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Kathryn Barger

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Kathryn Barger
Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Assumed office
December 5, 2016
Preceded byMichael D. Antonovich
Constituency5th District
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceSan Marino, California
Alma materOhio Wesleyan University 1983
Websitekathrynbarger.lacounty.gov

Kathryn Ann Barger-Leibrich is an American politician and a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,[1] representing the 5th District.[2] Barger previously served as Chief Deputy Supervisor and Chief of Staff to her predecessor Michael D. Antonovich.[3]

Barger began her career in public service as a college student intern in the office of Supervisor Antonovich. During the course of her County career as chief policy advisor on Health, Mental Health, Social Service and Children’s issues, Barger provided leadership to deliver efficient and effective services and programs that have significantly improved the quality of life for foster children, seniors, veterans, the disabled and the mentally ill.[4]

She has worked with state and federal leaders along with County District Attorney’s office, Sheriff, and other law enforcement agencies to implement tough laws and vital public safety initiatives.[5]

Barger is an advocate for the environment and efforts to preserve open space, enhance parks, trails, recreational programs and facilities; and strongly supports libraries and after-school programs to serve local communities.[6][7]

She is dedicated to providing vital county services while protecting financial resources as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.[8]

Personal

Barger was born and raised in the 5th District. She is married to a retired Sheriff’s deputy and lives in the San Gabriel Valley.[9]

Stances

Veterans

On May 29, 2018, Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Kathryn Barger co-authored a motion approving $20 million in funding Tuesday for veterans housing and a peer-to-peer network to help veterans find housing and other resources.[10]

Barger supports numerous charities focused on Veterans’ service and hosts an annual Memorial Day tribute to Veterans and military families.[11]

Public Safety

Barger, along with Supervisor Hahn, initiated the Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Safety following the murder of Officer Keith Boyer of the Whittier Police Department and Sgt. Steve Owen of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to explore state criminal justice reform efforts, and the impact on public safety.[12]

On February 27, 2018 in the wake of several prominent school shootings, Barger co-authored a motion, along with Janice Hahn, to enhance county services to School Threat Assessment Response Team (START).[13]

In 2017, Barger supported maintaining the "registration fee" that the Los Angeles County Public Defender's office and other court-appointed counsel may charge defendants in order to preserve $300,000 in funding to the Public Defender's Office.[14] In 2018, Barger supported the appointment of Nicole Tinkham as interim public defender. Tinkham had previously represented the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.[15]

On May 1, 2018, Barger co-authored a motion to increase reimbursement rates for sexual assault forensic examinations, in order to help ensure the highest quality of care for sexual assault victims.[16]

Economic Development

Barger advocated with the City of Santa Clarita officials and Congressmen Steve Knight and Kevin McCarty to secure $47 million federal grant to address chronic congestion on Interstate 5 in the Santa Clarita Valley.[17]

Barger serves on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Metro. [18]. She supports the Gold Line extension from Glendora to Montclair.[19]

Homelessness

In addition to delivering efficient health services and other resources for foster children, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities, Supervisor Barger is leading the effort to amend state laws which have impeded efforts to provide effective treatment for the county’s most vulnerable populations, including those who are homeless and have mental illnesses.[20]

Supervisor Barger is committed to the efficient allocation of Measure H funds vital to combating homelessness. On June 13th, 2017 the Board passed a motion, co-authored by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Kathryn Barger, that identifies key ways the unaccounted homeless population can be fully reflected as the County continues to move forward in Measure H efforts. The motion also calls for the allocation of funds for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and other local law enforcement agencies to create an expanded Homeless Services Team that will collaborate with other public safety agencies, County Departments, and emergency service providers.[21]

Mental Health

On May 30th, 2018 the State Assembly passed AB 1971, a county-sponsored bill spearheaded by Supervisor Barger and Supervisor Ridley-Thomas. The legislation amends the state’s definition of “gravely disabled” to include medical treatment as a basic human need for those suffering from a serious mental illness, just as necessary to well-being as food, clothing, or shelter. The bill passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 66-0. Supervisor Barger stated, “More than 830 homeless people died on the streets of L.A. County last year. Many of these deaths were preventable with proper medical attention...It’s time for California to join 37 other states who consider medical treatment a basic human need for those suffering from a serious mental illness”[22]

On June 13, 2017, the Board approved a motion by motion by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Kathryn Barger to allocate $1-million of AB 109 funding annually for three years for non-Sheriff/non-Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) police agencies to establish Service Planning Area (SPA) law enforcement outreach teams, which will be called Homeless Outreach Services Teams (HOSTs). The mission of the HOSTs is twofold: 1) work collaboratively with public and private partners to assist with street engagement of homeless individuals, and 2) address problems associated with homeless encampments.[23]

Education

On April 3rd, 2018 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion, co-authored by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Kathryn Barger that puts forward a Declaration of Students’ Rights to Equity in Arts Learning. The motion outlines the rights of all students to a high-quality arts education, regardless of race, culture, language, religion, national origin, place of residence, socioeconomic or legal status. An arts education includes courses of study and interdisciplinary learning in dance, music, theatre, visual and media arts, aligned with the State Standards and reflecting the provisions of the California State Education Code.[24]

