Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan’s Weekly Updates on COVID-19

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Updates on COVID-19 from
Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan

In this issue:

Exercising Your Right to Vote 

County-Wide Ballot Measures 

Same Day Voter Registration 

Provisional Ballots 

Ways to Cast Your Vote 

Know Your Voting Rights 

Additional Resources for Voters 

Testing for COVID-19 in Alameda County

Get Involved: Community Board and Commission Positions Available  

Community Resources

Food Resources

Resources for Immigrant Communities

Public Comment Procedures for Board of Supervisors Meetings During Shelter in Place

Alameda County Public Health Department
COVID-19 Contact Information

Enforcement of the Shelter in Place Order E-mail:
COVID19compliance@acgov.org

Alameda County COVID-19
Data Dashboard

Non-Immediate Concerns
Email: nCoV@acgov.org
Phone: 510-268-2101

Public Health Agencies' Dedicated COVID-19 Information Web Pages:

 

Alameda County
Public Health Department:

covid-19.acgov.org

 

California Department of
Public Health:

covid19.ca.gov

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

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Housing Information and Critical Health & Human Services

 

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Connect with me on Facebook

 

 

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Email me:
District3@acgov.org


County Seal

 

 

Oakland Office
1221 Oak Street, Suite 536
Oakland, CA 94612 (map)
Phone: 510.272.6693
Fax: 510.268.8004

  

 

District Office
15903 Hesperian Boulevard
San Lorenzo, CA 94580 (map)
Phone: 510.278.0367
Fax: 510.278.0467

 

 

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 find resources for Alameda County residents to exercise their right to vote.

Given the high expected turnout,
please vote early!

For more information on how to vote and where to vote, please see the resources below.

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,                                                                           

wc

Wilma Chan
Supervisor, Third District 

Exercising Your Right to Vote 

The upcoming November 3, 2020 General Election will be an historic one as we continue to weather the COVID-19 pandemic 

The right to vote is integral to our democracy – it is our duty as elected officials to protect our citizens’ access to one of the most fundamental forms of civic participation. During this public health crisis, no one should be forced to choose between this foundation of American government and risking exposure to COVID-19. Alameda County is committed to ensuring all registered voters can exercise their right to vote while also protecting their health.  

In this edition of my weekly update, you can find many resources and information on how to vote, Same Day Voter Registration, and learn more about state and local ballot measures. 

County-wide Ballot Measures 

The November 3, 2020 General Election ballot includes three County initiatives – Measures V, W, and X. Measures V and W will appear on all Alameda County voters’ ballots, while Measure X will only appear on the ballots for Alameda County voters in the unincorporated area.  

Measure V asks all Alameda County voters to extend a 6.5% sales tax in the unincorporated areas of Alameda County. If passed, this measure can generate $12 million per year in essential county services for the unincorporated area, including libraries and code enforcement.  

Measure W asks all Alameda County voters to enact a 1/2 cent sales tax to support essential County services. If passed, this tax could provide an additional $150 million in funding for crucial programs for our neighbors throughout Alameda County who are experiencing homelessness, in need of mental health services, job training, and social safety net services. 

Measure X asks voters in the unincorporated areas of Alameda County to approve a $90 million fire safety bond. Revenues from this bond will be used to repair, upgrade, and replace aging and outdated fire stations in the unincorporated areas that are at least 30 years old, including two that are over 70 years old. If enacted, Measure X will help maintain life-saving services, improve emergency communications and response, and enhance wildfire and disaster protection services residents in our unincorporated communities rely on. (Needs a 2/3 majority to pass) 

For an impartial analysis of these measures, please see the Additional Voting Resources section in this bulletin.  

Same Day Voter Registration 

While the deadline to register for the November 3, 2020 General Election has passedyou can still request a ballot through Same Day Voter Registration up until Election Day. 

To apply for Same Day Voter Registration, please schedule an appointment with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters (ROV) offices or visit an Accessible Voting Location (no appointment necessary), and request a ballot and voter registration form. You will be issued a provisional ballot, and once the ROV confirms your registration, your ballot will be counted.  

For more information on registering to vote or checking registration status, please visit the ROV’s Voter Registration FAQs page. 

Provisional Ballots 

If you are issued a provisional ballot, your vote will be counted once the ROV confirms your registration status and that you did not already vote in the election. Every voter who casts a provisional ballot has the right to know if the ballot was counted or not. Call the Alameda County ROV at 510-272-6973 to inquire about your provisional ballot.  

For more information on how provisional voting works, please visit the California Secretary of State’s Provisional Voting page. 

Ways to Cast Your Vote 

There are a number of ways to cast your vote in Alameda County. When returning your Vote by Mail ballot, you must sign the return envelope for your vote to be counted. 

