| Dear 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 of my newsletter you can read about the free tax preparation services that are currently offered at my district office, my $250,000 contribution to the Learn Your Rights in California program, and the holiday celebration I held with the wonderful residents of San Lorenzo.
You can also learn about the work I have being doing with ALL IN Alameda County, my advocacy work to expand mental health services, and much 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 the district or Alameda County.
Sincerely,
Wilma Chan
Supervisor, Third District
FREE Tax Prep Services in San Lorenzo
This tax season, I am partnering with the Alameda County Social
Services Agency to provide no-cost tax preparation services to low- and
moderate-income tax payers. My office is open on Monday and Wednesday evenings
and all day Saturday through tax day to County residents who are looking for
FREE assistance with their 2015 taxes.
Additionally, eligible County residents can drop by to enroll in Medi-cal and CalFresh, register to vote, and receive financial
education and asset building resources. For more information on this great
program and to find out if you are eligible, click
here.
As you are getting prepared to file taxes, please be aware
of tax scammers which continue to be a serious threat this season, including
aggressive and threating phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents. For
more information on how you can protect yourself from these scammers, click
here.
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Know Your Rights
This winter, I made a $250,000 contribution to the Alameda
County Public Defender's office to fund a program aimed at reducing altercations between
youth and the police. The funds will help 5,000 students better understand
their constitutional rights so they can avoid confrontations with police, stay
out of the criminal justice system, and protect themselves from harm.
My contribution will support the Learn Your Rights in
California (LYRIC) program. It will fund three LYRIC fellows to help attorneys
teach at least 250 students per month, a summer internship program for students
with a $500 stipend, a mobile app that will enable youth to document police
interactions, promotional materials and a refresher course for students.
I am proud to support a program that is not only a powerful
and educational tool but will also assist with improving relations between
youth and police enforcement.
Celebrating the Holidays in San Lorenzo
Last December, I was joined by over 100 community members at
the San Lorenzo Library to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season where
I had the opportunity to meet new neighbors, enjoy snacks and refreshments and
spoke about upcoming projects in San Lorenzo. We were joined by the high school
students of East Bay Arts High School who performed songs for the occasion. A
few lucky individuals even won tickets to watch an Oakland A’s and Golden State
Warriors game!
I would like to thank everyone who attended to help
celebrate the San Lorenzo community and in particular the generous individuals
who contributed to my toy drive for San Lorenzo pre-school students. I would
also like to thank Gala Bakery, Ros Doughnuts, Lucky Supermarket,
and Too Good Gourmet for donating many of the delicious treats
enjoyed by everyone. Click
here to see photos on my Facebook page.
Holiday Cheer for San Lorenzo Preschoolers
Every year, I partner with a child care center to provide
holiday gifts for low-income children in my district. Thanks to the generous
contributions from community members, we were able to donate over 100 toys and
books to students at Del Rey Elementary School’s Kidango preschool program. The
Kidango preschool program is part of the San Lorenzo Unified School District’s
Child Development Department, which prepares children from low and
middle-income families to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
I would like to thank Nora Goodale at Kidango for helping
coordinate the toy distribution as well as the wonderful teachers that provide
quality education to the preschoolers. I would also like to thank the San
Lorenzo residents who donated toys at my holiday open house and the District 3
commissioners and other donors whose generosity made this event possible. Click
here to see photos on my Facebook page.
ALL IN for Thriving Communities
Last month, ALL IN Alameda County held a social innovation fair
at Laney College where over 250 community leaders, residents, organizers, and
advocates attended. The all-day event tackled issues such as local entrepreneurship, CalFresh, Food as Medicine, Career Pathways for Youth,
Food Recovery, Advocacy and Affordable Housing. Participants worked with local
leaders in each of these tracks to design robust, healthful and sustainable
solutions that promote economically and socially healthy communities.
Initial priorities that came out of the social innovation fair
include partnering with hospitals and health providers to design a county-wide
“Food As Medicine” project, designing and piloting a state-of-the-art food
recovery system, enrolling all eligible Alameda County families in CalFresh, and working
on multiple fronts to address the affordable housing crisis. To learn more
about ALL IN Alameda County, click here.
