U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Richmond, recently announced that he successfully included $21.7 million in federal funding for 15 projects to benefit Contra Costa County in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617).

“My priority in Congress is that I work for you to improve your daily lives and the funding included in this bill will do just that by bolstering public safety, reducing commute times and improving quality of life, increasing access to education and more,” said DeSaulnier.

“I am also delighted that the critical role families in Richmond and West Contra Costa County played in our nation’s World War II home front effort is being recognized. By expanding the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic Park, visitors will learn more about the East Bay’s trailblazing history,” he said.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, also makes significant investments for families, veterans, and workers by expanding quality, affordable health care, increasing benefits for veterans and delivering critical emergency disaster relief to states. The projects DeSaulnier secured funding for were subject to a strict transparency and accountability process, which is detailed by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Funding for these projects is expected to be disbursed in short order.

— U.S. Rep. DeSaulnier’s office

WEST CONTRA COSTA

Garamendi sworn in, represents new district in Congress

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, was sworn in Monday to representat California’s newly drawn 8th Congressional District, which includes the cities of El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, Pinole, Martinez, Suisun City, Pittsburg, Antioch, Vallejo and Fairfield.

“It’s a great honor to continue representing Solano and Contra Costa counties in Congress,” Garamendi said. “My title is ‘Representative,’ and that’s exactly what I will be. My team and I are here to listen and address every need in our community, and I will always lend my voice in service to the people of California’s 8th Congressional District.

“As I was sworn in, I stood with renewed optimism ready to work tirelessly on behalf of the people of Solano and Contra Costa counties to meet the great challenges of our day,” Garamendi concluded.

— U.S. Rep. Garamendi’s office

ALBANY

City seeks applicants to serve on council advisory bodies

Get involved in local government! The city of Albany is seeking applicants to serve on advisory bodies to the City Council. Positions are vacant on all advisory bodies.

Visit the Boards, Commissions & Committees webpage at albanyca.org/government/boards-commissions-committees for more information and to complete the online advisory body application. Please note that the Planning & Zoning and Policing commissions have additional supplemental questionnaires to complete the application.

— city of Albany

To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words, include the name of the group or individual to whom it is to be credited and should include a brief headline.

The new law is intended to ensure that seniors and other adults — in particular those who rely on cannabis for medicinal reasons — have access marijuana vaping products. Proposed by Supervisor Diane Burgis, the ordinance allows permitted cannabis retailers located in unincorporated areas to sell and deliver the products.

The ordinance passed 3-2 with supervisors Federal Glover and Candace Anderson voting no.

During the first reading of the ordinance on Dec. 6, Burgis said the motivation behind the revised ordinance was that the 2019 law hurt seniors and other adults who rely on cannabis vaping products for both recreational and medical reasons. In particular, it affected homebound seniors in unincorporated areas, she said.

“What we’re trying to do by having policies here in Contra Costa County is to give people a way to access safe products,” Burgis said.

At the December meeting, both Glover and Anderson voted against the ordinance, saying it would send mixed messages to the public and betray an effort led by Contra Costa youth who wanted the ban in the first place.

“We clearly took a leadership position back in 2019 when we had a number of our students throughout this county that came before us and asked for the leadership to put this ban in place,” Glover said. “And I’m not going to turn away from that. I think it’s important that that we listen to our youth when they cry out and ask for this help.”

Glover said there is no evidence “that vaping does not cause problems to individuals” and partially lifting the ban would send “false messages or confusing messages to our public that it’s OK to do this this while at the same time saying that we want to prevent it.”

On Tuesday, groups advocating for cannabis access told the Board of Supervisors that banning pot vape products has created an illicit black market for the product and disproportionately affected vulnerable populations who rely on cannabis primarily for medical reasons.

Renee Lee, a resident of the retirement community of Rossmoor who runs an organization with a mission to help seniors legally access and safety use cannabis, said the majority of medicinal cannabis users in the unincorporated community near Walnut Creek prefer vaping.

“I am so happy,” Lee said after Tuesday’s vote. “It’s like a big weight off my shoulders … (the ordinance) had been very unfair.”

