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Sheriff differs with grand jury’s directions on cost controls A3

How does 49ers’ Brock Purdy look in his comeback? B1

FRIDAY | July 28, 2023 | $1.00

DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.

Bevy of fun on tap for National Night Out Daily Republic Staff

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FAIRFIELD — Solano County residents are encouraged to get outside Tuesday to mingle with first responders and neighbors as National Night Out marks its 40th anniversary. There are neighborhood celebrations, community gatherings, food, car shows, music and plenty of photo opportunities to share on social media. More than 16,600 communities participated in 2022, according to New Spirit, an official publication of National Association of Town Watch Inc. The organization is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the develop-

ment and promotion of organized community crime prevention activities and to the groups and the individuals participating in local crime watch efforts. The first annual National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states. All events are Tuesday.

Fairfield A new event this year is National Night Out in downtown. From 5 to 8 p.m. downtown businesses and residents will gather for a collective night out against crime in the 600 block of Madison Street. Early festivities See Night, Page A7

Placer Mosquito Vector and Control District/Courtesy photo

Placer Mosquito Vector and Control District training to use drones for mosquito abatement.

Battling biters

Solano mosquito abatement district adding drones to toolbox Daily Republic Staff

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Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic file (2022)

Vallejo police officers salute during the dedication of James Capoot Street on Mare Island, May 17, 2022.

Vallejo City Council declares emergency due to police staffing Daily Republic Staff

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VALLEJO — The City Council Tuesday night unanimously approved a proclamation for a public safety staffing emergency in the Vallejo Police Department. “In times of great challenge with limited resources, decisive leadership is required to identify priorities, obstacles and solutions. These are difficult discussions and even harder choices. I am optimistic that city leadership, elected officials, and the Police Department can collaboratively formulate a public safety plan that

can immediately enhance community safety,” interim Police Chief Jason Ta said in a statement released Wednesday. Sgt. Rashad Hollis, public information officer for the department, said in a phone interview Thursday that the chief will be contacting area agencies – likely the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, Napa County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol and nearby police departments – to assist with manpower as needed. The city’s statement said the “Emergency Proclamation will help See Vallejo, Page A7

Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic file (2014)

Solano County Mosquito Abatement District technician Ian Caldwell looks for signs of winter mosquitos at Centennial Park in Vacaville, in January 2014.

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County Mosquito Abatement District will be pushing forward with new technology in its endless battle against mosquitoes. The district has started the permitting and licensing procedures to use a drone in that battle. Mark McCauley, a supervisor and 23-year employee with the district, expects to have the program operational next year. The price of the drone, $35,000, and other costs put the start-up at more than $100,000, McCauley said. The company is Leading Edge Aerial See Biters, Page A7

Grand jury points to technology to help county’s fleet management Daily Republic Staff

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Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Luis Angel-Campos, left, welds while repairing an eraser line marking remover at Solano County Fleet Management in Fairfield, Wednesday.

WEATHER 86 | 56 Sunny. Five-day forecast on A6.

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FAIRFIELD — The 2022-23 Solano County civil grand jury issued a predominantly sympathetic report on the challenges the county faces inside its Fleet Management Division. “The Fleet Management Division of Solano County is facing many challenges. This includes continued response to Covid pandemic, supply chain issues (e.g., inabil-

ity to get parts, etc.), high gas (and) diesel prices, and inflation-related uncertainties,” the grand jury report states in its summary. “These factors are influencing fleet service costs and the turnaround times for maintenance. Additionally, increasing (state) regulatory initiatives to reduce gaspowered auto emissions are creating uncertainty about how the budget See Fleet, Page A7

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