THE VALLEJO WEEKLY VOLUME 8, ISSUE 25 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
MAYOR’S MESSAGE Dear Vallejo, I have great news!
Operation P.E.A.C.E. has proven to be highly successful in its first couple of weeks. Since the Operation's launch on September 10th, the Vallejo Police Department ’s Crime Reduction Team and Operation P.E.A.C.E. task force officers have seized ten handguns, one assault rifle, three extended magazines, and three pistol drum magazines. Officers were also successful in making arrests of nine individuals who were associated with these illegal weapons. Today, the VPD PIO shared that the U.S. Attorney and District Attorney are part of the state, federal and local partnerships for the Operation. The criminal cases will be reviewed by their offices on a case-by-case basis to determine if charges will be assessed at the state or federal level. I am nothing but impressed with the progress this Operation has made in making Vallejo's streets safe again for our residents. If you are interested in reading the VPD press releases about the weapons seizures and arrests, click here. Returning to the conversation about the Fire Department and last week ’s message about the First Responders Fee, Fire Chief Arbuthnott shared with me today that "the Department has directed Wittman
Enterprises to suspend the First Responder Fee program until further notice. The Fire Department will be working with City leadership and Wittman to determine the next steps forward." As I mentioned in last week's message, these mailings were never intended to be bills to our residents, but merely serve as a courtesy notice to those who received emergency medical care that their insurance carrier would be billed for the services rendered. We never expected our residents to pay this fee. When the program is instituted again, we will make sure that these courtesy notices are very clear for our residents to understand. I can also assure you that the program's re-activation will be clearly communicated from the Fire Department and the City before anyone receives a courtesy notice in their mailbox. Lastly, I want to give a HUGE thanks to Shelee Loughmiller, Vallejo's Community and Volunteer Coordinator, for organizing the Give Litter the Boot Project. Shelee has organized various groups, which include the Coastal Clean-up North Bay Ploggers, the Vallejo Rotary Club, and the Vallejo Street Stewards. Together with a dedicated Public Works Employee and the City's clean-up tool trailer, volunteers will work to keep the streets of Vallejo litter-free and beautiful for all to enjoy. The cleanup events will occur on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, September through February 2021, from 9 AM – 12 PM. If you're interested in volunteering for one, or more of these clean-up events, visit the Give Litter The Boot interest page!
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
I hope this week's message left you feeling encouraged and hopeful as we move into better days here in Vallejo. Sincerely, Your Mayor, Bob Sampayan
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The City of Vallejo is pleased to offer the following employment opportunities: - Engineering Technician I/II (Water) - Police Cadet - Police Lieutenant (Internal Promotional Only) - Police Officer (Entry - Academy Graduate) - Police Officer (Lateral) - Police Officer (Recruit)
PERSONNEL
Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/vallejo for more information and to apply.
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
VALLEJO POLICE DEPARTMENT CONGRATULATES OFFICERS ALAMON AND HOLLIS ON CORPORAL PROMOTIONS Chief Shawny Williams and the Vallejo Police Department congratulates Officer Alamon, (pictured left) and Officer Hollis (pictured below) on their permanent and temporary promotions as Police Corporals.
PERSONNEL
We appreciate Corporal Alamon and Corporal Hollis for their long-standing commitment to protecting and serving the public in the City of Vallejo.
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VALLEJO POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES ITS MISSION TO ADDRESS SIDESHOW ACTIVITY IN VALLEJO In recent weeks, the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) has seen a significant downturn in calls for service regarding sideshows and is continuing its mission to eliminate the activity in Vallejo. As previously reported, sideshow participants may be subjected to a number of penalties to include arrest, imprisonment, and/or license revocation if they break the laws and guidelines surrounding the activity. Current and/or future plans include increased enforcement of existing laws, new legislation surrounding Vallejo Municipal Code ordinances, improved communications with neighboring law enforcement agencies and partnerships with prosecuting agencies. VPD is also working on a spectator ordinance with the City Attorney’s Office that will make it a crime to watch and block roadways to facilitate a “sideshow take over."
Click here for more information about penalties and active plans to address sideshow activity in Vallejo.
OPERATION PEACE MULTIPLE FIREARMS
SEIZES
In recent weeks, Vallejo PD has taken a number of deadly firearms off the streets of Vallejo. On September 18 alone, Operation PEACE Officers engaged in a series of proactive policing measures that led to more illegally possessed guns being seized. In total, officers seized six handguns and one assault rifle, made five arrests, issued two citations and impounded two vehicles. Vallejo Police Patrol Officers also seized one handgun during an enforcement stop. The Vallejo Police Department would like to sincerely thank our officers for their continued commitment toward safeguarding lives and reducing crime in the City of Vallejo.
