December 2024 Edition

Edition 6 December 2024

In This Edition
  1. FOR CONSIDERATION
  2. HOUSING
  3. CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
  4. SOCIAL JUSTICE
  5. UPDATES FROM THE COAST
  6. PACIFICA COMMUNITY UPDATES

Calendar

MON 12/9 6 PMCity Council reorganization, Council Chambers
TH 12/12 TBACalifornia Coastal Commission on Pacifica’s Temporary Safe Parking (unless postponed). See post.
SAT & SUN 12/14 – 15Winter Art Faire, 11AM – 5 PM Sanchez Art Gallery. See post.
SAT 12/14 starting 12:30 PMClimate Action Focus Group. Preregister. See post.
MON 12/16 6:30 PMCoastside United for Action, Little Brown Church. See post.
MON 12/16 7 PMPlanning Commission, Council Chambers
MON 12/23 7 PMCity Council, Council Chambers
MONDAYS 1/27-3/10 5:30-6:30Citizenship Class, Sharp Park Library. 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.

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

FOR CONSIDERATION

Only Palestine Can Save America From Fascism

Reprinted from Substack “For the Love Of” and “AutoStraddle” with permission from the author Elena Dudum

In 2018, the founder and publisher of the Arkansas Times, Alan Leveritt, received an ultimatum in his inbox from one of his paper’s longtime advertisers. It stated that, in order for his paper to continue receiving ad dollars from them, he would have to certify in writing that his company would not engage in any boycott of Israel now or in the future.

This baffled Leveritt. Soon after receiving this note, he sued the state of Arkansas, arguing that requiring him to certify he wasn’t boycotting Israel violated his First Amendment rights. Initially, in 2021, a three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Leveritt, finding that a boycott of Israel was constitutionally protected speech. However, in 2022, the full Eighth Circuit reversed this decision, ruling that Arkansas’s anti-BDS law did not violate the First Amendment because it regulated economic activity rather than speech. Despite the ACLU’s efforts, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case in February 2023, leaving the Eighth Circuit’s ruling in place.

As of 2022 in the United States—a country where a single boycott against British imperial taxes ignited the American Revolution, later celebrated as a principled act of protest—thirty-five states have enacted laws that penalize or restrict state contracts with those who boycott Israel, similar to the law in Arkansas.

I wrote the above sentence in 2022, after learning of Leveritt’s failed attempt to sue Arkansas. At the time, I was desperate to prove a point to a class full of apathetic liberal arts students. I needed to prove that fascism was not just on the rise, and it wasn’t just an orange blob of a presidential candidate we needed to be worried about.

Fascism was here, ripe and ready, growing steadily but profoundly in our own backyard.

Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) is a nonviolent, Palestinian-led movement created in 2005 that calls for countries, companies, universities, and all other institutions to oppose Israeli occupation through boycott, divestment, and sanctions. In so doing, BDS hopes to hold the Israeli government accountable for its human rights violations. I need to be repetitive for a moment and highlight a fact I’ve already stated, because I don’t want your eyes to gloss over a significant detail: The BDS movement was created in 2005, almost 20 years ago.

For well over 13 months, my social media feed has been drowning me with photos of Israel’s genocidal campaign against the people in Gaza, broader Palestine, and now Lebanon. I hesitate to use the word drowning, because I am a Palestinian alive and safe in the comfort of my apartment in America, holding an American passport. But the consistency for which the live-streamed, horrific genocide has flowed from my distant homeland into every single person’s pocket, if they wish to see it, feels like a kind of drowning, suffocating in its clarity.

After a year of watching prestigious and elite private or public American organizations fire their employees who sign petitions honoring Palestinian human rights or universities authorizing police force to storm college campuses and dismantle pro-Palestinian encampments, it feels ridiculous to have to bring up this same point — that fascism is here, that our rights as American citizens to speak freely, to protest freely, to boycott freely (which is considered a constitutionally protected form of free speech and expression under the First Amendment) is under threat and has been under threat.

But bring it up I must.

Systems of control, censorship, and dehumanization employed against Palestinians echo disturbingly within American policies and university campuses, where students advocating for Palestine are censored in direct contradiction to democratic principles like free speech and the right to dissent.

I want to be very clear: I am not and have never been in support of a Donald Trump presidency, a reality I am now forced to process and mourn once again. But I also don’t believe he and his followers are the only ones to blame for the growing fascist movement in our country. We didn’t wake up on Wednesday and suddenly find ourselves barreling toward fascism. Regardless of which party holds office, our political leaders have been violating and will continue to violate their sworn oaths by failing to uphold the constitutionally protected right to free speech. And as much as we’d love to believe this rise in fascism has to do with one party or particularly racist, sexist, or bad-apple candidates, the defining factor of free speech for both Democrats and Republicans has been agreed upon in one particular issue. The Palestine Exception refers to the unique and deliberate silencing of Palestinian advocacy, where the right to support Palestinian rights is restricted in a way unmatched by any other international issue.

In 2015, Tennessee was one of the first states to formally condemn the BDS movement, legalizing their condemnation by passing SJR-170. Like other states that have since followed, Tennessee’s law requires that anyone who enters into a contract with a state agency must certify that they are not involved in any anti-Israel boycott. Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee signed into law that all state contracts must include “a written certification that the company is not currently engaged in, and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel.” Within this law, ‘Israel’ includes not only the State of Israel but also the Israeli-controlled territories, Gaza, and their settlements in the West Bank.

In June 2016, New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order that required state agencies to divest from organizations and companies that participate in any form of boycotts of Israel. During a speech at the Harvard Club in Manhattan, Cuomo described the BDS movement as an ‘economic attack’ on Israel and that “if you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you.”

In 2021, after the ice cream company Ben and Jerry’s decided to stop selling products in the occupied West Bank territories, the state of New York divested from Ben and Jerry’s parent company, Unilever. Shortly after, New Jersey followed New York’s lead and divested $182 million dollars worth of Unilever PLC stocks and bonds.

But perhaps these examples don’t feel serious enough, don’t demonstrate the extent to which our government has been silencing any condemnation of Israel long before chanting free, free Palestine became acceptable parlance. These laws haven’t just impacted large corporations. In Kansas, the state refused to allow one of their employed teachers to participate in their teacher-training program because she wouldn’t sign an anti-Israel boycott form. Arizona refused to pay a lawyer for his work on behalf of incarcerated people because he declined to sign a form certifying that he would not participate in a boycott of Israel or Israeli settlements. In Texas, an independent speech pathologist lost her contract with a local school district because she also refused to sign such an agreement. Artists asked to give lectures at the University of Houston have also been required to sign such forms — or lose their contracts. In fact, the University of Houston has gone as far as to require all of their contractors and employees to sign their Anti-BDS waiver.

