January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
At last night's City Council Meeting, the Council proclaimed January 2022 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the City of Brisbane. They were joined by Ruth Robinson, who accepted a Proclamation on behalf of the San Mateo County Human Trafficking Program. The Program hosts a monthly meeting called the Human Trafficking Initiative which is open to members of the public and focuses on the response to human trafficking within the County along with delivering information on all aspects of human trafficking. Email stophumantrafficking@smcgov.org to be added to the group's distribution list and to find out about local events. You can also go to StopHumanTraffickingSMC.org for more info.
If you see something, say something! Our officers can be reached 24/7 at (415) 467-1212. BPD also has an Anonymous Tip Line: (415) 347-2070. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. You can also report an anonymous tip via text to the National Human Trafficking Hotline using the number 23-3733 ('BE FREE') or via: humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking.
Brisbane Library Annual Presentation
Also last night, Tomika Price, Branch Manager of the Brisbane Library, provided the City Council with San Mateo County Libraries (SMCL) program highlights from the past year. Brisbane is part of San Mateo County Libraries, which serves 283, 777 people across the County, or 37% of the County's total population. Their highest-served age group is under 15, but SMCL serves a steady 11-16% across all the others. Despite their challenges this year given the pandemic, they had 3,250 curbside visits in Brisbane and circulated 7,525 items, including laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, and sewing machines. 3D printing was also a popular activity inside the Library's Maker Space.
As part of her presentation, Tomika shared the following video which featured how SMCL came up with unique learning opportunities to counter the learning loss that was being reported throughout the country, and the county. They developed Library Explorers, which was an in-library experience over the summer which the Brisbane Library participated in:
Are you inspired to support programs like this? The Foundation for San Mateo County Libraries is the fundraising arm of San Mateo County Libraries, and provided $50,000 in August 2020 to the Brisbane Library Children’s Area, which has become one of the most popular spots in the Library with its padded, lime-green soft cushioning and interactive play installation. Don't miss one of the Foundation's biggest fundraisers of the year, coming up on Saturday, February 5th:
Register early for more opportunities to win prizes. Can’t make it but still want to participate? Make a donation here and/or participate in their silent auction. The silent auction is open through February 6th!
Balance Brisbane Survey Extended to February 6th
The Housing Element Update process is well underway. Don't miss your chance to provide your feedback as part of this next 8-year housing cycle (2023-2031). We encourage you to view the tutorial video above, as well as go through the Tips & Tricks slides so you can orient yourself before diving into the simulation tool. The goal is to allocate the State's mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation of 1,906 housing units amongst the various residentially-zoned subareas in Brisbane. The Planning Commission will be having a Housing Element Update Workshop at their meeting this coming Thursday, 1/27, with two more scheduled for both of their February meetings (2/10 and 2/24). Remember, the deadline to submit your feedback via Balance Brisbane is Sunday, February 6th!
Roadway Improvements at Bayshore & Old County/Tunnel
Thank you for your patience as electrical work was completed this past week at the intersection of Bayshore and Old County/Tunnel by contractor Columbia Electric. Columbia, working with McGuire Hester, is implementing the following safety and traffic flow improvements to this intersection and the signals, as required as part of the Shore development at Sierra Point:
- Protected left from Old County to go northbound on Bayshore
- Protected left coming westbound on Tunnel to southbound Bayshore
- Separate left turn lane on Tunnel
The new left turn lane on Tunnel is still scheduled to be completed by Friday, January 28th, where the median is being removed to make room for the left-turn lane. Please use caution when driving through the intersection. Thank you!
Fighting Climate Change by Recycling Organic Waste
How does the new California law (SB 1383) affect residents of Brisbane?
