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.
Be Wildfire Safe & Ready with Smokey Bear
We are counting down the hours to our wildfire prevention event at the San Mateo County Event Center on Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. Be Wildfire Safe & Ready will feature informative panel discussions about fire insurance, evacuations, fire survivor and fire fighter testimonials, individual preparedness, and home hardening. Attendees can visit 39 exhibitor tables for one-on-one conversations, tabletop demonstrations, and free resources. Live translation will be available in Spanish, Mandarin and American Sign Language. I promise you that you will leave this important event more fire prepared than when you arrived. Here is a preview of the event from KTVU.
In addition to being filled with information and resources, this weekend event will also be family friendly. Special guests Smokey Bear and Captain Cal will be happy to pose for selfies with attendees young and old, and a kid’s corner will offer activities educating future generations of fire wise residents.
For a fun read on the history of Smokey Bear who is the furry face of wildfire prevention and is known for his catchphrase “Only you can prevent wildfires,” you can read this story on the county website.
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
In preparation for the event, Supervisor Mueller and I visited Marin County to learn more about their Wildfire Prevention Authority. Marin County residents passed a property tax of 10 cents per square foot in 2020 for 10 years to fund the authority that is solely focused on prevention, not fire response. In their first five years they have cleared over 1,600 acres by removing invasive, dead and unhealthy vegetation that pose fire hazards, sometimes even with goats! They’ve also worked with more than 50,000 residents in high-risk areas to make their homes more firesafe. You can see the dramatic differences in these before and after photos.
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We visited a site that was cleared of brush and undergrowth to create a fire break in the Marin hills. These kinds of vegetation breaks can be instrumental in slowing down wildfires and preventing embers from spreading in emergency situations. I believe that San Mateo County can learn from Marin’s experience creating a joint powers authority specifically dedicated to wildfire prevention. We can prepare and prevent wildfire risks as individuals and as communities.
Would you support an effort to create a Wildfire Prevention Authority in San Mateo County?
Want To Be A Commissioner?
Each Supervisor can nominate residents of their district to serve on certain commissions. Candidates need to apply and then be confirmed by the whole Board of Supervisors. I have several vacancies on the Arts Commission, the Parks Commission, the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office, and the Measure K Oversight Committee. Being a commissioner is a very rewarding way to offer your expertise and give back to the community. Your opinions and recommendations will help shape policies to benefit the public.
If you are interested, you can apply for the following commissions:
- Arts Commission - District 1 Vacancies --- Application Deadline: May 16, 2025
- Parks Commission - District 1 Vacancy --- Application Deadline: May 23, 2025
- Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office --- District 1 Vacancy--- Application Deadline: May 23, 2025 --- ***SEE UNIQUE APPLICATION LINK WITHIN OR ABOVE IN BLUE ON THIS WEBPAGE***
- Measure K Oversight Committee - District 1 & District 4 Vacancies --- Application Deadline: May 23, 2025
We Have Jobs!
If you are looking for a job or a career change, San Mateo County might be the perfect place for you. We are hosting a job fair on Friday, May 2 at 10 a.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center.
Every department of the county will participate so that you can learn about vacancies in each department. You may learn about jobs you didn’t even know existed or you may be looking for a specific field. This job fair will offer it all. You will also hear from county employees about their career paths and be able to participate in workshops on interviewing and on navigating the county website when applying for a job. A resume review station will be available for one-on-one interactions.
I have spent over 40 years in public service and think it’s the highest calling. Helping others and having an impact on people’s lives is both satisfying and inspiring.
Nurturing Leaders and Emerging Leaders
If you are not looking for a job right now but are interested in working on your leadership skills, the Leadership Council SMC offers outstanding programs for existing and emerging leaders. But you need to rush your application because the deadline is May 1.
Senior level and C-suite leaders can apply for Leadership CORPS, and rising and mid-career leaders can apply for Emerging Leaders.
The Leadership Council’s mission is to make communities stronger through leaders who are connected, knowledgeable, and targeted in their efforts to create positive change. Many of our county employees have gone through this training and they are singing its praises. I encourage you to read the powerful testimonials on the website.
Before I Go...
I wanted to highlight one of the great programs the county’s Sustainability Department offers. Fixit Clinics are community-based workshops where families and neighbors work together on repairing broken appliances and household items. The county provides a workspace (often a library), specialty tools and volunteer Fixit Coaches to help troubleshoot and provide routine maintenance. So if you’ve given up on a broken toaster, vacuum cleaner or sewing machine, think about taking it to a Fixit Clinic instead. The next one will be at the Foster City Library on Saturday, May 3 at 11 a.m. You can find additional dates and locations on the Sustainability Department website.
All the best,
Jackie