VA L L E J O W E E K LY
Volume 10 | Issue 44 November 3, 2022
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On The Cover: Fire Academy Class 2022-01 Graduates! After spending 5 months navigating the rigorous protocols of the Vallejo Fire Academy, seven recruits can proudly call themselves Vallejo Firefighters! On Saturday, October 29, 2022, the Vallejo Fire Department welcomed the seven new members into their family. Join us in welcoming and celebrating the achievements of Gilberto Gonzales, Tyler Reeves, Kendrick Todd, Robert O’Connor, Carlos Muñoz, Kevin Henry, and Anthony Williams!
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Not pictured: Firefighter Robert O’Connor could not attend due to the birth of his baby. Congratulations to the O’Connor family on the arrival of their bundle of joy!
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California’s hands-free cell phone law. Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
Enforcement operations focused on top The Vallejo Police Department will increase violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure patrols throughout the community and provide to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and other traffic safety programs to help reduce the improper turning or lane changes. number of serious injuries and deaths on roads. Community presentations on traffic safety “This grant funding allows us to support issues such as distracted driving, impaired our ongoing traffic safety efforts in the driving, speeding, bicycle and pedestrian community,” Vallejo Police Department, Sgt. safety. Rashad Hollis said. “Our intent is to stop the most unlawful and dangerous behaviors that Collaborative enforcement efforts with put people at risk and create an environment neighboring agencies. where everyone feels safe traveling.” Officer training and/or recertification: Standard The grant will provide additional programs Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside and resources, including DUI checkpoints Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug and patrols focused on stopping suspected Recognition Expert (DRE). impaired drivers. The grant program will run through September High visibility distracted driving enforcement 2023. operations targeting drivers in violation of
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Vallejo Police Department Awarded $150,000 Grant to Deter Unsafe Behaviors, Increase Safety on Roads
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Proactive Security Checks Results in Arrest of Felon in Possession of AR14-style Rifle A few days ago, our Vallejo Police Department officers were conducting proactive security checks at our many hotels and motels.
VPD officers observed a man drive past them in the parking lot with an unmarked AR14-style rifle in the front seat in plain view. The officers detained the driver and discovered he was a felon in possession of a firearm with a loaded 40-round magazine inserted in it. The driver was subsequently arrested and booked into jail.
The Vallejo Police Department (VPD) was recently awarded just over $300,000 from the US Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to seed-fund the development and deployment of a new Integrated Health and Resource Team (IHART) program. The program will establish a new mobile community crisis intervention team (CIT) that will address Vallejo's specific and urgent mental and behavioral health needs. IHART mobile crisis response unit will operate 24 hours a day, 365-days a year and will provide Vallejo residents with a specialized response team trained in trauma-informed response and mental and behavioral health support. This team of highly-trained individuals skilled in addressing social services-related calls, especially for those experiencing mental healthand social services-related crises will also be equipped with information regarding medical and housing referrals, outpatient mental health services, substance abuse support, and
much more to ensure that individuals can get connected with longer-term services to support their well-being. The Vallejo Police Department will hold two public workshops to ensure IHART's policies, protocols, and priorities are community-led and informed. THE WORKSHOPS WILL BE HELD ON: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 6 pm to 8 pm The Vallejo Room, 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo, CA 94590 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022 6 pm to 8 pm The Vallejo Room, 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo, CA 94590
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IHART COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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Guns off the streets protects lives On October 18, 2022, at around 2 a.m., Vallejo Police Department officers located a vehicle traveling in our city, which was wanted for an armed robbery in Pinole.
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The officers conducted a high-risk stop on the vehicle and discovered the two occupants
inside the vehicle did not possess a valid driver’s license. Officers conducted an inventory search on the vehicle and located two loaded firearms, multiple Hydrocodone tablets, Oxycodone tablets, and methamphetamine. The vehicle was towed away from the scene and the two subjects were booked into jail. Guns off the streets protect lives!
Meet Officers Diaz (left) and Knowles (right). Officers Elias Diaz and Patrick Knowles and are assigned to our Bike Patrol Unit, which assists with protecting and serving our citizens during heavily attended community events like the farmers market, parades, and festivals. Officer Diaz was raised right here in Vallejo and has been with the City since October of 2019. He started as a police cadet and became a
police officer in February of 2021. Officer Knowles has been with the city for approximately two and half years. His favorite part of bike patrol is being able to interact with the community and spend time engaging with vendors and citizens. He loves football and wrestling and hopes to get involved with the local sports teams in the future to help positively impact Vallejo youth. Be sure to say hi to them when you see them – we hear they may even have stickers for those budding junior officers!
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Get to know your VPD Bike Patrol!
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2022
Economic Development Strategic Plan
Focus on the Future
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The City has recently launched a new effort to define a vision for the local economy and the steps needed to achieve it. With anticipated completion in 2023, the plan will guide Vallejo’s economic development efforts over the next decade. The webpage dedicated to the project can be accessed at myvallejo.com/2022edplan.
