Supervisor Chan's Summer Newsletter

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SUPERVISOR WILMA CHAN'S DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2012

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Friends,

It is my pleasure to update you on the work I have been doing to make Alameda County an even better place to call home.

In this edition you can read about "redevelopment" in San Lorenzo and the town hall meetings I led in Oakland and Alameda to highlight how state budget cuts will affect our most vulnerable citizens. You will also find information about the work I am doing to protect women and children in San Leandro, the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold health care reform, the recently-approved county budget, my "Adopt-A-School” initiative and more.

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 District 3 or Alameda County.

Sincerely, 
Wilma_Chan
Wilma Chan
Supervisor, Third District
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BFWC

Protecting Women and Children from Harm

On Tuesday, July 17, I had the privilege of presenting a $50,000 check to Building Futures for Women & Children, the San Leandro-based non-profit committed to protecting women and children from homelessness and domestic violence.  These funds, which come directly from my office budget, will help Building Futures meet a 33% increase in demand for their services, while helping to fill a shortfall left behind by a 15% annual loss in individual contributions since the start of the recession.

For residents of Alameda County who are homeless, are being abused, or know someone who is being abused, I urge you to contact Building Futures at 1-866-A-WAY-OUT.  The phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all conversations are kept anonymous and confidential.
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SLz_Library

"Redevelopment" Funding Saved Despite State Cuts

Earlier this summer, I secured a major commitment from the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator to continue vital development projects in San Lorenzo and other unincorporated areas of Alameda County.  As much as $18 million per year for the next five years will be available for important projects such as the San Lorenzo Library expansion which were previously paid for out of redevelopment funds.
 
The state legislature and Governor Brown eliminated redevelopment agencies in order to balance the state budget.  This left many community-approved projects on the shelf.  The action that I initiated in the approved County budget will restore $18 million per year for economic development projects previously approved by the Board of Supervisors.  The funds will come from a portion of the County’s share of money that will be returned from the dissolved redevelopment agencies countywide.
 
Setting this money aside for its intended purposes is important to our community and will ensure that major investments in the unincorporated areas can continue in the years ahead.

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SCOTUS

Celebrating the Supreme Court's Decision Upholding the Affordable Care Act

The United States Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the majority of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a significant victory for the people of Alameda County.
 
This decision means that an estimated 56,200 Alameda County residents will newly qualify for Medi-Cal and another 107,000 Alameda residents will qualify for subsidized insurance through the State’s Health Benefits Exchange. It also ensures that important consumer protections remain, such as not allowing insurance companies to deny insurance based on pre-existing conditions and allowing children to stay on their parent’s health insurance until age 26.
 
I held a series of hearings on how health reform will affect the county and will continue to do so for the remainder of the year.  For more information on these hearings click here
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McGruff

Improving Safety in San Lorenzo

On May 19, nearly 250 people attended the San Lorenzo Community Safety Fair, co-hosted by Supervisor Chan and the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association.  During the event, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department and McGruff the Crime Dog provided crime prevention tips and free fingerprinting for minors.  The Alameda County Fire Department offered fire safety tips to keep kids and their families safe.

Other organizations like the Red Cross, PG&E and FEMA had disaster preparedness information available.  Safe Routes to School supplied safety tips and information on the health benefits of walking and biking to and from school
“Furthering Youth Inspiration”, or FYI, also made critical information available to parents and kids about youth violence and gang prevention.  Click here for pictures.
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LearningCircle

A Day of Service in Alameda Schools

Thanks to a hardworking group of over 120 parent and community volunteers, Henry Haight Elementary School in Alameda has a beautiful new school garden and outdoor learning center!  The garden and learning center help kids discover the importance of fresh food so they can make healthier food choices.

This project was a part of my “Adopt-A-School” initiative, which promotes volunteerism and community support for local schools.  During the course of the day, volunteers planted trees and bushes, built planter beds, created and installed garden art and constructed a new garden shed.  Click here for pictures.

Eucalyptus tree branches recently cut from San Leandro Creek were converted into a ring of outdoor seating for the kids.  I was surprised and honored when the area was officially designated the “Wilma Chan Outdoor Learning Circle.”

I strongly believe in supporting local youth by bringing the community together to support area schools and am working to make this the first of many such events in District 3.
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YukYau

Fighting Against Cuts to Early Education

When Governor Jerry Brown threatened to cut funding for child care and preschool services, I called an emergency press conference with early education advocates in Oakland to protest those cuts and protect our kids.
 
Oakland Unified School Board Director Dave Kakishiba, Superintendent Tony Smith, and childcare and early education advocates joined me at Yuk Yau Child Development Center in Oakland's Chinatown to raise awareness about the proposed devastating budget cuts to children, families and local providers in Alameda County.  Click here for pictures.
 
Although the Governor revised his initial proposal, the final passage of the budget resulted in a funding reduction of nearly $9 million for Alameda County’s early care and education programs and the loss of 943 early learning and preschool slots.

Our kids deserve to have the support they need to succeed in life. I will continue to stand up for our community’s most vulnerable kids and fight for their futures in the years ahead.
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The Human Impact of the State Budget

Families in Alameda County need and deserve to know how budget cuts made in Sacramento will affect them here at home.  That is why I developed the “Human Impact Budget", a new effort in Alameda County supported by the Board of Supervisors.

HIB

The “Human Impact Budget” educates local residents about state budget cuts and their impact on people, families and communities.  This spring, I led town hall meetings in Oakland and Alameda to discuss how state budget cuts will affect critical programs for our children, people with disabilities, families and seniors.
 
These meetings helped raise awareness of how state budget decisions affect County residents and were an important step in the fight against budget cuts that threaten our community.  Click here for photos of the Oakland town hall, and here for photos of the Alameda town hall.
 
