The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors proclaimed Tuesday, September 17, as National Voter Registration Day, a reminder to check your registration status and an opportunity to spread the word about the importance of preparing for Election Day by registering to vote. Photo: P360P
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The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors proclaimed Tuesday, September 17, as National Voter Registration Day, a reminder to check your registration status and an opportunity to spread the word about the importance of preparing for Election Day by registering to vote.
With 50 days to go until the general election in the United States, it is of utmost importance to remember that it only takes a few minutes register to vote or check your registration status.
Nearly 438,000 San Mateo County residents are registered to vote, about 85 percent of the roughly 514,000 who are eligible.
California allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote before they are eligible to cast a ballot. If a teen you know will turn 18 before Election Day (November 5), they will be able to vote, but a pre-registration form is required. online pre-registration.
It should be noted that you can find detailed information about local elections, candidates for public office, how to register to vote or check the status of your registration by clicking Click here. Translations are available in Spanish, Chinese and Filipino here.
In response, San Mateo County is partnering with numerous local organizations to spread the word about voting and raise awareness about voter registration.
These include: Turn Up & Turn Out: Civic Education Fair, taking place on Saturday, September 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Menlo School (50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton). An afternoon of democracy in action designed to inspire and educate the next generation of voters and civic leaders.
Added to this is Tu Voto, Tu Futuro/Your Vote, Your Future, which will take place on Monday, September 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. online session on Facebook about the importance of voting, how to register, the role of Latinos in the upcoming elections and more.
This event will be in Spanish, with English interpretation available. The session is sponsored by San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Chairman Warren Slocum and the Caron Program.
The election is on Nov. 5 and the United States will elect a new president, but voting for the nation's highest office along with dozens of important local races actually begins in San Mateo County on Oct. 7.
This is when voters begin to receive their ballots in the mail and the first ballots are opened. voting centers.
A forum for candidates for San Mateo County Supervisor District 4 has been convened by several local organizations.
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As the general election in the U.S. approaches, several local organizations have called on candidates for District 4 in San Mateo County to attend a public forum, with the intention of giving voters a more informed vote on who could represent them.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors District 4 Candidate Forum will be held on Monday, September 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Fair Oaks Community Center, and all residents are invited to attend.
Hosted by ThriveAlliance, Leadership Council San Mateo County, and Choose Children, a project of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the forum will provide San Mateo County residents with the opportunity to hear from the candidates for Board of Supervisors representing District 4: East Palo Alto City Councilmember Lisa Gauthier and East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio Lopez.
Candidates Gauthier and López qualified for the November 5 elections thanks to the primaries held on March 5.
It should be noted that all districts have changed since the 2020 Census report and the following redistricting process. District 4 includes the cities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and North Fair Oaks.
“Thrive Alliance, Choose Children, and the San Mateo County Leadership Council are collaborating to offer this Candidate Forum to facilitate voter education, and we encourage County residents to attend. Questions on a variety of topics will be directed to the candidates,” said San Mateo County Leadership Council Co-Chair Kaarin Hardy.
For her part, Yajaira Ortega, Director of Policy and Equity at ThriveAlliance, said that an engaged and informed electorate is the foundation of a prosperous democracy.
“Through events like this Candidate Forum, Thrive Alliance works to create spaces where community members can connect with candidates, ask important questions, and feel empowered to make informed decisions at the ballot box. Civic participation is more than a right – we are all responsible for building a more inclusive and representative future for San Mateo County,” she stressed.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors oversees County departments, programs and properties with an annual budget of more than $4 billion. Through this oversight, the Supervisors seek to serve the many goals and priorities of the community.
“An overwhelming majority of San Mateo voters agree and want elected officials to prioritize family-friendly policies that will create a bright future for our children and our community. Voters want candidates to come to the table with meaningful proposals to address the needs of our youngest children and their families,” said Christine Thorsteinson, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
“Our future is brighter when all children are healthy, safe and engaged in early learning. It is brighter when working families have access to affordable child care and when our early care providers are fairly compensated,” she added.
It is worth noting that ThriveAlliance, Leadership Council San Mateo County, and Choose Children and Silicon Valley Community Foundation are non-sponsoring and non-partisan organizations that only organize the forum.
Virtual assistance will be Available on Zoom, will also have interpretation into Spanish.
During the first debate between presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the former Republican president falsely claimed that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating residents' pets, including dogs and cats.
