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Dear Friends and Second District Residents,
Let’s celebrate the gorgeous month of May! The sun is warming, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and things around us are beginning to open, literally. Currently, we are still in the Orange Tier and look forward to moving to the Yellow Tier later this month.
May is filled with many different holidays and events, beginning with May Day (May 1) which marks the return of spring and the bridge to summer. Then we celebrate Cinco de Mayo (May 5) which marks the victory of the Mexican army over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. We also have community prayer breakfasts across the region on the National Day of Prayer (May 6) followed by honoring our mothers on Mother's Day (May 8) - although a mother should be honored not only on Mother’s Day but the other 364 days of the year. Armed Forces Day (May 15) is a day of recognizing and honoring the men and women actively serving and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We also recognize the family members of our service men and women for the sacrifices they have made as well. We end the month with Memorial Day (May 31) by paying tribute to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. These distinguished members of the United States Armed Forces have died during their military service and we pay homage to them by honoring and mourning them on May 31st. We must never forget the sacrifices they have made!
In this newsletter you can find several events occurring in honor of Memorial Day including the 6th Annual Memorial Mile March on May 29th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. hosted by the Corona Chamber of Commerce. The Riverside National Cemetery will also be hosting the "Flag for Every Hero" on May 29th which is a powerful volunteer opportunity that my family and I participate in every year. It can be very emotional to place an American Flag on so many graves, but I hope you will consider joining us as we honor those who have served. Please feel free to contact our office for more information.
The American Legion - Joe Dominguez Post 742 will also have a program at Sunnyslope Cemetery in Corona on May 31st at 9:00 a.m. and the City of Norco will be hosting a special Memorial Day Tribute and Continuous Salute at the George Ingalls Veteran Memorial Plaza from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with a ceremony promptly at 10:00 a.m.
The Board of Supervisors has been working on your behalf preparing Riverside County for our next phase of reopening. Below are a few items we have addressed this past month. There was much more of course but these are the highlights! We are also working on the FY 21/22 Budget and the recommendations will come to the Board at our May 18th meeting with Budget Hearings on June 14th and 15th followed by Adoption of the Budget on June 29th. You are welcome to participate in any of our meetings (in-person, live or recorded) at the following link: http://riversidecountyca.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx
RIVERSIDE COUNTY CHILD EXPLOITATION TEAM (RCCET):
The current proliferation of the Internet and electronic devices, combined with the stay-at-home mandates of the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in our children spending inordinate amounts of time online. This has created unprecedented risks to children from online predators. Even when the pandemic restrictions ease, many aspects of online life will remain, and children will still be spending significant time online. Time online is not by itself a problem, but online gaming, a popular pastime, and social media applications are major issues. Almost every online application or gaming platform has chatting capabilities. These chat areas are fertile environments for predators to groom and lure our children into being sexually exploited.
In June 2020, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office recognized the significant importance of finding new ways to address these online predators. The District Attorney’s Office established the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team (RCCET).
There has been a 110% increase in cyber tips related to child pornography since Covid. In that same period, there has been a 186% increase in the number of arrests for child exploitation by the RCCET team These are unprecedented times where our children are more vulnerable than ever due to remote learning and a the meteoric growth of on-line gaming. I worked with District Attorney Mike Hestrin, Chief Joe DelGuidice and his staff to expand the Team and received unanimous approval at our April 27th Board Meeting.
COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT TEAMS (CBHAT):
At the April 13th Board Meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved a plan by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and Riverside University Health System to expand behavioral health teams that can be deployed to assist in defusing situations involving mentally ill residents, or others who may need help finding treatment opportunities.
The Community Behavioral Health Assessment Teams concept materialized last summer, following a board resolution expressing a desire for the sheriff and heads of municipal police agencies countywide to embrace the use of behavioral health specialists in resolving some emergencies. We did not add new law enforcement personnel, but rather behavioral health specialists to help in resolving some emergencies and providing services.
OFFICE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
The former Economic Development Agency (EDA) has now been renamed the “Office of Economic Development”. With a strong emphasis on raising the importance of economic development in our region and for the county’s economic recovery, the Office of Economic Development will continue to forge solid partnerships to collaborate on industry build up and business attraction. The global pandemic has created challenges to the health and safety of our residents, businesses, and workforce. The impact of COVID-19 has been crippling to many businesses, with a slow rebound for recovery. In order to respond equally fast with support to assist in the economic recovery, the newly formed department will need signing authority to implement and execute programs and projects for ongoing operations within the respective units within the department.
