Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations took place on February 4th in the vicinity of Courthouse Square on Broadway in downtown Redwood City.
The event was celebrated by children, young people and parents who accompanied the participants, where they met the main administrative, artistic and political figures of the city.
And just as described in the fables of Aesop in the West and the Jade Emperor in the East, the fast and elusive rabbit made his presence felt at the inaugural event of the Chinese New Year, however, he had to do so quickly due to the rain that marked the colorful day.
The event began at 11:00 a.m. with the participation of the Shaolin Cultural Center as well as various participating organizations such as Sing Tao Entertainment, California Kung Fu and Tai Chi, Orion Mandarin Immersion, Playthrive School, Taiko Soba, Happy Social Dance Association and Rising Phoenix Lion Dance.
The celebration brought together members of the Redwood City community to enjoy music, cultural performances and martial arts to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit.
The Rabbit of the Chinese Horoscope
Legend has it that it was the Jade Emperor who said that the Chinese zodiac would be decided by the order in which the animals arrived at his feast.
The rabbit, as portrayed in the West by the Greek fabulist Aesop in his fable "The Hare and the Tortoise", decided to run ahead from one side to the other; tired of running so much and above all, of waiting for the other participants in the race, he decided to rest.
When the rabbit woke up, he realized that the other animals, even the slower ones like Aesop's tortoise, had left him far behind.
So much so that the Ox, a slow-moving animal, and the Rat, who was so small that he could not overcome the obstacles on the path, arrived at the Jade Emperor's party as late as he thought they would.
The rabbit, boasting of his speed, thought that the rat, the ox and even the arrogant tiger would give him first place for obvious reasons, which was not the case.
It is said that in Chinese culture, rabbits represent the moon, perhaps because the shadows that this satellite has emulate a rabbit.
Members of the Redwood City community gathered on February 4th at 9 a.m. to discuss the qualities that the next Redwood City Police Chief should have. Photo: P360P
On February 4th at 9:00 a.m., members of the Redwood City community gathered at the City Council Chambers to propose and elect candidates for the next Police Chief.
City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz led the meeting in person and virtually, where participants asked questions and gave their opinions about the characteristics that the next person to take office should have.
Redwood City City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz conducted the in-person and virtual meeting for the election of the next Redwood City Police Chief. Photo: P360P
The main points discussed revolved around the following questions: What are the most important qualities that the next Chief of Police should have? What is going well with the Redwood City Police Department? What are the main concerns surrounding the Redwood City Police Department? And are there any special considerations that the next Chief of Police should meet?
Among the questions of the participants, doubts arose such as if certain surveys have been carried out in the past or if said opening to the community has been carried out in different regions.
Members of the Redwood City community gathered on February 4th at 9 a.m. to discuss the characteristics that the next Chief of Police should have. Photo: P360P
During the meeting, it was specified that some of the characteristics that candidates for the position of Police Chief must have are that they have the experience and leadership skills, that they are capable of dealing with moments of crisis and that they also inspire respect, and that they have sufficient emotional maturity and intelligence to deal with the great diversity that the Redwood City community implies.
Posters and flyers are posted at City Hall as well as the Downtown Library (1044 Middlefield Road), Schaberg Branch Library (2140 Euclid Avenue), Redwood Shores Branch Library (399 Marine Parkway), Veterans Memorial Senior Center (1455 Madison Avenue), Community Activities Building (1400 Roosevelt Avenue) and Fair Oaks Community Center (2600 Middlefield Road). The survey is available in English and Spanish and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 12. Photo: P360P
In turn, Stevenson Diaz clarified that the election of candidates is open to proposals made by members of the community and that the proposals are open to be carried out both at the City Hall facilities and in a public manner. digital.
Redwood City Council Chambers Building. Photo: P360P
That process, Stevenson Diaz said, will take a few more months, so he hopes that by late spring Redwood City will be in a position to have a new Police Chief.
