Greetings!

Last Saturday’s peaceful march in Pacifica was a huge outpouring of the Pacifica community and beyond to protest the tragic homicide of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis and against systemic racism in American society and in policing across the country. Thank you to all who participated and kept it peaceful, including the Pacifica Police Department, and for wearing your masks and attempting to keep physical distance and healthful. Earlier this week, Police Chief Steidle and I released a detailed summary about Pacifica Police Department staffing, functions, policies, and practices to help the community understand policing in Pacifica. Today Chief Steidle announced his decision to ban the carotid control hold in Pacifica. Although this technique has not been used in Pacifica in more than 20 years, there are other effective options that pose less risk for the subject and the officer to sustain serious injury. Continuing the City’s immediate response and work on these important policing matters, next Wednesday evening, June 17 at 6:00 pm, the City Council will hold a Study Session about use of force policies and racial equity in policing in Pacifica. Please join the meeting and lend your voice to this important conversation.

On the Coronavirus response front, the City has been actively working on figuring out how services, programs, and facilities will gradually reopen while preventing the spread of COVID-19. On Wednesday, June 17, the Rev. Herschell Harkins Memorial Pier (Pacifica Municipal Pier) and the Pacifica Skatepark will re-open, press release here. Once they are open, it will be incumbent upon park and pier users to follow new guidelines including physical distancing, non-gathering, mask-wearing, and any other posted requirements.  It is our hope that park and pier users will abide by the rules and encourage others to follow health and safety guidelines while using these facilities, which will allow the City to keep them open safely.  

Another exciting development is that outdoor dining options are now available for restaurants under certain guidelines. See the Temporary Covid-19 Outdoor Activities Program webpage for more information.

Finally, just a reminder that COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in San Mateo County. To paraphrase County Health Officer Dr. Morrow, we’re in the second inning of a nine inning stretch. As we gradually re-open society, it is more important than ever to continue to be health-vigilant.

Sincerely,

KEVIN WOODHOUSE

City Manager

Dear Community,

The tragic homicide of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, and cases involving other black Americans in recent history, are clear and tragic examples of racial inequities in policing across the country. These examples also illuminate the deeper systemic racial inequity and social justice problems that continue to plague American society, and are not specific to policing, such as in healthcare, education, voting, and the justice system. We must all do our part personally and professionally to confront these inequities. In doing so, we must question and challenge these systems, as well as be able to answer those questions honestly and be open to new ideas for improving these systems.

As we all do this work, it is important to understand and acknowledge the facts about policing in Pacifica. The memo linked to below is intended to provide some general information to help the community understand policing in Pacifica, as compared to what system improvements may or may not be appropriate region-, state-, or nation-wide. In the near future, date and time yet to be determined, the Pacifica City Council will hold a public meeting (virtual via Zoom due to the health orders), to hear input from the community about policing in Pacifica. I encourage you to review the information provided at the link below, and participate in the public meeting.

Click here to read the full memo .

June is PRIDE Month and Pacifica recognizes all their LGBTQ+ residents whose influential and lasting contributions to our neighborhoods make Pacifica a vibrant community in which to live, work, and visit.

Read Pacifica’s Pride Month proclamation here .

On June 5, 2020, the City of Pacifica Director of Emergency Services issued an Emergency Order (Order No. 2020-02) allowing businesses within the City to conduct outdoor commercial activity for a temporary period during the Local Emergency due to COVID-19. This order is aligned with the modified San Mateo County Health Order (Order No. c19-5f) issued on June 4, 2020 which has allowed for outdoor dining operations only at this time.

Does this apply to your business?

See the program requirements on the City's Temporary COVID-19 Outdoor Activities Program webpage .

How to apply for the program?

Need more information?

Visit the Temporary COVID-19 Outdoor Activities Program webpage .

San Mateo County Libraries are dedicated to being a positive force for communities and standing up for equity, inclusion, and social justice. As part of their commitment to education, lifelong learning, and community dialogue, SMC Libraries have compiled a list of recommended books for adults, teens, kids and for talking to children about race and social justice.

See their website for more information and links to resources.

The public is invited to  Sustainable San Mateo County ’s first  Virtual Auction , featuring State Senator Jerry Hill as auctioneer. Bidding begins on Silent Auction items today, Friday June 12 , and concludes on  Friday, June 19 , when the Live Auction will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The auction site is at https://charityauction.bid/ssmc .

 

Silent auction items include a Filoli gift basket and membership, two nights at Costanoa, 49er tickets, Queen’s Tea for Two at Lovejoy’s Tea Room, a tour of the county's Crime Lab and lunch with the Sheriff, and a private tour for eight to view the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo when the new pups are born. 

Live auction items include one-week stays at beautiful vacation homes at Lake Tahoe and in Twain Harte, a Swiss designer Raymond Weil men’s watch, a deluxe Monterey package and a sailboat trip on the Bay for 10.

 

All proceeds will benefit SSMC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to accelerating sustainability actions, policies and best practices throughout the County of San Mateo.

 

For more information, visit SSMC at  sustainablesanmateo.org .

"Dream Golf," by Matt Nash

The Pacific Coast Fog Fest has been an annual tradition in Pacifica for 34 years. A “must see” stop long Palmetto Avenue is the Art Corner hosted by Sanchez Art Center. Displayed are the 75-100 framed images by local Pacifica and SF Bay Area photographers who have entered the yearly Photography Contest. Photographers can submit a total of two photographs that fit one of the four themes determined by the contest judges and SAC staff.

Submitted photographs are given thought review by award winning Pacifican photographers. In 2019, judges Alan Grinberg and Edwin Hacking, gave fifteen awards to 12 photographers: Janet Arline Barker, Vadim Dymshyts, Kathy Holmes, Julie Lancelle, Stephanie Meyer, Matt Nash, Brad Rangell, and Dave Rauenbuehler, all from Pacifica; Marshall Dinowitz, Belmont; Electra Field, El Granada; Mary Louise Froese, South San Francisco; and Patrick Troubetzkov, San Francisco. The photographers who were given awards are invited to participate in a group show at Sanchez Art Center the following year. Though there will be no Fog Fest this year, you can enjoy the work of the photographers in the virtual gallery.  

Click HERE to enter the Fog Fest Invitational Photography Exhibit Gallery. 

The Pacific Beach Coalition invites you to join the Street to Beach Cleanup movement.

To Participate:

Go to the Pacific Beach Coalition website for all the details.

HIP Housing is nonprofit agency specializing in creative affordable housing solutions throughout San Mateo County. Their mission is to invest in human potential by improving the housing and lives of people in our community. Through their Home Sharing Program, HIP Housing enables people with special needs, either from income or circumstance, to live independent, self-sufficient lives in decent, safe, low-cost homes.

Through their Self-Sufficiency program, HIP also offers a scholarship that provides housing assistance and support services to motivated, low-income parents and/or transitional age foster youth.  Learn more here.

Please note : This newsletter is sent weekly on Friday and content is current at that time. Those who have not opened the email by Monday receive a reminder email, and some content may no longer be current.

06/12/2020 Press Release: Pacifica Police Ban Carotid Hold



06/12/2020 Press Release: Pacifica Municipal Pier and Pacifica Skatepark Re-Opening

Recent City of Pacifica and Pacifica Police Department press releases are available on the City of Pacifica website under City Government - Press Releases & Media Bulletins .