I encourage you to read the 2012 Alameda County Human Impacts Report to learn more about how state cuts might affect you and your community.  You can also click on the following links to view the presentations made at the town hall meetings.
 
 
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TheHaydenLaw

"Paws and Think": Rally to Protect Animal Shelters

Community organizations, concerned citizens, animal advocates, business representatives and canine companions joined me and Supervisor Miley in early March to rally against the Governor’s proposal to eliminate key provisions of the Hayden Law.
 
The Hayden Law protects California’s lost and stray animals. Among the 50 protections slated for repeal included:
 
- Reducing shelter hold times down to 72 hours before euthanizing animals regardless of shelter operation hours;

Eliminating the requirement to shelter other domesti-cated pets such as rabbits, birds, snakes and turtles;

Eliminating the requirement for necessary and prompt veterinary care for shelter animals.
 
Pet advocates and their four-legged friends were invited into Board Chambers following the rally. They shared moving testimony (supported by the occasional “woof!”) about how animals, shelters and owners would suffer if humane treatment provisions were stripped from the law.
 
The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution urging the Governor and State Legislature to not balance the budget on the lives of California’s lost and stray animals. In addition, over 700 signatures were collected in support of Alameda County’s commitment to protecting the local safety net for pets and their owners.
 
Our efforts made the Legislature “paws and think.”  In the end, they passed a budget bill preserving the Hayden Law and ensuring a future for countless lost pets and other animals.

In the News...

Supervisor Chan Plugs Shelter's Budget Gap

$50,000 contribution to Building Futures for Women & Children will help provide shelter and protection for women and children suffering domestic abuse and with nowhere left to turn. – San Leandro Patch (July 19, 2012)
 

Supervisor Wilma Chan Touts Benefits of Affordable Care Act 

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling ensures that tens of thousands of Alameda County residents will gain access to health care, and will provide vital protections to those who already have health insurance. – Castro Valley Patch (July 3, 2012)
 

Town Hall on Nonprofit Hospitals' Community Benefits

Supervisor Chan and State Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee held a “town hall” meeting at San Leandro's Senior Center to ask whether non-profit hospitals do enough to justify their tax-exempt status. – Castro Valley Patch (June 22, 2012).  Click here for pictures.  See also: Chan Makes A Run At Sutter's Tax-Exempt Status; Hospital Responds With Full-Page Ad – East Bay Citizen, (June 23, 2012).
 

Alameda County Supervisors Approve $2.6 Billion Budget

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a $2.6 billion budget that closes an $88.1 million gap. "The world has changed for people living in the county," said Supervisor Chan. – Inside Bay Area | The Oakland Tribune (June 22, 2012)
 

Opinion: “How Our Community Is Countering Youth Obesity”

Supervisor Wilma Chan authored this opinion in light of news about worrisome rates of youth obesity in many Alameda County communities.  In it, she notes that Alameda County became the first county in America to take on the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency’s challenge to enroll all eligible children in publicly-funded health programs, like Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. – San Leandro Patch (June 19, 2012)
 

League of Women Voters of Alameda and Supervisor Chan Discuss "The State of Alameda County"

Supervisor Chan recently spoke about how state and federal decisions, like budget cuts, affect Alameda County.  The Supervisor highlighted current initiatives like the Human Impact Budget, the Adopt a School program, and the effort to ensure all eligible uninsured children receive health care. – Alameda Patch (May 16, 2012)
 

Supervisor Chan Joins Rally to Decry Proposed Early Education Budget Cuts

Supervisor Chan joined early education officials to rally against proposed cuts that could mean the loss of a third of child care slots for low-income children and an increase in the county's waiting list for child care assistance. – Castro Valley Patch (May 15, 2012)
seal

IN THIS ISSUE:


Community "Redevelopment" in San Lorenzo

Building Futures for Women & Children

The Supreme Court's Health Care Decision

San Lorenzo Safety Fair

Henry Haight Elementary School

State Cuts to Early Education

The Human Impact Budget

The Hayden Law

2012-2013 County Budget
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Oakland Office

1221 Oak Street, Suite 536
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510.272.6693
Fax: 510.268.8004

District Office

15903 Hesperian Blvd.
San Lorenzo, CA 94580
Phone: 510.278.0376
Fax: 510.278.0467
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email

Email Me

(District3@acgov.org)
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Connect on Facebook

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Housing Information and Critical Health & Human Services


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GET INVOLVED!

Alameda County is accepting applications for its 12th Leadership Academy!

This free, six session interactive forum is for people who live, work, or own a business in Alameda County.

The Academy begins October 3, 2012 and continues through March 6, 2013.  Click here for details.
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INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Below is a sampling of support I have provided this year to communities throughout Alameda County.
 
$180,000 to make the bathrooms at San Lorenzo 
Community Park (a.k.a., "the duck pond") accessible to those with physical disabilities;
 
$100,000 to keep San Leandro Senior Center’s doors open and to support health & wellness programs;
 
$100,000 to the Alameda Boys & Girls Club to help fund a new health clinic that provides dental care, exercise programs, and courses on nutrition and healthy life choices for young adults;
 
$100,000 to the Public Health Department’s Asthma Start program to address very high levels of asthma among children and families; $50,000 is dedicated to families living in San Leandro and San Lorenzo;
 
$50,000 for The Workforce Collaborative’s CalWORKs job training program in Oakland, so participants can find and secure employment;
 
$50,000 for Building Futures for Women & Children to support domestic violence programs and homeless shelter operations in San Leandro;
 
$50,000 for The Unity Council in Oakland to support work-force development programs for CalWORKs clients;
 
$2,000 to support San Lorenzo Family Help Center’s growing demand for food bank services.