These statements provoked a mocking reaction from Harris, who said they were completely false.
The debate moderator then intervened to refute Trump's claim, saying that neither the local police chief nor the mayor were aware of any such activity in the city.
As expected, social media exploded with memes mocking Trump's statements. Videos of animals in casseroles, images of dachshunds with bread around them, DJ mixes using Trump's words, are some of the reactions that went viral, generating laughter in many sectors.
However, the other side of this story is much more worrying, especially for immigrants of color in Springfield. After Trump's statements, many of them are now afraid to go out to the stores, take their children to school or even leave their homes. The situation has become so tense, that several universities and schools have opted to move to online classes due to bomb threats and mass shootings.
Ohio's Republican governor has come out to deny Trump's claims, saying there is no record of incidents where pets have been eaten.
It is important to exercise empathy in this situation. In the United States, unfortunately, there is a lot of ignorance regarding the ethnic diversity of the population. Often, all those who speak Spanish are considered Mexican, those with Asian features are identified as Chinese, and anyone who wears a turban is assumed to be Arab. Now, many dark-skinned immigrants in Springfield are seen as possible Haitians, a community that has been the target of discrimination and hatred.
Imagine being a person of color, an immigrant in this country who came to a town in need of labor and is now an integral part of that community. Imagine that, after irresponsible comments from a presidential candidate, you see white supremacists marching through your neighborhood, the place where you have worked for years and where you raise your children.
Suddenly, your coworkers and people on the street look at you differently, believing that you might be out to eat their pets, all because someone they trust told them this lie.
Plus, imagine getting a notification from your school on a Monday morning warning you not to take your kids to in-person classes and that, for the indefinite period, classes will be held online for safety reasons.
When we put ourselves in the shoes of this immigrant community, we realize that the videos and memes mocking Trump are no longer funny. There is a vulnerable community in danger, facing a growing climate of hate and discrimination.
Sheriff Christina Corpus issues statement, “"No one will bully me into making personnel changes. This vote is nothing more than a political maneuver led by a few insiders seeking to divide this Office." Photo: P360P archive
The following is the full text of the message shared by San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus.
Over the past several weeks, special interests seeking to undermine my leadership have attempted to intimidate me into a vote of no confidence against my Chief of Staff.
Let me be very clear: I will not be bullied into making personnel changes. This vote is nothing more than a political maneuver led by a few insiders seeking to divide this Office. It has no legal implications and changes nothing. I appointed my Chief of Staff, and he will remain in that position.
Rather than playing political games, I will continue to focus on serving the residents of San Mateo County who entrusted me with their public safety.
To the residents of our county, I say thank you. You elected me as your Sheriff to make positive and much-needed changes to this Office. Change is not easy and some of our efforts are being met with resistance. But your support has allowed us to help many of our residents. During my short time in office, we have accomplished much, including:
Enhance crime reduction strategies by increasing proactive patrols, providing residents with information that improves their awareness, and using advanced technology to forecast crime trends and prevent crimes;
Establish accountability and transparency protocols in relation to critical events in custody involving incarcerated persons;
Recruit over 110 employees to the Sheriff's Office and improve the vacancy rate from 25% to 15%;
Create long-awaited wellness programs for our employees;
Develop several community-focused programs that go “above and beyond the call of duty” to address the root problem;
Open lines of communication with the public, including implementing the Officer Survey Initiative, creating “CARE” groups that provide an opportunity for a diverse group of community members to engage with me in person, as well as creating a framework for future community group meetings and Town Halls;
And investing in more performance-based training for employees to develop their skills and ensure we provide the highest quality of law enforcement services to our residents.
I sincerely believe that the majority of the women and men working in this Office are dedicated professionals who have no interest in political theater. Neither do I. You have my commitment that I will continue to focus all my energy on the greatest privilege of my professional life: serving you.
Puente Organization provides decent housing to farmers in Pescadero. Photo: mypuente.org
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The Puente organization has worked for years to provide housing opportunities to farmers, and as part of their work they have acquired a ranch that allows them to promote the dream of offering decent housing for those who need it most.
Puente is a nonprofit organization that supports the South Coast of San Mateo County, fostering well-being and prosperity in communities by promoting and advocating for equitable access to education, health, and economic security.