There is the community survey available online or in person at City Hall, the Downtown Library (1044 Middlefield Road), Schaberg Branch Library (2140 Euclid Avenue), Redwood Shores Branch Library (399 Marine Parkway), Veterans Memorial Senior Center (1455 Madison Avenue), the Community Activities Building (1400 Roosevelt Avenue) and the Fair Oaks Community Center (2600 Middlefield Road). The survey is available in English and Spanish and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 12.
These are the local news from January 28 to February 3 that you need to know to stay up to date.
After a first month of the year that seemed to have no end, February has arrived and with it the hope of a better month and a celebration dedicated to love. Do you already have Valentine's Day? If so, it's time to book, find a gift, create the ideal atmosphere and say how much love fills your heart.
‒ 0 ‒
The superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) condemned the use of racial slurs and violence following a confrontation earlier this week between a student and a substitute teacher at Richmond High School.
Superintendent Kenneth "Chris" Hurst issued the statement during Wednesday's school board meeting, where he said schools must be psychologically and physically safe for students to learn and educators to teach.
The district is investigating the interaction. Hurst explained that the substitute teacher was “immediately released from employment with WCCUSD” and that staff is following up with the student and his family to ensure an appropriate response and necessary support.
‒ 0 ‒
Following the release of a video by Memphis police showing the brutal beating of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols by five officers on January 7, actions that led to his death as he was returning to his mother's home, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus called the events indefensible and repugnant.
“What we saw in that video was indefensible, disgusting and incomprehensible,” Corpus said in a series of tweets posted via the Sheriff’s Office Twitter account. “This is a sad day for Mr. Nichols’ family and our nation.”
Corpus said he will redouble his commitment to serve, protect and engage with the communities that comprise the county, “with compassion, respect, integrity and dignity. As I have said, we must work together as a community for change.”
‒ 0 ‒
A San Francisco state assemblyman has introduced a new bill that would give California community colleges the option of making Lunar New Year a state holiday.
Assembly Bill 264 by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, allows flexibility to observe the Lunar New Year without increasing the number of days schools would be closed.
For example, Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays could be combined into one holiday, and Lunar New Year could be another.
‒ 0 ‒
U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, spoke on the House floor Friday about the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, where seven people were killed earlier in the week.
Eshoo, whose congressional district includes Half Moon Bay, spoke on the House floor about the coastal community being “as American as it gets.”
The official called on her fellow members of Congress to consider their conscience in the wake of the tragedy, one of dozens of mass shootings across the country that have already occurred in the first weeks of 2023.
‒ 0 ‒
San Mateo County residents will now be eligible for federal disaster assistance after the area was included in the Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California after being affected by storms since December 27, 2022.
That was announced by Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Menlo Park, and Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, who said disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help residents and business owners facing losses from the storms.
They therefore encouraged homeowners and renters who suffered damage or loss as a direct result of the storms to apply for FEMA assistance before the March 16, 2023 deadline.
‒ 0 ‒
The city announced that emergency shelter beds in Redwood City for severe weather conditions are being activated in anticipation of frigid nights.
Thus, beginning the evening of January 30, emergency shelter beds can be used by those in need due to an overnight minimum forecast of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, with a chance of rain of less than 50 percent.
‒ 0 ‒
A fire at a mobile home park in San Jose early Tuesday morning left seven residents displaced, according to the city's Fire Department.
Authorities said no one was injured in the fire, which also prompted a response from PG&E and the American Red Cross.
‒ 0 ‒
San Mateo County will support business launches and growth after the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to invest nearly $1.5 million to help entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses.
The funds, they said, will also help job seekers gain the skills they need to compete for in-demand careers.
Programs including how to access capital will be launched through the North Fair Oaks Economic Advancement Center.
‒ 0 ‒
The Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that the state of California has certified San Francisco's Housing Element plan, which calls for more than 82,000 homes in SF over the next eight years, more than half of them affordable to low- and moderate-income families.