Laura's Law
In Alameda County, every 48 minutes someone is placed in a costly emergency psychiatric evaluation because that person is deemed a danger to himself or herself or others. This November, I was proud to vote, along with my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors, to unanimously adopt Laura’s Law, a program that provides community-based, assisted outpatient treatment to those unable to voluntarily access community mental health services. Laura’s Law is a compassionate and effective solution that provides care in the community for people with serious mental illnesses who are most likely to end up in jail, homeless, the victim of a crime or in the cycle of repeated short-term hospitalizations.
The implementation of Laura’s Law is an important step towards better serving individuals with serious mental health issues and I am proud that Alameda County has now joined 14 counties in California that are in various stages of implementing the law.
Mental Health Association Awards Dinner
This January, I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the
annual Mental Health Association of Alameda County Awards dinner. I spoke about
the expansion of mental health services through the Affordable Care Act and the
32 million individuals who will have access to behavioral health care thanks to
Medicaid expansion. I also spoke about some of the challenges, including the
lack of providers and low reimbursement rates in California which limits access
to services that some of the most vulnerable populations depend on.
Research shows that mental health and physical health are
inextricably linked. Untreated and serious mental disorders can cause
individuals to become unemployed, homeless or turn to substance abuse and ultimately
affect the individual’s physical health. We must continue to advocate for
mental health resources that will ensure that vulnerable populations in the
county have access to the services they need to live healthy and productive lives.
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Moratorium on Massage Facilties
Last year, San Lorenzo residents reached out to my office
with complaints about suspicious activity at massage facilities in
unincorporated Alameda County. In response, I led a board action with the
support of my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors that placed a 45-day
moratorium on new massage facilities.
Since 2010, twenty-six massage facilities have opened in
unincorporated Alameda County and 8 of those facilities have been shut down due
to illegal activity. This moratorium will allow the County to conduct a study
and public hearings to consider a revised ordinance that will regulate these
establishments and prevent future illegal activities. The moratorium will be in
effect until February of 2017 but can be extended if the County needs more time
to develop a comprehensive plan that ensures the legitimacy of massage businesses.
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Celebrating the Alameda County Community Food Bank
One in six Alameda County residents face food insecurity,
which means that they missed at least one meal this past week. Many of these
individuals seek the services of the Alameda County Community Food Bank. This
December, I was proud to sponsor a commendation in support of the Alameda
County Community Food Bank for their 30 years of leadership of hunger relief
efforts in the county.
Alameda County Community Food Bank has been at the forefront
of local and national anti-hunger efforts for three decades. It was the first
food bank in the nation to stop distributing soda and sugar-sweetened beverages
and instead focus on distributing fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally,
it has one of the most active grassroots advocacy programs in the nation.
In partnership with the work I have been doing with ALL-IN Alameda County, the food
bank has committed to ending hunger by ensuring that no man, woman or child
will ever wonder where they will get their next meal from. Click here to learn more about the work of the
Alameda County Community Food Bank or to make a donation.
Protecting Privacy Rights
Last year, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office
requested authorization from the Board of Supervisors to purchase Cell-Site
Simulator Technology, also known as a “StingRay.” This equipment supports
important public safety objectives, such as apprehending fugitives and victim
rescue during natural disasters and emergencies. While StingRay
technology assists law enforcement in times of need, privacy rights advocates
expressed concern over its potential to violate personal privacy.
In order to address these concerns, I worked with the Alameda
County District Attorney and privacy advocates to create policy guidelines for
the use of the StingRay device. On November 17, I joined my colleagues on
the Board of Supervisors to pass a comprehensive privacy policy regulating the
District Attorney’s use of the StingRay equipment. The policy requires a
warrant before any deployment of the device and regular audits of its
use. These policy guidelines will allow this powerful tool to be used to
assist law enforcement while ensuring that the privacy of Alameda County
residents continues to be protected.
As technology evolves, we must work together to ensure that we
create thoughtful approaches to privacy that respect the needs and expectations
of Alameda County residents.
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar trade that occurs
in every industry, including the commercial sex trade and the labor market. It is estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year and about 33% of
those victims are children.
On January 26, I presented a National Slavery and Human
Trafficking Awareness Month proclamation to Alameda County District Attorney
Nancy O’Malley for her leadership in bringing together law enforcement,
prosecutors, health and human services, and community-based organizations to
create a victim-centered approach to human trafficking. Collectively, the Alameda
County Board of Supervisors, District Attorney, Family Justice Center, and local and community partners have broken the silence surrounding human
trafficking and prevented countless incidences of abuse and exploitation.
