In Further Recognition of Black History Month
For the month of February, we've been recognizing some lesser-known names, some of whom were trailblazers but may not be household names. Find that in place of our Quote of the Week at the end of The Blast.
The Brisbane Parks and Recreation Department is continuing to recognize Black authors on their social media accounts. Amairi Baraka, one of the most respected and widely published African-American writers, was highlighted this week. See more on Parks and Rec's Facebook and Instagram pages.
Mark Your Calendars for Monday, March 14 at 6:30pm - The Brisbane Library will be having an author event with Black Food author and James Beard Award-winning chef and educator, Bryant Terry (copies of his book will be on-hand at the Library).
Brisbane Police Department Overview
Learn more about the Brisbane Police Department (BPD)! If you have an emergency, please dial 911. 24/7 Non-Emergency Dispatch line: (415) 467-1212. Anonymous Tip Line: (415) 347-2070
Grow with us in the City of Stars
The Brisbane Police Department has long prided themselves in being unique and preserving the atmosphere of a small town within the heavily urbanized Bay Area. The members of our department are specifically selected because of their desire to work with the community and be problem solvers. Do you think you have what it takes? Then consider joining us!
Peninsula Clean Energy Recruiting for Citizens Advisory Committee
Serving as liaisons to the community, Citizens Advisory Committee members contribute to Peninsula Clean Energy’s mission of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by expanding access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Individuals who live or work in San Mateo County are eligible to apply.
New Induction Cooking Webpage from Peninsula Clean Energy
On February 3rd, Peninsula Clean Energy hosted the webinar, "Learn to Love Induction Cooking". They now have an Induction Cooking page on their site where you can view a recording of the event and explore the benefits of residential induction cooktops. Click here to view the recipes that were used that day by Chef Marc to prepare a perfect chocolate banana crepe. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please send them to Carlos Moreno at cmoreno@peninsulacleanenergy.com.
BES Fundraiser at Melissa’s Taqueria on Tuesday, March 1st, All Day
The Brisbane Elementary School PTO is having a fundraiser through our local Melissa’s Taqueria this coming Tuesday, March 1st. Mention “Brisbane Elementary School” at checkout (dine-in or takeout) and a portion of your check that day will support the Brisbane School PTO! The PTO funds the school’s educational subscriptions, some field trips and school supplies, teacher appreciation, and more. Melissa's Taqueria is located at 160 Visitacion Avenue and is open 9am to 9pm. Mark your calendars for next Tuesday, aka Taco Tuesday!
Let's Be Water-Wise, Brisbane!
Despite winter rains and snow, we are still in a Stage 1 Drought. Our water supply remains uncertain if dry conditions persist and the State of California takes actions that impact our ability to access our stored water. Whether you are a renter, homeowner, or business, the SFPUC, which is our water wholesaler, has tips and resources to help preserve this precious resource at sfpuc.org/SFSavesWater.
There are still toilets available through the City'sHigh Efficiency Toilet (HET) Replacement Program! They are available to qualifying residents and businesses, with the program fully covering installation costs as well. These new toilets use 1.28 gallons/flush, instead of older toilets that use 3.5 gallons/flush on average! Reach out to Jessica in Public Works to see if you might qualify at (415) 508-2128 or visit brisbaneca.org/het.
Immigrant Inclusion Survey
San Mateo County recently launched a survey to gather info about the needs of the County's immigrant communities to inform their first-ever Immigrant Integration & Inclusion Strategic Plan. They hope to tailor local initiatives and outreach that promote immigrant inclusion.
Volunteer with San Bruno Mtn. Watch Tomorrow, 2/26, 12pm
Last weekend, Ariel of San Bruno Mtn. Watch organized an event to weed invasive plants at the mouth of Colma Creek along the Bay Trail. Brisbane Open Space and Ecology Committee Member Jason Nunan attended and had a great time hearing Ariel describe how Colma Creek flows from the peaks of San Bruno Mtn. all the way to the San Francisco Bay, and how to properly remove invasive plants prior to doing any planting work, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow. Native plants such as: creeping wild rye, marsh gumplant, Pacific aster, and sea pink will be planted. Help revitalize a portion of Colma Creek's shoreline to provide a vision of a more biodiverse, resilient, and beautiful creek!
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program is hosting a drop-off event in South San Francisco on Saturday, March 5, 2022. You must schedule an appointment at San Mateo County’s HHW Program, or by calling (650) 372-6200. The event location will be disclosed once your appointment is confirmed. Limit 10 gallons or 50 pounds per appointment (per car load).
Residents unable to attend this event can still dispose of household hazardous waste for free at San Mateo County’s permanent HHW facility Thursdays-Saturdays (except major holiday weekends). Safe disposal of Paint, fluorescent lights, household batteries, and used motor oil/filters do not need an appointment. For a list of drop off sites, click here. For more HHW information, visit smchealth.org/hhw.
Recycling Soft/Film Plastic at the Post Office
Wondering what film plastic is? Here's a list of items that ARE ACCEPTED and classify as soft/film plastic. Common items include newspaper sleeves, bread bags, dry cleaning bags, and more. Refer to the graphic below to see what is acceptable. The soft/film plastic bin is located across from the P.O. boxes inside the Brisbane Post Office, and this sign can be found on the bin.
Apply for a New Permit Online!
