THE VALLEJO WEEKLY VOLUME 8, ISSUE 35 | DECEMBER 3, 2020
MAYOR’S MESSAGE Dear Vallejo, I hope this week you feel rested and rejuvenated after the Thanksgiving holiday. While this holiday was very different from years past, I am thankful that Ramona and I found a special way to share some old traditions with our family. We cooked a turkey, and I made some of my famous gravy that has been a long-time favorite of my children. We packaged up servings for each of their families and left care packages on our porch for them. Even though we were unable to spend the day together physically, it was still a joy to share this new and unique moment with our family. Today it's important that I acknowledge World AIDS Day. December 1 is World AIDS Day, adopted in recognition and support of people living with HIV and honoring those who have lost their lives. The theme of this year's observance is “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact”. It's hard to believe that the first documented case of HIV was nearly 40 years ago, and while modern medical science has made tremendous accomplishments in helping people to live with the disease, medical doctors, scientists, researchers, and advocates are still fighting the good fight to find a cure. Today I was delighted to see a group in front of City Hall recognizing this very special day. I want to
thank Mario Saucedo, his partner Calvin Ellington D’Ville as well as the members of the Solano Aids Coalition for their dedicated effort in acknowledging World Aids Day for the past 18 years and continuing their educational programs. I hope you enjoy some of the photos we captured of this wonderful show of support and love. Although the event was contained and small due to Covid19, the message was well said. Speakers also commented about our current pandemic. I know I speak about it all the time but the concerns are real. Infections, hospitalizations and sadly deaths have increased dramatically in Solano County with Vallejo having the greatest numbers of infection. We may see a total shutdown of our way of life if the virus continues its spread. I am also concerned about the flu season. Coupled with Covid 19, we may experience a difficult winter. I ask that all of us do the right thing, wear the mask, socially distance, wash frequently and stay indoors if possible. Together we can beat this. Until next week, Vallejo, Your Mayor, Bob Sampayan
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
The City of Vallejo is pleased to offer the following employment opportunities: - Police Cadet - Police Officer (Entry - Academy Graduate) - Police Officer (Lateral) - Police Officer (Recruit) - Senior Accountant Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/vallejo for more information and to apply.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: SENIOR ACCOUNTANT The City of Vallejo is seeking candidates for one Senior Accountant position, as a collaborative member of the City's Finance Department. The ideal Senior Accountant will be able to supervise the staff responsible for providing financial record keeping, reporting and cost accounting functions within the Finance Department. The incumbent will perform a variety of professional accounting tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility, including: creating training documents, organizing and conducting training sessions for all levels of staff Citywide. The perfect Senior Accountant will prioritize quality customer service and will be an innovative and creative problem solver with excellent communication skills, both in writing, verbally, and when presenting financial information with the ability to communicate concisely and effectively. While not required, advanced level excel knowledge and experience being able to work with multiple worksheets, filtering data, integrating functions, manipulating databases, managing Macro commands and creating Microsoft Excel application are highly desirable. Ideal candidates will also have experience documenting financial procedures and professional governmental supervisory experience within a public agency. The Senior Accountant job announcement and application period closes on Monday, December 14, at 5:00 p.m. To apply for this amazing opportunity or for more information about the recruitment and selection process, please click here.
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
FROM BLIGHT TO BEAUTY: ONE STEP AT A TIME Preview the Capitol Stairs Art Tiles that are now housed for public viewing. Showings of the tiles at Building 207 815 Nimitz Avenue, Mare Island (across from the Coal Sheds) are scheduled from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on December 4,5,12,13,18, 19 and 20. The Vallejo Capitol Stairs Project needs your contribution as the project almost reaches completion. Vallejo’s 100+-year-old Capitol Street Stairs climb the hill from downtown to Vallejo’s Historic District. Gone are the hazardous trees, damaged storm drain, and a seedy and unwholesome environment. The Stairs’ risers are about to be transformed into a beautiful mosaic mural representing Vallejo’s and Mare Island’s 170 + year’s history. 52 risers, each 10 feet wide, will be covered with custom-made art tiles created by renown artists, Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher, who created the tiles for San Francisco's famous 16th Avenue Stairs. The Capitol Stairs’ art tiles are completed, currently stored at Mare Island, and scheduled to be installed next spring once the City of Vallejo finishes the necessary repairs. The tiles were paid for in part by the City of Vallejo's Cycle 2 Participatory Budgeting Grant: The Arts, Beautification and Community Development Grant. The remaining funds required to pay for the art tiles have been paid for exclusively by the generosity of Vallejo citizens! Without Vallejo's community's support, none of this could have happened.
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
TRAVIS CREDIT UNION VIRTUAL EVENT Join Travis Credit Union for free virtual events designed to teach youth, ages 13 to 21, about financial aid opportunities for post-secondary education, choosing a school, and preparing for next-level schooling. The next events will be held on December 3, and December 10. Youth should register now at traviscu.org/ finance-u to be entered in a drawing to win a new Chromebook and other prizes.
