Edition 2 March 2025

Calendar

MON 3/10/25 6 PM	Library Meditation. See post
MON 3/10/25 6 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
SAT 3/15/25	Half Moon Bay Homeless 5k Run, Register – see post. Coastal Trail. 7:45 am – runners, 8 am – walkers
SUN 3/16/25 3 PM	Pacifica Historical Society Lost Gas Stations. See post. Pacifica Coastside Museum
MON 3/17/25 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
TU 3/18/25 11:30-1 PM	Skyline College, Capturing Change: Photography and Social Impact. See post.
TU 3/18/25 6:30-8PM	Coastside United for Action Indivisible meeting, Little Brown Church
MON 3/24/25 7 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
APRIL	Autism Awareness Month
MON 4/7/25 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
MON 4/14/25 7 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
MON 4/21/25 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
SAT 4/26/25	Earth Day. Action 9 am – 11 am, Pelican Fest 10:30am-1:30pm. See post.
MON 4/28/25 7 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
SAT 5/3/25 3-8 PM	Springlicious, 119 Utah, SF. Tickets. See post.
SUN 6/1/25	Pacificans Care Wine and Beer Tasting, San Pedro Point Firehouse. See post
SAT 6/7/25	PacificaPride 11 am parade, Ingrid B Lacy fair 10am-1pm. Save the date.

See posted calendars for:

• Sanchez Art Gallery
• Pacific Beach Coalition

Photos have been contributed by Leo Leon and Mark Hubbell

Pacifica Voice is eager to receive articles on issues important to our community. Please send them to editor@pacvoice.org for consideration.

To receive press releases and periodic messages from the Pacifica Voice please add your name and email address to our subscriber list – SUBSCRIBE HERE. FREE

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FOR CONSIDERATION

State Mining and Geology Board refused to take up the appeal

By Mayor Pro Tem Christine Boles

In case you’re not on social media, I wanted to share the good news that the State Mining and Geology Board refused to take up the appeal of the council decision to deny the quarry reclamation plan! They affirmed our ability to make our own land use decisions and consider the impacts of the project. 

Here’s a key section of their letter (which is attached). 

“The City’s findings in denying the Reclamation Plan question whether the importation of this large amount of fill is necessary for reclamation of the site…It is worth noting that the existing (previously) approved reclamation plan contemplates no imported fill, and in recent years the Appellant has proposed several different plan amendments with varying amounts of fill (from 600 cubic yards to 970,000 cubic yards).

Generally speaking, the amount of fill, grading, and slopes are all proper considerations under Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA). In addition, the City’s findings related to slope and fill are tied back to considerations that fall within the City’s Ordinance and its local land use authority. For example, the City’s findings explain that “[t]he revised project includes excess fill that is not required by SMARA and that creates unnecessary adverse impacts due to the excess traffic and other disruptions that would occur over a period of years, contrary to the intent of SMARA”. The City’s consideration of these local impacts is appropriate.”

Thank you to everyone involved. It takes a village, and we have so many intelligent, thoughtful, passionate residents here in town that helped make this happen! Bravo Pacifica! 

There is unfortunately still a chance the owner decides to take this to litigation, but this decision by SMARA will not help their case! Keep in mind that the quarry does still need to be reclaimed, but my hope is that now the owner might choose to work with us to find the least impactful way forward.

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Draft Pacifica Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

The draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) is now available for public review! The CAAP Task Force invites you to comment, review, and share your input on this important plan for our community. Review the CAAP Draft & Submit Feedback:

planpacifica.org/caap
Public Comment Period: February 19 – March 14, 2025

The next monthly CAAP Task Force Meeting is March 25, and we’d love for you to join us! These meetings are always open to the public.
Location: City Hall, 170 Santa Maria Avenue Time: 6:30 PM

Stay in the Loop – Subscribe to our newsletter for updates: Sign up here!

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Rapid Response in San Mateo County

By Coastside Faith in Action

In 2017, as a response to the first Trump administration, Faith in Action Bay Area established a toll-free hotline for people to call if they thought they saw ICE. The hotline was answered by native Spanish speakers who texted nearby responders to go to the scene and verify ICE presence. If ICE was present, the verifiers sent pictures and notes that could be used by attorneys mounting defense. San Mateo County provided funding to maintain the hotline on a 24/7 basis, and this system was replicated throughout California and many parts of the United States. During the past four years, the systems remained in place, but little ICE activity was reported to the hotlines. (ICE arrests throughout the Biden administration were generally of individuals for whom the ICE officers had signed judicial warrants.)

Now, with the second Trump administration and the threats of massive deportation, panic has escalated throughout immigrant communities. In San Mateo County, Faith in Action Bay Area has joined with other nonprofits, including Coastside Hope, Puente, and ALAS to conduct Know Your Rights workshops in areas with high immigrant populations such as Half Moon Bay and Pescadero. Attorney Bill Hing, a University of San Francisco immigration law professor and founder of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, has coached attendees about how to respond to a potential ICE sighting without causing widespread community panic. Additionally, Faith in Action Bay Area posts accurate, up-to date messages about ICE activity on Facebook and Instagram.

Faith in Action Bay Area has identified the need for several roles as part of the Rapid Response System. In the role of verifier, you will be trained and then integrated into a texting system maintained by Faith in Action Bay Area. When the hotline is called, verifiers are dispatched to the area. If the presence of ICE is confirmed, the verifiers document what is happening so that attorneys on standby can begin defense. Accompaniment to hearings is another important role, both to accompany immigrants to ICE check-ins and to pack the court in the event of a deportation hearing. Visibility of hotline information throughout the entire Coastside is essential to dispel false rumors and initiate legal support for detainees. These materials include wallet-sized red “rights” cards, larger yellow cards with hotline information, and posters for window display. Currently the Coastside members of Faith in Action are distributing materials and need more volunteers. You can sign up for one or more of these roles here:

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Coastside United

Community Meeting: in-person on Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30-8:00 PM at the Little Brown Church (1850 Francisco Blvd, Pacifica). RSVP link available soon on Mobilize.

