SACRAMENTO – Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 408, authored by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield) into law. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to accept a certificate certifying that a veteran is disabled for the purpose of a disability license plate from a County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO) or the Department of Veteran Affairs (CalVet).
“On behalf of all the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, I’m very pleased that Governor Newsom signed AB 408, which continues to build on the promise that we have made to our veterans,” said Frazier. “Veterans shouldn’t have to wait months on end to see results from a system that owes them a huge debt of gratitude. This bill ensures that they will get the timely services that they deserve.”
This legislation is even timelier as it has become more difficult for veterans to receive documentation certifying their disability status from traditional Veterans Affairs (VA) offices. AB 408 allows for expedited service and a better running system, but also has the added benefit of getting veterans in to see their CVSO in order to check if they are receiving other benefits and services that they may be entitled to receive. The legislation will become law on January 1, 2021. For more information about the Disable Veteran license plates, click here.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff
The suspect involved in the vehicular homicide that occurred early Saturday morning near Buchanan Field Airport was formally charged today by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury. 26-year-old Anthony Johnathan Buscemi of Pacheco remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail.
On Saturday, September 5, 2020, at about 1:14 AM, Deputy Sheriffs, along with the California Highway Patrol, were dispatched to a report of a body found at the 5000 block of Marsh Road in an unincorporated area north of Buchanan Field Airport.
Upon arrival, Deputies and CHP Officers located a deceased woman on the road. The CHP started the initial investigation due to evidence that she was struck by a vehicle. The victim was later identified as 35-year-old Shelly Stevens of Lafayette.
During an area check, a Deputy Sheriff found the suspect vehicle nearby. Based on initial findings and evidence, this incident was later classified as a vehicular homicide and the Office of the Sheriff took over the primary investigation.
Throughout the weekend, homicide detectives from the Sheriff’s Office authored and served multiple search warrants in Concord and Pacheco and questioned numerous people related to the case. Buscemi surrendered to detectives on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreToday is Labor Day. It’s a day to celebrate the workers of America, those who have helped our country to become the greatest nation on earth by showing up every day and getting the job done…whatever that job might be.
Labor Day also marks a political milestone. It is the unofficial start to campaign season, as those running for elected office ramp up operations to get their message out to voters.
Unfortunately, now more than ever, it is also the time when disinformation, lies, and omissions are pushed on social media and on “news” programs.
We have already seen this with the latest smear of President Donald Trump in a recent magazine article. In the article, it is claimed that the president is disdainful of veterans, and that he made remarks indicating such. Those pushing this ridiculous narrative ignore the fact that several people who were present where this supposedly took place have said the story is false, and that people with no love lost for Trump have discussed the event in depth and provided a completely different story.
The sad fact is, leftists in this country hate the president, hate America, hate law enforcement, and, if you support any of them, they hate you. They also hate the military, which makes the narrative they are pushing even more absurd, as they stake their claim for righteous indignation.
But we do not need to wonder who to believe. As the adage states, “Actions speak louder than words.” When you hear statements…and you’ll hear a lot more of them…about the president saying this or that, stop for a moment, and consider the actions of those making the claims, and compare them with the actions of the president.
President Trump has been the greatest friend to men and women who are serving, and who have served, in the military that they have ever had. Just a few of his accomplishments include:
- Supporting military spouses with increased job opportunities
- Supporting veterans’ access to educational opportunities, including online classes and STEM
- Dramatically improving the quality of care at the Veterans Administration
- Investing heavily in rebuilding the American military
- Signing into law the largest military pay raise in a decade
Trump’s opponents also have a record. A record of lying to a FISA court to obtain bogus warrants on members of Trump’s campaign team (including veterans), a record of lying about a “Russian conspiracy,” a record of lying about, and impeaching the President on, the Ukraine hoax, lying about Trump statements, and running a nonstop “orange man bad” narrative with their propaganda arm, the mainstream media.
Behind this latest nefarious hoax are two things. First, as I have already mentioned, is an intense hatred of the president and those that support him. Second, a desire to put doubt in the mind of Trump supporters, those who can see with their own eyes what the president has done for them, and to suppress their votes.
So, no matter what you hear over the next two months, remember the adage, “Actions speak louder than words,” then take a minute to look at what actions each side has taken. Your choice will be clear.
Crowder is a former reporter for the Herald.
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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff
Saturday morning at about 1:14 am, Deputy Sheriffs, along with the California Highway Patrol, were dispatched to a report of a body found at the 5000 block of Marsh Drive in an unincorporated area north of Buchanan Field Airport in Concord.
