6-9-20 Articles

California lawmakers agree to close $54.3 billion budget gap

By Adam Beam

Associated Press

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Jun 03 – California's Legislative leaders on Wednesday rejected billions of dollars in budget cuts to public schools and health care services that Gov. Gavin Newsom had proposed, setting up a fight with the governor over how to close the state's estimated $54.3 billion budget deficit.

 

Flush with cash just six months ago, California's revenues have plummeted since March after Newsom ordered everyone in March to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Since then, more than 5 million people have filed for unemployment benefits.

 

Newsom, a Democrat, and the state's Democratic-dominated Legislature have pleaded with Congress to send the state more money to help cover that shortfall – so far without success. Last month, Newsom proposed a new spending plan that would cut billions from public schools and eliminate some health benefits for millions of people unless Congress sent the state more money by July 1.

 

But the 2020-2021 budget plan legislative leaders announced Wednesday rejected those cuts. Instead of cutting money for public schools, lawmakers agreed to delay $9 billion in payments to districts. That would give school districts permission to go ahead and spend the money and have the state pay them back in a future budget year. The state has done this before during previous recessions, but never this much at one time.

 

Newsom's plan also would have saved money by eliminating some health benefits for low-income adults and children and making fewer older adults eligible for government-funded health insurance. The Legislature rejected those cuts because they think Newsom overestimated by about $4 billion how much it will cost to pay for the state's health insurance programs.

 

Still, much of the budget proposal is just a guess. In a normal year, most Californians would have filed their state tax returns by now, giving lawmakers a good idea of how much money they have to spend. But because of the coronavirus, the state delayed the tax filing deadline until July 15.

 

That's why Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said “all the budget plans being discussed acknowledge the possibility that more difficult cuts will be necessary.”

 

Lawmakers must approve an operating budget by June 15. If they don't, the state constitution says they don't get paid.

 

But whatever the Legislature passes, the governor has the authority to either sign it into law or veto all or parts of it. Legislative leaders will negotiate with Newsom over the next few days, which could lead to changes.

 

Newsom's budget is prepared by the California Department of Finance. Wednesday, spokesman H.D. Palmer called the legislative plan “progress” and said both sides will continue their discussions to reach an agreement that balances the budget while “advancing our efforts for federal support to maintain core services.”

 

Comments from legislative leaders suggest they won't bend on the cuts to education and other programs.

 

“Our economy has been pummeled by COVID-19, but thanks to a decade of pragmatic budgeting, we can avoid draconian cuts to education and critical programs, or broad middle-class tax increases,” said Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, of San Diego.

 

 

AC Transit restores evening bus service hours

Submitted by Diann Castleberry

 

As Alameda County’s emergency curfew order is now rescinded, after careful consideration, AC Transit is restoring the full operating hours of all evening bus lines effective immediately. Evening and overnight operating hours were previously suspended to comply with both Alameda and Contra Costa counties’ emergency curfew orders. AC Transit remains under modified bus line services, due to the coronavirus pandemic. For details, visit www.actransit.org.

 

 

Alameda County Fire Department Log

Submitted by ACFD

 

Monday, May 25

• At 6:33 p.m. firefighters responded to an apartment fire on the 15000 block of Washington Avenue in San Leandro. They quickly contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby units. One occupant in the apartment was displaced with minor injuries. There were no injuries to firefighters. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 

Tuesday, May 26

• At 2:48 p.m. firefighters responded to a vegetation fire that started in a homeless encampment area in Union City and then spread to the Crowne Plaza Hotel parking lot near Alvarado-Niles Road. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze with assistance from two Fremont Fire Department engines. Several rental cars on the lot sustained fire damage; there were no injuries.

 

• Shortly after 4:00 p.m. firefighters responded to a trailer fire at a commercial building on the 600 block of Aladdin Avenue at Alvarado Street in San Leandro. They quickly knocked down the fire. There were no injuries.

 

Friday, May 29

• At 6:04 p.m. firefighters aboard Truck 31 witnessed a major accident involving four vehicles at Katayama Drive and Alvarado-Niles Road in Union City. Collateral damage included a sheared fire hydrant and downed power poll. A person trapped in one of the cars was quickly pulled out by firefighters. Ambulances and medical personnel soon arrived along with Union City Police Department officers to help. All injured people were taken to a hospital for treatment and the sheared fire hydrant was secured.

 

Wednesday, June 3

• At 1:26 p.m. firefighters responded to a vegetation fire extending to occupied homes at Medford Court in the Cherryland district of unincorporated Alameda County near Hayward. Firefighters attacked the blaze from the court and nearby train tracks and eventually extinguished it, saving five homes. There were no injuries.

 

 

Mini Cooper SE: All Mini – All Electric – All Fun

By Steve Schaefer

 

The Mini Cooper SE is the brand’s first all-electric vehicle (EV). It delivers all the charm and fun of the premium small hatchback, which has built a following since its debut in 2001—without using a drop of petrol.

 

The electric Mini looks almost the same as the gas model, and is built in the same Oxford, UK factory. The easiest way to identify one in the wild is by its little yellow “E” logos and the filled-in grille area with its jaunty yellow stripe. Distinctive wheels are there as well, and optional yellow mirrors further distinguish the car. As an EV, the SE is silent. However, at low speeds, it emits an “acoustic pedestrian protection” sound to alert the unwary in parking lots.

 

Electric motors are known for their instant torque, and the one in the Mini Cooper SE delivers, with 181 horsepower and 199 lb.-ft. of torque sending the car from 0-62 mph 7.3 seconds. And with the battery stowed in the floor, the low center of gravity keeps things well planted in turns.

 

There are four settable performance modes: Sport, Mid, Green, and Green+. Mid is the default setting, perfect for normal driving. Green and Green+ lower energy use with slower acceleration and by turning off heat/AC and seat heating in the Green + setting. Sport boosts acceleration and tightens up the steering ratio for challenging sections of winding road or visits to the racetrack.

 

Like all EVs, the Mini SE features regenerative braking to help charge the battery and to slow down the car. The standard setting permits “one-pedal driving,” where you slow to a stop at a stop sign or red light by just lifting off the accelerator. A second setting removes most of the regen for a more “normal” feeling.

 

Two unique features of the Mini Cooper SE are worth mentioning. A heat pump collects waste heat from the motor, drive control, high-voltage battery, and outside air to warm the interior. It uses 75 percent less energy than a conventional heater. Also, the standard navigation system displays a range circle based on battery charge level, and its route guidance offers the shortest, fastest, and greenest routes.

 

There are three trim levels – Signature, Signature Plus, and Iconic. The Signature model is well equipped, with features like heated front seats, Apple CarPlay, MINI Navigation, and a digital display cockpit. Adding $4,000 moves you up to Signature Plus, with a panoramic moonroof, power folding mirrors, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, Rear Park Distance Control, and an upgraded Harman-Kardon audio system. The Iconic level, for an additional $3,000, gets you the MINI Yours leather steering wheel, Front Park Distance Control, a head-up display, a larger touchscreen nav system, and wireless charging (in the armrest). All great stuff, but the Signature will drive just as nicely.

 

There are two primary reasons why more people don’t opt for EVs—initial cost and charging/range. By using as many gas-powered Mini parts as possible, Mini has solved the first one. The Signature model starts at just $29,900. Deducting federal and state rebates, Mini Cooper SE could be a $20,000 car. Electricity is normally cheaper than gasoline and EVs require little maintenance, so the total cost of ownership is lower. My White Silver Metallic test car, in Iconic level, priced out at $37,750, including destination charge, which is still competitive.

 

The second reason why people avoid EVs is that they don’t want to deal with charging and are worried about range. The Mini Cooper SE can use Level-1 110-volt household current or aLevel-2 220-volt home charger. Any Level-2 charging station works, too, or DC fast charging, which fills the battery to 80 percent in 36 minutes (a lunch break).

 

In a world of 259-mile-range Bolts and 258-mile-range Hyundai Konas, the Mini gets only 110 miles to a charge. That’s because its battery is just 32.6 kWh—about half the size of the Chevy and the Hyundai. But a smaller battery is lighter and less expensive, making the Mini cheaper in base form than those other cars. However, 110 miles relegates the Mini Cooper SE to second-car status—fine for local trips and commuting, but a hard sell for long-distance travel.

 

The Mini Cooper SE was a blast to drive for a week. I took it out on my area’s best back roads, and it danced around the corners and charged uphill in a deeply satisfying way—silently, of course.

 

Minis have an adorable, fun personality, and the EV version is as good or better than the gas model. Most people don’t need more than about 50 miles range a day, so if you’re one of them, this is about as much fun as EV driving gets—and is downright inexpensive, too.

 

 

BART Police Log

Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD

 

Saturday, May 23

• At 6:26 p.m. a man identified by police as Gene Mabry was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia and violating a court order. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

Wednesday, May 27

• At 4:10 p.m. a man identified by police as Michael Duque, 36, was arrested at San Leandro station on a $25,000 warrant issued by Alameda County. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

Thursday, May 28

• At 3:20 p.m. a woman identified by police as Amanda Stacy, 31, of Indiana was arrested at Hayward station on an extraditable warrant from Indiana for burglary. She was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

 

Tribute to the Beatles postponed

Submitted by Paul Iannaccone

 

Due to the Alameda County Shelter-in-Place order extension we are postponing our production of “Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles,” originally scheduled for June 20-21. With any questions regarding existing tickets or concert related queries, please email at info@fremontsymphony.org us or leave a message at (510) 371-4859.

 

Although our current season came to an unexpected end, we are actively working toward a fabulous 2020-21 Season – with a plan to open with “Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles.”

 

We are thinking of our valued patrons and supporters and are looking forward to a brighter tomorrow, one where music will again flourish and our hall can be safely filled with your amazing presence. Our community will rise, and we look forward to inspiring joy once again!

 

 

Letter to the Editor

End racism

 

“Don’t put your hands in your pockets. Don’t put your hoodie on. Don’t be outside without a

shirt on. Check in with your people, even if they are down the street. Don’t be out too late. Don’t

touch anything you aren’t buying. Never leave the store without a receipt or a bag, even if it’s

just a pack of gum. … If a cop stops you and starts questioning you randomly, don’t talk back. Compromise. If you ever get pulled over, put your hands on the dashboard and ask if you can get out your license and registration.” These are the unwritten rules for black men and women, as told by TikTok user @skoodupcam, a young black man living in America.

 

Black men and women should not have to fear for their lives while doing something that white people can do without an issue. How many more lives need to be lost for us to understand that black lives matter? The Black Lives Matter movement and its protests were meant to be peaceful, but violent police officers and hateful directions by our president made it impossible. Our president should be fighting for the rights of his people. His citizens. Not tear gassing them for a photo op in front of a church. Not running away to a bunker and telling police to shoot to kill. Not forcing the National Guard on protesters who are peaceful.

 

The first amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” When did it become okay for the president to strip us of our rights as citizens?

 

Racism and white supremacy clings to the air like a poison, a disease infecting minorities and human beings around us. This goes far beyond the protests. This goes far beyond the movements on social media. We need to attack this issue from the very core. There is only one race – the human race. We should be sticking together, not ripping each other apart over beliefs of a false racial superiority.

 

A 10-year-old child should not have to be tear-gassed to make a change. Emerald Black, a pregnant black woman should not have had to lose her unborn child to make a change. George Floyd should not have been murdered for there to be change in America. Why is it that

someone needs to die or get hurt for all of us to speak up about this?

 

Many people continue to say the n-word, with no regard as to its derogatory and hateful background. Being racist isn’t cool. It never was and never should be. The fact that so many students, even at my own high school, are throwing this word around as if it has no meaning and no background is saddening. We need to educate ourselves and others. If we can’t go to protests, I urge everyone to donate, call, and sign petitions to make a change. I am a non-black person of color (POC), and I know that I will never understand what toll it takes to be a black POC in America.