We will be having a speaker from Faith in Action to talk about important local immigration issues and a member presentation on DEI.

Come for support as we resist Trump’s “shock and awe” campaign to make us feel alone and intimidated!

Optional Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/77683761494?pwd=0cK1Y9U5aYpE3wRGIzvOKUJgTXLXqL.1
Meeting ID: 776 8376 1494 — Passcode if needed: ruc6MJ

Why we meet: helpful article by Democracy Forward’s President & CEO Skye Perryman on how we survive the next 4 years.

The State of the Union Is up to Us | Opinion

Only Days to Comment on Pacifica’s Climate Future!

After nearly a year and a half of research, collaboration, and planning, the Draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) is now ready for public review. The City of Pacifica invites you to look at the draft and share your thoughts with them. 

The public comment period is open February 19 until March 16, 2025. Please review the draft and share your thoughts via this link. Your input is vital in refining the plan and making sure it reflects the needs and priorities of our community. Sign up for updates to stay informed about future developments and opportunities for involvement.

Send Postcards to Trump:

Copy, repost, share: Prepare postcards to Trump that publicly expresses our opposition to him. Don’t threaten violence but make sure it is clearly not “fan” mail. From all corners of the world, we will bury the White House post office in pink slips, all informing Donnie that he’s fired!

No alternative fact or Russian translation will explain away our record-breaking, officially verifiable, warehouse-filling flood of fury. So, sharpen your wit, unsheathe your writing implements, and see if your sincerest ill-wishes can pierce Donald’s famously thin skin.

We will put them all in the mail on the same day, March 15th, a day to be known hereafter as #TheIdesOfTrump. Write one postcard. Write a dozen! Take a picture and post it on social media tagged with #TheIdesOfTrump! Spread the word!

Then, on March 15th, mail your messages to:

President (for now) Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

More Postcards?

Tony the Democrat has addresses for Judge Susan Crawford, Wisconsin Supreme Court and he says it’s going to be a nail biter (with Musk’s millions pushing against her). If you want addresses from Tony through Postcards for Voters go here:

Request as few as 4 addresses with a 3-day mailing deadline.
Abby.PostcardsToVoters.org

Note: These campaigns require you to supply your own cards. You can make postcards from card stock or blank folded cards and decorate them yourself or buy blank cards from USPS. Postcards must be rectangular, at least 3.5 in high by 5 in long and 0.007 in thick or no more than 4.25 in high by 6 in long and 0.016 in thick

Protests, protests and more protests Our Colma Protest plus Ocean Beach!

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HOUSING

A Tenant Narrative

Edited by Suzanne Moore

It is a custom of Pacifica Voice to periodically share personal experiences of our readers. This narrative speaks to an ongoing experience of a Pacifican tenant. For those interested in learning more, please contact Pacifica Voice. Information on CaliforniaTenant Rights and San Mateo County Legal Aid’s Right to Healthy Housing follow.

I am a four-year tenant of a north end Pacifica apartment complex. I wish to share my concerns and observations – I hope to seek improvements based on the rights of tenancy under the law.

In 2021, our apartment management was helpful, the maintenance crew were competent, and there was a thriving, multicultural community with lots of interactions and animals.

In 2023, we had a management turnover, the maintenance crew was dismissed, and our complex of nearly 140 units had just one maintenance man which caused delays and missed repairs. 

In 2024, tenants were inundated with notices about an array of projects that management deemed top priority. Tenants would be given less than 24 hours notice for access for maintenance. For myself, management authorized a contracted worker to enter my home and bedroom without any forewarning – in order to perform work previously completed. I was in bed at the time and was quite alarmed, but the worker did not leave until management dismissed them.

When this occurred, I immediately emailed the front office. The management response was curt: the acting manager simply replied that “ they never enter an apartment without permission”. No one in the front office has answered the phone to either of our calls in at least 2 1/2 years. 

Serious issues began to arise: we discovered that code violations were not being reported to code enforcement. I am particularly concerned for some of the most vulnerable tenants.

 The building that we live in is directly opposite of a building that houses many tenants on section 8 who arrived during COVID-19. The majority of these tenants are seniors, some with physical disabilities, others with serious health conditions. There is minimal handicapped parking and I know of one woman’s request that was ignored. 

As I spoke with neighbors, I learned others had habitability issues: many mentioned piping issues, mold and moisture in the walls, and heaters that did not work. Management failed to follow up when PG&E informed them that one tenant needed immediate replacement for safety concerns.

By July 2024, a new manager adopted disturbing practices: voucher tenants were encouraged to report on one another. Photos and narration were used in the case to evict a disabled neighbor. Another neighbor, who removed recyclable cans from the trash bin, was warned to not “dumpster dive” or face eviction.

 Frequent email blasts began to go out: accusations of tenants subletting their cars to the homeless, and cars were towed only with a 20 minute warning posted via email.

In the fall, the entire lawn side of the complex was decimated. Management claimed they were re-seeding the grass, but no other part of the complex was impacted – cones and hazard tape everywhere making it look like a crime scene – and starkly different from the rest of the buildings. 

Routine maintenance checks are not performed: our furnace has never been checked once since 2021, our smoke alarm has been broken for six months, and our building has slab leaks in several ground floor apartments in our building alone. There is no access to the pool or the sauna. 

People are leaving. I feel unsafe and miss the feeling of community that existed when I first moved in. 

Around October, low income tenants started to receive notices on their door that they were past due on water bills. Some of these totals were between several hundred to at least $2000. Management refused to provide any transparency or clarity as to how this possibly could’ve happened. Instead, the tenants are being given notice to pay up or get out.

Since the end of 2022, management changed to a 3rd-party billing corporation. I have learned this service is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, is at the center of at least one enormous class-action lawsuit, and faces allegations of conspiring with large real estate companies to inflate bills, creating systems of zero transparency, and aiding in illegal evictions. Only the low income tenants here have accrued these massive water bills.

Low-income tenants are frightened and ask their own children to help pay these astronomical bills directly to management. Some, after paying initial notices, are now receiving new notices. And, again, tenants are pitted against each other. I have written testimony from a man who had the majority of his “debt” wiped away in exchange for dirt on another tenant, used for a false report with the Pacifica police – and effectively and unfairly evict a resident. 