  • Mailreturn envelope addressed to the Alameda County ROV was enclosed with your mail-in ballot. If you are mailing your ballot in the United States, no additional postage is necessary. In order for your ballot to be counted, it must be postmarked by Election Day (November 3, 2020) and received no later than 17 days after Election Day. 
  • ROV Drop Box: Ballots can be returned to any one of the official 24-hour drop boxes in Alameda County. The drop boxes are available until 8 PM on November 3, 2020. The ROV maintains a map of the 66 official drop boxes throughout Alameda County.  
  • Ballot Drop Stop: The ROV is hosting pop-up ballot drop stops throughout the county until Election Day. Visit the Ballot Drop Stop page to find a drop stop near you.
  • Ballot Will Call: If you would like a new Vote by Mail Ballot (and have not already cast your vote) or vote early, you may schedule a Ballot Will Call pick-up appointment at the ROV offices (1225 Fallon Street, Room G1, Oakland, CA). The ROV offices are located on the basement level of the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, CA.  
  • In-Person Accessible Voting Locations: The ROV has 100 Accessible Voting Locations throughout Alameda County for the November 3, 2020 General Election, which any voter can use. Accessible Voting Locations are open from Saturday, October 31, 2020 to Monday, November 2, 2020 form 9 AM-5 PM. The Accessible Voting Locations will be open from 7 AM-8 Pm on Election Day (November 3, 2020).  

Accessible Voting Locations will offer a number of accommodations for voters with disabilities. These locations will offer accessible touchscreens designed for people with disabilities, designated voting booths designed for voters with disabilities to easily access the booth and vote, curbside voting, and other voting assistance. For more information, please visit the Alameda County ROV Accessibility Information page. 

PLEASE NOTE: If you have already received a Vote by Mail ballot and wish to vote in-person, you must surrender your Vote by Mail ballot at the voting location. You will then be issued a provisional ballot (see above for more information on provisional ballots).

You may sign up to track your ballot online with the Alameda County ROV to see when your ballot is mailed, received, and counted. 

Know Your Voting Rights 

California Voters are protected by the Voter Bill of Rights and have the following rights: 

  • The right to vote if you are a registered voter. You are eligible to vote if you are: 
    • a U.S. citizen living in California 
    • registered where you currently live 
    • at least 18 years old 
    • not in prison or on parole for a felony 
  • The right to vote if you are a registered voter even if your name is not on the list. You will vote using a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted if elections officials determine that you are eligible to vote.  
  • The right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close. 
  • The right to cast a secret ballot without anyone bothering you or telling you how to vote. 
  • The right to get a new ballot if you have made a mistake, if you have not already cast your ballot. You can: 
  • Ask an elections official at a polling place for a new ballot; or 
  • Exchange your vote-by-mail ballot for a new one at an elections office, or at your polling place; or 
  • Vote using a provisional ballot, if you do not have your original vote-by-mail ballot. 
  • The right to get help casting your ballot from anyone you choose, except from your employer or union representative. 
  • The right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in the county where you are registered to vote. 
  • The right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your voting precinct speak that language. 
  • The right to ask questions to elections officials about election procedures and watch the election process. If the person you ask cannot answer your questions, they must send you to the right person for an answer.  If you are disruptive, they can stop answering you. 
  • The right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s office. 

If you are currently or formerly incarcerated, please review the Voting Rights: Persons with a Criminal History guide on the California Secretary of State’s website to determine if you are eligible to vote.   

If you have been denied any of these rights to vote, please contact the California Secretary of State’s confidential hotline at
1-800-345-VOTE (8683).
 

Additional Voting Resources 

Alameda County ROV General Election Home Page 
The Alameda County ROV General Election Home Page provides voters with information on ways to vote, apply for a new ballot if their Vote by Mail ballot has been lost or damaged, and how to schedule a Ballot Will Call appointment. 

Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) Voter Guide 
ACCFB’s Voter Guide website provides voters with information on how to check their registration status, know their voter rights, ways to vote, and volunteer resources. ACCFB’s website is also available in Spanish and Chinese. 

Informational Ballot Guides: 

Stay Informed

For updates on COVID-19, visit one of the following dedicated web pages from trusted public health agencies:

Testing for COVID-19 in Alameda County 

In partnership with community partners, ACPHD is operating free COVID-19 testing locations throughout the county. 

Testing is free and available to anyone with or without symptoms at all community testing sites in Alameda County, and is highly recommended for health care, front line, or essential workers and anyone who attended protests or other large public gatherings.

You will not be asked about immigration status and do not need insurance at any of these locations.