Upon arrival, Deputies and CHP Officers located a deceased female on the road.
The CHP started the initial investigation due to evidence that the female was struck by a vehicle.
During an area check, a Deputy Sheriff found the suspect vehicle nearby. Based on initial findings and evidence, this incident was later classified as a vehicular homicide and the Office of the Sheriff took over the primary investigation.
The victim is identified as 35-year-old Shelly Stevens of Lafayette.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreAwaits Gov. Newsom’s signature; will cost county $547,700 even if he vetoes bill; would raise an estimated $81 million per year.
On Monday, Aug. 31, the last day of the legislative session, the California State Senate passed SB1349 authored by Senator Steve Glazer (D-7, Orinda), to allow Contra Costa County Supervisors to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot on a vote of 29-10-1. According to the state’s Legislative Information website, the bill was presented to Governor Newsom at 6:30 p.m., that night. He has until Sept. 30 to either sign or veto the bill. If he chooses to take no action it automatically becomes law.
During a special meeting held on Friday, Aug. 21, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve an urgency ordinance placing the measure on the November ballot if the State Senate passed the bill by Aug. 31 and it was signed by the governor. Board Chair Candace Andersen, who opposes asking the voters for a tax increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the lone no vote.
As of Friday, the governor still hadn’t signed or vetoed the bill, according to Steven Harmon, Glazer’s spokesman, who wrote, “Checking. Though, as of yesterday I don’t think he had.”
While Newsom has until the end of September to sign or veto legislation, Harmon added, “I think a premium has been made to get a quick signature,” because any delay holds up the printing of the ballots in Contra Costa County.
The measure is estimated to cost the county $547,700 to place it on the ballot, according to County Clerk-Recorder Deborah Cooper.
The supervisors were asked to consider whether to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-23, an urgency ordinance amending the effective date of the ordinance establishing a general Countywide 0.5% sales tax and acknowledge that if Senate Bill 1349 is not approved by the Legislature by August 31, 2020, Ordinance 2020-22 (as amended) will still be printed on the November 3, 2020 ballot, even though the ordinance will not be effective.
So, labeled Measure X, the ballot language is already on the County Elections Division website, just in case the governor signs the bill and if passed will not go into effect if the governor vetoes the bill.
It asks voters, “To keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers; provide timely fire and emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services, shall the Contra Costa County measure levying a ½ cent sales tax, exempting food sales, providing an estimated $81,000,000 annually for 20 years that the State cannot take, requiring fiscal accountability, with funds benefitting County residents, be adopted?”
Assistant Registrar of Voters for the county, Scott Konopasek, was asked what is the drop deadline date for sending the ballots to print in time to get them to the voters and avoid the additional cost. He responded, “The ballots are at the printer already. The bill becomes law without a signature as long as he doesn’t veto. In the event of a veto, we will not count or report any results.”
In California, the legislative process works just the opposite of the pocket veto for the president and federal legislation. According to Congressional Quarterly, the “Governor must veto legislation within 12 days of ‘transmittal’ or they automatically become law. However, for bills adopted during the last 12 days of a legislative session and still on the governor’s desk the day the legislature adjourns, usually Aug. 31, the governor has until Sept. 30 to veto before they automatically become law. Governor has a ‘reduction’ veto that provides the ability to reduce – but not increase – proposed appropriations in a particular line item within any spending bill. Legislators can override a veto with a 2/3rd vote of both chambers, but only the governor can call a special session to do so.”
In addition, Supervisor Andersen was asked for any new information her office might have regarding the governor’s action on the bill. She responded, “At our August 21, 2020 Special Meeting the Board of Supervisors authorized putting it on the ballot. It will be on the November ballot, but just would have no effect if the governor chooses to veto the bill. Karen agreed to support it because the elections cost were going to be lower than initially thought since we’re not including the text of the full measure, and the language of the bill was tweaked to better reflect what the governor has signed/agreed to in the past.”
As a result Measure X will be on the November ballot in Contra Costa County. But if the governor vetoes SB1349, and the measure passes it will not go into effect and the sales tax in the county will not increase by a half percent.
Read MoreNew law includes targeted protections for tenants to shield them from evictions due to COVID-19-related back rent through February 1, 2021
Extends anti-foreclosure protections in the Homeowner Bill of Rights to small landlords
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced that he had signed legislation to protect millions of tenants from eviction and property owners from foreclosure due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. These protections apply to tenants who declare an inability to pay all or part of the rent due to a COVID-related reason.
