Vallejo W e e k ly Vo l u m e 9 I s s u e 4 6 November 18, 2021
LOOKING FOR CHANGE? WANT TO MEET NEW PEOPLE? MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Apply to serve on one of our boards, committees, or commissions! The following positions are currently open (the number indicates how many positions are available):
• Architectural Heritage and Landmark Commission (2) • Beautification Commission (1) • Code Enforcement Appeals Board (4) • Culture & The Arts Commission (3) • Marina Advisory Committee (1) • McCune Collection Commission (1) • Sister City Commission (1) • Vallejo Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Housing Authority Tenant Members (1) • Greater Vallejo Recreation District (1) • SolTrans Public Advisory Committee (2) The application period will remain open until a sufficient number have been received in the City Clerk’s Office. Click here to learn more and to apply!
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While imperative to our health and hopeful mitigation of the contraction of any virus, these shields made it challenging to hear one another, even with the assistance of a microphone. During the meeting, it was incredibly challenging for the Council Body to conduct their business with community members inappropriately talking in the back of Chambers. This behavior is not only disruptive and obstructs
MAYOR’ S MESSAGE
your elected officials from completing the tasks at hand; it is also insultingly rude to behave in such a way during
Vallejo,
a professional meeting. If you attend Council meetings, my colleagues and
Tuesday night we welcomed the public
I implore you to act accordingly as
back into the Council Chambers for the
there is required decorum. We are not
first time in nearly two years since the
opposed to hearing all that you have to
start of this pandemic. Unfortunately,
say. In fact, we appreciate your views
a few logistical and technical issues
and thoughts, but there are appropriate
arose during the evening that we
and tactful ways to communicate with
will soon remedy. We all must work
your Council.
together as we become accustomed to these hybrid-meeting conditions
As we gather in person, we must also
brought about by this continuing health
consider ways to keep this momentum
crisis.
and not be hampered by another virus surge. As citizens of a civilized
If you viewed or attended the meeting,
society, we must always keep in our
you will note that there were acrylic
minds that it is our duty to operate
shields between each Councilmember.
with the greatest good for the greatest
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number. If you are able to receive a
and art that Vallejo cultivates. Find out
vaccination, please do so. It is also
more about the event at the Mad Hatter
important to remember that there is
website.
still a mask ordinance and while in any public building, you must adhere to the
Your Mayor,
mask mandate set forth by your City
Robert H. McConnell
Council. This includes those who wish to speak during public comment. You will need to raise your voices to articulate your remarks through your mask into the microphones provided in Chambers. Last Thursday, I had the honor of attending two distinguished ceremonies for Veterans Day, one at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery: the second at the Veteran’s Memorial behind City Hall. I want to extend my gratitude to the veterans’ groups and city staff for arranging these events. It is an honor to attend the important events dedicated to our Veterans and their service to our fine Country. Lastly, I am eager to recognize the return of our fine Mad Hatter Holiday Festival and parade this December 4th. If you have never attended a Mad Hatter event, I encourage you to do so. It is a unique reflection of the rich culture
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WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON BROADBAND IN VALLEJO! We’re looking to improve and expand our broadband infrastructure and internet access in the community! Access to high-quality, fast internet has become a crucial piece of infrastructure for the Vallejo community, and with the onset of the pandemic, many residents and businesses are doing business and attending school virtually - fast-tracking the City’s broadband initiative. With the help of a portion of the City’s American Rescue Plan funds (ARPA) the City’s goal is to: • Extend fiber to schools • Anchor businesses, and institutes • Lateral buildouts for businesses • Deliver fiber to new developments coming to the City We are also looking at ways to provide Wi-Fi access in public gathering places such as the waterfront, city parks, and the downtown core. Building the broadband infrastructure will also allow the City to provide free WiFi access to our underserved communities and address the digital divide that currently exists and prevails. Your valuable feedback will allow us to update its fiberoptic master plan and help bring tailored services to address the broadband needs of our community. Visit myvallejo.com/broadband to learn more and take the survey! 6
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IN A FOWL MOOD? Be sure to connect with us - sure to put you in a good mood! FACEBOOK | facebook.com/cityofvallejo (Be sure to set us to your favorites so you never miss a post!) INSTAGRAM | instagram.com/cityofvallejo VALLEJO WEEKLY | vallejoweekly.com Read our free, digital, weekly newsletter and stay in the know! SUBSCRIBE | cityofvallejo.net/subscribe Get our weekly newsletter, city council agendas, important updates and information, press releases and more delivered right to your inbox. EMERGENCY ALERTS | alertsolano.com Subscribe to receive emergency alerts on any device, and get alerted about severe weather, fires, evacuations, missing persons, and more.
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JOIN US AS WE GIVE LITTER THE BOOT! Saturday, November 20, 2021 Setterquist Park (300 Stanford Drive), Vallejo 9:00 a.m. - noon Just show up - the community cleanup tool trailer will be there with all the tools you’ll need! Masks are encouraged. Interested in hosting a community cleanup? Send us an email at volunteers@cityofvallejo.net or (707) 648-8616 to get started.