I feel this management team is wrong, cruel, and lawless. In December of 2024 at least 3 evictions occurred right outside my front window… in the middle of torrential downpours and freezing temperatures and just two weeks before Christmas. 

Merely observing and attempting to draw attention to this travesty has been enough to make my own mental health struggles worse. I am witnessing the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable citizens who deserve to be valued and treated with dignity. 

No one should be subject to unsafe living conditions, unresponsive and hostile management, illegal trespassing, opaque billing etc. There are no excuses to this corruption and it should not be ignored. For the few wonderful and compassionate folks who have helped us and provided needed resources THANK YOU. You are beyond appreciated and on the right side of history.

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Tenant Protections Under California Law

Know Your Rights!

The Basics of AB 1482:

• The law provides an Annual Rent Cap and Just Cause Protections for many residential tenancies in California.
• Does not apply to all housing. See below for Excluded Housing.

How does AB 1482 work?

At-fault just causes for eviction

• Nonpayment of rent or breach of another material lease term (including unauthorized subletting)
• Refusal to execute similar new lease
• Nuisance
• Waste (damage to property that diminishes its market value)
• Criminal activity or using the unit for unlawful purpose
• Denying access by landlord after proper notice of lawful entry
• Failing to vacate a unit after termination as an employee if employment is a condition of occupancy
• Failing to leave a unit after providing owner written notice of intent to vacate

No-fault just causes
for eviction

• Owner wants to take the unit off the rental market
• Owner or their close family member(s) want to move into the unit
• Owner intends to demolish or substantially repair the unit
• A court or government agency issues order to vacate the unit due to habitability issues

Other important information and resources:

Additional tenant rights provided by California law:

• Safe & Habitable Units: all rental housing must habitable, which means it is fit to be occupied.
• Right to Privacy: every tenant has a right to privacy, and in most cases, a landlord must provide advance notice before entering a tenant unit.
• Anti-Discrimination Protections: Federal and California law forbid housing discrimination.
• Anti-Retaliation Protections: California law protects tenants from retaliation for certain actions by a tenant, such as making complaints about a housing unit’s condition.
• Anti-Harassment Protections: California law also protects tenants from harassment, such as cutting off utility services or improperly removing outside doors/windows.
• Language Access Rights: lease and other documents making substantial changes to rights of parties must be translated into certain languages (Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean) if lease is negotiated in one of those languages.

For detailed information about tenant rights, please visit our website.

GET FREE CONSULTATION!

• Call Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County at: 650-517-8911
• Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

The County of San Mateo has developed a webpage with information and resources
for tenants. Please visit: smcgov.org/housing/tenants-protections-and-rights

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Tenants Rights to Healthful Housing

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Update on Short Term Rentals

Pacifica Homes Are Not Hotels

Pacifica Homes Are Not Hotels, a coalition of residents, is happy to report that City Council is moving forward with a much-needed new short-term rental (STR) ordinance for our city. At Council’s meeting on Monday, Feburary 24th, residents across all areas of Pacifica came out in force to talk about their personal horror stories of living near STRs that are unhosted (meaning, the whole house is rented out, with no “host” on hand to monitor renters’ activities)—the parties, the noise, the over-flowing trash that blows onto their property, the trespassing, even dogs being abandoned at STRs…the list goes on. But what Pacificans spoke up about most is the loss of community—and actual neighbors—when Pacifica’s homes are snatched up by corporations and/or out-of-town investors (often for way more than the asking price, thereby out-bidding families and freezing them out of the Pacifica home-buying market). 

Pacifica is a rare and beautiful place, where neighbors support one another, and residents regularly volunteer with our community groups and support our non-profits. But there can be no “community” when the house next door to you is an unregulated motel masquerading as a home, destabilizing a neighborhood with a revolving door of strangers. One resident attending the Council meeting spoke about how her adult daughter, who is pursuing a teaching career, has been unable to buy a home in Pacifica, which she loves and wants to work in, because of the number of homes for sale that are regularly gobbled up to become unhosted STRs. The growth of unhosted STRs over the past eight years has been prodigious. In 2017, Pacifica had just 67 STRs in operation. Compare that to the 240 or so operating today according to Inside Airbnb (https://insideairbnb.com). That’s a 250% increase! No wonder our neighborhoods are being hollowed out of actual neighbors and our city is in a housing crisis! Disturbingly, city staff has a record of only 155 STRs (with 139 in compliance, 14 non-compliant, and two “in discovery”).

The good news, however, is that City Council is pushing back against this rampant commercialization of our neighborhoods. Taking a page from Half Moon Bay’s book, Pacifica’s new ordinance will require that any property being operated as an STR must be the primary residence of the STR operator; that an STR operator can only operate one STR within the City; that the number of nights an unhosted STR can operate per year is 90 (we are trying to reduce this down to 60, which reflects the limit Half Moon Bay has and is also what the Coastal Commission is expecting Pacifica to request); that guests are limited to two adults per each legal bedroom; that one off-street parking spot must be provided for each legally operating STR bedroom; and that the booking platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) are required to only take bookings for STRs in Pacifica with valid permit numbers and to promptly remove any STRs that are not permitted or that have had their permits revoked due to two ordinance violations; among other sensible restrictions.

City Council will be holding a special meeting to finish their deliberations and then get the new ordinance executed, which will then take effect in the non-coastal zone within 30 days. For Pacificans in the coastal zone, the ordinance won’t go into effect until the Coastal Commission signs off on it, which will hopefully be in early 2026, if not sooner.

If you are affected by an STR in your neighborhood or just want to get involved, please reach out to us at info@pacificahomesarenothotels.org. And for those of you reading this and thinking, “This doesn’t apply to me, as I don’t live near an unhosted STR,” just remember: you are only one neighbor selling their home to an STR operator away from losing your sense of security and the quiet enjoyment of your home. Let’s keep Pacifica homes available for families who actually want to live here. Pacifica homes are not hotels!