Under the legislation, no tenant can be evicted before February 1, 2021 as a result of rent owed due to a COVID-19 related hardship accrued between March 4 – August 31, 2020, if the tenant provides a declaration of hardship according to the legislation’s timelines. For a COVID-19 related hardship that accrues between September 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021, tenants must also pay at least 25 percent of the rent due to avoid eviction.
“COVID-19 has impacted everyone in California – but some bear much more of the burden than others, especially tenants struggling to stitch together the monthly rent, and they deserve protection from eviction,” said Governor Newsom. “This new law protects tenants from eviction for non-payment of rent and helps keep homeowners out of foreclosure as a result of economic hardship caused by this terrible pandemic. California is stepping up to protect those most at-risk because of COVID-related nonpayment, but it’s just a bridge to a more permanent solution once the federal government finally recognizes its role in stabilizing the housing market. We need a real, federal commitment of significant new funding to assist struggling tenants and homeowners in California and across the nation.”
On Friday, the Governor, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced an agreement on the legislation, AB 3088, co-authored by Assemblymembers David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and Senators Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and Anna Caballero (D-Salinas).
Tenants are still responsible for paying unpaid amounts to landlords, but those unpaid amounts cannot be the basis for an eviction. Landlords may begin to recover this debt on March 1, 2021, and small claims court jurisdiction is temporarily expanded to allow landlords to recover these amounts. Landlords who do not follow the court evictions process will face increased penalties under the Act.
The legislation also extends anti-foreclosure protections in the Homeowner Bill of Rights to small landlords; provides new accountability and transparency provisions to protect small landlord borrowers who request CARES-compliant forbearance; and provides the borrower who is harmed by a material violation with a cause of action.
Additional legal and financial protections for tenants include:
- Extending the notice period for nonpayment of rent from 3 to 15 days to provide tenant additional time to respond to landlord’s notice to pay rent or quit.
- Requiring landlords to provide hardship declaration forms in a different language if rental agreement was negotiated in a different language.
- Providing tenants a backstop if they have a good reason for failing to return the hardship declaration within 15 days.
- Requiring landlords to provide tenants a notice detailing their rights under the Act.
- Limiting public disclosure of eviction cases involving nonpayment of rent between March 4, 2020 – January 31, 2021.
- Protecting tenants against being evicted for “just cause” if the landlord is shown to be really evicting the tenant for COVID-19-related nonpayment of rent.
Existing local ordinances can generally remain in place until they expire and future local action cannot undermine this Act’s framework. Nothing in the legislation affects a local jurisdiction’s ability to adopt an ordinance that requires just cause, provided it does not affect rental payments before January 31, 2021.
The legislation builds on the state’s strongest-in-the-nation rent cap and eviction protections passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor last year. The Governor also signed major legislation last year to boost housing production, remove barriers to construction of accessory dwelling units and create an ongoing source of funding for borrower relief and legal aid to vulnerable homeowners and renters. Last year’s budget made a historic $1.75 billion investment in new housing and created major incentives – both sticks and carrots – to incentivize cities to approve new home construction. In the first weeks of his administration, Governor Newsom signed an executive order that created an inventory of all excess state land and has launched partnerships with California cities to develop affordable housing on that land. This year, the Governor prioritized $550 million in federal stimulus funding to purchase and rehabilitate thousands of motels around the state for use as permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness and provided an additional $350 million in general fund support to California’s cities and counties for homeless services and housing.
Local leaders and advocates welcomed the signing of the Act:
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti: “No one should lose their home due to this public health crisis — and while cities like Los Angeles have strong tenant protections in place, there is no substitute for a clear, statewide framework that keeps hard-hit Californians under a roof. With the state legislature’s action and Governor Newsom’s signature, tenants and landlords can rest easier tonight, but the fight continues for every dollar in federal assistance to help struggling families survive the choppy waters of COVID-19 and navigate the economic destruction left in its wake.”
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg: “The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated low-income families across the state and right here in the City of Sacramento. The eviction protections signed into law today will protect some of the most vulnerable – those who have lost income or suffered other unimaginable hardships in these past few months — from falling into homelessness. I appreciate the work of the Legislature and the Governor to provide this meaningful relief.”
San Francisco Mayor London Breed: “Protecting people from eviction has been critical from Day One of the COVID crisis, when it became clear that this pandemic was going to threaten our residents and our economies like nothing we have ever seen. People are living in fear of losing their homes because they have lost their jobs, seen their wages cut, or have been forced to close their businesses. I want to thank Governor Newsom for working with our Legislative leaders to pass AB 3088, especially our own Assemblymember David Chiu who has been an early and tireless fighter for tenants on this issue.”
