By El Latino Newsroom
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Ventura County Environmental Health announced the official opening of its Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to assist residents affected by the Mountain Fire.
The Center, located at the former Ventura County Fire Department Headquarters at Camarillo Airport, will serve as the primary hub for Phase 2 of the county-led debris removal program.
The DROC, located at 165 Durley Ave., Camarillo, will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and the County advise residents seeking assistance can call the center directly at, 805.320.8378.
The DROC’s opening comes as debris removal efforts are set to begin this month for properties impacted by the devastating fire.
The local authorities informed county contractors, along with Environmental Health staff, will be on hand to guide property owners who have enrolled in the debris removal program by submitting their Right-of-Entry (ROE) forms.
In addition to providing updates on the progress of cleanup operations, the center will serve as a resource for residents with questions about the recovery process.
“This center is a vital part of our community’s recovery,” said Charles Genkel, Environmental Health Director.
“We are encouraging all residents to submit their forms by the deadline. By doing so, we can ensure that the recovery process continues without delay, helping everyone rebuild their homes, lives, and communities.”
With the cleanup process poised to begin, County officials hope that the collaborative efforts between residents, local agencies, and contractors will lead to a smooth and efficient recovery.
The Mountain Fire, which scorched large portions of Ventura County, left many families displaced and communities eager to rebuild.
The County has set a firm deadline of Monday, Jan. 13, for property owners to submit their ROE forms and applications for inclusion in the program.
Officials stress the importance of meeting this deadline to avoid potential delays in cleanup and rebuilding efforts.
“Meeting the deadline is not just about paperwork It’s about keeping momentum in a process that will ultimately help us heal and move forward,” Genkel said.
For those who have yet to submit their ROE forms or need additional guidance, information is available through the Environmental Health Department.
Residents can email [email protected] or call the Environmental Health Mountain Fire Message Line at (805) 654-2432, and necessary forms can also be accessed at, venturacountyrecovers.org.
MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR CAMARILLO ROBBERY
A Lancaster man was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for a string of crimes, including a fatal hit-and-run incident, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced Thursday.
The defendant, 21-year-old Makare Darnell Toliver, pleaded guilty on Nov. 21, of last year, to charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, second-degree robbery, grand theft of a firearm, evading an officer causing death, and fleeing the scene of an accident involving death.
Toliver also admitted to special allegations, including the personal use of a firearm and committing crimes involving great violence.
The incident began on the afternoon of July 27, 2024, in a Camarillo parking lot, when Toliver approached a man sitting in his car.
According to investigators, Toliver opened the car door, pointed a loaded firearm at the driver, and demanded that he empty his pockets.
Toliver stole cash, a cell phone, and a bag containing a handgun before fleeing the scene in a red Mazda.
The victim immediately reported the robbery to police, providing a description of Toliver and the vehicle.
Within a short time, Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies located the red Mazda in Camarillo and attempted to stop the car.
Toliver initially pulled over but quickly sped away, leading officers on a high-speed chase through the city.
As Toliver raced down Central Avenue at more than 100 mph, he veered into the bicycle lane to pass a slower-moving vehicle.
In doing so, he struck cyclist Robert Pierret, who was riding on the side of the road. Toliver failed to stop after hitting Pierret and continued driving at high speed.
A few moments later, Toliver collided with another vehicle but kept going, eventually losing control of the Mazda and crashing into a second vehicle in oncoming traffic.
After this final crash, Toliver exited his car and surrendered to law enforcement.
Both Toliver and his passenger were taken into custody at the scene.
Pierret, the 58-year-old cyclist struck by Toliver, was rushed to Ventura County Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Leija, who prosecuted the case as part of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Unit, commended the Pierret family for their strength throughout the legal process.
“The Pierret family endured an unfathomable loss due to the defendant’s selfish and reckless actions. While no sentence can ever undo that loss, I hope the judge’s sentence will provide the Pierret family with the closure they deserve,” Leija said in a statement.
Authorities said the case highlights the dangers of armed robbery and high-speed pursuits, emphasizing the tragic consequences when individuals engage in reckless behavior.
BIDEN SIGNS LEGISLATION CO-SPONSORED BY CARBAJAL TO RESTORE FULL SS BENEFITS
President Joe Biden has signed a landmark bill co-sponsored by Congressman Salud Carbajal of California’s 24th District, a move that restores full Social Security benefits to millions of retired public servants, including school teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other first responders.
The new law repeals a decades-old provision that had previously slashed retirement income for many of these workers.
The legislation, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, will impact more than 350,000 families in California alone, significantly increasing retirement benefits for those who had been affected by cuts stemming from the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
These provisions, introduced in 1983, had reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for public employees who worked in both covered and non-covered jobs during their careers.
“Dedicated public servants like our teachers, firefighters, and police officers spent decades paying into Social Security, only to have their benefits reduced because of their chosen careers. This unfair penalty has hurt millions of retirees across the United States, and its fix was long overdue.”,” said Rep. Carbajal.
Carbajal played a key role in overcoming legislative obstacles to get the bill passed. Despite initial resistance from House Republican leadership, the Central Coast Supervisor joined a bipartisan coalition that successfully pushed the legislation forward.
He and 217 other members of Congress signed a discharge petition, a rarely used legislative maneuver that forces a bill to be considered when leadership blocks it.
This marked the first successful use of the procedure in nearly a decade.
“I’m proud to have been a part of the bipartisan coalition that rejected House Republican leadership’s opposition to this commonsense bill and used our legislative tools to circumvent them to see this bill to the President’s desk,” Carbajal added.
The repeal of WEP and GPO has been a long-standing goal for public employee unions and retiree advocacy groups, who have argued for years that these provisions unfairly penalized public servants by reducing their earned Social Security benefits.
The Windfall Elimination Provision primarily affected workers who split their careers between private sector jobs covered by Social Security and public sector jobs that offered separate pension plans.
The Government Pension Offset, meanwhile, reduced spousal or survivor benefits for retirees who received a government pension.
With the signing of this legislation, millions of retired public employees will now receive the full Social Security benefits they earned over their careers.