 

I’m not black, but I see you. I’m not black, but I hear you. I’m not black, but I mourn with you. I’m not black, but I will fight for you.

 

Krithikaa Premnath

San Ramon

 

 

Protest to fight racism

By Staff

 

In the memory of George Floyd, hundreds gathered at NewPark Mall in Newark on June 2 and walked along Mowry Avenue through City of Fremont, stopping for demonstrations at Fremont City Hall, and finally heading to the Fremont Police Department. Fremont Police Chief Kimberly Petersen, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, and two police captains met with the protesters outside the police department.

 

The march, one of many demonstrations in the greater Tri-City area, reflected support from a wide range of backgrounds and ages. Along the way, protestors chanted “Black Lives Matter,” “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police,” and displayed signs and slogans that demanded justice for Floyd.

 

One protestor, a law student, said, “We see injustice at first hand. It is time people speak about it. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. How many more till justice is done? The whole world is united right now. It is a beautiful moment. We just hope justice is served. It’s time to root out racism.”

 

Carrying an “I Can’t Breathe #BLM” sign, another protestor added, “A lot of cops misuse their powers, and this should come to an end. A lot of our brothers and sisters have been suffering from a long time. We are telling the guys that this should come to an end.”

 

The protest remained peaceful except for a couple of incidents. According to Fremont Police, there was one incident of illegal fireworks set off near the crowd and an encounter with objects thrown at a patrol car. “Other than that, all activities remained relatively peaceful.”

 

 

Business Pulse Check – The Crane Guy

By Madhvika Singh

Photos courtesy of Robert Barcelona

 

Social distancing, shelter-in-place and quarantine used to be things we rarely heard of, and only in extreme emergencies, but now they seem to have become the norm. They have affected our social fabric and our livelihoods and have severely impacted the financial wellbeing of our local businesses and their employees. We at Tri-City Voice have featured many local businesses over time, and we reached out to some of them to share their perspective on how they have been affected and how they are coping with the new reality of COVID-19.

 

This is part of an ongoing series with a new business or businesses featured each week, including both those that have appeared in the paper before and those who are appearing for the first time.

 

The Crane Guy

Ever since the shelter-in-place restrictions, most of us have spent time in our homes, with television as one of our primary sources of entertainment. Production of TV shows is a herculean effort requiring coordination among many people and businesses that supply talent and equipment. “The Crane Guy” based in San Leandro, owned and run by Robert Barcelona, is one such small business. Barcelona, a mass communication major, started his company in 1989 and provides camera cranes, camera car equipment, and services to TV, feature film and commercial production industries. Due to social distancing and shutting down of the non-essential services, including TV production, the Crane Guy has seen business completely dry up.

 

Barcelona says, “Our industry as a whole has completely shut down.” His last job was on March 13. Shooting for most TV shows happens on stages in Los Angeles and can require upwards of 250 people working simultaneously on or around the set. Social distancing rules prohibit people from being in such close proximity, meaning businesses like Barcelona’s haven’t been able to work and generate income. “The effects on my business thus far have been devastating. Without clients, I am not generating any new income. All of my expenses keep coming, though,” says Barcelona.

 

With no end in sight, Barcelona has made good use of this downtime working on personal projects, equipment maintenance and shop organization that he had been putting off. With those things taken care of, he feels he is well prepared to get back to work when the industry reopens, although no one knows when that will happen.

 

In the meantime, Barcelona continues to enjoy photography, one of his passions. “I love to capture portraits for friends and family, landscapes and just the everyday life that happens around us. Photo and video editing is a creative outlet for me,” says Barcelona. His other passion is motocross motorcycle riding, which has had to take a “back seat” as the motocross tracks have closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. “I find true enjoyment riding my Harley and the off-road Honda motorcycle; it frees my mind of all of the day-to-day worries.”

 

Looking to the future, Barcelona hopes that we will soon be able to safely re-open parts of our economy beyond the essential businesses. “There are a lot of self-employed business owners that are on the verge of total collapse and bankruptcy,” says Barcelona. Most small business owners see their businesses as a labor of love and have spent years if not decades nurturing and building them from the ground up. Losing all of that is a tragedy. And COVID-19 has brought so many small businesses close to that reality. Barcelona shared that he has been cutting down his expenses to bare essentials and trying to save wherever he can to ensure he can weather the downturn for as long as possible.

 

Barcelona hopes that parts of his industry that don’t require close person-to-person contact can reopen soon. One such area is the “car to car” shooting, where camera and crew film one vehicle from another. This setup requires minimal social contact and can adhere to distancing guidelines.

 

He uses a military analogy to describe our current fight with COVID-19: “We got hit like an ambush, and our initial response to shut down and take cover was the correct one. Now we must engage and move forward, safely.” He believes new ways of working will have to emerge for the TV production industry to survive and thrive. “The industry has to figure out how to engage and attack this new environment.”

 

On personal side, Barcelona says isolation has been hard. Physically, he and his family are healthy, but he is concerned for his aging parents who are in the “high risk” category. He has been keeping in touch with them via video platforms. Not being able to interact with his large group of friends and live the social life he is used to is also taking its toll on him. But Barcelona is sanguine about his situation, “I am not the only one who feels the isolation. I am certain that there is a large number of people for whom it is way more devastating.”

 

We at TCV wish Robert Barcelona and his family the very best and hope the TV industry comes back to life quickly so his worries for his business and others’ go away! And we will appreciate new TV programming even more!

 

Robert C. Barcelona

https://rbthecraneguy.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/rbthecraneguy

https://www.instagram.com/rbthecraneguy

 

Through the business pulse series our intent at TCV is to lend a platform to local businesses share their stories. In these trying times let's hope we can develop a shared bond and come out at the other end stronger as a community to deal with challenges that future might have in store for us.

 

 

Bring in the Birds with Winning Plant Varieties

By Melinda Myers

Photo courtesy of All-America Selections

 

Fill your gardens with beautiful plants that produce an abundance of seeds the birds will love. You will enjoy the flowers as well as the birds that visit to dine on the seeds. Best of all, there is no feeder to refill or clean.

 

Sunflowers are likely the first seed-producing plant that comes to mind. Their dark brown centers turn to seeds that attract a wide variety of birds and of course squirrels to your yard. Add a unique flare to your sunflower collection with the All-America Selections (AAS) winner Sunflower Ring of Fire. Its chocolate brown center is surrounded by a ring of red petals tipped in gold. The plants are four to five feet tall and reach their peak late in the season, adding a fresh look to any flowerbed.

 

AAS Winner Purple Majesty Millet is another bird magnet. Tolerant of heat and drought, it grows three to five feet tall and its green leaves turn purple in the sunlight. Twelve-inch-long flower spikes top the plant, making it the perfect thriller in container gardens, backdrop in flowerbeds or addition to garden bouquets. But you will want to leave most of the flowers on the plants to produce seeds that bring in the birds.

 

Another group of AAS Winners, the Salvia Summer Jewel™ series, bloom earlier and more prolifically than other similar varieties on the market. You can choose from white, pink, red, and lavender flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. As their flowers turn to seeds, you will find colorful goldfinches flocking to the plants.

 

Coneflowers are well-known for their bird appeal. Our native purple and pale purple coneflowers are always a good choice, but a few relatively new hardy varieties increase the color options for gardeners. The 2020 AAS Winner Sombrero® Baja Burgundy was trialed for three years, survived brutal winter and summer conditions, and continued to produce deep-violet-red flowers midsummer to frost.

 

Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea produces a mix of purple, pink, red, and orange flowers while PowWow Wild Berry’s compact plants are topped with deep rose-purple flowers. Start these two from seed in early spring and be rewarded with colorful flowers the first summer.

 

A popular companion of coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, are sure to add a bright spot of color to any garden. And as the flowers fade, they provide an abundance of seed for birds to enjoy fall through winter. The 2020 AAS Winner American Gold Rush provides all the beauty plus a resistance to Septoria leaf spot disease.

 

Longtime favorite flowers like cosmos, coreopsis, marigolds, and zinnias also help bring in the seed-eating birds. Select single flowered varieties for maximum seed production. Radiance and Cosmic Orange cosmos, Sahara Starlight and the Profusion series of zinnias are a few outstanding performers to consider.

 

Look for other award-winning varieties that attract seed-eating birds, hummingbirds, and other pollinators to your garden on the AAS website (all-americaselections.org). AAS is a nonprofit trialing organization with test gardens and volunteer judges across the United States and Canada. Winners are selected for their outstanding performance in home gardens and containers.

 

Increase your garden’s beauty, decrease maintenance, and bring in birds with a few of these winning flower varieties.

 

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” gardening DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by AAS for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.melindamyers.com.

 

 

Finding a place to shelter

By Stephanie Gertsch

 

When Shelter in Place went into effect in March, the narrative we saw in the news and social media was about people facing the boredom of being “stuck at home.” Non-essential businesses and community hubs like libraries locked their doors. Even park restrooms and drinking fountains closed to prevent spread of infection. However, not everyone is lucky enough to be “stuck at home.” For the homeless population, Shelter in Place meant losing access to the few services they did have with little or no warning.

 

Building Futures, a San Leandro-based nonprofit that helps the homeless and domestic violence survivors, particularly women and families, saw their clients hit hard. “Everywhere that homeless folks would go – so the library, or the food programs – all [were] closed,” says Liz Varela, Building Futures’ Executive Director. “And not only do they not have all those resources, phones and protection, they have no information. No one was telling them what was going on.”

 

Building Futures responded by opening drop-in centers in San Leandro and Alameda where homeless could come to get information on restrictions and health requirements, charge a phone, or get PPE. Disabled or high-risk people who had already found housing also needed support; many couldn’t wait in line or transport food back to their apartment, so Building Futures put together food boxes to deliver.

 

 “We really scrambled the first few weeks, but as we started figuring out how to do this, the community really stepped up and helped us,” says Varela. “By week three or four we were back to doing everything we’ve always done, and now we’re taking on even more than we were doing before COVID hit.”

 

Part of that more involves partnering with the county’s Operation Safer Ground hotels for seniors and those with pre-existing conditions, populations who are known to be high risk, even without the extra stress on the immune system of living without shelter. “Can you imagine women over 65 out on the streets right now totally unprotected?” Varela says.

 

For the remaining clients, cleaning staff is working overtime to keep shelters up to CDC recommendations. “What we’ve had to figure out with homelessness is how to keep people safe in congregate living,” explains Varela. “How do we keep people inside? How do we keep people entertained?” Clients are encouraged to only go out for walks and essential errands such as picking up medications. In the meantime, clients and staff getting creative organizing outdoor exercise sessions or games for kids.

 

Local restaurants have also pitched in to keep the shelter menu varied. Hindu nonprofit Sewa International USA stepped up as a dinner donor and provided Indian food for the Sister Me Safe Home and groceries for the San Leandro Shelter. Cinema Grill and Alameda Theatre & Cineplex donated 75 brunches for Mother’s Day.

 

Another key factor in shelter safety is reliable testing. In Oakland, says Varela, “shelter staff or people who work directly with the homeless can get tested for free. That has been great news to us. We only used it one time, and they turned out to be negative, but that was awesome.” Beyond preventing infection, knowing staff can be tested is a relief. “All of this is about peace of mind too. Going along with what you’re supposed to do and not being so stressed out and anxious, both staff and clients.”

 

True to their name, Building Futures is still looking ahead even while adjusting to the present challenges. “We are still housing folks and working on case plans, and that’s really important. Number one is keeping people safe and number two is getting people housed. We can’t just stop doing that during this time, because we have to keep people out of homelessness so we can bring people who are out on the streets into our shelters…Taking six months off from housing people isn’t an option.”

 

People can support Building Futures in a variety of ways, such as through direct monetary donations, contributing to their Amazon wish list, or donating items such as hand sanitizer or PPE. While the shelters have been well stocked overall, even with ever-elusive toilet paper, some items have been hard to find. “I can’t wait until we get disinfectant wipes back,” laughs Varela. “That would be back to normal, if we got the wipes back.”