Click the links below to read more about the deadly firearms removed from our streets: - Operation PEACE & Patrol Officers Take More Guns Off the Streets of Vallejo - Vallejo PD Seizes Firearms and Makes Multiple Arrests in Armed Robbery Case - Operation PEACE Officers Make Gun Arrest & Seize Firearm
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
PROGRAM & PROJECT UPDATES
The department will also consider mobilizing its Mobile Field Force Teams and using enhanced technology and surveillance tools to identify related vehicles and participants. Community members also have the option to safely submit video/photo evidence of sideshow activity online using the Axon Citizen Assist link.
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SOLANO COUNTY MOVES TO TIER 2 The State has announced that Solano County is now in the tier 2 (substantial) risk level. Great job, Solano! Several businesses are allowed to reopen with modifications, effective immediately. We all have a collective role to play to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community - wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance - to protect yourselves and others, and to continue the progress of moving on to the next tier. For a full list of which businesses can reopen, as well as the industry safety protocols that businesses must follow to keep staff and community members safe, go to covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy. More information on the tier-to-tier comparison can be found here.
BECOME A VALLEJO STREET STEWARD Are you one of the many that see our neighborhood streets, alleys and business corridors littered with trash and want to take action? We are actively recruiting volunteers to join the Vallejo Street Stewards to Give Litter the Boot!
We are gathering groups on the second and fourth Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning in October for group clean ups in different locations around Vallejo. The City of Vallejo’s Public Works Department is supporting these clean up dates, and will bring the Community Clean Up Tool Trailer so participants will have all the tools needed! Youth are encouraged to participate with an adult guardian present. WHERE & WHEN
9/26/20: District 4 - River Park Parking Lot (Sunshine Smoothies)
10/10/20: District 5 - 21 Springstowne Center at Bank of America
10/24/20: District 2 - GVRD North Vallejo Community Center
11/7/20: District 3 - 211 Rollingwood Baseball Field
11/21/20: District 1 - Admiral Callaghan & Turner Pkwy
12/12/20: District 5 - 66 Admiral Callaghan (Grocery Outlet parking lot)
1/9/21: District 4 - 301 Mare Island Way (Waterfront Park)
1/23/21: District 2 - 900 Fairgrounds - Sage Overpass
2/13/21: District 5 - 920 Tennessee St (Business District)
VALLEJO WATERSHED ALLIANCE DIY CLEANUPS For individuals who wish to adopt an area to clean up, you can request to use the loaner materials (pickers/bags) from Jennifer Kaiser at Vallejo Wastewater, by sending her an email at jkaiser@vallejowastewater.org. Visit vallejowatershedalliance.org for more information.
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP EVENTS
COMMUNITY
PSPS PREPARATION Are you prepared for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)?
Visit pge.com/pspsupdates, and learn what you can do today, to prepare for a future PSPS outage. Subscribe to alerts, lookup your address, view an outage map, apply for the PG&E Medical Baseline Program if you depend on power for a medical necessity, and more.
SUBSCRIBE TO ALERT SOLANO EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS In order to receive important messages during emergencies, the City of Vallejo urges local residents who live, work, play, or travel through Solano County to sign up for its emergency alert system. Alert Solano efficiently delivers messages and information during incidents and emergencies as they occur via email, cell phone, and/or text messaging. To register, click here.
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In response to direct customer feedback requesting more information as soon as possible, to ensure they have time to prepare and plan in advance of a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event, PG&E will provide Watch and Warning notifications this year. For more information, click here.
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
COMMUNITY
PG&E “WATCH” AND “WARNING” NOTIFICATIONS
WILDLAND SAFETY Throughout California, wildfires will continue to be fueled by a build-up of seasonal dry vegetation driven by extreme dry conditions and local strong winds, making brush fuels extremely dangerous and challenging for firefighters. The Vallejo Fire Department stands ready to quickly respond and contain wildfires, but we can't do this without your cooperation. The "Ready! Set! Go!" brochure is intended to provide valuable information on being prepared in the event of an immediate evacuation order due to an emergency like a brush fire. The "Defensible Space" brochure provides critical information on proper protecting your family and property associated with the threat of wildland fires. Both brochures can be downloaded and referred to for pre-planning and preparation.