Sarah Armstrong of American for Safe Access, the country’s largest and oldest advocacy organization for medical cannabis patients, said forcing people to travel medicinal marijuana “often stimulates a black market because they simply cannot go to the nearest dispensary if they don’t have one near them.”

Before the vote, Burgis emphasized that the ordinance makes no change to the current ban of tobacco and flavored tobacco vaping products; nor does it allow for new dispensaries in unincorporated areas.

“This does allow the sale of one particular set of cannabis products, which are already sold in many cities of Contra Costa County and are available to purchase in nearly every other part of the state that has approved cannabis retail sales,” she said.

In passing the ordinance, the board also directed Contra Costa Health Services to begin working on an awareness program about the dangers of youth cannabis vaping. Supervisor John Gioia said creation of such a program was a major factor in his decision to support the new legislation.

But Ben has had the most interesting career of all. His entry-level job was at CNN as the “designated John 3:16 tackler.” Let me explain: Back in the 1970s and ’80s, there was a guy called the Rainbow Man who used to insert himself into the picture at televised sports events wearing a multicolored wig and holding a sign reading, “John 3:16” (the Bible passage that reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”). Ben’s job was to tackle him to get him out of the shot.

His next job was as private secretary for Zsa Zsa Gabor. His third job came when he heard that Vin Scully, the great Dodgers announcer, was having trouble setting up his computer. So Ben, a big baseball fan as well as a techno geek, offered to set it up for him.

That led to a friendship and working relationship that had Ben doing a lot of research and writing for Scully and eventually the whole Dodgers organization, for which he set up the first major league team website. And that led in turn to a career as an ace reporter and West Coast producer for Major League Baseball’s website, MLB.com.

He was a welcome visitor at every ballpark in the country. Let me put it this way: He’s on a first-name basis with Sandy Koufax! It doesn’t get any better than that.

But his home base was always Dodger Stadium, and that’s where Ben found a way to indulge his mischievous streak. In the late innings it’s common for fans in the nosebleed seats to move down to the more expensive seats near the field if they see they’re not being used. But it’s technically against the rules.

So Ben would wander through the stadium, and when he spotted a family doing it — usually a father and his kids — he’d tap the guy on the shoulder and say, “Sir, you and your family will have to come with me.”

By the time they got to the elevator, the guy would be sweating bullets. Ben would push the button, and the elevator would descend to the ground floor. When the door opened, they’d find that they were inside the Dodgers dugout — while the game was still going on! Then Ben would hand each kid a brand-new baseball and a sharpie and say, “OK, kids, go get those autographs!” And all the players would sign.

But it all came to a sudden halt five years ago when he and everyone else his age at MLB were laid off and replaced by people 25 years younger. It was more than the loss of a job; it was the loss of a career. And the lost income created strains on his marriage that led to divorce.

And now comes more bad news: Ben has been diagnosed with middle-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Naturally, his brothers are rallying around him (with considerable help from their significant others). They’re trying to provide not only for his medical treatment, but also his living expenses for the rest of his life.

“In the meantime, we’ve created a project for Ben to work on to keep him focused and energized,” says Jon. “He not only loves baseball; his other big passion is sports movies. We’re creating a sports movie website and database with Ben’s old boss for him to watch films, research and provide information that will be part of this website’s database. We shipped him about 40 sports movies last month, and there will be a lot more to come.”

The website is scheduled to go online in April. They’ve also set up a GoFundMe campaign (gofund.me/e5ff381f) to help pay his bills. I know their mom would be proud of all three of them. I sure am.

Martin Snapp can be reached at catman442@comcast.net.

During their Dec. 20 meeting, El Cerrito City Council thanked Councilmember Janet Abelson, who is retiring after 23 years of public service, including having served as the city’s mayor five times during her record six terms as a councilmember.

While in office, Abelson championed change on a number of key issues. Abelson’s primary legislative slant is improving accessibility in all modes of transportation; after her retirement, Abelson will continue to serve on a number of transportation committees, such as the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee and Contra Costa Transportation Authority.