Even Hurricane Harvey victims in Texas were required to sign away their right to boycott Israel before receiving their disaster aid. What did their disaster aid have to do with Israel? It’s not clear, but it proves just how broad these laws extend, often for irrelevant reasons. Although these individuals were not specifically refusing to sign such agreements because they were outspoken for Palestine, necessarily, it’s essential to note what these laws surreptitiously do in the reverse: undermine and endanger anyone who not only might speak out against an ethnostate, such as Israel, but any future aligning and voicing support for Palestinian human rights under occupation. This is very calculated. Tell someone that it’s illegal to protest Israel enough times, and perhaps we will stop asking why and follow orders. These anti-BDS laws are uniquely tailored to Israel and don’t extend to other U.S. allies, such as those in NATO.

This kind of monitoring of behavior and speech is not new in America’s history. Programs like COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program), operated by the FBI, were used to monitor and undermine anti-war groups, civil rights organizations, and left-leaning activists. COINTELPRO was officially terminated in 1971 after its existence was publicly exposed, leading to widespread condemnation and legal reforms. However, its legacy had a lasting impact on activism in the U.S., creating an environment of distrust between activist groups and law enforcement. This systematic targeting of activists for their political beliefs is a hallmark of authoritarian, if not fascist, tactics.

Just as COINTELPRO sought to undermine movements for civil rights by labeling them as threats, anti-BDS laws attempt to paint solidarity with Palestine as a form of dangerous dissent that must be controlled. While COINTELPRO targeted the Black liberation, civil rights, and anti-war movements, they had a singular aim: silence dissent and restrict political activism. Those aims are the same for anti-BDS laws: limit specific forms of political expression and advocacy that challenge established policies or state-aligned interests.

The Palestine Exception is a reinvention, a repackaging of COINTELPRO and it’s happening on the state level under the guise of anti-BDS laws which have now insidiously informed informal American workplace protocols and college campuses. David Velasco, the editor-in-chief of Artforum was dismissed after publishing an open letter from artists calling for a ceasefire and “Palestinian liberation.” His firing led to resignations from other editors in protest. Steve Bell, a long-standing cartoonist for The Guardian had his contract terminated after the newspaper declined to publish one of his cartoons, which was interpreted as critical of Israel. But it’s not just single, high-profile individuals who are meeting their fate in terms of speaking out for Palestine’s liberation. Google terminated over 50 workers following protests against its provision of technology to the Israeli government amid the Gaza conflict.

Suppress dissent, reinforce ideological uniformity, or support a dominant national narrative — that’s what we are seeing over and over again with these chilling actions. And these actions of suppression whether covertly done or not, are, of course, not new to the history of authoritarian or nationalist regimes. The most obvious historical example is South Africa, which for decades suppressed and barred Black people, people of color, and Indian South Africans from holding positions of influence and voting. Those who protested, like Steve Biko, faced imprisonment, violence, and, in many cases, death. This institutionalized racism aimed to enforce racial hierarchies and prevent challenges to the state’s authority.

I don’t believe it is dramatic to make connections between the way in which our American government is silencing certain voices and how that specific silencing could lead to further authoritarian actions. If the two candidates who were just running for the seat of arguably the most powerful position in the world agree that America will and must continue to financially enable and support Israel with weapons and diplomatic cover in the United Nations, what makes you think these candidates aren’t similar in their beliefs about anything else?

America’s fight against fascism cannot succeed without confronting the Palestine Exception. Unless we face this head-on, our democratic values will continue to erode. This silencing is strategically bolstered by equating Zionism with Judaism, deflecting legitimate critique of an ideology. You cannot in good faith compare a 100-year-old Zionist land grab ideology with a 3,000-year-old religion.

Recognizing Palestine’s role in exposing these repressive mechanisms is essential to preserving democracy. It is the last barrier against a future where erasing facts and silencing history distort our understanding of truth. In actively erasing Palestine’s narrative, those seeking to rewrite history are also working to engineer a more authoritarian future.

If Israel is shielded from criticism, it sets a dangerous precedent that other governments may also claim immunity from critique, eroding the principles of accountability and transparency that are essential to democracy. It would mean that politicians who critique their own countries, a freedom in the United States that Jamaal Bowman and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have taken advantage of when they point toward racist policies like the filibuster, the electoral college, or gerrymandering as sources for continued systematic oppression, should perhaps be censored because of the very nature of their critique. It suggests that those studying Canada’s actions when building a pipeline that disrupts one of their Indigenous communities should also be silenced. It would mean that when Russia annexes more and more Ukrainian land, making refugees of their neighbors and bombing one village after the next, Russia’s actions are also irrefutable.

If the very nature of governing bodies today is not to be reconsidered and challenged, whether that be reflecting on their colonizing history or recent actions, then the possibility of countries righting their own wrongs could also vanish as no nation would be held accountable. Germany could stop paying their continued reparations to Holocaust survivors which, in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, now includes the 8,500 Ukrainian Holocaust survivors currently suffering through Russia’s attacks. Those who openly spoke out against Germany and Hitler before and during WWII may never have been heard, may have been censored, and thus could have created a reality where Germany, a nation whose history has been deeply analyzed and critiqued, never needed to condemn and remedy their actions.

Solidarity with Palestine isn’t just a gesture of justice far from home; it’s a stand for the democratic ideals we claim to hold dear.

Youth Voices for 2025: Reflections and Resolutions for the New Year

By Ava Litz

As we close out 2024, it is essential to reflect on the past, but more importantly set our intentions and hopes for the new year. Locally and nationally, many changes are expected to occur in the new year due to elections, increased advocacy, and more people taking stands for what they believe in. As a member of the youth community, it can feel challenging at times to make an impact, and to have our voice heard, but we have many hopes for what the new year will bring. 

Calvin Chan, a Terra Nova High School junior, recognizes that “climate change and environmental preservation are one of the biggest areas of concern for youth.” Chan elaborates that “I hope that youth needs and futures are thoughtfully and actively worked into our county and city’s planning efforts. Youth can bring a fresh perspective for sustainable development with the right support from the City of Pacifica and the County of San Mateo. Local governments should partner with youth organizations to implement climate and environmental action and adaptation so youth are empowered to take further action.”

