| 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 you can read about my work to prepare for the 2020 census, protect immigrant and refugee communities, and respond to pop-up restaurant regulations.
You can also learn about community events I hosted, such as Showtime in San Lorenzo, a citizenship workshop in San Leandro, and the Hayward Acres Town Hall.
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
Preparing for the 2020 Census
Alameda County is gearing up
for Census 2020. The Census is critically important for two reasons: it
determines billions of dollars in federal funding and
our representation in Congress. Approximately 25% of our County, or
413,000 residents, are considered "Hard-To-Count," so the County
will lead public information and outreach efforts to ensure we
maintain our funding and representation.
To organize this work, the County is forming a Complete Count Committee
which will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, November 14 from 8:45-10:30am
at 125 12th Street (4th Floor) in Oakland. Community organizations and
members of the public are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Complete Count
Committee Executive Director Casey Farmer (casey.farmer@acgov.org).
Showtime in San Lorenzo
I was proud to once again partner with the Alameda County Community Development Agency (CDA), the San Lorenzo Library, San Lorenzo Village Homes Association, Hayward Area Recreation & Parks District, Lorenzo Theater Foundation, and Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce for the third annual “Showtime in San Lorenzo.” I extend my gratitude to all our community partners for their hard work in making this exciting community event happen.
Hundreds of San Lorenzo residents enjoyed a vendor fair and tours of the historic Lorenzo Theatre, followed by a free screening of Pixar’s Cars 3. This year, attendees also enjoyed a vintage car show and competition from the Bay Bombs Car Club. I would like to thank CDA for this fun addition to this event.
Protecting Immigrant and Refugee Communities
On September 27th, I joined a broad coalition of elected officials, community leaders, patients, physicians, activists, and supporters in opposing a new policy that threatens the health, safety, and social fabric of our communities. The proposed rule change by the Trump Administration threatens to further undermine immigrant families and limit access to health care, food assistance, affordable housing, and other benefits they are otherwise entitled to receive. In October 2017, Alameda County was the first county to formally oppose this change in which legal immigrants would be targeted and tagged with a “public charge” designation with devastating impacts on a family’s ability to be united through immigration. Families will be forced to make difficult choices between keeping their families together and meeting their basic needs, undermining the significant contributions of immigrant communities. The choices that families will be forced to make will have wide ranging economic impacts on the county, with the Alameda County Social Services Agency estimating approximately $30 million in lost federal funding.
In response to this rule change, the Board of Supervisors, County Agencies, and Community Partners are holding a town hall to inform the community on these devastating impacts. I invite you to attend a Public Charge Town Hall on Thursday, November 8 from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM at Nile Hall in Preservation Park (668 13th St., Oakland). You can RSVP on Eventbrite or to Vanessa Cedeno at vanessa.cedeno@acgov.org or 510-272-6693.
Pop-Up Restaurant Response
In response to public concerns
following the closing of Nokni, a popular pop-up restaurant in Oakland, I
hosted a Health Committee meeting on September 10th to hear a status
report on Alameda County’s policy regarding pop-up restaurants.
Pop-up restaurants are temporary,
unpermitted businesses that operate within the permitted commercial kitchen of
another established restaurant. The growing pop-up scene has led to greater
enforcement which has brought the issue into stark focus in the East Bay food
community. The recent uptick in enforcement of the statewide California Retail
Food Code has left residents and entrepreneurs unclear on how and when pop-up
restaurants will be permitted, and what the policy enforcement may look like
moving forward. At the meeting, the Health Care Services Agency stated that it
does not anticipate shutting down pop-ups that are otherwise in compliance with
the terms of the food facility permit at their host location.
This October, at Health Committee, the agency
reviewed food safety regulations and laws and outlined a program proposal for
pop-up permitting in Alameda County to be implemented in December. I thanked
our Environmental Health Department for their quick work to achieve the dual
goals of food safety and allowing food entrepreneurs to grow.
Supporting Alameda's Children and Youth
 I was excited to participate in the Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and their Families’ (ACCYF) retreat in September. Nearly two-dozen youth and family service providers in the City of Alameda attended the retreat in September to determine ACCYF’s priorities for the next few years. Attendees found a pressing need to address mental health issues for our children and youth on the island, and identified various ways in which the Collaborative could provide programs and support for mental health services. I look forward to working with the Collaborative in supporting our youth’s mental health needs.
In addition to the retreat, I was pleased to help bring back “In the Mix,” a conference for interracial families and mixed race individuals. Nearly 40 Alameda residents joined ACCYF staff, mixed race scholars, service providers, and authors to discuss the unique issues facing interracial families and individuals in Alameda and network with other mixed race Alamedans. I would like to thank all the group facilitators, panelists, youth, and planning committee members for their contributions to this event.