A wheelchair user since 1984, Abelson does not drive and relies completely on public transportation. With firsthand experience of the city’s infrastructure, Abelson knew the changes that needed to occur. While in office, Abelson served as a voice for her community, never forgetting the disadvantaged and disabled in her advocacy. Thanks to Abelson, low-income students in West Contra Costa County can get free bus passes through the Student Bus Pass Program.

When asked about a piece of legislation she’s most proud of, without hesitation, Abelson mentioned the 2014 San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, in which she played a key role in pressing for a number of key divisions, including reducing parking requirements, expanding maximum height limitations for buildings and optimizing the Environmental Impact Review processes to enable future development.

“San Pablo Avenue doesn’t look the same as it did 10 years ago. There’s a lot more housing now — multifamily housing in particular — which is a very important thing because it feeds into transit accessibility,” said Abelson. “We updated the city’s transit policy for this corridor, which means that we will continue to expand public infrastructure in the future.”

— Tripepi Smith

ALBANY

City seeks applicants to serve on council advisory bodies

Get involved in local government! The city of Albany is seeking applicants to serve on advisory bodies to the City Council. Positions are vacant on all advisory bodies.

Visit the Boards, Commissions & Committees webpage at albanyca.org/government/boards-commissions-committees for more information and to complete the online advisory body application. Please note that the Planning & Zoning and Policing commissions have additional supplemental questionnaires to complete the application.

— city of Albany

BERKELEY

Help build community center for local unhoused youth

Sustainable Housing at California (SHAC) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley students working with Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA), a Berkeley-based nonprofit that provides art jobs and job training programs to unhoused youth to be an environmentally sustainable part of the solution to the Bay Area’s housing crisis.

SHAC is designing and building the Sustainability, Education and Arts Development (SEAD) Center that will anchor the expansion of YSA’s existing Tiny Home Empowerment Village for unhoused youth to house 20 to 30 additional local youth. Based on desires voiced by current Tiny Home Empowerment Village residents and input from industry experts, the SEAD Center will provide a venue for youth to study, socialize and receive professional development services while incorporating sustainable technologies and practices to reduce its environmental impact.

SHAC needs the public’s help to build the next Tiny House Empowerment Village and SEAD Center. Please support this project by donating or sharing SHAC’s GoFundMe campaign (gofund.me/7e838641) to help cover construction and material costs to bring critical housing and recreational space to unhoused youth in Oakland.

— SHAC

To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words, include the name of the group or individual to whom it is to be credited and should include a brief headline.

“He could talk about anything,” says Kara Hammond, the owner of Baker & Commons. “He had a wealth of knowledge and read a lot on his cell phone while he was there. He was a very intellectual guy who knew a lot about history, current events and other cultures.

“He saw it as his job, but some days he had an appointment that morning and would show up a little later. When that happened, he was like, ‘Huh, I’m really late to work today,’ but he’d compensate by staying later that afternoon, even after we closed at 6:30. He and I had an interesting relationship. He had his business, and I had mine, and we’d compare notes on the foot traffic: ‘How was your day? ‘Oh, kind of slow today. Not too many people out.’ ”

In the process, he became beloved. For many people, it wasn’t a visit to the Elmwood unless you had a chat with Jeremy. But the sentiment wasn’t universal.

“Some people would complain about him, usually folks from out of town,” says Hammond. “They were appalled. They couldn’t understand why he was there. Some even questioned whether he was legit. But the people in the neighborhood were never bothered by him. He was always nice, always talkative but also kind of quiet. He didn’t intrude himself on you, but he was always there, part of our community.”

Jeremy passed away Dec. 2 at the age of 88. The next day, one of the neighbors named Sadie Radinsky posted a sign on the corner reading, “Rest in Peace, Jeremy Caughlin. Born in the outskirts of Seattle, Washington, to a long line of radical and big-hearted folks, Jeremy was the son of a labor rights attorney, grandson of a Methodist minister and great-grandson of a colonel in the Union Army.

“Jeremy went on to study biology at the University of Washington and later studied kelp, plankton and other sea life in graduate school. He knew an incredible amount about the natural world. He lamented the loss of nature in his once-green hometown but talked about the changes, albeit sad ones, with a twinkle in his eye.