 

Find out more about how Building Futures is supporting clients during COVID-19 here: https://bfwc.org/covid19/

 

 

California to spend $1.8 billion more on virus response

By Adam Beam

Associated Press

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), May 22 – California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday took an extra $1.8 billion from the state's dwindling coffers to pay for more protective gear and extra hospital beds to aid the state's response to the new coronavirus.

 

Newsom expects the federal government will reimburse the state for 75% of that spending. The new spending comes as state lawmakers are debating what government services will be cut to cover an estimated $54.3 billion budget deficit caused by the virus-induced economic downturn.

 

The Newsom administration says it has authority to spend the money because he has declared an official state of emergency under the state's Emergency Services Act. The new spending will bring the state's total to $5.7 billion since March, when Newsom issued the nation's first statewide stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the disease.

 

In a letter to state lawmakers, Department of Finance Director Keely Martin Bosler said most of the new spending – $1.3 billion – is to purchase personal protective equipment including masks, gloves. and gowns. More than $661 million of that spending will go to Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, which last month secured a $1 billion contract with the state to deliver 200 million masks per month.

 

But BYD has had trouble fulfilling that contract. Earlier this month, it refunded the state $247 million after it missed a deadline to certify that the masks it delivered comply with federal standards.

 

The rest of the money will pay for a call center and the state's efforts to test people for the virus and track down people who have been exposed to it. It will also buy an extra 3,000 hospital beds and pay for hotel rooms for healthcare workers who treat COVID-19 patients.

 

The Newsom administration is not done spending. The governor has asked lawmakers for an additional $2.9 billion in the upcoming budget for him to spend as he sees fit on coronavirus-related expenses. He says he needs the money should the anticipated “second wave” of virus cases hit the state this fall when the Legislature is not in session.

 

State lawmakers have balked at Newsom's proposal, saying they don't want to give up their authority to approve state spending. Assembly Budget chair Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco, is scheduled to hold a public hearing Friday on Newsom's request.

 

“I think it's very important that the administration find a way to balance our ability to respond timely while acknowledging the role the Legislature must play to partner with you to make decisions that are in the best interests of all Californians,” Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee chair Holly Mitchell said earlier this week.

 

Other Republican lawmakers have questioned the governor's continued use of his emergency powers.

 

“It's time to end the State of Emergency and strip the Governor of the power he promised not to abuse,” Republican Sen. Melissa Melendez posted to her Twitter account on Thursday.

 

 

Cal State East Bay offers free courses

Submitted by Kimberly Hawkins

 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cal State East Bay Continuing Education is offering free online courses this summer through Courses for Causes. Participants can enroll in introductory courses within select certificate programs to explore a new subject, such as nonprofit management, construction management, and paralegal studies, and take the first step toward earning a professional certificate if they decide it is right for them.

 

“The certificate courses we offer can help someone match the skills they already have with specialized training so they can get a new job or a promotion,” said Kate White, director of Continuing Education, Cal State East Bay. “For example, there may be someone who worked in the service or hospitality industry who can transfer their soft skills into a career in human resource management. By taking the free course a person can learn some marketable skills and test out whether or not our full program is a good fit.”

 

Cal State East Bay’s Courses for Causes is part of a larger COVID-19 initiative to support community members during this time and to provide professional development training and education. For more information about the courses or to enroll, visit www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/courses-for-causes/.

 

Cal State East Bay

(800) 730-2784

www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/courses-for-causes/

 

 

California schools chief calls for new plan on racism, bias

AP Wire Service

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Jun 01 – California's education chief Tony Thurmond announced plans Monday to lead a new effort focusing on racism in state schools during emotional remarks on George Floyd, whose killing he said has left him struggling to answer his own children who asked, “Why did this happen?”

 

Thurmond is the only elected government official in California who is African American.

 

“Now is the time to address racism and implicit bias in education,” Thurmond said, blinking back tears during a livestream Monday. “We must not let this moment go unnoticed.”

 

Thurmond said that he has already reached out to state superintendents around the country and will be initiating conversations with California school superintendents, educational leaders, parents and students but also go beyond the educational sphere and work with elected officials, police chiefs and government agencies.

 

The conversations will focus on how schools can provide more training for staff and students on implicit bias, building empathy and tolerance. They will also examine legislation and inequalities in California schools, where black and brown students are more likely to be suspended, pushed out of school and into the criminal justice system, he said.

 

Thurmond said he appreciated protesters raising their voices but urged them to demonstrate peacefully.

 

 

Kindness spreads with volunteer links at corona connects

Jun 4

By Luis Andres Henao

Associated Press

 

It started with a simple spreadsheet created by a group of college students who wanted to help during the pandemic.

 

In just two months, that spreadsheet has grown into an online platform that has connected would-be do-gooders with nearly 3,000 opportunities to volunteer across the United States.

 

Corona Connects (coronaconnects.org) includes 170 volunteer categories, from food delivery and tutoring, to mental health and supporting the elderly. The site created by three students at the University of Pennsylvania now is run by a team of 25 students from colleges nationwide.

 

“We called this Corona Connects because we knew that Corona spreads through droplets, but kindness can spread through connecting,” said Hadassah Raskas, a Penn senior.

 

When the coronavirus crisis forced schools to go virtual, Raskas and University of Maryland junior Elana Sichel started a list of organizations in need of help. They realized that there were many needs and many students with extra time on their hands.

 

“We started with just a spreadsheet. We thought we could post it to social media and try to get it spreading around and figured if we help 10 people or 50 people, that's amazing,” Raskas said. “And we quickly realized that that spreadsheet was getting passed around and we needed something better.”

 

Penn seniors Steven Hamel and Megan Kyne found out about the initiative through the Class of 2020 Facebook page and offered to build an easy-to-navigate site. Users can filter volunteer opportunities following their interests, location, and availability. Organizations can also submit needs and recruit volunteers.

 

“It's a two-sided platform … so it's a win-win,” said Shalva Gozlan, who's in charge of the platform's marketing. She found out about Corona Connects on social media and used it to find a volunteering opportunity as a crisis counselor.

 

“I think the beauty of this platform is that we're reminding people you might be geographically and physically alone right now, but we're all interconnected,” she said. “We're here for you. And we're one society. We're one humanity.”

 

Corona Connects (coronaconnects.org)

 

 

New schedule for COVID-19 testing center

Submitted by City of Hayward

 

Under its new operating schedule, Hayward COVID-19 Testing Center will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or until the total number of tests available for the day have been exhausted. The center, operated by the Hayward Fire Department, is free and provides testing on a first-come, first-served basis regardless of income, place of residence or immigration status.

 

COVID-19 Testing Center

Cal State University East Bay campus, Lot A

25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward

 

 

EARTHTALK

By Roddy Sheer and Doug Moss

 

Dear EarthTalk: Do you suppose the drop in carbon emissions that resulted from transportation and industry slowdowns during the Coronavirus pandemic will continue — or will we just go right back to normal once the threat has been neutralized?

— Jane Smith, Cranston, Rhode Island

 

No one is happy about the havoc the Coronavirus has wreaked, but one bright side has been the reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that occurred. Global CO2 emissions during April 2020 — while the world was largely locked down — were 17% lower than the same time a year earlier, according to researchers from the UK’s University of Anglia. But emissions are already starting to go back up with the easing of stay-at-home restrictions.

 

This decrease was an unwitting occurrence and it won’t do much to stave off climate change. Dan Gearino, writing in Climate News, says: “…don't expect this to be the silver lining of the disastrous pandemic. Climate scientists and environmental advocates say any short-term drop in emissions gives a misleading sense of progress. This could do harm if it saps some of the urgency to address climate change at a time when there are many competing demands for public money and attention.”

 

Indeed, the United Nations Environment Programme says that global CO2 emissions would have to fall by 7.6% every year this decade — slightly more than the overall reduction we’ll see in 2020 — to limit overall warming to less than the 1.5 Celsius rise scientists warn could turn our world upside down.

 

Stay-at-home orders around the world have no doubt had a positive environmental impact in the short term as fewer cars, trucks and planes ply our roads and airways. But the longer-term outlook isn’t so good, especially when factoring in the damage done to public transit systems. Alon Levy and Eric Goldwyn of NYU’s Marron Institute of Urban Management report in CityLab that public transit ridership in major cities in the U.S., Europe and China is down 50-90 percent.

 

Unfortunately, attracting riders back to potentially crowded buses and trains won’t be so easy, given the germ factor. Who wants to share tight quarters with dozens of strangers on a bus or train given the transmission risks? The irony is that public transit options have been starting to proliferate as various metro areas fund light rail and other mass transit infrastructure projects to boost usage and keep drivers and their cars and trucks off the road.

 

While environmental advocates aren’t optimistic that we can keep up the emissions reductions achieved over the last few months, they are hopeful that the world’s reaction to the pandemic — people and governments coming together to protect human health and minimize loss of life — bodes well for our ability to handle the climate crisis as it gets more critical over the next two decades.

 

EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

 

 

Park It

By Ned MacKay

 

Amid all the coronavirus-related measures, East Bay Regional Park District continues its regular work of planning and opening new parklands for public enjoyment, wildlife habitat protection and historic preservation.

 

For instance, the park district board of directors plans to certify an environmental impact report soon and approve the land use plan for the new Concord Hills Regional Park. Concord Hills, for which a permanent official name will be determined later, is the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

 

After many years of advocacy by the community and the park district for access to the closed weapons station land, the U.S. Navy recently deeded approximately 5,028 acres of the land for civilian use. Part is assigned to the city of Concord and part to the East Bay Regional Park District. In July 2019, at a formal signing ceremony, 2,216 acres were transferred to the park district to create a new regional park in partnership with the National Park Service. The property is between Kirker Pass Road and Highway 4.

 

In summary, the plan calls for hiking and riding trails, picnic sites at some of the former military structures, and a visitor center that will include exhibits on the history of the site, from Native American habitation to the present. The center will be in a restored and redesigned existing building. Completion of work on the land use plan and subsequent public access to the new park won’t occur for several years. First access will likely take the form of guided hikes through areas at the south end of the property that have remained in a generally natural state.

 

You can obtain more information about Concord Hills and take a virtual tour of the new park by visiting www.ebparks.org. At the top right of the home page, click on “Select a Park or Trail” and pick Concord Hills.

 

As of this writing, an overnight curfew was declared from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. at all the East Bay Regional Parks, starting June 1. The regional parks have always been closed overnight; the new curfew just extended the hours of closure, due to coronavirus and civil unrest concerns. The curfew could be altered or lifted if circumstances warrant. The park district follows the measures taken by Alameda County and Contra Costa County governments.

 

Some encouraging news as well: As announced last week, Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond was reopened, with the stipulation that dogs must always be leashed, at least for now. The point is well-known as an off-leash dog park but for the duration of the coronavirus emergency, Rover should not rove unrestrained. In fact, the district now requires dogs to be leashed at all regional parks, not just Point Isabel.

 

Also, the Stanford Avenue staging area at Mission Peak Regional Preserve has reopened. It was closed through May at the request of the City of Fremont. Visitors should be aware that parking is limited at Stanford Avenue, especially on high attendance days, and neighborhood parking rules are strictly enforced. More ample parking is available at a trailhead lot within the nearby Ohlone College campus.

 

For up-to-date information on regional park status, visit www.ebparks.org. Information is available right at the top of the home page.

 

In a previous column, I mentioned that bicycles should be ridden only on wider regional park trails. But Mike Udkow of the Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay points out that there are some narrow-gauge, multi-use trails open to bicycle riders in several regional parks. This is true. Bicycle riders should check the park map and trail signposts, though, before venturing onto a narrow-gauge trail. The main idea is to avoid user conflicts.

I’m Tired

 

Madeline Kahn, as Lilly Von Schtupp in the 1974 movie hit Blazing Saddles, said it best when she told an admiring crowd of rowdy cowboys, “I need some rest.” Speaking of uninspired love, she looks them in the eye and snarls, “Let’s face it, I’m tired!” The repertoire continues as Lilly tells the raucous group that she is “tired of playing the game, isn’t it a crying shame.”

