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Dear Friends and Second District Residents,
There is no question 2020 was very challenging and certainly unprecedented! Many of us have been saying for quite some time that we can’t wait for 2021 to end. The challenge is, turning a new page on the calendar doesn’t magically erase all the hardships, stress and difficulties we endured during the last ten months. In fact, much of this will carry into 2021.
With the right mindset, we can make 2021 better – as long as we all work together. With a new year, comes a clean slate and wonderful opportunities on the horizon.
As we enter this new year, we will be tackling many challenges and expecting many changes in Riverside County. We are currently interviewing for a new county Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position to manage and lead us through the county's $6 Billion+ budget, an approximately $40 million dollar operating deficit, managing 44 department with 20,000+ employees, addressing all the upcoming state mandates while managing a vaccination rollout.
All this is expected to be accomplished while we're transitioning the Board of Supervisors Chair for 2021. On that note, Supervisor V. Manuel Perez has done an amazing job as the Chair through what we can only describe as a very unique and unprecedented 2020. I commend Supervisor Perez for his leadership role and look forwarding to fulfilling my duties as Chair in 2021.
As we look towards the upcoming year, our office remains hopeful and optimistic with all the opportunities and potential that 2021 may offer.
The Riverside County Second District Supervisor’s office Staff are available Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to assist you. You can reach my office by calling (951) 955-1020 or by emailing District2@rivco.org and staff will assist you promptly.
I encourage you to stay connected by joining District 2 on Facebook @SupervisorKarenSpiegel or Twitter @SupKarenSpiegel and Instagram @SupervisorKarenSpiegel
I hope you enjoy this e-newsletter. Please reach out to my office if we may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Karen Spiegel
Second District Supervisor
TESTING IS FREE AT A COUNTY OR STATE-RUN SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE
There are multiple testing sites spread throughout Riverside County that offer walk-up or drive-up services. To find county and state-run locations and make an appointment, go online to gettested.ruhealth.org. For a list of other COVID-19 test sites in your area, click https://covid19.ca.gov/get-tested/
FLU SEASON IS HERE – GET VACCINATED
Getting a flu vaccine this year is more important as ever. A flu vaccine not only can help protect you and your loved ones, but also help reduce the strain on hospitals and healthcare systems and help save vital medical resources needed to care for people with COVID-19.
It’s important for everyone to do their part to stay healthy this flu season. The best way to prevent flu is to get vaccinated, but healthy habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs. Do your part to prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses by remembering to:
- Mask Up: Cover your nose and mouth with a mask when out in public.
- Lather Up: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
- Sleeve Up: Roll up your sleeve to get a flu shot.
The more people vaccinated against the flu, the more people are protected from the flu. To learn more visit: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/protect-your-health.html
*Medicare Part B covers one flu shot per flu season. Beneficiaries pay nothing for a flu shot if their doctor or other qualified healthcare provider accepts Medicare payment for giving the flu shot.
For helpful information on how to spot the difference between the Flu and COVID-19, visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm
INTRODUCING: COVID-19 MOBILE VAN TESTING IN CORONA! The City of Corona, in partnership with Riverside County and Curative, is providing FREE COVID-19 testing to ALL residents via Mobile Van Testing, whether or not you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The Curative test is a simple-to-use, 100% contactless, oral fluid COVID-19 test. It is self-administered and painless, make your appointment today! View full schedule and make an appointment! Visit www.CoronaCA.gov/Testing
COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATES
Healthcare worker vaccination clinics for those in Phase 1a (Tiers 1-3). Bring work badge/ID or proof of healthcare worker employment. Use Google Chrome, MicroSoft Edge or Safari for the registration process: Click Here.
Questions about the vaccine? Phone: 833-4CA-4ALL (833-422-4255) or visit the link: https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/
STATE OXYGEN DEPOT ESTABLISHED IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY TO ASSIST AREA HOSPITALS WITH OXYGEN NEEDS
The State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), working with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department (EMD), brought much needed oxygen into the county to help meet the needs of hospitals within the region.