According to state data, San Francisco has some of the longest timelines and highest process hurdles for bringing housing projects to construction. These delays, combined with some of the highest housing construction costs in California, create a barrier to addressing the community’s unmet affordable housing needs.
‒ 0 ‒
Researchers at San Francisco State University have begun a three-year study of Lyme disease at Edgewood Park that will focus on monitoring tick hosts such as mice, deer and woodrats, as well as testing the efficacy of an oral bait vaccine designed to limit the spread of the disease.
According to the San Mateo County Council, the study will continue until December 2026.
‒ 0 ‒
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) recently awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Redwood City for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.
This is the 35th consecutive year that Redwood City has received this prestigious award.
‒ 0 ‒
Authorities seized a half-pound of suspected methamphetamine from a Santa Clara woman who was visiting an inmate at the Maguire Correctional Center in Redwood City, San Mateo County jail.
Leslie Romero-Silva, 23, was allegedly carrying more than 9 ounces of methamphetamine when she entered the Maguire Correctional Center in Redwood City around 7 p.m. She was arrested on suspicion of bringing a controlled substance into jail and is being held on $50,000 bail.
A man suspected of assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse will now face hate crime charges against the AAPI community, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
Armando Sanchez Vazquez, 30, is suspected of assaulting three Asian-American men, one of whom is 73, in Dolores Park on January 30. During the assault, Sanchez Vazquez allegedly threw a brick and metal grate at the men.
The criminal complaint alleges that the individuals were targeted because of their race.
Vazquez is currently in custody.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Feb. 1. His next court date is set for Feb. 15, for a preliminary hearing.
If Vazquez is found guilty, he could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
“I take the concerns of our AAPI community, especially our seniors, seriously, and I want them and all of San Francisco to know that there will be accountability and consequences for people who choose to engage in hate and violence,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
The winter storms in California in recent weeks caused devastating events that affected thousands of residents, leaving a long road to recovery for all communities that have been affected by climate change.
The winter storms caused innumerable material damages due to flooding and snow, but also human losses, with 21 deaths recorded so far.
Due to the need to recover from these impacts, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services has issued a Mass Disaster Declaration that included 49 of the 58 counties in the Golden State for resource assistance from the federal government, of which 9 have been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The counties that have been approved so far are Merced, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Joaquin, Monterey, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Calavera.
"We want you to know that the State of California is committed to continuing to support communities and maximize the support that comes in for disaster recovery caused by the winter storms," said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, deputy director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs for Cal OES at a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services where experts gathered to report on the support available for recovery after the storms that hit California.
FEMA representative Brian Bui explained that Federal Disaster Assistance includes individual assistance for households ranging from mass care to unemployment assistance.
If you are interested in registering, you can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go to DisasterAssistance.gov, or visit your local Disaster Recovery Center before March 16, 2023.
Luis Santos-Serrano, Public Information Officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), said the SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, as well as private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.
He also explained that companies of any size can receive a loan of up to two million dollars to repair damage caused by a natural disaster.
To apply to the SBA, interested parties can visit disasterloan.sba.gov/ela, call 800-659-2955, send an email to disasterloancustomerservice@sba.gov or go to your local Disaster Recovery Center.
Robert Troy, assistant director of the Interagency Recovery Coordination at Cal OES, explained that in addition to the support requested through the Mass Disaster Declaration, there is the Public Assistance Program, which supports communities and local governments to reimburse the costs of response and recovery from local impacts, which also frees up funds for other types of recovery assistance.
Dayana Contreras, manager of the Listos California program, said that the program's organization has provided support to communities since the beginning of the storms and reported that they have worked with other Catholic organizations to respond to the needs of those affected by the floods. She also indicated that those interested can access https://www.listoscalifornia.org/disaster-readiness/recovery-help/.