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Step Up for the Homeless – Run

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

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Pacific Beach Coalition PelicanFest

The Pacific Beach Coalition is excited to announce that our 2025 Earth Day of Action & PelicanFest is scheduled for April 26th, 2025.

Please plan to join us at any of our organized sites. Sites include our monthly beach cleanup sites as well as streets, creeks, bluffs, parks, shopping centers, and any needy spots along the coastline that we can find volunteers to cover. This is a great opportunity for groups to remove weeds and restore habitat in our neighborhoods too.

To adopt a cleanup or restoration site with your friends, family, group or company – please contact Jim at jim [at] pacificbeachcoalition.org. 

PelicanFest will kick off at 10:30am at Linda Mar State Beach. Similar to last year, there will be a collection of booths, activities for all ages, fun, music, and speakers honoring our precious planet!

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SOCIAL JUSTICE

Coast Pride

SAVE THE DATES – Pride Events/Parades

Pacifica Pride | Saturday, 6/7, 10 am – 1 pm at Ingrid B. Lacy School
Half Moon Bay Pride | Sunday, 6/8, 11 am – 3:30 pm at Mac Dutra Park

Want to be in the parade, have a booth, or sponsor pride? Check out the landing page for each event (linked above). Registration forms will be added to the landing pages in the coming weeks.

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HOPE: Healing, Overdose Prevention and Education

By Susanne Hoff

HOPE: Healing, Overdose Prevention and Education held its first Hearts 4 HOPE fundraising event at the Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame on February 14^th. It was a fun night of family, friends, and community, with over 100 attendees coming together for a great cause.

The Hearts 4 HOPE fundraiser included a delicious dinner, dessert, and a silent auction. After dinner, SUPERBAD, a local band that covers 70’s on up, had everyone up dancing and singing to their favorite tunes. During the event, HOPE also had a table with free Narcan – a nasal spray designed to rapidly reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid overdose emergency. We have secured the 2026 Hearts 4 HOPE fundraising event and are hopeful in making this one of our annual events.

HOPE is a nonprofit organization, founded by Rondel and Clarence Davis, who lost their son, Tyler, on May 18, 2023, from an opioid overdose. Rondel and Clarence decided to turn their pain into purpose and began the journey of HOPE in March of 2024. Through education, support, and advocacy, HOPE provides resources to families and the community to assist in overdose prevention and address addiction. HOPE aims to foster a community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive free from the grip of addiction. HOPE’s mission is to raise awareness and prevent overdoses. 

Moving forward, HOPE’s future goals are to continue to bring Narcan dispensers into our communities to help in making this life-saving medication more accessible. Narcan can help in saving a life until medical personnel arrive. We remind everyone that when you administer Narcan, it is extremely important to call 911 immediately. In California, you are protected by the Good Samaritan Law which protects people who provide emergency assistance without compensation from civil and criminal liability. HOPE will also continue to provide education and resources at fundraising and table events throughout the Pacifica community as well as San Mateo County.

We encourage you to take a moment to visit HOPE’s website hope4change650.org for upcoming events, fundraisers, and to make a donation. HOPE is a 100% donation and volunteer driven nonprofit working to save lives by educating our communities and providing the life-saving medication Narcan to reverse or reduce the effects of an opioid overdose. 

With community support and collaboration, HOPE will educate to change the stigma of addiction, prevent overdose, and improve the wellbeing of our community. Our HOPE is that no family has to endure the pain of losing their loved one to a drug overdose or substance use disorder.

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CORA’s New Office

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April is Autism Awareness Month

 What is World Autism Month?

Every April Autism Speaks celebrates World Autism Month beginning with United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. Today, misconceptions of autism and the frequency in which people are excluded, threaten access to the vital information, resources and support autistic people and their families need. This World Autism Month and beyond, we are asking people to join with Autism Speaks and Act Fearlessly for Change – by standing for a world where autistic people are recognized and have the opportunities they deserve.

How can I participate?

Everyone is encouraged to participate. Whether you have autism, love someone who does or are looking to support a diverse, accepting and inclusive community – there are many ways to be fearless.

Visit autismspeaks.org/fearless to: 

 Pledge: Act fearlessly for a world where autistic people are recognized and have the opportunities they deserve. Show your support by taking a pledge and be seen on our live streaming wall of support or post your support on your social media using #actfearlesslyforchange.

 Give: Make a meaningful, lasting impact for people with autism with your gift. It’s one of the easiest and best ways to show your support. Donate today! 

 Fundraise: Participate in a journey of purpose and passion with our 36-mile fundraising challenge for the 1 in 36 children with autism. Your support provides funding for critical resources, services and support for the autism community in need. Join the challenge now.

 Advocate: Rally for change – The Autism CARES Act represents ‘billions’ of dollars in federal support for autistic people and their and families. Now, more than ever, we must unite and advocate for its reauthorization. Contact your local representatives to support reauthorization.

 Project Fearless Kids – We’re asking teachers and kids to use their superpower to create a world where inclusion is championed, and differences are celebrated. Engage your school to take the pledge and stand against injustice and bullying, ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

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COMMUNITY

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Pacifica Library Events

Make Art Like Georgia O’Keefe
Monday, March 10 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month by creating watercolor paintings inspired by American artist Georgia O’Keefe. Children (6-11 years old)

U.S. Citizenship Test Class
Tuesday, October 1 at 10:30am at Sharp Park
Come join us for a 6-week class! We will practice the 100 Civics questions provided by the USCIS office with an instructor. Practice English vocabulary, literacy and conversation skills needed for the citizenship test. Free, in-class study materials are provided. No reservation is required, drop in any time. No class on Feb 17. Everyone is welcome!

