It's something just about everyone who gets behind the wheel deals with at some point: Distracted Driving. Sure, we all know we're not supposed to do it, but it can still happen. And it's not just texting while driving. It can be anything from fiddling with the radio, looking up an address on GPS, or even just talking with your friends in the back seat. Distracted Driving is anything that takes your attention off the task at hand: Driving safely. It can also be deadly, leading to nearly 3,300 deaths on the road each year. This episode - as part of the City of Bakersfield's awareness campaign - we chat with Bakersfield Police Sgt. Caleb Kiser about the dangers of Distracted Driving, what it is, how to prevent it, and how quickly something can go wrong and change your life and the lives of others forever.
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Pup safety for the 4th of July
The Fourth of July is an exciting day for celebrating our nation's history and freedoms, but for our furry friends, it can be a frightening time, too. And it's the busiest time of the year for our staff at the Bakersfield Animal Care Center. Matthew Buck, Executive Director of the BACC, stops by to talk about their free microchipping campaign ahead of Independence Day and shares some helpful tips for keeping your pets safe when the fireworks start!
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Community Vitality, Part 2
Lt. Nicole Anderberg and Jamie Achterberg are back for a second round with us, talking about the Community Vitality Unit. We go into more depth this time into the programs and services the CVU is using to make the City of Bakersfield better for everyone who lives and visits here. Learn about how the it works when you let us know about an issue that CVU will respond to. We also talk about the Trespass Enforcement Authorization for property owners so that the Bakersfield Police Department can quickly respond to trespassing incidents. And if you missed it, go check out Part 1 here!
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Community Vitality, Part 1
Our 10th episode of The Something Better Podcast is here and it's a two-parter! We talk with two key members of the Community Vitality Unit who helps address homelessness in Bakersfield and quality of life issues. Lt. Nicole Anderberg and Jamie Achterberg sit down with us to explain exactly what the Community Vitality Unit does and how they're making impacts on issues the public cares about. We can't get to everything in this episode, so be sure to check out episode 11 next week (May 27) where we go even more in-depth with the CVU and their work!
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E-Bikes and Volunteer Bike Patrol: The Park Rangers talk new programs
The City of Bakersfield launched its Park Rangers program in 2022, helping make parks safer for visitors and preventing costly damage to our important amenities. Park Rangers Manager Billy Owens and Park Rangers Supervisor Mike Dobbs stop by the podcast to talk about the program and two new initiatives that have recently launched: An e-bike program to reduce response times and get help to those who need it quicker; and a volunteer bike patrol program for the Kern River Bike Trail. The four e-bikes were purchased thanks to a grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the bike patrol features 10 volunteers.
The City of Bakersfield's official podcast, explaining the services and programs the City provides to its residents and introducing them to the staff who make them happen!
The Something Better Podcast is designed to make local government more accessible and engaging than ever before!
Each episode will feature insightful conversations with City leaders and staff who play a crucial role in delivering these programs. Listeners will gain a better understanding of how their tax dollars are being used to make our residents' lives better.
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