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County Launches Community Needs Listening Sessions
The County of San Mateo is kicking off a countywide series of listening sessions to gather input on ways to address community needs in four priority areas. The series will be held in communities across the Peninsula where residents are encouraged to share their needs concerning children and families, housing and homelessness, emergency preparedness and mental health. The results of the listening sessions and an online survey will directly inform County leaders as they prioritize funding from the Measure K sales tax. View a listing of all upcoming sessions.
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Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana Takes Over as Health Officer
Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana this week began her tenure as San Mateo County’s Health Officer. She succeeds Dr. Scott Morrow, who retired after 31 years of service, and is the first woman to hold the post in the County’s history. Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, the pick vaults Baldwin-Santana into a role with broad authority under California law to prevent disease and the authority to issue health orders. Her vision includes addressing the opioid epidemic, improving disaster preparedness and expanding health equity, she said.
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County Airports Close for Runway Repaving, Repairs
The Half Moon Bay Airport will close to all air traffic Aug. 14-18 so workers can fill cracks, apply a slurry seal and paint new pavement markings on the runway. Following the work in Half Moon Bay, the San Carlos Airport will be closed from Sept. 11 to Oct. 11 to fix significant pavement edge cracking on the runway and taxiway connectors. While the airports will be closed to all air traffic, on-site businesses, including the Pilot Light Café at Half Moon Bay and Sky Kitchen restaurant in San Carlos, will remain open throughout construction, as will the control tower.
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Registration for Civics 101 Academy Now Open
The annual Civics 101 Academy is a free course that provides an in-depth look at County programs, services, finances, and initiatives. Participants learn from and interact with County departments and leaders on topics such as health, public safety, human services, parks, public finance, sustainability, the justice system and more. Sessions also include a K-9 demonstration and an optional, guided hike on Edgewood Trail in Redwood City with a park ranger. Civics 101 will be held on nine consecutive Wednesday evenings, starting Aug. 30, 2023, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Register here.
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Supervisors Proclaim August Child Support Month
San Mateo County Supervisors at its Aug. 1 meeting proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month. “Our goal is to enhance the lives of children and families by helping parents meet the financial, medical and emotional needs of their children by establishing and enforcing child support orders,” said Kim Cagno, director of San Mateo County Child Support Services. Through August, the County’s Department of Child Support Services is extending lobby hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays & Wednesdays, and the Family Law Facilitator will hold Friday appointments for Child Support Services clients.
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San Mateo County Agriculture Takes a Hit Due to Drought
The County's Agricultural Commissioner Koren Widdel presented the 2022 San Mateo County Agricultural Crop Report to the San Mateo County Supervisors at its Aug. 1 meeting. San Mateo County’s agricultural industry shrank by nearly 6 percent in 2022, according to the new report. The total value of agricultural production in 2022 was about $92.2 million, down from the prior year’s nearly $98 million. “Drought remained a factor for growers and ranchers in 2022,” said Widdel. “With water in short supply, some operators switched to commodities they could dry farm, such as field crops with a 9.32 percent increase in gross value.”
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Supervisors Award $30M to Build Affordable Housing
San Mateo County Supervisors at its Aug. 1 meeting awarded nearly $30 million to spur development of five affordable housing projects totaling 483 units. Supervisors voted 5-0 to allocate funding to projects from Daly City to Menlo Park that will make it easier to live and thrive on the Peninsula. Providing funds for the five projects helps to address San Mateo County’s housing shortage, which leads to higher housing costs, traffic congestion and other challenges. Funding sources include $20.2 million from Measure K, the countywide half-cent sales tax.
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