UC, Berkeley Terner Center Faculty Director Carol Galante: “California is taking a big step forward today to protect the most vulnerable tenants at this moment of acute crisis. As our research has shown, more than one million California renters households have experienced job loss during COVID-19, and this directly impacts their housing security. While today’s new laws are necessary, more must be done – and this means the Congress and the President stepping into their rightful role as provider of a meaningful renter relief package as part of the next stimulus. California deserves credit for acting, and now we must demand the Federal government follow suit.”
The Governor also announced that he has signed the following bills:
- AB 2782 by Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley) – Mobilehome parks: change of use: rent control.
- AB 3364 by the Committee on Judiciary – Judiciary omnibus.
Additional information on the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act can be found here. For full text of the bills signed today, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
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Only includes panelists who support it, doesn’t include rep from Contra Costa Taxpayers Association or other opponents; continues false “loophole” claim
By Allen Payton
Proposition 15, the Schools and Communities First initiative, on the California November ballot will increase taxes by as much as $12 billion on commercial and industrial properties in California. On Wednesday, September 16 from 7:00- 8:30 p.m., three panelists will explain how it will affect you and your community in an online discussion.
The panel will only include three who support the measure and no one opposing, it such as a representative from the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) which opposes the measure. (See their positions on the issues, here). Nor does the panel include a representative from the coalition members of the campaign to defeat Prop. 15. The reason for that is the League has endorsed Prop. 15 and supports its passage.
According to Suzan Requa, President of the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley (LWVDV), “The League is a non -partisan organization in that we do not support or oppose candidates or parties; we do though take positions on issues after extensive study by our members, and both the state League as well as our local League have taken a support position on Prop. 15.”
We are hosting the panel to provide information and commentary on the positive impacts we believe will occur throughout the state as a result of the passage of Prop 15. Arguments for and against Prop 15 and the other statewide ballot measures will be on our impartial electronic voter tool www.Votersedge.org.”
When informed of the event, Susan Pricco, President of CoCoTax responded, “I wouldn’t consider this much of a ‘forum’. I expect it will be more of a sales pitch.”
No “Loophole” in Prop. 13
The League’s announcement for the online discussion makes the claim, “Proposition 15 will close the corporate property tax loophole in Proposition 13.” However, there was no “loophole” for commercial and industrial properties in the 1978 measure passed overwhelmingly by voters. The property tax protection language in the ballot measure covered all properties in the state, including residential, commercial and industrial.
In a 2018 commentary co-authored by Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, named for the anti-tax advocate who led the fight to pass Prop. 13, he wrote, “For decades, California progressives have complained about a ‘loophole’ in Proposition 13 that unfairly benefits the owners of commercial real estate to the detriment of homeowners. This characterization has been widely accepted by the mainstream media with little critical analysis. There is no loophole in Prop. 13.”
The League’s Event Announcement
The LWVDV has invited three panelists to discuss why they are supporting Prop. 15:
- Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia
- Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey
- League of Women Voters of California President Carol Moon Goldberg
Proposition 15 will close the corporate property tax loophole in Proposition 13. It will continue to protect residential and agricultural properties and will not change their taxes. It also includes protections for small businesses. If passed, it will bring $348 million annually back to Contra Costa County.
Register in advance for this meeting. Space is limited to 100 guests.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvdeyhqzsoG9yhPqXYS-koJKN3mf-oh7v4
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Questions for panelists should be submitted in advance to prop15@lwvdv.org.
For more information, contact info@LWVDV.org
Opposition to Prop. 15
According to the website for the campaign to defeat Prop. 15 explaining the reason for the 1978 Prop. 13, “In the 1970s, families, seniors, farmers and businessowners were being forced from their homes, farms, and properties because they couldn’t afford to pay 50-100% increases in their property taxes every year. Property tax bills skyrocketed, often beyond the owners’ ability to pay.
It was nearly impossible to predict the next property tax bill, leaving many families and small businesses unable to plan for the future. In some cases, small businesses were left with no choice but to lay off employees or raise prices on their customers.
This led to bipartisan support for property tax reform.
On June 6, 1978, nearly two-thirds of California voters passed Prop 13 to cap property tax increases for residential and business properties and provide certainty so that they will be able to afford their property tax bills in the future.
