By Kiley Russell. Bay City News.

The California Department of Justice issued a “legal alert” on Wednesday aimed at helping protect people from water shutoffs as the state continues to battle drought, rising prices and the lingering economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state attorney general, Rob Bonta, said it issued the alert in part in response to an estimated 40 percent increase in the price of certain types of water transactions so far this year and the fact that approximately 1.6 million Californians have fallen behind on their payments as of January 2021.

“Many families here in our state can’t pour themselves a glass of water, they can’t wash their hands, they can’t even flush the toilet,” Bonta said during a news conference Wednesday. “All because they can’t make their water payments and they’re facing plummeting credit scores.”

The alert was sent to drinking water systems to remind them of protections codified in the state's Water Shutoff Protection Act, which was authored by state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2018.

Dodd, who was also at the news conference, said the law is intended to help the state's most vulnerable residents, including low-income households, seniors, children and people living with illnesses and disabilities.

“Access to water is a fundamental right,” Dodd said. “Unfortunately, with rising costs, many people are forced to choose between food, water and shelter, and that’s really why I wrote the Water Shutoff Protection Act.”

By law, most water providers cannot disconnect service unless a bill is at least 60 days past due, must provide at least seven days' notice before disconnecting services, and must make a good faith effort to provide notice by telephone and in writing.

Additionally, water systems cannot cut off service to customers who meet certain financial and health requirements and are willing to make alternative payments.

Water systems must also have a way for customers to make deferred or reduced payments, enroll in alternative payment schedules, and contest or appeal their bills.

During the height of the pandemic, the state initiated a temporary water shut-off moratorium so that people experiencing financial hardship could still have access to clean water.

That expired in early 2022, and many local drinking water providers are now offering bill payment assistance through the federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, which offers a one-time payment of up to $2,000.

Some local water systems offer additional assistance through their own locally funded programs.

For example, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a wholesaler that provides drinking water to approximately 2 million people through 13 local retail water systems, has partnered with Sacred Heart Community Service on a $2 million relief fund.

Its Low-Income Residential Water Rate Assistance Program has so far provided $670,000 to 1,519 South Bay households, according to Matt Keller, a spokesman for Valley Water.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District, which supplies drinking water to 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, also offers its own Customer Assistance Program.

Since its inception 35 years ago, EBMUD has provided approximately $30 million to 27,000 households, according to district officials.

Additionally, over the past two years or so, the state has spent $1 billion to help water and sewer systems deal with unpaid bills that piled up while the water shut-off moratorium was in effect.  

And while the state has earmarked roughly $200 million for water bill assistance in the current budget, Newsom vetoed another Dodd bill in September that would have established a permanent Water Rate Assistance Fund.

“At this time, continued, sustainable funding has not been identified,” Newsom said in his veto message.

you can: East Palo Alto makes historic investment to improve water infrastructure

Bay City News

An East Palo Alto man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child inside a car multiple times over three years, authorities said.

José Alejandro Ventura, 54, was arrested by detectives from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities began investigating Ventura earlier this month after a report of assault on a minor, saying the alleged assaults took place in a car at different locations in San Mateo County from January 2015 to January 2018.

Ventura allegedly locked the vehicle doors so the victim could not escape, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

The suspect was arrested in East Palo Alto and booked into the Maguire Correctional Center on suspicion of lewd acts with a child under 14 and kidnapping with intent to commit a lewd act.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the alleged attacks to contact Detective C. Barker at (650) 363-4050, cbarker@smcgov.org; or Detective R. Cousenes at (650) 363-4066, rcousenes@smcgov.org.

They also said that anonymous tips can be left at 1-800-547-2700.

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The Redwood City Council on Tuesday approved an emergency ordinance temporarily banning retail establishments from selling firearms or ammunition in the city.

Growing community concern has led the federal government, the state of California and several local jurisdictions to consider additional options to mitigate gun violence. 

The City Council has directed staff to conduct community engagement and research potential local regulations on firearms retailers. The moratorium on retail establishments selling firearms or ammunition will be in effect while this research and engagement is conducted.

"The City Council has listened to the community's concerns about gun safety," the mayor said. Giselle Hale. 

The local official explained that the National Institute of Health and Human Development determined that gun violence is the main cause of death among children and young people. 

"Over the next several months, we will take the time to carefully develop appropriate regulations for such establishments for future consideration by the City Council," Hale said.

Although there are currently no known firearms outlets in Redwood City, inquiries have recently been made about new firearms outlets in the city. 

Currently, a firearms retail establishment is permitted by right within any commercial and mixed-use zoning district, meaning it is considered like any other retail use and is permitted without review by staff or City Council. 

It is worth noting that many of Redwood City's commercial and mixed-use zoning districts are in close proximity to residential neighborhoods, schools, daycare centers, places of public worship, gathering places, community centers, parks, and libraries. 

The emergency ordinance came into effect immediately after its approval and will remain in effect for a period of up to 45 days. 

Staff anticipates requesting an extension of the moratorium at the Nov. 28 City Council meeting to conduct research, obtain community input and review potential zoning changes with the Planning Commission.

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Un terremoto de magnitud 5.1 con epicentro al este de San José registrado este martes casi al medio día, se pudo sentir en gran parte del Área de la Bahía y causó algunos retrasos en el tránsito, pero no se han reportado daños importantes.