The Office of Economic Development will concentrate on providing tools and resources for responsible economic growth and create programs that are accessible throughout the County and in our economically disadvantage communities. The department will also continue to serve our businesses and communities through the Riverside County Library System and Special Districts. The Office of Economic Development will be a key department in driving sustainable economic development in the region as we invest in our county’s future.
Wishing all Mothers a Special, Healthy and Happy Mother’s Day!
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,
Board Chair Karen Spiegel
Second District Supervisor
COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATES
RIVERSIDE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS TO REINSTATE USE OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE AT LOCAL CLINICS
Action follows guidelines by state and federal agencies
The Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine will now be available at Riverside County run clinics after local health officials on Monday lifted the pause on the drug.
The move follows recommendations by state and federal officials who had temporarily stopped use of the J&J vaccine after rare severe reactions were reported.
The vaccine will be available starting Thursday at the clinic at Alessandro High School in Hemet. Its use will expand to other fixed locations and mobile vaccine teams next week.
“Bringing back the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will provide us with another tool to help vaccinate as many Riverside County residents as possible,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, public health officer for Riverside County. “We are confident the vaccine is safe and effective.”
Board of Supervisors Chair Karen Spiegel, who received the J&J vaccine, noted the importance of the single dose vaccine to protect more Riverside County residents from COVID-19.
“The single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine makes it more convenient for residents and helps our county teams vaccinate more people faster without the need for a second dose weeks later,” said Chair Spiegel, Second District Supervisor. “Safety is a priority in all vaccine.”
Riverside County has approximately 17,000 doses of the J&J vaccine on hand and it has been administered more than 17,000 times in the county without a severe reaction. Overall, more than 1.5 million doses have been administered of the J&J, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in Riverside County among the county run clinics, and those operated by community partners and other providers.
To make an appointment, click www.rivcoph.org/covid-19-vaccine or call 2-1-1 for those needing assistance.
TIME PERIOD TO FILE WITH RIVERSIDE COUNTY FOR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS OPENS
Property owners have until August 2nd to respond
Owners of residential or business property in Riverside County who have unclaimed property tax refunds may file to receive reimbursement starting today (May 3). The time period to file will run through August 2.
“This is a reminder to all residents to check the Treasurer-Tax Collector website to see if they are due for a refund,” said Treasurer-Tax Collector Matthew Jennings. “Don’t be caught short by the deadline. Our team is available to help residents through the process.”
Almost 600 refunds totaling more than $540,000 remain unclaimed. Most refunds stem from valuation reductions by the county assessor and are related to corrections or cancellations to the tax roll after taxes were already paid.
Under California law, property tax refunds unclaimed for four years after the payment date – or one year after a requested claim form has been mailed back to a taxpayer by the county, whichever is later – may be transferred to the county general fund by order of the Board of Supervisors. After Aug. 2, any unclaimed money shifts to the general fund and can no longer be claimed.
“Many of these residents may not even know they’ve overpaid their property taxes,” said Board Chair Karen Spiegel. “Take a moment to look, and if so, file for your reimbursement.”
Filing instructions and a list of all unclaimed property tax refunds from tax year 2016 and prior are available on the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website at: http://www.countytreasurer.org/TaxCollector/UnclaimedMoney/PropertyTaxUnclaimedRefund.aspx
Completed claim forms and supporting documentation should be emailed to PropTaxUnclaimed@rivco.org or mailed to the following address.
Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector
Attn: Property Tax Unclaimed Refunds
P.O. Box 12005
Riverside, CA 92502-2205
SCE WILDFIRE SAFETY LIVE STREAM FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY
California has experienced an unprecedented number of catastrophic wildfires, with last year’s record wildfires illustrating the nature and extent of fire risk threat we are facing. SCE remains dedicated to keeping communities safe by making our infrastructure more resilient against the increasing threat of extreme conditions driven by climate change.
SCE also implements Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) as a measure of last resort to reduce the threat of wildfires. During the last wildfire season, we know that PSPS had a significant impact to our communities with some customers experiencing multiple PSPS outages. SCE is committed to reducing the use and impact of PSPS to the customers.