Everyone is now required to have organics collection service. The law requires thoughtful sorting of waste materials before placing in the correct bin for collection. Organic waste like yard trimmings, food scraps, and food-soiled paper belong in a green bin. Clean/dry paper and cardboard belong in the appropriate blue bin (under the grey lid if you have a split recycling cart). Many residents are already doing this. Those that are not, are required to start and should call South San Francisco Scavenger at (650) 589-4020 if in need of a green bin. Note that residential customers (single-family homes with weekly curbside cart service) pay an integrated rate for waste collection; there is no additional charge for adding a green cart. Commercial customers (including multifamily residential properties where waste bins are shared by many families) incur a charge for adding green bin service. This charge is usually mitigated by decreasing garbage collection. It is the property owner or manager’s responsibility to contact South San Francisco Scavenger to start green bin service. Individual tenants should encourage them to do so.
Can all products that are labeled “compostable” be placed in the green bin?
No. Your green bin is only for organic waste materials that can successfully be processed into fuel and compost. Those materials are yard trimmings, food scraps, food-soiled paper, and wax-coated paper (like parchment paper, wax paper, wax-coated produce boxes). The green bin is not for items that look like plastic - regardless of what their label may say.
To learn more, please visit: calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp and ssfscavenger.com.
Throwback to Old Bayshore
Check out this photo from 1938 of the back entrance to Brisbane that former Mayor W. Clarke Conway shared with us earlier this week. His old friend Paul Hunter had shared it with him after spotting it on San Francisco Bay Area Photos and Stories, a group that Al Schwoerer maintains; Al gave us permission to publish the photo here. Enjoy the Ford pick-ups, construction of San Bruno Ave., and barren-looking eastern edge of Bayshore Blvd.!
Free Film Workshops for Students
Students in grades 4-12 who live or attend school in San Mateo County are invited to learn tips on creating videos at a free Film Workshop offered on Zoom by students in the Burlingame Environmental Club (BEC) of Burlingame High School from 10 to 11:30am on Saturday, January 29, via Zoom. Sponsored by the Citizens Environmental Council (CEC), the workshop is intended for students who plan to enter environmental videos in the 5th Annual CEC Student Film Fest offered by CEC and BEC. Pre-registration is required. With support from Peninsula Clean Energy, CEC will provide cash prizes that will be awarded to student filmmakers in three categories: Elementary grades 4-5 ($150), Middle School grades 6-8 ($150), High School ($150) and Overall Festival Winner ($150).
Join the Next Emergency Medical Services Corps Cohort! Applications Due Feb. 4th
Have you heard of the EMS Corps EMT Training Program? You can be a part of empowering under-served neighborhoods. EMS Corps hopes that by training the next layer of community leaders who can respond to their own neighborhoods, they will inspire hope and create lasting social change. Applications for Spring 2022 are now open. The application deadline is February 4, 2022 at 11:59pm.
New Date for Artists' Evening of Sharing!
We wanted to make sure you were aware that the 20th Annual Artists' Evening of Sharing was pushed out one month to March 19, 2022. Those involved are working hard to make this 20th Anniversary of virtually celebrating Brisbane's local artists as special as possible. So, please save this new date and don't miss it!
Webinar: Learn to Love Induction Cooking - Feb. 3, 12pm
Peninsula Clean Energy will be hosting an event on February 3rd at 12pm with Chef Mark Duesler who will demonstrate how to make a delicious dessert using an induction cooktop. Register for this event and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win a free induction cooktop!
Next On-Site SMCU Visit - Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1-5pm
Please join SMCU representatives next month on Tuesday, February 8th from 1-5pm at Brisbane City Hall! In the meantime, if you would like to open a new membership account, visit smcu.org/join or visit a branch location. Please mention the Promo Code: BRISBANE when opening a new checking account in order to be eligible for the $100 checking account bonus offer.
Free Informational Webinar on VA Home Loans - Feb. 2, 6pm
The County of San Mateo Veterans Services Office is partnering with VA Loans of California to offer a free informational webinar on VA Home Loans. For years, VA Home Loan limits rendered them of little use in high-priced markets such as the Bay Area. VA Home loans have done away with these limits so we wanted to make sure veterans were aware of the benefits of VA Home loans, such as 100% financing and refinancing an existing loan. The Veterans Affairs Office will be hosting a free informational webinar on February 2nd at 6pm with VA Home loans expert Andrew Vierra who will provide an overview of the program followed by an opportunity for Questions and Answers.
