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San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame to induct four honorees

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San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame to induct four honorees

A federal court judge, a professor and immigrant advocate, a long-time youth commissioner and a teen advocate/volunteer will be inducted into the 2020 San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame, according to the Commission on the Status of Women.

The honorees, who will be inducted March 7 following RISE 2020, the Women’s Leadership Conference at Skyline College in San Bruno, include (as described by the County):

Dr. Belinda Hernandez Arriaga (above photo on left), an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco (USF) and  founder/executive director of Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS), a Latino cultural arts, education, mental health and social justice program dedicated to working with rural youth and families living on the coastside. Belinda is a graduate from USF with a doctorate in education and master’s in social work. Belinda has done extensive work with farmworker families and their children, her mental health practice is focused on immigration trauma, u-visas, asylum and her current research prioritizes understanding the emotional, psychological and traumatic experiences that impact undocumented and mixed status Latino youth. A significant part of her work is dedicated to the cultural arts as part of cultural connections for healing. Belinda is committed to social justice advocacy, equity and human rights. She and her husband have three young daughters and live in Half Moon Bay.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman (above photo on right), a judge on the Federal Court in the Northern District of California, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014. Judge Freeman sits in the San Jose Division, hearing a broad array of cases including antitrust, civil rights, consumer class actions, commercial litigation and technology cases including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret cases. She serves on the Northern District’s patent local rules and jury instruction committees. Beth previously was a superior court judge in San Mateo County, CA from 2001-2014. She served as presiding judge and assistant presiding judge of the San Mateo Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench in 2001, Beth was a deputy county counsel in San Mateo County and an associate attorney at Lasky, Haas and Cohler in San Francisco and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and University of California, Berkeley.

Celine (Huijia) Wen (left) and Sarah Pistorino

Celine (Huijia) Wen, a junior at Aragon High School who immigrated from China in 2016 and lives in San Mateo. In 2017 she founded Women of the World Club in her school because of her interest and passion to help women, especially homeless women in the Bay Area. The club collects donations through bake sales, farmer’s markets, and collaborations with organizations like Happy Period and Saint Bartholomew’s Church. Funds collected during every three-month period are used to purchase hygiene products for homeless women. Outside of school, Celine volunteers at Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN), teaching autistic children arts and crafts every other week for the last three years and was awarded Best Volunteer of the Year in 2018. Celine is a varsity tennis and badminton player at Aragon. While working hard in school, she continuously encourages herself to give back to society and help the underprivileged.

Sarah Pistorino, who joined the San Mateo County Youth Commission in 2016 as a freshman at Sacred Heart Preparatory High School and currently serves as chair. She is a founding member of the SafeSpace Youth Advisory Board, an organization that provides resources to youth around mental health, referral to services, on-site counseling and communities where youth can connect and share their stories. With her work on the Youth Commission she has shown leadership with her fellow commission members and has worked closely with County Supervisor Carole Groom on projects such as the development of the County’s Social Host Ordinance and cannabis health education campaign, Decoded. Sarah lives in Menlo Park and is looking forward to continuing her development in higher education this coming fall.

“It is an honor and privilege of the Commission on the Status of Women to recognize the contributions and achievements of these exceptional women and youth,” said Commission President Nirmala Bandrapalli. “The Women’s Hall of Fame is a reminder of the extraordinary value and depth of talent and generosity women bring to our county communities every day of the year.”

The San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame was established by the Commission on the Status of Women in 1984 to recognize outstanding women for their contributions to the well-being of San Mateo County.  In 1992, a second category, “Young Women of Excellence,” was added to the Women’s Hall of Fame to honor accomplished high school juniors or seniors or the equivalent.

For more information on the accomplishments of the honorees, go here.

Redwood City council approves solid waste rate hikes

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Redwood City to hold community meetings on proposed solid waste rate increases

The Redwood City council on Monday unanimously approved increases in solid waste disposal rates.

For 20-gallon residential bins, monthly rates will increase by $3 to $15.87; for 32-gallon residential bins, they’ll increase by $2 to $32.86 per month. Rates for 64 and 96-gallon residential bins will rise by 4 percent to $64.20 and $95.31, respectively.

Unscheduled solid waste services to residential homes will increase by 2.26 percent.

For commercial customers, rates are increasing by 4 percent for one-yard bins picked up once or three times per week, as well as for three-yard bins picked up once or three times per week. For example, the cost for a one-yard bin picked up three times per week will go from $432.87 to $450.18.

Redwood City Public Works Director Terence Kyaw cited increasing labor costs, reduced revenue for recyclable materials and rising transportation costs as reasons for the rate hikes.

City officials point out the new rates remain less than the average cost charged by nearby communities. For several years, the City Council’s Utilities Sub-Committee has recommended addressing cost increases with regular, modest rate increases rather than those that are infrequent and steep.

