Edition 1 January 2025
Calendar
| 1/17-2/9 | Citizen Joy, Sanchez Art Gallery. See post. |
| FRI 1/17 1-2:30 PM | Deportation Event, Manny’s SF. Tickets. See post. |
| SAT 1/18 | 9 AM Pacifica Beach Coalition Linda Mar Beach Clean and Annual Planting. See post. |
| SAT 1/18 | 12 noon Peoples March, starts Crespi at Linda Mar Beach. See post. |
| TUES 1/21 7 PM | Planning Commission, Council Chamber |
| TUES 1/21 6:30-8 PM | Coastside United in Action, Little Brown Church. See post. |
| FRI 1/24 | 2-Year Remembrance HMB shootings. See post for details. |
| MON 1/27 7 PM | City Council, Council Chambers |
| MON 2/3 | Due date for EIR remarks. See post. |
| MON 2/3 7 PM | Planning Commission, Council Chambers |
| WED & TH 2/5-2/6 | California Coastal Commission. No Pacifica items on agenda as of 1/16/25 |
| SAT 2/8 2-5 PM | Prosthesis for Palestine House Party. See post and RSVP. |
| MON 2/10 7 PM | City Council, Council Chambers |
| FRI 2/14 6-11 PM | Hearts of Hope fundraiser, dinner and auction. Tickets. See post. |
See posted calendars for:
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.
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FOR CONSIDERATION
Palestine Gaza Assistance
Donate to organizations that help the suffering victims of war in Palestine
Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA): Amidst the ongoing attack on Gaza, MECA team and partners are providing emergency assistance to families who have fled their homes to seek shelter with relatives as well as procuring emergency medical supplies for hospitals and clinics.
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF): Our “Gaza Relief and Recovery” campaign aims to address urgent humanitarian needs and support long-term recovery efforts in Gaza. The funds raised will primarily focus on immediate relief, including providing essential medical supplies, food, medical treatment, clean water, and other necessities for families affected by the conflict. Additionally, our campaign will support rebuilding healthcare facilities and providing long-term support through impactful programs and projects to support the needs of children and the health sector in Gaza. It will also allocate resources towards trauma counseling, mental health support, and other initiatives for children affected by the conflict, aiming to foster healing and resilience within the community.
HEAL Palestine is the leading nonprofit bringing injured kids from Gaza to the USA for free care that they cannot get locally. We take a holistic approach to caring for the children and the families we bring, by not only arranging their free care in some of the best hospitals in the world but also providing mental health care and educational opportunities within the communities where they are being cared for. We engage volunteers to help house and support the injured kids during their treatment journey, and take care of them also once their treatment is finished.
Prosthetics for Palestine was formed to help address the exponentially growing demand of amputees in Palestine, specifically in Gaza.
Our goal is to work collaboratively, as a multi-sector group of professionals, to source and build sustainable prosthetics. We are absolutely appalled by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the expanding humanitarian crisis in the region. We are mobilizing to help support the people most impacted.
Los Angeles Fire Assistance
Donate to on-the-ground groups in southern California
If you’re in a position to do so, make a donation so that wildfire victims in southern California can get the help and resources they desperately need.
California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund: The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund directly supports those who have been impacted by wildfires – with both short-term emergency assistance and long term support for community recovery.
Movement Innovation Collaborative: California’s Movement Innovation Collaborative has set up a fund to aid those impacted by the fires in in Los Angeles County. All donations will support immediate needs resulting from the catastrophic fires in the region, and the ongoing direct organizing of impacted residents to fight for the recovery, health, safety, and housing needs in the community.
National Day Laborer Organizing Network: The Pasadena Community Job Center is serving as an Emergency Center for the day laborer community, providing temporary shelter, food, water, and emergency kits. As they always do in a time of crisis, workers are helping workers, families are helping families. Your donation to the National Day Laborer Organizing Network will support impacted workers and their families.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is working with government agencies, nonprofit and faith-based partners and others to respond to the fires throughout Los Angeles County.
Casa Milagrosa, a day resource center. Through radical hospitality, we provide a warm and welcoming refuge to homeless people near MacArthur Park. Up to 140 men and women visit daily to receive services that help them overcome their situation.
The People Concern believes no one should have to live on the street or in a violent household. Our staff, volunteers and those we serve work together to address the effects of homelessness, poverty, mental and physical illness, abuse and addiction. Our programs empower the most vulnerable among us to improve their quality of life – housed, healthy and safe – and become active participants in the community. We also work to educate the broader community and improve public policy.
Project Ropa is a Los Angeles based nonprofit and certified social enterprise on a mission to reduce waste and restore dignity to those in need by providing clothing and hygiene essentials.
Two-Year Remembrance Honoring Seven Farmworkers Lost in Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting
Ayudando Latinos a Soñar (ALAS) and the National Farm Worker Ministry Host Two-Year Remembrance Honoring Seven Farmworkers Lost in Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting
Half Moon Bay, Calif. – On January 24, 2025, Ayudando Latinos a Soñar (ALAS) and the National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) will host a Two-Year Remembrance Ceremony to honor the victims and survivors of the tragic Half Moon Bay shooting on January 23, 2023.This heartfelt event will serve as a moment of reflection, unity, and healing, while addressing the ongoing challenges farmworker communities face. Farmworkers are the backbone of Half Moon Bay’s economy and food supply, contributing billions of dollars to the U.S. agricultural economy.