Specifically, Prop 13:
- Calculates general property taxes for residential and business properties based on one percent of their purchase price
- Caps annual increases in property taxes at two percent per year, which prevents sharp increases in property taxes, especially when property values rise quickly
Most small businesses rent the property on which they operate, and their lease agreements require they pay the property tax. Without Prop 13’s protections, small businesses will face soaring rents at a time when federal and state government is trying to provide small businesses with relief to keep their doors open.
Unless defeated by voters, Prop 15’s higher property taxes will ultimately get passed on to consumers with higher costs on just about everything we buy and use, like groceries, fuel, utilities, day care and health care.”
Attorney General’s Title & Analysis of Prop. 15
According to the California Secretary of State’s website, the title and of the measure by state Attorney General Xavier Becerra reads, “INCREASES FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES BY CHANGING TAX ASSESSMENT OF COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.” (Emphasis in original). His analysis states Prop. 15 “Increases funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by requiring that commercial and industrial real property be taxed based on current market value. Exempts from this change: residential properties; agricultural properties; and owners of commercial and industrial properties with combined value of $3 million or less. Increased education funding will supplement existing school funding guarantees. Exempts small businesses from personal property tax; for other businesses, exempts $500,000 worth of personal property. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Net increase in annual property tax revenues of $7.5 billion to $12 billion in most years, depending on the strength of real estate markets. After backfilling state income tax losses related to the measure and paying for county administrative costs, the remaining $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion would be allocated to schools (40 percent) and other local governments (60 percent).” (Emphasis on original).
Lawsuits Filed Against Attorney General Becerra for Biased Title and Analysis
The measure is referred to as a split roll, as it would treat residential properties different than commercial and industrial properties on the tax rolls.
According to a report on CalMatters.org, “Becerra has been sued by both business groups and anti-tax advocates over his description of the measure, which emphasizes that it “increases funding sources for public schools’ without specifically including the phrase ‘tax increase.’
On July 29 the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association sued California Attorney General Xavier Becerra “for his abject failure to produce impartial ballot material related to Proposition 15, the ‘split roll’ attack that seeks the partial repeal of Proposition 13.”
Past criticism of Becerra’s bias has been vocal but has now reached a crescendo…editorial boards and columnists have lambasted Becerra. In fact, the specific deficiencies of Prop 15’s ballot label as well as the title and summary are well identified in the media reports themselves.”
The tax fighting organization listed many examples of Becerra’s impartiality, including, “The ballot title on Prop. 15 begins by stating that it ‘increases funding sources for public schools, community colleges and local government services.’ It would do so, it states, by ‘changing tax assessment’—not raising taxes—on commercial and industrial property.” (John Diaz, California attorney general loads language on 2 November measures, The S.F. Chronicle, July 26, 2020, https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/diaz/article/California-attorney-general-loads-language-on-2-15434094.php, emphasis in original.)”; and
“The title and summary of Proposition 15 are not only tilted toward one side, they are less than fully accurate. Property in California is not taxed on ‘purchase price.’ It’s taxed on fair market value at the time of purchase, adjusted annually, for inflation with increases capped at 2 percent per year…”
“This blatant manipulation of the ballot label as well as the title and summary is in direct contravention of the Attorney General’s fiduciary duty to prepare impartial ballot material,” said Coupal.
However, also according to CalMatters.org, “In response to the petition from Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which opposes Prop. 15, (Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Laurie) Earl wrote that while one portion of the title ‘may be somewhat misleading, the Court is not convinced the sentence is so misleading that it justifies judicial intervention.’” Earl extensively cited an appellate court ruling in a previous case, “that ballot descriptions ‘prepared by the Attorney General must be upheld because all legitimate presumptions should be indulged in favor of the propriety of the attorney-general’s actions.’”
So, the ballot title and description for Prop. 15 by Becerra remains unchanged.
Big Backing by Zuckerbergs
According to Ballotpedia, the measure is backed by Chan Zuckerberg Advocacy, formed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, who according to the California Globe, contributed $1.9 million to the effort, through their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. They believe it’s unfair for Disneyland to pay a lower property tax rate than their company is paying on its property.
The election is on November 3.
Read MoreOnline event to celebrate the start of 2020-2021 School Year for local youth
Travis Credit Union invites students and their families to attend a free virtual ‘Back-to-School Rally,’ scheduled for Wednesday, September 16 from 4-5 p.m. The Zoom event is also the culmination of TCU’s month-long ‘Back to School Challenge,’ where students who complete the weekly online financial education activities are entered into a drawing to win the grand prize, a new laptop.
