Monthly Newsletter January 2022 |
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A Message From Supervisor Coursey |
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We started this year with one of the highest surges of COVID-19 our community has experienced. In the face of rapid spread, and following the recommendations of our local health experts, we are challenged to reduce infections by limiting our in-person interactions and gatherings. In these ever-changing circumstances, burnout is common and adapting to yet another health order can feel exhausting, but adjusting to behavior and responding appropriately to risk can mean the difference between life and death for vulnerable populations most severely impacted by the spread of COVID-19.
These times call us to consider the significance of our daily actions that help keep ourselves and loved ones safe, and to acknowledge our collective capacity for resilience. During times of crisis, support is available to everyone in our community. Residents in emotional distress can call the Warm Line at (707) 565-2652 for free and private support. Services in Spanish are also available as well as telephone interpretation for other languages. Read on for more information on COVID-19 and other resources.
As we move into year 3 of the pandemic, we are doubling efforts to safely keep our local government running at the county, while responding to community needs and attending to the priorities of our constituents as we plan our work for the year ahead. At our January 25 meeting, the Board began the process of approving the calendar of significant items for 2022. The calendar includes relevant issues such as disaster mitigation and response, homelessness, climate action and increasing equitable access to government. The Board will finalize the priorities calendar on February 8. Residents can provide feedback by emailing BOS@sonoma-county.org. To view meeting materials and instructions on how to participate, click here.
In this newsletter, we have compiled updates on county news as well as other community announcements. We welcome your questions and thoughts on these items or on what you’d like see in future newsletters. As always, thank you for your engagement.
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Chris Coursey
707-565-2241
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On Jan 25 Permit Sonoma, presented the framework to guide the redevelopment of Sonoma Developmental Center to the Board of Supervisors. The proposed framework incorporates aspects of the three alternatives previously presented to the public on November 1, 2021, as well as feedback from two community workshops and feedback.
The proposed framework advances the following critical components:
- Expansion of the wildlife and riparian corridors, including preservation of more than 700 acres of open space
- Increased distance of development from the wildland-urban interface for defensible space and vegetation management
- Construction of housing units, including affordable housing
- Enhanced and better-connected green spaces and preservation of historic landmarks
- Creation of new jobs from local-serving retail, office and visitor-serving uses
- Coordinated mobility system, including an emphasis on non-auto travel
Permit Sonoma staff will continue to refine the project description and conduct community engagement through the environmental review process. A draft Environmental Impact Report is expected to be available for public review in June 2022.
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A major new report released January 26, A Portrait of Sonoma County 2021 Update, delivers a mixed picture of health and well-being in the county. Taken as a whole, people in Sonoma County live longer, earn more money, stay in school and earn college degrees at higher rates than in other counties across California and the United States. Yet the report also reveals widely varying conditions of health and well-being for many people and neighborhoods in Sonoma County.
The Portrait of Sonoma County 2021 Update is a follow-up report to the groundbreaking 2014 Portrait of Sonoma County, which shifted our community’s understanding of what determines well-being in Sonoma County and how conditions vary between neighborhoods. Both reports are based on the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations, the global standard for measuring the well-being of large population groups. The index compiles data on access to knowledge (education), standard of living (income), and life expectancy (health), then compares these data across race, ethnicity, gender and geography, providing a detailed picture of where and for whom preventable disparities persist in the county.
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The Sonoma County Healing Center, a new psychiatric health facility approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in May 2020, officially opened January 21. The county-owned facility will provide short-term treatment to individuals experiencing mental health issues. |
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Previously, the absence of this type of facility has impacted other systems including the county’s Crisis Stabilization facility, hospital emergency departments and droppable-1643656167967jails. Individuals often had to endure long wait times to receive mental health services, or travel to other counties to receive treatment. This new facility for Medi-Cal eligible adults responds to these needs and aims to narrow the gap in available care.
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In January, the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW) provided an update on our local Pavement Preservation Program and Long Term Roads Plan, consistent with county’s strategic plan to bolster our road network. According to the update, 412 miles of roads were repaved in the last ten years, representing 30 percent of the county-maintained road system. An additional 43 miles is planned for repaving in 2022 and 2023.
Approved projects address the most critical infrastructure needs through the efficient use of funds distributed throughout the county. Roads are identified based on attributes including average daily traffic, pavement condition, relevance to bike and bus modes of travel, and relevance to public safety facilities.
TPW maintains a full list of requested road projects as part of the program. Residents may submit their road for consideration by calling (707) 565-2231 or by email to TPW@Sonoma-County.org.
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Free Tax Preparation for Low-Income Residents
United Way’s Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! provides free, quality tax return preparation to individuals, families, and seniors who earn $60,000 or less. Being a U.S. citizen is NOT a requirement. To find out if you are eligible, call 2-1-1 or 800-325-9604 or click here for more information.
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Emergency Broadband Benefit
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Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables helps us stay healthy and boost our immune system.
California WIC program can help you meet your family’s daily fruits and vegetables goals with the new increase to the Fruits and Vegetables Benefit!
During January, February, and March, the monthly Fruits and Vegetables Benefit has temporarily increased to:
- $24 for children ages 1 to 5
- $43 for pregnant and postpartum individuals
- $47 for breastfeeding individuals
You can use your benefits today at WIC-approved grocery stores or with farmers that accept the WIC Card!
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With COVID-19 cases declining from a recent surge, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase clarified a recent health order that limited indoor public events to 50 people. As of January 27, indoor events can include 50 spectators. The total number of attendees does not include staff involved with the event, media, players or performers.
Dr. Mase said the January 10 health order, which also limits outdoor gatherings to 100 people where social distancing can not be accommodated, helped to reduce Sonoma County’s case rate from a record high of nearly 250 new cases per day per 100,000 residents to 199 new cases per day today.
The health order is due to expire at 11:59 p.m. on February 10. Dr. Mase said that hospitalizations have plateaued since the order went into effect, and she noted that other Bay Area counties are seeing a similar trend.
Spectators at indoor events are still required to follow other health orders, including the requirement to wear face coverings. See full press release here.
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As the Omicron variant spreads, the County’s focus is on booster shots, testing and encouraging everyone to wear a high-quality mask. First and second vaccine doses are still vital, but we need to increase our rate of boosters administered because of the protection they offer against the worst outcomes of COVID — severe illness, hospitalization and death.
Breakthrough cases in vaccinated people tend to be mild or asymptomatic; unvaccinated people are at far greater risk. People who are unvaccinated are two times more likely to be infected with the virus, but they are 17 times more likely to be hospitalized if they get COVID and 13.7 times more likely to die from COVID.
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The county is now averaging about 6,400 tests a day, compared with about
3,000 before Christmas. That total doesn’t include all the at-home rapid tests being used. As demaqnd surges for testing, both PCR and rapid, the County Department of Health Services continues to work with our testing partners to make more testing available.
In addition, every household can now order four free tests online from the federal government. The tests will take seven to 12 days to arrive.
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