A press conference will take place from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the ALAS Sueño Center (604 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA). Speakers will highlight solidarity on critical issues, including housing, immigration rights, and the importance of remembering and advocating for systemic change in the wake of the tragedy. Esteemed speakers include Dr. Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, Founder and Executive Director of ALAS, Rev. Dr. Nathan Hosler, Board President of NFWM; San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller, local farmworkers sharing their experiences, and other community leaders.
The day will conclude with a community vigil from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the ALAS Yellow House (636 Purissima Street, Half Moon Bay, CA). The vigil will honor the memory of the seven farmworkers lost in the shooting, featuring heartfelt speeches by elected officials, Chinese and Latino community leaders, a farmworker musical accordion performance, and a gathering of community members with shared snacks and refreshments.
Dr. Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, Founder and Executive Director of ALAS, stated:
“This tragedy shook the soul of our community and exposed the struggles that farmworkers endure every day. Today, we honor the lives lost and call on everyone to stand with us in advocating for fair treatment, better living conditions, and dignity for the people who feed us. Their lives, their sacrifices, and their voices must never be forgotten.”
Rev. Dr. Nathan Hosler, board president of the National Farm Worker Ministry, stated:
“The tragedy at Half Moon Bay was absolutely devastating, and it is our moral obligation to honor the workers and families impacted by improving farm worker conditions. In this country, much of the housing for farm workers is abhorrent, and no one should be living in such substandard environments. We fully support the holistic approach of ALAS, which has been pivotal in uplifting and working to improve conditions for farm workers who are the backbone of our communities.”
Immediate Action by ALAS: After the tragic mass shooting on January 23, 2023, ALAS took immediate action by working directly with displaced survivors and families to meet their essential needs, including providing food, housing, and mental health counseling. Additionally, ALAS extended its support to the entire community by offering free counseling services to anyone in Half Moon Bay, recognizing the importance of addressing the broader impact of the traumatic event on individuals beyond the directly affected families.
About Ayudando Latinos a Soñar (ALAS)
ALAS is a nonprofit, 501c3, organization based in Half Moon Bay, California, that offers free programs in cultural arts, mental health, education, basic needs and social justice for Latino families, essential workers, and farmworkers of the Coastside. The vision of the organization was born from the desire to help children and their families feel proud of their identity and culture and amplify their voices. For more information, please visit: alasdreams.com.
About the National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM)
For over 50 years, the National Farm Worker Ministry, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been dedicated to educating, equipping, and mobilizing people of faith and conscience. Their work supports farmworker-led efforts to improve living and working conditions across the United States. Learn more at nfwm.org.
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Media Contacts:
Victoria Sanchez De Alba
De Alba Communications (for ALAS)
650-270-7810 / victoria@dealba.net
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Director of Farm Worker Advocacy
National Farm Worker Ministry
657-617-1078 / farmworkeradvocacy@nfwm.org
Coalition of Pacificans for an Updated Plan and Responsible Planning (CPUP)* Reclamation Letter
December 16, 2024
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Larry Sheingold, Chair
California State Mining and Geology Board
715 P Street, MS 1909
Sacramento, California 95814
larry.sheingold@conservation.ca.gov
Jefferey Schmidt, Executive Officer
California State Mining and Geology Board
715 P Street, MS 1909
Sacramento, California 95814
jeffrey.schmidt@conservation.ca.gov
Re: Response to Notice of Intent to Appeal; Rockaway Quarry (CA Mine ID No. 91-41-0001)
Dear Chair Sheingold and Executive Officer Schmidt:
We are residents of the City of Pacifica and members of a grass roots citizens group, Coalition of Pacificans for an Updated Plan and Responsible Planning (CPUP)*. We are opposed to the “Reclamation Plan” because it is, in actuality, a soil disposal fill project that would cause numerous harmful environmental impacts. We urge you to determine that the Rockaway Quarry appeal is not within the SMGB’s jurisdiction, since it involves issues which cannot legally be addressed by the Board. (See California Code of Regulations Sec. 3651(a)(1).)
Doctoral dissertation may inspire San Mateo County policy change
By Suzanne Moore
Housing instability impacts health and longevity and is a known socioeconomic determinant of health. Members of Solutions 4 Supportive Homes (S4SH), a nonprofit promoting supportive housing for the disabled and those with serious mental illness (SMI), wanted to know how many aging adults provided housing for adult children with SMI. S4SH approached a doctoral student from the University of San Francisco, School of Nursing and Health Professionals, to help quantify this vulnerable population. Doctoral student, Kristin Moser, discovered there was no existing data on this population and that housing status was not routinely collected.