Experts warn of the need to be ready in case of another emergency
In recent years, climate change has caused a large number of natural disasters around the world, affecting thousands of people in its path, worrying experts and the community in general.
Crofts-Pelayo noted the need for communities to be prepared for any natural disaster, as climate change has increased the risks of suffering the consequences of an emergency, which is why Cal OES has predicted long-term natural disasters due to climate change.
"We have seen fire events like never before, fire has behaved differently and we have seen this in more than 10 years of experience... the fires are going to be more intense, the temperatures will be extreme and we cannot predict much but we want to make sure that communities have what they need to mitigate the damage they leave behind," he said.
Finally, Troy called for communities to be able to respond in a more resilient way in the event of another natural disaster, but also noted that there are supports that can even help people move from places that are considered high risk.
Con la finalidad de ayudar a los residentes afectados por las tormentas recientes y a conocer la asistencia disponible de las agencias locales, estatales y federales, la próxima semana se abrirá un Centro de Recuperación por Desastre en San Mateo.
La Oficina del Ejecutivo del Condado de San Mateo señaló que el centro operará todos los días desde el 9 hasta el 23 de febrero en el Centro de eventos del condado de San Mateo, entrada principal del estacionamiento ubicada en el 1346 de Saratoga Drive.
Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., including weekends, in Cypress Hall.
Los representantes del condado, la Oficina de Servicios de Emergencia del estado y la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias proporcionarán información como asistencia de empleo, reemplazo de registro, asistencia para veteranos, y acceso y asistencia a las necesidades funcionales.
Así como información sobre opciones de vivienda, referencias a agencias que pueden ofrecer otra ayuda, e información sobre los programas de administración de pequeñas empresas.
Cabe destacar que, si sufrió daños o pérdidas debido a las tormentas de Año Nuevo, puede solicitar ahora la asistencia por desastre de FEMA.
La asistencia por desastre puede incluir subvenciones para ayudar a pagar viviendas temporales y reparaciones esenciales del hogar, así como otras necesidades graves relacionadas con el desastre, como gastos médicos y dentales, transporte, cuidado de niños y gastos de mudanza y almacenamiento. La fecha límite para aplicar es el 16 de marzo de 2023.
Recuerde que, si cuenta con seguro, primero debe presentarse un reclamo con su proveedor de seguros. FEMA brinda asistencia a los solicitantes para sus gastos y necesidades graves causados por el desastre sin seguro o con seguro insuficiente.
There are several ways to apply for FEMA assistance under the Individual Assistance program, the first is to visit the website www.DisasterAssistance.gov, download the aplicación de FEMA, o llamar a la línea de ayuda de FEMA al 800-621-3362.
La ayuda está disponible en muchos idiomas. Si usa el servicio de retransmisión de video (VRS), el servicio telefónico con subtítulos u otros, proporcione a FEMA el número de ese servicio. Los operadores de la línea de ayuda hablan muchos idiomas. Presione 2 para español. Presione 3 para un intérprete que hable su idioma. La línea de ayuda está disponible hasta las 20:00 horas ‒hora estándar del Pacífico‒.
La asistencia de FEMA estuvo disponible cuando el condado de San Mateo se agregó a la «declaración de desastre mayor» por la serie de tormentas que azotaron el estado a fines de diciembre de 2022.
Las autoridades confiscaron media libra de supuesta metanfetamina a una mujer de Santa Clara que visitaba a un recluso en el Centro Correccional Maguire en Redwood City, cárcel del condado de San Mateo el martes.
Leslie Romero-Silva, de 23 años, presuntamente llevaba más de 9 onzas de metanfetamina cuando ingresó al Centro Correccional Maguire en Redwood City alrededor de las 19:00 horas, según un comunicado de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de San Mateo.
Romero-Silva estaba tratando de visitar a un preso en las instalaciones y pasó junto a varios carteles que advertían que era ilegal llevar una sustancia controlada a una cárcel de California, dijo la oficina del alguacil. Todos los visitantes son registrados en la cárcel.
