Creigh Deeds sponsors bills to improve state’s mental health system

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Posted on: 10:14 am, January 25, 2014, by Matt Knight, updated on: 10:17am, January 25, 2014

State Senator Creigh Deeds has introduced several bills in the General Assembly to improve the states mental health system. The legislation follows Novembers incident in which Deeds son Gus stabbed the senator before taking his own life.

Deeds will speak about the attack and the states mental health system in an interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday.

Below is the statement Deeds released detailing his proposed legislation:

Dear Friend,

The 2014 session of the General Assembly is streaking by and will soon be a memory. This years session is memorable for several reasons. First, it is the first year of a new governorship, which always brings a certain level of excitement, together with a period of uncertainty as new people get accustomed to new jobs. Second, the legislature convenes with the idea of addressing problems and balancing the budget for all the people of Virginia. While each session resembles the previous one, new legislators and a new administration guarantee a new twist.

For the past several years, I have been forced to deal with the states system of mental health on behalf of my son. In November a lot of issues related to that system were thrust in my face. I am determined to take the experience I have and use what Ive learned to try and prevent future tragedies. To that end, Ive introduced several pieces of legislation.

First, I introduced legislation requiring the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to review the qualifications of workers charged with evaluating people in crisis. Current regulations require the person performing the evaluation to have a Masters degree or its equivalent or be a registered nurse with a certain amount of experience in the psychiatric field. However, based on my experience, it is not clear that every person charged with doing evaluations has the necessary skills and qualifications; I have asked the Department simply to review the regulations and make a report to the General Assembly. Before wholesale changes are made to current law, we need to take into account that which is currently on the books and review whether it works.

Second, Ive called for increasing the amount of time a person may be held under an emergency custody order (ECO). Current law allows a person to be held for four hours with, under certain circumstances, one two hour extension. That time frame is the shortest in the nation. Most states hold people between 24 and 72 hours before a determination is made that they should be held pursuant to a temporary detention order. While that legislation has drawn a lot of fire, specifically from the Virginia Sheriffs Association and the ACLU, it makes sense to me to bring Virginia in line with the rest of the country. There should not be an incident of one who is in need of stabilization services being released, or streeted.

Just as important as extending the time period is to eliminate the requirement that the duration of the ECO be extended by a magistrate. Particularly in rural areas, merely having to seek an extension is a waste of precious time.

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Creigh Deeds sponsors bills to improve state’s mental health system

Beaches restoration moving along

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Picture enough sand to fill 255 Goodyear blimps. That's how much is being spread along the beaches of Broward and Palm Beach counties this winter, as work crews race to bulk up eroded shorelines.

In Palm Beach County, at least five major projects are in the works from Jupiter to Boca Raton. In Broward, a long-awaited project to restore beaches from Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach has been delayed at least until next winter, but a smaller project from just south of Hillsboro Inlet to Commercial Boulevard is adding sand to the dry beach but not providing any additional width.

The multimillion-dollar projects are designed to protect billions in real estate and preserve the region's most important draw for tourists.

BROWARD COUNTY

About 130 dump trucks a day are making the two-hour trip from a mine near Lake Okeechobee to Pompano Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. The project has passed the halfway point, with about 3.5 miles of beach restored out of a planned 5.1 miles. So far 83,000 cubic yards have been spread on the beach, out of projected total of 115,000 cubic yards.

But problems have delayed Segment 2, the long-awaited $44 million project to restore about 5 miles of beach in portions of Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and Fort Lauderdale. Currently some stretches narrow to just a few feet at high tide.

"We have been promised time and time again that this project would be underway and we were going to see some sand on the beaches in November," said Pio Ieraci, president of the Galt Mile Community Association, representing 28 buildings and 16,000 residents. "We are tired, frustrated and despondent beyond belief."

Eric Myers, the county's beach erosion administrator, attributed the latest delay to permitting issues. The Army Corps of Engineers has not acted on Broward's application, and the county objects to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection draft permit that would hold Broward responsible for any harm to coral reefs in the area, even if not directly related to the project.

