexual or relatedCapital. Senator Portantino has a long record of fighting forharassment. It is a companion and complimentary Bill with ABaccountability, whistleblower protection, and transparency in403 of which Portantino and Leyva are co-Authors.
the legislature. Senator Leyva is the Vice Chair of the Women’s“As the joint author of this legislation, SB 419 is aLegislative Caucus and a leading voice for civil and worker’snecessary and important step to address some of the ongoingrights.concerns related to sexual harassment within the Capitol

“Today, I am proud to join with my colleagues in thecommunity. This legislation makes it clear that retaliationSenate as we build on the courageous efforts of women inwill not be tolerated and helps to ensure greater accountability.
Sacramento who have come forward demanding action. SB Ultimately, SB 419 protects the women and men that work in419 is an important and urgent measure that creates protectionsour legislative community. Coming forward is an incrediblyfrom all forms of harassment in the capitol. As a dad and a difficult moment for any victim and SB 419 sends a clearlegislator, it’s my responsibility to do my part to ensure a safemessage that retaliation will not be tolerated.” commentedwork atmosphere. Under the bill, harassment will no longer Senator Connie M. Leyva 

COUNTY VOTES TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION AMENDING 
STATE LAW TO PROVIDE LIFESAVING MEDICAL CARE FOR 
THE MENTALLY ILL 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY –The Board of Supervisors todaystates who consider medical treatment a basic human need for 
voted 4-1 with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl opposing, to approvethose suffering from a mental illness.”
a motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Mark Ridley-The legislation would amend the state’s definition of “gravelyThomas sponsoring state legislation amending the state’sdisabled” pursuant to the recommendation by the Departmentdefinition of gravely disabled to enable the county to provideof Mental Health (DMH), to read, “a condition in which acritical medical care for the mentally ill.person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to

Numerous mental health professionals and advocates voicedprovide for his or her basic personal needs for food, clothing,
support for the motion including Dr. Susan Patrovi, Medicalshelter, or medical treatment where the lack or failure of such 
Director of Homeless Healthcare LA, Brittney Weissman,treatment results in substantial physical harm or death.” This 
Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness proposed addition (in the underlined section above) is similar to(NAMI) Los Angeles County Council and Los Angeles Citythe criteria used in 37 states nationwide. 
Councilmember David Ryu.On October 31, 2017 the Board of Supervisors approved

Supervisor Barger pointed out that more than 830 homelessa motion by Barger that directed DMH to work with mentalpeople died on the streets of L.A. County last year and that withhealth advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, and otherproper medical attention, the deaths could have been prevented.stakeholders to develop this legislative recommendation.

“Allowing the most vulnerable to languish and even die on“Acknowledging that signs of physical harm due to self-
the streets without a lifeline to medical care is inhumane,” she neglect as a result of serious mental conditions are a rational andsaid. “With today’s action, we can move forward to employ anobjective means for detecting grave disability,” said Dr. Jonathaneffective approach to help deliver lifesaving treatment and careSherin, director of the Los Angeles County Department offor those desperately in need and add California to 37 other Mental Health. 


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