Rita Mancera, from the Puente organization, said she is happy to share the news of the acquisition of a piece of land that will serve to support families in their basic needs such as housing, as she said during the radio program Por la Libre with Manuel Ortiz.
“There is a lot of work involved and we have been looking for this opportunity for about two years, and when the ranch was put up for sale, we immediately saw the opportunity to get one of our housing projects going,” he said.
Puente has a strategic plan, and the goal they set for 2024 and 2025 was to get involved in finding housing solutions specifically for farmers but also for low-income people.
This is the first project that has been launched and they are very excited about the opportunity.
Elvia Aguilar is a tenant of this project. For her, having this space to live in is a great support and she says that she has received a lot of support from the association.
“I like to talk about Pescadero as a place of contrast because there are many things that are not there, but there are many things that are its strengths, those are in the people, in how they have organized themselves, how they raise their voices,” he stressed.
Currently there are no accessible medical services, there is no clinic, but Puente offers two spaces where San Mateo County health services go to Pescadero and operate as a clinic on Thursdays, however it is not enough.
Mancera said that, according to a study conducted by San Mateo County in 2016, approximately 1,200 housing units are needed for farmers, so he says that this project is very small, but valuable for the community.
This is a plot of land where there are 2 lots, one of which already has 6 family homes and 4 shared rooms, giving 28 people the opportunity to live in this place. Photo: P360P
“This is a plot of land with two lots, one of which already has six family homes and four shared rooms, giving 28 people the opportunity to live here,” he added.
Finally, everyone was invited to attend a fundraising dinner that will be held on October 11th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All funds raised will go towards making the necessary repairs to the homes.
To collaborate and be part of this project, you can contact the Puente organization at (650) 879-1691 or on the website https://mypuente.org/whoweare/
The number of homeless people in Redwood City has declined despite a significant increase in this group of residents in San Mateo County, following a reported increase in the number of unsheltered homeless people in the city from 2022 to 2023 from 245 to 189.
This was announced by Redwood City Human Services Director Teri Chin, who during a presentation on the city's Work Plan for Homeless Initiatives, detailed that the city has been in contact with 334 people and 54 families, and has been able to place 40 in permanent housing and 146 in temporary housing.
During the presentation held on Monday night at the Council meeting, Chin specified that the majority of people living in encampments are Hispanic, while 14 percent of the total population of this population has been living in that situation for more than 10 years..
He also said that the average waiting time for single people to obtain shelter is significantly shorter than for those with families. The waiting list for families trying to obtain shelter is 50 long.
She said the city currently has seven outreach workers who go to the camps to provide people with resources and a way to transition to permanent housing, but funding for these employees is coming to an end this year.
However, the city said it will create an ad hoc committee to seek funding to continue to employ outreach workers in the city, as they play a key role in reducing the number of people living in camps by establishing a relationship of trust with residents so they accept the help needed to transition to housing.
To address encampment-related issues in the city, the City has launched seven initiatives that proactively address public health and safety concerns, as well as help homeless residents living in encampments access permanent housing, including:
Proactive outreach to encampment residents: offering services, shelter, and housing, including access to Units on Demand at the San Mateo County Navigation Center as a bridge to shelter and housing opportunities through the San Mateo County Coordinated Entry System (CES).
Weekly Camp Waste Collection Services: Aimed at mitigating health and safety concerns and reducing the impact of camps on the community.
City-owned encampment cleanup: Addresses encampments located on City property where health and safety concerns arise, such as proximity to critical infrastructure, fire hazards, criminal activity, biohazardous waste, hazardous materials, or obstructions to pedestrian or wheelchair access.
Coordination with other agencies: Provide advance notice and offer services to homeless individuals when CalTrans and other public agencies conduct periodic encampment cleanups on their property.
Priority Shelter Placement: Provides immediate shelter placement and services whenever camp cleanups are scheduled.
Meanwhile, at the meeting held at City Hall, Redwood City Mayor Jeff Gee, who also represents District 1, acknowledged that September is a busy month because it is Hispanic Heritage Month, Suicide Awareness Month, and it also includes Welcoming Week and United Against Hate Week.
