Bay Area

Updated Alameda County Health Orders Released

Published

4 years ago

June 3, 2020

On Monday, May 18, the Alameda County Public Health Official issued an updated Shelter-in-Place Order that allows certain businesses to resume operations at this time, under specific conditions. The measured steps towards re-opening are designed to avoid a spike in new COVID-19 cases that could overwhelm our health care system.

Effective immediately, the businesses allowed to operate include:

Retail stores for curbside or storefront pick up, and/or delivery only
Manufacturing businesses permitted to operate under the state Resilience Roadmap
Logistics and Warehousing permitted to operate under the state Resilience Roadmap

These businesses must implement Site-Specific Protection Plans, as required by California’s Resilience Roadmap, and informed by local guidance issued by the Alameda County Dept. of Public Health, to include the following elements:

Social distancing protocol plans for employees and customers
Administrative controls to stagger employees, breaks, and teleworking for those that can work remotely
Training for employees on limiting spread of COVID-19 (temperature and/or symptoms screening, hand washing technique, and face-covering requirements)
Disinfection protocols for routine and deep cleaning
Industry-specific best practices
Notification of COVID-19 positive cases
Compliance and documentation

See a roster of additional businesses permitted to operate with site-specific safety plans and COVID-19 protective measures at:http://www.acphd.org/media/577585/alameda-county-health-officer-order-20-11-appendix-c1-english.pdf.

Businesses seeking guidance on Alameda County guidelines for re-opening should e-mail covidrecovery@acgov.org.

Businesses and activities authorized under previous orders may continue.

Public or private gatherings of any size remain prohibited.

“While the data is moving in the right direction, we are monitoring the five indicators with vigilance and caution,” said Dr. Erica Pan, health officer for Alameda County. “Early Stage 2 includes curbside or storefront retail and manufacturing and warehouses. It does not include other office workplaces or additional industries authorized by the State for some other counties that have applied to move faster, like malls and dine-in restaurants.”

A second order by the Alameda County Health Officer allows highly regulated vehicle-based gatherings of up to 200 cars at a time, for no longer than three hours, with specific conditions, including by-invite only, onsite security if there are more than 10 cars, and more. For example, these gatherings might include drive-in movie theaters as well as in-car graduation ceremonies, worship services, or funerals.

To specifically support businesses with curbside or storefront pick up, and/or delivery, the City is taking the following steps:

Expediting White Curb Requests

In order to facilitate customer pick-up and delivery from Oakland businesses during the COVID-19 period, business owners can request a temporary white curb in front of their business. To request a temporary white curb, please contact Oak311 by dialing 311 or online at https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/oak311.

Business Use of Frontage Zones
The City is not requiring permits nor enforcing penalties related to the use of the frontage zone of business.

The frontage zone is the first three feet of public space directly in front of a business. For a limited time, no permits or fees will be required for the use of frontage space, provided that the use:

- is consistent with social distancing;
- respects the pedestrian path, so people may walk and roll freely; and
- and does not create a safety hazard where one did not exist before.

Business owners can start using frontage spaces in front of their establishments today.

Businesses can contact the OakDOT permit office with any questions at (510) 238-3891.

Streamlining Sidewalk and Roadway Permitting

In anticipation of further updates to Alameda County’s Shelter in Place Order, City departments are working to revise the permitting process for sidewalk and roadway encroachments to make it easier for retailers and restaurants to use larger portions of the sidewalk and roadway to support their businesses. The City is working to streamline permits for parklets, café seating and other uses to help businesses better meet physical distancing requirements, and anticipates issuing updated guidelines by the end of May. City departments want to hear from local businesses about how it can streamline permitting for creative ways to use larger portions of the sidewalk, adjacent parking spaces, and the broader street space to support businesses.

Food Service Opportunity

The City is partnering with World Central Kitchen and others to provide meals to Oakland’s hungry. Restaurants must have the capacity to provide up to 300 meals per day.

World Central Kitchen’s goal is to engage 200+ restaurants to serve 2 million meals in Oakland through the end of July. Additionally, the state’s new Great Plates Delivered program will need restaurants to supply meals for seniors. Please note, you are not eligible for this new program if you are already participating in another state or federal meal service program.

Participating restaurants will need to be able to meet senior and/or general meal requirements:

Senior meals:
- Breakfast must be low in sodium, no sugary drinks (<24 grams/8 oz., 100% fruit juice).
- Lunch and dinner: a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable on each dish, and low in sodium, no sugary drinks (<24 grams/8 oz., 100% fruit juice).
General meals: Lunch/Dinner type meals must contain 14-16 oz. of food, composed of 4 oz. protein,
6 oz. starch/grain, 6 oz. vegetable, and be free of peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish.

The meal service program – not the restaurants – will arrange for the delivery of meals. Restaurants are paid by the food operator for the meals in bulk purchases.

Interested restaurants should complete this short survey form and send a scan or photo of their menu to kwilliams@oaklandca.gov. The meal service program staff will be in touch with restaurants that are the best fit.

Other Re-opening Resources

In anticipation of these measured openings, the City posted a number of resources at: https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/re-opening-resources. Resources include the State of California industry guidelines to help businesses reduce risk and establish a safe, clean environment for workers and customers.