In her Policy Brief: Documenting the “Invisible Population” with Z-Codes: A Step Forward in Reducing Homelessness, Ms. Moser recommended housing status be routinely collected using existing Z-Codes. Z-Codes are already a part of the wider ICD-10 diagnostic data tracking system. On presentation of her policy brief to the San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission, Ms. Moser was met with enthusiasm. The Health Plan of San Mateo Population Health Management Team has also expressed interest.
Data is invaluable to decision makers and can quantify a population, potentially identify risk factors and trends, suggest possible interventions, and be used to measure intervention efficacy. As our County contemplates policy changes to gather housing data, we can anticipate future ways to prevent and treat housing instability as an identified health factor.
Solutions 4 Supportive Homes – s4sh.org
Policy Brief:
SOCIAL JUSTICE
People’s March Pacifica, CA
We all march for different reasons, but we march for the same cause: to defend our rights and our future.
If you believe that decisions about your body should remain yours, that books belong in libraries, not on bonfires, that healthcare is a right, not a privilege for the wealthy; if you believe in the power of free speech and protest to sustain democracy; or if you want an economy that works for the people who power it—then this march is for you.
Note: You will receive all updates on additional details before the march.
California Leaders Unite to Confront Looming Mass Deportation Threat
State Senator Josh Becker and Assembly member Liz Ortega, Along with Other Leaders, Highlight Historical Parallels and Strategies to Fight Back
By Victoria Sanchez De Alba
What:
On Friday, January 17, the last business day before the inauguration of a new administration that has made mass deportation a cornerstone of its domestic policy plans, join us for a special afternoon conversation with key California leaders.
Drawing on historical lessons, these leaders will discuss how history informs their views of this pivotal moment and how they are mobilizing to fight back. The discussion will spotlight new legislation, including SB 537— co-authored by Senator Becker and recently signed by Governor Newsom—which memorializes the devastating Mexican Repatriation during the Great Depression. The event will also explore community-led efforts to protect immigrant communities and combat the threat of mass deportation.
Speakers Include:
- California State Senator Josh Becker (D – Menlo Park): Representing the 13th Senate District, including most of San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County. Co-author of SB 537.
- California State Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D – District 20): Representing Hayward, San Leandro, most of Union City, portions of Dublin and Pleasanton, and the unincorporated communities of Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, and San Lorenzo.
- Kevin R. Johnson: Distinguished Professor of Law, Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, Professor of Chicana/o Studies, UC Davis
- Christian Arana: Vice President of Civic Power and Policy, Latino Community Foundation.
- Sarah Souza: Immigrant Rights Advocate and DACA Recipient.
Discussion Highlights:
• How historical deportation campaigns—such as the 1930s Mexican Repatriation and “Operation Wetback” in the 1950s—inform today’s strategies to resist mass deportation efforts.
• Insights from SB 537, which commemorates past deportation efforts and recognizes their enduring impact on California communities.
• Perspectives from state and local leaders on legislative and community-led initiatives to safeguard millions of Californians under threat.
Why This Matters:
During the Great Depression, over a million Mexicans and Mexican-Americans were forcibly deported, devastating California families and leaving scars that remain today. Two decades later, Operation Wetback targeted more than a million Mexican workers, employing military-style deportations. Even earlier, in the late 1800s, the Chinese were subjected to the first significant immigration crackdown, including the forced removal of workers.
These dark chapters in history remind us of the profound human cost of such policies. With potential mass deportation on the horizon, this timely conversation brings together leaders to strategize and ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Media Opportunities:
This event offers compelling narratives and access to prominent state leaders, immigrant advocates, and experts discussing one of the most pressing issues facing California and the nation.
Date & Time:
Friday, January 17 · 1:00 – 2:30 PM PST
Location:
Manny’s
3092 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
The event is open to the public: Manny’s never turns away anyone for lack of funds. To receive a complimentary ticket just email the word “grapefruit” and the title of this event “Mass Deportation: How History Shapes the Coming Fight” to luis@welcometomannys.com.
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Media Contacts:
De Alba Communications
Victoria Sanchez De Alba
650-270-7810 / victoria@dealba.net
Lucho Ramirez / 415-425-0445
Adam Hirschfelder
Program Producer
510-387-3323
Rapid Response Network in San Mateo County
By Joanne Rokosky, Coastside Faith in Action
The impending Trump administration has led to an ominous sense of DeJa’Vu for those of us who worked to protect our Coastside immigrant neighbors after the 2016 election. Shortly after the election a Rapid Response Hotline was created and became a model for similar programs throughout much of the country. When the toll-free number was called in response to a suspected ICE sighting, the dispatcher alerted nearby volunteers who had been trained to go the location and determine whether an ICE raid was actually in progress. Simultaneously, legal and advocacy groups provided Know Your Rights workshops, distributed Know Your Rights materials, and assisted in the development of Family Protection Plans to be used if a family member was detained.
In San Mateo County, the Board of Supervisors has continued to fund the No Migra Hotline (203-666-4472). This number is answered 24/7 by staff of Faith in Action Bay Area, who are bilingual Spanish/English speakers. Similar hotline networks are active throughout the Bay Area and the entire state.