 

The spoof is an apt description for the feelings of many residents who have endured weeks of stay at home orders, loss of livelihood and a barrage of societal evils that have festered for centuries without resolution. Our situation has become a parody of contrived television reality shows that cannot be switched to another channel or turned off. Unlike an episode of Big Brother or Survivor, we are not going to be voted off the show and escape scrutiny and introspection. This isn’t a competition to see who wins a prize or emerges with fame and fortune. Our struggle is for the very soul and decency that is the basis of democratic liberty and freedom.

 

It is tiring to continue to work toward a “more perfect union” and confront imperfections. The easy route is to let someone else do the worrying and relinquish thought and control to others. After all, it can be argued that the average resident has other pressing personal concerns beside behavior that seems distant and removed from daily life. Why all the fuss about things that may not directly affect us?

 

The answer is simple… these issues that have come to the surface including personal safety and financial security DO directly affect our wellbeing. We depend on a system of laws, government administration and checks and balances to protect and guide our societal norms. Without them, irritating, faulty and dangerous behaviors can run rampant and basic services and supplies we depend on every day will cease. Without oversight and examination, an assumption of serenity is fraudulent, leading to disastrous consequences.

 

Inconvenience is a small price to pay for vigilance. The eruption of a global pandemic and revelations of a flawed legal and law enforcement system is a not a reality show. The United States Constitution begins with a preamble that outlines the guiding principles of the document. It states:

 

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,,promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

 

As issues have risen requiring clarification, amendments have been added. Public participation in government was, and remains, an essential component of the United States of America infrastructure. The first amendment, a critical component of the first ten amendments, termed “Bill of Rights”, ratified in 1791, is clear, stating:

 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

 

Leaders of our country in those days were probably tired of the bickering and societal problems that would not disappear with the founding of a new and unique nation. However, they believed so strongly in an ideal, with recognition of human frailty and faults, they persevered and crafted a roadmap toward what they considered a state of grace.

 

Amidst all of our present trials and tribulations, we should do no less.

 

 

Letter to the editor

 

 

 

People want to help

 

Paul Andrus contacted me and another mutual friend towards the end of March about helping with a request the Fremont Bridge Rotary Club received from Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose for fabric face masks. Paul knew that both of us sewed and needed some questions answered about materials, time and logistical needs to fulfill this request. I was placed in charge of organizing a team of volunteers.

 

At first, I reached out to other members of my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as I felt they would not only respond quickly but would also have necessary skills and tools. These friends contacted other friends and they contacted other friends and soon we had 49 volunteers in our group!

 

This amazing group helped with picking up fabric and supplies from the store and donated materials from homes, cutting out fabric, washing fabric, ironing, making bias tape for tying the masks, ironing, constructing masks, ironing, dropping off completed masks, ironing and some more ironing. If you have not caught on, this project required a great deal of ironing!

 

Some people did not feel comfortable with their skills and would ask for assistance. This was complicated by the fact that we were under shelter in place orders. Phone calls, texting, Zoom, Skype and other methods of communication were used to help. It would be safe to say that by the end of this project, everyone’s skills were greatly improved not only in sewing but Zoom and other communication media as well.

 

Some of the volunteers were high school students who were cutting out fabric to help with their required volunteer hours for graduation. Some were retired and had time on hand to help whenever they felt like they could spend the time. Others were trying to juggle the new demands of working remotely and some were parents whose children were now learning from home.

 

There were some extremely colorful masks that had one color for the mask itself, another color for the bias tape straps and a different color for thread. These were the masks that were made with love. There are masks out there that will match the same fabric as is in a quilt on someone’s bed, an apron, or a Halloween costume. I recognized some of this fabric as I had seen the original projects or knew about them.

 

One of the volunteers was helping to make masks for three different organizations. Her husband is high-risk as he has a compromised immune system. Another volunteer was a mother that was also undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. She would go in for treatments one day a week and the other days she would spend time teaching her daughters to sew. Other volunteers had been laid off and wanted to do something positive with their time.

 

Even though the world may be filled with darkness and hatred, there are good people out there that far outnumber the bad. People want to help.

 

Kristin Winmill

Fremont

 

 

Longtime firefighter bids adieu to Fremont Fire Department

Submitted by Fremont Fire Department

 

Officials from the Fremont Fire Department announced on May 23 that longtime colleague Captain Tim Halleran has retired after almost three decades in the profession.

 

Halleran joined the Fremont department in 1999 as a Firefighter/Paramedic recruit after serving six years with the Morro Bay Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic and Fire Engineer. In 2002 Halleran decided to explore another opportunity and took a job as a firefighter with the San Francisco Fire Department. After three years there, he returned to the Fremont department in November, 2005. He was promoted to Fire Engineer in 2015 and to Captain in 2016.

 

 

Florida baseball team lists stadium on AirBnB for $1500

AP Wire Service

 

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP), May 25 – A Florida team is selling people the “ultimate baseball experience” by putting their ocean view stadium up for rent on AirBnB for $1,500 a night.

 

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos says guests will have access to the clubhouse, a large bedroom, the batting cage and the field.

 

“Guests are welcome to hit from home plate, play catch in the outfield, run the bases, enjoy a picnic in the outfield, or find other creative uses for the field,” the listing said.

 

And although the listing had no reviews, the stadium has been fully booked through July.

 

The team said on a Facebook post that it was waiting to hear more on the schedule for the 2020 season from league officials before opening more dates for vacation rentals between July and October.

 

The Minor League Baseball delayed the start of the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

Fremont Police welcome new team members

Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD

 

The Fremont Police Department welcomed four new members to their team in early May. Officers Jaskirat Singh, Chris Brown, and Community Service Officer Sarah Carnahan all have prior law enforcement experience. Joining them is Sabrina Briggs as a new Police Communications Dispatcher.

 

 

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD

 

Wednesday, June 3

• Officers Hawkins and Madsen were dispatched to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle seen near Black Mountain Circle and King Avenue in the Niles area. After locating the vehicle and identifying its three occupants, the officers determined the three suspects had stolen mail from residents on Black Mountain Circle and nearby neighborhoods. All three suspects were arrested and face charges of mail theft, identity theft and narcotic violations.

 

 

Fremont Unified School Board Meeting Highlights

Submitted by Brian Killgore

 

At its June 3rd meeting, Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Board of Education:

 

• Recognized 2020 Retirees – District administration, board trustees and employee group presidents expressed their appreciation for retiring staff and their combined 2,100+ years of service to students.

 

• Approved Addition of a Middle School Counseling Enriched Classroom – Based on current 2020-21 projections, the district will see an increase in students requiring a counseling-enriched environment from 78 to 95 students. The increase is due to multiple factors including IEP team recommendations to return students from nonpublic schools to district programs, new enrollments and students made newly eligible for special education under emotional disturbance or other health impairment.

 

An additional counseling-enriched class has fiscal benefits as student tuition costs at non-public schools can range from $50,000 to $80,000 per pupil. In addition, students must be transported to nonpublic schools at a cost that can range from $50 to $200 per day, with an average of $12,000 per student. FUSD has formed a partnership with Seneca, who currently support our successful Green Elementary counseling-enriched program. The Seneca class would provide in-district placement to students with mental health needs and would allow students to return to the district from nonpublic school settings.

 

• Reviewed and Considered if Summer Meals Should be Provided Without Federal and State Reimbursable Funds – Five district schools will provide reimbursable free breakfast and free lunch meals to children through June 30. If FUSD decides to continue to serve free breakfast and free lunch meals to children from July 1 to August 25, there will not be USDA or State meal reimbursement, and the cost to the cafeteria funds will be $341,000. Given the lack of funding, staff recommends that the district stop offering free school meals after June 30 at every site except for Cabrillo. Board votes 5-0 to approve staff’s recommendation to only provide meals, as allowed, at Cabrillo Elementary, Robertson High School, and other qualifying sites should funds become available.

 

• Authorized Staff to Enter into an Agreement with APEX – Summer school staff is soliciting technology needs from students and families during registration and will distribute technology to students and families on June 15 and June 16, the week before classes start. Purchase of Apex site licenses includes:
• Apex Virtual Training: a total of six hours to train teachers how to operate Apex courses and how to deliver instruction with fidelity
• Apex staff will collaborate with FUSD summer school staff to create the training agenda
• Subscriptions are for one calendar year: For these subscriptions, one student will use one subscription per course they take this summer (Students take 1-2 courses in our credit recovery program.)
• Teachers design courses within the Apex system and can note areas where students demonstrate weakness for re-teaching opportunities.
• Apex is known and proven as it is used at John F. Kennedy High School and Fremont Adult and Continuing Education.
• Licenses purchased for credit recovery summer school will be available for one calendar year and sites can use licenses to assist students throughout the year to make missed credits in their pursuit of a high school diploma.

 

• Authorized Staff to Allow the City of Fremont’s Use of School Facilities – FUSD facilities have been temporarily closed during the shelter-in-place order. The city would like to open summer day camp programs beginning July 6 at the following six sites: Grimmer, Brier, Cabrillo, Chadbourne, Patterson, and Vallejo Mill. The city is prepared to comply with and exceed the Alameda County Public Health Department’s guidelines for day camps and educational/recreational programs during the shelter in place order.

 

 

Friends of Chabot College raises $185,000 to support students in need

Submitted by Guisselle Nunez

 

To address many inquiries from donors and the community to support Chabot students impacted by the current pandemic, The Friends of Chabot College (FCC) established the COVID-19 Emergency Student Aid Appeal to accept donations to meet emerging student needs.

 

Students are facing a multitude of challenges: losing hourly and service industry jobs, having significant work hours cut, transitioning to taking courses remotely and facing technology access issues while taking care of family at home, and struggling to pay for basic needs (food, utilities, rent). In order to alleviate stress as much as possible, funds are directed to the areas of greatest need for students including technology resources for remote/distance learning (laptops, internet hot-spots and software applications) and basic needs (food and living expenses).

 

To date, Friends of Chabot College has raised over $190,000 in donations. Since April 1, the organization has awarded $93,000 in direct aid to students and distributed 200 Chromebooks. Remaining funds are being reserved for distribution in July and August for undocumented, international, and other enrolled Chabot students who are ineligible for CARES Act aid. A breakdown of funding received follows:

 

Stupski Foundation ($150,000)

United Way Bay Area ($20,000)

Fremont Bank ($5,000)

Foundation for CA Community Colleges First Response Healthcare Student Support ($4,545)

Academic Senate and FCC Emergency Aid Funds (~$10,000)

 

“The Friends of Chabot College foundation board saw the need to provide an easy way to collect donations because this is such a big change for our students, and we know all of our students don’t have the necessary technology at home,” said Yvonne Wu Craig, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at Chabot College. “A lot of our students use our library to access Wi-Fi and expressed concerns that they didn’t know how to continue their courses without Wi-Fi or a laptop. We are working to fill that gap and ensure our students have the resources to succeed and reach their educational goals in this ever-changing environment.”

 

Chabot College is fortunate to be part of such a giving community and appreciates the outpouring of support already received. Support is still needed to help our students during this unprecedented time. To support the Friends of Chabot College Emergency Student Aid Appeal, visit: supportchabotcollege.org.

 

 

Google says it won't build AI tools for oil and gas drillers

May 19

By Matt O'brien

AP Technology Writer

 

Google says it will no longer build custom artificial intelligence tools for speeding up oil and gas extraction, separating itself from cloud computing rivals Microsoft and Amazon.

 

A statement from the company Tuesday followed a Greenpeace report that documents how the three tech giants are using AI and computing power to help oil companies find and access oil and gas deposits in the U.S. and around the world.

 

The environmentalist group says Amazon, Microsoft and Google have been undermining their own climate change pledges by partnering with major oil companies including Shell, BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil that have looked for new technology to get more oil and gas out of the ground.