Furthermore, Rafferty Perez, a senior at Terra Nova High School, shared more on the topic of environmental protection that, “as a youth board member for Congresswoman Eshoo, I have done a lot of research about water pollution legislation and hope that there will be the passing of more policies to protect the ocean in the coming year. I know that Linda Mar Beach experiences a lot of runoff pollution and has been shown to have one of the worst water qualities in San Mateo County. By passing more legislation protecting the ocean from pollution, the quality will improve, and future Pacificans will have cleaner beaches. I would like to recognize the many efforts being made, such as by the Pacific Beach Coalition, which is making significant efforts to mitigate the pollution that local beaches face. However, there can still be more accomplished at the government level.”

Lastly, for myself, Ava Litz, a junior at Terra Nova High School, I am proud of the inclusion of youth voices in City Council Planning. As a result of social media, there is an increased awareness of the world, which can lead to heightened anxiety about the state of the world. I have experienced this anxiety, and a way that I have been able to mitigate this feeling, is by taking action. I have accomplished this by participating in portions of the City of Pacifica’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan revision task force, which has taught me how positive change is feasible and has given me the space to share my voice. 

As we prepare to enter 2025, the voices of youth serve as powerful reminders of the impact we can make when we engage with our communities. Their reflections highlight the importance of collaboration, advocacy, and hope for a better future—whether fighting climate change, protecting our oceans, or fostering spaces where all voices are valued.

The challenges of 2024 have shown us the resilience and potential of our local and national communities, and young people’s determination to inspire change is a beacon for the year ahead. Let us all commit to building on our progress, amplifying youth voices, and working together to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant community in 2025. Here’s to a year filled with growth, action, and shared success!

Message from Mark Hubbell

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all the wonderful people who voted in support of my recent campaign to be the City Council-member representing Pacifica District 4. 

A big thanks goes out to my election team—Cynthia Kaufman, Suzanne Moore, Kimberly Finale, Peter Loeb, as well as the campaign’s top supporters—my neighbors, friends, and endorsers: Deirdre Martin, Sue Digre, Leo Leon, James Kremer, Sierra Club, Pacifica Progressive Alliance.

Even knowing the results would be very close—only 232 votes apart out of the 4242 votes final–I am proud to say that I never wavered from the principles which led me to run for this office in the beginning. Regardless of the results, I’ll continue to believe that the majority of citizens in Pacifica’s District 4 also agree with my stance on those issues.

Thank you to all! 

Mark

Post Election Rehab, Acting Locally

by Pete Shoemaker

Dear Colleagues,

Like you, I’m in post-election rehab, and part of my treatment is to focus even more on local issues, taking care of our own house to make it stronger. To that end I’ve made this 12-minute video which I want to share with you. It makes the case for the following conclusions:

  • The biggest threat to our quality of life and environment is Pacifica’s difficult financial condition.
  • We need to turn our energies toward creating projects that will increase the City’s revenue, and we need to do it ASAP.


Please take the time to look at the video and you’ll see my logic. We still need to say NO to bad projects, but also YES to good ones.

httpss://www.screencast.com/t/aYmcGsxtoU1w

HOUSING

Coastal Commission to vote on Pacifica’s Safe Parking Program: Staff recommends permit approval

By Suzanne Moore, Pacifica Voice Editor

Unless postponed, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on December 12 votes to permit 4 designated spaces in the coastal zone for Pacifica’s Temporary Safe Parking Program (TSPP). The CCC staff recommend approval with “special conditions”. CLICK HERE To read the report.

HISTORY

In 2019, an all-volunteer and City-designated team – Unhoused on the Coast Task Force – recommended several options for a Pacifica Safe Parking Program. Sitting Council members, in a split vote, declined to move options forward. The City was informed by outside attorneys and the Coastal Commission of potential repercussions. The City’s failure to act resulted in a lawsuit in federal court that has cost Pacifica an estimated $1 million in legal fees. The CCC Staff Report gives detailed history on how this matter came before the Commission.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

The tragedy of these City decisions is that Pacificans have been harmed. There are an estimated 180 Pacificans sheltering in cars, vans, and RVs – the highest per capita number of homeless in any San Mateo County community. 

Civil rights threatened. The lawsuit “alleged that the City’s non-LCP Oversized Vehicle Ordinance (OVO) (passed by the City Council on January 27, 2020 and thereafter implemented citywide) was unconstitutional on the grounds that the OVO violated the right to free movement, charged excessive fines and fees, unlawfully seized property by towing, violated substantive due process, and violated disability laws”.

Inadequate response. Pacifica’s homeless count is alarming and deserves City attention. All the past and current participants of the TSPP are Pacificans – the majority formerly housed in Pacifica and priced out of their homes – attempting to stabilize their housing. Parking restrictions associated with the OVO “eliminate Oversize Vehicle parking on 98% of City streets”… yet “the City has only approved 13 spaces”. To date, due to multiple barriers, the TSPP has only 9 working spaces; and the program expires in June of 2025. In spite of challenges to the program, the TSPP has successfully and permanently housed 9 families. 

Homeless impact. Sadly, many vehicularly unhoused have left Pacifica, and some have lost their belongings and become unsheltered. Current participants have faced threats, harassment, and vandalism – mostly at the Lundy Way location. 

CCC STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

A. “Special Conditions”

CCC Staff recommend approval for development of four oversized vehicle parking spaces with “special conditions”:

  1. The maximum allowed parking term shall be increased to 90 days,
  2. The development shall be authorized for a term of five years following Commission approval (i.e., through December 12, 2029),
  3. Community Outreach, to be developed in consultation with the Pacifica Resource Center, shall identify the ways in which information is to be disseminated to the general public and participants,
  4. Annual Monitoring with a report to the Executive Director for review and written approval with ‘success rate’ of users who ultimately transition into permanent housing. Such a report shall also make recommendations on potential modifications,
  5. Assumption of risk by permittee of any adverse effects to property or people caused by the development,
  6. Liability for Costs and Attorneys’ Fees. The Permittee shall reimburse the Coastal Commission in full for all Coastal Commission costs and attorneys’ fees that the Coastal Commission incurs.