As opposed to 2016, the current situation is more ambiguous and more troubling. To what extent will the Trump administration be able to follow through on his threatened mass deportation plan? Will protections granted to noncitizens in the Bill of Rights be respected? Will old laws, such as the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 be used to green light detention and deportation proceedings?
Despite the unknowns, local agencies are collaborating to protect residents. Coastside Hope, Puente, and ALAS formed the Coastside Immigrant Advocacy Coalition and provided an initial Know Your Rights training in Half Moon Bay with plans for a second training in Pescadero. Additionally, they created a texting group to rapidly notify each other of situations such as reported ICE sightings. The intent is to defuse community misinformation and panic. Although they continue to advocate calling the Hotline, they are also aware that frightened community members tend to first reach out to individuals and groups they trust, such as these three community agencies.
The agencies also created a broader network called La Alianza (The Alliance). In addition to Coastside Hope, Puente, and ALAS, this group includes Faith in Action Bay Area and Silicon Valley DeBug. In November, 2024, this group sent a letter to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors urging additional support for immigrant communities. Specific requests were to preserve and increase funding for Rapid Response, Removal Defense, and general immigration legal services; to preserve the current Sanctuary County Ordinance of 2023; to swiftly and transparently investigate hate crimes based on national origin, race, gender, ethnicity, or language; and to ensure no cooperation between law enforcement and ICE. A second letter is in progress. A huge need exists for legal services, especially pro bono attorneys, who can assist with deportation defense. Whether or not involved in a Rapid Response group, we all can make efforts to protect our immigrant neighbors, who may themselves be undocumented or have an undocumented family member or friend. Urge them to connect with the agencies above for information and support. Get a supply of red cards and distribute them to individuals and businesses who frequently interact with immigrant residents. You can order them here: ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas. Learn more about immigrant rights. A good place to start is the San Mateo Immigration Services, which has links to Know Your Rights, Family Protection Plans, and legal resources smcgov.org/ceo/immigrant-services. Support efforts underway to secure additional County funding for legal defense.
Coastside United in Action
People’s March: Saturday, January 18, 12:00 PM PST, Intersection of Crespi and Hwy 1. Meet at the Linda Mar Beach side of the Crespi Intersection. Bring your family, friends, and signs to send the message “We aren’t backing down!” Link to sign up: Peoples March Coastside United for Action/Coastside Indivisible in-person general meeting: Tuesday, January 21, 6:30-8:00 PM at the Little Brown Church (1850 Francisco Blvd, Pacifica). Join us on “Day 1” to say Dictators Not Welcome! The focus will be on how we can provide local assistance to vulnerable populations targeted by the Trump administration and fight back against Project 2025. Link to RSVP.
HOUSING
Pacifica has received a grant from the Partnership for the Bay’s Future Policy Fund
By Pacifica Voice Editors
The City of Pacifica has received a grant from the Partnership for the Bay’s Future Policy Fund. The two-year grant will fund the placement of a Fellow within the Community Development Department, provide financial support to Pacifica Resource Center and the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART). The Fellow, Alex Contreras, will focus on zoning reforms, objective design standards, and community engagement.
The fellow will determine key concerns and priorities for zoning reform and develop guidelines for increased density and housing production, determine relevant guidelines for multi-family and mixed-use projects on building form, architectural style, materials, site layout, and sustainability.
Some of the activities and objectives of the grant are:
- Adoption of comprehensive update to the City’s Zoning Regulations, 30-day response to all application submittals, monitoring, and reducing the development review process timeline for housing projects.
- Amend zoning codes and incentivize development in areas less susceptible to sea level rise.
- Align Zoning Code with SB 330 objective standard requirements.
- Establish objective design standards for multi-family residential projects and mixed-use projects with a residential component.
- Streamline application submittal and review processes.
- Implement priority building permit processing and reduced plan check times for multi- family projects and affordable units.
The grant will pay the salary and benefits of the Fellow and will also grant $110,000 a year for each of the 2 years of the grant to the Pacifica Resource Center.
The Housing Policy Goals of Pacifica’s grant are:
Production and preservation focused
- Re/up-zoning
- Housing Element implementation
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City of Pacifica |
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Alex Contreras |
Production & Preservation
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The Partnership web site summarizes what the grants to other cities do, and they include goals such as affordable housing fund, rental registry, right to return for displaced former residents, anti-displacement policies, rental inspection program, tenant safety plan. The grant to Pacifica is focused on implementing the Housing Element and on rezoning and upzoning land to allow for more dense housing development; it is not focused on affordable housing, anti-displacement, rental registry, tenant protections and other things that Pacifica Housing 4 All (PH4A) is concerned about.
The Partnership for the Bay’s Future (PBF) states that “The Bay Area’s housing crisis remains one of the region’s most pressing challenges, with households of color disproportionately impacted by rising rents, displacement, and inequitable access to affordable housing.”
“Since it launched in 2020, the Policy Fund has been a cornerstone of PBF’s approach to housing justice, fostering collaboration between local governments and Community Based Organizations.” Pacifica has listed the Pacifica Resource Center and HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust) as our Community Based Organizations.”
“This innovative model has led to transformative policy changes while simultaneously reshaping how governments and communities work together”.
