Edition 5 September 2024

Calendar

WED 9/25 2-3 PM	Banned Book Readings, Skyline Library. See post.
TH 9/26 5-7 PM	Immigrant Resource Night, JUHSD office. RSVP. See post.
SAT & SUN 9/28 & 29 10A-6P	FOGFEST
MON 10/7 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
WED 10/9 5-7 PM	People Who Care Awards, Pacificans Care, Coastside Museum on Francisco. See post.
MON 10/14 7 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
TU 10/15 4 PM	Sister District Fireside Chat with David Daley, RSVP, virtual. See post
MON 10/21 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
MON 10/28 7 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
TU 11/5	Election Day

See posted calendars for:

• Sanchez Art Gallery
• Pacific Beach Coalition
• Pacifica Sharp Park Library Events
• Pacifica Sanchez Library Events

Photos have been contributed by Leo Leon

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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QUARRY VOTE UNANIMOUS!

City Denied Quarry Appeal

By Pacifica Voice Editor

In a unanimous 5-0 vote, Pacifica’s City Council denied the appeal for a quarry reclamation plan as proposed by the owner, Paul Heule. Council supported a previous unanimous vote of the Planning Commission, and passed the motion to deny the appeal and deny the project. City staff will prepare findings for denial and bring those back on the consent calendar at a later meeting.

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FOR CONSIDERATION

Pacifica Peace People Gaza Fundraiser

Please scan or Click
the QR code to donate

PPP Will match up to $500 in donations raised per group

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September 21 – International Day of Peace!

By Delia McGrath

Most Pacifica Voice readers are familiar with Pacifica Peace People’s annual celebration of International Day of Peace on September 21. Beginning in 2009, we had paid for full-page ads in the Pacifica Tribune, each with a wonderful peace message. Usually 400-500 people signed onto the ad for peace. The Tribune no longer issues a print copy of the newspaper, but we found multiple different ways to acknowledge this year’s 2024 International Day of Peace: 

• fundraising for Gaza — you can still participate by donating to MECA mecaforpeace.org/ And/Or PCRF pcrf.net/ 
• a very successful sign-waving event on Saturday on Hwy 1 at Crespi. See below.
• Actions to contact our elected officials to end the war in Gaza and prevent a wider regional conflagration… seemingly looming closer each day. 

The US Congress and the Biden administration must end the flow of weapons to Israel while the unconscionable and indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians continues. There is no safe place in Gaza. The setbacks to getting desperately needed humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza is equally reprehensible. As of this writing, 41,431 Palestinians have been killed, per official counts. Some credible sources have predicted that the actual numbers are exponentially higher — as many as 100,000+! Every human life is precious! Haven’t we all learned this from our earliest years? 
If you are of kindred spirit to our insistence on the return of the hostages, the ceasefire, the unimpeded provision of food and aid to the people of Gaza, please contact your representative and senators — as frequently as possible — and request that they end military aid to Israel because of the wrongful use of such weapons by the IDF in Gaza: 

Senator AlexPadilla (415) 981-9369 or (202) 224-3553; 

Senator Laphonza Butler Share Your Opinion – Senator Laphonza Butler

Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (202) 225-8104

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Fifty Years of Serving Pacifica
Celebrating the Pacifica Resource Center

By Pacifica Voice Editor

Since 1974, the Pacifica Resource Center, fondly called the PRC, has worked with local businesses, organizations, and individuals throughout Pacifica to provide food, housing support, and other critical services to our neighbors in need. PRC is the only core agency in San Mateo County that provides these services to Pacificans struggling to make ends meet. 

PRC’s mission is to support the resilience and well-being of families and individuals in Pacifica and along the coast. This is consistent with the vision that every person in our community lives with dignity and has the opportunity to thrive.

For every $1 from the City, PRC leverages $31 in support for our community. Since 2004, PRC has received $83,000 a year from the city, and has generated over $15 million in goods and services not otherwise available in Pacifica.

LAST YEAR, PRC SERVED 1 IN 8 PACIFICA FAMILIES WITH FOOD, HOUSING SUPPORT & OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES!