PAWS for Tales
Monday, March 10 at 4:30pm at Sharp Park
Tuesday, March 25 at 3:45pm at Sanchez
Do you have a reluctant reader? Sign your child up to have their own session to practice reading with a therapy dog at the library. Registration is required and space is limited, so register early for your 10-minute. Children (6-11 years old)
REGISTER HERE

Splat Painting
Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30pm at Sanchez
Celebrate the colorful Indian holiday of Holi by making a “splash” with some cotton balls and paint. Children (6-11 years old)

Magic the Gathering
Wednesday, March 12 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
Wednesday, March 26 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
Learn how to play the fantasy card game Magic the Gathering! You will have the chance to sort cards, build a deck and play a match. The best part? You get to keep the deck you build! This drop-in weekly activity is intended for school-aged youth as part of Power Up Afternoons. During Power Up Afternoons, school-aged youth can focus on homework, join a hands-on program to rejuvenate after the school day or enjoy learning from a programming expert. Children (6-11 years old) Teens (12-18 years old)

Tai Chi
Wednesdays at 1pm at Sanchez
Chen-style Taijiquan (Tai Chi) is widely acknowledged as the ancestor of all other styles of Taijiquan. This class will introduce the Chen-style Taijiquan form, Silk-reeling Exercises and Wuji Qigong. The Chen-style Taijiquan form is soft and graceful with strong rooted stands that will help students to develop strength, balance, coordination and an understanding of basic Taiji principles. Silk-reeling Exercises are a series of spiral movements which promote muscle relaxation and flexibility by reducing physical tension and strain. Wuji Qigong (standing meditation) will help students to cultivate internal energy (qi) with proper body alignment for better internal energy flow, which will enhance their immune systems and reduce physical and mental stress. Weather permitting, this event will take place outside, on the Pacifica Sanchez back patio. Please bring your own layers, sun protection, and water as appropriate. Adults (19+ years old)

Game of Graces
Wednesday, March 12 at 2:30pm at Sanchez
Cosplay as a Victorian child while we play the Game of Graces and explore what life was like for children living on the lighthouse grounds. Children (6-11 years old)

NOVAWorks Job Search Resource
Thursday, March 13 at 2pm at Sharp Park
Wherever you are on your career journey, NOVAworks is here to guide you. A NOVAworks advisor will be available to assist you with gaining career focus, exploring training opportunities, writing a resume, job searching, and preparing for interviews. No appointment is necessary. Adults (19+ years old)

Drop-In Tech Help
Fridays at 2pm at Sharp Park
Got burning questions about your phone or laptop? Whether you’re puzzled about sending email attachments or adding new contacts or anything else tech-related, fear not! Swing by with your device and chat with our tech-savvy staff for personalized assistance that’ll leave you feeling empowered and ready to conquer the digital world! Please note, sessions may be limited to 15 minutes. Adults (19+ years old)

Live Music with Violinist, Mads Tolling
Saturday, March 15 at 11am at Sharp Park
Join us for our spring 2025 live music series with internationally renowned violinist Mads Tolling, an internationally renowned violinist and composer, a two-time Grammy Award-Winner and the 2016 DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Violinist. As a former nine-year member of both Turtle Island Quartet and Stanley Clarke’s band, Mads has spent most of his professional life touring internationally. Adults (19+ years old)

The Feminist Self-Defense Movement with Professor Rouse
Saturday, March 15 at 2pm at Sharp Park
The feminist self-defense movement emerged in the early twentieth century alongside women’s fight for the right to vote. Discovering a sense of empowerment through their physical training women fought back against harassment, assault, sexism, and political disenfranchisement. Historian Wendy Rouse demonstrates how the history of feminist self-defense represents a powerful challenge to the oppressive patriarchal structure that prevents women from exercising their full rights as citizens and human beings. Adults (19+ years old)

Dungeons & Dragons
Saturday, March 15 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park REGISTER HERE
Wednesday, March 19 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park REGISTER HERE
Saturday, March 22 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park REGISTER HERE
Challenge yourself to a Dungeons & Dragons one-shot! Intended for middle and high school students. Handbooks and dice are provided; bring a character sheet or use one of our premade sheets. Space is limited, please register online to reserve your spot. Teens (12-18 years old)

Women’s Self Defense Seminar
Sunday, March 16 at 10am at Sharp Park
This seminar is a 2-hour reality-based crash course in both the physical and psychological response to violence. This seminar is perfect for teens who are starting to become more independent, as well as young adults heading off to college, and anyone else who just wants peace of mind. Adults (19+ years old)
Teens (12-18 years old) REGISTER HERE

Make Art Like Yayoi Kusama
Monday, March 17 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month by creating polka-dot paintings (using fingerpaint!) inspired by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, the princess of polka dots. Children (6-11 years old)

Coastside Pride Teen Support Group
Tuesday, March 18 at 4pm at Sharp Park
This Coast Pride group is a drop-in social space open to all LGBTQ+ youth grades 8-12. Come engage with your peers and take part in a creative activity! Teens (12-18 years old)

Real Scientists: What Do Entomologists Do?
Tuesday, March 18 at 3:30pm at Sanchez
Expose your students to the possibilities of a career in science by introducing them to a real Entomologist. Learn about the many different types of Entomology and what real scientists do for a living. Learn about how scientists collect, study, and describe new species of insects. Learn what it is like to be a girl who loves bugs who grows up to be a woman in a STEM field. Children (6-11 years old) Teens (12-18 years old)

Taller de Acuarela Para Principiantes
Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30pm at Sharp Park
El “juego” es una parte indispensable del aprendizaje y estimulación cerebral para todos. Losadultos necesitamos “jugar”, disfrutar de actividades con el único propósito de “pasarla bien”. Son muy pocas ocasiones donde nos damos la libertad de disfrutar y de descubrir nuevas cosas y actividades. Este taller de pintura con acuarelas tiene como propósito que nos divirtamos, que experimentemos algo nuevo, disfrutemos del proceso, y entendamos que hace que las acuarelas sean un medio artístico particular. Este taller es una introducción a la pintura con acuarelas. Hablaremos de los materiales necesarios para pintar, la teoría del color y técnicas para pintar con acuarela. Adultos (19+ años) Regístrese aquí

