The Vallejo Weekly - Volume 9 Issue 46

Vallejo W e e k ly Vo l u m e 9 I s s u e 4 6 November 18, 2021

LOOKING FOR CHANGE? WANT TO MEET NEW PEOPLE? MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Apply to serve on one of our boards, committees, or commissions!

The following positions are currently open (the number indicates how many positions are available):

• Architectural Heritage and Landmark Commission (2) • Beautification Commission (1) • Code Enforcement Appeals Board (4) • Culture & The Arts Commission (3) • Marina Advisory Committee (1) • McCune Collection Commission (1) • Sister City Commission (1) • Vallejo Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Housing Authority Tenant Members (1) • Greater Vallejo Recreation District (1) • SolTrans Public Advisory Committee (2) The application period will remain open until a sufficient number have been received in the City Clerk’s Office.

Click here to learn more and to apply!

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While imperative to our health and hopeful mitigation of the contraction of any virus, these shields made it challenging to hear one another, even with the assistance of a microphone.

During the meeting, it was incredibly challenging for the Council Body to conduct their business with community members inappropriately talking in the back of Chambers. This behavior is not only disruptive and obstructs

MAYOR’ S MESSAGE

your elected officials from completing the tasks at hand; it is also insultingly rude to behave in such a way during

Vallejo,

a professional meeting. If you attend Council meetings, my colleagues and

Tuesday night we welcomed the public

I implore you to act accordingly as

back into the Council Chambers for the

there is required decorum. We are not

first time in nearly two years since the

opposed to hearing all that you have to

start of this pandemic. Unfortunately,

say. In fact, we appreciate your views

a few logistical and technical issues

and thoughts, but there are appropriate

arose during the evening that we

and tactful ways to communicate with

will soon remedy. We all must work

your Council.

together as we become accustomed to these hybrid-meeting conditions

As we gather in person, we must also

brought about by this continuing health

consider ways to keep this momentum

crisis.

and not be hampered by another virus surge. As citizens of a civilized

If you viewed or attended the meeting,

society, we must always keep in our

you will note that there were acrylic

minds that it is our duty to operate

shields between each Councilmember.

with the greatest good for the greatest

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number. If you are able to receive a

and art that Vallejo cultivates. Find out

vaccination, please do so. It is also

more about the event at the Mad Hatter

important to remember that there is

website.

still a mask ordinance and while in any public building, you must adhere to the

Your Mayor,

mask mandate set forth by your City

Robert H. McConnell

Council. This includes those who wish to speak during public comment. You will need to raise your voices to articulate your remarks through your mask into the microphones provided in Chambers.

Last Thursday, I had the honor of attending two distinguished ceremonies for Veterans Day, one at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery: the second at the Veteran’s Memorial behind City Hall. I want to extend my gratitude to the veterans’ groups and city staff for arranging these events. It is an honor to attend the important events dedicated to our Veterans and their service to our fine Country.

Lastly, I am eager to recognize the return of our fine Mad Hatter Holiday Festival and parade this December 4th.

If you have never attended a Mad Hatter event, I encourage you to do so. It is a unique reflection of the rich culture

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WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON BROADBAND IN VALLEJO! We’re looking to improve and expand our broadband infrastructure and internet access in the community!

Access to high-quality, fast internet has become a crucial piece of infrastructure for the Vallejo community, and with the onset of the pandemic, many residents and businesses are doing business and attending school virtually - fast-tracking the City’s broadband initiative.

With the help of a portion of the City’s American Rescue Plan funds (ARPA) the City’s goal is to: • Extend fiber to schools • Anchor businesses, and institutes • Lateral buildouts for businesses • Deliver fiber to new developments coming to the City We are also looking at ways to provide Wi-Fi access in public gathering places such as the waterfront, city parks, and the downtown core. Building the broadband infrastructure will also allow the City to provide free WiFi access to our underserved communities and address the digital divide that currently exists and prevails.

Your valuable feedback will allow us to update its fiberoptic master plan and help bring tailored services to address the broadband needs of our community.

Visit myvallejo.com/broadband to learn more and take the survey!

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IN A FOWL MOOD? Be sure to connect with us - sure to put you in a good mood!

FACEBOOK | facebook.com/cityofvallejo (Be sure to set us to your favorites so you never miss a post!)

INSTAGRAM | instagram.com/cityofvallejo VALLEJO WEEKLY | vallejoweekly.com Read our free, digital, weekly newsletter and stay in the know!

SUBSCRIBE | cityofvallejo.net/subscribe Get our weekly newsletter, city council agendas, important updates and information, press releases and more delivered right to your inbox.

EMERGENCY ALERTS | alertsolano.com Subscribe to receive emergency alerts on any device, and get alerted about severe weather, fires, evacuations, missing persons, and more.

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JOIN US AS WE GIVE LITTER THE BOOT! Saturday, November 20, 2021 Setterquist Park (300 Stanford Drive), Vallejo 9:00 a.m. - noon Just show up - the community cleanup tool trailer will be there with all the tools you’ll need!

Masks are encouraged.

Interested in hosting a community cleanup?