• Provided groceries to benefit nearly 90,000** Pacificans
• Prevented homelessness & sheltered 211 Pacificans
• Prepared taxes for 226 households, generating nearly $361,000 in refunds & saving taxpayers over $50,000 in tax preparation fees
• Prepared 135 Pacifica youth for school with grade-specific supplies
• Delivered holiday joy to 191 children & Thanksgiving assistance to 516 Pacificans
• Provided 368 showers to unhoused Pacificans, helping them prepare for work, job interviews & housing search

This July, PRC served 518 families, a 37% increase as compared to July 2023, and the Resource Center moved their pantry to 2316 Palmetto Ave! When Second Harvest lost a warehouse, the PRC lost some food donations. The PRC is in need of:

• tuna
• peanut butter
• beans
• rice
• pasta
• canned diced tomatoes
• tomato sauce
• diapers

If you are able to donate these supplies, drop them off at the main office at 1809 Palmetto.

Fifty years of service is worthy of a celebration. This year’s Palm-A-Palooza will allow us all to look back with gratitude. Thank you, PRC, for being there when Pacificans were most in need.

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Suicide Prevention Month

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HOPE: Healing, Overdose Prevention and Education

By Susanne Hoff

HOPE: Healing, Overdose Prevention and Education held their First Annual Memorial Walk and Resource Fair on August 31^st at the Pacifica Moose Lodge. 

HOPE is a nonprofit organization, founded by Rondel and Clarence Davis, who lost their son, Tyler, on May 18, 2023, from an opioid overdose. 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. According to the California Department of Public Health, more than 7,000 Californians have died from opioid-related overdoses in 2022. With HOPE’s Memorial Walk and Resource Fair, HOPE is able to raise community awareness.

Lauryce Haney, Coordinator for Youth Health and Wellness for Santa Clara County Office of Education, provided attendees with a presentation on The Current Opioid Epidemic: Information Teens & Parents Need to Know. Lauryce’s presentation included: The Current State of the Opioid Epidemic, Information on Opioids, The Dangers of Fentanyl, Who is at Risk, How Parents and Guardians Can Help Keep Their Children Safe, Having Productive Conversations with Youth, and Strategies for Teens to Avoid Drug Use.

Micah’s Hugs, a nonprofit organization in the North Bay, presented training on Naloxone (commonly known as Narcan). Narcan is a medicine that can save people who are overdosing on an opioid. Opioids include prescription medications, heroin, and fentanyl. Sometimes other drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine, are mixed with fentanyl. Micah’s Hugs also distributed Narcan after their training demonstration. Like HOPE, Micah’s Hugs is dedicated to educating youth of the dangers of substance abuse and fentanyl poisoning, bringing awareness to the disease, breaking the stigma that follows it, in addition to helping those that are suffering with addiction.

HOPE’s event also featured many community resource tables: the Daly City Youth Health Center, Voices of Recovery, StarVista Counseling and Crisis Services, Pacifica Resource Center, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, NAMI-National Alliance of Mental Illness, Nar-Anon, Rota-Care, Al Anon, Healthright 360, San Mateo County Health, Life Moves-Homeless Outreach, The Healing Well, College of San Mateo-Harm Reduction Society, and Micah’s Hugs.

During the HOPE Memorial Walk, many walkers, while holding a memorial poster of their loved one lost by overdose, walked along Highway One from the Pacifica Moose Lodge to the Vallemar Memorial Garden where there was a moment of silence to remember those lost to an overdose. It was an impactful day attended by approximately 250 community members. They listened, cried, and learned about the effects of drug addiction and overdose – specifically Fentanyl. Fentanyl is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the United States. 

HOPE is thankful to the many volunteers and donors that helped make our first annual event both memorable and successful for all attendees. We could not do our work without our incredible donors and volunteers. 

We encourage you to take a moment to visit HOPE’s website hope4change650.org for upcoming events and fundraisers. We are continually updating our site with resources, information and events. Additionally, we encourage you to view Lauryce Haney’s presentation for invaluable information. 

HOPE is a newly founded organization and continues to work toward their goals. 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 addiction. 

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ELECTION UPDATES

Mayra Espinosa Pacifica City Council District 1

I am honored by the endorsement of the Pacifica Progressive Alliance whose vision for a “socially just and environmentally sustainable” community mirrors the dream I have for my neighbors in District 1. I have lived in Pacifica for over 30 years and want to represent the city’s most diverse residents—those in District 1.