FLU SEASON IS HERE! Now more than ever, with Coronavirus still present, it is important that you protect yourself and the ones you love by getting your flu shot this winter. Click here to find low-cost and no-cost vaccine flu clinics near you. For more information about getting tested for COVID-19, visit the following sites:
Project Baseline
CVS Pharmacy
OptumServe.
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DOLLAR DAYS ON THE BAY On November 30, San Francisco Bay Ferry suspended its Dollar Days on the Bay promotion and return to normal fares on December 1. This is in response to all counties served by San Francisco Bay Ferry now having moved into the purple tier of the state’s recovery blueprint. All purchased, unused promo tickets purchased via Hopthru will be refunded automatically in the coming days. If you currently have any unused Hopthru promo tickets after November 30, you do not need to request a refund, it will be processed automatically. There are no schedule changes at this time. All COVID-19 safety measures, including mask requirements and limited capacity to ensure social distancing, remain in place. If you rode the ferry in November, it is encouraged for you to provide feedback on your experience by taking the passenger input survey here. If you have any questions, email customerservice@sanfranciscobayferry.com. To read the full update, click here.
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
EMMANUEL ARMS COMMUNITY COAT DRIVE Emmanuel Arms Community Inc. will be hosting a coat drive through the entire month of December. Every Monday in December from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. you can give or receive new and gently used coats at 900 6th Street, Vallejo. For more information contact Assistant Pastor Johnnie Hubbard, Executive Director at (707) 642-2391 or visit emmanuelarmsinc.org.
SOLTRANS OFFERS 50% OFF LOCAL PASSES WITH TOKEN TRANSIT APP Solano County Transit (SolTrans) continues to encourage riders to use cashless fare payment to reduce surface touch points on buses and help slow the spread of COVID-19. Riders can help protect the health and safety of SolTrans passengers and staff this holiday season by using the Token Transit Mobile Ticketing app. To encourage riders to make the switch to Token Transit, from November 27 through December 31, 2020, SolTrans is offering 50% off all Local fares purchased in the Token Transit App. Purchase Local One-Ride Fares, Local 10-Ride Passes, and Local 31-Day Passes and receive 50% off! Token Transit is a fast and convenient mobile app that lets you pay for and ride public transit with your phone. Riders purchase transit passes on their smartphone and board the bus by showing the driver the pass on their phone. While all SolTrans passes are available with Token Transit, the promotion is only valid for SolTrans Local passes. “We want to thank our riders who continue to diligently follow safety protocols. We wanted to offer a promotion that encourages safety but also gives back to our riders. Let’s remember to take care of ourselves and each other this holiday season; we hope our riders enjoy the savings.” said Mandi Renshaw, SolTrans Program Analyst. For more information visit soltrans.org or download ‘Token Transit’ on your iPhone or Android.
GVRD VIRTUAL TREE LIGHTING On December 11 at 6:00 p.m., Greater Vallejo Recreation District will hold a virtual tree lighting ceremony via Zoom. Join Santa Claus and his elves as they save the magic of Christmas. Registration is required to attend this event. For more information about this event or to register, click here.
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
GVRD JINGLE JAM TOY GIVEAWAY AND SANTA VISIT Registration for GVRD's Jingle Jam Toy Giveaway is open until Monday, December 14. This free toy giveaway is catered to children ages 2 to 11, spots are limited so be sure to register ahead of time. Pick up will be on December 18 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Children's Wonderland. Submit an application and letter to Santa's Workshop for a chance to win a visit from Santa Claus. The deadline for entry is December 14 at 5:00 p.m. From these entries, three lucky youths will be selected for his visits. For more information about these events or to register, click here.
STORYTIME WITH SANTA’S ELF Love Is... and one of Santa’s elves will present a reading of two favorite Christmas stories, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “The Night Before Christmas!” This is a free event that will be held via Zoom and Facebook live. Those children joining via Zoom will receive a free book from Another Chapter , limit to 15 children per session. To register, please visit here The first reading, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” will be on December 9 at 7:00 p.m. The second reading, “The Night Before Christmas,” will be on December 23 at 7:00 p.m. For more information about these events, visit Love Is... on Facebook.
