Honoring Our Veterans in East County

Last Saturday, we united in gratitude and respect for the brave men and women who've served in the military, safeguarding not only our nation but also standing in solidarity with freedom-seeking nations worldwide. This Veterans Day held special significance as we marked 50 years since the U.S. withdrew combat troops from Vietnam. I had the opportunity to speak at the Veterans Day events in Antioch (pictured) and Oakley. You can see more photos from the day on my Facebook page.

Over 45,000 American Veterans call Contra Costa County home, representing five generations of heroes from WWII to the Global War on Terrorism. It was an honor this morning to stand alongside elected officials, community leaders, and veterans from the cities of Antioch and Oakley.

If you or a loved one needs assistance accessing the veteran’s benefits, healthcare, and support rightfully earned through service, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office at (925) 313-1481.

Educating Policymakers about the Delta

In my roles as a member of the Delta Stewardship Council, Chair of the Delta Protection Commission, and a member of the Delta Conservancy Board, I'm always looking for ways to educate the public and policymakers about the Delta. This Wednesday, I was able to address more than 25 State employees, including staffers from the Assembly and State Senate, as they visited Big Break Regional Shoreline on a five-stop tour of the Delta.

Every year, decisions are made in Sacramento that determine the future of the Delta and its people, but only a minority of the people making those decisions have direct interactions with the Delta. The Delta Stewardship Council organized the tour so that legislative staffers can better understand the area that State policies affect.

I spoke to our visitors about the importance of the Delta to the people who live, work and play here. I was joined by Ivan Senock, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and Cultural Resources Director for the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, who talked about the importance of the Delta to Tribes, and Jean Yokotobi, President of the Isleton Chamber of Commerce, who spoke about the history of the Delta's legacy communities, including the historic Chinese and Japanese communities who were prominent in Isleton during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The highlight of the group's time at Big Break was the interactive map of the Delta (pictured above), where visitors can pour water onto the scale model and watch it flow down tributaries to Big Break and the Carquinez Straight before continuing to the Bay and the Pacific. If you haven't seen the interactive map in person, I recommend making a trip to Big Break soon. Don't forget to bring a bucket or a watering can!

November is Homelessness Awareness Month

Last Tuesday, Contra Costa County declared November as Homelessness Awareness Month. The presentation was led by Christy Saxton, Director of Health, Housing and Homeless Services for Contra Costa County.

When Contra Costa County carried out our annual point in time count (or "PIT count") on a January morning, 2,372 people were experiencing homelessness. The cost of housing is the biggest factor by far in a community's rate of homelessness, and a worker needs to earn $41.77 per hour to afford a 2-bedroom apartment in Contra Costa.

But there are groups and individuals out there making a difference, and dozens of them were honored last week by the Contra Costa County Council on Homelessness. Among the organizations receiving awards was Opportunity Village, the City of Antioch's first non-congregate bridge housing program to serve unsheltered residents. Opportunity Village can house 45 residents at a time for up to 180 days. If you or someone you know is unhoused in Antioch, visit the City of Antioch's website to be contacted by Opportunity Village staff: https://www.antiochca.gov/pscr/housing-programs/ovp/

With so many myths out there about who experiences homelessness in Contra Costa County, the Health, Housing and Homeless Services team (H3) created the video below to set the record straight. I encourage you to watch with empathy and understanding.

Community Events

Help Feed Our Neighbors by Donating in the Annual Holiday Food Fight

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano serves one in four residents and provides more than 3,400,000 meals monthly. While the Food Bank feeds our neighbors seven days a week, the need is felt even more around Thanksgiving, when a nourishing meal is the centerpiece of the day. 

As you plan your Thanksgiving menu, I hope you’ll consider our neighbors and donate to make the 2023 Holiday Food Fight a success.