- Community outreach ensures that those most impacted by housing instability play a central role in shaping solutions.
- Through trust-building and inclusive policymaking, the Policy Fund amplifies community voices, strengthens relationships, and creates lasting change toward equitable housing practices.
“Building on the success of our past two rounds, we are proud to continue addressing the pressing needs of our communities through sustainable and transformative policy partnerships,” said Aisha Pamukcu, PBF’s Policy Fund Director. “When government and community leaders collaborate, we can create innovative and equity-centered solutions to the housing crisis.”
PH4A and our platform
Pacifica Housing 4 All has promoted housing equity since 2016:
- first, in support of tenant protection;
- second, in support of safe parking and homeless programs to provide a path to permanent housing;
- and most recently, through advocacy of below market-rate housing to best meet the needs of vulnerable populations in our community.
Pacifica’s failure to meet our housing needs
In the needs assessment of Pacifica’s Housing Element, the City made note of our most vulnerable residents and housing instability. Pacifica’s elders, disabled, families headed by women, households with low income, residents of color are at risk for housing loss. Pacifica’s vacancy rate is low, rents are high, and incomes have not kept up with cost of housing. Pacifica has the highest per capita number of homeless than any other San Mateo County community.
The Association for Bay Area Governments has stated three requirements to address the housing crisis: tenant protection, preservation of affordable housing, and housing production at all levels of affordability. To be successful, a community needs to commit land, money, and community will.
Pacifica has failed to meet our housing needs:
- Pacifica did not choose to provide additional tenant protection,
- The City declined to advance a program for safe parking or consider permits for churches to provide overnight respite,
- Pacifica has not built below market-rate housing in over three decades.
The City of Pacifica identified our focus: housing production and preservation through “re/up-zoning and housing element implementation”. Zoning changes do not guarantee affordable housing, and it is difficult to implement an uncertified Housing Element.
Hopes for the grant
PH4A is glad that the City received this grant. We look forward to the “innovative model and transformative policy changes”, community outreach of those most impacted, and the all-important trust-building that can lead to truly inclusive policymaking.
Rezoning Information from HLC
By Jeremy Levine, Housing Leadership Council
The Environmental Impact Report currently under consideration by the city is a necessary routine step in the rezoning process to allow denser, more affordable housing.
Pacifica has worked on its housing element update for more than two years. Rezoning is an essential step for the city to complete its housing element update–Pacifica’s housing element cannot be certified until the city rezones.
The longer Pacifica takes to complete its EIR, the longer it will take for the city to achieve housing element compliance, the more likely Pacifica is to receive more Builder’s Remedy applications that don’t need to follow the city’s zoning code. Pacifica has already received at least six builder’s remedy applications.
Write letters of support to the city at planningdivision@pacifica.gov by February 3 to show your support for moving Pacifica’s housing element forward through the environmental review process!
Rezoning and EIR by City of Pacifica
The City is requesting your comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Pacifica Housing Element Targeted General Plan Amendments, Rezoning, and Objective Development Standards Program (6th Cycle). The Proposed Project includes amendments and rezoning under Program HE-I-1 to establish a regulatory framework for the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) sites inventory, promoting multifamily, rental, missing middle, and mixed-use housing.
The comment period is now open, and we invite any and all input from interested persons through Sunday, February 3, 2025. You can review the full Notice of Availability (NOA) for the EIR on the Community Development Department’s Environmental Documents webpage.
The draft EIR is available for public review in person and online at:
- Community Development Department located at 1800 Francisco Boulevard in Pacifica, California 94044, during business hours,
- Sharp Park Library (104 Hilton Way), and
- Sanchez Library (1111 Terra Nova Boulevard)
- Online at planpacifica.org/project-docs
Review Period: December 13, 2024 to February 3, 2025
Contact Person:
Justin Shiu, Contract Senior Planner
planningdivision@pacifica.gov
(650) 738-7341
Thank you for helping to Plan Pacifica!
HIP Housing Calendar Project 2025 Winner
Every year, HIP Housing, an affordable housing non-profit in San Mateo County, holds a calendar art contest where school children illustrate what home means to them, accompanied by a quote, with the winning artwork featured in an Annual Calendar.
This year 13 winners were selected out of over 500 entries (a new record for the contest). We are pleased to share that 1st grader Julia M. was selected as one of the 13 winners. The quote she provided truly expresses how we can all be part of the housing solution in our community:
“A house is where you live and that is safe for your family and friends. People who do not have houses should be treated with respect. If you see someone who doesn’t have a home you should help them and bring them to a safe area where they could have help.”
Please see Julia’s artwork attached. A link to order a calendar bundle, which includes a coffee mug and postcards with art, is also provided below:
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
Can the Beach in Sharp Park in Pacifica be Restored?
A proposal by Pacifica’s Environmental Family and the Pedro Point Community Association
Four civic-minded surfers and an ocean swimmer – all connected with Pacifica – have been meeting and have documented their idea in a draft proposal “Bigger Beaches, Better Waves, Lower Costs”. The public is invited to read about the concept at their leisure. Pacifica’s Environmental Family and the Pedro Point Community Association will be hosting a gathering soon to hear about the concept in person, ask questions, and brainstorm as a community.