Here’s how the new rates compare with other communities (charts presented in city documents):

San Mateo County burglary spree linked to SF fencing operation

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While investigating a rash of burglaries targeting cars, homes and businesses across San Mateo County, deputies were led to a fencing operation San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, which announced the arrest of eight individuals suspected of being involved.

The investigation “Operation Shattered Glass” aimed to dismantle the organization suspected of buying and selling electronics, laptops, cameras and commercial retail merchandise that had been stolen in San Mateo County burglaries.

During the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 23, multiple law enforcement agencies in San Mateo County and San Francisco, including the Redwood City, Daly City, South San Francisco and San Francisco police departments, executed eight search warrants and multiple arrest warrants at five San Mateo County residences, two in San Francisco, and one storage unit in San Francisco.

“While searching the residences, over $2 million in personal stolen property was located including electronics, laptops, camera equipment, and commercial retail merchandise,” the sheriff’s office said. “A total of eight suspects were arrested and booked into San Mateo County Jail. Over $150,000 in cash was seized during the operation as well as three vehicles at a residence totaling over $1.2 million.”

The sheriff’s office will be looking to return the property to their rightful owners in the next two weeks.

The arrested suspects include: Juarez Nino Vicente-Silvestre, 30, Daly City; Rudy Alexander Riverafolgar, 18, Pacifica; Yamel Cristina Vallejo Lopez, 28, Daly City; Armando Ortez, 40, Daly City; Kevin Orlando Hernandez Sanchez, 26, Daly City; Jose Maldonado Soto, 30, Daly City; Zhipeng Chen, 36, San Francisco; and Alex RiveraPeraza, 42, Daly City.

Anyone who may have information about these individuals, property,or crimes is encouraged to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit at SMCOCSU@smcgov.org. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the anonymous tip-line at 1-800-547-2700.

Photo credit: Sheriff’s van by Rafael Lima; booking photo by SMC Sheriff’s Office

Human trafficking awareness event set for San Mateo Tuesday

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Woman arrested for hit and run in Best Buy parking lot

San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos Bolanos is set to provide opening remarks at a San Mateo event Tuesday held in conjunction with Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month.

The community is invited to learn what the County is doing to combat human trafficking, and the partners involved in the battle from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at City of San Mateo Council Chambers, 330 West 20th Ave. The event, called Fighting Human Trafficking in San Mateo County, is free and open to the public.

From 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the program will feature refreshments and resource tables featuring agencies including Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC), District Attorney’s Victim Services Division, FBI San Francisco Citizens Academy Alumni Association, Freedom House, Rape Trauma Services (RTS), Special Operations, StarVista, and Worldsong Aid.

From 7-8:30 p.m., the program and a Q&A will occur, with Bolanos delivering opening remarks.

The event is hosted by the San Mateo County Human Trafficking Program, a collaboration between the sheriff’s office and San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association.

For more information, click here.

Photo credit: Rafael Lima

San Carlos man arrested on child porn charges

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A 55-year-old San Carlos man was arrested for allegedly possessing over 10,000 images of child pornography, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Daniel Wadleigh was arrested after a lengthy investigation that followed a tip from the public in August 2019, the sheriff’s office said..

Detectives served a search warrant at Wadleigh’s home in the 2000 block of St. Francis Way on Thursday and reportedly discovered the images on his computer. Detectives believe this is an isolated incident, and it does not appear as though any of the victims in the images are local. This investigation is still ongoing.

Photo credit: San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office

CDC screening passengers for coronavirus at SFO

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is screening passengers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) who are arriving from Wuhan, China, for the new strain of coronavirus.

“This includes passengers on nonstop flights from Wuhan, and connecting passengers whose travel started in Wuhan,” airport officials said. “Screening will happen inside the Customs facility at SFO.”

In China, 26 people have died and over 800 sickened with confirmed cases, which are spreading to other countries. As of Friday morning, there were two confirmed cases in the U.S. — a man in Washington and a woman in Chicago, both of whom were recently in Wuhan, according to ABC News. Dozens of unconfirmed cases are under investigation in 22 states. This map by John Hopkins University is tracking its spread.

The CDC is tracking the matter here.

Patients confirmed with the illness have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness, with symptoms that include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. At this time, health officials believe symptoms appear in as few as two days and as long as 14 days after exposure.

Photo credit: San Francisco International Airport

Redwood City proposing increase in solid waste disposal rates

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Redwood City to hold community meetings on proposed solid waste rate increases

UPDATE: Council unanimously voted in favor of the proposed rate increases. Story here.

Redwood City is considering increasing solid waste disposal rates, including a hike of up to $3 for 86 percent of residential customers, to offset an increase in collection costs and a reduction in recycling revenue, according to the city.

It’s slated to be one in a number of small rate increases in the coming years, the city says.

“Rather than increasing solid waste rates drastically in a one-year time span, the city is proposing small increases over time to help reduce the impact to residents,” the city stated.