Please refer to the full staff report for details. The report has references to the current Local Coastal Plan and California Coastal Act which justify their recommendations. 

B. The homeless as an environmental justice community

In addition, the Commission has previously found that unsheltered individuals are an environmental justice community “to which the Coastal Act’s environmental justice provisions and the Commission’s Environmental Justice Policy apply.” The policy states that “the coast belongs to everyone, and access cannot be denied or diminished on the basis of race, ethnicity, income level socio-economic status, or place of residence…”

“This is a serious issue, and it demands a full evaluation and accounting of coastal resource impacts and whether such burdens are being felt disproportionately by this environmental justice community. Absent evidence to the contrary, and the Commission is not aware of any, it appears that this is exactly what is happening in coastal Pacifica”.

ACTIONS

Pacifica can and must do better to help our neighbors. We know that the causes of homelessness are poverty and lack of affordable housing. It takes time to build new housing, but temporary programs with wrap around services, like our TSPP, help neighbors get housed and succeed in reducing homelessness until affordable housing becomes available.

(1) Please send a letter to the Coastal Commission in support of CCC Staff recommendations: due date is by 5 PM FRI 12/6.

TO: California Coastal Commission
(via NorthCentralCoast@coastal.ca.gov)
RE: Application No. A-2-PAC-22-0029 & No. A-2-PAC-22-0031 (Safe Oversized Vehicle Parking, Pacifica)
ITEM NO: Th9a & Th9b, TH 12/13/24

(2) Consider making comments on TH 12/12. Instructions to submit a speaker card is in the agenda (choose TH 12/12) Here is the link to the agenda: httpss://www.coastal.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/#/2024/12
Due date to submit speaker card is 5PM on WED 12/11.

(3) Support the Pacifica Resource Center: pacresourcecenter.org

Ask our City and new City Council to prioritize assistance to Pacificans who are currently/or at-risk-of becoming unhoused, take action to protect TSPP participants from further harassment and vandalism, and further assure the success of the TSPP. cityofpacifica.org

Homes for Those Who Harvest

A new report from Silicon Valley Community Foundation outlining solutions for affordable housing for farmworkers in the region was unveiled this month at a panel discussion in San Mateo County featuring local elected officials, advocates, community leaders and philanthropists discussing ways to meaningfully tackle the problem

Mountain View, Calif., Oct. 31, 2024 — Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) unveiled a new report this month, “Homes for Those Who Harvest: Housing San Mateo County’s Farmworkers,” proposing solutions to tackle the affordable housing crisis facing local farmworkers. The report details the housing challenges farmworkers in the San Mateo County coastside communities face and which actors can be involved in implementing those solutions—from local government to advocates to the philanthropic sector.

HIP Housing

From Our November 2024 Calendar Winner!

“My home means being safe, and it’s a nice place to live in. It also means I’m lucky because some people are homeless. It also means feeling safe is important.” – Zoey W., 3rd Grade | Belmont

Our Annual Appeal is Underway!

Seniors are the fastest growing homeless population in San Mateo County, with many facing homelessness for the very first time.

Help us to make sure seniors like Carol always have housing options. Donate today and be part of our local housing solution.

HIP Housing Honors Founder Lois Almen Everett

HIP Housing mourns the loss of one of its founders and the first executive director, Lois Almen Everett, who passed away peacefully on November 9, 2024, at the age of 93, surrounded by her loved ones.

We are proud to announce that HIP Housing will honor Lois by naming our newly acquired corporate headquarters, the “Lois Almen Everett Building”.

The building is located in downtown San Mateo, the city that Lois called home, and where she founded and nurtured Human Investment Project. Expected to open in late spring of 2025, the building will serve as a marker of her lasting impact.

Lois served as Executive Director until 1995. Under her leadership, the Home Sharing and Self Sufficiency for Families programs were launched and in 1989, HIP Housing built its first “Share Home”.

The Lois Almen Everett Building will stand as a tribute to her many accomplishments and her indelible legacy.

Adopt a Family 2024

Help support low-income parents who are in school to increase their earning power and become financially self-sufficient within 1-5 years.

Adopt A Family is a unique holiday program whereby long-time donors (and new ones!) provide essential needs for parents with children in the Self-Sufficiency Program or HIP Housing’s Properties. It’s a very personal program since each donor receives the names and ages of the family members along with their specific essential needs (clothing, shoes, bedding, household items) with sizes, colors and types of items. In addition, the parents and children choose one “wish” on their list that may include a toy, book, or other item that has been on their wish list for a while!

Adopt a Family Program benefits families who may not have the financial means to purchase gifts during the holidays. Between 60-70 families are adopted each year.

2025 Calendar Artwork!

The judges have spoken, and artwork for the 2025 Annual Calendar has been selected! Across San Mateo County, 13 schoolchildren had their artwork chosen. The winners came from six cities in San Mateo County and nine different schools or youth programs. Thank you to all of our entrants. A new record of over 500 entries was received.

GET INVOLVED!

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

Arbor Day 2024

by Paul Totah

Tree City Pacifica ended 2024 with an Arbor Day Celebration when more than 50 volunteers planted 20 trees at the Pacifica Community Center on Nov. 2 in a joint effort by Pacifica’s Public Works and Parks Beaches and Recreation Departments and Tree City Pacifica, a community group now in its sixth year adding trees to help increase canopy cover and to fight climate change.

The day began with speeches by Mayor Sue Vaterlaus and Director of Parks, Beaches and Recreation Scott Leslie. Mayor Vaterlaus also read the names of the winners of the student Tree Art Contest. Students were asked to draw their favorite tree in conjunction with tree planting events at their schools with 10 additional trees donated to the Pacifica School District by the city, giving students the opportunity to learn even more about the value trees play in fighting climate change and promoting biodiversity. The winners of the art contest were displayed at Sanchez Art Center in conjunction with Pacifica’s Arbor Day. 

As for 2025, Tree City Pacifica will continue its effort to see the city adopt a canopy goal of 25 percent in our urban reserve (the urban area of Pacifica excluding regional open space). Why? Because trees do so much good for us. They provide windbreaks, shade, and beauty. They capture carbon in the atmosphere, and they provide much needed habitat to our local fauna. Walking among trees eases our minds, inspires our community, and helps to clean the many streams and creeks you’ll find here in Pacifica. We’ll let you know about public meetings where your voice will make a difference, and we’ll continue planting more trees for our 2025 Arbor Day.

