Dear Friends, To say that October has been a tumultuous month would be an understatement. The government shutdown, ICE raids across the country, the deployment of federal agents to Alameda, the averted federal deployment to San Francisco, and the looming stop of CalFresh payments have caused anxiety and fear in our community. While we can’t control those federal emergencies, we can control how our county is responding to protect all residents. Let me assure you that we are doing everything possible to be prepared and provide resources to keep you safe. It’s important for all of us to stay peaceful and calm. If you are part of our immigrant community, know your rights and make sure your family has a good preparedness plan. You can find many helpful resources on the county’s Community Affairs page.

Dear Friends, September has been a very busy and challenging month. I’m devastated by horrific acts of gun violence and overheated rhetoric across the country. We have got to turn down the volume on both sides of the spectrum. Another looming crisis is a federal government shutdown coupled with drastic cuts in federal funding that will have consequences for all San Mateo County residents, in particular health and food security.

Dear  Friends, It’s hard to believe that Labor Day is here and summer is coming to an end. While this has been one of the coldest summers in decades, this weekend has proven to be one of the hottest with record-breaking temperatures in several Bay Area cities. I hope you will have a chance to enjoy BBQs, parades and time with family and friends. August was all about families for me. I spent most of my time working on solutions for the child care crisis in San Mateo County and our region. Just last month I was stunned to see a statistic in the Wall Street Journal that confirmed how severe the problem is. The paper reported that San Mateo County has the fifth most expensive child care in the nation, with a median cost of $128,215 for five years of daycare up to kindergarten. The consequences of this crisis affect everyone in the county with people moving away and birthrates dropping. We have an obligation to resolve it and I feel that we have the momentum and support to do so. The public view has shifted and is acknowledging that child care is not only a family need, it is a public need. It is infrastructure that is as essential as roads, bridges, public transit, clean air and clean water.

Dear Friends, I hope July offered you a chance to recharge, maybe even travel, and catch up with family and friends. While the Board of Supervisors was on recess this month, we were still working hard on a number of issues in the office.

Dear Friends, On the Fourth of July, we celebrate our independence and our freedom. As America turns 249, let’s remember that our democracy is fragile and that we can never take our freedoms for granted. Most democracies around the world lasted less than 50 years. When people ask me what they should do right now, I say, ‘Do something. Silence is tacit approval.’ I think of the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt: “In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” I was thrilled to see the “No Kings” protests on June 14th brought out hundreds of thousands of people across the country using their first Amendment right to speak out for freedom and democracy. As federal actions are causing economic uncertainty and fear, I want you to know that the leadership of our county is deeply committed to protecting and serving you and our diverse population. More than 35 percent of the people in our county are foreign born, my late father included, and they are an integral part of our community. In San Mateo County freedom means freedom for all.

Dear Friends, I spent a night at Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter on April 29th. You may have seen my opinion piece in the Daily Journal today: The ABCs of homelessness

Dear Friends, It’s this time of the month again, here is my May newsletter. I hope you find it informative. Please feel free to share it with friends who are not yet subscribing.

Dear Friends, I am heartbroken that the world lost Pope Francis. During the board meeting on April 22, I asked for a moment of silence to remember this humble, giving and loving pontiff who was an unmatched advocate for the poor and marginalized. One of the greatest thrills during my time in Congress was being blessed by Pope Francis. He spoke to a joint session of Congress in 2015 and was not allowed to bless the members in the chamber, so after his speech, we scurried outside to receive his blessing. In his signature humility, he asked us to pray for him. We did and we do.