The day after that, someone else placed a chair next to the sign on Jeremy’s corner. And the day after that, another person placed a vase of flowers on the chair. And there they remain, almost a month later. It’s hard to let a good man go.

“Thank you, Jeremy, for the life you brought to this community through your brilliant conversation and genuine heart on this corner all these years,” Radinsky also wrote on the sign. “We will miss you and always remember you.”

Amen.

Martin Snapp can be reached at catman442@comcast.net.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, has introduced new legislation to ensure that Californians will have access to free menstrual products in the workplace and in public buildings.

“We expect restrooms in public spaces to provide basic essentials for health and sanitation, but this expectation fails to recognize that more than half of our state’s population needs more than toilet paper and hand washing supplies,” said Skinner, who chairs the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. “The simple act of ensuring access to menstrual products respects an essential bodily function that has been shrouded in shame. Toilet paper is expected to be free and accessible to everyone in our public restrooms. Menstrual products should be treated the same.”

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters and vice chair of the women’s caucus, is a principal co-author of SB 59. California has enacted budget and legislative policies to increase access to menstrual products, including ending the tax on these products and requiring that they be provided free of charge in the state Capitol building, at public schools serving grades six through 12, community colleges and the California State University system. In addition, the 2021 state budget allocated $2 million to support a free menstrual product-distribution pilot program in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

— state Sen. Skinner’s office

SAN PABLO

Cultural arts academy wins award, will receive $50,000

Officials with the Lewis Prize for Music — a philanthropic music arts organization — are thrilled to announce that San Pablo’s own Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy has been named one of organization’s 2023 Catalyst awardees and will receive $50,000 to further their work in empowering youth and their communities through music.

Founded in 2018 by philanthropist Daniel R. Lewis, the annual awards are part of the Lewis Prize for Music’s $20 million commitment over five years for creative youth development organizations across the country who are creating positive change through youth music programs.

By supporting these phenomenal organizations across the country, the organization hopes to inspire more partners to work together to ensure every young person can access transformative learning and creative experiences that empower them to thrive. For more details, visit loscenzontles.com and thelewisprize.org online.

— Lewis Prize for Music

ALBANY

Council reorganizes, names city’s new mayor, vice mayor

The Albany City Council reorganized itself during a special meeting Dec. 12. The council chose Aaron Tiedemann as the city’s mayor and John Anthony Miki as its vice mayor. The council’s regular meetings are at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. For more information, visit albanyca.org/government/city-council.

— city of Albany

BERKELEY

Help build community center for local unhoused youth

Sustainable Housing at California (SHAC) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley students working with Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA), a Berkeley-based nonprofit that provides art jobs and job training programs to unhoused youth to be an environmentally sustainable part of the solution to the Bay Area’s housing crisis.

SHAC is designing and building the Sustainability, Education and Arts Development (SEAD) Center that will anchor the expansion of YSA’s existing Tiny Home Empowerment Village for unhoused youth to house 20 to 30 additional local youth. Based on desires voiced by current Tiny Home Empowerment Village residents and input from industry experts, the SEAD Center will provide a venue for youth to study, socialize and receive professional development services while incorporating sustainable technologies and practices to reduce its environmental impact.

SHAC needs the public’s help to build the next Tiny House Empowerment Village and SEAD Center. Please support this project by donating or sharing SHAC’s GoFundMe campaign (gofund.me/7e838641) to help cover construction and material costs to bring critical housing and recreational space to unhoused youth in Oakland.

— SHAC

EL CERRITO

City’s minimum wage rising to $17.35 an hour on Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, the city’s minimum wage will increase from $16.37 per hour to $17.35 per hour. The city minimum wage standards require all employers to pay their employees no less than the minimum wage for all hours worked in the city of El Cerrito, regardless of where the business is headquartered (employees who work less than two hours a week within El Cerrito are exempt).

Each year, the wage will increase based on changes in the local Consumer Price Index. Employers and workers with questions about the El Cerrito minimum wage
ordinance can visit el-cerrito.org/wages or email wages@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.