 

But the group applauded Google on Tuesday for taking a step away from those deals.

 

“While Google still has a few legacy contracts with oil and gas firms, we welcome this indication from Google that it will no longer build custom solutions for upstream oil and gas extraction,” said Elizabeth Jardim, senior corporate campaigner for Greenpeace USA.

 

Google said it will honor all existing contracts with its customers, but didn't specify what companies. A Google cloud executive had earlier in May revealed the new policy during a video interview.

 

Greenpeace's report says Microsoft appears to be leading the way with the most oil and contracts, “offering AI capabilities in all phases of oil production.” Amazon's contracts are more focused on pipelines, shipping and fuel storage, according to the report. Their tools have been deployed to speed up shale extraction, especially from the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.

 

Some of the contracts have led to internal protests by employees who are pushing their companies to do more to combat climate change.

 

Amazon declined to comment on the Greenpeace report, but pointed to wording on its website that said “the energy industry should have access to the same technologies as other industries.”

 

Microsoft published a blog statement Tuesday that didn't address Greenpeace's claims but emphasized the company's commitment to remove from the air all the carbon it has ever emitted by 2050.

––

 

AP reporter Joseph Pisani contributed to this report.

 

 

Man injured in officer involved shooting

Submitted by Officer Claudia Mau, HPD

 

A man in his early 60s was hospitalized on Wednesday, May 27 after an officer involved shooting in Hayward.

 

The incident started at about 12:44 p.m. when Hayward Police Department (HPD) officers responded to a call about a man on a motorcycle chasing another person and also banging on doors in a residential neighborhood around Bahama and Sleepy Hollow avenues.

 

When officers located the man, he reportedly approached them with a weapon, later identified by police as a knife, which prompted one officer to fire a Taser, while others discharged service weapons. The man, identified by local media as Eric Rosalia, 61, of Hayward, was injured and taken to a hospital by medical responders for treatment.

 

In a press conference the next day, Hayward Police Chief Toney Chaplin said Rosalia later admitted to lunging at officers with a knife and apologized. He added that Rosalia was released from the hospital Thursday, May 28 and booked at Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

 

Meanwhile, HPD investigators are gathering witness statements and analyzing officer testimony to determine what events led to the shooting. Anyone that has information that can assist with the investigation is asked to call Det. Ryan Sprague at (510) 293-7176. In addition to the HPD internal investigation, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent investigation. The identities of the man and the officer have not been released.

 

 

Sign up for Junior Giants

Submitted by City of Hayward Police Department

 

Junior Giants at Home registration is now open for Summer Season 1, which starts the week of June 8. Sign up for the virtual season and bring the fun of the field to your home. During this four-week season, Junior Giants learn the fundamentals of the game and are introduced to important lessons in health, education, and character development.

 

The live, age-specific practices include indoor-friendly exercises, Word of the Week talks, and training videos from the @SFGiants coaching staff. To sign up and for more information, visit https://jrgiantsathome.org/hayward.

 

 

Kiwanis Club awards turnaround scholarships

Submitted by Shirley Sisk

 

Kiwanis Club of Fremont Foundation is awarding $1,500 scholarships to 11 students. These scholarships are in recognition of at-risk high school seniors who have “turned around” their lives after disastrous beginnings in high school and before. The program’s recipients are honored because they confronted and overcame problems such as abusive parents, gang violence, depression, sexual assault, poverty, homelessness, family substance abuse, addiction, and more. These scholarship recipients are courageous young people and are now looking forward to completing college or trade school. All recipients were nominated by counselors or teachers from their schools.

 

Receiving awards:

Christopher Castillo Jr. – Conley Caraballo High

Amber Cordero – American High

Criselle Feria – American High

Imani Finkley – Logan High

Janel Gonzalez – Decoto School for IS

Ulisses Cruz Jasso – Decoto School for IS

Eric Lambruschini – Newark High

Maria Martinez – Decoto School for IS

Ann Maria Philip – Decoto School for IS

Jazzy Shegal – Logan High

Linh Truong – Newark High

 

These graduates’ career goals include: Masters in Psych & Kinesiology, Business, Medical School, PhD in Astrophysics, Bachelors in Business, Computer Science, Political Science, Civil Rights Law, Masters in Nursing, Bachelors in TV & Film, and Masters in Pharmacy.

 

Each student has been assigned a Kiwanis Club of Fremont mentor who will be there for them in their college years whenever they are needed and will monitor the students’ progress and give advice and encouragement so that their goal of a diploma is realized.

 

 

California to decide if labor law applies to app drivers

By Cuneyt Dil

Associated Press

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), May 22 – A ballot initiative backed by business giants Uber, Lyft and DoorDash is now set to go before California voters in November, a multimillion-dollar shot aimed at excluding the companies from a law that would make them give more benefits and wage protections to their drivers.

 

California approved the labor law last year, the strictest in the country around when employers can classify workers as independent contractors. It's aimed at pushing businesses to put more freelancers and independent workers on payroll, ensuring access to benefits and minimum wages. Praised by labor groups, the sweeping law set off lawsuits from independent contractors like truck drivers and freelance writers who say it puts them out of work.

 

Titans of the so-called gig economy like Uber are mounting the fiercest resistance. Joined with ride-hailing rival Lyft and food-delivery service DoorDash, they want California voters in November to essentially exempt app-based drivers from the law's restrictions. All three committed to spend at least $30 million each promoting the measure, surely making it one of California's most expensive ballot fights.

 

California's secretary of state announced late on Friday the measure became eligible for the ballot after collecting over 623,000 signatures.

 

If the companies are successful in California, it could set a national precedent.

 

The companies want the power to keep their workers independent, proposing as part of the ballot measure a new law that would give drivers who work at least 25 hours a week full health coverage and benefits if they are injured on the job. Drivers would be able to work across any app and earn a base of 120% of minimum wage plus more based on miles driven.

 

California upped the stakes over the fight when it sued Uber and Lyft in early May for allegedly misclassifying its drivers as independent contractors under the law. The coalition leading the ballot initiative, Protect App-Based Drivers & Services, claims to represent 60,000 drivers and said the lawsuit would lead to job losses during the pandemic-induced recession.

 

Labor organizations have vowed to fight the initiative since it began collecting signatures this year, but campaigning will be uncertain due to the coronavirus outbreak derailing traditional canvassing efforts. Campaigners said in late February they had already collected over a million signatures to qualify the initiative, much more than required.

 

“It's a power grab by Uber and Lyft to essentially write a law that exempts them from basic worker protections,” said Steve Smith, a spokesman for the California Labor Federation, which plans to replace door knocking with more phone calls and texts to voters in opposition. “It's going to be a bit of a battle royale.“

 

Stacey Wells, a spokeswoman for the ballot campaign, said the proposal is a “win-win for drivers.“

 

She said 80% of the million or so drivers in California work for apps for fewer than 20 hours a week. The new benefits will be a draw for drivers, she said, “versus a rigid employment model that's going to prevent them from working on multiple apps with a set schedule.”

 

Critics also accuse the law of unfairly targeting some industries. Freelancer groups for journalists and photographers earlier this year unsuccessfully argued the law cannot exempt some writers from the its rules while it holds freelance news journalists to a stricter standard. They are appealing a federal judge's dismissal of the case.

 

 

LEAF newsletter

Submitted by LEAF president’s office

 

Are you planting a tomato or two for the first time? Expanding your veggie garden? If so, you're not alone. LEAF’s (Local Ecology Agriculture Fremont) seedlings sold like hotcakes.

 

By growing your own food you’re avoiding toxic chemicals and having a positive environmental impact. Instead of buying produce that has been transported for miles on a gas-guzzling 18-wheeler, you’re just walking out to your garden. Instead of buying tomatoes processed into cans and bottles, you’re making your own sauce these days.

 

The evils of monoculture are many, including surprisingly low productivity – despite expensive input. Studies have shown that home gardeners can produce four to eleven times more produce (by weight) than a farmer. Why? Because we can tuck in a basil here, some thyme there, thus planting more densely. This variety attracts more beneficial insects, resulting in fewer pests. More bees and butterflies! Check. More worms and soil life! Check. Cleaner air and more healthy food. Check, check. Pat yourself on the back, dear Environmentalist.

 

By the way, did you know LEAF’s website now has a blog? We’ve been posting frequently since shelter-in-place went into effect. Here are some of the latest topics:

• Don’t throw it; Grow it!
• Grow one serving of greens per day in your home
• Recipe: Beet, radish and onion greens
• The Finer Points of Slug Hunting
• Victory Gardens

Please do leave a comment – our contributors would love to hear from you! And if you're interested in contributing, contact our Blog Editor, Glennda Chui at glennda@gmail.com.

 

Be well and happy gardening!

 

 

Four arrested in Milpitas attempted homicide

Submitted by Lt. John Torrez, Milpitas Police

 

After a two-week investigation that included assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, Milpitas police detectives have arrested four suspects in connection with a May 12 incident when multiple gunshots were fired into a residential home.

 

The events started at 12:59 a.m. when officers responded to gunshots heard on the 200 block of Lynn Avenue. Arriving officers determined that numerous shots had been fired into a home by multiple suspects, but no one was injured.

 

Within four days detectives were able to identify three suspects: Jimmy Huy Quang Phan Nguyen, 24, Johnny Vinh Quang Phan Nguyen, 28, both of Milpitas, and Joseph Lapena Feliciano, 24, of San Jose.

 

Armed with search warrants, Milpitas Police Department SWAT and SWAT teams from the Fremont Police Department, Santa Clara Police Department, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team served simultaneous search warrants on May 20 at three locations in Milpitas and two locations in San Jose. The suspects were located, arrested, and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail.

 

Then, on May 26, detectives located a fourth suspect, Dennis Chau Pham, 21, in Burlingame. They arrested him without incident and he was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail. All four suspects are facing various charges including attempted homicide and carrying a loaded firearm.

 

An investigation is continuing and police are asking that anyone who has information that might help to call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400. Information can also be given anonymously by calling the Crime Tip Hotline at (408) 586-2500 or via the Milpitas Police Department Website at http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip

 

 

Milpitas Police Log

Submitted by Milpitas PD

 

Friday, May 29

• Evening shift officers responded to a report of a carjacking in the parking lot at The Great Mall of the Bay Area. The victim had agreed to meet an unknown person near the Home Depot store to sell his 2016 Hyundai Sonata. During negotiations the suspect pushed the victim away and stole the car. Officers located the car in the parking lot of a nearby motel on the 400 block of South Main Street. Officers looked at motel video surveillance and determined the suspect was in one of the rooms. They went to the room and the suspect, a 17-year-old male from Oakland, was arrested without incident. He was booked into Juvenile Hall on carjacking charges. There were no injuries.

Milpitas City Council

June 2, 2020

 

The meeting started with a moment of silence in remembrance of of George Floyd.

 

Proclamation:

• June 1 – 7, 2020 was proclaimed as Milpitas High School Senior Recognition Week.

 

Consent Calendar

• Established Fees for Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services.
• Authorized the purchase of a Camera System for the Public Works Department Sanitary Sewer System from Jack Doheny Companies.
• Approved the purchase from Axon Enterprise, Inc. of Body Worn Cameras, Conducted Electrical Weapons, Accessories and a Supplemental Subscription to Evidence.com cloud-based storage. Also approved standardization of Axon Enterprise, Inc. equipment as the standard brand for the City of Milpitas.
• Approved a five-year agreement between the County of Santa Clara and the City of Milpitas for Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) services.
• Authorized an Agreement with Invoice Cloud for e-bill presentment and e-payment of utility and miscellaneous invoices for a five-year period.

 

Public Hearings

• Following a public hearing approved the Fiscal Year 2020- 21 Operating Budget and the 2020-2025 Capital Improvement Program for the City of Milpitas and the Milpitas Housing Authority.
• Following a public hearing amended Milpitas Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units.

