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The supervisors of the the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors allocated more than $40 million to stimulate the development of new affordable housing to support workers, youth and families who live, work or study in the area.

Spread across seven projects, the funds would contribute to the creation of 431 new affordable housing units from Daly City to Menlo Park, with more than $21 million in funding coming from the voter-approved Measure K half-cent sales tax, which provides local funding for local needs. 

“High rents and massive mortgages hurt working people – and our children – who are forced to choose between grueling commutes to work or moving out of the region,” said Warren Slocum, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. 

“The solution to the housing crisis is simple: build more housing. And that is exactly what we are contributing to with this investment of Measure K funds,” he stressed.

Over the past decade, county supervisors have committed more than $300 million to protect, preserve and build affordable housing.

Together, the projects would provide affordable housing for low-income seniors and families, farmworkers, former foster youth, people with developmental disabilities, and other targeted populations. 

Additionally, the projects represent a mix of rental units and homes available for purchase.

By a 5-0 vote, the Board approved the projects based on a number of criteria, including readiness and competitiveness for additional state and other funding sources.

Seven projects, 431 future homes

In total, the Board allocated $40,531,131 for the seven developments. In addition to Measure K funds, sources include $16,505,645 in the county housing authority’s Moving to Work program, which earmarked federal dollars to increase housing options for low-income families.

Among the projects approved for financing are Linc Housing's Hill Street Apartments, Belmont, which would provide 37 new units on a city-owned parcel at Hill Street and El Camino Real, near the Caltrain station.

Cypress Point, Moss Beach: Developed by MidPen Housing, the project would provide 71 new units at Carlos Street and Sierra Street in Moss Beach, while Ridge@Ralston, in Belmont, would provide 65 units and be developed by Abode Housing/CRP Affordable and would be built less than two blocks east of Caltrain and El Camino Real.

Additionally, 493 Eastmoor in Daly City, where The CORE Companies proposes to build 72 units on the northwest corner of Eastmoor and Sullivan avenues, steps from the Colma BART station; and Rotary Gardens in South San Francisco, to be developed by Beacon Development and the South San Francisco Rotarians, would create 80 units of senior housing in the downtown area, including some units for homeless seniors and frail elderly.

Independence Drive in Menlo Park is a project where Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco plans to build 18 affordable townhomes for first-time homeowners, and Serramonte del Rey in Daly City is seeking to build 88 units of Eden Housing is proposed with the Jefferson Union High School District, the owner of the property being redeveloped on Serramonte Boulevard.

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Tras un anuncio reciente de funcionarios de Oakland que muestra una reducción en casi todos los tipos de delitos desde el año pasado, el gobernador Gavin Newsom anunció que la Patrulla de Caminos de California (CHP) ha ayudado a recuperar más de 880 vehículos robados.

Las autoridades precisaron que fueron 887 los vehículos robados, además de incautar 47 armas de fuego relacionadas con delitos y arrestar a 440 sospechosos vinculados al crimen organizado.

Este anuncio llega inmediatamente después de datos recientes publicados por el Departamento de Policía de Oakland que informan una caída de 33 por ciento en la delincuencia en comparación con el mismo período del año pasado. 

En ese sentido, explicaron que casi todos los tipos de delitos han disminuido en Oakland, incluidos robos, hurtos, robos de automóviles, hurtos, incendios provocados, homicidios y asaltos.  

“Estos resultados son un ejemplo claro y concreto de la asociación eficaz con las autoridades estatales, locales y federales en Oakland y los alrededores de East Bay. Para garantizar la seguridad de los residentes de Oakland, continuaremos haciendo que nuestras comunidades sean más seguras combatiendo el crimen y responsabilizando a las personas”, señaló el gobernador Newsom.

El subcomisionado de CHP, Troy Lukkes, refirió que los esfuerzos continuos de supresión del crimen en la región, están teniendo un impacto significativo, mientras que, a través de mayores patrullajes, participación comunitaria y operaciones específicas, ha habido una disminución notable en la actividad criminal en Oakland y el Este de la Bahía.

“Seguimos comprometidos a garantizar la seguridad de las comunidades en todo California y continuaremos trabajando incansablemente para reducir el crimen”, subrayó.

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Half Moon Bay está de fiesta y todos están invitados a una recepción especial para celebrar el 65 aniversario de la ciudad que se incorporó en 1959.

Este festejo se llevará a cabo antes de la reunión del Concejo Municipal el martes 18 de junio a las 18:00 horas en el Centro Comunitario Ted Adcock ubicado en el 535 de Kelly Avenue. 

Únase a sus vecinos de la comunidad para tomar refrigerios y celebrar 65 increíbles años desde la incorporación de la ciudad.

Tras la recepción, tendrá lugar la reunión ordinaria del Ayuntamiento a partir de las 19:00 horas. Todos son bienvenidos a quedarse a la reunión. 

Algunos aspectos destacados de la agenda incluyen la proclamación del Mes del Orgullo, reconocimiento de Juneteenth, reunión pública del Distrito de Mejoramiento de Negocios Hoteleros (BID por sus siglas en inglés), actualización del plan de trabajo de prioridades, adopción del presupuesto para el año fiscal 24-25 y la presentación de posibles medidas electorales.

La agenda de la reunión del Concejo Municipal se publicará antes del viernes 14 de junio y se podrá ver en la página de Municipal Council Agendas.

Half Moon Bay se incorporó como ciudad en 1959, hito importante en la historia del área, ya que marcó una transición de una comunidad no incorporada a un municipio legal y formal. 