To donate, click the link below or mail a check to our office. 

https://give.foodbankccs.org/team/326115

Please make checks payable to:

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Mail to:

Office of Supervisor Diane Burgis

Contra Costa County 

3361 Walnut Blvd. Ste 140

Brentwood, CA 94513

TeleCare: Providing Daily Reassurance Calls to Homebound People

TeleCare, a program from the Assistance League of Diablo Valley, provides a daily reassurance call to housebound people. The calls are both a reassurance call for the health and welfare of the client, as well as an opportunity for a friendly chat and exchange of ideas.

For more information call: 925-934-0901 or visit https://www.assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley/philanthropic-programs/telecare/

Get Connected, Contra Costa Offers Credits to Help Pay Internet Bills and Purchase Devices

Get Connected, Contra Costa helps eligible Contra Costa County residents apply for monthly credits up to $30 toward internet service bills, as well as a one-time discount up to $100 toward the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer or tablet, with participating providers.

Are you eligible? Find out and apply today at: https://ehsd.org/get-connected-contra-costa/

Do Hazardous Materials Policy Issues Interest You? Join the Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission!

Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission is seeking applicants to fill multiple seats, including a General Public Seat, an Environmental Organization Seat and an Environmental Organization Alternate Seat.

The Commission is a voluntary body appointed by the Board of Supervisors and makes policy recommendations to the Board and County staff on issues concerning hazardous materials and hazardous waste.

The Commission’s 14 members and alternates serve four-year terms and include representatives of industry, labor, civic groups, environmental organizations, environmental engineers, the general public, cities and Environmental Justice communities.

To obtain an application form, or for further information, contact Michael Kent, Executive Assistant to the Commission, at (925) 250-3227 or mkent@cchealth.org. Applications may also be obtained from the Clerk of the Board located at 1025 Escobar Street 1st Floor, Martinez CA 94553.

You may also submitt an application by mail, e-mail or on-line: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/Appointed-Bodies-Committees-Commissions

Applications must be received by November 28, 2023 and if mailed, mailed to the Clerk of the Board.

Interviews for qualified applicants will take place from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on December 8, 2023 in person or by Zoom.

Make Your Voice Heard: Proposed Youth Centers Funded by Measure X

Contra Costa County is looking for your opinions about new youth centers proposed with Measure X funds.

To take the online survey, learn about upcoming in-person community sessions or attend a virtual community session, visit: linktr.ee/SocialChangePartners

Questions? Comments?

Reach out to community@socialchangepartners.com

Maintaining Creeks on Your Property

As the rainy season begins, it's important to remember that if your property has a creek or a waterway flowing through it, it is your responsibility to maintain it. Typically private property extends to the center of the creek and not just to the fence line. These privately owned creeks are an important part of our county’s drainage system and are regulated by County ordinance, but they are not maintained by the County.

When the creek area is not properly maintained, the resulting obstructions can lead to increased flooding, changes in the course of the creek, and increased erosion. Proper creek care includes removing blockages (whether natural or man-made) that could cause flooding, keeping banks vegetated to prevent erosion, preventing pollutants from entering waterways, and removing trash to help maintain a healthy watershed.

Learn more about private creek maintenance best practices and guidelines at: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5754/Private-Creek-Maintenance

If your property is located in an unincorporated area of the county and you are unsure of your responsibility regarding the maintenance of a particular drainage facility on or near your property, call the County Public Works Department at (925) 313-7000. If your property is located within the city limits, please call your city Public Works or Engineering Department.

Introducing Stay Housed Bay Area, a New Resource to Help Renters

Introducing Stay Housed Bay Area, a new digital platform that helps Bay Area residents find the resources and services they need to stay in their homes. 

By answering simple screening questions, people can find practical resources, including rental assistance and legal services near them, with no registration required. Stay Housed Bay Area’s resources are curated, up-to-date, and available in both English and Spanish.

stayhousedbayarea.org

Apply to Join the Contra Costa Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee

The Contra Costa Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisory Committee is seeking applicants to fill the following seats for four-year terms expiring December 31, 2027:

• Public Member #1, At-Large

• Public Member #2, At-Large

Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of integrated pest management and have an interest in the refinement of IPM practices in Contra Costa County. Applicants must live or work in Contra Costa County.