— city of El Cerrito

To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words, include the name of the group or individual to whom it is to be credited and should include a brief headline.

U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Richmond, has announced the passage of five water infrastructure provisions to benefit Contra Costa County as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. The WRDA was included as part of the James Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 350 to 80. It has moved to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

“In working to secure a new Environmental Infrastructure program for the Delta, Congressman DeSaulnier demonstrated his leadership on such matters not just for the county but the entire region,” said Karen Mitchoff, who chairs the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

Specifically, the following projects are now eligible for funding and support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

• West County Wastewater District’s living levee to help protect against coastal flooding while safeguarding the local ecosystem in North Richmond;
• West County Wastewater District’s forcemain project to upgrade the sewer collection system to protect local waterways and support environmental justice communities;
• efforts in Contra Costa County and across the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to bolster water supply and conservation, protect critical habitats and natural resources, and address the effects of climate change.

In addition to these projects, DeSaulnier successfully included provisions to bolster local efforts to address invasive species in the Delta that threaten the region’s water system and to encourage the beneficial reuse of materials that can be used to create or restore critical habitats and protect against flooding. WRDA is biannual legislation that supports improvements to our nation’s ports, inland waterways, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure that are essential to our environmental protection, economic growth and global competitiveness.

— U.S. Rep. DeSaulnier’s office

BERKELEY

Help build community center for local unhoused youth

Sustainable Housing at California (SHAC) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley students working with Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA), a Berkeley-based nonprofit that provides art jobs and job training programs to unhoused youth to be an environmentally sustainable part of the solution to the Bay Area’s housing crisis.

SHAC is designing and building the Sustainability, Education and Arts Development (SEAD) Center that will anchor the expansion of YSA’s existing Tiny Home Empowerment Village for unhoused youth to house 20 to 30 additional local youth. Based on desires voiced by current Tiny Home Empowerment Village residents and input from industry experts, the SEAD Center will provide a venue for youth to study, socialize and receive professional development services while incorporating sustainable technologies and practices to reduce its environmental impact.

SHAC needs the public’s help to build the next Tiny House Empowerment Village and SEAD Center. Please support this project by donating or sharing SHAC’s GoFundMe campaign (gofund.me/7e838641) to help cover construction and material costs to bring critical housing and recreational space to unhoused youth in Oakland.

— SHAC

City reminds residents to reduce waste this holiday season

As you celebrate the holidays, staff at the city of Berkeley’s Zero Waste Division hope you also take some steps to reduce holiday waste.

When selecting your tree this holiday season, consider a plan that reduces waste and is made with the city’s disposal rules in mind for when the season is over. Living trees can be rented for the season or planted in your yard after the holidays to avoid waste altogether.

If you decide to buy a cut tree or have other ideas for your holiday tree experience, know how to dispose of it later. If you’re considering a cut tree, know that the city only composts the tree itself. Avoid trees that have been “flocked” — covered with chemicals mimicking snow — as they cannot be composted.

When it’s time to dispose of a compostable tree, you’ll have to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags and plastic tree stands. You’ll also have to cut them into pieces less than 3 feet long to fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed.

If you don’t have the tools to cut your tree to fit into your cart, you can borrow them for free from the Berkeley Tool Lending Library (bayareane.ws/berktoolibrary) at 1901 Russell St. Trees left on the curb won’t get picked up, as they can damage the city’s side-loader collection trucks.

You may prefer dropping off discarded trees at the city’s Transfer Station (bayareane.ws/berktranstation) at 1201 Second St., off Gilman Avenue, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays except for Christmas and New Year’s days, when it’s closed.

For compostable trees, the Transfer Station offers free drop-off in January. Starting Feb. 1, the station will charge $27.75 plus a $3.50 environmental compliance fee. For flocked or plastic trees, the station charges a $38.50 fee plus the $3.50 environmental compliance fee.