“Oxygen suppliers are having a difficult time meeting the high demand of area hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said EMD Director, Bruce Barton “This isn’t limited to just one hospital. COVID patients need lots of oxygen and that’s taxing the entire healthcare system. We’ve been working with representatives from California Emergency Medical Services Authority to address the growing needs and we’re glad to report that today EMSA set up an oxygen depot, a state resource, that will supply Riverside County and surrounding counties with oxygen.”
The oxygen depot is comprised of two large oxygen generators that will fill the large tanks used by hospitals and will augment the local oxygen supply. Centrally located, Riverside County is an ideal location to provide this resource to neighboring counties.
Supported by Riverside County Facilities Management, EMSA staffing will be available 24 hours a day to fill oxygen tanks. The oxygen generator is expected to remain until suppliers are able to keep up with demands.
CALLING ALL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSS AND NON-PROFITS!!!
California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), announced that the deadline for the first round of applications for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will be extended until January 13, 2021.
The program, which officially opened December 30, experienced high traffic – receiving thousands of completed applications. However, due to the high traffic, some businesses may have had trouble accessing the application. Adjustments to the program’s website have been made and the application period has been extended to ensure that all interested applicants have the opportunity to apply. The Round 1 application deadline has been extended from January 8 to January 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
The grants are as follows:
Revenue up to $100,000 = $5,000 grant
Revenue to $1,000,000 = $15,000 grant
Revenue to $2,500,000 = $25,000 grant
This grant program is not first come, first served, nor a rolling approval process. All applications will be reviewed following the now extended application deadline. The funds will then be disbursed as originally planned to avoid any possible delay to small business owners receiving their grants.
The State’s selected intermediary, Lendistry, a Community Development Financial Institution, is working with other mission-based lenders and small business advisory and technical assistance providers to help small businesses with the application process in multiple languages and formats. Many of the State-supported small business centers, which prioritize the expansion of technical assistance to underserved business groups, are also available to help. For more information on grant requirements and eligibility, as well as to find a local partner, please visit https://careliefgrant.com/
CA COMPETES TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is now accepting applications for the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC). There are $80 million in tax credits available during this application period for businesses that are expanding and adding quality, full-time jobs in California that might not otherwise be created by the business or any other business. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, January 25, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) and the online application website will automatically close once this deadline has passed. The online application can be accessed at www.calcompetes.ca.gov. Members of the CCTC team are available to provide technical application assistance. In addition, an updated application guide, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and program regulations are available at www.business.ca.gov/california-competes-tax-credit. For applicants that are reapplying, the FAQs include instructions on how to copy information from a previously submitted application. If you have any questions regarding the CCTC program or application process, please call (916) 322-4051 or email CalCompetes@gobiz.ca.gov
ANIMAL SERVICES UPDATE
Due to the current lockdown restrictions as well as to an abundance of caution, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services (DAS) is only providing essential services to all Riverside County residents at this time. Below is the full list of essential services being provided as well as the full list of non-essential services that are not currently being offered at this time. Additionally, Animal Services is strongly encouraging all residents to make an appointment and to do licensing online and not to show up to one of the shelters without an appointment.