Planning is being done on Segment 3, a 6.2-mile stretch of Dania Beach, Hollywood and Hallandale Beach. The area received a lavish amount of sand in a restoration project that ended in 2006. But a lot of the sand has washed away, particularly at the southern end. Work to plug the gaps won't take place until 2016 or so, Myers said.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

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Beaches restoration moving along

Weighing a massive plan to redo Wildwood’s beaches

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WILDWOOD, N.J. - The thought is preposterous to Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano: The state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers want to build a $21.8 million two-story-tall sand dune along a beach so wide that in some spots trams are used to get beachgoers from the boardwalk to the water's edge.

"The idea is ludicrous," Troiano said of the proposal to build a 16-foot-tall dune and berm along a five-mile beachfront from Hereford Inlet in North Wildwood to Cape May Inlet in Wildwood Crest.

"I'm all for helping our neighbors to our north and south, but not at the expense of Wildwood," Troiano said.

Since the plan calls for a 700-foot-wide swath to be used to construct the dune, Troiano said the plan could ultimately decrease the width of Wildwood's beaches to the point where certain uses of the beachfront - like an annual international volleyball championship and large music festivals - would be curtailed. He said that could mean lost revenue for a town already struggling to fund the cost of maintaining its famous beachfront - which is one of only a few in New Jersey that do not charge admission.

Beach replenishment work under the widespread plan began earlier this month in Monmouth County on a stretch between Asbury Park and Avon where the $18.3 million in costs are paid for out of Sandy funds approved by Congress. Beach towns in Monmouth and Ocean Counties were among the hardest hit by the Oct. 29, 2012, storm.

Based on where Sandy made landfall in Brigantine, Atlantic County, the damage was significantly less in the southern Shore counties of Atlantic and Cape May, although places like Ventnor, Ocean City, and Sea Isle City experienced considerable flooding. In the "Wildwoods" - collectively, the towns of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and North Wildwood - where almost no dunes exist, storm experts said the ocean just "rolled into town" as Sandy roiled off the coast, the report said.

While the 1,500- to 2,000-foot width of Wildwood's beaches helped minimize flooding in that resort, both North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest experienced more widespread damage, losing a considerable amount of sand from some of the beaches, municipal officials said.

And while Wildwood's beaches grow about 20 feet in width each year, beaches in the two other towns on the island known as Five Mile Beach routinely erode, especially around the two inlets, according to a 341-page report from a study of the region that was begun nearly a decade before Sandy hit.

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Weighing a massive plan to redo Wildwood's beaches

St. Johns River: two sides of an issue

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By Amanda Durish Cook

amanda.durishcook@jacksonville.com

Seven years after Beaches-area elected officials publicly opposed a plan to tap freshwater from the St. Johns River, a drafted plan seeks to tap the river again to supply water to Central Florida.

A draft of the Central Florida Water Initiative water supply plan focuses on meeting future water requirements for Central Floridas growing population, and Northeast Floridas stores of freshwater are targeted.

The average amount of water needed in the area charted in the CFWI is projected to increase from 800 million gallons per day in 2010 to 1,100 million gallons per day in 2035. At this rate, central Floridas main source of water, the Floridan aquifer cannot sustain the growth. The CFWI plan determined the sustainable level is 850 million gallons per day, about 50 million gallons per day greater than the current amount being used.

Presently, 10 bodies of water in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk and southern Lake counties are below their established minimum flows and levels, with another 15 water bodies predicted to fall to unsafe levels in the future.

According to the CFWI initiative, the rate of groundwater withdrawal in certain areas of the CFWI Planning Area is either rapidly approaching, or has surpassed the maximum rate that can be sustained without causing harm or adverse impacts to the water resources and related natural systems.

More than 135 potential options to source water are named in the CFWI draft plan, including options listing the St. Johns River and one of its major tributaries, the Ocklawaha River, producing an estimated 391 million gallons of water per day in additional water supply over the next 20 years. From the St. Johns River alone, a maximum 155 million gallons a day could be taken from the river, the draft suggests.