To inform our communities about our wildfire safety efforts and the actions SCE is taking to reduce the impact of PSPS, SCE would like to invite you to a community live stream meeting for the Riverside County communities. SCE will share information on their work to protect and harden the grid, Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), customer care programs, and resources. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
SCE Wildfire Safety Live Stream for Riverside County
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Click here to register for the live stream
For more information, please visit sce.com/wildfiresafetymeetings
NEW ROUND OF FUNDING ANNOUNCED FOR THE CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM
ROUND 6: Wednesday, April 28th at 9:00 AM through Tuesday, May 4th at 5:00 PM
Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and/or nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria.
Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000
Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3 & 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply on THIS website. Notifications will begin Friday, May 7th.
The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is administered by CalOSBA through a competitive bid award to its intermediary, Lendistry, and its statewide network of community-based lenders and partners. Many of the state-supported small business centers, which prioritize the expansion of technical assistance to underserved business groups, are also available to help small businesses with the application process in multiple languages and formats.
For more information on grant requirements and eligibility, along with links to application tips and webinars, visit CAReliefGrant.com.
RTA UPDATE
On May 9, RTA will continue to operate a reduced schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic and will make route and schedule changes to improve reliability. All changes are temporary and will be evaluated in future service plans.
AFFECTED ROUTES: 1, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 40, 204, 205, 206 and 208.
Click HERE to learn more!
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
HAMNER AVENUE BRIDGE AND WIDENING PROJECT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE WEEK OF MAY 3, 2021:
Daytime work and intermittent lane closures continue on Hamner Avenue, weather permitting.
Please see the flyer for details or visit the project website at https://www.hamneraveproject.com/
SOCIAL & HUMAN SERVICES
ADVOCATES WARN SENIORS AND CAREGIVERS ABOUT
SCAMS AROUND VACCINATIONS
Riverside County clinics do not require payment for COVID-19 shots or appointments
Seniors and their caregivers should never give out financial information to callers, websites or emailers who insist the data is required to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination, Riverside County officials advised this week.
“Riverside County does not ask residents to pay for vaccinations or vaccination appointments,” said Jewel Lee, director of Office on Aging. “Scammers are preying on seniors and at-risk adults who are seeking services during the pandemic recovery.”
One-fifth of Riverside County’s 2.5 million residents are age 60 or older. They are frequent targets for fraudsters and phishing scams because they own assets, said Michaela Williams, who works in the county’s Dept. of Public Social Services (DPSS) as an advocate for financial fraud victims.
“The death or incapacity of a spouse, health challenges, diminished mental capacity, and social isolation also increase susceptibility to fraud and exploitation,” Williams added, urging anyone who thinks they’ve been the target of a scam to report it to the 24-hour Adult Protective Services (APS) hotline at (800) 491-7123.
Since the pandemic broke out more than a year ago, the Federal Trade Commission reports fraudsters have duped consumers nationwide out of hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID-19 related scams. APS receives an average of 300 reports per month of suspected financial fraud against older and dependent adults.
In Riverside County, one scam involves a caller asking the person to pay or provide financial information to schedule or reschedule an appointment. Another uses a phone number that appears to be a Riverside County line.
The Federal Trade Commission advises that a vaccine distribution site or health insurance company will not call, text, or email asking for your credit card or bank account number to sign up to receive the vaccine.
Customers who on their own contact the Department of Public Health to book a vaccination appointment at a county-run clinic will be asked to provide basic personal information and may be asked for their Social Security number.
Customers can turn to trusted sources such as the county Public Health department or call centers at 2-1-1 and Office on Aging. Those sources may require basic personal information to register for a COVID-19 vaccine.
“Safeguarding our customers’ information to protect them is a priority,” said Todd Bellanca, assistant director of DPSS Adult Services. “All consumers should know who’s on the other end of a phone call or email before providing any information.”
To help prevent older and dependent adults from becoming victim s of scams, Adult Services encourages community members to stay engaged with aging family members, neighbors and friends, and to reach out to seniors in isolation.
The public can also find tips from the FTC on how to avoid a vaccine-related scam by clicking here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/04/covid-vaccines-are-free?utm_source=govdelivery
DPSS has been serving Riverside County since 1923 when it began with its first two workers. Today, the department is more than 4,000 employees strong, serving one million residents last year in the nation’s tenth most populous county.
VETERAN SERVICES
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. VA HAS ANSWERS.