 

Community Development:

• Approved a term extension to the predevelopment loan agreement entered into by Resources for Community Development and the City of Milpitas Housing Authority for 355 Sango Court.

 

Small Business Loan Program:

• Approved a $200,000 Milpitas Small Business Loan Program and authorized execution of a contract with Enterprise Foundation and Kiva to act as fiscal agent of the small business loan program.
• There was no consensus in the discussions about Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

 

Rich Tran (Mayor)                              Aye

Bob Nunez (Vice Mayor)                   Aye

Carmen Montano                                Aye

Karina Dominguez                              Aye

Anthony Phan                                     Aye

 

 

California Nursery: Mother Orchard

By Charlene Dizon

Photos courtesy of Dr. Joyce Blueford

 

Though the Mother Orchard within Niles of Fremont has long been removed from the property, its role in producing trees through grafting rather than hybridization emphasizes California Nursery Company’s desire to pursue different techniques for top quality products.

 

Mother Orchard was created by American nurseryman John Rock in the late 1800s. The sixty acres of land became an essential area for producing and testing various tree species. Rock wanted to ensure that the nursery trees grown would meet the contrasts of soil and climate throughout California. Quality and quantity were taken into consideration. The trees produced were from scions, also known as buds, cut from parent trees that were known to adapt to various climates and soil. These scions were then grafted onto the rootstock of another plant, thus creating a new plant type. By opening such an experimental orchard, Rock was able to introduce more European trees than any other nurseryman at the time. These heirloom trees were then sold to agriculturalists on the West Coast. Such meticulous work required additional help from California Nursery employees, specifically one that would be able to handle a managerial position.

 

Ah Yen, a Chinese immigrant who worked on the California Nursery property, lived in an early Chinese housing site during the late 1880s. Yen was recruited from China due to his expertise in agriculture. He worked under Rock as well as William Landers and the Roeding family, the nursery’s later owners. Though Chinese immigrants of the time were often seen solely as laborers, Yen held a significant managerial position due to his diligent work with the Mother Orchard. He held complete control of the orchard and was trusted to handle the care of trees. Yen also maintained records of each grafting experiment and labeled each tree individually to avoid possible confusion. He especially proved an asset during the Roedings’ ownership of the nursery, as George Roeding Sr.’s operations became popular due to the careful organization of plant labeling and record keeping. Mother Orchard grew to be the largest in North America, providing scions worldwide that would cultivate different tree varieties, including figs, plums, peaches, prunes, apples, cherries, and many more.

 

Despite Mother Orchard’s great success, the operation was removed between 1934 and 1936. Before this removal, several attempts were made to save the orchard due to the amount certified pedigree plants that had been so thoroughly categorized. George Roeding Jr. hoped to have the University of California purchase or take over the land and its operations. George Sr. had been a University of California regent responsible for forming UC Davis, the Agricultural Schools and Depository in California. Unfortunately, the university did not have the funds to oversee such detailed work during this time. A few rows of the orchard remained until the 1950s when it was turned over for gravel extraction. Today this land is known as Quarry Lakes, a local recreational area.

 

Though the Mother Orchard no longer exists, its great achievement in grafting and selling thousands of new tree breeds deserves acknowledgment and remembrance. “We would love to display an exhibit on Ah Yen’s relationship with the California Nursery owners over the years,” states Math Science Nucleus (MSN) Board Member Karen Anderson. The amount of effort put into the Mother Orchard intrinsically links to the California Nursery’s values of providing agricultural resources to all who wished to learn about or grow various tree breeds throughout California.

 

California Nursery Historical Park is located at 36550 Niles Boulevard in Fremont. For those interested in becoming a historical docent or volunteer opportunities, please contact the Math Science Nucleus for more information at msn@msnucleus.org or call (510) 790-6284.

Virtual music academy connects young artists with professionals

Submitted by Queenie Chong

 

Jenny Lin Foundation hosts a free music program every summer for youths across the Bay Area. Over 26 years, more than 4,500 young musicians have had the opportunity to meet with peers from other schools, perform ensemble music, and develop leadership skills in a safe environment.

 

Since our youths will not be able to gather in person this summer, the foundation is sponsoring a “Virtual Academy” series of free webinars which feature successful professionals in the music industry. These interactive Zoom sessions will be held from 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mondays to Wednesdays starting June 15 and continuing through July 8.

 

Participants will have a chance to meet our celebrated artists who are shining throughout the Bay Area, Hollywood, Broadway and across the nation. During the program participants will learn about the artists’ latest projects and be able to ask them questions about their music careers.

 

Guests will include Gordon Goodwin, Harrell Harris, Aaron Shaul, Ricky Garcia, Andrew Boysen, Jack Stamp, Dawn Richardson, John Mader, Richard Meyer, Jay Mason, Ellyn Marsh, John Mackey and Robert Litton

 

Students entering sixth grade and up along with their parents are welcome to join one or all of the sessions. To view biographies of the guest artists or register for the program, visit https://jennylinfoundation.org/.

 

Online Summer Music Academy

Mondays – Wednesdays, Jun 15 – Jul 8

6:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Via Zoom internet connection

Students 6th grade and up

 

 

Navajo Nation: local healthcare workers extend their stay for aid

By Fatema Bhaiji

Photos by Aylin Ulku and courtesy of Navajo People Photo Gallery

 

The Navajo Nation occupies regions of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico and is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases. For generations, tribes in the Navajo Nation have been neglected by the government, but the Medical School of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) sent dozens of doctors and nurses to the Nation for extra help during the crisis.

 

Omar Ali has been a critical care nurse for three years and currently works for UCSF. He and other health care workers were deployed on April 22, with a plan to work with the Navajo Nation for a month—but the time was extended due to no positive changes in the number of coronavirus cases. In addition to UCSF, organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and workers from across the country continue to come in an attempt to flatten the curve of coronavirus.

 

Even with extreme lockdown measures, the efforts of native people and healthcare workers are not working to slow the highest per capita infection rate, because 40% of the population does not have access to running water or electricity so even the simplest of hygiene rituals such as washing hands are difficult. Since a traditional Navajo house contains multiple generations of a family, those who live there have a higher rate of getting exposed to COVID-19 because one person who brings it home could spread it to all of their family members. Entire communities have to go to a couple of main grocery stores to get water and other essentials during a small time frame in which they are allowed to leave their houses.

 

Omar Ali works in a critical care unit designed for all patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, where the patient statuses vary from relatively stable to unstable and very sick. Healthcare workers there risk their wellbeing to prepare for emergencies where they sometimes have to put patients on a ventilator in order to keep them breathing and alive.

 

Workers continue to take protective measures to ensure the health of those with Coronavirus; one of these is setting up ways to isolated the infected. “They’re setting up alternative health sites, which are essentially not totally designed for healthcare, but just to isolate people,” says Ali. People who have been discharged but are still infectious go to these sites, some of which are hotels, so they don’t infect the rest of their family. He explains, “Having enough of these places for people to go to safely self-isolate is what I think will turn things around.”

 

Used to being a nurse in such an urban environment at UCSF, Ali noticed some very striking differences with the Navajo culture. One is that their population is very homogenous and traditional. Omar Ali says that “the biggest challenge is having the healthcare discussions that require advanced directives and end-of-life conversations…traditionally, the Navajos don’t speak about those things because if you speak about it, the belief is you’ll make it happen.” Being a healthcare worker in this type of traditional environment requires an establishment of trust and adjustment to culture so patients are more likely to engage.

 

He states that one of the tasks a healthcare worker has to do especially in an unstable environment is to “keep their morale up…that is the biggest thing we do on a day to day basis regardless of how sick they are…it’s very isolating and they are removed from their families.”

 

Independent territories and groups like the Navajo Nation contain so much history, as do the tribes that first settled on land which we now call the Bay Area. As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in this region, there is a significant need to keep tradition alive. Ali explains “These are our First Citizens, they are the past, present and future stewards of the land and deserve our respect and attention.”

 

 

New Openings

Submitted by Supervisor Dave Cortese

 

Santa Clara County moves into a new phase of Shelter in Place (June 5), allowing more businesses to reopen and activities to resume. And that’s because you as individuals, and we as a community, have taken the Shelter in Place guidelines seriously and helped to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases. The numbers are still rising, but at a much slower pace than at the beginning of the pandemic in the County.

 

Over the past several weeks, I convened task forces to work with employees and employers in a variety of sectors to pursue the safe resumption of work and reopening of our economy. My office and I have been working hard to support small-business owners and workers as they prepare to open under safety precautions.

 

Here’s a partial list of new openings since the last order:

• Businesses— Outdoor dining at restaurants, in-store shopping at retail and shopping centers; all manufacturing, warehousing and logistics; house cleaning and other no-contact in-home services; low contact or no contact service businesses including shoe repair, watch repair and other similar services; pet grooming and dog walking.
• Children— All childcare, summer camps, summer school, and all other educational or recreational programs for all children in stable groups up to 12 children with change of groups allowed every three weeks.
• Outdoor— Small outdoor ceremonies and outdoor religious gatherings in groups no larger than 25; all outdoor recreational activities that do not involve physical contact, with social distancing and with up to one other household, including hiking, tennis, Frisbee and golf; outdoor swimming pools; camping; and drive-in theaters and other automobile-based gatherings. 

 

For each category, there are required protocols and safety measures that must be put in place and followed. We do need to remain vigilant, and allow time – as long as three weeks – for further easing of restrictions to assess the impacts, if any, to these changes.  The Emergency Operations Center has created a graphic (https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspx) that gives you a quick glance of what was already open and what is new. There is also a new FAQ to help guide you.

 

For questions, you can also call my office at 408-299-5030 or email me at dave.cortese@bos.sccgov.org

 

 

Newark City Council

May 28, 2020

 

Special Meeting:

• Study Session to review draft Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Plan 2020-2022.

 

Public Hearings:

• Consider property owners’ objections to 2020 Weed Abatement Program.
• Consider appeal of Planning Commission decision to approve Condition Use Permit for Fitness 19 at 6203 Jarvis Avenue. Appeal denied 5-0.

 

Consent Calendar:

• Remove voter registration requirement for City appointed Boards, Commissions and Committees members.
• Authorize agreement with Tri-City Voice for legal advertising services for FY 2020-2021.
• Accept work of Bond Blacktop, Inc. for 2019 Street Slurry Seal Program.
• Accept work of Pavement Coatings Company for Street Slurry Seal Program (Project 1180).
• Approve partial release of security bonds for Prima residential project.

 

Non-consent:

• Receive results of public opinion research conducted by Godbe Research assessing community interest for an extension of the existing City of Newark Utility Users Tax. Favorable 65%. Extend UUT for nine years.
• Authorize a one-time exception to the systematic decrease in maximum allowable number of safe and sane fireworks booths as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
• Update on City’s response to COVID-19 local emergency.

 

City Council Matters:

• Recognize city programs that conform with restrictions of COVID-19.
• Recognize efforts of city councilpersons.
• Mr. Kjelmyr at Kennedy Elementary School recognized as a local hero.
• Efforts to complete census forms.
• Recognize Nick Cuevas of Parks and Recreation for his efforts.
• Recognize Newark Girls Softball League for sponsoring free Wednesday lunch program.
• Remember social distancing and use of masks.

 

Mayor Alan Nagy                   Aye

Vice Mayor Luis Freitas         Aye

Sucy Collazo                           Aye

Michael Hannon                     Aye

Mike Bucci                             Aye

 

 

Annual Ohlone College student art exhibit on-line gallery

Submitted by Dina Rubiolo

 

Due to Shelter-In-Place orders the 2020 Ohlone College Student Art Exhibition and awards ceremony was presented in a virtual gallery and a zoom reception. Sixty students participated in the annual juried exhibit. The exhibition can be viewed at https://bit.ly/studentartexhibit.

 

Cash awards were given for work judged as best in the categories of painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, and Graphic Design. A Best in Show award was also presented to Sophie Lin for her painting in response to the pandemic titled “Covid-19.” All award recipients can be seen at https://bit.ly/awardslides.