At the meeting, members of the Redwood City Latino Community Council took the stage to speak about their gratitude to the city for recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and promoting Fiestas Patrias, a community celebration taking place this Sunday, September 15 at Courthouse Square, located at 2200 Broadway Ave, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
At the meeting, members of the Redwood City Latino Community Council took the stage to speak about their gratitude to the city for recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and promoting Fiestas Patrias, a community celebration taking place this Sunday, September 15 at Courthouse Square, located at 2200 Broadway Ave, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
“We organized this event for all the people who can’t go back [to Latin America],” said Connie Guerrero, a member of the council, while referring to the fact that Fiestas Patrias is also about celebrating the entire Latino community, from those who work in technology, to those in the hospitality industry and the fields that make Redwood City and the community thrive.“We organized this event for all the people who can’t go back [to Latin America],” said Connie Guerrero, a member of the council, while referring to the fact that Fiestas Patrias is also about celebrating the entire Latino community, from those who work in technology, to those in the hospitality industry and the fields that make Redwood City and the community thrive.
Call to return to virtual public comments
Finally, the City Council reported that they received 17 written public comments to reinstate the option for virtual public comment during City Council meetings.
Community members said not having this option at meetings has created significant barriers for residents to join in person because meetings are at the same time they have to put their children to bed, while residents who work in the hospitality industry do not have a 9-5 workday, so they are also unable to make their voices heard by attending in person.
In addition to creating barriers, older adults said they feel uncomfortable driving at night, when visibility is low.
After hearing written comments from the public, Mayor Gee said the reason this format was stopped was because of a past incident in which homophobic and racist slurs were used.
The council discussed possible solutions to bring back virtual public comment, such as requiring people to fill out contact forms when joining the Zoom, but the city attorney quickly dismissed that option, explaining that by law, the city cannot require it.
Unfortunately, the council did not approve an amendment to bring back virtual public comment, but it will go back to committee for review. Gee said it is not indefinite.
For her part, Councilwoman Lissette Espinoza-Garnica said she was in favor of bringing back virtual public comment, but expressed that it is up to the mayor and, based on the manual, he can determine the option of virtual public comment.
If you want to watch the full City Council meeting, click here Click here to see her.
The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco will hold the official ceremony commemorating the 214th Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico in SF this coming September 15 at the Civic Center Plaza in the city of San Francisco, where the Mexican Consul Ana Luisa Vallejo Barba, together with Mayor London Breed, will celebrate the culture and history of Mexico in style.
The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco will hold the official ceremony commemorating the 214th Anniversary of Mexico's Independence this coming September 15 at the Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, where Mexican Consul Ana Luisa Vallejo Barba, along with Mayor London Breed, will celebrate Mexican culture and history in style.
Vallejo Barba will give the traditional “Grito de Independencia” with the mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, as guest of honor. The “Grito” ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 15 at 8:00 p.m. However, there will be a street party that will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the civic plaza located at 335 McCallister.
“It is an honor for me to join the Consulate of Mexico, MNC Inspiring Success, as well as Mexican citizens in San Francisco and the region to celebrate El Grito de Independencia at the Civic Center,” said the Mayor of San Francisco.
“I am proud to be the mayor of a city with a rich history of Latino heritage and to recognize the contributions of our diverse communities. Today, we share a sense of community pride with Mexicans in San Francisco and recognize the way they have helped shape our city,” Breed said.
This year, the traditional popular festival, organized in collaboration with the city of San Francisco, MNC Inspiring Success, Carnaval San Francisco and the San Francisco Civic Patriotic Committee, will include performances by the Carlos Moreno Folkloric Ballet, the Yucatecan Jarana Orchestra of the Mayab Association, Mariachi San Francisco and singer Edna Vázquez.
Edna Vázquez is currently the Mexican voice of the group “Pink Martini” and in 2023 she was the guest artist at the San Francisco Symphony's Day of the Dead celebration.
The Mexican consulate said this year's celebration will be very special, as it will include the sale of handicrafts, delicious Mexican snacks, and for the first time, a wrestling show.
The Mexican consulate said that this year's celebration will be very special, as it will include the sale of handicrafts, delicious Mexican snacks, and for the first time, a wrestling show. Image: X Consulate of Mexico in San Francisco
This event celebrating the culture, traditions and contributions of Mexicans in San Francisco is supported by several sponsors including COMCAST, the Golden State Warriors, the SF Giants, San Francisco Parks and Recreation, the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs; CLECHA, Teamsters Local 350, Carnaval San Francisco, Talentum, as well as Telemundo 48 and Radio Lazer as media sponsors.