Community testing sites located in District 3:

Marina Community Center 
15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro, CA 
Monday-Saturday: 8 AM-7 PM 
Walk-up testing site

Testing is by appointment only. To make an appointment, visit: https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call 1-888-634-1123 (Spanish and English). 


La Clinica de la Raza
Fruitvale BART Station
E 12th Street and 36th Avenue
Monday-Friday, 8 AM- 5 PM
Drive-through and walk-up available

Testing is by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 510-535-3370 (Spanish and English).   


Native American Health Center
3050 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601 
Tuesday & Thursday, 9 AM – 7 PM
Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM

This is a pedestrian-access site.  

Make an appointment at color.com/nahc 


 Additional free testing locations:

Allen Temple Baptist Church
8501 International Blvd., Oakland, CA 
Monday – Saturday: 1 PM-7 PM 
Drive-through COVID-19 testing

Appointments are required through Project Baseline 


Roots Community Health Center
9925 International Blvd., Oakland, CA 
Monday - Wednesday, Friday: 9:30 AM-3:30 PM 
Outdoor walk-up COVID-19 testing 

Registration is not required, but appointments can be made online or at 510-777-1177 
NOTE: there is no drive-up option at this site, and street parking is limited.


West Oakland Health Center
700 Adeline St., Oakland, CA
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:30 AM-1 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM-12:30 PM

Testing is by appointment only and can be made online at https://www.oaklandca.gov/wohc.


Skywest Golf Course 
1401 Golf Course Rd.
Hayward, CA 94541
Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Register here or call (510) 583-5333


Alameda County Fairgrounds (Gate 12)
4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton, CA
Gate 12 is off of Valley Ave. and follow signage to testing site
Monday – Friday: 9 AM - 1 PM

Testing is only open to residents of Pleasanton, Dublin, or Livermore who are 10 years of age or older. 


For more information and guidance on COVID-19 testing, visit ACPHD's Testing for COVID-19 page. 

Get Involved:
Community Board
 and Commission Positions Available 

Alameda County Board and Commission Openings

Apply today for one of the District 3 vacancies on the following Alameda County Boards and Commissions. For more information or to apply, visit the Clerk of the Board's Get Involved page.


Alameda County Oakland Community Action Partnership (AC-OCAP) Board Openings

AC-OCAP is now accepting applications for community representatives from CDBG District 1 in Oakland, and Alameda County. These open seats must be filled by a representative from the low-income community. Visit AC-OCAP's website for the Board Opening applications

  • CDBG District 1 (Oakland) encompasses North Oakland. Please review the City of Oakland Application Guidelines for selection criteria and a map of CDBG districts in the City of Oakland (note: these districts have different boundaries from the City Council districts).
  • Alameda County representatives must live in Alameda County (excluding the cities of Oakland and Berkeley). Please review the Alameda County Application Guidelines for selection criteria.

The AC-OCAP Board is comprised of 18 members that represent public official representatives in Oakland and Alameda County, private groups and interests, and not fewer than a third are democratically elected/selected representatives from the low-income community.

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. 


Food Access Resources

  • Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB): ACCFB’s helpline can help connect you to a source for groceries or a hot meal today. Call the helpline at 1-800-870-FOOD (3663) or 1-510-635-3663. The helpline is available in multiple languages and operates Monday-Friday, 9 AM-4 PM. You can also visit FoodNow.net for an online directory of food distribution sites near you. 
  • School Meals: The Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) maintains a list of school districts in Alameda County that offer free meals to families who have children enrolled in the district’s schools. Visit ACOE’s “Meal Service by District” page for more information on your child’s school district.
  • Dig Deep Farms (DDF) Food Hub food distribution: The DDF Food Hub is distributing food every Friday from 1 PM-2 PM at 2700 Fairmont Drive in San Leandro. Food delivery is also available for families in need. If you need food delivered, please fill out the Deputy Sheriff's Activities League (DSAL) sign-up form

Resources for Immigrant Communities

  • Oakland Undocumented Relief (OUR) Fund: Offers financial support for immigrant Oaklanders who have lost income due to COVID-19. To apply for or donate to OUR Fund, visit Centro Legal’s website
  • Legal Aid at Work (Ayuda Legal Laboral) Resource Guide: offers a list of financial services available to undocumented workers in California who have been impacted by COVID-19. This resource guide is updated on a weekly basis and is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. 
  • Immigrants Rising resource guide provides a list of resources available for undocumented immigrants. Recursos para inmigrantes sobre COVID-19 en español—utilice este enlace
  • California Immigrant Policy Center’s (CPIC) COVID-19 Resource Guide provides information on accessing health care, obtaining information on COVID-19 in multiple languages, economic resources, and information on immigration rights.  

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.