For more information on Tree City Pacifica, which helps the city earn Tree City USA status each year through Arbor Day events, go to facebook.com/treecitypacifica or send an email to treecitypacifica@gmail.com.

Pacific Beach Coalition

PacificBeachCoaltion.org

Pacifica is Losing Out on a Billion Dollars

by Rick Nahass, Pacifica Voice Editor

By 2022 Half Moon Bay and The Mid-Coast received over $40 Million in funding for transportation mobility and roadway projects with a projected $40 Million to be funded over the next 6 years.

San Francisco just completed a 6-year ‘underutilized’ 1.7-mile underground central subway project at a cost of $1.9 Billion Dollars.

What do these initiatives have in common? They were accomplished through comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) planning developed by the respective city governments. According to the Association of Commuter Transportation “TDM initiatives that encourage mode shift from single occupancy vehicles, support increased levels of walking and cycling, and support the development of complete streets, enhance overall quality of life; and more people on our streets and sidewalks will create safer neighborhoods.”

In the July 2022 Edition of the Pacifica Voice Pacifica was called out for NOT applying for a Measure W (sales tax) 2021 San Mateo County Transit Authority (SMCTA) grant to develop their own TDM program. Two years later in 2023 Pacifica again did not apply for a non-competitive grant to develop a TDM program, while for the same time period, Half Moon Bay and Mid-Coast have applied for and received $400,000 in TDM planning funds which allow them to continue to receive competitive grants by working with Caltrans and Transit Agencies to fund new large capital initiatives.

Pacifica passed a sales tax and an increased hotel tax under the guise of “… they can’t take that money away from the city.” Pacifica also receives a fairly predictable percentage of property tax from the county. It’s easy money, no effort is involved, the city gets those funds year after year.

HOWEVER

What happens to the Measure A and W sales tax money that Pacificans pay? Or the property tax money paid by Pacificans that go to regional and state government entities for distribution? Or Pacificans’ State and Federal Income tax money that get deployed to large funding buckets that become available based on the whims of the current legislators in power?

That money goes to cities like Half Moon Bay, who though constantly short staffed, find and make the effort to put comprehensive transportation plans together based on state policy guidelines and collaborating with the Caltrans and Bay Area Transit agencies. And big cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles that have the resources to bid competitively on tax money paid by Pacificans’ into the general coffers.

Pacifica leadership and citizens must ‘wake up’ and realize it’s takes effort to formalize and continuously plan for Transportation and Land Use initiatives. Over the course of 10 years, if Pacifica continues to make no effort we are giving away a Billion Dollars of tax money paid for by Pacifican’s to someone else.

Climate Action – Your Voice Matters

Pacifica Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Update

As the Climate Action and Adaptation Task Force, and the City of Pacifica work to create a sustainable and resilient future for Pacifica, it’s important to know how you’re feeling and what actions you’re already taking to help the environment.

Your input will help shape the future of our Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, making it stronger and more effective for everyone. Sign up for a focus group on December 14th to give your input on this important discussion. Space is limited.

Event Details (see the attached flyer for more information):

  • Date: Saturday, December 14
  • Time: Refreshments at 9:30 AM; focus group begins at 10:00 AM
  • RSVP: Space is limited so don’t hesitate — Help us spread the word and sign up today! See the flyer for more details


Want to know more about CAAP task force, or ways to get involved? Visit planpacifica.org/caap

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Clarification of Ancestral Homelands

At several events that I have recently attended, there seemed to be a consistent thread of confusion. The confusion arises from the presence of tribal groups laying claim to ancestral homelands that are not historically theirs. What follows is a little background history, which will shed light on whose ancestral homelands are whose in the San Francisco Bay area.​

The “Muwekma” tribe was originally named the Verona tribal band and were from the Pleasanton/Niles Canyon/Sonol area. The Verona tribal band had federal recognition until 1927; then lost it and have since renamed themselves “Muwekma.”For the past 40 years, the Muwekma tribe has been actively trying to regain federal recognition, and in 1992, the Muwekma, the Amah Mutsun and the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation signed an agreement amongst themselves, divvying up the entire “Ohlone” territory of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. More recently, many descendants have been actively documenting their ancestral tribal lineage and proving that there are living descendants from the Rammaytush tribe of the San Francisco peninsula, the Tamien tribe from the South Bay and, most recently, the Awaswas from the Santa Cruz area.

These ancestral homelands of the Rammaytush, the Tamien and the Awaswas are lands falsely laid claim to by the Muwekma and the Amah Mutsum to this day. I personally do not use the term “Ohlone,” as it is not a tribal name but merely an umbrella term covering many distinct tribes. It operates as a cultural eraser due to the popularity of the term by the dominant society. As a result, many people are unaware of whose unceded tribal ancestral homeland they currently inhabit.

The lack of tribal specificity creates confusion, which I am hopeful this article and the enclosed map will help shed the light of truth ​onto this matter.I also personally don’t feel bound by the agreement made by the Muwekma, the Amah Mutsun and Esselen tribes in ​1992, because no Rammaytush descendant agreed to it. It should be admitted that the agreement is inaccurate given current ​information that has come to light. It would be up to these tribes to rescind the 1992 agreement.​

‘Ek raakat Cata Gomes
Kaana-k Rammaytush, Salinan at Bay Miwok

Pacifica, Daly City, and Brisbane pass Measures Z and EE

By Tarra Knotts

On Nov 5th, a super majority of Pacifica, Daly City and Brisbane residents voted to support Measure Z for Jefferson Union High School District and Measure EE for Pacifica (elementary) School District. Residents are aware of the extreme need to bring more money into the districts so they can afford to pay their teachers and other support staff a higher salary.

It is critical to pay our educators a competitive wage to attract and retain employees.

 A starting wage for a new teacher in Pacifica is around ~$57,000 – VIEW HERE

A starting wage for a new teacher in San Jose Unified is ~$70,000 – VIEW HERE

High cost of living contributes to a high turnover which creates hardship and puts undue stress on the community of educators and the children. 

Why do schools struggle when property taxes are so high? Only a small portion of our property taxes goes straight to our schools; the remainder is augmented by the state general fund – our districts are considered “state funded” or “LCFF funded”. 

The state cap is around $11,000-17,000 per child regardless of a regional cost of living difference; so the state cap for San Mateo County is the same as Humboldt County. In fact, rural areas may get extra funds if they have more families living in poverty.