I am proud to help bring awareness to the efforts to stop
human trafficking and support survivors by bringing offenders to justice and
ensuring a system of safety and support for all of those affected.
Upcoming Events
First Fridays at the
Oakland Asian Cultural Center
Bring the family for an evening of fun at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center every first Friday of the month. Emeryville Taiko will
be offering FREE taiko lessons at 7PM and 8PM, FREE workshops, and fun
activities like Chinese checkers, tangrams, origami and more!
Splash into Spring
Egg Scramble
Join the fun with a FREE community event that includes Easter activities,
including a Mobile Fish Exhibit, Lawn Games, Arts & Crafts and more! Bring
a basket to collect your goodies. Photos with the Easter Bunny will be available
for $3. Snacks will also be available for purchase courtesy of the Alameda
Youth Collaborative. This event is happening on Saturday, March 19 at the Crab
Cove- 1252 McKay Avenue from 10AM to 12PM.
Earth Day Festival
Celebrate the planet at Alameda’s Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 23
from 10AM to 3PM at Washington Park. Enjoy free activities for your kids, earth
day games and exhibits.
Join the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association to clean San
Lorenzo streets and parks in celebration of Earth Day on Saturday, April 23 at
8:30AM. There will be a FREE BBQ lunch for all participants and the first 100
volunteers will receive a FREE t-shirt. Sign up by calling (510) 276-4554 or auto@slvha.com
Free First Sunday at
the Oakland Museum of California
Enjoy FREE admission at the Oakland Museum of California every first
Sunday of the month, including Sunday, March 6. The museum is open from 10AM to
6PM and is located at 1000 Oak Street in Oakland.
Friday Nights at OMCA
Join the Oakland Museum of California on the first Friday of every month
for a festive night market that includes, gourmet food trucks, live music and
dance lessons. Get creative at a FREE hands-on art workshop for all ages and
enjoy select Fridays Storytime with the Oakland Public Library. Click here to learn more about Fridays at
OMCA.
Rad American Women
Celebrate Women’s History Month at the San Leandro Library with special
guests, author Kate Schatz and artist Miriam Klein Stahl who will discuss the
book “Rad American Women” and the 26 diverse individuals written about and
illustrated in it. The event is FREE and will be held on Thursday, March 24
from 7-8PM at the San Leandro Library.
Community Resources
Boards and Commissions
Are you
interested in serving Alameda County and District 3? There are currently
several openings to become a District 3 representative. Learn more at www.acgov.org/clerk/bcc.htm. Applications, including a
cover letter and resume, can be submitted to District3@acgov.org.
Healthy Homes
Lead poisoning, asthma triggers, and safety issues in the home are a
serious threat to our childrens’ health. The Alameda County Healthy Homes
Department has services to help low-income residents and property owners make
homes safer for young children. If you
own a home or apartment building built prior to 1978 in Alameda, Berkeley,
Emeryville, or Oakland, you are eligible for a free-in-home or phone
consultation to help you identify and reduce lead hazards. Other services
include free lead paint repair and free trainings. For more information or to
sign up for these services, call 510-567-8280 or visit www.achhd.org.
Project Leadership Series
Are you a
parent of a child with special health needs? Family Voices of California is
looking families who want support to advocate for improved
healthcare. Family Voices will offer a Project Leadership training series,
which will include a $250 stipend for participants who complete all seven
sessions. Free on-site childcare and lunch will be offered. To apply to Project
Leadership or for more information, contact Lilian Ansari at 510-547-7322 ext.
122 or LilianA@FRNoakland.org, or visit www.familyvoicesofca.org.
AAA Senior Resource Guide
Alameda
County’s Area Agency on Aging website has elder service tips, news, and
resources. Click here to
visit the website and learn more about resources available to all seniors in
Alameda County.
Alameda County
Resource Guide
For
information and referrals on Alameda County programs, check out our resource
guide: http://www.acgov.org/government/documents/ACResourceDirectory.pdf.
Starting a Local Business
Do you want to open a business in Alameda County but don’t know where to
begin? Alameda County has two great guides that will help you get started:
East Bay Connects
Are you connected? East Bay Connects provides access to low-cost broadband for
as little as $10 a month. New broadband subscribers can receive a free home
computer, free digital literacy training, a year of free tech support, and
access to many resources to learn how to use broadband. For more information,
call East Bay Connects at (886) 460-7439 or contact James Nixon at (510) 377-7224
or jamesshurdinixon@gmail.com.
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