— city of Berkeley

EL CERRITO

City’s minimum wage rising to $17.35 an hour on Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, the city’s minimum wage will increase from $16.37 per hour to $17.35 per hour. The city minimum wage standards require all employers to pay their employees no less than the minimum wage for all hours worked in the city of El Cerrito, regardless of where the business is headquartered (employees who work less than two hours a week within El Cerrito are exempt).

Each year, the wage will increase based on changes in the local Consumer Price Index. Employers and workers with questions about the El Cerrito minimum wage
ordinance can visit el-cerrito.org/wages or email wages@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.

— city of El Cerrito

To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words, include the name of the group or individual to whom it is to be credited and should include a brief headline.

Suspense: Will they be able to get him out of town before King Herod’s soldiers arrive to kill him?

Irony: If only those innkeepers knew who they were turning away!

Intrigue: Say, who is this kid’s real father anyway?

But the thing I love most about Christmas is Jesus himself. You may or may not believe he was God incarnate, but either way you have to admit that he was a really cool guy and a smart one too.

You don’t have to believe the miracle stories, like feeding the multitudes with a few loaves or fishes, or raising Lazarus from the dead. They may be true, but on the other hand they could have been inserted by later writers to impress the credulous common folk.

And I’m skeptical about Jesus being born on Dec. 25 because the Gospel of Luke says that when the shepherds saw the Christmas star, they were tending their flocks in the fields. But the Holy Land gets awfully cold in December, and being outside would be a quick way to freeze to death. Any sensible shepherd would be snug and comfy inside a manger along with his sheep. It’s much more likely that he was born in the spring.

But the Christmas star has some truth to it. Astronomers can track the movements of heavenly bodies backward as well as forward, and they calculate that in the year 2 BC the brightest planets in the sky, Jupiter and Venus, merged into a dazzling “star” near the western horizon. In countries to the east of what was then the kingdom of Judea, observers could have seen the fused planets as a beacon in the direction of Jerusalem.

So where did the church fathers get Dec. 25? Simple: It was already being observed as the birthday of Mithras, Jesus’ chief rival for the affections of the common folk, especially soldiers in the army. The early church often appropriated the holy sites of the pagan religions it was seeking to replace. For instance, the first thing St. Patrick did when he landed in Ireland was chop down the Druids’ sacred tree and build a church on the spot.

But one thing you can’t ignore is the genius of Jesus’ words, including parables like the prodigal son and aphorisms like the lilies of the field. They might seem simple at first; but the more you think about them, the more you realize they’re actually packed with truly sublime wisdom. Especially the Sermon on the Mount:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The great novelist Kurt Vonnegut, a confirmed atheist — I guess living through the Battle of the Bulge and the firebombing of Dresden might do that to you — said, “If it weren’t for the Sermon on the Mount, with its message of mercy and pity, I wouldn’t want to be a human being. I’d just as soon be a rattlesnake.”

Merry Christmas to all, especially the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees I met in Berkeley’s Elmwood district on Sunday. They’ll be back in the district this Sunday and in Oakland at Children’s Fairyland on Dec. 22 (as dancing Christmas trees) and Dec. 26 (as dancing penguins because, as Director Pamm Drake explains, “It’ll be after Christmas.”)

Martin Snapp can be reached at catman442@comcast.net.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, has announced new legislation to strengthen California’s laws to protect those who access abortion or gender-affirming care.

Skinner’s proposed “Safe Haven” legislation would make it illegal for bail agents or bounty hunters to apprehend people in California who have left another state to avoid criminal prosecution or imprisonment related to that state’s criminalization of abortion or gender-affirming care. The bill would also ensure that benefits such as food and housing assistance would not be denied to individuals who left another state and traveled to California for purposes described above but would otherwise be eligible for such benefits.

“Last year the Legislature, Governor Newsom and California voters took bold action, guaranteeing the right to an abortion and gender-affirming care. But a growing number of states have done the opposite, putting residents who seek essential health care at risk of being prosecuted. My ‘Safe Haven’ bill will ensure that those who come to California fleeing persecution by other states will be free from the worry that a bounty hunter could snatch them up and send them back,” Skinner said.

