Featured - page 35

San Mateo County Libraries (SMCL)’s 3D printers are being used to churn out personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line medical staff in the community.

This week, according to the library system, staff began using the 17 3D printers — typically used to make tools and other items — to instead create face shields and ear guards to protect front line medical staff. More than 300 ear guards have already printed and the goal is to deliver over 600 face shields in the coming weeks, according to a blog post by SMCL.

Anne-Marie Despain, Director of Library Services, said with library branches closed “we wanted to find a creative way to put our machines to good use and to help make a difference.”

The ear guards being made are adjustable, thus more comfortable than typical versions, and take less than 10 minutes to create. It was designed and shared online by a 12-year-old Boy Scout in Canada. The face shield design is based on an open-source online design file. Each shield takes about 40 minutes to make, according to SMCL.

SMCL is working with the San Mateo County Health Department and Emergency Operations Center on a plan to deliver the gear. Not only that, six other library systems have teamed with SMCL to print from the same design files.

Photo credit: SMCL

Climate Magazine’s monthly issue will not appear in print as a result of coronavirus restrictions on distribution. However, the April issue can be read in its entirety right here on Climate’s website.

The expanded 40-page issue, accessed by clicking here, includes all of the Redwood City-based publication’s staples, but additional guest contributions have been included, among them columns related to the pandemic.

In her monthly letter, Editor Janet McGovern addressed the challenges the editorial team weighed in considering how—and even whether—to publish. The fact that most readers are subject to “shelter in place” limits and usual distribution outlets for the free magazine are closed was a major factor in the decision to move the magazine online. Present plans are to return to print for the May issue.

As a public service, Climate devoted several pages in the April issue to honoring the recipients of the recent Sequoia Awards, who were denied the normal opportunity of being acknowledged at a banquet. That March event was cancelled because of the coronavirus.

Publisher Adam Alberti says making the magazine available online means Climate’s regular audience won’t have to miss an issue, and he hopes the digital format will introduce the award-winning publication to new readers.

SamTrans is reducing service as a result of massive ridership declines to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many SamTrans routes will reflect their Saturday schedules during the weekdays, and service reductions will be made on 31 routes, the transit agency announced.

Routes 118, 274, 275 and 276 have seen such large dips in ridership that they will be removed from operation. Routes 270, 397, and 398 will operate as normal as they have not seen significant decreases.

Route ECR will run every 20 minutes on weekdays and will not have any changes in Saturday and Sunday service. Route FCX will only offer two trips from Foster City to San Francisco in the morning and from San Francisco to Foster City in the evening. Route SFO will have a 60 minute frequency, rather than the usual 30 minutes.

SamTrans’ ridership began to decrease in March when California’s shelter-in-place order was initially announced. Most routes have experience a 65-70 percent drop in ridership.

All riders are required to wear a mask when riding public transportation, per the county’s public health order. SamTrans will also monitor ridership levels to enforce social distancing.

To view SamTrans routes and times, click here.

Photo: Rafael Lima

I was born and raised a Red Sox Fan, and had a crush on Tony from Same Old Place Pizza – just like all the girls in the neighborhood. But being biracial in Boston in the 1980s, I often felt like an alien. Feeling like a foreigner in my hometown probably had something to do with the countless times that I was asked “What are you?” and “Where are you really from?”

In my day, racist comments were the norm. Before turning 18 years old, I was yelled at from moving cars, “Go back to China!,” called a “Chink,” complimented for my English, subjected to creepy “Asian girl” fetishes, and mocked in a “Chinese” accent. As a kid, my sense of self was shadowed by shame, embarrassment, and genuine confusion about why strangers hated me. And what could possibly make them so angry at my existence?

The harshness of the outside world was in stark contrast to my family life. We were a cross between the U.N. and The Brady Bunch, as a multicultural, blended family – with my Asian dad, Jewish mom, and Black god-mom. I’m the oldest of eight kids, with five adopted sisters from China. We were a loud, loving, and perfectly dysfunctional bunch – the epitome of a mosaic American family.

Race relations in New England was a “Black/White” issue. Asians weren’t even part of the vocabulary, and biracial kids, like me, were a rarity. It wasn’t until 2000 that “multi-racial” was an included category in the U.S. Census. So it wasn’t hard to leave the place that never quite felt like home. I went to school in New York, lived in China, traveled in South and Central America, and might just have continued wandering – until we found our “forever home” in the City of San Mateo.

Over 10 years ago, when my husband and I moved to San Mateo to start a family, it was truly the first place I felt an instant sense of belonging. At the time, I couldn’t have known all the things I’d come to love about San Mateo, but I did feel it. There’s the beautiful tapestry of Art Deco, Craftsman, and Spanish Revival architecture – not to mention 200 acres of open space. Authentic bratwurst, empanadas, Irish brew, Taiwanese stinky tofu — all on a single downtown block. San Mateo has a used book store, tech startups, the oldest Chinese Laundromat in the country, with a Chinese and Spanish immersion public school, all generations, faiths, and every stripe of the rainbow. I felt a kinesthetic sense of familiarity and, on my first visit, the decision was made that this is where we’d make our life.

Years later, I’d delve into San Mateo’s history as a community that strives to overcome racial discrimination by championing diversity as part of our core values. I came to appreciate how remarkable it is that San Mateo became sister cities with Toyonaka, Japan, only two decades after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the incarceration of American citizens of Japanese descent. For over half a century, our City nurtured this cultural-exchange program for our youth. It is widely considered to be one of San Mateo’s best traditions, and a powerful reminder of the potential of bridge building.