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UPCOMING HOLIDAYS City Offices will be closed next Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26, in observance of Thanksgiving. We’ll be back open on Monday, November 29. As a reminder, we remain on our currently reduced public hours of operation: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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INTERESTED IN VEHICLES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT? Join our team! We’re hiring: • Equipment Mechanic I/II • Fleet Manager • Heavy Equipment Operator (2 positions!) Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/vallejo to learn more and apply!
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THANKSGIVING DINNERS FAITH FOOD FRIDAYS THANKSGIVING DINNER BOX Join Faith Food Fridays this Friday, November 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to receive a free Thanksgiving Dinner Box. Pick-ups will be at Faith Food Fridays, 826 Solano Avenue and is a first come first serve event, while supplies last.
THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY DINNER Join the Grind Cafe and Revive Ministry as they host a Thanksgiving Community Dinner on November 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This free event will be held at the Grind Cafe, 402 Tuolumne Street.
THANKSGIVING FEED Come down to the Elks Lodge, 1020 Alabama Street, on November 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and enjoy a free Thanksgiving meal.
CHRIS’ CLUB FEED THE NEED THANKSGIVING DINNER Chris’ Club, partnered with Faith Food Fridays and Earl’s BBQ, will be serving a free Thanksgiving dinner to anyone who visits them, 656 Benicia Road, on November 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you would like to donate or volunteer, stop by Chris’ Club to sign up.
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OCTOBER 14-20 IS UTILITY SCAM AWARENESS WEEK
Scammers may say that your
Every day across the country,
entitled to a rebate.
utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you are
electric and natural gas customers, along with telephone, water and
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
other essential services customers,
• Never purchase a prepaid card
are being targeted by scammers
to avoid service disconnection or
impersonating utilities, typically
shutoff.
online, in-person and by telephone.
• Legitimate utility companies do not specify how customers should
Here are some helpful tips to avoid
make a bill payments, and always
becoming a victim:
offer a variety of ways to pay a bill. • If someone threatens immediate
SIGNS OF A POTENTIAL SCAM • Threat to disconnect: Scammers
disconnection, or shutoff of service, customers should hang
may aggressively demand
up the phone, delete the email,
immediate payment for an alleged
or shut the door. If you ever feel
past due bill.
like you are in immediate physical
• Request for immediate payment: Scammers may
danger, you should call 911. • Scammers are now able to create
instruct the customer to purchase
authentic-looking 800 numbers
a prepaid card then call them
that appear on your phone display.
back supposedly to make a bill
The numbers don’t lead back to
payment.
the utility company if called back
• Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller
- so if you have doubts, hang up and call the company directly.
asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number, which grants the
For more information on scams, visit
scammer instant access to the
UtilitiesUnited.org.
card’s funds. • Refund or rebate offers: 19
The City of Vallejo offers a Water Rate Assistance Program (WRAP) to income-eligible customers. If you qualify, you could receive a monthly credit on your water bill, of up to $60 a year. Learn more at MyVallejo.com/wrap
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INTRODUCING SOLANOCONNEX.ORG
To access the app, visit
SolanoConnex, a new web-app
type of services you are looking for
launched on November 1, lists more
and providers will be listed in order of
than 100 mental and emotional health
proximity to your location. Services
services in Solano County. It is free,
are verified on a regular basis.
easy-to-use and includes additional
Additionally, app navigators will be
live navigation support by phone. The
available by text, email and phone
app is available in English, Spanish,
to assist in accessing the services
and Tagalog. SolanoConnex is a
including guiding residents through
3-year project managed by Touro
the web app and supporting residents
University California and funded
in finding the appropriate services for
by the Solano County Board of
their mental health needs.
SolanoConnex.org on any device with internet access. Click on the
Supervisors to improve access to mental and emotional health
Providers who are interested in
resources for all residents in Solano
being listed in the app can contact
County.
solanoconnex@gmail.com
“This web app is a resource that
For more project info: solanoconnex.
anyone can use, whether you are a
tu.edu
parent looking for emotional support, or someone experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety,” said Dr. Sarah Sweitzer, Provost Touro University California. “We are so pleased to have partnered with the County on finding a way to increase access to mental health services.”
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VALLEJO CAPITOL STAIRS GRAND RE-OPENING From Blight to Beauty, one step at a time! Come celebrate the reopening of the Capitol Street Stairs, and gaze upon the beautiful mosaic tiles installed and ready for everyone to enjoy. The official City of Vallejo ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m., followed by a Parade with Obtanium Works Art Cars, Los Catrinas of Solano AIDS Coalition, and the Vallejo Giant Puppets! Additional festivities will follow at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum located at 734 Marin Street. See you there!
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YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP LAUNCHING IN BENICIA AND VALLEJO IN JANUARY Sustainable Solano is looking for high school students passionate about the environment and their community. A $500 stipend will be awarded for those that complete the program. Find registration information at https:// sustainablesolano.org/events For more information contact Allison Nagel at allison@sustainablesolano.org
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Vallejo W e e k ly WWW.CITYOFVALLEJO.NET 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.