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The City welcomes opportunities for community engagement via this page, which includes upcoming public events and technical resources. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (a federal grant), the effort is being led by the City’s Economic Development Division in collaboration with our consultant Economic Forensics and Analytics.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN! TELL US WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU ABOUT YOUR HOMETOWN! As part of the City’s 2022 Economic Development Strategic Plan to guide the future of Vallejo, we need to hear from you! Share your ideas and concerns about issues and opportunities in Vallejo and in your neighborhood, by answering the questions posted weekly on the ED Plan webpage myvallejo.com/2022edplan. This week’s survey question...DESCRIBE VALLEJO! While you are there – be sure to subscribe to the 2022 Economic Development Strategic Plan page to get the latest news and updates on the plan
City of Vallejo Welcomes Its First Youth Coordinator At the direction of the Vallejo City Council, the city created a new position to serve the youth population in Vallejo. After an exhaustive search for a Youth Coordinator, the City of Vallejo has selected Vallejo native Victoria Grace-Barksdale. Born and raised in Vallejo, Victoria attended K-12 schools in the city, eventually earning her BA in Sociology with a minor in Education and Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
“Vallejo is my home, and I am so honored to be able to put my passion for improving opportunities for youth to work as the Youth Coordinator for the City of Vallejo. It is important for us, as a city, to invest in our youth, utilize our resources, and collaborate
with the community to help better Vallejo for generations to come.” In her free time, Victoria focuses on building partnerships and collaborating with different non-profits, schools, churches, businesses, and other community organizations to improve the lives of youth in the Vallejo community. "We are excited to fill this critical position with the right person for the job," said Vallejo City Manager Mike Malone. "As a Vallejo native who is already actively engaged in the community, Victoria clearly exudes a passion for what she does; Vallejo is lucky to have her on staff." To contact Victoria about Youth opportunities or partnerships in the City, please email her at victoria.grace@cityofvallejo.net Val l ej o W ee kl y
Before joining the City of Vallejo, Victoria worked as an Academic Support Provider for the Vallejo City Unified School District while also serving the Vallejo community as an event coordinator and youth advocate. Victoria has always been an active community member and is passionate about improving opportunities for youth and helping connect youth and families to the resources they need. Additionally, she serves on the boards of Vallejo Together and the Vallejo Sister City Association. Her career path and affiliation with these boards have allowed her to focus on the areas she's most passionate about, addressing solutions for at-risk youth and homeless populations, academics, civic education, international diplomacy, leadership skill building, and volunteerism.
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polymer mixer replacement project
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What you’re seeing here is our polymer mixer replacement project. This project was set simply to upgrade the skid mounted unit that mixes polymers into the water treatment process to aid solid-liquid separation. These mixers increase the speed and efficiency of
solid-liquid separation and help dewater sludge. After this process is completed, the water is then sent from our dewatering station to our water treatment plant for final treatment processes. This upgrade was done to increase the reliability and sustainability of the system in place to reclaim as much water as possible in this time of state-wide drought.
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Building resilience in the face of adversity
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their experiences as youth dealing with stress and the importance of having safe spaces to talk to others. VCUSD Superintendent William Spalding, VCUSD School Board member Tony Gross, and Principal of Elite Public School On October 27 teachers, staff, students, and Ernani Santos, shared their opinions from community members convened at Jesse school perspectives and discussed resources Bethel High School for a screening of the that our schools have to support students such film Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope, followed by a panel discussion as wellness centers, mental health support providers and academic support providers. from elected officials, community leaders, City of Vallejo Youth Coordinator Victoria youth leaders, and professionals in the field. Grace-Barksdale discussed the importance of a trauma-informed approach to policy The event was hosted by Watch Me Grow, Inc. regarding youth, while Reverend Jethroe in partnership with the Vallejo City Unified Moore II, program manager for Project Hope, School District (VCUSD). The film discussed spoke to the crucial role that support staff and a growing movement of professionals in the community leaders play in helping guide our fields of medicine and youth development youth. Professionals in the health field included who are recognizing the direct correlation Dr. Jeannie Celestial, licensed psychiatrist, between negative physical health indicators Vernice Cooper, licensed marriage & family and toxic stress related to Adverse Childhood therapist, and Dr. Shandi Fuller, Solano County Experiences (ACEs). Following the film, the audience was invited to anonymously take their Deputy Health Officer, who spoke about the physical implications of toxic stress and the own assessment regarding ACEs and discuss importance of building stable and caring the findings. relationships with youth. Community leaders and advocates such as Jerome Villanueva, The event was moderated by Jameelah Hanif, known as Barber Rome of IV the People, and founder of Watch Me Grow, Inc. and Peggy Cohen-Thompson, Trustee of the Solano County Brandon Rodegeb discussed about being mentors to the younger generation and their Office of Education. Among the panelists were own growth in processing their ACEs. Impact Vallejo Youth Council members Sonia Valdez and Riley Graden, who spoke about
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Photo: Walter Gutierrez
CONTACT
cityofvallejo.net 555 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 Facebook.com/cityofvallejo Instagram.com/cityofvallejo For maintenance emergencies, please call: (707) 648-5235