The pandemic resulted in a variety of operational pivots being made. One of those was the Community Development Department beginning to take all submittals for Building and/or Planning Applications fully electronically. From the GreenVue Permit Center, you can also view your property's permit activity (from 2012 and on), estimate building permit fees, or file a code enforcement complaint. If you'd like to come to City Hall to file your application in-person, there are now two stations to do just that (with 34" display monitors)! Staff is able to view what the public sees on their end, so can easily guide one through the process if necessary. Please visit during our public walk-in hours, which are expanding March 1st to: Mondays 9am-4pm and Thursdays 9am-4pm. You can also view your property's permits that were granted prior to 2012 at this time. Masks are required if coming in-person for anyone over the age of two. Thank you for your cooperation!
Farmers' Market: Thursdays in the Park, 2-6pm
Find fresh produce, hummus, tamales, handcrafted baos, fresh-popped kettlecorn, delicious Japanese food, and ice cream at Brisbane's weekly Farmers' Market. Yesterday, Cousins Maine Lobster was in the mix; they plan to return to Brisbane on March 31st! Thank you for your support of the market!
Get Tested at the San Mateo Event Center
Curative hopes to offer testing again in Brisbane starting March 10th. You can find alternative testing sites at smcgov.org/testing. County testing partner, Carbon Health, started operations at the Event Center last month and can accommodate 2,000 people/day. They're offering walk-up PCR testing, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 8am - 4pm, at no cost to the recipients.
According to the County Health Department's data dashboards, Brisbane has had 599 confirmed historical cases. Brisbane resident Amrit Lall has been keeping track of the historical cases released per week, and let us know that Brisbane recorded only 7 new COVID-19 cases this past week. That's 45 less than last week's reported cases, but we shouldn't let down our guard as we continue to see signs of life returning to "normal" around us.
To that end, visitors to City Hall and its facilities are still being required to wear masks for the time-being. Disposable masks are available for those that do not have one with them. Thank you for the public's cooperation! A reminder of the various services that can be conducted remotely can be found here: brisbaneca.org/online-services.
San Mateo County Libraries Also Continuing to Require Masks
San Mateo County Libraries, whose libraries serve many youth, some of which are not yet eligible for vaccination, is also asking all visitors ages 2 and older to wear face coverings inside their libraries. They also appreciate the public's cooperation with extended safety precautions, and can provide masks to any patrons as requested. Check out their virtual, as well as in-person experiences, on smcl.org, where they're always open.
CA Mortgage Relief Program
A new state mortgage relief program is helping homeowners who missed mortgage payments last year because of a COVID financial hardship. If you are behind on your housing payments, the California Mortgage Relief Program may be able to help.
CA COVID-19 Rent Relief
The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program covers 100% of unpaid rent and utilities for eligible renters and their landlords who have been impacted by the pandemic. Applying to the program will not impact your residency status or your path to citizenship.
The Brisbane City Council has made $100,000 in rental assistance available to those that need it. Brisbane's Rental Assistance Program is being administered by Samaritan House, with the YMCA Community Resource Center processing the applications. Please call at (650) 276-4101 or send an email at crc@ymcasf.org to get the application process started today!
North County Fire Authority Safety Tip - Sign Up for SMC Alert
Citizens and employees working in Brisbane are strongly encouraged to sign up for the County’s free alert notification system that can send emergency alerts to email accounts, cell phones, and landline phones. Sign up for SMC Alert at: smcalert.info.
Open Space and Ecology Meeting - Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - 6:30pm
Planning Commission Meeting - Thursday, February 24, 2022 - 7:30pm
Did You Know?
Earlier this week, there was a Freeze Warning for parts of the the counties that surround us, and a Frost Warning where San Mateo County was included. Temperatures dipped to the 30s in the evening, which led the Bay Area NWS to put out messaging asking residents to bring in their pets and sensitive plants. See what else you need to remember during more frosty weather! And know that the current forecast from the NWS can always be viewed at: weather.gov/bayarea
Recognition of the Week: Charles Clinton Spaulding
Born in Columbus County, North Carolina in 1874, Charles Clinton Spaulding is known as the father of African-American management and has been recognized as one of the great American business leaders of the 20th century.
Spaulding started out as a dishwasher and became general manager of a grocery company. Hired in 1899 at North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association, he soon became general manager, and then president, which he served as until 1952. Under his leadership, the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company on Durham’s Black Wall Street grew into the largest Black-owned business in the country. The firm supported many local Black-owned businesses and helped build an extended family of financial institutions that improved the living and working conditions of African Americans and strengthened race relations where Blacks and whites collaborated.
Spaulding exhibited a management style that deliberately benefitted all stakeholders and which earned him the nickname “Mr. Cooperation.” When W.E.B Du Bois visited Durham’s Black Wall Street and the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1912, he praised the firm for its emphasis on "cooperation over capitalism". For his contributions, and the critical role he played in the history of management, Spaulding in 2020 was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame.
This concludes our update; we'll be sending out the next Blast on Friday, March 4th, in the afternoon. Please note that starting on March 1st, City Hall will be open for public walk-in hours: Mondays 9am-4pm and Thursdays 9am-4pm. If this email was forwarded to you or you saw it on social media and would like to subscribe, sign up here. As always, please keep connected with us via our website and social media pages. Thanks for reading and staying engaged with us!