From the Desk of... Page 8
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
August 21, 2020
Concord using CARES funding to help small businesses
and all businesses that meet the eligibility requirements are welcome to apply. Details about the program are available at concordfirst.com/concord-forward/small-businessgrant. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. Local small businesses are the engine that keeps this city going, and the city is dedicated to supporting our local TIM MCGALLIAN small businesses during this unprecedented and difficult CONCORD MAYOR time. Not only do small busiMore than five months nesses provide goods and into this global pandemic that services to our community, has caused so much economic they make Concord the devastation in our community, vibrant and unique city that I am excited to share good residents and visitors love. news about a Small Business In addition to allocating Grant Program that the city of funds to the grant program, Concord has created to help the City Council made a comlocal small businesses that mitment to support our rent have experienced financial relief program and efforts to hardship as a result of the improve access to technology COVID-19 crisis. in underserved neighborhoods On Aug. 4, the City Coun- at a time when all schools are cil approved the allocation of requiring distance learning. funds we will receive through The rent relief program the federal Coronavirus Aid, will receive $375,000 to be Relief and Economic Security administered by our non-profit (CARES) Act to four propartner Shelter, Inc. The funds grams, including one that will will further expand the city’s provide $5,000 grants to 130 support for low-income resilocal small businesses. dents unable to pay rent due to We are proud to be partCOVID-19 impacts. This nering with the Concord effort supplements the CARES Chamber of Commerce to Act/Community Development administer the grant program, Block Grant (CDBG) funding
that the council authorized on June 23. It is expected to support up to an additional 45 participants, with priority given to families with children and senior citizens. In order to help students as they get ready to go back to school in front of a device, we allocated $50,000 to help improve broadband availability
in targeted neighborhoods. Our goal is to establish a partnership among the city, Mt. Diablo Unified School District and broadband providers to improve Internet access in underserved Concord neighborhoods. In order to support our struggling families with students, bridging the digital divide helps to create educa-
tional equity throughout our community and helps students thrive. As a city, we are grateful to receive some of the federal funds that are specifically intended to assist local government agencies with their response to the pandemic. We are particularly proud to be able to use a significant por-
tion of these funds to assist residents and businesses. Thank you Concord residents for your resiliency as we all work together to support each other, stay safe and remain healthy.
Mayor Tim McGallian can be reached at 925.671.2489 or email Tim.McGallian@cityofconcord.org
New interim city manager and City Council ready to serve community
I want to publicly welcome Fran Robustelli to the city of Clayton as our interim city manager. Fran has more than 25 years of experience in city management and has many fresh ideas for adding to our communication with you. If you would be interested in receiving updates from City Hall about official happenings in our town, please go to ci.clayton.ca.us/e-notifications and enter your email to be included in future e-mail notifications and newsletters. While dealing with COVID-19, the City Council continues to meet via Zoom and serve our community. We frequently have a bigger audience on Zoom than we did in person. Maybe it’s easier when you can watch in your jammies? In July, we unanimously islative colleagues in calling adopted a resolution confor systemic change at the demning racism. The resoluEDD and immediate action to tion is posted on the city webhelp Californians track and site at ci.city.clayton.ca.us. We receive their benefits. also appointed a Public Safety On July 8, the EDD stated Ad Hoc Committee, Tuija that “probably less than 1 per- Catalano and CW Wolfe, to cent” of claims took more work with our Police Departthan three weeks to process, ment and the community to but I knew from conversations with friends and neighTIM GRAYSON bors that this simply could not 14TH ASSEMBLY be the case. The media then reported, based on federal DISTRICT Labor Department data, that nearly 2 million claims had yet Since this pandemic began, to be fulfilled. my office has received hunThe public deserves transdreds of calls from conparency and straight answers stituents requesting assistance on the status of claims and with the Employment Devel- how the department is serving opment Department (EDD). Californians, which is why I’m While I am proud of the working to require that the efforts my staff and I have EDD report weekly relevant KAREN MITCHOFF made to help every person data to the public and LegislaCOUNTY who has called us, roadblocks ture. Having accurate, up-toand deficiencies at the EDD SUPERVISOR date data will help us diagnose have kept too many from and solve problems within the receiving the benefits to which department so constituents Mental health services are they are entitled. can have their claims some of the most crucial proWhile Gov. Gavin Newprocessed in a timely manner. grams that Contra Costa som has taken action to I’ve also heard from too County provides. increase EDD staff and many constituents who have In recent months, I have lengthen operational hours, it spent hours waiting on the heard from a lot of conis not enough. More than 1 phone trying to reach an stituents about the need for million Californians are still EDD representative to no new mental health programs awaiting the benefits that they avail. A root cause of this and responses in our commuapplied for months ago. This problem is that the EDD’s nities. Many have written from is simply unacceptable. Unemployment Insurance personal experience or have Recently, I joined Assemclaims support number is only had a loved one who has blyman David Chiu of San come in contact with our See Grayson, page 9 Francisco and 60 of my leg-
Calling for changes at state employment department
