CORRECTED: April 24, 2020 Update from Supervisor Connolly

Dear Friends,

If I see you on my neighborhood walk or bike ride, you’ll see me with my face covering. As I go around the neighborhood, I see many of you wearing your own homemade mask or bandanna.  Thank you.  Everyone is asked to wear a face covering when they are interacting with others who are not members of their household in public and private spaces. By covering our faces we are slowing transmission of the virus, this is one layer of protection that will allow us to share spaces again.

I’m focused on what comes next and how we can start our second step in recovery. Marin and our Bay Area partners have done a great job, really leading the nation. We have seen the number of new cases drop, increased testing, ICU beds well within capacity, and our friends and families safe. Our top-notch public health team and essential workers are jumping on any whisper of COVID in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, and have increased testing at those facilities for workers and residents.

I'm meeting with our public health team to make sure your voice is heard. In this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting I asked Dr. Willis the questions you are asking our office. You can watch the clip here. We are beginning to enter the second stage of our recovery, as a community and a county we continue to stand united to work on a safe path forward.  I’m asking the same questions you are, ‘How much community testing is necessary, what does loosen restrictions mean, how and when can we return to work, how do we use our parks and open space safely?’

April 21^st  Board of Supervisors Meeting

The County is taking a keen look at equity while serving the most vulnerable and using existing resources to meet the challenges associated with COVID. The Emergency Rental Assistance program created by MCF and the County to keep Marin families housed received $2.4 million dollars in requests during the first two weeks. This week we added another $500,000 which was matched by MCF.

There were over 200 applications received and more than $200,000 has been raised to date for the San Rafael Small Business Relief Fund, which includes a $50,000 contribution from the County that matches $50,000 from San Rafael. We continue to look countywide to support other jurisdictions, additional details can be found in this great Marin IJ article. 

Dollars Reaching Communities

Federal stimulus checks are arriving and we are beginning to see Paycheck Protection Program funds reaching small businesses in Marin. On Wednesday, as a Commissioner on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, I voted to approve $783.1 million in federal relief aid to Bay Area transit agencies.  $46 million dollars will go to Marin Transit, Golden Gate Transit and SMART for drastic ridership losses and to provide protections for riders and drivers. 

To help support our hospitals, first responders, and essential service providers working around the clock, Marin is advocating to receive funds from California’s share of the $150 billion allocated to state and local government from the CARES Act. The impacts of COVID are massive but we’re meeting them head on.

On April 15, Governor Newsom approved $75 million for undocumented families with another $50 million to be added from philanthropic contributors. These funds offer $500 to $1,000 to help families meet basic needs. MCF has partnered with  other community foundations to support the California Immigrant Resilience Fund.

As we address the economic impact and the emerging needs of our community, we can’t forget the 11 friends we’ve lost in Marin, the 1,500 in California, and our families across the country mourning over 50,000 people. We need to proceed with caution. Our success will be measured as a community, in our ability to practice physical distancing and work with our Public Health Officers. As Governor Newsom announced on April 22, this is a “dimmer, not light switch.” The mandated Face Covering Order and ongoing conversations about updating the Shelter In Place Order are turns in the right direction. 

I continue to look at every part of our community. There is so much need. In Marin I am grateful that there are so many willing to step up, to give of their time and money, and to look for the small silver linings of coordinated efforts and friendship.

Office Hours: Conversations Guiding Government

Our conversations have always played a key part in guiding my decision making. To keep the conversation going, I’m hosting Office Hours online with Benita McLarin, HHS Director, and Max Korten, Director of Parks and Open Space. On Thursday April 30^th, at 4:30 pm they will join us for an update on the Shelter In Place Order and to hear from you and answer questions. If you haven't used WebEx join 5 minutes early to setup, just click on the link below and follow the steps. Please register and submit questions ahead of time by clicking HERE.

Date and time: Thursday, April 30, 2020 4:30 pm Audio conference: United States Toll +1-408-418-9388 Show all global call-in numbers Access code: 968 210 842

My office and my Aides are working full time on behalf of our constituents, answering phone calls and emails. We appreciate hearing from you. Your diligence and efforts to shelter in place have ensured our low numbers of COVID. As of today, 148 of 209 Marin residents testing positive for COVID have recovered and safely returned to their friends and families.  If you would like a phone call, or know someone who could use a call, please let me know. Stay in touch.

 

Sincerely,

 

Marin County Board of Supervisors, District 1
3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 329, San Rafael, CA 94903
Direct Tel: (415) 473-7331

Newsletter: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/bs/district-1/newsletters
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