Farmers' Market: Thursdays in the Park, 2-6pm
Get all your fresh produce, hummus, tamales, handcrafted baos, fresh-popped kettlecorn, ice cream, and even hot udon and tempura at Brisbane's weekly Farmers' Market. And if you're wondering if you'll be able to get lobster rolls, tots, or tacos again, rest assured. Cousins Maine Lobster will be returning on February 24th! Yesterday there was a new vendor, SF Roadside Rotisserie. They had dry-rubbed rotisserie chicken, spare ribs, roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts. Watch our Facebook or Instagram accounts if you want to see if they'll be back next week, or just come down and enjoy the weekly market!
County-Sponsored Testing Sites
With Curative unable to operate a mobile testing site at the Park this past week due to COVID-related staffing shortages, we wanted to make sure you were aware of the County-sponsored testing sites nearby. The webpage, smcgov.org/testing was recently revamped to allow you to filter your choices by day of the week, and also lists other community test providers. We hope this helps!
We join with emergency physician and healthcare leaders across our region urging that residents avoid going to emergency rooms for a COVID test. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please do not call 911; instead, consult with your primary care provider if experiencing mild symptoms and needing medical guidance.
If you haven't already heard, residential households in the U.S. can now order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders will ship free starting in late January
A reminder to level up your mask game if you haven't already done so, despite Omicron appearing to be peaking. We cannot afford to let down our guard, and cases are still surging in other parts of the country.
NPR did a nice overview article on how to find a high-quality mask that fits you well. If you aren't able to secure these types of masks, the next-best thing to do is to wear a surgical mask with a cloth mask over it. If all you have are surgical masks, make sure there are no gaps along the sides. Other recommendations from the CDC to keep our community safe:
With many of us in Brisbane vaccinated and boosted, there are still precautions we need to take to protect those at higher risk of getting very sick should they contract COVID. We're still at High Community Transmission and it's especially important to remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus; symptoms don't present themselves we've learned now until about Day 2. So, even if you're outside at the farmers' market, or talking with your neighbor, remember to: keep at least 6 ft. of distance, keep your masks on, and don't touch or readjust your mask. All the more reason to make sure you're wearing a properly-fitting one so that adjustments aren't needed and you aren't exposing yourself to more risk than needed when you're outside of your home.
Note: if you were exposed to someone and are up-to-date on your vaccinations, even if you don't develop symptoms, you should stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days. On Day 5, you should get tested. An exposure includes a "close contact", which is defined as someone who was less than 6 feet away from someone you know has tested positive for COVID-19, for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). Masked or unmasked, indoors or outdoors.
Get Your COVID Booster!
Everyone over the age of 12 is now eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose.
Get your COVID-19 booster dose if:
- It has been 5+ months since you completed your primary Pfizer series,
- 6+ months since you completed your primary Moderna series,
- OR 2+ months since you received your J&J vaccine.
Visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 to find a booster near you. More information about pediatric vaccines can be found at: smchealth.org/pedsvaccine.
Note: San Mateo County Health is also providing in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to residents unable to leave home due to age, disability, or medical reason. Click the above button to learn more and schedule an in-home vaccination appointment.
New CA Mortgage Relief Program
Falling behind on your housing payments? You’re not alone. Help is here for California homeowners.
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 them at (650) 276-4101 or send them an email at crc@ymcasf.org to get the application process started today!
North County Fire Authority Safety Tips
More Safety Tips can be found in NCFA's quarterly Emergency Preparedness Newsletter
Joint City Council and Brisbane/Guadalupe Valley Municipal Improvement District Financing Authority Meeting - Thursday, January 20, 7:30pm
Public Art Advisory Committee - Tuesday, January 18, 4:30pm
Did You Know?
The Festival Tree, which has been fenced off due to safety concerns for the last several months, will be removed this coming Monday. We have collected the notes that were left for it and will be creating an exhibit that will be displayed in the History Room of the Brisbane Library at the end of the year.
Quote of the Week
This concludes our update; we'll be sending out the next Blast on Friday, January 28th. 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!