State monies just don’t compensate for cost of living.The parcel taxes allow the district to add a little extra money on top of the state’s base amount, and that can be earmarked for salaries, enrichment programs, extra academic support, and counseling.

 If you are interested in being part of positive change, join a School District Oversight Committee and encourage higher salaries to assure campus stability.

Coastside United Call To Action

Coastside United for Action/Coastside Indivisible will meet in-person Monday December 16 at the Little Brown Church (1850 Francisco Blvd. Pacifica) from 6:30-8:00 PM.

If you are looking for a community to fight against what is coming under Trump, please join us for inspiration, support and an exchange of ideas. Please RSVP HERE

There will be a local version in Pacifica on January 18 of the National People’s March. More information to follow. 

The Pacifica Age Friendly Community Coalition: December 2024 Update

By Roy Earnest

With the support of the City of Pacifica, San Mateo County and the Center for Age-Friendly Excellence, Pacifica became the third community in San Mateo County to receive the World Health Organization (WHO)/AARP Age Friendly Community designation in August 2020. In the process, the Pacifica Age Friendly Community (AFC) Coalition (PAFCC) was established to develop and oversee a Pacifica wide Age Friendly initiative. Current coalition members include: 

  • Cindy Abbott, Executive Director of Sanchez Art Center & PB&R Commissioner
  • Mary Bier, City Council Member
  • Sue Digre, Director, Family Support Services, PARCA
  • Roy Earnest, Gero-Social Worker
  • Scott Leslie, Pacifica PB&R Department Director
  • Anita Rees, Executive Director, Pacifica Resource Center
  • Amber Shong, Recreation Supervisor, Pacifica Senior Services


While the City of Pacifica is one of our most important collaborative partners, the PAFCC is not an official commission or task force of the City of Pacifica. The PAFCC is an independent, grass roots community group dedicated to hosting thoughtful discussions about issues, needs and opportunities for the growing number of Pacifica’s older residents. As we do this, we’ll look at ways we can enhance Pacifica’s livability through collaboration with local volunteers, the City, local community groups and other age friendly communities.

The Coalition plans to host “open house” style community meetings three times per year so we can provide an update for residents of all ages who are interested in the initiative, listen to their feedback and to learn from local, regional and national experts on a variety of aging related topics. In addition, we recently completed a three-year action plan that focuses on several specific projects that we believe will improve the livability of Pacifica in various ways. 

The Pacifica Age Friendly Community Coalition (PAFCC) is seeking volunteers and community partners to move the following projects forward. We encourage our neighbors, friends and colleagues of any age 18 and up to consider one or more of the following volunteer opportunities:

  1. Join the Pacifica Age Friendly Community Coalition (PAFCC). This group oversees the overall Pacifica Age Friendly Community Initiative as well as the development and implementation of six age friendly projects. We would welcome new coalition members who support our goal of enhancing the livability of Pacifica as it relates to older adult residents. Representatives of Pacifica non-profit and faith-based organizations, community groups, community advocates and students of all ages are encouraged to apply to join the coalition. If interested, please send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or call or text Roy Earnest, 650-438-6378 and he’ll be glad to set up a time to meet with you.
  1. Join the “Village Network Development Committee” to help establish a Pacifica Village, which would be a branch of the Village of the Coastside (VOTC)/Villages of San Mateo County (VofSMC). Over the last 10 years, VOTC/VofSMC) has created a successful virtual and in-person social network membership organization for residents of the Coastside (Montara to Pescadero) who are 55 years of age or older. As a result of Pacifica’s AFC Coalition reaching out to them, VOTC/VofSMC has agreed to expand their geographic coverage area to include Pacifica residents. As with most Village Networks, in addition to offering a wide range of social participation opportunities, they also have a volunteer program that provides various types of limited assistance to VOTC members, such as rides to medical appointments and community gatherings, minor home repair, yard work and referrals to professional and vetted service providers. The cost of membership ranges from $30/month to $50/month, depending on a member’s anticipated need for assistance beyond being plugged into an engaging network of local residents.


During the planning and development of Pacifica’s AFC Initiative, we heard from a number of Pacificans that they would like to have a Village Network here in Pacifica. We believe partnering with VOTC/VofSMC to get a village network started here in Pacifica is a great strategy. In order to get started, we are seeking a small group of Pacificans to come together to help with outreach to Pacifica residents about the many benefits of being a member of a supportive and inclusive village network. Our first meeting for our Village Network Development Committee will be in mid-January. For more information, please send an email toAgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or call or text Roy Earnest, 650-438-6378. For additional information about what the Villages of San Mateo County currently offers their members as well as to sign up as a member, go to www.villagesofsmc.org or call (650) 260-4569.

  1. Join the “Affordable Housing Search and Application Assistance Committee” to plan and host workshops and webinars on how to access the affordable housing application system and, if needed, where to go for help with the application process. In addition, we’re planning to offer presentations on how Accessible Dwelling Units can support Pacificans as they grow older, Shared Housing, Co-Housing and the pros and cons of moving to a new location. For more information, please send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or call or text Roy Earnest, 650-438-6378.
  1. Join the “Age Friendly Business/Organization Training and Recognition Committee” that will develop training opportunities for local businesses on how to enhance their age friendliness. In addition, we also want to formally recognize local businesses who are already age-friendly or show a commitment to enhance their business’ age friendliness. For more information, please send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or call or text Roy Earnest, 650-438-6378.
  1. Join the “Communication and Information Strategy Guide Committee” to consider new ways our community can provide information to older residents about community events, opportunities and support services. We will put our best ideas into a concise guide that community groups, the City and organizations can use to connect with a diverse cross-section of Pacifica’s older adult residents. For more information, please send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or call or text Roy Earnest, 650-438-6378.
  1. Join the “Beach Mat Trail Committee.” This committee, in collaboration with the City and other community stakeholders will explore the possibility of installing three beach mat trails at Linda Mar/Rockaway Beach between April and October each year. Beach Mat trails are used by many beach towns and beachside parks throughout the world to enhance the accessibility of beaches for people who have difficulty walking in soft sand as well as for beach goers in general who just want an easier way to walk out onto their local beach. We need a few volunteers to help discuss this possibility with the City and to assist with obtaining information about similar beach mat trails in other coastal communities. For more information, please send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or call or text Roy Earnest, 650-438-6378.