Send us an email at volunteers@cityofvallejo.net or (707) 648-8616 to get started.

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UPCOMING HOLIDAYS City Offices will be closed next Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26, in observance of Thanksgiving.

We’ll be back open on Monday, November 29.

As a reminder, we remain on our currently reduced public hours of operation: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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INTERESTED IN VEHICLES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT? Join our team!

We’re hiring: • Equipment Mechanic I/II • Fleet Manager • Heavy Equipment Operator (2 positions!)

Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/vallejo to learn more and apply!

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THANKSGIVING DINNERS FAITH FOOD FRIDAYS THANKSGIVING DINNER BOX Join Faith Food Fridays this Friday, November 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to receive a free Thanksgiving Dinner Box. Pick-ups will be at Faith Food Fridays, 826 Solano Avenue and is a first come first serve event, while supplies last.

THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY DINNER Join the Grind Cafe and Revive Ministry as they host a Thanksgiving Community Dinner on November 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This free event will be held at the Grind Cafe, 402 Tuolumne Street.

THANKSGIVING FEED Come down to the Elks Lodge, 1020 Alabama Street, on November 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and enjoy a free Thanksgiving meal.

CHRIS’ CLUB FEED THE NEED THANKSGIVING DINNER Chris’ Club, partnered with Faith Food Fridays and Earl’s BBQ, will be serving a free Thanksgiving dinner to anyone who visits them, 656 Benicia Road, on November 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you would like to donate or volunteer, stop by Chris’ Club to sign up.

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OCTOBER 14-20 IS UTILITY SCAM AWARENESS WEEK

Scammers may say that your

Every day across the country,

entitled to a rebate.

utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you are

electric and natural gas customers, along with telephone, water and

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

other essential services customers,

• Never purchase a prepaid card

are being targeted by scammers

to avoid service disconnection or

impersonating utilities, typically

shutoff.

online, in-person and by telephone.

• Legitimate utility companies do not specify how customers should

Here are some helpful tips to avoid

make a bill payments, and always

becoming a victim:

offer a variety of ways to pay a bill.

• If someone threatens immediate

SIGNS OF A POTENTIAL SCAM • Threat to disconnect: Scammers

disconnection, or shutoff of service, customers should hang

may aggressively demand

up the phone, delete the email,

immediate payment for an alleged

or shut the door. If you ever feel

past due bill.

like you are in immediate physical

• Request for immediate payment: Scammers may

danger, you should call 911.

• Scammers are now able to create

instruct the customer to purchase

authentic-looking 800 numbers

a prepaid card then call them

that appear on your phone display.

back supposedly to make a bill

The numbers don’t lead back to

payment.

the utility company if called back

• Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller

- so if you have doubts, hang up and call the company directly.

asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number, which grants the

For more information on scams, visit

scammer instant access to the

UtilitiesUnited.org.

card’s funds.

• Refund or rebate offers: 19

The City of Vallejo offers a Water Rate Assistance Program (WRAP) to income-eligible customers.

If you qualify, you could receive a monthly credit on your water bill, of up to $60 a year.

Learn more at MyVallejo.com/wrap

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INTRODUCING SOLANOCONNEX.ORG

To access the app, visit

SolanoConnex, a new web-app

type of services you are looking for

launched on November 1, lists more

and providers will be listed in order of

than 100 mental and emotional health

proximity to your location. Services

services in Solano County. It is free,

are verified on a regular basis.

easy-to-use and includes additional

Additionally, app navigators will be

live navigation support by phone. The

available by text, email and phone

app is available in English, Spanish,

to assist in accessing the services

and Tagalog. SolanoConnex is a

including guiding residents through

3-year project managed by Touro

the web app and supporting residents

University California and funded

in finding the appropriate services for

by the Solano County Board of

their mental health needs.

SolanoConnex.org on any device with internet access. Click on the

Supervisors to improve access to mental and emotional health

Providers who are interested in

resources for all residents in Solano

being listed in the app can contact

County.

solanoconnex@gmail.com

“This web app is a resource that

For more project info: solanoconnex.

anyone can use, whether you are a

tu.edu

parent looking for emotional support, or someone experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety,” said Dr. Sarah Sweitzer, Provost Touro University California. “We are so pleased to have partnered with the County on finding a way to increase access to mental health services.”

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VALLEJO CAPITOL STAIRS GRAND RE-OPENING From Blight to Beauty, one step at a time!

Come celebrate the reopening of the Capitol Street Stairs, and gaze upon the beautiful mosaic tiles installed and ready for everyone to enjoy.

The official City of Vallejo ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m., followed by a Parade with Obtanium Works Art Cars, Los Catrinas of Solano AIDS Coalition, and the Vallejo Giant Puppets!

Additional festivities will follow at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum located at 734 Marin Street. See you there!

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YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP LAUNCHING IN BENICIA AND VALLEJO IN JANUARY Sustainable Solano is looking for high school students passionate about the environment and their community. A $500 stipend will be awarded for those that complete the program. Find registration information at https:// sustainablesolano.org/events For more information contact Allison Nagel at allison@sustainablesolano.org

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