Women in STEAM: Beetlelady – Bugs of Pokémon
Friday, March 21 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
The creator of Pokémon, Satoshi Tajiri, spent his childhood collecting bugs in the Japanese countryside. His love of bugs can be seen throughout Pokémon from the buggy pocket monsters that were inspired by real insects and arachnids, to the Pokémon attacks and abilities that actually exist in the real world. Come learn with the Beetle Lady all about the bugs that inspired Pokémon and how the game of Pokémon and the science of Entomology are alike! Children (6-11 years old) Teens (12-18 years old)

Live Music with Sampaguitas: Philippine Folk Songs and Inspired Originals
Saturday, March 22 at 12pm at Sharp Park
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, The Sampaguitas sing Filipino folk songs and inspired originals in three-part harmony. Drawing influences from folk, blues, doo-wop girl groups, and the Filipinx-American diaspora, Jenevieve Francisco, Cristina Ibarra, and Aireene Espiritu share music from their roots and explore what it means to be in a “third culture” between worlds. The sampaguita is the national flower of the Philippines and only fitting to describe the sweet sounds coming from their melded vocal textures, tones, and tight harmonies. All Ages (Appeals to all ages)

Make Art Like Frida Kahlo
Monday, March 24 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month by creating our own self-portraits inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. This program is for kids of all ages.

Spool Cars
Tuesday, March 25 at 3:30pm at Sanchez
Make a simple “car” out of a spool, a pencil, and a rubber band, then see how far it will go!

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Virtual Meditation with San Mateo County Library

Interested in learning about meditation? Join our virtual meditation presentations. We will have different presenters talk about the benefits of meditation and showing you different techniques. You only need to sign up for this meditation series once and we’ll continue to send you reminders until you unsubscribe.

Upcoming Presentations:

• Meditation: A Tool to Balance Your Life Monday, March 10, 6pm (Pacific Time)
• Detox Your Mind through Meditation Monday April 7, 6pm (Pacific Time)

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March Pacificans Care Highlights

Pacificans Care Reads-Aloud

Ever heard of “The Good Egg,” “A Duck Named Brian,” “The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me” or “Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude”? 

Those are the books Pacificans Care board members and Champions selected to read during the recent Pacifica School Volunteers Read-Aloud program at Vallemar School. Readers shared their stories in kindergarten through 8^th grade classrooms to the delight of engaged children sitting on the edge of the seats listening to every word! 

For Pacificans Care, the Read-Aloud event, organized by Pacifica School Volunteers, fulfilled a board commitment to engage in giving back to the community through selected days of community service. Special thanks to happy Pacificans Care board member readers Janine Galligani, Bill Michaelis, Christine Stahl, and Xenia Gholli, and Champions Joy Hitzman, Lois Marshall-Ward, Sue Vaterlaus, and Robin Jaquith.

For more information about Pacifica School Volunteers and how you can give back to the community and support our schools visit www.pacificashoolvolunteers.org or contact Executive Director Bridget Hardt at psv.director@pacificasd.org.

Save the Date/ Mark your Calendars:

The Pacificans Care Wine and Beer Tasting event is coming Sunday, June 1^st at the Pedro Point Firehouse. Join in the fun of tasting award-winning wines from and added craft beers from local Pacifica breweries. 

Proceeds from the event help Pacificans Care, Pacifica’s community foundation, support core social services in Pacifica including the Pacifica Resource Center, Pacifica Senior Services, Pacifica Child Care Services and the Pacifica Youth Service Bureau to ensure that Pacificans in need get the services needed to improve their quality of life.

More details about tickets and sponsorship opportunities coming soon, stay tuned!

Rockaway Ricky Memorial Fund:

The Rockaway Ricky Memorial Fund celebrated “Have a Healthy Heart” month and Valentine’s Day by joining with the talented team at Art Space on the Coast, on Palmetto Ave, to do something different! Get a pup print! 

Pets and their human partners created keepsake clay prints of their dog’s paw! More than thirty canines joined in the fun which included ‘scooby’ snacks for the humans and treats for the pups along with a 2025 Dog Day of Pacifica calendar. 

Proceeds from the event went to the Rockaway Ricky Memorial Fund, a program of Pacificans Care, to assist with the pet care needs for Pacifica seniors, the homeless and families in need. Donation funds are distributed by Pacificans Care to the Pacifica Resource Center and Pacifica Senior Services.

Special thanks to Art Space on the Coast for hosting and supporting this fun Rockaway Rick Memorial Fund Valentine event.

For more information about Pacificans Care visit our website PacificansCare.com or email pacificanscare1982@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/PacificansCare P.O. Box 875, Pacifica, California 94044

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Skyline College Spring 2025 Critical Global Citizenship Events

Dear Skyline College Community,

We are excited to announce the next installment of Critical Global Citizenship Education events for Spring 2025! Building on the meaningful dialogues and creativity from Fall 2024, this semester’s events continue to explore pressing global issues through interactive workshops and community collaboration.

Mark your calendars and join us for these impactful experiences:
📸 Tuesday, March 18, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Library, Building 5, second floor

“Capturing Change: Photography and Social Impact (Part 2)”

Join us as we continue to explore new ways to create impactful stories through the power of photography to address local and global challenges like climate change, food insecurity, and social biases.

This follow-up workshop, led by photographer Yesika Wong, deepens and continues to combine interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and advanced photography techniques to inspire visual storytelling for change.

We invite all members of our community to join these events, reflect on global and local connections, and engage in creative expressions of critical citizenship.

For more details, feel free to reach out to Pia Walawalkar at walawalkars@smccd.edu. We look forward to seeing you there!

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William Rhodes at Sanchez Art Center, with two additional exhibitions

William Rhodes’ career encompasses more than 30 years of art making along with a deep history of community engagement. In considering the arc of his work over time, one can readily recognize the intertwining ideas evident in his various creative pursuits; the legacies of African culture, the enduring impact of enforced migration through enslavement, the value of generational experience and the importance of creating community in the face of tremendous challenges, all while reaching toward a hopeful future. This exhibition, Throughlines looking back, reaching forward, showcases these throughlines in work crafted variously from found objects, carved wood, neon, thread, graphite, paint, and fabric, resonating with stories of resilience and connection. 

