By Bill Silverfarb, San Mateo Daily Journal. With the economy in boom, San Mateo County has added tens of thousands of jobs in the past few years but only a fraction of the housing needed to accommodate them. With rents up 50 percent in four years to an average of more than $2,500 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, many low-wage earners can no longer afford to live in the county while a new glut of high-tech workers and other professionals can.
The Closing the Jobs/Housing Gap Task Force, a group of diverse stakeholders working to preserve and increase housing at all price levels in San Mateo County, held its inaugural meeting this morning with Assemblyman Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park, as the keynote speaker.
Bill Lowell, a 23-year veteran county employee who is known for his big-picture ideas, creative solutions, and unique ability to get things done, has decided to retire. He began working for the County in 1993 for the Alcohol and Drug program, then moved to the San Mateo Medical Center as a Management Analyst, and was later recruited to serve as the Deputy Court Executive Officer. That's when I first worked with Bill; he was a standout.
What is dignity on wheels? Summed up best in the tagline...Rebuilding the lives of the homeless, one shower and laundry load at a time.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved its $2.5 billion recommended budget after first making $21.4 million in September revisions, including $9 million for initiatives funded by the voter-approved Measure A half-cent sales tax.
"When legal permanent residents become citizens, we all benefit. Their lives become more stable and their futures more secure." - Supervisor Warren Slocum. That's the purpose of the Citizenship Workshop - to help our neighbors on their pathway to citizenship.
We celebrated the 2nd Annual “Park(ing) Day” in North Fair Oaks! “Park(ing) Day” is a one-day event where parking spaces are transformed into temporary community places. "PARK(ing) Day" is a way to promote green spaces, healthy lifestyles, and build community in urban areas! It is celebrated by cities all over the world on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015.