Essential service:
Stray intake
Emergency owner intake
Adoptions (by appointment only)
RTOs (return-to-owner pet reunions)
Field services (animal control officers working their beats)
Shelter medicine and spay/neuter
Owner-requested euthanasia
Non-essential services:
Public Spay/neuter (the dept. cannot accommodate these surgery requests at this time)
Public vaccination clinics
Volunteers in our building
Upcoming food bank events (the new Healthy Pet Zone program)
Furthermore, after a complete and thorough review of service operations, transactions and an associated time study, Animal Services has decided to adjust the hours of public shelter operations at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter. The adjustment will make the hours consistent with the other shelters. The changes will not affect DAS’ phone center (which is operated from 8am-5pm or field services hours which are 24-7). The new hours will be Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and as always, DAS will be closed Sundays and major holidays. Previously, the hours were 11 am to 4 p.m. The new shelter operations hours will take affect on January 28, 2021. For more information, please visit RCDAS.ORG or call (951)-358-7387.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY ASSESSOR - COUNTY CLERK - RECORDER UPDATE
Out of an abundance of caution and following COVID-19 safety protocols, on December 31st, 2020, the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk/Recorder’s (ACR) office is temporarily suspending services at the main office of the County Administrative Center (CAC) located in downtown Riverside. The Palm Desert, Temecula, and Hemet offices are currently open by appointment only. The Hemet office will continue to provide ceremony services by appointment only. All services except for marriage ceremonies will be available at other offices. Assessor-County Clerk/Recorder’s staff will be reaching out to those who had a confirmed appointment at main office location for rescheduling an appointment or changing the location of the appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.asrclkrec.com/ or call (951) 955-6200 or by email: accrmail@asrclkrec.com
RTA UPDATES:
The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) has updated their Ride Guide and the link has been provided below for your reference: Click Here.
RCTC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE GOING STRONG IN DISTRICT 2
The Riverside County Transportation Commission has multiple projects under way in District 2, as part of ongoing efforts to improve mobility and reduce commute times for drivers in western Riverside County. During the past year, RCTC continued its construction work, despite the global pandemic. The agency has eight highway projects under construction, including five that started in 2020 – several of which are in District 2. The projects have created more than 10,000 jobs, helping to offset the economic fallout from COVID-19 and improving the county’s infrastructure, which may lead more businesses to open or relocate to Riverside County.
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The 15 Express Lanes between Route 60 and Cajalco Road are expected to open this spring. Crews are installing the tolling technology and finalizing roadway improvements, including drainage repairs. Several weekend closures are planned for January, including a full closure of the southbound I-15 Hidden Valley Parkway on-ramp in Norco from Friday, January 8 at 9 p.m. to Monday, January 11 at 5 a.m. The southbound I-15 to westbound 91 connector also will be closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, January 8-10, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Other closures are planned the weekends of January 15 and 22; please watch for news. Stay connected by visiting info, following @15expresslanes on Facebook Twitter, and Instagram, or calling 844-415-9777.
- Construction of the 91 Corridor Operations Project, which is adding a westbound lane between Green River Road and Route 241, started in November. A full closure of westbound 91 is scheduled Friday, January 15 at 11 p.m. to Saturday, January 16 at 5 a.m. to remove overhead signage. The westbound 91 Express Lanes in both Riverside and Orange counties also will be closed. Daytime pile driving also will begin the week of January 11. For information, visit org/91COP, follow @therctc, or call 833-460-5606.
- Looking ahead, RCTC has received full funding for the 71/91 Interchange and released a request for qualifications for construction management firms on January 7. The schedule calls for construction work to begin in 2022, with the new interchange expected to open in 2024. Stay tuned for updates and visit org/71-91interchange for maps of the new interchange features.
 
JANUARY IS NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time when advocates rally to raise awareness about an illegal practice that has victimized more than 40 million people globally.
While many might imagine trafficking as a scourge afflicting only faraway lands or gritty cities, the reality is that it’s happening right here in the United States each and every day. California is the largest site of human trafficking in the nation, and the Inland Empire is a hotbed for traffickers.
Human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological, and may involve the use of violence, threats, lies, or debt bondage. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.
One common misconception is that human trafficking always involves travel or transportation of the victim across local, state, or international borders. When, in reality, victims are too often trafficked within the confines of their own neighborhoods and homes.
How can you help?
Anyone could help expose a human trafficking situation and get the victim help. All you need to do is know the signs – and know where to call.
While some victims may be kept behind closed doors, others can be hidden in plain sight, working in restaurants, farm fields, hotels, massage parlors, and other public places.