Since the antiabortion majority of the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, at least 13 states now have laws on the books making it a felony to receive or perform an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. In addition, four states have enacted laws or regulations banning gender-affirming care, and 15 additional states are considering legislation to do so, according to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

During the most recent legislative session, Gov. Newsom signed AB 1242 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda and SB 107 by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, as well as other laws that made California a sanctuary state for abortion services and gender-affirming care. In addition, in the November election, California voters passed an amendment to the state constitution guaranteeing the right to abortion and contraception.

The new legislation by Sen. Skinner builds on those landmark laws by barring California judges from directing bounty hunters or bail agents and making it illegal for bounty hunters and bail agents to apprehend people who fled criminal prosecution or imprisonment in other states for providing, receiving or supporting an abortion or gender-affirming care. Bounty hunters and bail agents who violate the new statute would be guilty of a misdemeanor and face up to a year in jail and forfeiture of their license to operate in California.

“Now that some states have shown a willingness to aggressively enforce antiabortion and gender-conformity laws, it won’t be surprising to see bounty hunters trying to track down people who seek refuge in California. My ‘Safe Haven’ law will send a message to any bounty hunter who tries to enforce another states’ reactionary law: Do so and you’ll face jail time and lose your license,” Skinner added.

— state Sen. Skinner’s office

Help build community center for local unhoused youth

Sustainable Housing at California (SHAC) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley students working with Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA), a Berkeley-based nonprofit that provides art jobs and job training programs to unhoused youth to be an environmentally sustainable part of the solution to the Bay Area’s housing crisis.

SHAC is designing and building the Sustainability, Education and Arts Development (SEAD) Center that will anchor the expansion of YSA’s existing Tiny Home Empowerment Village for unhoused youth to house 20 to 30 additional local youth. Based on desires voiced by current Tiny Home Empowerment Village residents and input from industry experts, the SEAD Center will provide a venue for youth to study, socialize and receive professional development services while incorporating sustainable technologies and practices to reduce its environmental impact.

SHAC needs the public’s help to build the next Tiny House Empowerment Village and SEAD Center. Please support this project by donating or sharing SHAC’s GoFundMe campaign (gofund.me/7e838641) to help cover construction and material costs to bring critical housing and recreational space to unhoused youth in Oakland.

— SHAC

ALBANY

Bird walk, mural dedication, butterfly viewing on Sunday

Celebrate nature and culture on Albany Hill with Friends of Albany Hill from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Scheduled activities include a bird walk with Ralph Pericoli that starts at 9 a.m. (meet at Pierce St. and the Cerrito Creek Bridge).

A ribbon-cutting and dedication of the mural “Symbiosis — Host Plants and Albany Hill Butterflies” will be at 1:30 p.m. (meet at the Albany Children’s Center at 720 Jackson St.). Lastly, a monarch butterfly migration viewing with Carole Fitzgerald will be at 3 p.m. (meet at the Taft Street turnaround at top of Albany Hill). All or any of the activities would be canceled in the event of rain.

— Friends of Albany Hill

BERKELEY

City reminds residents to reduce waste this holiday season

As you celebrate the holidays, staff at the city of Berkeley’s Zero Waste Division hope you also take some steps to reduce holiday waste.

When selecting your tree this holiday season, consider a plan that reduces waste and is made with the city’s disposal rules in mind for when the season is over. Living trees can be rented for the season or planted in your yard after the holidays to avoid waste altogether.

If you decide to buy a cut tree or have other ideas for your holiday tree experience, know how to dispose of it later. If you’re considering a cut tree, know that the city only composts the tree itself. Avoid trees that have been “flocked” — covered with chemicals mimicking snow — as they cannot be composted.

When it’s time to dispose of a compostable tree, you’ll have to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags and plastic tree stands. You’ll also have to cut them into pieces less than 3 feet long to fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed.

If you don’t have the tools to cut your tree to fit into your cart, you can borrow them for free from the Berkeley Tool Lending Library (bayareane.ws/berktoolibrary) at 1901 Russell St. Trees left on the curb won’t get picked up, as they can damage the city’s side-loader collection trucks.