La mujer fue arrestada bajo sospecha de llevar una sustancia controlada a la cárcel y está detenida con una fianza de 50 mil dólares.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) recently awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Redwood City for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.
This is the 35th consecutive year that Redwood City has received this prestigious award.
“I am proud that the City has received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the past 35 consecutive years,” said Redwood City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz.
The local official stressed that "this award represents our continued interest and unwavering commitment to planning and carrying out the City's financial operations in a responsible and sustainable manner."
GFOA initiated the awards program in 1945 to encourage and assist local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that demonstrate the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and to recognize individual governments that achieve this goal.
The report was evaluated by a panel of experts who judged that it met the program's high standards.
In order to receive a certificate of achievement, a government must publish a comprehensive, easy-to-read and efficiently organized annual financial report.
In addition, the report must satisfy both the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the applicable legal requirements.
The Department of Water Resources DWR today announced $46 million in grants for nine community-based drought relief projects in six counties through the Urban Community Drought Relief Grant program.
The $46 million in financial assistance will provide critical support to implement drought relief projects and build long-term resilience to severe weather in communities across the state, and will help advance efforts outlined in Governor Newsom’s strategy to adapt California’s water supply for a warmer, drier future.
While recent storms improved conditions and helped fill many of the state's reservoirs to or above average levels, the state is looking at a return to dry conditions in the coming months, with much of California continuing to experience drought impacts after the three driest years on record.
“California faces the real-time impacts of a changing climate, as evidenced by our state’s historic drought and recent flood emergency. Preparing for a future impacted by climate change means not only supporting new water supply efforts, but also strategies that capture excess flows during extreme wet events,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth.
“Today’s funding, with more than half invested in underrepresented communities, will help strengthen water supply reliability across the state by supporting recycled water and groundwater recharge infrastructure while promoting smart water use,” he added.
The $46 million in financial assistance will boost projects that support water recycling, flood risk management/groundwater recharge, improving water supply reliability, and landscape transformation.
The 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief program is designed to address the impacts of drought on California communities while promoting water conservation. Of the total funding announced Thursday.
Notably, $28 million will advance drought relief projects to improve water supply reliability in underrepresented communities.
With a changing climate making swings between drought and flooding more extreme, California must continue to implement new programs to manage water in this new climate reality, DWR said.
In that regard, he stressed that Californians must continue to use water wisely, both indoors and outdoors, so that the economy, community and environment continue to prosper.
The second phase of grants will be announced in spring 2023.
A raíz de múltiples tiroteos masivos que cobraron la vida de 19 californianos en solo 72 horas la semana pasada, el gobernador Gavin Newsom, el fiscal general Rob Bonta y el senador Anthony Portantino, anunciaron esta semana una nueva legislación para la portación de armas para modernizar y fortalecer Las leyes para la transportación pública de estas en California.
«Solo en Estados Unidos vemos el tipo de carnicería y el caos de la violencia armada que destruye nuestras comunidades y nuestro sentido de seguridad y pertenencia», dijo el gobernador Gavin Newsom al tiempo que recordó que Estados Unidos es el número uno en posesión de armas y supera con creces a todas las naciones desarrolladas de la tierra en cuanto a muertes por armas de fuego.
«En California, hemos aprobado leyes de seguridad de armas de fuego de sentido común y funcionan: tenemos una tasa de muertes por armas de fuego un 37 por ciento más baja que el promedio nacional. Estamos redoblando la seguridad de las armas y fortaleciendo nuestra ley de portación pública para protegerlas de los ataques de los republicanos radicales», agregó.
La acción toma relevancia, cuando apenas en junio pasado, la Corte Suprema de EE. UU. anuló una ley de Nueva York, cuyos aspectos reflejaban las leyes de portación pública de California, por lo que la legislación recién anunciada haría las correcciones necesarias para actualizar los estándares y procesos para obtener un permiso de portación en el estado dorado.
