This newsletter is to give you an update on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. My office has been contacted by many
constituents on many aspects impacting day to day life and I am trying to keep you updated with the best information.
The most recent information about what is happening in our county can be found at www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus. There you will be able to see the latest number of infected and other important announcements.
We held a webinar for small businesses last Friday that you can view by clicking here. There will be another webinar this Friday with the latest updates. Look at the www.sccvitality.org website for information abut how to participate.
We have been getting a lot of calls about enforcing the Shelter-In-Place order. Getting people to follow safe social distances is a major behavior change and we are doing our best to work with the community and remind them of the importance of this simple, but effective tool. You can read about how the Sheriff is enforcing the order here.
County Parks are still open but the bathrooms at the parks are closed due to concerns about virus spread.
All public safety agencies are working together to limit the spread among their ranks. A new Community Emergency Response tool has been created to address help people who have flu-like symptoms. Learn more about it here.
There are several organizations who depend on senior volunteers who are not available at this time. Organizations like the Grey Bears, Meals on Wheels, and Second Harvest Food Bank are seeing an uptick in needs, but fewer resources.
Volunteers have established a website where people can ask for help or give help. Click here to find out more.
Our local non-profits are hard hit by this crisis and are experiencing an increase request for services. Choose the organization of your choice to give if you can. The Community Foundation has also established a new fund to help local organization. To give, click here.
If you have questions about these or any other COIVD-19 related question, the County has established a hotline at 831-454-4242. They are there to help you.
Find Out How We Are Responding
For the foreseeable future, I am holding my weekly constituent meeting online through Facebook Live. This week I will be joined by Leslie Conner, Executive Director of Santa Cruz Community Health Centers which include the East Cliff Family Health Center and the Santa Cruz Women's Health Center. She is on the front line of this health crisis and she will share what she is seeing and provide tips for how you can take care of yourself. We will both answer our questions, submitted through Facebook. If you don't have
Facebook, you can still watch the meeting at www.facebook.com/superviosrjohnleopold .
In a community that is experiencing a housing crisis, the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis is real and imminent. Many people have been laid off or at risk of being laid off. I have asked the Board of Supervisors to enact an eviction moratorium for residential and commercial properties during this crisis. We can't afford for people and businesses to lose their housing and be forced into a difficult housing market. The Board will hear this at our meeting tomorrow, and you can read more about it
here.
Help Me Meet your Needs
Normally I only send out a newsletter once a month with information about issues before the Board of Supervisors and community meetings. But these are unusual times and I asking you to take a quick survey to find out if you want more or less information. Can you take one minute and answer this survey? Thank you.