Stay Tuned for More, and Join us for a discussion about a vision for building the shore seaward and achieving multiple objectives.
- Beaches for Protection
- Beaches for Recreation
- Beaches for the Ecosystem
Can we create a wildlife and pedestrian crossing at Vallemar Cut?
By Bob Battalio
Mori Ridge extends eastward from the Pacific Ocean (Mori Point) to the crest of the coastal hills at Sweeney Ridge. Most of this hill-line is part of the National Park Service’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Highway One cuts through the ridge, forming a barrier that is difficult to cross (Figure 1). The stop light at Vallemar (Reina Del Mar intersection) is notorious for long delays needed to accommodate pedestrian crossings and traffic to and from the nearby Vallemar School. The road also forms a barrier to animal crossings. However, Highway One is only about 100 feet wide. Could we build a crossing for people and wildlife?
One possibility is to construct concrete walls and top, and cover with earth, forming a tunnel with an earthen crossing above it. Another possible crossing scheme is a bridge covered with earth. A pedestrian tunnel under Highway One is another possibility: a narrow one (designed for people only) exists at Sharp Park Golf Course. The yellow polygon shows the location of the ‘ Vallemar Cut’ which is a ‘divot’ in the Mori ridge excavated for the old coast railway and widened for Highway One. The polygon extents approximate the top of the excavated slopes, with a maximum width of about 400 feet well above the roadway. The yellow rectangle represents the existing pedestrian tunnel
The east-west extent of open space between Mori Point and San Andreas Lake is over 3 miles. This area is Golden Gate National Recreation Area and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (water supply / storage part of Hetch Hetchy). Bridging the Vallemar Cut would connect this 3+ miles of ecotone ocean-hills-lake.
The idea of a wildlife corridor across Highway One was previously published in a report on ecology restoration and sea level rise adaptation at Laguna Salada, just north of Mori Point (Environmental Science Associates|Phillip Williams & Associates 2011). The concept entailed crossing Highway One along the historical Sanchez Creek corridor, as explained below, as quoted from Section 6.3 DESCRIPTION OF PLAN ELEMENTS:
“Taking a broader perspective (i.e., as part of a longer-term master plan or restoration vision), modifications to HWY 1 could greatly enhance restoration by reconnecting the ecotone on either side of the roadway. Highway One forms a barrier to wildlife (and people) which is a stressor to the natural east-to-west orientation of the coastal ridges and valleys. See connection across HWY 1 for San Francisco Recreation and Parks lands. Mori Ridge provides another connection opportunity. Reconstruction of the highway with an elevated and or depressed alignment would allow reconstruction of the functional landscape and a contiguous coastal valley and ridge (Mori Ridge) habitat. Such realignment could also improve the connection for people, whether going to the beach from neighborhoods or hiking through Golden Gate National Recreation Area lands. In particular, this is an opportunity for re-establishment of a genetically resilient and dispersed San Francisco Garter Snake population. The ongoing planning for improving traffic flow in the area provides an opportunity to consider these ecologic and social objectives. We recommend that these considerations be incorporated in the HWY 1 planning. While modifying a road for human access and environmental enhancements may seem impractical to some, there are recent precedents. One example of a multi-objective roadway renovation project is the Doyle Drive Reconstruction in San Francisco, which includes elevated and depressed sections which will allow ecological and pedestrian connections from uplands to the shore.”
Pacific Beach Coalition
Dear PBC friends,
Welcome to 2025 and a new year of opportunities to make a difference! We saw incredible results in 2024 — over 26,000 pounds of trash and 248,000 cigarette butts collected by over 10,900 volunteers. AND we are grateful for the generous year-end giving from our growing number of Coastal Guardians Club members! Read on to see what’s happening this month.
- PBC Annual Beach Planting – January 18th
- Stay safe on the coast
- Combatting the plastics crisis
- Whale of the Month – North Pacific Right Whale
PBC’S ANNUAL BEACH PLANTING AND CLEANUP TO HONOR MLK, JR.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH
Please join us for our 28th Annual Beach Planting and Cleanup event on January 18th at Pacifica State Beach (Linda Mar). It’s a great way to make a difference, connect with nature and honor Dr. King’s legacy of service.
This annual event is when we do most of our planting along the coastal trail so that native plants can benefit from the seasonal rains.
We’ll start things off with our regular 9am cleanup at Linda Mar Beach, then head up the trail for 10am habitat restoration.
Visit our web page for more information and to sign up. (Note that this event takes place on Jan 18th, not on the federal MLK Jr holiday, which is Jan 20th.)
STAY SAFE THIS WINTER
The recent high-surf warnings in the Bay Area serve as a reminder that we all need to remain alert as we head to the coast for recreation or volunteering this winter.
Remember the golden rule: never turn your back on the ocean, and maintain a good distance from the water’s edge. Take a moment to review these beach safety guidelines from Cal Poly Humboldt.