According to the Servicio Geológico de EE. UU. ‒USGS, por sus siglas en inglés‒, el sismo se produjo a las 11:42 horas y tuvo su epicentro a unas 12 millas al este de San José. 

El USGS inicialmente dijo que el sismo tuvo una magnitud de 5.0, sin embargo, después lo actualizó a 5.1. Una réplica de magnitud 2.9 también se produjo en el mismo lugar unos cinco minutos después, mientras que la última replica fue registrada a las 17:08 horas con una magnitud de 3.6 en el mismo epicentro.

El terremoto de 5.1 es el más grande en el Área de la Bahía desde un sismo de 6.0 registrado en el área de Napa. Los residentes de la región informaron a través de redes sociales que sintieron la sacudida de este martes. A su vez, fue el sismo más grande en el extremo norte del segmento central de la Falla Calaveras desde un sismo de magnitud 5.4 en 2007.

Muchas personas también recibieron una notificación avanzada segundos antes de que ocurriera el movimiento a través de la aplicación para teléfonos inteligentes MyShake desarrollada en la Universidad de California en Berkeley, según la Oficina de Servicios de Emergencia del Gobernador.

Los funcionarios de BART retuvieron los trenes para que las cuadrillas pudieran inspeccionar las vías en busca de posibles daños, pero autorizaron todo el servicio para las operaciones normales alrededor de las 12:20 horas.

Glitch Skulls

De acuerdo con el USGS, la tasa de deslizamiento total en la falla de Calaveras es de aproximadamente 6 mm/año al norte de su intersección con la falla de Hayward y es de aproximadamente 15 mm/año hacia el sur.

El Informe del Grupo de Trabajo de 2003 dividió la falla en tres segmentos. El segmento norte de la falla Calaveras está virtualmente bloqueado y este segmento de la falla se desliza a una velocidad de entre 2 y 3 mm/año. En el extremo sur de su tramo central, se arrastra a unos 14 mm/año cayendo hacia el norte a unos 6 mm/año (0,24 pulgadas/año) de deslizamiento en su intersección con la falla de Hayward.

El extremo norte del segmento central de la falla Calaveras produjo por última vez un terremoto notable en octubre de 2007, el terremoto magnitud 5.4 Alum Rock, que se rompió hacia el sur.

Históricamente, la mitad sur del segmento central de la Falla Calaveras ha sido el segmento sísmicamente más activo de la falla. Produjo el terremoto magnitud 6.2 en Morgan Hill en 1984 y un terremoto magnitud 6.2 en 1911. 

With information from Bay City News

You may be interested in: Redwood City School District reports no damage to schools after magnitude 5.1 quake

The Redwood City School District RCSD said there have been no immediate reports of damage to area schools following the 5.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Seven Trees near San Jose at 11:42 a.m. Tuesday and was felt throughout the Bay Area.

Superintendent John Baker said that at the time of the earthquake, some students were in class and others were at lunch or in the playground, while some of the District Office staff were participating in meetings.

"Those who felt the tremor proceeded to throw themselves to the ground, take cover and wait, evacuated buildings throughout the District and headed to previously designated safety zones," it stressed in a statement.

He also pointed out that the maintenance staff followed the process to check each of the school facilities and gave the go-ahead to each school principal. 

Finally, he said that teaching and learning continued normally throughout the afternoon.

On Thursday, October 20, RCSD participated in the Great California Shakeout, held to practice earthquake safety. 

“The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and I appreciate their participation in our annual safety drills that prepare us for days like today,” Baker said.

The California Geological Survey said in a tweet that "additional aftershocks can be expected in the region. We continue to monitor this region."

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Bay City News

San Francisco city leaders gathered Saturday to celebrate the opening of a new community center on the city's south side.

The 45,000-square-foot Southeast Community Center is located at 1550 Evans Ave. and includes a child care center, a café, free Wi-Fi and public workspaces, according to a statement from San Francisco Mayor, London Breed.

“One of the many things that makes me proud about San Francisco is the way people come together,” Breed said. “Now, with the new Southeast Community Center, neighbors, families and visitors can enjoy these amazing open spaces and state-of-the-art facilities to support learning and play.”

The community center contains $1 million in local art commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission, according to Breed's statement.

Works include Mildred Howard's Promissory Notes, Phillip Hua's Building a Better Bayview, and Navigating the Historical Present: Bayview-Hunters Point by Kenyatta AC Hinkle.

“We are thrilled and honored to present a robust collection of three new site-specific commissioned works and a collection of two-dimensional art purchased from local artists with strong ties to the community,” said Ralph Remington, director of cultural affairs for the Art Commission. “These artists celebrate the African diaspora while honoring the ancestral legacy of the people who built this neighborhood.”

The new center is intended to replace the Southeast Community Center located at 1800 Oakdale Ave., which was in need of extensive repairs.

“We have been working hard to fulfill our promise to our community to provide a place to learn and gather, and it is exciting to see this commitment come to fruition,” said San Francisco County Board of Supervisors Chairman Shamann Walton.

The property includes two acres of open space, an amphitheater, gardens, outdoor dining areas and playgrounds.

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