Supervisor Oscar Villegas Speaks at CSAC. Photo courtesy of Office of Supervisor Oscar Villegas

YOLO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - As we look forward to 2024, Supervisor Oscar Villegas is excited about new opportunities for community engagement. There have been both challenges and opportunities within the past few years, and we are glad to look forward to events and initiatives that are on the horizon. Our work as always is shaped by the Yolo County Strategic Plan, which we will be revising in the coming year.

We are also excited to announce significant progress in the County Mental Health Crisis system of care in 2024. Yolo County staff has been working toward a 24-hour Crisis and Sobering System. This system will consist of four major components 1) A team of mobile crisis clinicians that can respond to mental health emergences across Yolo County 2) A call center that receives calls from the public, police and emergency services for those experiencing a mental health crisis 3) 24-hour crisis and sobering receiving center for those that are experiencing non-medical mental health emergencies 4) 30-day in-patient crisis beds for residents to receive longer term treatment for mental health related conditions.

As in the past, we will be sponsoring the Bat Tour in July 2024 in partnership with the Yolo Basin Foundation. We will also be sponsoring the Coastal Clean Up in September 2024, which highlights the importance of our waterway and maintenance and sustainability of our region. In 2019, through an act of Congress, West Sacramento was designated as the Sacramento San-Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area and the Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan will be submitted to the secretary of the interior in 2024. In partnership with the State of California’s Delta Protection Commission, this designation protects, enhances and sustains the unique cultural, historical and recreational capital in our region.

The Clarksburg Fire Protection District has been honored with the 2024 Public Safety Hero Award by Congressman Mike Thompson. This is a great achievement for the volunteer run organization that has served the Clarksburg community during times of inclement weather and environmental distress. Each year Congressman Thompson honors law enforcement officers and first responders in our community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and Clarksburg is honored receive the award.  This award is an acknowledgement of their service.

We continue to serve the community through the administration of American Rescue Plan Funds. American Rescue Plan dollars have funded City of West Sacramento and Yolo County Homeless Partnership via Project Roomkey, Crisis Now 24-hour mental health crisis facility, Broadband Internet expansion to rural areas, expansion of Bryte Park facility enhancements, COVID-19 response and vaccination efforts. Coming in 2024 the Yolo County Animal Services free spay and neuter clinic, including mobile animal services. We anticipate administering the remainder of funds to community organizations in West Sacramento and Clarksburg in 2024 as we improve resilience in the region. As we move through 2024 if you have any questions regarding County-wide initiates, please free to contact our office at 916-275-6443 or via email at [email protected].

Oscar Villegas, acting as the chair with the County of Yolo. Photo courtesy of Office of Supervisor Oscar Villegas