On Monday, Jan. 27, the City Council will consider the proposed rate increase plan, which includes a 4 percent increase to rates for regular, scheduled, basic collection of commercial solid waste and recyclable materials, as well as residential solid waste and recyclable materials for 64-gallon and 96-gallon bins; a $3 increase for regular, scheduled, basic collection of residential solid waste and recyclable materials for 20-gallon bins; a $2 increase for regular, scheduled, basic collection of residential solid waste and recyclable materials for 32-gallon bins; and 2.26 percent increase for unscheduled solid waste services.

If approved, the rates would take effect Feb. 1.

Despite the increased rates, which are meant to keep pace with increasing costs for disposal and processing fees, labor, fuel and power and other operating and maintenance costs, Redwood City customers “will remain less than the average in San Mateo County,” the city says.

For more information, go here.

San Mateo PD: Fatal collision related to home invasion

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An early morning fatal collision in San Mateo was connected to a home invasion in the city, police said.

On Thursday at 3:44 a.m., San Mateo police responded to a home in the 1600 block of Roberta drive on a report of suspects inside the occupied home. As officers arrived, two separate vehicles fled the area in different directions, police said. Officers followed both vehicles, one that traveled across the San Mateo Bridge and the other northbound on U.S. Highway 101. Due to high speeds, according to police, officers ended the pursuit of the vehicle crossing the bridge and also lost sight of the other speeding vehicle on 101.

At about 4:05 a.m., the California Highway Patrol contacted police reporting a single-car fatal collision on the Peninsula Avenue off-ramp from northbound 101, police said. The vehicle containing three occupants was determined to be one of the two fleeing the Roberta Drive home. One person was pronounced dead at the scene and two were transported to a trauma center to be treated for their injuries, police said.

At the same time, during the investigation on Roberta Drive a third vehicle was located at the scene and one occupant, a male passenger, was taken into custody.

“In all, it was determined there were at least five subjects involved in the Roberta incident and the homeowner was not harmed,” police said.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact SMPD Dispatch at (650)522-7700.

Photo: San Mateo Police Department

Mom’s $460K contribution to son’s state senate campaign draws scrutiny

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Michael Brownrigg/City of Burlingame

A mother’s $460,000 campaign contribution to her son’s candidacy for the 13th State Senate District raised eyebrows and questions.

Michael Browningg’s 84-year-old mother, Linda Browningg of Burlingame, put the hefty donation into an independent expenditure committee (IE) called Californians Supporting Brownrigg for Senate 2020. She contributed $32,400 on Jan. 2, and then $425,000 on Jan. 17, with the aim of funding media advertising and polling in the campaign for her son, a Burlingame council member since 2009.

Unlike direct contributions to a candidate, those made to IEs have no limit. However, questions have been raised over whether the contribution violates state election law, which forbids an IE from coordinating with the candidate. Election law presumes that an immediate family member’s IE contribution is improper, unless the facts prove otherwise.

“If there is coordination, the payments are reported as contributions, and, among other things, may be subject to contribution limits,” which for individual donations to state senate campaigns is $4,700 per election, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (CFPPC).

The penalty for failing to comply with the Act’s disclosure requirements is a fine of up to $5,000 per violation. In addition, violating the disclosure requirements involving IE advertisements may be liable for a fine of up to three times the cost of the advertisement, including placement costs, according to CFPPC.

Brownrigg has not yet responded to a request for comment by Climate. This story will be updated when a response is received. Brownrigg told media outlets earlier this week he had no idea his mother was going to make the contribution. He told San Jose Spotlight it isn’t a fair assumption that his mother broke a campaign law. His mother told Spotlight she made the contribution “on the advice of someone else,” but declined to identify that person.

As of Wednesday, the CFPPC had not received a complaint regarding the contribution, CFPPC spokesperson Jay Wierenga told Climate. Wierenga declined to comment on the specifics of Brownrigg’s case.

Image: California Secretary of State

Redwood City woman gets 6 years in prison for sex acts with minor

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A teacher from Redwood City was sentenced to six years and eight months in state prison, with 917 days credit for time served, for engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor in her family, prosecutors said.

Dawn Giannini, 50, who was a substitute special education teacher, engaged in a sexual relationship with the victim when she was 16 and 17 years old, from Sept. 1, 2016 to March 11, 2018, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office said. The victim recorded the sexual conduct on her cellphone, and the footage was ultimately uploaded to Pornhub, a pornography website.

In 2018, a classmate of the victim at Woodside High saw the videos online and reported it to the school’s principal, who notified the sheriff’s office.

The “investigation revealed that the defendant had been having sex with her family member,” San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

In addition to her prison sentence, Giannini will have to register as a sex offender and was ordered to have no contact with the victim for 10 years.

The arrest and charges rocked the Elks Club in Redwood City, where both Giannini and her husband socialized.

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