Dear District 3 Community,
The County of Alameda is committed to keeping the public informed as we work together to stop the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this bulletin, you can read updates from the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) and find resources for community members who have been affected by COVID-19.
For up-to-date data and answers to frequently asked questions, visit ACPHD's dedicated COVID-19 web page.
It is an honor to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any comments, questions or concerns that you may have regarding the district or Alameda County.
Sincerely,
Wilma Chan Supervisor, Third District
Public Service Announcements from Alameda County
The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) has released a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) related to COVID-19 and the Shelter in Place order. We are all in this together and the best way to stay healthy is to stay home.
You can view the PSAs by clicking the links below or visiting the twitter pages for ACPHD (@Dare2BWell) and Alameda County EMS (@alcoems):
Updates from the Alameda County Public Health Department
The Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) recommends residents to cover their nose and mouth when leaving their homes for essential activities.
The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade but need to cover the nose and mouth. Acceptable face coverings can be made from a variety of cloth materials, bandanas, scarves, t-shirts, sweatshirts or towels.
Face coverings should be washed frequently with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. Ideally, wash your face covering after each use, and have a dedicated laundry bag or bin.
Always wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer, before AND after touching your face or face coverings
We do not recommend that the public use medical masks (N-95 or surgical masks), which are in limited supply and must be preserved for our health care workers and pre-hospital transport providers.
Medical masks should be reserved for health care workers and first responders
Hand-Washing Stations for Unsheltered Individuals in Unincorporated Alameda County
Alameda County's Encampment Response Team (ERT) is providing hand-washing stations for unsheltered individuals in the western unincorporated areas of Alameda County. The ten stations have been placed throughout San Lorenzo, Ashland, Hayward Acres, Cherryland, and Castro Valley. These sites were identified as the best places to reach unsheltered residents and will be in place for at least three months:
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First Presbyterian Church of Hayward
2490 Grove Way, Castro Valley, CA (Station at Grove Way and Redwood Rd.)
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San Lorenzo Library
395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, CA
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Meekland Ave. and Laurel Ave.
Cherryland, CA
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Lewelling Blvd. and Meekland Ave.
Ashland, CA
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Mission Blvd. and 162nd Ave.
Cherryland, CA
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Mission Blvd. and Blossom Way
Cherryland, CA
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Hesperian Blvd. and Lewelling Blvd.
San Lorenzo/Ashland, CA
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Bartlett Ave. and Hesperian Blvd.
San Lorenzo/Hayward Acres, CA
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Lewelling Blvd. and Mission Blvd.
Ashland, CA
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Meekland Ave. and Cherry Way
Cherryland, CA
The ERT is an inter-agency partnership between the Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO), Community Development Agency (CDA), Social Services Agency (SSA), Health Care Services Agency (HCSA), the Probation Department (ACPD), and Public Works Agency (PWA).
Preventing Eviction During Shelter in Place
Last week, the Board of Supervisors unanimously expanded the COVID-19 eviction moratorium ordinance I sponsored.
The Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) has provided the following guidelines to protect yourself from eviction due to financial hardships experienced as a direct result of COVID-19:
If you are a landlord or lender:
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Contact your tenants or homeowners impacted by COVID-19 and, if possible, work out a solution without issuing a Notice of Termination if they cannot pay rent.
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If you issue a Notice of Termination, you must provide a copy of the ordinance along with this notice “NOTICE: THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA HAS ADOPTED A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT OR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS DUE TO COVID-19. A COPY OF THE COUNTY ORDINANCE IS ATTACHED. UPDATED INFORMATION MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM THE COUNTY’S HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT jennifer.pearce@acgov.org or 510- 670-6474.”
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If your tenant or homeowner provides the appropriate documentation, you cannot execute an eviction or otherwise require your tenant to vacate while the ordinance is in effect. Violations are considered a misdemeanor and subject to a per violation fine.
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Reach out to your bank to discuss deferred payment or forbearance programs.
For more information, including the full text of the ordinance, visit the HCD website: http://www.acgov.org/cda/hcd/.
Census 2020 Reminder
Census 2020 is still happening during the Shelter in Place and COVID-19 pandemic. The last day to fill out the Census form is August 14.
The Census is crucial for determining our community's fair share of funding and political representation, including funds for emergency services during national crises.
Many of our plans to ensure our Hard-to-Count (HTC) populations are accurately represented have been changed due to the pandemic. It will be even harder to reach our HTC populations without the valuable face-to-face contact with trusted messengers in their communities. I encourage everyone to spread Census 2020 information widely to their friends, family, neighbors, and other networks. Everyone in our community deserves to be counted.
Filling out the Census only takes a few minutes and can be completed from home at www.my2020census.gov. Check your mail box for your Census notice and instructions.
The Census can also be completed by phone and is available in multiple languages. For a list of phone numbers, visit the Census Bureau's website.
Stay Informed
For updates on COVID-19, visit one of the following dedicate web pages from trusted public health agencies:
Public Comment Procedures for Board of Supervisors Meetings During Shelter in Place
Procedures for Board of Supervisors meetings are subject to change to improve videoconferencing tools. Please check the Board of Supervisors' website for the most up-to-date guidelines.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will continue to conduct essential government business at our regularly scheduled Board meetings.
While in-person participation is limited to essential personnel, we are committed to providing the public with live broadcast and remote opportunities to participate in public comment during the Shelter in Place order. The following guidelines allow for public participation in Board meetings while following safe social distancing practices:
Remote Viewing/Listening: Members of the public who wish to watch the Board of Supervisors meetings, are encouraged to view the live stream online at: http://acgov.org/board/broadcast.htm.
We recommend against using Internet Explorer to view the meetings. We recommend using Google Chrome or other browsers to view the meetings.
Public Comment via Teleconference: Members of the public may address the Board of Supervisors on a matter on the agenda or during the Public Input portion of the meeting on a matter not on the agenda but is an issue within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction.
To observe the meeting by video conference, please click on this link to join the webinar at the noticed meeting time.
- If you are using a laptop:
Use the "Raise Hand" button to indicate you would like to speak or provide public comment. When you are called to speak, unmute your speaker.
- If you are listening to the meeting by phone:
Use the numbers listed on the Zoom/Teleconferencing Guidelines. Dial *9 to raise your hand to speak. If you decide not speak, you may hang up and dial back into the meeting or simply notify the Clerk you do not wish to speak when you are unmuted and asked to speak.
Written Comment (accepted until the start of the meeting at 9:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted on the meeting agenda).
To provide written comment on an item on the agenda or to address the Board about an issue during Public Input, you may send an email to CBS@acgov.org.
Please include your name and note the agenda item number you want to address or whether you intend for comment to be included in Public Input. Copies of all written comments will be provided to the Board Members and will be added to the official record.
ADA Accessibility: If you require a reasonable modification or accommodation for a disability, please email the Clerk of the Board at CBS@acgov.org or call (510) 208-4949.
Community Resources
I am committed to ensuring District 3 residents receive the services and supports they need. My District Office team is available to provide information on resources and connect you to services. Please contact my Main Office at 510-272-6693 for further assistance.
Alameda County Care Connect has provided the community with a COVID-19 Rapid Response Resource Guide, which will be updated on a weekly basis. This document provides information on numerous services available from local, state, and federal government agencies, public transportation agencies, and utility companies. |