If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong, report it by calling your local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline, at: (888) 373-7888 – or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
Here are some red flags that a person might be a human trafficking victim:
- Living with the employer
- Poor living conditions
- Multiple people in a cramped space
- Inability to speak without others around, lacks freedom of movement
- Potential victim’s answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
- Someone else is holding the potential victim’s identity documents
- Signs of physical abuse, confusion or disorientation
- Signs of having been denied food, water, sleep or medical care
- Submissive, fearful, or disconnected from family, friends, community
- Unpaid or paid very little, lacks personal possessions
- Under 18 and in prostitution
- Suspected victim is a child who has stopped attending school
VETERAN SERVICES
Out of an abundance of caution and following COVID-19 safety protocols, the Riverside County Department of Veterans’ Services will not be providing in person services at the main office location in downtown Riverside. The Department of Veterans’ Services will be providing all services remotely via phone, email, fax, and mail. The main Riverside office lobby is opened for drop off only pertaining to documents and processing DMV Veterans Verifications. If you need assistance with a DMV Veterans Verification form at the Indio or Hemet branch office, please call in advance to schedule an appointment for curbside service. Veteran Services phone lines and offices will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For more information, please visit
https://veteranservices.co.riverside.ca.us/ or call (951) 955-3060.
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NORCO AREA UPDATES
On September 2, 2020, the Norco City Council approved the Small Enterprise Assistance Loan (SEAL) Program. The SEAL Program is first come, first served and is available to both for-profit and non-profit enterprises with no more than 25 employees and may be used for working capital or to fund physical improvements, such as new façades or tenant improvements. Loans are available in amounts from $5,000 to $20,000 with terms of up to five years and graduated interest rates. The first 18 months is entirely interest-free, while 2% simple annual interest is charged for months 19 through 36 and 3% for months 37 through 60. Businesses that have participated in other government-sponsored grant or loan programs, such as those funded by the CARES Act, are not precluded from applying for SEAL Program loans. For more information, contact the City of Norco at (951) 270-5644 or by email info@ci.norco.ca.us.
On December 8th 2020, in accordance with the California Department of Public Health’s issuance of a Limited Stay at Home Order and Regional Stay at Home Order, which affects Riverside County, the City of Norco will temporarily close all public facilities, suspend all programs and events held at said facilities, and will transition to electronic and telephonic assistance services beginning on Monday, December 14, 2020 until further notice. These closures and suspensions are temporary precautionary changes to City operations that will protect City employees and the public who use City services and facilities. For more information on the full list of temporarily closures and suspensions, please visit http://www.norco.ca.us/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1072&TargetID=48 or contact the City of Norco at (951) 270-5623 or by email info@ci.norco.ca.us
On December 8th, 2020 the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement between Riverside County and RCTC to advance the Federal Construction Funds in the amount of $55.6 million to construct the Hamner Bridge. The County well as RCTC will working with the City of Norco and Eastvale to complete the widening of the Hamner bridge project. The project will be six (6) lanes total with a 12-ft wide multi-purpose trail. The estimated construction timeframe will start in January of 2021 and is expected to be completed in 21-months. RCTC will be funding the Federal Portion of the Bridge until Federal Funding is received. The total project cost is $71 million ($55.6 million federal bridge program funds, $6.3 million TUMF, $6.3 million State SB132 funds, $2 million county parks, and $1 million City of Norco). For more information, please visit the Hamner Bridge project page on the Riverside County Department of Transportation’s website: https://rcprojects.org/hamnerbridge
During the City of Norco’s Council meeting that was held on December 16th, 2020, City Council recognized and honored Mayor Berwin Hanna’s retirement in providing 13 years of dedicated service to the communities of the Norco area. Our office would like to thank Berwin for his service to the County of Riverside and wishes him the absolute best in his retirement. Additionally, the Norco City Council welcomed Councilmember Kevin Bash as the new Mayor and Councilmember Greg Newton as the new Mayor Pro Tem. Furthermore, during the meeting, there was the swearing in of two reelected Council members- Councilmember Robin Grundmeyer and Councilmember Ted Hoffman as well as newly elected Councilmember Katherine Aleman to the Council.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
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