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Supporting the San Lorenzo Community
I am
excited to once again partner with the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association
(SLVHA) in planning and supporting the annual Halloween Parade and
Extravaganza. The parade will take place on Saturday, October 27th
starting at San Lorenzo Community Church, and going along Paseo Grande to the
SLVHA offices. I am looking forward to seeing all the creative costumes from
the San Lorenzo community and celebrating Halloween!
Citizen Workshop in San Leandro
 To celebrate Welcoming Week 2018
and Citizenship
Day 2018 in September, I was proud to partner with the East Bay Naturalization
Collaborative and the City of San Leandro to host a
free citizenship workshop to help eligible Alameda County immigrants become citizens.
Held at the San Leandro Senior Center, the workshop assisted a total of 155
people between the ages of 15 to 88. Participants came from 26 different
countries from Cameroon to Nepal to Ecuador to Holland although the majority
were from Mexico, China, and the Philippines. While most hailed from Hayward,
San Leandro, San Lorenzo, and Oakland, participants came from as far as Tracy
and Fairfield and South San Francisco. The workshop provided all eligible
participants with free citizenship application and fee waiver assistance. A
huge thank you to the 75 volunteers that came out to help participants take the
first step on the naturalization journey!
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Helping Garfield Elementary Students
 As
part of an ongoing community engagement project with Garfield Elementary School
in Oakland’s San Antonio neighborhood, I was excited to once again to provide
650 backpacks filled with school supplies for students. During the second week
of August, all hands were on deck to stuff and give out backpacks. Staff and
volunteers also assisted the Garfield community during school registration by
helping translate for parents for whom English is a second language.
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Hayward Acres Town Hall
As part of
an ongoing community engagement strategy in Hayward Acres, a 1 square mile
portion of unincorporated Alameda County, I was pleased to host a Community
Forum for Hayward Acres residents to hear their concerns. Over 25 residents
heard from the Alameda County Public Works Agency, Alameda County Code
Enforcement, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and shared their concerns
with each agency’s representatives on public safety and traffic concerns in
their neighborhood. I look forward to continuing to build connections in the
Hayward Acres community and bringing much needed services to this neighborhood.
Fighting for Housing for ALL
I have some great news regarding Measure A1, the $580 million affordable housing bond which I championed and was approved by Alameda County voters. The County is ready to launch two homeowner programs: the Down Payment Assistance Loan Program (DALP) and the Home Preservation Fund. The DALP provides no-interest down payment loans to qualified Alameda County residents who are looking to purchase homes in the county. The Home Preservation Fund provides no-interest loans for large home repairs such as a new roof or replacement plumbing. This program enables homeowners who are in jeopardy of foreclosure to stay in their homes. Loans from both programs do not have to be paid back until the buyer sells or transfers the home.
In terms of affordable rental properties, Measure A1 has already allocated $83 million to build 1,000 units of affordable housing. About 200 of those units are earmarked for individuals experiencing homelessness. Many of these units will come on line late this year and early next year.
If you are interest in renting a subsidized rental unit or participating in one of the homeowner programs, please contact my District Office Manager, Jared Savas at jared.savas@acgov.org or 510-278-0367.
Health Care for ALL
 Only 1 in 7 children on Medi-Cal in Alameda County gets recommended annual preventive dental care, which is integral to long-term oral health. In 2017, Alameda County was awarded more than $17 million by the California Department of Health Care Services to implement Healthy Teeth, Healthy Communities—Alameda County’s Local Dental Pilot Program to expand preventative dental care access to low-income children.
I was proud to make the opening remarks at the Healthy Teeth, Healthy Communities 2018 Annual Summit. As a long-time children’s advocate who worked on expanding access to dental care during my time in the California State Assembly, I continue to see oral health as a priority area, especially for low-income children and families. This is the first time that Alameda County has launched a countywide initiative to address access gaps in dental care among Medi-Cal eligible children, and I applaud the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency for their vision and efforts to improve the dental health for all of our children.
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Eden Area MAC Update
I
am pleased to announce that significant progress has been made toward the
formation of the Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), an appointed
advisory body to the Board of Supervisors that will represent the
unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Hayward Acres, and San Lorenzo. At
the September Unincorporated Services meeting, recommendations made by the Eden
MAC Ad Hoc Committee were presented to the community.
These
recommendations covered the following areas:
- General MAC structure
- Number of members
- Qualifications for service
- MAC leadership structure, and
- Information on MAC meetings and logistics
Once
the Committee’s recommendations are finalized, the MAC will return to
Unincorporated Services for a vote before going before the full Board of
Supervisors. It is anticipated that the MAC will be officially seated in 2019.
ALL IN Alameda County Update
California
is the fifth
largest economy in the world, but nearly 2 million children – the highest
rate in the nation – are living in poverty. “End Child Poverty in
California” is a statewide nonprofit that works in partnership with lawmakers,
academics, and community partners to pass legislation aimed at alleviating
childhood poverty in California. Their
taskforce has been hosting community forums throughout the state to hear from residents
on best practices for ending child poverty. I was excited that the stakeholders
recommended ALL IN to host Alameda County’s forum. Over 75 residents attended “Lifting Children
Out of Poverty,” the community forum held at the end of September. All remarks
were recorded and will be forwarded to the governor to create new legislation.