 

Best in category winners include:

Painting- Chingling Tien, Drawing- Balpreet Singh Guraya, Sculpture- Nadia Nasiri, Ceramics- Eugene Yoon, Photography- Paripsa Rana, 2-D Design- Juliana Abraham, 3-D Design- Sakina Damani, Graphic Arts- Gregory Lechner.

 

Our jurors, Brooke, Finister, Barbara Holmes, and Laurel Nathanson selected the participating artists and the awards based on the aesthetics, craft, context, and content that they connected with in the art work. The Olive Hyde Art Guild, a local community arts organization supporting students in their pursuit of visual arts in higher education, provided the funding for the art awards this year.

 

For more information on the exhibit, please contact Dina Rubiolo, Gallery Director, at drubiolo@ohlone.edu or visit www.ohlone.edu/org/artgallery.

 

Annual Ohlone College student art exhibition virtual gallery

https://bit.ly/studentartexhibit.

 

 

Tomato Tales

By Pat Kite

 

Tomato nicknames include love apples, wolf peach, golden apples, “unhealthy apples,” apple of the Moors, and Peruvian apples. A pretty woman was, until recently, a “hot tomato.” Originating in Peru and Mexico, the tomato was a wild plant with tart cherry-size yellowish fruits. The word “tomato” comes from the Aztec word “tomatle.”

 

Spanish explorers brought the first tomato seeds to Europe. Tomatoes were not used as food until recently. Among other problems, they were accused of transforming people into werewolves and witches. Around A.D. 1300, there was a “witch craze” where thousands of women were purged for growing tomatoes. Investigators thought witches put tomato juice on their broomsticks to help them fly.

 

The tomato was not only “naughty and corrupt,” but also poisonous, proclaimed early botanists. It is a member of the plant family Solanaceae, along with belladonna and deadly nightshade (the plant looks quite similar.) In 1544, naturalist P. Mattioli initially called it the “golden apple,” but later decided “mala insana” or “unhealthy apple” fit better. One reason: Some people were eating the leaves as well as the fruit. Tomato leaves and stems will make you sick.

 

During colonial times, nobody would eat a tomato. Tomatoes were grown as garden decoration. A Harvard-trained doctor blamed tomatoes for everything from bleeding gums to hemorrhoids. This all continued until about 1840, when, according to legend, Colonel Robert G. Johnson stood on the steps of the Salem, New Jersey courthouse eating an entire basket of raw tomatoes. Over 2000 people waited for him to drop dead. He did not. But even 50 years later, there were still cookbooks recommending cooking tomatoes for at least three hours to avoid all poisoning risks.

 

The tomato is botanically a fruit. In 1893, an importer claimed it as a fruit to avoid vegetable import tariffs. This dispute went to the Supreme Court. It decreed that for taxation purposes it was a vegetable. Why? Because it was usually used as a vegetable. Fruits were usually used for desserts.

 

The ancestor of modern ketchup was completely tomato-free. Instead, the precursor to our ketchup was a fermented fish sauce from southern China. As far back as 300 B.C., texts began documenting the use of fermented pastes made from fish entrails, meat by-products, and soybeans. The fish sauce was called “ge-thcup” or “koe-cheup.” It stored easily on long ocean voyages. Cookbooks often featured recipes for ketchups made of oysters, mussels, mushrooms, walnuts, lemons, celery, and fruits such as plums and peaches.

 

Finally, in 1812, the first recipe for tomato-based ketchup debuted. James Mease, a Philadelphia scientist, is credited with developing the recipe. He wrote that the choicest ketchup came from “love apples,” as tomatoes were then called. (Some believed tomatoes had aphrodisiac powers.) A relatively new company called Heinz introduced its famous formulation in 1876, which contained tomatoes, distilled vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and various spices. Some people put ketchup on everything, including desserts. Yum.

 

 

Students start produce delivery service

By Dhoha Bareche

 

The present pandemic has put restrictions on daily life and forced people to adopt new lifestyles for their health and safety. However, efforts to cope with this new way of life have emerged. A group of Bay Area residents recently started a produce delivery service to support local farmers and allow people to order fresh produce from the comfort of their own home. Not only did they deliver groceries at a discounted rate, but they also donated all proceeds to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Foundation.

 

When Ethan Hu, a 15-year old student at Irvington high school, and his family realized that local farmers were not able to sell all their produce during this pandemic, they thought of starting a non-profit program to provide support. After Ethan proposed the idea to his family and friends, he received immediate support from Sophia Ren (9th grade at Irvington high School), Kevin Weng (8th grade at Basis Independent), Wesley Ren (6th grade at Stratford). A partnership was quickly formed, beginning efforts during the second week of April and continuing until mid-May. Hu explains, “We wanted to help local farmers to sell their produce, especially to those who would not be comfortable with leaving their homes under shelter-in-place, while ensuring their health and safety by guaranteeing delivery.”

 

Unlike mainstream food delivery programs, the group made their service as affordable and accessible as possible by providing farmer’s market prices and free and reliable delivery. Since their goal was to support the local economy and provide fresher produce, they contacted many farmers and had a total of 15 suppliers readily available. They coordinated their service with more than 200 families via WeChat, a messaging and social media application, since they deemed it to be the most successful means of advertising compared to other social networking platforms.

 

During their five weeks of operation, they focused on taking the health precautions necessary to ensure the safety of their customers. “Even when business started to get busier, we maintained thorough sanitation and protective strategies,” says Hu. At their peak, they received more than 40 orders a week and continued to ensure customer satisfaction.

 

Although the group sees a prosperous future for their business, they decided to pause operations after five weeks as shelter-in-place restrictions have loosened in the Bay Area, and people hoped for a return to normal. However, continuing their service and expanding their operations is a possibility and would require paid workers, more suppliers, and strong marketing expansion.

 

Each member participated actively in this service: Sophia was primarily responsible for marketing and finance, Kevin contributed to the operation, and Wesley developed a mini app for collecting orders. Hu describes his experience running the program as enriching and positive. He says, “It taught us a lot about ourselves and enhanced our communication and entrepreneurial skills that would help us succeed in future business projects.” The program has also helped them stay productive and sane during shelter-in-place by keeping them busy and contributing to the public good.

 

“There needs to be an emphasis on goodwill, and we want our communities to stay happy and healthy,” says Hu when asked about why citizens need to support local efforts and limit social interaction. Through this program, they were able to help farmers, make it easier for the community to order produce from home, and donate to those affected by the pandemic.

 

For more information: Ethan Hu (ethanddhu@yahoo.com)

 

 

THE ROBOT REPORT

By Steve Crowe

 

COVID-19 won’t stop lawns from being mowed, but it looks like you’ll be doing it the old-fashioned way for even longer. iRobot has delayed the launch of its long-awaited Terra robot lawn mower. And the Bedford, Mass.-based company hasn’t specified a future launch date for the product.

 

In its Q1 2020 earnings call, iRobot said it “suspended our go-to-market plans associated with our Terra robot mower. Although we believe there is substantial long-term opportunity in the robot lawncare market, our decision to take our foot off the gas for Terra was based largely on the likelihood of significant delays to our 2020 commercial plans for Terra caused by COVID-19 combined with the overall intensity of ongoing technology investment that would be required over the coming quarters to continue advancing the product. It is simply the wrong time to launch this product.”

 

There has been talk of an iRobot robot lawn mower since at least 2006, but the Roomba-like Terra was officially unveiled in January 2019. iRobot was touting ease of use as one of the main differentiators from other robotic mowers. Instead of having to bury and run boundary wires throughout a yard, iRobot claims that it will simplify the process for consumers. Another benefit of Terra is that it mows in straight, back-and-forth lines, which many robot lawn mowers do not.

 

iRobot stressed on the earnings call that all other product development and digital roadmaps are funded and on track, including plans to launch a new Roomba later in 2020.

 

COVID-19 to blame for cost-cutting initiatives

Overall, iRobot’s revenue declined by 28% in the U.S., 11% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and 14% in Japan. According to iRobot, COVID-19 disrupted its sales and supply chain activities in March.

 

“The largest factor associated with the shortfall was our inability to completely fulfill first-quarter demand for our i7+ and s9+ products due to design-driven engineering and supply chain challenges that were unexpectedly complicated by the impact of COVID-19 on our organization, our contract manufacturers and some suppliers,” the company said.

 

iRobot’s revenue was also affected by subpar Q1 manufacturing volumes in China. Due to COVID-19, iRobot’s contract manufacturers didn’t ramp back up to full capacity until late March.

 

iRobot also laid off 70 employees, mostly in R&D, and furloughed 14 sales and marketing staff. iRobot said the Terra delay and staff reductions are part its cost-reduction initiatives that are expected to “reduce 2020 spending by approximately $30 million.”

 

Steve Crowe is Editor of The Robot Report and co-chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo. He can be reached at scrowe@wtwhmedia.com

 

 

San Leandro City Council

June 6th, 2020*

 

Announcements

• Mayor Russo-Cutter posted a statement on the city website acknowledging George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests and violence.
• The city rejected the claim filed by Emerald Black, a pregnant woman who miscarried after an altercation with San Leandro police. Body camera footage of the incident will be released.

 

Recognitions:

• Proclamation honoring graduating San Leandro residents.
• Declare June as Pride Month; celebrate 26th anniversary of Lavender Seniors of the East Bay.

 

Public Comments:

• Resident called for a citizen review board to be established.
• Resident expressed displeasure of release of prisoners in California because of COVID-19.
• Resident questioned the use of body cams to curb excessive use of force.

 

Presentations:

• Staff discussion on the Community Assessment Treatment and Transport Team (CATT)
• Resident expressed support for CATT.
• Resident questioned how CATT team would respond to a case like Steven Taylor’s when an officer involved shooting occurs quickly.

 

Public Hearings:

• Motion to hold a public hearing and publish the draft amendments to the FY 2015-2020 five-year consolidated plan, FY 2019-2020 annual action plan, and citizen participation plan for a 5-day comment period (June 2 – June 7, 2020), and set a public hearing for June 15, 2020 to consider final approval of all amendments.

 

Consent Calendar:

• Authorize application for local government planning support grant program funds.
• Amend salary schedule to comply with the city’s minimum wage ordinance.
• Approve amendment to services agreement with Arborist Now, Inc. for Boulevard Yarwood Sycamore tree trimming.
• Amend Municipal Code relating to adjustment of the Emergency Medical Services Tax (EMS Tax) to increase by a CPI of 3.31%.
• Amend Municipal Code relating to adjustment of the Emergency Communication System Access Tax (911 Tax), to increase by a CPI of 3.31%.

 

Items Removed from Consent Calendar:

• Resolution of the city council authorizing city manager to approve a non-professional service agreement with ANI Private Security and Patrol, Inc. for $65,000.
• Resolution of the council for the city provide essential services and advocate for fair, direct federal emergency support to assist in the re-opening and rebuilding of the local economy.
• Ordinance of the city council amending section 2-2-500 of the San Leandro Municipal Code for the Annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment to Business License Fees, to increase fees by CPI of 3.31%.

 

Action Items:

• Authorize termination of the existing lease agreement with American Golf Corporation.
• Discussion of the city’s response to COVID-19.
• Ratify a proclamation of local emergency due to civil unrest.
• Public comment: Resident encouraged the council to vote against the resolution.

 

Report on Closed Session Actions Taken:

• Send a letter to the California attorney general to investigate the use of deadly force in the shooting of Steven Taylor.
• Create an Equity and Race (EAR) advisory committee.

 

Reports:

• Councilmember Hernandez attended the East Bay Community Energy meeting where the budget was passed with a million dollar surplus.
• Councilmember Cox attended the Alameda County Waste Management Authority meeting where there was a discussion of how COVID-19 would impact recycling efforts. She also attended the Alameda County Transportation Commission where it was reported that freeway express lanes are reopening and traffic is up 60%.
• Councilmember Cutter also attended the Alameda County Transportation Commission meeting where they discussed a possible train route from Alameda County to San Joaquin County. She also attended the East Bay Dischargers Authority meeting where they discussed a spill that occurred at one of the facilities.