Call VA today.
1-800-MyVA411
(1-800-698-2411)
The number to call when you don’t know who to call.
You only need to remember one number for information on VA care, benefits, and services or to speak to a live agent for assistance!
1-800-MyVA411 serves all members of the Veteran and service member community seeking information or assistance.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
The City of Corona is excited to announce a bi-weekly Night Market happening this Summer! Picture food trucks, unique craft, and artisan vendors, and great company with a warm summer breeze.
 May is Mental Health Month
This year’s May is Mental Health Month theme, “Hope for Change,” reminds us to rely on the hope that carried us through a year of change! As the seasons changing reminds us, change is an inevitable part of life. This year has brought many unexpected challenges.
Learn how you can help yourself and someone in need during the COVID-19 pandemic:
The Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health has compiled a calendar of events and virtual activities throughout the month, aimed at reducing the stigma surround mental health and reminding us all that Mental Health Matters. Visit https://up2riverside.org/ for additional resources and information.
Every year, millions of Americans face living with a mental illness. In fact, half of us will experience a mental health challenge over the course of our lives. But with treatment and support, a full and satisfying life in recovery is possible. In response to the
Every year millions of Americans face living with a mental illness. In fact, half of us will experience a mental health challenge over the course of our lives. But with treatment and support, a full and satisfying life in recovery is possible. In response to the current pandemic, perhaps now, more than ever, we need one another. Join us in expressing your support this May, and all year long, by bringing awareness to the importance of mental health.
Link Up and find support here, or call the CARES Line at (800) 499-3008 to be connected to mental health services.
JURUPA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT – PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT HOSTS NEW SEASON OF MOVIES IN THE PARK AT A LOCAL PARK NEAR YOU!
Spring and Summer nights are the perfect escape from the hot days, especially when the Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) Movies in the Park Series returns to the City of Eastvale.
Sponsored by the JCSD Parks & Recreation Department, this free event is held on the second Saturday of each month. Beginning May 8th and concluding on September 11th, family and friends will unroll their blankets and chairs to relax and enjoy award-winning films for all ages.
We are looking forward to another great season of Movies in the Park and hope that everyone finds the movie lineup as fun as we do. We have also ensured that most residents have an opportunity to “walk to the park” for this event, so we will be hosting Movies in the Park at local parks throughout Eastvale,” Steve Lawson, JCSD Director of Parks & Recreation, said.
Movies with begin at sundown each week. For more information about Movies in the Park, visit www.jcsd.us/parks or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @JCSDParks.
Upcoming volunteer opportunity in the City of Norco! Lift up your heart, lend a helping hand and make a difference in your community at an upcoming Citywide Clean-Up!
WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 2021 TIME: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. CHECK-IN: Corydon Staging Area (3300 Corydon Avenue in Norco) TASKS: Upon check-in, volunteers will be assigned a specific location to complete trail, debris and/or weed clean-up. EQUIPMENT: Volunteers are asked to bring their own tools, including weedwhackers, hoes, rakes and gardening gloves. Trash bags and disposable gloves will be provided. To register for this volunteer opportunity, contact the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at (951) 270-5632 or volunteer@ci.norco.ca.us.
The Farmers & Artisan Market occurs every Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the New Day Christian Church parking lot located at 7155 Hamner Avenue.
For more information or on how to become a vendor, please email: eastvalefarmersmarket@gmail.com
Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram @eastvalefarmersmarket.
The City of Norco’s Sports & Leisure programs such as Basketball Camp (May 17-21, 2021), Conditioning/Fitness Camp (May 24-28, 2021), Dance (Various Styles: Weekly on Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday), Pickleball Camp (Weekly on Saturday), Taekwondo (Weekly on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday), and Tai Chi (Weekly on Saturday) are back! To register for an upcoming season, please visit www.norco.ca.us/register. For more information, please contact the City of Norco Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at (951)-270-5632 or email recreation@ci.norco.ca.us
HIGHGROVE MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (MAC) BOARD MEMBER POSITIONS - APPLY NOW!
Are you interested in what’s going on in the community of Highgrove? If you live within the unincorporated community of Highgrove, be sure to apply for two (2) Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) positions . Get to know your Sheriff Deputies, Code Enforcements Officers, School Board Members, Animal Control Specialists and more! Interested parties may apply online at www.rivcodistrict2.org under Boards-Committees & Commissions.
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