For those who may not know me, I am Mayra Espinosa, and I am running for Pacifica City Council, representing District 1 Fairmont/Westview. I have been a proud homeowner of District 1 for 24 years. As a realty broker, I have helped my neighbors save their homes from foreclosure. As an assistant Instructor for the Business Division at Skyline Community College, I’ve had the pleasure to help those who are trying to better themselves. I am passionate about empowering others.

District 1 has the city’s largest concentration of people from different cultural backgrounds, income levels, and housing experiences. I am an immigrant from the Dominican Republic; and like many of my neighbors, I worked hard to reinvent myself here. I have seen too many neighbors leave because of rising housing costs. I have felt the inequitable use of City funding which overlooked upgrades to District 1 parks and community spaces. District 1 is underrepresented. I want more for District 1.

I firmly believe that investing in education and our workforce will pave the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for everyone. I’m excited to work to build a community where every resident feels valued and empowered.

My neighbors have shared several concerns:

Affordable Housing: Leveraging my real estate expertise, I will propose and implement creative solutions to our housing crisis, ensuring our families have a decent and safe place to live.

Economic Development: Supporting local businesses to thrive and contribute to the local economy while attracting new investment opportunities.

Community Engagement: My experience as a volunteer with local organizations has taught me the importance of the power of community collaboration.

Environmental Issues: Protecting our coastline while addressing climate change impacts.

Infrastructure Improvement: Advocating for improvements in roads, parks, and public spaces while being financially responsible.

My diverse background and deep community roots uniquely position me to bridge perspectives and find innovative solutions for a better future. It would be a privilege to serve as your representative on the City Council! I am seeking your vote, and I am grateful for the PPA endorsement.

Here is a list of my current endorsements:

• Bay Rising Action
• Labor Council
• Sierra Club
• San Mateo County DEMS
• San Mateo County LatinX Club
• Working Families Party

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Mark Hubbell Pacifica City Council District 4

Thank you, Pacifica Progressive Alliance, for your endorsement, made all there more meaningful because we have worked together on important Pacifica issues through the years.

For those who may not know me, my name is Mark Hubbell.

 I am a graduate of the University of Denver with degrees in Communications and Economics. Thirty-seven years ago, I purchased my home in Pacifica’s Back of The Valley and have lived there ever since. I love this place.

Prior to retirement, I was a business owner serving the highest levels of tech industry development. As I worked with successful companies such as AT&T, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Intel, and many other corporate projects throughout the U.S. and globally, I learned much about the necessary skills of collaboration and leadership.

Currently, I am engaged in preserving Pacifica’s wealth of environmental treasures for future generations: I monitor the health of shoreline tide-pool organism populations and the steelhead trout migrations in San Pedro Creek. As a longtime participant in the Pacific Beach Coalition, I regularly work on cleanups and have served on their Board of Directors. I was recently endorsed by the Sierra Club.

I am compelled to run for City Council. I see the importance of our local Council and its impact on our quality of life both now and in the future.

 District 4 neighbors have shared many concerns:

• fire safety and cost of insurance California 
• affordable housing for all
• preservation of open space 
• promotion of small businesses
• promotion of Pacifica
• supervision of short-term rental properties

I want us all to participate in solution building.

Here are some of my treasured endorsements:

In these challenging times, we need leaders like Mark Hubbell who bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. His commitment to our community, coupled with his deep understanding of business dynamics, makes him uniquely qualified to tackle the issues we face today. (Mark is) a leader (with) the foresight to propel our community forward. Deirdre Martin, Former Mayor, City of Pacifica

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Pacifica’s greatest asset is its people. Mark has an honorable track record of listening to Pacificans and supporting their values with pro-active “hands-on” hard work and advocacy. He has demonstrated a commitment to empowering the Public. Sue Digre, Four-term Pacifica City Council Member and Mayor.

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Every election brings an opportunity for change and the promise to make our City a better place for its residents and visitors. We need Mark’s voice and representation to preserve and improve the best of what Pacifica has to offer without sacrificing the essence of Pacifica. Leo Leon, Former 8-year Pacifica Planning Commissioner and Chairperson.

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I am pleased to endorse Mark for Pacifica City Council. I have known him since 2008. I have collaborated with him on a diverse set of activities related to important issues: public safety, environmental sustainability, and public education and openness.

Mark is informed. He promotes information-based problem solving and open communication to broaden the critical process through thoughtful deliberation.