For more information on how you can volunteer for any of the above opportunities or if you just have questions about the Pacifica Age Friendly Community Initiative, you are welcome to contact Roy Earnest, Chairperson, PAFC Coalition via email: AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or via text or phone: 650-438-6378. We are also compiling an email contact list to keep people who are interested in the initiative informed.

UPDATES FROM THE COAST

Sequoia Expands Half Moon Bay Clinic to Offer Urgent Care Services

The pilot same-day clinic, located at 799 Main St Ste D. in Half Moon Bay will open November 13 and offer walk-in and virtual appointments Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Dignity Health Medical Group – Sequoia (DHMG – Sequoia) is excited to announce the expansion of its Half Moon Bay primary care clinic to include urgent care services and extended hours of operation. Starting November 13, this pilot program will run for six months and aims to provide essential pediatric and adult urgent care services to the community while gaining valuable insights into the health care needs of coastal residents.

With funding support from the County of San Mateo, the clinic will provide urgent care services to all community members, regardless of their health insurance plan or coverage. No patient will be turned away based on insurance coverage, including those who are uninsured, and residents do not need to be Dignity Health patients to receive care. 

“We are thrilled to offer these expanded services to our community,” said Marie President, MD, chief medical officer, Dignity Health Medical Group – Sequoia. “This pilot program will allow us to provide convenient and accessible in-person and virtual same-day services for common urgent medical issues, while also gathering data to better understand the health care needs of our coastal residents.”

Supervisor Ray Mueller, whose district includes the Coastside, said, “I am thankful that the County Board of Supervisors approved my request to fund this urgent care clinic pilot on the coast, especially in light of the recent closure of the only ER in the area. This marks a significant public health victory for our community. During this pilot, no patient will be denied care due to lack of insurance coverage.”

The pilot same-day clinic will offer walk-in appointments:

  • Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.


The clinic will treat a wide range of non-life-threatening medical issues, including:

  • Ear and eye infections
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Sprains and muscle strains
  • Cold, flu, and other respiratory illnesses
  • Allergies and asthma
  • Cuts and burns
  • Mild fever
  • Skin conditions such as rashes and insect bites


For emergencies, coastal residents should dial 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. This includes: 

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • New onset weakness (stroke symptoms)
  • Serious injuries


DHMG – Sequoia Primary Care Clinic in Half Moon Bay is located at 799 Main St Ste D. Entry to the parking lot is via Monte Vista Lane. The Pilot Urgent Care Clinic will open for patients Wednesday, Nov. 13. In-person and virtual appointments can be scheduled by calling (650) 539-6760.

About Dignity Health Medical Group – Sequoia

Dignity Health Medical Group – Sequoia, a service of Dignity Health Medical Foundation, is a multi-specialty clinic with four locations conveniently located in San Mateo County. Along with our local affiliated Dignity Health hospital (Sequoia Hospital), we offer an integrated care delivery system that provides high quality, compassionate care in family medicine, internal medicine, sports medicine and orthopedic surgery, and urgent care. Learn more about Dignity Health Sequoia

Sarah Tyre (Pronouns: she, her, hers)
External Communications Manager
Dignity Health Medical Foundation

Dignity HealthⓇ 
(916) 516-6807 (M)
sarah.tyre@dignityhealth.org

ALAS AYUDANO LATINOS A SOÑAR

Dear ALAS Familia,

As this year comes to a close, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for everything we have accomplished together. Your love, strength and unwavering support have been the foundation of our success. Together, we’ve built an anchor of hope– an organization that leads with love and courage, standing by our community through every challenge, every heartbreak, and every triumph. We know the year ahead will test us again, and in ways we can’t imagine. 

We are aiming to raise $500,000 by the end of the year. Here are some immediate priorities that need your support.

1. Community Safety & Legal Support
Funding is urgently needed for a full-time immigration lawyer, legal counsel, and a security guard to protect ALAS staff and families from ongoing threats of separation and mass deportation.

2. Mental Health & Wellbeing
ALAS provides culturally relevant mental health support to families facing distress amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Our team is piloting a drop in clinic for those in crisis.

3. Sustainability

To lead with courage in 2025, we must invest in our staff and core operations today! Completing the campaign to own the first Latino Cultural Arts Center on the Coast is crucial and will provide a lasting home for ALAS, securing community impact for generations to come. 

Your support—whether for mental health, legal services, or ALAS’s mission as a whole will change lives. Thank you for considering an end-of-year donation, DAF contribution, or stock gift: Donate here.

Every gift matters. Every act of love makes a difference.

With love and immense gratitude,

Dr. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, EdD, LCSW
Executive Director & Founder of ALAS
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Upcoming Events
Home
Donate
Volunteer
Contact Us

636 Purissima Street, Half Moon Bay, CA, USA
(650)560-8947
alas@alasdreams.com
ALAS on Facebook

Abundant Grace “Light Overcomes Darkness”

Abundant Grace transforms lives through our job-readiness programming: taking people experiencing homelessness to grow and harvest over 15,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce for free distribution to low-income families at our Full Circle Food Justice Program; and to clean up the environment on the beaches and trails of Half Moon Bay on the Coastside Clean Team. We are doing good, meaningful work together; we are making a difference in our community; we are transforming our very selves. Please be a part of this unique project. Make common cause with us. We can’t do it alone – we need your participation and support.

PACIFICA COMMUNITY UPDATES

Pacifica Resource Center

PRC’s Holiday Joy Program matches families with sponsors who want to help create a more joyful holiday season .

Do you need help this holiday season?

Please call (650) 738-7470 or email info@pacresourcecenter.org for more information and to enroll. Deadline is now so please contact us ASAP!

If you would like to become a sponsor or donate gift cards to support our PRC families during the holidays, call us 650-738-7470 or email mirella@pacresourcecenter.org.

PRC Office Hours
Mon 9:00a-12:30p and 1:30-5:00p
Tues 9:00a-12:30p and 1:30-5:00p
Wed 9:00a-12:30p and 12:30-7:00p
Thur 9:00a-12:30p and 1:30-5:00p
Fri 9:00a-1:00p

PRC Adjusted Office Hours
Sat 12/14 9:00a-1:00p
Wed, 12/18 9:00a-12:30p and 1:30-5:00p

PRC Office Closed
Tues, 12/24 – Christmas Eve Closed
Wed, 12/25 – Christmas Day Closed
Tues, 12/31 – New Years Eve Closed

Additional PRC Updates & Information

PRC is available to assist our community with essential services, including groceries, housing assistance, and other critical services during the holidays.