Water suppliers could choose to pursue any of these potential projects in the future, or water suppliers may identify other projects to pursue. They would still need to go through the permit review process, said Teresa Monson, public communications coordinator at the Office of Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs, in a statement on behalf of the St. Johns River Water Management District.

SJRWMD completed a four-year study in 2012 that focused on the possible consequences of withdrawing a significant amount of water from the St. Johns River. The evaluation was peer-reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences. The Water Supply Impact Study concluded approximately 150 million gallons of water per day could be withdrawn from the St. Johns River with no more than negligible or minor effects.

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St. Johns River: two sides of an issue

Island Trader Vacations Reviews The World’s Top Ten Best Beaches

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Michigan (PRWEB) January 26, 2014

There are beaches everywhere in the world, from idyllic to famous, popular to secluded. What makes a beach great depends on any of a hundred reasons. Whether it is because of the view or the sand, the people or the wildlife, these beaches have found their way into the hearts of millions of travelers. Island Trader Vacations reviews the top ten beaches in the world both famous and not so famous.

Anse Source dArgent, Seychelles A remote beach, this beach ranks as one of the most popular in the Seychelles. Pink sands and massive granite boulders characterize this stunning beach which is protected by a lovely reef.

Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda Brilliant blue waters and beautiful pink sand make this a beach worth exploring. Named one of the most romantic and beautiful beaches, this quarter mile stretch of sand is a couples paradise.

Whitehaven Beach, Australia Crystal clear blue waters and white sand characterize this stunning 4 mile beach.

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola, Florida A number of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico barrier Islands, this national seashore encompasses some of the most stunning scenery in the U.S. and protects a variety of unique plant and animal species.

White Beach, Philippines Named for the color of its sand, White Beach, is unique in that its sands are cool to the touch thanks to the makeup of the sand. Coral reefs, sparkling sand, and clear waters make this a top destination for any beach lover.

Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii The most famous beach in Hawaii, Kaanapali Beach is a long sandy beach with plenty of sun, shallow water and amazing opportunities for exploring including sailing, snorkeling, excursions and just relaxing.

Rabbit Beach, Islands of Sicily Remote and unspoiled, Rabbit beach is famous for its natural beauty and wildness. Difficult to access, its remoteness and wildness sets it apart.

Eagle Beach, Aruba Eagle Beach is famous for its soft sand and clear waters. It is the widest beach in Aruba and is perfect for nature lovers and luxury travelers.

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Island Trader Vacations Reviews The World's Top Ten Best Beaches

Funding restored for beach water testing

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Water at South Florida beaches will continue to undergo routine testing for bacteria, now that Congress has restored funding for the program.

The Obama administration had proposed eliminating $9.5 million given to states each year to pay for testing beach water. Florida relies on the money to fund its program, which includes testing at 42 sites in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Congress put back the money after lobbying by environmental groups, and the budget bills have been signed by President Obama.

Mara Dias, water quality manager for the Surfrider Foundation, an environmental group that had lobbied to restore the funding, said the testing program is a vital and cost-effective way to protect human health.

"Without beach testing, we're not going to know if the water's clean or not, if we're going to get sick or not," she said. "If we don't test and identify where the pollution sources are, we can't fix them and make them better."

Florida's share of the federal money was $488,000 last year a lower-than-normal number because of the government shutdown - and $512,000 the previous year.

Among the advocates for restoring the funds was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, who joined several senators in a letter to Senate leaders urging that the money be put back in.

"Families across the country look forward to beach vacation and expect that it is safe to go in the water," they wrote.

Every two weeks of so, state health department workers take water samples from various sites along the coast and test it for enterococcus bacteria. It's not that this particular bacteria is harmful itself. But it's an indicator of the presence of human or animal waste, which carries germs that can cause a variety of illnesses, including salmonella, shigellosis, hepatitis A, skin rashes and eye infections.

Typically, a few swimming advisories a year are posted in South Florida, until the contamination clears up. The source of the high bacteria levels is rarely found, although often the counts spike after heavy rains, which washes animal waste into the water. Among the other causes are sewage line breaks and pets, according to the Florida Department of Health.

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Funding restored for beach water testing