Mark is genuinely interested in our city with in-depth understanding of diverse issues:

• make Pacifica a destination point based on our natural environment,
• suggest options for the reclamation-preservation of the quarry,
• successfully and officially name the Rockaway headlands Aramai Point with the federal naming authority,
• promote improving wildfire preparedness in Pacifica,

Mark is engaged. He chooses to participate in official City deliberations by conveying his opinions and constructive suggestions. He is supportive but critical when needed, direct and substantive, and always respectful. Mark is good for Pacifica! James Kremer, Ph.D. Biological Oceanography.

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I am honored to receive this endorsement from the Sierra Club — and organization with a long history of significant contributions toward protection of our environment and our society as a whole

This is an important election. I want to serve my District and represent Pacifica. I seek your vote. 

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YES on Prop. 6 – Click for Voter guide

by Pacifica Social Justice

Slavery and involuntary servitude (forced labor) are still legal in California as punishment for a crime. Prop 6 would ban forced prison labor, prohibit prisons from punishing incarcerated people who refuse a work assignment, and amend the State Constitution to read, “Slavery and Involuntary Servitude are Prohibited”. The amendment was passed by the legislature but has to be also passed by the voters. Many people in prison already work at jobs that keep the prisons running and many want to work but they are mostly paid less than $1.00/hour if they are paid at all. Prop. 6 would encourage the prison system to give incentives like increased wages and time served credits. VOTE YES

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NO on Prop. 36 – Click for Voter Guide

by Pacifica Social Justice

If passed, Prop 36 would reverse Prop 47 passed in 2014 by California voters which reduces felony charges for minor drug and theft offenses to misdemeanors. Prop 36 diverts millions of dollars from reentry, mental health, substance abuse, and victim reentry programs to build more prisons. Prop 36 will cost the state billions in new prison and jail spending – the biggest prison spending increase in California history. It will especially affect low income and unhoused people and underrepresented minorities already subject to institutional racism. Prop. 36 is funded primarily by corporations who are only concerned with their bottom line not our safety. VOTE NO

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YES on Prop. 5 – Click for Voter guide

If passed, this measure would be nothing less than transformative for affordable housing in California. Prop 5 gives local voters more power to address the affordable housing and public infrastructure needs in their communities by empowering them to approve bonds for affordable housing, critical public infrastructure, and emergency response with a 55% vote – if those bonds have strict accountability and oversight. VOTE YES … more info

YES on Prop. 33 – Click for Voter guide

by Peter Loeb

Prop 33 is about expanding rent control. It is endorsed by the California Democratic Party.

From CA Secretary of State official voter information guide:

• EXPANDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS’ AUTHORITY TO ENACT RENT CONTROL ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
• Repeals Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which currently prohibits local ordinances limiting initial residential rental rates for new tenants or rent increases for existing tenants in certain residential properties.

YES A YES vote on this measure means: State law would not limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.

NO A NO vote on this measure means: State law would continue to limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.

Prop 33 is only 23 words: “The state may not limit the right of any city, county, or city and county to maintain, enact or expand residential rent control.”

Prop 33 would remove state limits on local governments’ ability to implement rent control measures. On its face, it might not seem related to Proposition 34, which is billed as a reform on health care spending, but the measures are closely connected.

Prop 33 would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act, which was passed in 1995 and exempts single-family houses and condominiums, as well as housing built after the passage of the law, from rent control. The measure is largely pushed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a Los Angeles-based organization serving HIV and AIDS patients. 

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No on Prop. 34 – Click for Voter guide

by Peter Loeb

Prop 34 has been described by rent control proponents as a “revenge measure” to punish AIDS Healthcare Foundation for putting Prop 33 on the ballot. Prop 34 specifically targets the AIDS Healthcare Foundation; it would force “certain providers to spend 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.” AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the only entity that has been identified so far as being one of the “certain providers” subject to the measure. The measure would force the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to spend virtually all of its money on patient services, not political efforts.

Prop 34 main funders are the California Apartment Association, which is also airing No on 33 ads, and the California Association of Realtors. The SF Chronicle reports that the California Apartment Association has given at least $25 million to the No on 33 campaign and $30 million to the Yes on 34 campaign. The California Association of Realtors has given at least $19 million to the No on 33 campaign and $250,000 to the Yes on 34 campaign.