COMMUNITY
Please take the time to learn how to create and maintain a defensible space around your property and how to harden your home against flying embers. You play the most important role in protecting your family and home in the event of wildland fires evacuations and other significant emergencies. Prepare yourself by taking the necessary steps to give you, your family, and property the best chance of surviving a devastating wildfire. For additional information, please visit the Fire Department's website.
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PROPER DISPOSAL OF PROPANE, AIR,
AND/OR GAS CANISTERS Need to dispose of propane, air, and/or gas tanks/ canisters? All propane, air, and gas tanks or canisters are considered hazardous waste, and should NEVER be put in the trash, recycling, or yard waste carts. To ensure the safety of Recology Vallejo-American Canyon employees, please properly dispose of all types of tanks and canisters, for FREE, at:
Household Hazardous Waste Facility 889 Devlin Road American Canyon You may dispose of these items on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, follow Recology Vallejo-American Canyon on Facebook, and visit recology.com.
VIRTUAL PODIUM NOW AVAILABLE Members of the public can now "step-up" to the virtual podium and speak during public comment. Here's how: On a computer: Connect to Zoom at zoom.us/j/91400750676. Enter your name (or a unique identification so you know when it's your turn to speak). Enter an email. When you wish to speak on an agenda item, click the "raise hand" button. On a smartphone: Download the Zoom app at zoom.us/download. Enter the meeting ID: 914 0075 0676. Enter your name (or a unique identification so you know when it's your turn to speak). Enter an emailWhen you wish to speak on an agenda item, tap the "raise hand" button. On a phone: Dial (669) 900-6833. When you wish to speak on an agenda item, press *9 on your keypad. Via email: Send your written comments to the City Clerk at city.clerk@cityofvallejo.net. Written comments will be forwarded to Council for review, but will not be read aloud during the meeting. *The Open Town Hall written commenting feature will no longer be available. Photo tutorials and additional information is available at cityofvallejo.net/publiccomment.
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
COMMUNITY
Help us keep our local Recology employees safe by sharing this information with your friends, family, and neighbors.
COMMUNITY DRIVE-THROUGH FIREFIGHTER DONATION EVENT Join the Vallejo Admirals, Grocery Outlet, and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District for a drive through donation event to help support firefighters that remain at the LNU and SCU Complex Fires. The event will be held on September 25 and 26 in Wilson Park, 1007 Solano Avenue, Vallejo, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and includes complimentary Coffee from Moschetti Coffee, donuts from the Dapper Donut, and a raffle! Help show your support by leaving a drawing or homemade card for our frontline heroes, or donating flavored sparkling waters, bottled water, baby wipes, baby powder, or granola bars. Proceeds will be divided for the LNU, SCU, and CZU fire crews.
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COMMUNITY
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
VALLEJO NEWS VOLUME 8, ISSUE 24
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RE-IMAGINING DIVERSITY IN LATINX COMMUNITIES On Wednesday, September 30, Touro University will host the Diversity Now session. This session will focus on Latina education leaders and the complexity of inherently sexist and racist systems in education. Based on the research of Dr. Lisa Norton, the panel will explore the experiences and research around Latina leaders specifically looking at impact of these structures on Latinx learning communities and their dreams and visions for long-term re-imagining for all of our Solano County children. To register for the event click here.
SOLANO COUNTY ROV REMINDS RESIDENTS TO VOTE The Solano County Registrar of Voters reminds citizens they can register to vote, pre-register to vote if they are under 17 years old, and check their registration status at any time by visiting RegisterToVote.Ca.Gov. “Voter Registration is at an all-time high in Solano County,” says Tim Flanagan, Solano County Chief Information Officer and Registrar of Voters. “More than 250,000 Solano County residents are already registered to vote, and, in honor of National Voter Registration Day, we ask everyone to encourage their family, friends and neighbors to register to vote and/or update their registration if they’ve moved.”
In addition to providing mail-in ballot voting options for voters, the Solano County ROV has established more than 15 ballot drop-off locations across the County starting Monday, October 5. Early Voting also begins on October 5 at the Solano County Registrar of Voter’s Office, located at 675 Texas St, Suite 2600 in Fairfield. Details on voting options and key election dates are available on the ROV website SolanoCounty.com/ Elections.
SOLANO COUNTY’S BEST OF 2020 It is time for the Times-Herald's "Solano County's Best of 2020!"
During the popular contest, the community has a chance to vote for "the best of" in various categories, including food and drink, medical services, professional services, retail and shopping, and things to do/places to go. Voting ends September 30, and voters can click here to vote. Previous winners of this award include One House Bakery (Best Bakery), Sac's Tasty Hot Dogs (Best Hot Dog), American Canyon Pediatric Dentistry (Best Dentist), Collektive Boutique (Best Clothing Women's), and Elev8 (Best Health Club).
