Weekly Update - August 9, 2024

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At the August 6th Board of Supervisors meeting, the Supervisors celebrated the exoneration of the Port Chicago 50 and recognized the Contra Costa Bar Association and others who assisted with the exoneration advocacy efforts.

Pictured above, representatives from the Contra Costa Bar Association, National Park Service, and East Bay Regional Park District, the Board of Supervisors and representatives for other elected officials, who have worked diligently to get the full exoneration of the Black sailors.

On July 17, 1944, there was a large waterfront munitions explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Contra Costa County, which killed more than 320 sailors, over 200 of whom were African American. The explosion also injured 390 others, including 226 African American enlisted men. Before the explosion, these men were working significant hours with munitions continuously being loaded despite little to no training.

The specific cause of the explosion was never officially determined by a court of inquiry, and the blame was placed on the shoulders of the men who died in the explosion. When ordered to return to loading ammunitions, over two hundred sailors refused to return to work due to the unsafe working conditions.

These sailors courageously advocated for safety for themselves and others by requesting adequate training and equipment before returning to work, and in response, the Navy identified fifty Black sailors as the leaders of the organized action.

The Navy charged these 258 Black servicemen with mutiny, and this decision resulted in one of the most significant mutiny trials in U.S. military history.

On July 17, 2024, on the 80th anniversary of the deadly explosion, the United States’ Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced the full exoneration of the 258 Black sailors who were unjustly court-martialed following the tragic explosion at Port Chicago in 1944.

To read the full proclamation click here.

On Tuesday, August 6th, many neighborhoods all around District 2 and Contra Costa County celebrated National Night Out.

Supervisor Andersen had the opportunity to spend time with neighbors, police and firefighters.

Pictured on the right, John Mascali, President of the Tassajara Ranch Homeowner's Association, Danville Police Chief Allen Shields and Supervisor Andersen.

National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement and firefighters while bringing back a true sense of community.

It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. 

Join Contra Costa County's Citizen Academy

It is important to be prepared for the heat when spending time outdoors. The EBRPD encourages park visitors to have fun and be safe in the parks. Keep these tips in mind when visiting Regional Parks on hot days:

• Avoid going out in the hottest part of the day. If you do visit the parks, go in the morning or early evening when it is cooler.

• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

• Don’t forget extra water for your pets.

• Wear sunscreen and lightweight, light-colored clothing.

• Minimize consumption of things that can worsen the heat’s effects on your body, such as alcohol and caffeine.

Take time to be prepared so you can enjoy spending the hot August days in your Regional Parks.

You can also beat the heat by discovering shady hikes and cooler parks! Consider visiting Regional Parks with cool weather and shady trails, which offer an escape on hot summer days. For information go to Shady Hikes & Cooler Parks.

Following the release of the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint and the Draft Transit 2050+ Network, MTC and ABAG staff are conducting a second round of public engagement this summer that will focus on:

• Sharing the Draft Blueprint outcomes and the Draft Transit 2050+ Network
• Collecting feedback to inform the development of the Final Blueprint and address identified Draft Blueprint challenges
• Determining early priorities for implementing Plan Bay Area 2050+

MTC-ABAG staff will host 18 in-person pop-up workshops at transit stations and free community events across the nine-county Bay Area. Visit the summer 2024 engagement schedule for complete details and locations. Note: Additional pop-up locations will be confirmed soon. For those unable to participate in the pop-up workshops, MTC-ABAG will conduct an online survey that will be released later this week.

MTC-ABAG also will host workshops and other activities to engage staff from city, county and other partner agencies and organizations starting later this summer. These activities are specifically tailored to a more technical audience. Learn more about our partner engagement.

More information, as well as a comment form for feedback on the Draft Network, are available on the Draft Transit 2050+ Network page. Feedback on the Draft Network will be accepted through September 9, 2024.

The Draft Network will be incorporated into the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Final Blueprint in late 2024.

SPIRIT is a 9-unit college course taught in collaboration with Contra Costa College from January – May on Monday’s and Wednesday’s and June - July on Mondays (in person) with 10 hours a week internship equaling 60 hours. The course teaches students how to develop core skills to empower themselves by attaining and maintaining recovery and resiliency through self-awareness and peer/family support, while learning to assist others in doing the same. The completion of this class leads to a Certificate.

The Behavioral Health Service Provider Individualized Recovery Intensive Training (SPIRIT) includes two components; the comprehensive classroom training and support program, followed by the individualized Work-Study placement. This program is a collaboration between Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services (CCBHS), Office for Peer and Family Empowerment, and Contra Costa College (CCC).