Eleven of the works on view include Rhodes’ hand carved elements, typically framing various found pieces, many with drawings, and most combined with neon. Through the repurposing of found objects, we see the reclamation of materials that, once marginalized, are transformed into symbols of strength and continuity. The carved wood, illuminated by neon, bridges the past with the present — where traditional craftsmanship meets contemporary expression, drawing a connection between generations. African references may be found, such as the Chiwara, a mythical animal that brings good luck to crops and the harvest, or an Ibeji, a Toruban spiritual deity tasked with protecting twins. Repeated motifs of carved pregnant figures signify giving birth to an idea or belief. Houses, flames and thread carry their own weight and meaning. 

Flanked by the neon and wood pieces are a selection of Rhodes’ recent quilts. At the center of each is a powerful image, a call to solidarity in facing the pain and grief of poverty, desperation and injustice. Two of the quilts were created in collaboration with Emory Douglas, the former Black Panther Minister of Culture, and two reference The Black Times, a magazine with an East Coast circulation published by Rhodes’ father from 1968 to 1978. The magazine features articles on Civil Rights activists and other Black heroes at a time their experience was largely minimized or excluded from mainstream publications. These iconic images preserve and solidify a determination to continue the quest to address injustice and inequity, despite dispiriting setbacks and all-to-frequent incidents of brutality and death. Encircling the center panels are Rhodes’ hand painted portraits of members of the community he serves as Intergenerational Community Arts Program Director at Bayview Services in San Francisco. In placing these portraits of everyday people on the same plane as powerful historical imagery, Rhodes draws attention to the value of each person, regardless of their fame or status.

Also on exhibition are a selection of threaded drawings from Rhodes’ ongoing Outmigration Series of portraits. Reliably strong red thread is a defining element of these works. Inherited from his grandmother, the thread is heavy and durable, conveying a link of strength from generation to generation as does the sewing stitch she taught him. Rhodes honors the leaders and beacons in his life in these embellished graphite drawings, from widely recognized Diana Ross to neighbors, family members and others who inspired him along the way. 

Together these artworks form a visual representation of the transformative power of art in the face of adversity, and an affirmation that, while the challenges may be great, the spirit of resistance and the drive for social change endure. This work speaks not only to and about a particular community but also to the universal human experience, inviting us to reflect on our shared histories while inspiring hope for a more just and compassionate future, throughlines that can speak to all of us. 

Based in San Francisco William Rhodes began his sculptural practice on the East Coast, where he studied sculpture and furniture design at the Baltimore School of Fine Arts and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He later obtained his MFA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Rhodes is one of the co-founders of the 3.9 Art Collective, a Black art collective in San Francisco formed in 2011 in response to the declining Black population in the city. The artist will speak about his work on the last day of the exhibition, Sun, March 23, beginning at 3:30 pm.

The East Gallery presents the Fog Fest Invitational Photography Show, featuring the winners of the annual Pacific Coast Fog Fest Photography Contest and one of the esteemed judges (Edwin Hacking). While the Contest has specific categories for entry, the Invitational provides the opportunity for each photographer to share the work they would like included in the exhibition. Photographs by Vadim Dymshts veer from his oft recognized landscapes. The series he presents captures the raw power of old hand tools, once essential, now displaced by power tools and automation. Kara Jade Quan-Montgomery’s series reflects her connection to water and its many forms—a theme that is both physical and deeply personal. Water’s ability to reflect not just the landscape but also our own emotions resonates with Kara’s life experiences. Although she has always been afraid of water, she is drawn to it in photographs because of its captivating interplay of light, movement, and reflection. Each photograph in this collection offers a unique glimpse of this connection.Judge Edwin Hacking is presenting a collection of equine photographs , highlighting their spirit, individual character, confidence and innate ability to form connection with humans even if we don’t understand why.

Members of the Art Guild of Pacifica, in a group show are sharing works that each individually share their reflections on the theme of Lost in the Weeds. From literal interpretation of nature to whimsical fantasy, abstraction to finding oneself at a crossroads of detail, artists share their own perspective on the theme. The Art Guild will also offer small artworks and art cards for purchase (cash/check). 

Sanchez Art Center is located at 1220 Linda Mar Blvd in Pacifica, about a mile east of Highway 1. Following opening night, the galleries are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 1–5 pm, and by appointment, through Mar 23. For more information call 650.355.1894 or visit SanchezArtCenter.org. 

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Update on Pacifica’s Age Friendly Community Initiative

by Roy Earnest, MSW – Chairperson; Pacifica Age Friendly Community Coalition

Background: With support from a Measure K grant from San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa in 2019, the Center for Age Friendly Excellence assisted Pacifica to become one of the first communities in the County to launch an Age Friendly Community Initiative. A small group of local resident advocates for older adults (ages 55 and over), representatives from community stakeholder organizations, city staff from the PB & R Department’s senior services program and council member Mary Bier came together to form a community advisory group to conduct focus group discussions with a wide range of older adult residents as well as local senior service providers to identify Pacifica’s livability challenges faced by our older residents. This group continues to be together as a grass roots community coalition known as the Pacifica Age Friendly Community Coalition. See link to list of current Pacifica AFC Coalition members at the end of this article.

During the extensive process of seeking input from community residents and various stakeholders, we identified a number of “unmet needs” that fall into various categories such as housing, transportation, social participation, outdoor spaces and buildings, access to health care and support services, communication and information among other common aspects of community lif In the process, we also identified and re-affirmed the many livability strengths of Pacifica and how much people loved living here. 
One of the results of all this work was that Pacifica became a member of the AARP National Network of Age Friendly States and Communities in August of 2020. For more information: aarp.org/livable-communities/network-age-friendly-communities

The four areas of unmet need that kept coming up over and over for the residents we spoke with were affordability of housing, public transportation, communication and information about resources and community events, and social isolation and loneliness. 

Among the first “age friendly projects” that we successfully implemented in collaboration and support from essential community stakeholders were as follows:

• The Connect-a-Ride (CaR) subsidized taxi ride program for Pacifica residents ages sixty-five plus. This program is coordinated by Pacifica’s Senior Services department in collaboration with the Serra Yellow Taxi company. For more info: (650) 738-7353.

