Redistricting, redistricting, redistricting! We've been shouting from the rooftops (or at least from our newsletter pages and numerous education sessions) about how important this once in a decade opportunity is to build community involvement and create political power for those traditionally underrepresented populations. Unfortunately, despite the high impact of public participation in this process, the interest has been low. Thrive, with support from SVCF, is leading a community-driven process of nonprofits from throughout the county to create a “Unity Map” to submit to the 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission. If you would like to be a part of this effort, please reach out to me as soon as possible!
Thrive, along with many partners, is hosting an informational meeting about how to better organize nonprofits in the event of disaster. We will discuss how V/COADs (Voluntary/Community Organizations Active in Disaster) work in other counties. V/COADs promote and foster cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration among nonprofits who are direct service providers, and with the government, for more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster. Find out more at the informational meeting on Monday, November 8.
As always, please reach out to us with your concerns and campaigns.
In partnership,
Petra Silton, Director of Advocacy & Education
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Thrive Upcoming Events
Children & Education TAG - Peer Learning Series: Taking A Culturally- Responsive Approach to Students' Social-Emotional Learning
Thurs, October 28, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Join Thrive and MeghanMcDoniel, postdoctoral fellow with the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University, for a presentation on some of the preliminary work from an ongoing study evaluating social-emotional curriculum. We will also discuss the most pressing needs for students this year, and relate the early findings back to what all adults can do to support students’ social-emotional needs.
Continuing the Discussion on Planning for Collective Climate Goals
Thurs, October 28, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
In this meeting, we will refine our work on identifying issues impacting climate change and justice, and move onto the next step of developing specific themes on the collective climate goal areas. Read more about the previous meeting and add on to the live document.
This session will be facilitated by Matt Biggar, Ph.D., Founder of Connected to Place.
California Legislature recently passed SB-9 and SB-10, as well as other housing legislation. How will these new housing laws affect San Mateo County and our housing issues? Michael Lane, the State Policy Director at SPUR, will lead a discussion with other local leaders about the future of housing.
For more Thrive and Community events, visit Thrive's Event Page.
County Updates
County Budget Updates
County Invests in Pandemic Recovery as Board of Supervisors Approves Revised Budget
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a 2021 revised budget and spending plan for the 2021-23 Fiscal Year that will help drive the economic recovery of individuals, families and small businesses hit by the pandemic.
The $3.8 billion budget advances three key goals: economic recovery; ending homelessness; and ensuring that government policies and programs reach and lift every neighborhood in San Mateo County.
SMC's Take on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
The County continues to prioritize COVID-19 economic recovery through a wide range of programs. With $10 million directly focused on community-based efforts to aid in recovery, equity will continue to be a top priority for the County. A draft equity framework has been developed that will guide the County’s internal and external efforts to advance equity.
The deadline for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to adopt a final map is Wed, December 15. The time to get involved is now!
County Housing Updates
San Mateo County’s First Homeless Navigation Center a Step Closer: Supervisors Approve Land Exchange With Redwood City
The Board voted 5-0 to approve a key agreement with Redwood City that will allow development of a 240-bed, state-of-the-art shelter east of Highway 101 off of Maple Street. The shelter, called a Navigation Center, will provide intensive counseling and other supportive services.
You Are Invited to Attend a Housing Webinar
The County of San Mateo, along with all 20 cities in the county, are currently updating their Housing Element – a housing plan that is part of every jurisdiction’s General Plan. Residents are invited to an upcoming four-part webinar and discussion series to learn about housing issues in San Mateo County and possible solutions on the housing shortage and its impacts on the community. All events, hosted by Let's Talk Housing, an outreach effort of all the jurisdictions in San Mateo County, will be held by webinar on Wednesdays from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.
Legislative Update
Governor Newsom has signed Assemblymember Berman's AB-37 landmark legislation requiring all counties to mail ballots to all active registered voters and provide ballot tracking service for all future elections. San Mateo was already mailing ballots, but now this will be the same for all of California!
Assembly bill AB-339 was vetoed by Governor Newsom, but expect more conversations at the local level about remote comment at public meetings as we move towards holding meetings in person again.
Thrive's Advocacy
Fare Integration Advocacy
Thrive has signed on to support the initial recommendations of the MTC Fare Coordination / Integration Study, including:
Piloting multi-agency transit passes that can be distributed to riders by employers, transportation management associations, colleges/universities, and housing developments.
Free transfers across the region, which is estimated to bring at least 25,000 new daily riders to transit - as much as some of our region’s flagship bus lines.
If you wish to sign the joint letter, add your logo to the top and name/organization to the bottom of the letter; or email Adina from Seamless Bay Area.
Environmental Advocacy
On Thurs, September 23, Thrive brought together the San Mateo County Environment & Sustainability community to discuss their priorities on climate change and climate justice and plan for collective climate goals. With facilitation by Matt Biggar of Connected to Place, we created a live documenton ten priorities that came out of our survey, which ranged from housing issues to adaptation measures, and then we listed out organizations and initiatives relating to these priorities. The document is still open, and anyone is welcome to add to it. Please do!
It was inspiring to see the multitude of current initiatives and the ways in which they are advancing climate justice, mitigation, and resilience in San Mateo County. Thrive will continue this conversation in the next Environment and Sustainability meeting on Thurs, October 28. In this meeting, we will refine our work on identifying issues impacting climate change and justice, and move onto the next step of developing specific themes on the collective climate goal areas.
COVID-19 Updates
County Health Offers Booster Shots at Event Center
COVID-19 Vaccine booster shots are available for the following Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their initial series at least 6 months ago and are:
Drive-through mass vaccination events are scheduled at the SMC Event Center through Sat, October 23. Appointments are encouraged through MyTurn but are not required. Those eligible for Pfizer boosters will be asked to self-attest to their eligibility.
Peninsula Clean Energy
Get up to $2,000 off a heat pump water heater from Peninsula Clean Energy and BayREN. Heat pump water heaters are clean, safe and all-electric. A switch from gas to electric means you are no longer burning fossil fuels to heat your water. Learn more at thePeninsula Clean Energy website.
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