In addition to the ocean’s waves, one must also stay aware of unstable cliffsides. The cliffs at Esplanade Beach and Mussel Rock, for example, are actively eroding. Don’t peer over the edges or lay down your beach towel or even loiter at the base of these cliffs!
COMBATTING THE PLASTICS CRISIS: WHAT YOU CAN DO
The world is facing a growing plastics crisis. Microplastics are infiltrating our food and water sources, and a staggering 90% of plastic packaging ends up in landfills.
During our cleanups, PBC volunteers ALWAYS find countless plastic items — cups, lids, bottles, utensils, and broken fragments. This problem is persistent, but there are steps we can ALL take to reduce plastic waste.
What you can do:
- Avoid plastic food and drink packaging whenever possible.
- Choose glass or aluminum when buying beverages.
- Always carry a reusable water bottle.
Explore these resources for deeper insights and solutions:
- The promising potential of reusable glass programs (Story of Stuff)
- The Long Story of Plastic (Global Ecobrick Alliance)
- SB 54, California’s plastics legislation (CalRecycle)
Together we can ALL contribute to a healthier, cleaner planet by making informed choices and advocating for systemic change.
WHALE OF THE MONTH: NORTH PACIFIC RIGHT WHALE
We are kicking off 2025 by shining a spotlight on one of the rarest and possibly most endangered whale on the planet: the North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica).
These gentle whales, which can reach lengths of 64 feet and live at least 70 years, once thrived in the North Pacific with an estimated population of 20,000. Sadly, fewer than 500 individuals remain, with only about 40 spending their summers in the Southeast Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.
Right whales are known for their massive heads, which make up about a third of their body length, and for their callosities — white, wart-like patches caused by parasitic whale lice. These whales use their arched upper jaws and baleen plates to filter zooplankton while skimming through the water with their mouths open.
Tragically, illegal whaling in the mid-20th century pushed this species to the brink, but more recently they have been spotted in various “odd locations.” In 2016 and 2017, there were sightings of a few individuals in Southern California. Sightings of these whales outside of their known feeding and breeding grounds could provide clues about their changing behavior due to climate change and other ongoing pressures.
Tree City Pacifica is committed to adding more trees
By Paul Totah
Coastside Magazine, on Jan. 6, published an interview with the chair of Pacifica’s Planning Commission, Samantha Hauser, that deserves our attention. Hauser, who served on the city’s Economic Development Commission, now serves as the executive vice president at City Ventures, which develops sustainable housing that enhances vibrant neighborhoods.
Growing up in LA, Hauser noticed that the neighborhoods she liked “had trees on the streets, had a lot of landscaping, and it didn’t really matter what the houses were, whether they were big or small. The neighborhoods felt, not secluded, but really organic, and it felt good to be there. The neighborhoods that didn’t have a lot street trees and maybe had really big sidewalks and not a lot of things that were pedestrian-scale, didn’t feel great.”
Neighborhoods, she added, “should feel human-scale … should feel good, that feeling you get when you walk on a street that has trees on both sides that almost touch each other. It just feels really peaceful. You should get a feeling or a vibe when you’re in a neighborhood because it’s done thoughtfully.”
The Arbor Day Foundation echoes Hauser when it notes on its webpage that “trees help us keep pace and ensure our growing communities remain healthy. Trees clean our air, cool our cities, and safeguard us from stronger storms. They also create a home for birds, bugs, and critters, which bring a neighborhood to life. Trees in our yards and parks strengthen neighborhood bonds that lead to happier and safer communities, too.”
There is an economic incentive, too, for homeowners to plant trees. Again, from The Arbor Day Foundation: “Trees have economic benefits for individuals and the community at large. Homes with trees in their yard enjoy property value increases of more than $30 billion, annually, in the U.S. Thoughtfully-placed trees offering a home summertime shade and winter wind protection can reduce energy bills, too. Community trees also ensure half a million Americans have jobs in the urban forestry industry.”
Tree City Pacifica is committed to adding more trees to the streets of our fair city and to our public areas. In the past six years, we have planted more than 150 trees around town in our schools, on our streets, in parks and at our Community Center. We will continue to do so in the years to come in our combined effort with the city and the school district to ensure that our city is both verdant and sustainable for the years to come.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Sanchez Art Center Citizen Joy
Jan 17– Feb 9, 2025 Sanchez Art Center
Views of Democracy
Gratitude & Aspiration
The Right and Rites of Protest, oil on canvas
The East Gallery presents Citizen Joy: Views of Democracy, Gratitude & Aspiration. The exhibition culminates nearly a year of work to identify and develop community engagement projects and events that celebrate and interpret democracy. Barbara Kibbe, Citizen Joy Leadership Team member, exhibition conceptualizer and catalog curator, notes that while developed during an election year — regardless of the outcome — the country needs an informed and engaged citizenry. She states, “Our hope was to make a small contribution to our collection commitment to learn about and participate in our democratic system, shining a light on what we have to be grateful for. In a way, we are making the argument for staying involved, for making what is good, better.”