A lesser-known part of San Mateo’s history is the story of how the King Center in North Central got its name. In 1969, on the heels of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s tragic assassination, the City Council unanimously agreed to dedicate the community center as a memorial to Dr. King. At the meeting, Council Member Murry read aloud a letter from Rev. Cooper of St. James AME Zion Church, expressing his hope that the recreation center would not be segregated, as that would be antithetical to Dr. King’s teachings. This was a symbolic victory that affirmed San Mateo’s commitment to inclusivity.

Naming and honoring our heroes took courage, much like when San Mateo was the only City in the country to hold a homecoming parade for returning Vietnam Veterans. In 1972, 8,000 spectators applauded the return of 113 members of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the “Screaming Eagles.” San Mateans embraced and celebrated our war veterans, when across the states they received no welcome — or worse, as they were even shunned and stigmatized for their sacrifice.

During the COVID-19 health crisis, hateful rhetoric and dog-whistling is coming from the highest level of our federal government. Hate crimes and harassment are on the rise and many of our Asian community members have said they are afraid for themselves and their children. They ask, “What is San Mateo doing about the racism and xenophobia targeting Asians?”

San Mateo is joining with local leaders, including Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Assemblymember Pro Tem Kevin Mullin, Senator Jerry Hill, and Councilmembers across the County to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Asian/Pacific Islander community to unite against hate. San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals and the assistant District Attorney scrubbed racist graffiti from our public signs and pledged to prosecute hate crimes to the fullest extent of the law. San Mateans should feel assured that our Police Department will continue to closely monitor incidences of hate crimes and other violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and immigrants as the pandemic progresses. We also encourage reporting to the STOP AAPI HATE Project.

On Monday, our San Mateo City Council joined with other cities in the County to adopt a proclamation denouncing racism and xenophobia. It states, “The City of San Mateo is a diverse community – more than 20 percent of our population is of Asian or Pacific Islander descent – that draws its strength from its highly diverse population. The City of San Mateo routinely celebrates its cultural diversity and is now extremely concerned for the well-being of our residents that might be facing discrimination.”

There’s a saying, “Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.” All San Mateans deserve to have a sense of belonging and safety in our City. As Dr. King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Throughout our history, San Mateans have chosen to do right. That is who we are, and are always striving to be.

Amourence Lee is a member of the San Mateo City Council, board member of the San Mateo County API Caucus, and Honorary Chair of the Sister City Association.

What’s open in Redwood City? Here’s a guide you can post on your fridge.

Greg Garcia, member of the Downtown Redwood City Business Group, has been sharing a useful online resource of open essential businesses in Redwood City, including food spots, banks, supermarkets, hardware stores, bicycle shops and more. To see the full list of business currently open, click here.

While some hours and services may be reduced, quite a few essential businesses are open. This list seems to have it all, although we should note that one missing business is family-owned Davies Appliances at 1580 El Camino Real. The guide does, however, include a host of other businesses such as Airport Home Appliance, Atherton Appliance & Kitchen, Chain Reaction Bicycles, Woodside Bike Shop, Lewis Carpet Cleaning, Quality Computer Consulting Inc., MC Heating, The Kastrop Group, Inc.-Architects, Redwood City Alarms, and Ralph’s Vacuum & Sewing Center.

Don’t forget, starting April 22, all residents in San Mateo County are required to wear face coverings when performing certain activities. These activates include waiting in line or entering essential businesses; riding or waiting for public transportation; and while carrying out certain “essential work” tasks.

Photo credit: Rafael Lima

Bob Lutticken, a Redwood City resident and owner of Lutticken’s Deli in Menlo Park and Main & Elm Restaurant in Redwood City, recently launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to assist local nonprofits that feed community members in need.

In just three days, the fundraiser had already raised nearly $6,000. Every dollar will reportedly go toward the cost of purchasing food that will be prepared by staff at Lutticken’s restaurants for nonprofits who serve residents in need. Street Life Ministries, the St. Francis Center and the Maple Street Shelter will reportedly benefit from the money raised.

Last week, Main & Elm Restaurant made 85 breakfast burritos for Street Life Ministries to take on Easter Day to homeless residents.

For more information and to make a donation, click here.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is set to pass a resolution denouncing xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment of any kind, which it says has been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the epicenter of the outbreak is in Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei Province in China, according to public health officials, phrasing of the outbreak as the “Chinese virus,” including by President Donald Trump, have been criticized as stoking racism and hate crimes. That places the roughly 30 percent of San Mateo County resident who are of Asian heritage as potential victims of hate crimes, according to the Board of Supervisors’ resolution.

“COVID-19 is a public health issue, not a racial one and characterizing COVID-19 as a ‘Chinese Virus’ only encourages hate crimes and incidents against Asian Americans at a time when communities should be working together to get through this crisis,” the resolution states.

As recently reported in Climate, anti-Asian graffiti has been recently posted on highway signage, and San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals says he’s heard anecdotally of about a dozen verbal exchanges and graffiti. A study tracking reports of alleged hate crimes across the country since the start of the pandemic tallied 1,135 reports in the first two weeks, with incidents largely involving verbal harassment and shunning but also including physical assaults. On April 10, 2020, the San Mateo County Asian Pacific Islanders
Caucus and peninsula leaders issued a statement denouncing racism and xenophobia.

“It is critical that the County take leadership and stand in solidarity with its Asian American communities to send a message that discriminatory and hate motivated behavior will not be tolerated,” the resolution states. “All people are encouraged to report such xenophobic or discriminatory incidents to the proper authorities for investigation.”

For more information, visit the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors website.