Con la incorporación, Half Moon Bay adquirió mayor autonomía y proporcionó su propio gobierno, policía, bomberos y otros servicios. A su vez, permitió a la ciudad recurrir a fondos estatales y federales adicionales para proyectos de obras públicas, como carreteras e instalaciones públicas. 

Lo anterior, permitió que Half Moon Bay sea una ciudad de mayor desarrollo y actividad comercial, lo que ha contribuido al crecimiento de la economía local a lo largo del tiempo y se transformara en un destino vibrante para quienes buscan explorar la belleza de la costa de California.

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La Junta de Supervisores del Condado de San Mateo aprobó el martes una resolución que aumenta el salario base para los empleados regulares del ayuntamiento a 30 dólares la hora.

La medida tiene como objetivo alinear los salarios con lo que un grupo de trabajo determinó como un “salario digno” que considera los beneficios recibidos por los empleados del Condado, entre otros factores.

“Cada uno de los empleados de nuestro condado contribuye en gran medida al trabajo que hacemos para servir a nuestros residentes. Como condado de inmensa riqueza, este es un gran paso para valorar a todos nuestros empleados y asegurarnos de que puedan seguir viviendo en nuestro condado”, aeñaló la supervisora ​​Noelia Corzo.

La resolución, aprobada 5-0, aumenta inmediatamente el salario base de ocho trabajadores en dos clasificaciones, Asistente de Oficina I y Asistente de Servicios Médicos I. Además, los departamentos están aumentando los salarios 30 dólares por hora para 71 empleados en todas las clasificaciones cuyos niveles salariales actuales son por debajo de esa cantidad.

Y es que, debido al alto costo de vida, el Condado convocó a un grupo de trabajo para determinar el salario base que necesitaría un trabajador del ayuntamiento en un hogar de dos ingresos con un hijo. 

De esa manera, llegaron a 29.76 dólares la hora, redondeados a 30 dólares, al evaluar el costo de los alimentos, el cuidado de los niños, la atención médica, la vivienda, el transporte, los impuestos y otros costos.

El costo estimado de los beneficios mensuales y salariales para ajustar las clasificaciones de Asistente de oficina I y Asistente de servicios médicos I a una tarifa fija de 30 dólares por hora es de mil 319 dólares o 15 mil 830 dólares al año. 

El costo estimado de los beneficios mensuales y salariales para los ajustes escalonados es de 27 mil 235, o 326 mil 827 dólares al año.

El ayuntamiento destacó que los aumentos salariales no afectan las clasificaciones de ayuda adicional, que brindan empleo temporal.

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The climate crisis has put the economy in jeopardy with home insurance, with the real estate market being one of the hardest hit, as insurers, especially in regions hardest hit by floods and fires, are raising costs or pulling out altogether, affecting the affordability and availability of home insurance.

The home insurance policy crisis is a reflection of the alarming rise in weather and climate catastrophes in the United States, which last year broke records for frequency and cost, experts said during a briefing held by Ethnic Media Services.

Panelists noted that the serious and urgent crisis in the home insurance market is not something that should concern only homeowners, as the spillover effect is likely to be felt in the housing and mortgage markets, as well as in local economies.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said the Golden State is facing a home insurance crisis that has never been on such a large scale, and that calls for reform and innovation.

In this regard, he pointed out that many people cannot find insurance for their home because it is located in risk zones or places that are constantly affected, which is why the Sustainable Policy Strategy has been implemented, a series of changes that must be implemented to resolve this type of crisis.

"We have been operating with 20th century regulations for 21st century problems, that affects us in every aspect of our lives, our rules were written outside of the situation we are living now.”, Lara commented.

The Sustainable Policy Strategy, he said, seeks to strengthen the authority of the commissioner and tax authorities, with a comprehensive approach to improving the interest rate process to protect consumers.

For more information on this matter, he said that those interested can call 1 800 927 4357 or visit the websites: https://www.insurance.ca.gov/ o www.insurance-research.org.

Vickie Kilgore, assistant vice president at The Insurance Research Council, a nonprofit that focuses on public policies impacting the homeowners insurance industry, has measured rising policy costs as natural disasters have increased.

The expert explained that 8 variables have been identified in home insurance, and among those that stand out the most are natural disasters, an example of which is Florida, which has a high cost in home insurance due to the risks that the state faces in this area.

Jordan Haedtler, climate finance strategist at the Sunrise Project and Climate Cabinet, said that climate catastrophes are now factored heavily into home insurance costs, leading to significant increases in insurance costs, while many companies have had to pull out of states where the climate crisis is turning into a financial crisis. 

The financial strategist expressed his concern about a scenario where insurance companies do not have the necessary resources to pay people who suffer a natural disaster or where there is so much damage at the same time that insurance companies cannot cover it.

Haedtler said 6.1 billion homeowners are uninsured and that number is expected to rise as climate change intensifies, insurance costs rise and some companies even pull out of business.  

Carol Kousky, associate vice president for economics and policy at the Environmental Defense Fund, explained that the lack of insurance can increase inequality by increasing the cost of home insurance, causing many people to be unable to afford it. 

Kousky stressed that the financial crisis goes hand in hand with the lack of insurance, as businesses and homes lose everything during a natural disaster and their recovery is very slow, unlike those who have insurance that gives them the solvency to revive the economy in a locality.

In addition, he added the option of transformative investments in risk reduction, which means building houses that are more resistant to extreme climate changes, since caring for and reporting houses depending on the risks they constantly face could make a difference in the cost of insurance and obtain a more affordable price. 

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