Reach out if you need help or would like to help during this time. 

For up to date information on our programs and services, including our blog, visit our website, join us on Facebook, or contact us at 650-738-7470 or info@pacresourcecenter.org.

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Warm regards,

PRC Board & Staff

Pacifica Resource Center | 650-738-7470 | 1809 Palmetto Avenue
pacresourcecenter.org | @prc94044 | #WeArePRC | #PRC50!

Free Library Citizenship Test Classes

Pacifica Childcare Spaces Available!

CLICK BELOW TO APPLY

Art Guild of Pacifica’s Winter Art Faire

The Most Artful Time of the Year!

Experience the festive atmosphere and enjoy the creativity of local artists and artisans at the Art Guild of Pacifica’s Winter Art Faire. The annual holiday art show and sale held at Sanchez Art Center will take place over two days, Saturday, Dec 14 and Sunday, Dec 15, with extended hours of 11 am –5 pm.

Winter Art Faire brings together original art and handmade goods that make unique gifts for the special people in your life (including YOU)! There will be local artisans selling jewelry, ceramics, stained glass art, sea glass, handmade soaps, jams and baked goods. Artists will be showing pieces in a wide range of sizes and mediums from drawings, photography, watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, original prints, mixed media work, and much more.

Artists and artisans will be onsite providing time to talk with them and learn more about their pieces and products. And, several Sanchez studio artists will also open their doors for you to explore inside. This is a great opportunity to spend time leisurely wandering the three galleries, open areas and studios, enjoying art made by members of the Art Guild of Pacifica and local craftspeople, while shopping for distinctive items in a casual and welcoming space on the San Mateo County coast. You will find some real treasures here, so make Winter Art Faire a gift-buying stop, and enjoy artful holidays!

All sales go directly to the artists/artisans. The fees for space are contributed by the Art Guild of Pacifica to Sanchez Art Center for summer camp scholarships.

Sanchez Art Center is located only a little over a mile east from Highway One, at 1220 Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica. Free parking in the lot or on the street. No admission fee.

Merry Manor Art Walk

December Pacificans Care Highlights

Pacificans Care Presents 2024 PEOPLE WHO CARE Awards:

Pacificans Care “People Who Care Awards” recognize community groups, businesses or individuals in Pacifica who have significantly contributed to the well-being of the community and, through their actions and contributions, have exemplified Pacifica as a “Community that Cares.” 

This year Pacificans Care recognized Lynn Adams, Kathy and Stan Gustavson, and Seaview Tire and Brake Center at its celebration on Wednesday, October 9th at the Pacifica Coastside Museum.

Lynn Adams, as President of Pacific Beach Coalition, has led a non-profit team preserving the ocean, coastal habitat, and wildlife, and ending litter, through advocacy, education, community building, and citizen action for the last 22+ years. Lynn has organized city-wide litter cleanups and habitat restoration projects on the San Mateo Coast from Daly City through Pacifica to Half Moon Bay. 

The first Pacifica Beach Coalition Earth Day event in 2004 engaged 75 volunteers in clean-up activities and now, in 2024, over 8,000 volunteers, including over one hundred community groups participated in picking up litter at over 50 sites on the Coast.

Lynn’s leadership in Coastal Cleanup Days has yielded 27,000 volunteers who picked up more than 220,861 pounds of trashin San Mateo County! Lynn was instrumental in initiating the ‘Butt Blitz’ to encourage the community to pick up as many cigarette butts as possible, ending with ninety-two thousand filters gathered.

Lynn’s dedication and commitment to the environment makes her an “Earth Hero” and exemplifies what the People Who Care award is about.

Seaview Tire & Brake Center, now in their 3rd generation of Meyerhoffs operating their Pacifica business,has given back significantly to this community and have donated generously to many nonprofit social and service organizations throughout Pacifica throughout the years including the Pacifica Beach Coalition, Pacifica National Little League, Frontier and Rancho Days, Miss Pacifica Contests and The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce, The Rockaway Ricky Memorial Fund and especially Pacificans Care. Seaview Tire & Brake Center has been especially supportive of Pacificans Care and has been a Pacificans Care Business Partner since 2017. We commend them for their longevity, community orientated focus and expertise as they continue to thrive today. 

Kathy and Stan Gustavson’s commitment to community, social justice and helping others improve their lives exemplifies what the People Who Care Award is all about. 

Kathy was active in the Pacifica Coop Nursery School, Ocean Shore School, Terra Nova High School Educational Support Team and Counselor, and was appointed to the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission in 1987.

Kathy and Stan have both served on the Pacificans Care Board and as Champions and have been actively involved in Pacificans Care projects including our Casino Night and Speakeasy Night fundraisers, Summer Sweep, and coordination of the Fog Fest Souvenir booth for many years. Kathy served as Corresponding Secretary, Vice President, and President during her 22 years on the Pacificans Care board. 

As a Pacificans Care board member, Stan provided pro-bon legal assistance when we needed it, developed the initial model for our planned giving program, always provided wise counsel in our decision-making process, and worked at every event Pacificans Care offered.

Kathy and Stan have truly given back, making Pacifica a better place for all of us.

Pacificans Care Community Grants Awarded:

The Pacificans Care Board created the Community Grant Program to provide support to individuals or organizations offering social services to residents of Pacifica. The program offers one-time grants of up to $1,000 or more for events, activities, programs, equipment, supplies, and tasks, and are awarded to projects or programs that have a direct benefit to the Pacifica community. Our goal is to keep Pacifica a community that ‘Cares’ by supplementing and enhancing existing services. 

HOPE SERVICES: In an effort to stem the opioid crisis among youth, HOPE Services seeks to reverse the trend through a training program and distribution of Narcan (an opioid overdose reversal medication available as a nasal spray), to educate the community and youth on the dangers of fentanyl and to provide resources for those who maybe struggling with addiction or who have family members struggling with addiction.

PACIFICA GARDENS: Pacifica Gardens occupies 33,000 square feet on the former Linda Mar School grounds and is committed to helping the community learn more about sustainable agriculture. The “Seed to Table – Feeding Families in Pacifica” project will purchase vegetable and fruit, and plant starts which will grow into healthy food and then donated to the Pacifica Resource Center’s food pantry.

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