District website at throughout every day. cccfpd.org/safety-tips for six candidates For information on creating a city council more defensible space around We are entering a very your home. The video even busy, and different, kind of helps you choose plants that election season. Clayton has are less flammable. We held a very informative three council positions up for election, and six candimeeting in Clayton last sumdates have filed to run. They mer on emergency preparedness, and that video is also on are, in alphabetical order, Tuija Catalano, Peter Cloven, our city website. Jim Diaz, Frank Gavidia, JULIE PIERCE keeping parks and trails Glenn Miller and Letitia CLAYTON MAYOR clean and saFe “Holly” Tillman. As always, please be careful After 33 years serving the address local concerns. These when you are out in our parks city of Clayton, I have chomeetings are open to the pub- and on the trails. I have been sen not to run for reelection. lic via Zoom webinars. Meet- receiving a lot of complaints I will remain as your mayor ing information is posted on about litter on the trails and in until the election is certified, the city website. The recordour parks. With our limited sometime in December. I ings of all our meetings are staff, we cannot dedicate a will stay active in community available there, too. crew to litter cleanup on a activities and associations. constant basis. Please, be I’m not gone yet – we still creating deFensible respectful of your neighbors have a lot to accomplish in space and other visitors to these 2020. It sure is hot out there. areas by using the trash and Please be safe and call to check recycling cans. “Thank you!” Julie Pierce is mayor of Clayon neighbors who might be to the many of you who carry ton and chair of the Contra Costa vulnerable in the heat. a trash bag and collect debris Transportation Authority .She is a We are also in the height along your walks – it helps, past president of the Association of of fire season, so please make and is much appreciated. The Bay Area Governments and serves sure to safeguard your proper- restrooms in our parks will on the executive committee where ty against fire. For informaremain closed due to COVID- she represents Contra Costa cities. tion on how to do that, visit 19, due to lack of ability to Reach her at 925-673-7320 or the Contra Costa County Fire disinfect them frequently Julie.p@ci.clayton.ca.us.
Contra Costa offers variety of mental health services mental health care system. As my family too has experienced tragedy with mental health, I understand how personal these issues are. I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the crucial responses that the Contra Costa Behavioral Health Division (CCBH) already provides. CCBH is within Contra Costa Health Services. It’s a partnership of consumers, families, staff and communitybased organizations that provides integrated services for mental health, substance abuse and other needs that promote wellness, recovery and resiliency while respecting the complexity and diversity of Contra
Costa County. When accessing services, the initial point of contact and information is the Behavioral Health Access Line. The 24/7 phone line can connect any Contra Costa resident to mental health services and resources. They can schedule appointments and get answers to insurance questions. The phone number is 1-888-6787277. This is a mental health and emotional health crisis non-emergency phone line. Another one of our resources is the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), which provides professional, same-day intervention for adults who are experiencing
mental health crises. The team visits individuals and their families to prevent a mental health crisis from becoming an emergency that requires law enforcement involvement or involuntary hospitalization. MCRT includes licensed mental health clinicians, community and family support workers, and a family nurse practitioner employed by CCBH. The goal is to deescalate the crisis and safely connect the client with care and mental health resources. There are three MCRTs across the county, two children’s teams and one adult team.
through the Concord review process has a rooftop deck to accommodate a community garden, with vertical “grow towers” for residents to plant their own gardens. I haven’t reviewed the project merits, and I have no information or opinion on whether it confirms to our development code. However, I was thrilled to hear rooftop gardens may be coming to Concord. I’m a big believer in rooftop vegetation as it helps insulate the building, which translates to lower energy consumption, improved stormwater management and other
benefits. It’s even better when that roof can also provide local, organic produce. The pandemic is stress testing many aspects of society, from health care to the food supply chain. At times, I’ve been to the grocery store and found the produce section nearly empty – with little reassurance as to when I would see tomatoes or broccoli again. Because of the garden, my family has been less dependent on the food supply chain this year. But if we lived downtown in a multi-family building or another dense
urban environment, where bare land is scarce, what could we do? Aside from maybe a few potted plants, we wouldn’t have many options. However, if the building we lived in provided rooftop garden space, we’d be set. While we all search for slivers of sunshine during these times, I’m hoping that one of the positive outcomes spurred by the pandemic is many more rooftop farms coming to our cities.
See Mitchoff, page 9
Rooftop gardens would be beneficial in Concord
JASON LAUB
CONCORD PLANNING
COMMISSIONER
Given our limited options during the coronavirus pandemic, my family and I have focused on new routines and activities. Without the usual sports,
entertainment venues and other social activities we’re accustomed to, we’ve turned our attention back to the basics. In many respects, it’s provided an opportunity to focus on health, exercise and other positive aspects of life that don’t always get the attention they deserve during our fast-paced days. I know a lot of folks are turning to home gardening. Some are doing it because they experienced shortages in the produce department, some for the health reason of avoiding the grocery store as much as possible, some are picking up a
new hobby and some are polishing their green thumbs. My family is fortunate to have a couple garden beds. This year, they have produced the most robust vegetables we’ve ever had because my son Logan, daughter Nora and I were able to take extra time to amend the soil. If I’m being honest, I did most of the work while the kids stockpiled a small colony of worms they found. They got their hands dirty, helped as they could and undoubtedly created some good memories along the way. I recently learned a proposed project making its way
Jason Laub is Chief Operating Officer at RAD Urban and is a City of Concord Planning Commissioner. Email questions or comments to jlaub.concordplanning@gmail.com