Please vote YES on Prop 33 to expand local governments’ ability to implement rent control, and vote NO on Prop 34 and the California Apartment Association.

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HOUSING

EREN Letter in Opposition to Sweeps

An Open Letter to California State Legislators and Local Elected Officials

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order to remove people living in encampments on state land and encouraged cities and counties to force people from encampments throughout the State. California must reverse course and lead through a just and compassionate response that will effectively reduce the number of Californians living on our streets, rather than forcing people to upend their lives and belongings, only to move to a different block. Our state should stand for equality for all, the human right to a home, and deep investments in affordable housing. California has invested significant federal and state resources to reduce the number of people sleeping outdoors, and much more is needed; policies of punishment and oppression of community members displaced from their homes by skyrocketing rent will undermine the goals of these investments and accomplish nothing but stigmatizing and traumatizing our unhoused neighbors. 

Laws forcing people to move from encampments waste taxpayer resources and do nothing to promote solutions to our State’s underlying housing affordability crisis. California’s households must earn $34.33 per hour to afford a studio apartment in California; meanwhile, the minimum wage is $16 per hour. This disparity between wages and rents is causing an increasing number of community members to be pushed from their homes. In a single year, over 150,000 Californians become unhoused for the first time, adding to the hundreds of thousands of Californians who were already waiting for assistance, reflecting the reality that housing in California is unaffordable for a huge segment of our state. These hundreds of thousands of Californians have no choice but the streets. Punishing Californians who are already undergoing trauma is cruel, violent and discriminatory. These strategies target Black Californians who, due to racist policies and practices in every area of life, are vastly overrepresented among unhoused people. And the practices, including forced segregation, banishment, and punishment for belonging to an oppressed group, are reminiscent of the racist policies of the Jim Crow South.

Encampment displacements are not new; many of our cities and counties have, for decades, harassed, surveilled, criminalized, taken belongings from, and jailed people for the innocent condition of being unhoused, again through no fault of their own. Because they are not new, we know they are ineffective, with reports showing people have nowhere to go but a few blocks away. The Governor’s Executive Order following the Grants Pass decision has expanded this response, encouraging more local jurisdictions to follow draconian policies that reflect a reactionary political response, rather than leadership. 

The Supreme Court decision allows a wide array of these harmful strategies. But California need not follow this conservative Supreme Court’s lead. We urge you to demonstrate true leadership in promoting California’s values–equality, human rights, care, and equity. California needs–

• Equality for all: State and local leaders must protect unhoused Californians from discrimination by 1) passing legislation making housing status a protected class, like race, gender, or disability status and 2) unequivocally opposing violent and discriminatory policies and proposals that target and harm Californians who are unhoused.
• Human right to housing: International human rights law recognizes access to permanent, adequate housing as a fundamental human right. This right should be recognized by California’s constitution, codifying the government’s obligation to ensure all Californians have access to a safe, dignified home. 
• Care: Our wealthy state can afford to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and affordable home. We need deep and ongoing investments at the scale needed to fund housing affordable to Californians who are unhoused and voluntary services people want and need that help people access and maintain housing stability.
• Equity: Passage and implementation of proposals advanced by the Reparations Task Force that seek to repair generations of racialized housing discrimination and disinvestment.

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Puente Housing Preservation

Puente Acquires First Property for Housing Preservation

Puente announces Housing Services subsidiary, launches first project to preserve farmworker housing on historic North Street property in Pescadero.

Pescadero, California: Local non-profit organization Puente de la Costa Sur today announced it has formed a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Puente Housing Solutions LLC (PHS), with a mission to advance and preserve affordable, safe, and dignified housing on San Mateo County’s South Coast. As its first preservation project, PHS has acquired the former Delano Nursery site, a 13.5-acre property on Pescadero’s North Street, which includes a multifamily residential building for farmworkers.

Originally constructed in 1925 as the Pescadero Union High School, the building was converted to farmworker housing in the 1980s. It currently houses several farmworker families and single individuals in apartments and dorm-style accommodations. Preservation plans include renovating the shared kitchen and bathrooms, replacing the roof, and installing a new treatment system to ensure adequate supplies of safe potable water.