It is worth noting that, additionally, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco will participate in more than 10 community events commemorating the national holidays throughout the consular district this weekend, which include the placement of a floral offering at the foot of the statue of Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in Dolores Park in the Mission.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition calling for an investigation into raids targeting Latino voting rights organizers in Texas. Photo: P360P
California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a multi-state coalition in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (US DOJ) to open an investigation into recent raids by the Texas Attorney General's Office targeting Latino voting rights organizers, candidates for public office, and community volunteers.
The above, to determine whether these raids constitute violations of civil rights, including the right to vote.
Under the pretext of monitoring unfounded claims of voter fraud, the Texas Attorney General's Office raided the homes of Latino candidates and voting rights organizers and seized property from the homes of elderly volunteers.
Bonta said these raids targeting minority voters, weeks before early voting, hurt all Americans by causing confusion, sowing fear and suppressing turnout.
The letter requests the US DOJ's Civil Rights Division to investigate the Texas raids to determine whether they constitute civil rights violations.
“Using fear and baseless accusations to attack people of color is unacceptable and un-American,” Bonta said.
“I am committed to defending the civil rights of all Americans, particularly as it relates to the fundamental right to vote. Our democracy is stronger when everyone participates, and they must be able to do so free from fear and intimidation. My office is prepared to protect the rights of all voters,” she added.
The letter stresses that there is very little actual evidence of voter fraud anywhere in the United States and notes that the raids are “just the latest iteration of a long-standing pattern of using baseless allegations of voter fraud to intimidate voters of color.”
The letter also notes that the Texas raids took place as the country is currently “awash with attempts to set the stage for false claims that the upcoming election is fraudulent.”
Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.
Former President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will appear at a fundraising event in San Mateo County. Photo: Gage Skidmore. Wikimedia commons
Former President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will appear at a private fundraising event in Woodside on Friday in San Mateo County.
The pricey evening reception ranges from $500,000 per couple to $150,000 per person for big donors, and photo opportunities cost between $35,000 and $70,000, depending on the invitation.
Regular attendees will pay between $3,300 and $10,000 to participate.
According to the San Mateo County Republican Party, a We The People California rally will coincide with Trump's fundraiser. It will begin at 9 a.m. and attendees are asked to meet at El Camino Park, 155 El Camino Real in Palo Alto.
Groups like Moms for America will walk through the area and then join the “Trump Train” to Woodside to welcome the former president’s motorcade.
San Mateo County proclaimed the National Hispanic Heritage Month with the purpose of celebrating the cultural diversity of this community, and within this framework it was established September 17 is National Voter Registration Day, which seeks to provide local voters with timely information and get them involved in the election process.
The proclamations they made during the Council meeting, where an urgent call was made for people to pre-register for the elections before the elections, said sociologist Anna Lee Mraz during the radio program Hecho en California in collaboration with Peninsula 360 Press.
As part of this proclamation, Yahaira Ortega, equity policy manager at Thrive Alliance, commented that it is very important that people register to be informed of what is happening or else they will not be able to vote.
“I was very excited because this is already being talked about at the local level. I am very excited that they want people from other towns to have important information about the electoral processes,” said Yahaira Ortega.
In the second proclamation it was designated that from September 15 to October 15 be the National Hispanic Heritage Month Locally, this is an important fact, since 40 percent of the population of San Mateo County is Latino, said Anna Lee Mraz.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
The Casa Círculo Cultural organization was founded in 2009 to address the lack of cultural events and programs in Spanish. As part of its contribution to the Hispanic community, last year they held their Day of the Dead event with Mayan culture as its main theme. The event was attended by the supervisor for District 2 of San Mateo County, Noelia Corzo, who recognized the value of remembering Latin roots in these celebrations.
The two proclamations are relevant because, on the one hand, there is the registry of flyers that must be available to everyone and the Hispanic Heritage Month that seeks to recognize the importance of the Latino population, “making the invisible visible, a time to reflect on our roots and our history,” said Mraz.
These proclamations recognized two organizations that have been contributing to the San Mateo County community in both areas for years: El Concilio, a community organization committed to increasing education, employment, and access to quality of life services for underserved communities in San Mateo County, and Casa Círculo Cultural, which has been working for and with county residents for 15 years.
The Casa Círculo Cultural organization was founded in 2009 to address the lack of cultural events and programs in Spanish. As part of its contribution to the Hispanic community, they held their Day of the Dead event last year, which had Mayan culture as its main theme.