Citizen Joy Founder and exhibition juror Jeff Raz notes how art can turn politics into a living, breathing, embodied force. In selecting works for the show, he was looking for two things — pieces that thrilled him, that gave him joy, and art that had a strong point of view about democracy. The selected works provide visitors with an exciting variety of sizes, shapes, colors, textures and ideas Raz also selected a wide range of media and technique, from video to sculpture and from painting to photography to textile art and mixed media. Some of the works are representational, others are fantastical, some are abstract, others narrative.
The Guiding Light of Hope, oil on canvas
Christine Ong-Dijckes
The Guiding Light of Hope, oil on canvas
Christine Ong-Dijckes’ painting The Guiding Light of Hope includes images of the Statue of Liberty and the American Flag. In her statement, “I made a life-altering choice by leaving my home behind and becoming an ‘American’. My choice allowed me to reap the benefits that the American Flag represents and I personally experienced Lady Liberty’s welcome.”
Many pieces focus on one or more of the core Citizen Joy themes – Gratitude, Agency and Harmony.
Esther Kutnick (Still Happy and Leaning In) thanks Social Security and Medicare for supporting people so they can contribute to society in meaningful ways regardless of age or circumstance. And Nancy Bardach’s tapestry Acrobatics celebrates the California Department of Public Health for safely reopening schools after the pandemic.
Celebrating public libraries are two works: Jean Renli Jurgenson’s Perspective, and Linette Morales’ Public Libraries, Public Joy! which use decommissioned library books to celebrate libraries as safe havens that offer the possibility to dream.
The public is invited to a Juror and Artists Gallery Walk and Conversation on Saturday, Jan 25, beginning at 2pm.
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Special Event |
Hearts for Hope
January 2025 Pacificans Care Highlights
Happy New Year from Pacificans Care!
As we begin 2025 the Pacificans Care board of directors sends its sincerest thanks and gratitude to all Pacifica donors and supporters who contributed their personal support, volunteer efforts, and financial contributions to ensure that Pacifica’s core social service agencies received the funds they needed to provide services to Pacificans in need during 2024. This generous support allowed Pacificans Care to provide annual grants totaling $100,000 to our core agencies:
- $35,000 to the Pacifica Resource Center to provide emergency housing services and groceries, emergency financial aid, and financial education while helping to prevent homelessness and build long-term economic stability.
- $25,000 to Pacifica Senior Services nutritious lunch programs (Congregate and Meals on Wheels), transportation, information, and referral services, more than forty weekly classes and clubs, and daily activities for over seven hundred Pacifica seniors.$15,000 to the Pacifica Youth Services Bureau for in-school and clinic-based counseling services for youth and families in crisis.
- $25,000 to Pacifica Child Care Service to provide services to children aged 2.9 through 14 years at six preschool and elementary school sites with a focus on summer enrichment and learning experiences and swimming lessons.
In addition, Pacificans Care, through its Holiday Gratitude Program, provided $4,000 for holiday gift cards for agency families at the Pacifica Resource Center and Pacifica Child Care Services and $2,000 to Pacifica Senior Services to assist in the replacement of a much-needed dishwasher for its food service program.
Pacificans Care funded three community grants to support community projects including:
- Sanchez Art Center (in partnership with the leadership of and members of the Pacifica Collaborative) for the Art for a More Peaceful and Just Community and co-sponsor the successful February community Sing-Along.
- Pacifica Gardens to support the “Seed to Table – Feeding Families in Pacifica” project by purchase vegetable and fruit, and plant starts which will grow into healthy food and then donated to the Pacifica Resource Center’s food pantry.
- Hope Services to reverse the trend through a training program and distribution of Narcan to provide resources for those who maybe struggling with addiction or who have family members struggling with addiction.
Pacificans Care distributed $5,000 each from the Rockaway Ricky Memorial Fund to the Pacifica Resource Center and Pacifica Senior Services to benefit the needs of the dogs of Pacifica’s unhoused and senior populations. Funds generated through donations assist with the overwhelming need for food, supplies, and vet care.
Thank you, Pacifica, for your generous support of our community.
Still looking for a 2025 calendar? Consider a 2025 Rockaway Ricky Calendar!
RockawayRicky.org. OR Christine D. Stahl
Suggested Donation of $20. 650-868-0461
| Help Pacificans Care Make a Difference. . . Pacificans Care is the only Pacifica nonprofit organization solely dedicated to supporting social services in Pacifica from children and youth to families and seniors. Pacificans Care is an all-volunteer organization administered by an active Board of Directors comprised of community members dedicated to making a difference in our community. Your contributions to Pacificans Care help to build a healthy, self-sufficient, and improved quality of life for those in need in Pacifica. Thank You for your continuing generosity. |
| Christine Stahl, President – Piper Hanson, Corresponding Secretary – Janine Galligani-Ray, Recording Secretary – Bruce Banco, Treasurer – Robby Bancroft – Jennifer Barnette – Alice Bull -Janes Crowe – Karen Ervin– Ginny Jaquith – Xenia Giolli – Bill Meyerhoff – Bill Michaelis – Jeanne Salisbury – Evelyn Taverna – Jerry Ward – Barbara Wolf Pacificans Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Federal tax ID 77-0004308 |