Child Welfare/Family Services

On February 8th, 2017 the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion co-authored by Supervisor Barger and Supervisor Ridley-Thomas to identify how the county can improve educational outcomes for foster youth by keeping them in their school of origin when it is in their best interest. Nearly 40% of school aged foster children experience at least one move over the course of each year. Changing schools, along with changing homes, creates further upheaval for kids who have already experienced trauma, hardship and loss. This motion helped widen the opportunity to pursue every available option to help improve educational outcomes for foster youth.[25]

On May 2nd, 2017, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a pilot program to ensure that students in foster care have transportation to their so-called "school of origin." The pilot was designed to tap into $300,000 from the Department of Children and Family Services, $100,000 from the County Office of Education and an additional $100,000 of in-kind transportation costs from the Los Angeles Unified School District. Supervisor Kathryn Barger was lead author of this motion. The measure as designed to bring the county's 81 school districts into compliance with federal education law aimed at promoting educational stability of children in foster care. [26]

On April 10th, 2018, Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn sponsored a motion that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors send a 5-signature letter to the Governor and the County’s State legislative delegation in support of Senate Bill 940 to help improve post-secondary educational attainment among foster youth. The goal of SB 940 is to increase the rate of college retention and completion among current and former foster youth in California by increasing access to the Cal Grant. In California, foster youth are 34% less likely than the general population to persist in at least one year in community college.By age 26, just 4% of former foster youth have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher as compared to 36% of the same-age general population.[27]

Fifth District

The Fifth District is the largest Supervisorial district of Los Angeles County, spanning 2800 square miles, and includes 22 cities and 70 unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel, San Fernando, Cresenta, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys.[28]

References

  1. ^ Wells, Sandy (January 23, 2017). "LA County Supervisor Leads Effort to Deescalate Controntations Between Deputies and Homeless". KABC-AM. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  2. ^ Abram, Susan (December 5, 2016). "Janice Hahn, Kathryn Barger give LA County Board of Supervisors historic female supermajority". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  3. ^ "Kathryn Barger to be Sworn in Today as Los Angeles County Supervisor Representing Pasadena". Pasadena Now. December 5, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. ^ "Child Welfare in Focus for Kathryn Barger, Frontrunner for L.A. County Board of Supes - The Chronicle of Social Change". The Chronicle of Social Change. 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  5. ^ "Supes Adopt Strategy to Improve LASD Hiring, Recruitment, Retention". Santa Clarita Valley News.
  6. ^ "Supervisor Kathryn Barger | Injunction imposed to stop dumping in Browns Canyon". kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  7. ^ "Supervisor Kathryn Barger | Parks, Trails and Recreational Opportunities". kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  8. ^ "Supervisor Kathryn Barger | Barger says fiscally-prudent budget supports youth, mental health strategies and substance abuse services". kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  9. ^ "Supervisor Kathryn Barger | Supervisor Kathryn Barger". kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  10. ^ "LA County Officials Approve $20 Million in Funding for Veteran Housing". NBC News.
  11. ^ "2018 Kathryn Barger 21st Annual Memorial Day Tribute". Military Veterans Affairs.
  12. ^ Agrawal, Nina (8/15/2017). "County approves a new panel to study criminal justice reform: What's the impact of downgrading felonies and releasing inmates early?". LA Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "February 27, 2018 MOTION BY SUPERVISORS JANICE HAHN AND KATHRYN BARGER" (PDF). Lacounty.gov.
  14. ^ Agrawal, Nina. "L.A. County ends public defender 'registration fee'". latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  15. ^ "Hundreds of deputy public defenders protest choice of new interim leader". theavtimes.com. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  16. ^ "Motion by Supervisors Hahn and Barger" (PDF). LACounty.gov.
  17. ^ Sotero, Dave. "L.A. Metro receives $47-million U.S. DOT grant to bring traffic relief to I-5 in Santa Clarita Valley". The Source.
  18. ^ "Metro Board Member". Metro.net.
  19. ^ "Foothill Gold Line Light Rail Extension is First Measure M-Funded Rail Project to Break Ground". PR News Wire.
  20. ^ Barger, Kathryn. "Homelessness and Mental Health Services". kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov. LA County.
  21. ^ Abrahm, Susan. "la county supervisors approve unprecedented spending plan to help homeless". Daily News.
  22. ^ Abram, Susan. "following-la-county-vote-legislation-filed-to-amend-state-law-to-help-gravely-disabled-homeless". Daily News.
  23. ^ Barger, Kathryn. "LAW ENFORCEMENT HOMELESS OUTREACH SERVICES TEAMS" (PDF). lacounty.gov. LA County.
  24. ^ Barger, Kathryn. "Declaration of Rights of All Students to Equity in Arts Learning" (PDF). lacounty.gov. LA County.
  25. ^ "08 Feb Improving Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth". Kathryn Barger 5th District Supervisor. Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  26. ^ "LA County will let foster children stay at their original school, even if they change homes". Los Angeles Daily News. Southern California News Group. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  27. ^ Burton, John. "SB 940" (PDF). www.jbaforyouth.org. jbaforyouth.
  28. ^ "Los Angeles County Fifth District" (PDF). Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
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