“Starting a new school year is an exciting time. Since this year is unlike any other, we are proud to introduce a digital financial education program to compliment distance learning to help families and guardians,” said Damian Alarcon, Director of Community Relations for Travis Credit Union. “The Back-to-School rally is our way of helping to bring youth together to celebrate financial education and all the new opportunities that this school year will bring.”
The rally will feature guest speakers from across the 12 counties served by TCU, including:
- Edgar Lampkin, Superintendent of the Williams Unified School District, will provide a welcome to students.
- Youth leaders from the Woodland Teen Advisory Board, the San Pablo Youth Commission, RYSE Center (in Richmond) and the Fairfield Police Activities League will share teen projects they are launching to support the return to schools.
- The grand prize winner of the Back-to-School Challenge will be announced live
Woodland Teen Advisory Board, https://woodlandpubliclibrary.com
City of San Pablo Youth Commission, https://www.sanpabloca.gov/881/Youth-Commission
Fairfield Police Activities League, https://www.fairfield.ca.gov/gov/depts/police/pal_matt_garcia_youth_center/
RYSE Center, https://rysecenter.org
Williams Unified School District, http://www.williamsusd.net
To register for this free event, click here
Youth aged 13 to 18 have until September 9 to complete the contest requirements to be eligible for the giveaway. More information is available at traviscu.org/back-to-school.
Headquartered in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced, Napa, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union is the 13th largest credit union in California with more than 214,000 members and more than $3.9 billion in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties, Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful commitment to its members and the community; its solid, secure history; and its long-standing track record of dedicated service.
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By Dr. Jeffrey McManus, Desert Pacific Regional Vice President for Health Services, Humana
Contra Costa County residents have been turning to medical virtual visits, also known as telemedicine, more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. While telemedicine companies have been around for years, the pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in virtual visits as primary care doctors, specialists and hospitals began offering the service as a way to help keep patients safe.
Now that most medical offices and hospitals are accepting patients for in-person visits and elective procedures, you may be wondering if you should go to your doctor’s office or stick to a virtual visit. Rest assured, your health care providers can help you decide what’s best as they work to ensure safe care for patients and staff. This includes changing the ways they deliver care like screening patients ahead of time to help determine if it’s best to go to a medical office or stay at home.
In-person Visits
If it’s determined that an in-person visit is best for you, you’ll find that to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, many facilities are taking the following steps:
- Screening arriving patients for COVID-19 symptoms and providing a mask and hand hygiene supplies before entering the center.
- Screening every employee for COVID-19 every shift and requiring them to wear masks at all times and appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Treating suspected and symptomatic COVID-19 patients in designated areas only.
- Promoting physical distancing with new clinic layouts.
- Cleaning and disinfecting exam rooms between each patient visit, and regularly disinfecting high-traffic and high-touch areas.
Virtual Visits
If you don’t require in-person attention, a virtual visit is still a good option. Many people are choosing virtual visits in non-emergency situations for routine follow-ups and non-life-threatening conditions. This option allows you to consult your doctor or other health care providers in your network via a secure video or phone appointment, all in the comfort of your home. Before your telehealth visits:
- Make a list of all the medications – prescription and over-the-counter – that you take and include the name, address and phone number of your pharmacy.
- Write down details about your symptoms, concerns, pain and feelings.
- Take digital photos of any injury, rash or other visible concern.
- Have your insurance ID card available.
- Use a phone, tablet or computer that’s connected to the internet. If you’ve never video-chatted before, consider a practice run with a friend or family member to work out the process and check the microphone and speakers. Headphones or ear buds provide better sound quality and more privacy.
- Have your home thermometer, bathroom scale, glucometer or blood-pressure monitor nearby.
Many area medical offices like John Muir Health, which serves Contra Costa County, offer both virtual and in-person visits. John Muir Health has enhanced safety protocols for patients receiving care onsite, such as a universal mask policy, temperature and symptom screening and increased cleaning and disinfection.
Whether you choose a virtual or in-person visit, check with your health insurance provider to see if they’ve taken steps to help ease the burden during the health crisis. For example, Humana is waiving cost sharing (including copays, coinsurance and deductibles) for in-network primary care, outpatient behavioral health and virtual visits for our Medicare Advantage members for the remainder of the calendar year.
Getting the care you need is always important. Consider these options to stay safe and healthy. And remember, for life-threatening emergencies, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or suicidal thoughts, always call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Bottom line, don’t delay care because you are worried about contracting COVID-19.
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