• Subsidized Senior Housing Workshops: We launched a series of subsidized senior housing workshops in collaboration with the Pacifica Resource Center to help older adult Pacificans to understand how to access the application system for subsidized apartments that – occasionally – become available in the four senior apartment complexes in Pacifica as well as in nearby communities. This system is challenging and frustrating for many people to access but, with support from the Pacifica Resource Center among other local non-profits, it is possible to get your “foot in the door” to, at the very least, get on a wait list. We will host another workshop on this topic later this year. If you can’t wait for our next workshop, we encourage you to contact Pacifica Resource Center at 650-738-7470; www.pacresourcecenter.org or HIP Housing at 650-348-6660; hiphousing.org and request an appointment to talk with one of their housing counselors to help you get started on a search for more affordable housing. 

• With the guidance of the Center for Age Friendly Excellence through a grant from the California Department on Aging, our most recent accomplishment is the completion of a three-year Age Friendly Community Action Plan in July, 2024 that provides the coalition and the community with strategic guidance as we continue to move forward. A link to the entire Pacifica AFC Action Plan is at the end of this article. 

A key part of the Action Plan was to select six livability projects that address some of the most pressing unmet needs of older residents we identified. In some cases, there are projects that we have been working on while others are new that will need further planning and development. The projects are as follows:

1. Pacifica’s Connect-a-Ride (CaR) Program: The Pacifica AFC Coalition will continue to support the City’s collaboration with Serra Yellow Cab through promoting this valuable transportation program for Pacifica residents sixty-five and over who need a dependable and inexpensive ride to and from essential local destinations. This project is up and running. Contact 650-738-7353.

2. Develop a “Communication and Information Strategy Guide Committee” to consider new ways our community can provide information to older residents about community events, opportunities, and support services. We plan to do this with the help of a volunteer subcommittee of residents and community organizations who will put together their best ideas into a concise guide that can be used by the City, community groups and organizations to better connect with a diverse cross-section of Pacifica’s older adult residents throughout Pacifica, north to south. 

3. Enable Pacifica residents to join the Village of the Coastside (VOTC) and Villages of San Mateo County’s (VSMC) social network: Over the last 8 years, the VOTC has created a successful virtual and in-person social network membership organization for residents (age 55 plus) from Montara to Pescadero. At the request of Pacifica’s AFC Coalition last year, VOTC has agreed to expand their geographic reach to include Pacifica residents. In addition to offering a wide range of social participation opportunities, VOTC also has a volunteer program that provides several types of assistance to VOTC members, such as rides to medical appointments and community gatherings, minor home repair, yard work and referrals to professional and well recommended service providers. We are currently recruiting a group of Pacificans to form a Pacifica VOTC steering committee to recruit Pacifica residents to join the Village of the Coastside, plan a series of monthly Village member gatherings in Pacifica, recruit volunteers for VOTC’s member assistance program and, in general, assist VOTC’s leadership group with a new influx of Village members from Pacifica. This project is currently just starting to get off the ground. For more information, contact Roy Earnest at AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or check out VSMC/VOTC’s website at www.villagesofsmc.org. Once on VSMC’s website, you can click on VOTC’s logo to get to their portion of the VSMC’s website. 

4. Continue the Affordable Housing Search and Application Assistance Workshops: The PAFCC, in collaboration with Pacifica Resource Center and HIP Housing, will continue to plan and host workshops and webinars on how to access the affordable housing application system and where to go for help with the application process. In addition, we are planning to publish a written guide that summarizes what we present in our workshop. We will also offer additional presentations on various retirement housing options, and how Accessible Dwelling Units (ADUs) can be an effective aging-in-place strategy, shared housing, co-housing and the pros and cons of moving to a new location. This project is up and running. For the most current update on when we plan to host a workshop, send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com. 

5. Plan and Develop an Age Friendly Business/Organization Training and Recognition Project. This project will offer free training for local businesses on how to further enhance their age friendliness. In addition, we also want to formally recognize local businesses who are already age-friendly or show a commitment to enhancing the age friendliness of their business. If you are interested in this project, please send us an email at AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com. 

6. Explore with the City of Pacifica the installation of Beach Mat Trails at local beaches. In collaboration with the City and other community stakeholders, we will explore the possibility of installing up to three beach mat trails at Linda Mar/Rockaway Beach beginning in April and ending in October of each year. Beach Mat trails are used by many beach towns and beachside parks throughout the world to enhance the accessibility of beaches for people who have difficulty walking in soft sand. We need a few volunteers to form a subcommittee that will constructively explore this possibility with the City and to assist them with obtaining information about how other coastal communities have used this strategy to enhance access to their local beaches. AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com

How to stay informed about Pacifica’s Age Friendly Community Initiative: 

• Send your name and email address to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com. We send out emails periodically to our growing email list of Pacifica residents who are interested in Pacifica’s AFC Initiative. 
• Follow the Pacifica Age Friendly Community Coalition Facebook site. 
• Attend one of our upcoming free Community Meetings. Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 8 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm at the Pacifica Community Center. After a brief update on Pacifica’s AFC Initiative, our guest speaker will be Sara Geber, Ph.D., who will give a presentation on the topic of Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers. Sara has authored an excellent book about this topic and offers a broad definition of “solo agers.” She includes not only people who live alone or have no children but also those who may have children, siblings, or other family members but they either live far away or, for whatever reason, are estranged from each other. More information about Sara Geber is available at sarazeffgeber.com. 
• Consider joining the Pacifica Age Friendly Community Coalition. This is the Pacifica AFC Initiative’s advisory board/steering committee. The Coalition meets about once every two months. If you are interested, send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com. 
• Consider joining one of the volunteer subcommittees that is focused on one of the specific age friendly projects mentioned above. AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com. 
• We frequently post updates on the Pacifica Locals Facebook page. 

Links to Action Plan and List of Current Pacifica AFC Coalition Members

• Pacifica AFC Action Plan
• List of Pacifica AFC Coalition Members

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