All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. The online application can be accessed on the County webpage at: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/

Alternate versions of the application may be obtained on the webpage linked above or by calling the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at (925) 655-2000. Applications should be submitted online or returned to the

Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553 or emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us no later than 5:00 PM on November 28, 2023.

Qualified applicants who apply by the deadline will be interviewed by the Internal Operations Committee of the Board of Supervisors on Monday, December 11, 2023.

The IPM Advisory Committee is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to advise them on issues involving pest management and pesticide use on County-owned and County-maintained property. The 13-member Committee is composed of representatives from the County Departments of Agriculture, Health Services, and Public Works; the County Stormwater Program; the County’s Sustainability Commission; the County’s Fish and Wildlife Committee; a local environmental organization, the County’s current structural pest management contractor; three public members, and a public member alternate. The Committee’s purview includes pest management in County facilities, in County landscaping, and along County roads and flood control properties.

Regular meetings of the IPM Advisory Committee are currently held on the third Thursday in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November from 10:00 AM to noon.

For more information: contact Wade Finlinson, IPM Coordinator, at (925) 655-3214 or wade.finlinson@cchealth.org.

Help the County Address Youth and Young Adult Homelessness by Taking a Short Survey

As part of our Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Homelessness Community Needs Assessment, you're invited to take a brief survey to share your thoughts and experiences. The survey includes questions on the barriers, needs, priorities, and resources available to support YYA experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and includes five types of respondents: 

• Youth or Young Adult (Under 27)
• Independent Older Adult (27 and over)
• Person Representing a Program Provider
• Person Representing a Local or State Government Agency
• Person Representing a Policy or Advocacy Organization

All Youth and Young Adults (YYA) with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability who take this survey will receive a $10 stipend. Thank you for your time and commitment to ending youth and young adult homelessness in Contra Costa County!

Take the Restorative Justice Survey Today!

The Office of Reentry and Justice is seeking community input on the needs and priorities for restorative justice practices in Contra Costa County.

With Measure X funds, the Probation Department, through its Office of Reentry & Justice, is looking to hear from county residents to better understand community needs and priorities for exploring opportunities to introduce restorative practices within our local systems and communities.

Take this 5 min survey (provided in English and in Spanish) and let your voice be heard!

The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly regularly.

Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified boundary area for special districts. 

District 3 is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Oakley, and Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen, and Discovery Bay.

Find out more by visiting the Board of Supervisors 

Appointed Bodies, Committees & Commissions 

webpage.

Download application here:

https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6408/Boards-and-Commissions-Database

Applications should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board’s office located at 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553

or by email to clerkoftheboard@cob.cccounty.us 



For more information, including on how to apply, contact District 3 Representative Alicia Nuchols at Alicia.Nuchols@bos.cccounty.us.

Board of Supervisors' meetings are held in person at the County Administration Building 1025 Escobar Street, 1st floor, Martinez. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings.

The Board meetings are also accessible via television, and via live-streaming to all members of the public. Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, Astound Channels 32 & 1027, and can be seen live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov or www.contracostatv.org.

Persons who wish to address the board during public comment or with respect to an item on the agenda may comment in person or may call in during the meeting by dialing 888-278-0254 followed by the access code 843298#. A caller should indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item, by pushing "#2" on their phone. Access via Zoom is also available using the following link: https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/87344719204. Those participating via Zoom should indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item by using the “raise your hand” feature in the Zoom app. To provide contact information, please contact Clerk of the Board at clerkoftheboard@cob.cccounty.us or call 925-655-2000.

Meetings of the Board are closed-captioned in real time. Public comment generally will be limited to two minutes. Your patience is appreciated. A Spanish language interpreter is available to assist Spanish-speaking callers.

See information about parking and access to the County Administration Building at 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

“It's the most amazing holiday. Just think about it — it's a miracle that once a year so many millions of Americans sit down to exactly the same meal as one another, exactly the same meal they grew up eating, and exactly the same meal they ate a year earlier. The turkey. The sweet potatoes. The stuffing. The pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about? I don’t think so.”

- Nora Ephron