To view the 2019 winners, click here. PAGE 15
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
VALLEJO NEWS
Ballots for the November 3, 2020 General Election will be delivered to local United States Post Office processing centers on September 26 and handled by the agency as part of their mail delivery service. Voters should start receiving their ballots early next week. All voters can sign-up for ballot tracking to find out exactly when their ballot will arrive at california.ballottrax.net/voter/.
VISIONS OF THE WILD VIRTUAL FESTIVAL The Visions of the Wild Festival has gone virtual. This film and art festival is organized by the USDA Forest Service in collaboration with the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation and a wide range of local partners and sponsors. The in-person event was held annually each September in downtown Vallejo, and this year will instead feature monthly online events, and began on September 23. The series of free programs, which continue into the spring of 2021, is part of a project called 38°N. Because Vallejo sits on the 38th parallel north of the Equator, the festival organizers decided to explore art and the environment from the perspective of our latitude. The 38°N project aims to connect with people around the globe who share our passion for nature, culture, and community. The following events have already been announced:
October 1 at 7:00 p.m.: Global Recycled Plastic Art Challenge launch event
October 21 at 5:30 p.m.: Yale University historian Valerie Hansen explores the ancient Silk Road
VALLEJO NEWS
November 18 at 6:00 p.m.: A panel discussion centered on the film Carvalho’s Journey, which will be available online to registrants a week before the event
On October 1, the festival is launching the Global Recycled Plastic Art Challenge. The competition is open to youth around the world who live close to 38° north latitude (between the 37th and 39th parallels).
For more information about the festival or to register for the free online events visit VisionsoftheWild.org.
ART CONTEST FOR VALLEJO & BENICIA ARTISTS Vallejo Community Art Foundation (VCAF) and SolTrans wish to enhance the Vallejo Transit Center with four to six public sculptures. The project will use participatory design and community-built processes to connect community members to public art. As part of the process, the project will provide training, mentorship and resources for local artists with a special emphasis on artists of color. The project is open to all artists who are at least 18 years of age living and working in Vallejo and Benicia. Interested artists may submit their application by midnight on October 15. Application requirements and additional information is available here.
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VALLEJO NEWS
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
VALLEJO NEWS
COVID19 TESTING Help protect yourself and the people around you by getting tested for COVID-19. Public health officials globally are working together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanding access to reliable screening is critical to containment efforts. For more information about getting tested, visit the following sites: Project Baseline, CVS Pharmacy, OptumServe. For updated information on COVID-19, NorthBay Healthcare holds weekly Facebook Lives, Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. During Live Chat general questions will be answered from the public by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Seth Kaufman. To visit NorthBay Healthcare on Facebook, click here.
STA EXPANDS MEDICAL TRIP CONCIERGE PROGRAM Solano County residents who are 60 years and older, including those living with disabilities, can take advantage of a new transportation pilot program that expands critical access to existing transportation services, giving individuals more options when it comes to attending medical appointments, going to the pharmacy and making other essential trips during the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency. On August 25, the Solano County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $150,000 in Coronavirus-related CARES Act funding to expand the Solano Transportation Authority’s (STA) Medical Trip Concierge Program. The funds go to help combine two of its most popular programs, GoGo and Intercity Taxi Card, into a single transportation service called “Medical Trip Concierge.” The GoGo Grandparent pilot program subsidizes rides in Uber, Lyft and taxi services by up to 80 percent for residents age 60 years and older, and expands the program to include ADA eligible Solano County residents. “Thanks to the Board’s CARES Act funding, we are able to combine the strengths of both transportation programs into one, making it easier for riders and increasing their ability to make critical appointments,” says Daryl Halls, Executive Director at STA. “This will help address the current situation where an already vulnerable population is now facing reduced access to essential transportation services.” To schedule a ride on Medical Trip Concierge GoGo Grandparent pilot program, eligible residents are encouraged to call the Solano Mobility Call Center at 1 (800) 535-6883 between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and online at SolanoMobility.org. To read the full press release, click here.
Subscribe to the Vallejo Weekly, and other City communications, here. View previous issues of the Vallejo Weekly, here. Submit your positive community story or event for consideration in the Vallejo News section, here.
CITY OF VALLEJO | 555 SANTA CLARA STREET | VALLEJO, CA | 94590 CITYOFVALLEJO.NET | VALLEJONEWS@CITYOFVALLEJO.NET