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
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VALLEJO PD WELCOMES NEW DEPUTY CHIEF MICHAEL KIHMM TO THE CITY OF VALLEJO The Vallejo Police Department (VPD) is excited to welcome Deputy Chief Michael Kihmm to the Vallejo Police Department, who was recently sworn in on November 30, 2020. Deputy Chief Kihmm joins the VPD from the San Jose Police Department with 29 years of continuous law enforcement experience. Kihmm began his career in 1991 as a full-time police officer with the Milpitas Police Department and lateraled to the San Jose Police Department in 1994. He promoted through the ranks to Captain and has a broad range of experience where he has worked and led numerous units (e.g., Patrol, Internal Affairs, Homicide, Traffic/Motor Unit, Sexual Assaults, and the Chief’s Adjutant, just to name a few). "Michael is a servant leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will will assist us with our collaborative reform efforts and goal of building strong community partnerships," Vallejo Chief of Police Shawny Williams stated. "As we strive for a safer Vallejo, I am confident that Michael will help us advance the principles of 21st Century Policing and cultivate an environment that engages the hearts and minds of all employees, community stakeholders and our youth." Click here to read the complete press release.
VALLEJO PD AWARDED GRANT TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC DATA REPORTING The Vallejo Police Department received a $24,800.00 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to streamline department processes for collecting and reporting traffic data. Grant funds will be used to develop a new, or update an existing, electronic crash reporting system with software that submits data directly to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). “This funding will allow us to conduct more in-depth research and develop concrete plans for addressing some of our biggest traffic safety issues,” Vallejo Police Corporal Lenard Alamon said. “Accurate and timely data is critical to the safety of our roads, and we’re excited to add reporting tools to support that effort.” Click here to read the full press release.
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
VALLEJO PD CONDUCTS ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT OPERATION On November 20, the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) Traffic Division conducted an abandoned vehicle abatement operation. All eight patrol beats were targeted to address the over 800 complaints of abandoned vehicles throughout the city. The operation resulted in 138 complaints checked, 81 were no longer present, 38 vehicles were towed, 10 were tagged for removal, 9 were determined to be unfounded, and 6 citations were issued. Abandoned vehicles contribute to blight and are the subject of concern for many members of our community. The VPD Traffic Division conducts daily checks of abandoned vehicles throughout the city and periodically conducts large-scale abatement operations. Community members are encouraged to report abandoned vehicles in Vallejo by calling the Abandoned Vehicle Hotline at 707-648-4682 or by filing an online report through the Vallejo Police Department website here. Learn more about recent abatement operations by clicking here.
VALLEJO POLICE DEPARTMENT ISSUES HEALTH ORDER UPDATE Out of an abundance of caution and due to the November surge in COVID-19 cases, the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) is encouraging all residents and visitors to abide by the California Governor’s recent modified stay-at-home orders, which requires that all non-essential activities cease from 10 p.m.- 5 a.m.. This state order applies to all counties in purple tier, including Solano County, and will be effective from 11/21/2020 through 12/21/2020. The department is also encouraging Vallejoans to observe the Solano County Public Health orders. At this time, the VPD will neither determine or enforce the compliance of any countywide or state issued health order/curfew. VPD will not use the health order as probable cause to detain persons during the curfew hours. In addition, the department will not dispatch officers for these purposes related to the health order. Instead, callers will be advised to contact 2-1-1 to be routed to Solano County Public Health or to contact the Solano County COVID-19 warmline at 707-784-8988. VOLUME 8, ISSUE 35
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The VPD will continue to respond appropriately in the event of any criminal act, life-threatening emergency or threat to public or personal safety. Please stay safe during this Holiday season as we work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
VALLEJO WELCOMES OFFICERS
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEXT GENERATION OF
The Vallejo Police Department is pleased to welcome the next generation of officers who were officially sworn in among family and friends on October 26. Please join the City in congratulating our new officers on this achievement and in the courageous mission to protect and serve the City of Vallejo.
VALLEJO PD PARTNERS WITH SOLANO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTOREY’S OFFICE TO LAUNCH NEW OFFICER-INVOLVED FATAL INCIDENT PROTOCOL The Vallejo Police Department is pleased to announce its partnership with the Solano County District Attorney’s Office in launching the Solano County Major Crimes Task Force (SCMCTF), which marks a new Officer-Involved Fatal Incident Protocol – the first of its kind in the State of California. The new protocol requires that all officer-involved fatal incidents be investigated by members of the SCMCTF. The new protocol was signed unanimously by Chiefs of Police throughout the Solano County. “Launching independent investigations for officer-involved fatal incidents brings us one step closer to where we need to be as an effective and transparent organization,” Vallejo Chief of Police Shawny Williams stated. “This task force is a major milestone for the community and our department, and I take comfort in knowing that an independent investigation into matters of community concern will be handled impartially.” Read the full release by clicking here or by visiting vallejopd.net.
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DECEMBER 3, 2020
VALLEJO FIRE DEPARTMENT—BY THE NUMBERS October 2020 Suppression Section There were 909 calls for service within the Suppression section during the month of October, broken down as follows: *Please note that data for sections which received less than 15 calls are represented within the pie chart but are not labeled. Exact figures for these sections can be found in the respective data table.
Prevention Section There were 154 total prevention responses in October, as depicted below:
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