The application is due by October 4, 2024. For further information about the SPIRIT Training or application, please contact:

Bianca Connor at: Bianca.Connor@cchealth.org (925) 957-5141 or (925) 839-0669

Victoria Fairchild at: Victoria.Fairchild@cchealth.org (925) 957-5143 or (925) 723‑2729

Make sure your student is ready to start the new school year safe and healthy. For a list of immunizations your child needs for school or daycare, visit Student Checklist.

Discover & Go is a program that offers free and discounted passes for museums, science centers, zoos, theaters, and other cultural destinations. Explore places like the Bay Area Discovery Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Chabot Space and Science Center, Exploratorium, The Marine Mammal Center, The Oakland Zoo and so many more.

The Library is now offering free Clipper cards for use with Discover & Go reservations to select museums and cultural destinations, while supplies last. County residents who are library card holders and are 18 or older can submit a one-time request for up to two Clipper cards by clicking on the banner ad on their Discover & Go pass for a qualifying attraction.

Visit ccclib.discoverandgo to get started.

Join a presentation from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Lafayette Library on Thursday, August 22 for an eye-opening discussion of the impact of misinformation and disinformation on elections. 

Learn how to spot fake news, fact-check sources and navigate the complexities of today’s media landscape to become a more informed voter and citizen. The presentation by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley will take place in the Homework Center, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette.

Register at LAF-misinfo

Contact programs@lwvdv.org for more information.

Free virtual Home and Worm Composting Workshops are being sponsored by the CCC Department of Conservation & Development. All Contra Costa County residents are welcome. Make sure to reserve your place today.

August 17 - Vermicomposting (Worm) - Virtual Via Zoom

October 12 - Home Composting - Virtual Via Zoom

These events will be hosted live online via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link the week prior to the event. If you do not see the email, please check your junk folder or contact Maureen Parkes directly at 925-655-2909.

Some useful information and websites are listed below:

• To learn more about composting or recycling, just go to our Contra Costa County Solid Waste & Recycling webpage: https://www.cccrecycle.org/

• Contra Costa County Composting & Gardening Programs webpage: www.cccrecycle.org/Composting-And-Gardening

• Looking to part with unwanted stuff? For easy options to reuse, repair, recycle or safely dispose of just about anything, search StopWaste’s RE:Source Guide by clicking here.

• Call the Contra Costa County Recycling Hotline whenever you have a question about recycling an item: 1-800-750-4096 or send an email to: recycling@dcd.cccounty.us

The Alamo Women's Club (AWC) is having a Jewelry Fundraiser, and proceeds will benefit the AWC and scholarships as they continue their efforts to support the community.

Stop by on Thursday, August 22nd between 10am and 7pm, or Friday, August 23^rd between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Alamo Women's Club is located at 1401 Danville Blvd., in Alamo.

All beautiful costume jewelry starting at $5. Designer jewelry 50% OFF (unless marked “priced as marked”).

With evidence of increased COVID-19 infections throughout the Bay Area, Contra Costa Health (CCH) recommends masking in crowded indoor settings, particularly for those at high risk of serious illness if infected. 

This recommendation is not a health order. It aligns with existing state requirements and recent advice issued in neighboring counties. 

For more information about COVID-19 in Contra Costa County, visit cchealth.org/covid19. 

The Alamo Improvement Association's Car Show

Will be Held on September 5th

• Town of Danville Concerts can be found here.
• The Town of Moraga’s Concert Series Information can be found here.
• City of Orinda Concerts can be found here.
• San Ramon concerts can be found here.
• Walnut Creek concerts can be found here.

Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment

Central County Residents Preferred

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment was established by the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Executive Committee in December 2012 to provide input on community needs; assess implementation of the realignment plan; review data on realignment outcomes; advise the CCP on community engagement strategies; offer recommendations for ongoing realignment planning; advise County agencies regarding programs for implementation in the County; and encourage outcomes that are consistent with the County’s Reentry Strategic Plan. 

Submit an Application Online here. Questions? Contact: The Office of Reentry & Justice, by phone at (925) 313-4087.

For more information on CAB membership duties and activities, please visit their website contracosta.ca.gov/4165/Community-Advisory-Board-CAB. 

Mental Health Commission - https://cchealth.org/mentalhealth/mhc/

The primary purpose of the Commission is to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and to the Mental Health Division and its staff. Mission Statement: To influence the County's Mental Health System to ensure the delivery of quality services that are effective, efficient, culturally relevant, and responsive to the needs and desires of the clients it serves with dignity and respect; and to be the advocate with the Board of Supervisors, the Mental Health Division, and the community on behalf of all Contra Costa County residents who need mental health services.

Find out more information about volunteering for an advisory body here co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418.