Read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Worker Safety and Support guidelines
at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/worker-safety-support/index.html.
Read the state guidelines, find industry-specific checklists and learn more at: https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/
Find County resources for businesses, including fillable social distancing protocol templates in multiple languages, at: http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/covid-recovery.aspx

Every organization and business, regardless of when it will be permitted to open, should prepare for reopening by working on plans that include:

Physical distancing for employees and visitors
Administrative controls to stagger employees and breaks, and continued teleworking for those who can work remotely
Training for employees on limiting spread of COVID-19 (temperature and/or symptoms screening, handwashing technique, face-covering requirements)
Disinfection protocols for routine and deep cleaning

Business Re-opening & Recovery Survey

To help gauge COVID-19 impacts on Oakland business and what resources would help business owners as they plan for re-opening and recovery, the City has launched a brief Business Re-opening and Recovery Survey.

The survey launched in English and additional languages will be added by Wednesday.

Karen Boyd

Karen Boyd is the citywide communications director for the City of Oakland.

Posts by Karen Boyd

Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

4 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

Mayor London Breed: State Awards San Francisco Over $37M for Affordable Housing

On April 30, Mayor London N. Breed announced San Francisco has been awarded more than $37.9 million in funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of the State’s Multifamily Housing Program (MHP). The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Published

4 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed (File Photo)

By Oakland Post Staff

The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.

The new development at 1515 South Van Ness Ave. will provide 168 affordable homes to low-income families, formerly homeless families, and persons living with HIV earning between 25-80% of the San Francisco Area Median Income (AMI).

In addition, the project is anticipated to provide family-friendly amenities and ground floor community-serving commercial spaces that preserve the prevailing neighborhood character of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District.

“This funding unlocks our ability to move on building affordable housing units for families in San Francisco at a crucial time. We understand the level of need for more housing that is accessible, and like the state, the city continues to face a challenging budget cycle,” said Breed. “1515 South Van Ness is a good example of what can be achieved in San Francisco when you have strong community partnerships and an unwavering commitment to deliver on critical needs for our residents.”

“From the beginning of my term as Supervisor, I have fought to bring affordable housing to 1515 South Van Ness” said Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “In the interim, the site has been utilized for homeless services and shelter, and I am thrilled that HCD has recognized the value of this development, and we are finally ready to break ground and bring 168 affordable homes to low income and formerly homeless families in the Mission.”

Owned and occupied by McMillan Electric Company until 2015, the City and County of San Francisco purchased 1515 South Van Ness Avenue in June 2019 with the intent of developing new affordable housing.

In November 2020, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) released a Multi-site Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified developers to build affordable housing on the site, and subsequently selected Chinatown Community Development Corporation (CCDC) and Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) in May 2021 to develop the site.

The project is expected to begin construction in winter 2025.

“A strong, long-term push by Mission advocates to make this site 100% affordable is now paying off, with 168 family units that include services and childcare. People of color communities know what they need, and we are excited to be in partnership with a team, consisting of MEDA, CCDC, and MOHCD, that listens,” said Malcolm Yeung, Executive Director at CCDC.

“We are excited to be in partnership with CCDC, yet again, and for the opportunity to develop intergenerational affordable housing in the City’s Mission District,” said Luis Granados, executive director at MEDA.

Increasing housing affordable to lower-income and vulnerable residents is a key priority in the City’s Housing Element which calls for additional funding for affordable housing production and preservation, as well as Mayor Breed’s Housing for All Executive Directive that sets out the steps the City will take to meet the bold goal of allowing for 82,000 new homes to be built over the next eight years.

Tuesday’s funding announcement emphasizes the importance of regional and state collaboration in order to reach our housing and climate goals.

“We are thrilled—not just to bring a project of this size to a community with great need — but to do so with community-based developers and their partners who understand the neighborhood and sensitivities around cultural preservation,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

East Bay Regional Park District Issues Rattlesnake Advisory

The East Bay Regional Park District released an advisory today on rattlesnakes, which emerge from winter hibernation in early spring and become more active. Warm weather can bring more potential for rattlesnake encounters with humans and dogs, particularly along trails and roads.

Published

4 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is the species found in East Bay Regional Parks. Courtesy photo.

The Richmond Standard

The East Bay Regional Park District released an advisory today on rattlesnakes, which emerge from winter hibernation in early spring and become more active.

Warm weather can bring more potential for rattlesnake encounters with humans and dogs, particularly along trails and roads.

Visitors are encouraged to avoid hiking alone in case of an emergency, to scan the ground ahead as they walk, jog or ride, stay on trails avoiding tall grass, and to look carefully around and under logs and rocks before sitting down. Keep your dog on your leash to be extra safe, park officials said.

If you encounter a rattlesnake, leave it alone – it is unlawful to capture or harm one. Move carefully and slowly away or around it and give it plenty of space, park officials said.

Those who are bitten by a rattlesnake are instructed to stay calm by lying down with the affected limb lower than the heart, then having someone call 911.

Getting medical attention is critical.

Those bitten should not use tourniquets, “sucking,” or snake bite kits. If you are by yourself, walk calmly to the nearest source of help to dial 911, do not run.

If bitten by any other type of snake, wash the wound with soap and water or an antiseptic and seek medical attention.

Not sure what bit you? Check the bite for two puncture marks (in rare cases one) associated with intense, burning pain, which is typical of a rattlesnake bite. Other snakebites can leave marks without associated burning pain.

The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is the species found in East Bay Regional Parks. Snakes are important to the natural environment, helping to control rodents and other reptile populations. But enjoy them from afar.

For more information, download the Park District’s Common Snakes brochure or watch our Gopher Snake or Rattlesnake video to learn how to tell the difference between rattlesnakes and gopher snakes. Additional information is available at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.