As part of its commitment to safe, dignified housing, PHS will ensure all current tenants remain housed during repairs and major renovations. PHS has engaged Coastside Realty and Management to oversee day-to-day property operations, and has also launched a search for an architectural design firm to lead tenants through an inclusive design process for major renovations to the residential building.

“We recognize that the food we all eat starts its journey to our kitchen tables in the hands of our farmworkers, and that they and their families need affordable, safe and dignified housing on the San Mateo County South Coast,” notes Gabriel Garcia, Chair of the Advisory Board for Puente Housing Solutions. “Puente’s strategic plan compels us to be part of the housing solution, and the purchase of this property to preserve existing housing is our first step. We appreciate the prior owners of this property that offered Puente this opportunity under conditions that will allow us to continue all our other programs and services as we begin this journey.”

The new housing advocacy and preservation initiative is a result of Puente’s long- standing partnership with various local community stakeholders as well as direct input from present constituents through surveys, in-person focus groups, community organizing efforts and a series of dialogues with other community-based organizations about producing and preserving affordable housing in rural communities in San Mateo County.

“Puente is thrilled to be part of this movement, realizing a long-held dream of building household equity for the South Coast community,” shared Arlae Alston, Puente’s Interim Executive Director. “We are extremely grateful for the generous support of our funders: Grove Foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Yield Giving, Valhalla Foundation, US Bank and several individual donors, and for the technical assistance provided by the Rural California Assistance Corporation.”

We welcome any questions you may have; please reach out to Arlae Alston at
aalston@mypuente.org or 650-262-4351.

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HIP Housing

What is HIP Housing?

HIP Housing is a San Mateo County based non-profit organization that for over 50 years has been improving the housing and lives of people in our community. (650) 348-6660.

What does HIP stand for?

Human Investment Project. HIP Housing’s mission is to invest in human potential by improving the housing and lives of people in our community. HIP Housing enables people with special needs, either from income or circumstance, to live independent, self-sufficient lives in decent, safe, low-cost homes. To achieve our mission, we offer four programs listed below. There are no fees associated with enrolling in any of our programs. Visit HIP Housing’s website at www.hiphousing.org

Homesharing – The Home Sharing Program matches people with rooms or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for rent (Home Providers) with a Home Seeker who is looking for a reasonable room rental and/or exchanging extra household chores for reduced rent. All clients are interviewed and screened and provided a resource guide that includes questions potential housemates should review when they meet each other. HIP Housing also assists Home Sharers with completing a Living Together Agreement and provides ongoing follow up support. Call (650) 348-6660 or visit our inquiry Home Sharing form.

Housing Readiness – The Housing Readiness Program (HRP) empowers San Mateo County community members to navigate our complex local housing landscape. People who contact our agency will be supported by experienced staff, volunteers and interns to help them become more “housing ready”. This support could include providing housing resources, assistance with completing housing applications, and other activities that help prepare people to enter housing. For more information contact (650) 348-6660.

Self-Sufficiency – The Self Sufficiency Program (SSP) provides housing assistance and support services to low-income parents or transitional aged youth (TAY) who are in school to increase their earning power and become financially self-sufficient within 1-5 years. Participants receive subsidized rent while they complete an education or job training program and find work in their field.
Visit HIP Housing Self Sufficiency Program or call (650) 348-666 x 347

Property Development – HIP Housing owns and manages over 500 units of subsidized and below market rate affordable housing in San Mateo County, mostly studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units. Property development allows HIP Housing to preserve and expand the amount of available affordable rental housing in the county. Join our Interest list
HIP Housing Find Housing Properties.

Interested in volunteering or an internship?

HIP Housing offers a variety of volunteer opportunities including food distribution programs, tutoring, program outreach, translation, and other marketing activities. Submit a pre-application at HIP Housing How to Help or contact (650) 348-6660 x 303.

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SOCIAL JUSTICE

Immigrant Resource Night

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Sister District Fireside Chat with David Daley

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Sep 25 Banned Books Reading Skyline College

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CLIMATE

2024 Coastal Cleanup

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COMMUNITY

The Children’s Business Fair was a Success!

By Tarra Knotts

On Saturday September 14, approximately 28 young entrepreneurs gathered at the Pacifica Children’s Business Fair, an event organized by Lisa Bolle of Pacifica, CA. The fair was held at Pacifica’s newly-built City Hall. Local firefighters and police joined in support. Children sold everything: old toys from their bedroom, paintings, crochet, even guitar lessons. The fair’s intent was to encourage entrepreneurial exploration. With minimal parental involvement and on their own, children were asked to create both a business name and plan. 