De aprobarse esta nueva legislación ‒Proyecto de Ley 2 del Senado‒ se fortalecerían las restricciones de California con respecto a las leyes de transporte público de armas; mejoraría el sistema de licencias existente, asegurando que aquellos que tienen permiso para portar armas de fuego en público sean personas responsables y respetuosas de la ley.
Además, protegería a los menores de edad al establecer un requisito de edad mínima de 21 años para obtener una licencia de portación oculta de arma de fuego ‒CCW o carrying a concealed weapon‒; permitiría garantizar el manejo, la carga, descarga y el almacenamiento adecuados de armas de fuego; y establecería lugares comunitarios seguros donde las personas deben esperar estar libres de la violencia armada.
«Los incidentes de tiroteos masivos que hemos visto en las últimas semanas sacan a la luz la necesidad de protecciones más fuertes para nuestras comunidades. El hecho es que las personas que no son ciudadanos responsables y respetuosos de la ley simplemente no deben poseer armas de fuego, y especialmente no se les debe permitir portar un arma oculta en público. When a weapon is placed in the wrong hands, it is deadly.», aseguró el fiscal general de California, Rob Bonta.
En ese sentido, el funcionario estatal subrayó que la Segunda Enmienda «no es una camisa de fuerza reglamentaria», y se debe proteger a las comunidades.
«El tiempo de pensamientos y oraciones pasó hace mucho tiempo, necesitamos una acción valiente e inmediata por parte de nuestros líderes, aquí en California y más allá. Le debemos a nuestra comunidad protecciones más fuertes. Insto a nuestros líderes estatales a que adopten rápidamente la SB 2. No podemos darnos el lujo de esperar ni un minuto más».
El senador Anthony Portantino dijo que a raíz de las tragedias recientes en Monterey Park y Half Moon Bay, y la continua amenaza de tiroteos masivos, «es fundamental que California lidere el tema de la seguridad y la reforma de las armas».
Shannon Watts, fundadora de Moms Demand Action, destacó que la imprudente decisión Bruen de la Corte Suprema abrió las compuertas para más armas en más lugares, pero con este proyecto de ley, California una vez más renovó su compromiso de ser un líder nacional en la lucha contra la violencia armada.
Según el Center for American Progress, los esfuerzos para debilitar las leyes de portación oculta en todo el país han aumentado los delitos violentos: los estudios muestran que los homicidios con armas aumentaron un 22 por ciento en los estados que aprobaron leyes de portación sin permiso y los delitos violentos con armas de fuego aumentaron un 29 por ciento.
En 2022, Newsom firmó un paquete de leyes de seguridad de armas, lo que facilita que los californianos demanden a los fabricantes de armas de asalto ilegales y a quienes las difunden, a su vez permite demandas contra miembros irresponsables de la industria de armas, fortalece las prohibiciones de armas fantasma y restringe la comercialización a menores.
California también lanzó una campaña de 18 meses para promover órdenes de restricción de violencia con armas de fuego , «leyes de bandera roja», que permiten a las fuerzas del orden público, familiares, compañeros de trabajo o amigos solicitar a un tribunal que retire temporalmente las armas de las personas que se consideran peligrosas para ellos mismos o para los demás.
Un estudio del Programa de Investigación de Prevención de la Violencia de la Universidad de California, Davis, encontró que la ley de bandera roja de California se utilizó para detener 58 tiroteos masivos amenazados desde 2016.
Según los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades ‒CDC, por sus siglas en inglés‒ , la tasa de muertes por armas de fuego de California fue la 44 más baja del país, con 8.5 muertes por armas de fuego por cada 100 mil personas, en comparación con 13.7 muertes por cada 100 mil a nivel nacional, 28.6 en Mississippi, 20.7 en Oklahoma y 14.2 en Texas.