 

Councilmember Requests to Schedule Agenda Items

• Councilmember Cox requested staff investigate ways funds can be cut from councilmember budgets. Motion failed: 4-3, Lee, Aguilar, Ballew (Nay), Lope (Abstain)
• Councilmember Aguilar requested staff to investigate reverting to the mayor’s original salary. Motion failed: 4-3, Cutter, Cox, Ballew, Hernandez (Nay).
• Councilmember Lee requested staff to look into assembling a community budget task force. Motion passed: 7-0.
• Councilmember Aguilar requested staff to investigate a moratorium on delivery app (Uber Eats, Postmates, and Doordash) commissions above 15% in San Leandro until all restaurants can reopen for dine-in service. Item passed: 7-0

 

Meeting adjourned in memory of George Floyd and Steven Taylor as well as those in the community who have lost someone to COVID-19.

 

Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter                           Aye, 1 Nay

Vice Mayor Pete Ballew                                 Aye, 1 Nay

Victor Aguilar, Jr.                                           Aye, 1 Nay

Ed Hernandez                                                 Aye, 1 Nay

Benny Lee                                                       Aye, 1 Nay

Deborah Cox                                                   Aye, 1 Nay

Corina Lopez                                                  Aye, 1 Abstain

 

*City Council meeting conducted over Zoom due to the shelter-in-place.

 

 

Local library district announces curbside service plans

Submitted by Mariana Walker

 

Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) is working with city partners, Santa Clara County Emergency Operations Center, and key county departments to establish the next steps in providing safe and successful services to the community.

 

Upcoming library plans include offering limited services in stages, starting later in the month with library material return and curbside pickup of materials placed on hold. These services will be available Monday through Saturday at all eight SCCLD library locations. To accept returns, SCCLD is establishing a system to quarantine returned materials for 72 hours.

 

SCCLD will continue to provide updates about future staged services and the timing and details of the curbside service as information becomes available. No late fees are being accrued, and due dates have been extended, so no items need to be returned during the closure, nor immediately following any introduction of services.

 

Continue to visit the library online at www.sccld.org to access digital materials, to join the

Summer Reading program, and to enjoy the weekly online programs for all ages.

 

 

High School Students Donate Robotics Skills

 

Last April, the American High School Robotics team rode the momentum of their Norcal regional championship all the way to the FIRST Championship in Houston. Their dreams of a repeat visit this spring were sadly denied as competitions were abruptly shut down due to the statewide shelter in place. Two students, Abeer Bajpai and Peter Xu, decided that even if they could not compete, they still wanted to use their robotics skills to help their community.

 

Abeer sent this to my orthodontics office and to several other local health care providers: “My robotics team has unused 3d printers and sponsorship money that we would like to utilize to help our community battle the coronavirus. To do this, we have 3d printed contactless door openers that do not require you to touch a door to open it, keeping better hygiene. We will not charge money for them, and they are quite easy and quick to set up. Please let me know if your office would find these helpful. Thank you for your hard work and dedication during these uncertain times!”

 

My staff and patients have found these door openers to be incredibly useful in maintaining better hygiene as we enter and leave the clinic; instead of grabbing the handle, we can lean on them with our forearms to open doors. Abeer and Peter also provided us with 3D-printed ear savers that my staff just love. After a long week of wearing full protective gear, our faces and ears definitely feel sore.

 

I wanted our entire community to know how grateful I am to these two young men for their ingenuity and for their thoughtfulness. They are examples of hope and are exactly the inspiration that our community needs to get through this together.

 

The contactless door 3D printing design can be seen at:

https://www.youmagine.com/designs/arm-door-opener-covid-19#information

 

With gratitude,

 

Dr. Scott Chong

Union City

 

 

Social Security Matters

Ask Rusty – How Do I Apply with Social Security Offices Closed?

By Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor

Association of Mature American Citizens

 

Dear Rusty: I am 64 years old and would like advice on how to move forward to apply for Social Security now instead of waiting until I am the “magic” age of 66.5 years. Signed: Ready for Retirement

 

Dear Ready for Retirement: All Social Security offices are currently closed to public visits, but they are still providing telephone services (although telephone wait times are usually longer these days). You can apply over the phone if you wish. However, the most efficient way to apply for your Social Security benefit, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is to apply online.

 

You will need to create your personal “My Social Security” account before applying online, but that is easy to do at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. For information, Social Security uses a “two-factor” identification process for security purposes, usually by asking you to enter, in addition to your password, a special ID code sent to your cell phone (or email). Once you have set up your personal account, you can use the online application process at www.ssa.gov/retire.

 

When you start the online process, be sure to write down the re-entry code, which will allow you to save and re-enter your online application as many times as needed before you finally submit it. Once it is submitted, Social Security will call you or write you to get any additional information they need. A couple of things I want to be sure you are aware of:

 

• By claiming before your full retirement age (FRA) your benefit amount will be permanently reduced. The reduction is about 0.556 percent per month before your FRA that you claim (at 64, a reduction of about 15 percent).

 

• Finally, if you are still working, you will be subject to Social Security’s earnings test until you reach your full retirement age. If you start benefits mid-year 2020, you will be subject to a monthly earnings limit of $1520, and if you exceed that limit you won’t be eligible for benefits for that month. The following years you’ll be subject to an annual limit, until you reach your FRA when there is no longer a limit to how much you can earn.

 

 

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

 

 

Fremont Star Search ToastMasters Club Member Wins District Championship

Submitted by Chockkalingam Karuppaiah

 

Start Search Toastmaster, a ToastMasters Club, based in Fremont, joined Toastmasters Clubs all over the world and participated in the 2020 International Speech and Evaluation Contest. This is the world’s largest speech contest, with more than 30,000 presenters in 116 countries vying to become the next world champion of public speaking. The global contest begins at the local club level and proceeds through the area, division, district, and final levels. Eighty-two district semifinalists will compete on an international stage (most probably a virtual stage this year). Then nine contenders will make it to the final round, where the winner is crowned the Toastmasters World Champion.

 

While the contest started out in-person, it went virtual due to Covid-19 related Shelter in Place. This did not stop Start Search Toastmaster member Albert Mo from exhibiting his excellence in public speaking. Winning the Club Contest, Area Level Contest, and Division Level Contest, Mo competed virtually at the District Level and won the International Speech Competition. Next, he’ll represent District 57 as a contestant in the regional level.

 

Mo’s talk centered on ways to nurture growth in someone who is starting out on a new path. His speech was woven with personal anecdotes, from how he coached a young girl on becoming a good baseball catcher to how he learned to sing opera. He enthralled the audience with his opera performance. He concluded his speech with a wonderful call for action for all of us to be sparkle generators. This call for action has been relevant before, but is even more so now, given what is happening around the world.

 

Star Search Member/Area Director (and soon to be Division I Director), Kate Mills, interviewed Mo on “What Makes a Champion Speaker.” Commenting on the way a speech can touch the audience’s hearts, Mo stated, “It is critical to tell a personal story. The closer the story is to you, the easier it will be to tell. You know your story better than anyone else. It’s not the same as telling someone else’s story. It’s okay to be vulnerable. If you want to touch hearts, you need to be vulnerable.”

 

Text of the full interview is available at https://tinyurl.com/amo-interview.

 

 

Community Town Hall scheduled

Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD

 
Join Fremont Mayor Lily Mei and Police Chief Kimberly Petersen on Wednesday, June 10 at 6 p.m., for a Virtual Town Hall Meeting to talk about policing in our community. The Town Hall will be held on Zoom and streamed on Facebook Live.  It will also be recorded. Guest speakers, specific meeting details and information on how community members can participate, will be shared across the police and City of Fremont social media platforms. 

Union City Police Log

Submitted by Lt. Matias Pardo, Union City PD

 

Friday, May 1

• At around 1:11 p.m. officers responded to the 35000 block of Bronze Street to investigate a report that two men were seen in a truck and were starting to disassemble a vehicle in the area. Officers Smith and Ayala arrived and identified Jason Manzano, 32, and Cesar Chan, 57. Chan told the officers that the car belonged to his ex-wife, and they were there to move it out of the area. While the information was verified, a record check showed that both Manzano and Chan were on searchable probation. While searching the truck, Smith found a loaded Glock 19 handgun along with drugs and drug paraphernalia. A check of the gun’s serial number showed it was stolen in Logan, Utah. Manzano admitted to obtaining the weapon and was arrested. Chan was cited for possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia.

 

Wednesday, May 6

• A resident near Mahogany and Willow lanes reported hearing two gunshots during the evening. When the resident checked that yard the next day, two expended casings were found. Other residents also reported hearing the gunshots, but nobody saw the person responsible. The case is being investigated by Officer Evoniuk.

 

Thursday, May 7

• At around 2:00 a.m. officers responded to a commercial alarm on the 33000 block of Dowe Avenue. Officers soon spotted a man walking out in front of the business. Officer Leon detained Oscar Acabal, 34, and determined that he had unlawfully entered the closed business and arrested him on suspicion of burglary.

 

Friday, May 15

• At 11:19 p.m. officers responded to the 1700 block of Decoto Road on a report that a man was inside a store brandishing a knife at employees after being stopped by store security on suspicion of shoplifting. The man then fled the store and left the area on a bicycle, but arriving officers found him nearby. The man, identified by police as Jason Guzman, 24, was arrested and faces charges of brandishing a weapon and parole violation. There were no injuries.

 

Sunday, May 24

• At 11:24 p.m. officers responded to an alarm on the 31000 block of Fredi Street and spotted a man, identified by police as Khan Ho, 35, wearing only a shirt while trying to access the internet on a computer. Officers removed Ho from the building and placed him under arrest on suspicion of burglary.

 

• At 10:40 p.m. officers responded to a report about a man in the rear yard of a residence on Duchess Drive. When the homeowner yelled at him, the man fled on foot into the neighborhood. The man, identified by police as Jeffrey Soriano, 42, was found by arriving officers under a parked car next to an empty bottle of alcohol. He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing and public intoxication.

 

 

Virtual Book Club

Submitted by FUSS

 

Fremont Unified Student Store (FUSS) is honored to support Read to Thrive’s virtual kids book clubs to help elementary school students develop a passion for reading. Read to Thrive is a nonprofit organization that since 2014 has been conducting book clubs for children in local libraries and schools. Due to the recent extenuating circumstances caused by COVID-19, they are adding virtual book clubs to their current program portfolio. Each virtual book club will be for children of similar reading levels. Each session is 30 minutes long and conducted once a week. (Session duration is flexible, based on what’s most beneficial to the student.)

 

If you would like your child to participate in this book club, please sign up here: https://www.readtothrive.org/virtual-book-club-sign-up.

 

 

Want to be part of Youth Leadership Academy?

Submitted by Alameda County PIO

 

Alameda County is accepting applications until Friday, August 7, for its 2020 Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). As part of this free educational program, participants will have the opportunity to learn about local government, develop leadership skills, and network with peers from throughout the county. To be eligible, applicants must be a high school junior or senior attending a school within Alameda County and reside in the county.

 

The sessions will take place Saturdays starting September 12, 19, and 26, October 10, and 24 at county facilities. Young leaders can learn about county programs, engage with county staff and elected officials, and build leadership skills to help solve community problems.

 

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with consideration given to geographic location to ensure representation of students from throughout the county. To apply for the academy or learn more, visit https://www.acgov.org/youthleadership/. Accepted applicants will be notified by email by Monday, August 24.

 

2020 Youth Leadership Academy

Application Deadline: Friday, Aug 7 or until all slots have been filled

 

Classes Schedule

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Saturdays: Sep12, Sep 19, Sep 26, Oct 10, and Oct 24

 

https://www.acgov.org/youthleadership/