Saphire Knotts, age 17, felt it was an opportunity to “get her name out there” and market “Saphire MakesArt”. NJ Bolle, 10, felt it was fun to pair up with his longtime friend, Weezy, and sell collectibles. Parents of Dylan Davis, 11, were happy he had an opportunity to run a small business and sell some treasures he’d collected over the years. 

This event was inclusive of all types of children. Some children had disabilities with IEPs at school, some attended home school programs, some were from small private schools (like Acton Academy). This Business Fair was a nice social opportunity, allowed children to sell products, and introduced ideas on how to run a business.

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September Pacificans Care Highlights

Pacificans Care to Present PEOPLE WHO CARE Awards:

Pacificans Care is excited to present the 2024 People Who Care Award recipients at a reception on Wednesday, October 9^th at the Pacifica Coastside Museum on Francisco Blvd from 5:00 to 7:00pm. 

Pacifica Beach Coalition President Lynn Adams, Community volunteers Stan and Kathy Gustavson, and the team at long-time Pacifica business Seaview Tire and Brake Center will be honored for their significant contributions to Pacifica.

Members of the community are invited to attend this special community event.

Pacificans Care Presents 2024 Annual Grants: 

Thanks to all our generous donors and Pacificans Care Partners, the Pacificans Care Board recently presented the 2024 annual grants to our core agencies. Here are the details:

Pacifica Senior Services: $25,000 to expand the range of social and physical groups, focusing on promoting outdoor activities and creating an inclusive senior community for the more than seven hundred Pacifica Seniors. This year Senior Services will implement intergenerational programs and initiatives that raise awareness and provide education on aging issues. 

Pacifica Youth Service Bureau: $15,000 to help build health and well-being in our children, strong families, and thriving communities. The Pacificans Care grant supports affordable counseling services for struggling students and their families at the Pacifica clinic. This year YSB will partner with the Pacifica School District to provide services at the middle schools in the district.

Pacifica Child Care Services: $20,000 to support summer scholarships and enhancements, including field trips, swim lessons and recreational swim opportunities for over 350 preschool and school-age children. These services provide unique opportunities for children to connect with others, develop a love for learning, and sharpen their observation and perception skills by engaging all their senses.

Pacifica Resource Center: $35,000 to support the resilience and well‐being of families and individuals in Pacifica so that every person in the community can live with dignity and thrive. PRC will continue to provide economic security services to 1 in 7 Pacifica families, including emergency groceries and financial assistance for past-due rent, mortgage, deposit, and utilities to prevent homelessness and increase family and individual security. PRC celebrates 50 years of service to the Pacifica community this year.

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.

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 –
Bill Meyerhoff – Bill Michaelis – Jeanne Salisbury – Evelyn Taverna – Jerry Ward – Barbara Wolf

All proceeds from the event will support Pacifica’s core social service agencies including Pacifica Senior Services, Pacifica Resource Center, Pacifica Child Care Services, and Pacifica Youth Service Bureau.

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

Pacificans Care, EIN 77-0004308, an exempt organization permitted by Section 501(c.)(3.) of the Internal Revenue Code

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Pacifica Library Events

Lowriding with Author Ricardo Cortez 
Monday, September 30 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park – REGISTER HERE
Saturday, October 5 at 2pm at Sanchez – REGISTER HERE
Learn about the Chicano tradition of lowriding with Ricardo Cortez, author of The ABCs of Lowriding. Ricardo will discuss his book and explore lowriding culture from the 1940’s until today through a hands-on collage-making activity.
Registration is required only for those who would like to participate in the art workshop and is reserved for youth under 18. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend but do not need to register. 