I look forward to ongoing community engagement and state-level advocacy efforts
to end child poverty in our state.
As
a part of the Healthy Food, Healthy Families initiative (formerly Food as
Medicine), ALL IN has hired healthy food champions in various neighborhoods in
the county to both lend their expertise in designing a community-based wellness
program and to provide nutrition education in their communities. Once a month,
Trybe – an organization based in the San Antonio district of East Oakland –
hosts Family Friday at Manzanita Recreational Center.
This
event brings together our Healthy Food Champions and the community to share
food, games and music as they create a safe space for neighborhood kids to
play. In addition, the Healthy Food Champions were able to survey residents to
gauge interest for a community garden at the recreation center, which will help
increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
County Update
In May, I
hosted my fourth “County Update” at the San Lorenzo Library where over 50
residents from the San Lorenzo and Hayward Acres area attended. This popular
event provides residents in the unincorporated community with valuable
information on government services and programs happening in their
neighborhoods.
Attendees
heard from the Alameda County Public Works Agency, Community Development
Agency, the Arts Commission, and the Sheriff’s Office about the programs and
services they provide in our community. In addition to the presentations,
attendees had the opportunity to meet and share their concerns with
representatives of other agencies serving the unincorporated area, including
the San Lorenzo Library and the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District.
I would
like to thank the many residents and county staff who attended this informative
event and I look forward to continuing to host regular “County Updates.”
Summer Interns in My Office
This summer, I welcomed interns Vanmey
Ma (Wellesley College), Isabella Siu (Chinese American Political Association),
Corey Reeves (District Attorney’s Justice Academy), and Melissa Garcia (Asian
Pacific Islander American Public Affairs) to my office.
Vanmey Ma worked with the ALL IN Alameda
County team on the neighborhood transformation work at Garfield Elementary
School and the Healthy Food, Healthy Families program.
Isabella Siu worked on a legislative
analysis of cottage food legislation, AB 626 (Garcia), which provided the ALL
IN team with information on benefits and challenges to expanding the industry.
AB 626 was signed into law by Governor Brown on September 18th.
Corey Reeves assisted my District
Office Manager in a field assessment in Hayward Acres, where they drove through
the neighborhood highlighting the needs in the community.
Melissa Garcia prepared a report on
Social Services related constituent cases to provide staff with an in-depth
insight on this issue area and worked on an analysis of the most recent Measure
A base allocation.
Advance Care Planning in Oakland
 Advance care planning involves learning about the types of medical decisions that might need to be made, considering those decisions ahead of time, and then letting others know about your preferences. According to national studies, there is a large disparity between residents who wish to speak with their doctor and family members regarding their end of life wishes and those who have actually done so. Participating in these discussions helps ease fears and combat misunderstandings, creates opportunities for advance health care planning documentation, and reduces disparities to underserved communities.
I began a panel series to address these disparities in May 2017, and following successful events in San Leandro and Alameda, I was excited to host another informational panel in July at the Unity Council’s Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center in Oakland. Over 60 Oakland residents, including many bilingual Spanish-speakers, attended the panel and received valuable information needed to plan for a secure future. Topics covered included: arranging healthcare orders, preparing legal documents such as wills and trusts, and navigating skilled nursing options. I was pleased to invite Katy Brady from Legal Assistance for Seniors and Jodi Phillips from Peter Shelton Law back to the speaker panel, and welcome Wanda Ferguson from the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency. Thank you to all who participated in making this another successful event.
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Upcoming Events in District 3
Healthy Cooking Demo
I invite you to a Healthy Cooking Demonstration on Wednesday, November 7 from 3:30 PM-5:00 PM at Island High School (500 Pacific Ave., Multi-Purpose Room, Alameda). The demonstration will show you how to cook quick, affordable, and healthy meals. RSVP to Sarah Oddie at sarah.oddie@acgov.org or 510-278-0367.
County Update
I invite you to attend my next County Update on Wednesday, November 14 from 5:30 PM-8:00 PM at the San Lorenzo Library in the Community Room (395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo). Hear updates from local public agencies on upcoming projects in the unincorporated areas of District 3. RSVP to Jared Savas at jared.savas@acgov.org or 510-278-0367.
Community Holiday Celebration
I invite you to attend my annual holiday celebration on Thursday, December 13 from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at the San Lorenzo Library in the Community Room. RSVP to Jared Savas at jared.savas@acgov.org or 510-278-0367.
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 children’s 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 can be prepared and supported 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:
-
Guide #1: Starting a
Business in Alameda County
-
Guide #2: Starting a
Business in Unincorporated Alameda County
- (Ashland, Castlewood, Castro Valley, Cherryland,
Fairview, Happy Valley, Hillcrest Knolls, San Lorenzo, and Sunol)
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. |