Block Printing and Artivism/Grabado en Bloque y Artivismo
Tuesday, October 1 at 10:30am at Sharp Park
Drawing from the traditions of Posada, the Taller de Gráfica Popular, and the Chicanx poster movement, we will first look at the historical use of printmaking as a political act. The workshop will cover the techniques of linoleum block printing, providing carving tools, linoleum blocks, ink, paper, and cleaning supplies for you to design your own creation. The class is open to both English and Spanish speakers, with individual instruction in the student’s preferred language. Beginners as well as those with experience are welcome. We will print on rice paper but participants can also bring a bag or t-shirt to print on, if they prefer.
REGISTER HERE Adults (19+ years old)

Maker Extravaganza
Tuesday, October 1 & Wednesday, October 2 at Sanchez
Come see our Makermobile and interact with a variety of maker activities including laser cutting, 3D printing, sewing machines, and more! Adults (19+ years old) 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. (19+ years old)

Coastside Pride Teen Support Group
Wednesday, October 2 at 2:30pm at Sanchez
Wednesday, October 16 at 2:30pm at Sanchez
Wednesday, October 30 at 2:30pm at Sanchez 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!

Sound Healing & Restorative Yoga
Thursday, October 3 at 5:30pm at Sharp Park The Restorative Yoga and Sound Healing event is designed to provide space for you to slow down, relax, rest, and replenish yourself. No prior yoga experience is necessary. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket and bolster.
REGISTER HERE Adults (19+ years old)

Edgardo & Trio La Tido Presents Nuestra Musica
Thursday, October 3 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Join San Mateo County Libraries as we welcome Trio La Tido (Spanish for heartbeat) for a Latin musical odyssey. Trio La Tido’s musical journey travels through Cuba; Montevideo, Uruguay; Lima, Peru; and Vera Cruz, Mexico. Traditional tunes from those countries will be played and sung as the trio plays piano, bass guitar, and a variety of Latin percussion instruments like congas, bongó, cajón, pandeiro, guiro, maracas, claves, and more. This all-Latin American repertoire will be presented with crystal clear vocal harmonies sung in Spanish (with bilingual introductions).
All Ages (Appeals to all ages)

AI Family Workshop
Saturday, October 12 at 11am at Sharp Park
Dive into the exciting world of AI with this hands-on workshop for families. You’ll train a computer to recognize sounds and poses, have fun building an AI model that can tell a photo of a cat from a dog, and play a doodle game created with machine learning.TinkerTech believes in the power of tinkering, creating, and learning in a supportive and collaborative environment. Our experienced instructors have been inspiring the next generation of tech innovators since 2014. REGISTER HERE Children (6-11 years old) Teens (12-18 years old)

Computer Security Basics
Tuesday, April 23 at 1:30pm at Sharp Park
In this introductory class on Computer Security Basics, you’ll embark on a journey to safeguard your digital world. We’ll start by demystifying fundamental security concepts, ensuring you grasp key terms like malware, viruses, and trojan horses. By the end of this class, you’ll have a solid foundation in Computer Security Basics, empowering you to navigate the digital realm with confidence and protect your digital life effectively. Don’t miss this essential step towards online security! You may bring your device to the class.
REGISTER HERE Adults (19+ years old)

STS CPR, AED & First-aid Class
Saturday, October 19 at 12:30pm
This fun and informative course led by Bay Area CPR is a great choice for learning lifesaving skills. Students will learn CPR for all age groups, chokesaving, how to use an AED, bleeding control, EpiPen, glove removal, seizures, diabetic emergencies, bites and stings, burns, and how to deal with other life-threatening emergencies. Attendees will receive STS certification cards valid for 2 years after completing the class.
REGISTER HERE Adults (19+ years old) Teens (12-18 years old)

Monster Mash
Tuesday, October 22 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Let’s draw vampires, ghosts, witches, and more beyond the grave for this Monster Mash workshop! Spooky creatures with cute and creepy vibes are the focus along with basic drawing techniques. This class is best suited for children 8+
REGISTER HERE

Open Gaming – Game on!
Friday, September 27 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Friday, October 11 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Friday, October 18 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Friday, October 25 at 3:30pm at Sharp Park
Don’t miss out on the chance to level up your gaming experience! Explore new adventures, make new friends, and challenge your skills in a welcoming environment. We have a variety of board games and video games available for play. Participation is open to kids of all ages!

Magic the Gathering
Wednesday, October 9 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
Wednesday, October 23 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
Learn how to play the fantasy card game Magic the Gathering! This program is geared towards middle school and high school students. 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!

Dungeons & Dragons
Wednesday, October 2 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
Saturday, October 5 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
Wednesday, October 16 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
Saturday, October 26 at 2:30pm at Sharp Park
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.
REGISTER HERE

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