You may prefer dropping off discarded trees at the city’s Transfer Station (bayareane.ws/berktranstation) at 1201 Second St., off Gilman Avenue, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays except for Christmas and New Year’s days, when it’s closed.

For compostable trees, the Transfer Station offers free drop-off in January. Starting Feb. 1, the station will charge $27.75 plus a $3.50 environmental compliance fee. For flocked or plastic trees, the station charges a $38.50 fee plus the $3.50 environmental compliance fee.

— city of Berkeley

EL CERRITO

City’s minimum wage rising to $17.35 an hour on Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, the city’s minimum wage will increase from $16.37 per hour to $17.35 per hour. The city minimum wage standards require all employers to pay their employees no less than the minimum wage for all hours worked in the city of El Cerrito, regardless of where the business is headquartered (employees who work less than two hours a week within El Cerrito are exempt).

Each year, the wage will increase based on changes in the local Consumer Price Index. Employers and workers with questions about the El Cerrito minimum wage
ordinance can visit el-cerrito.org/wages or email wages@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.

— city of El Cerrito

To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words, include the name of the group or individual to whom it is to be credited and should include a brief headline.

As you celebrate the holidays, staff at the city of Berkeley’s Zero Waste Division hope you also take some steps to reduce holiday waste.

If you decide to buy a cut tree or have other ideas for your holiday tree experience, know how to dispose of it later. If you’re considering a cut tree, know that the city only composts the tree itself. Avoid trees that have been “flocked” — covered with chemicals mimicking snow — as they cannot be composted.

When it’s time to dispose of a compostable tree, you’ll have to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags and plastic tree stands. You’ll also have to cut them into pieces less than 3 feet long to fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed.

If you don’t have the tools to cut your tree to fit into your cart, you can borrow them for free from the Berkeley Tool Lending Library (bayareane.ws/berktoolibrary) at 1901 Russell St. Trees left on the curb won’t get picked up, as they can damage the city’s side-loader collection trucks.

You may prefer dropping off discarded trees at the city’s Transfer Station (bayareane.ws/berktranstation) at 1201 Second St., off Gilman Avenue, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays except for Christmas and New Year’s days, when it’s closed.

For compostable trees, the Transfer Station offers free drop-off in January. Starting Feb. 1, the station will charge $27.75 plus a $3.50 environmental compliance fee. For flocked or plastic trees, the station charges a $38.50 fee plus the $3.50 environmental compliance fee.

— city of Berkeley

EL CERRITO

City’s minimum wage rising to $17.35 an hour on Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, the city’s minimum wage will increase from $16.37 per hour to $17.35 per hour. The city minimum wage standards require all employers to pay their employees no less than the minimum wage for all hours worked in the city of El Cerrito, regardless of where the business is headquartered (employees who work less than two hours a week within El Cerrito are exempt).

Each year, the wage will increase based on changes in the local Consumer Price Index. Employers and workers with questions about the El Cerrito minimum wage
ordinance can visit el-cerrito.org/wages or email wages@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.

— city of El Cerrito

ALBANY

Friends of Albany Seniors’ White Elephant Sale Saturday

Join the Friends of Albany Seniors (FOAS) with the return of their annual White Elephant Sale! From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Albany Senior Center at 846 Masonic Ave., they’ll sell tools, kitchen items, knick-knacks, baked goods and much more. All proceeds will go to the FOAS, which supports the Albany Senior Center.

— city of Albany

RICHMOND

Center’s Holiday Arts Festival to return in-person Sunday

The Holiday Arts Festival will return in-person Sunday to the Richmond Art Center. After running for two years as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival will be back in-person to celebrate its “diamond jubilee” 60th year in Richmond.

The Holiday Arts Festival offers visitors a chance to buy unique gifts from local arts and crafts vendors, experience the center’s open studios, enjoy snacks and beverages and participate in art-making activities for the whole family. The festival will runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4 in the center at 2540 Barrett Ave. in Richmond.

Visitors will be able to shop for local and handmade holiday gifts from more than 50 local, independent artists. Available merchandise will include unique jewelry pieces, art glass, tin boxes, botanical illustrations, upcycled incense holders, crocheted fantastical hats and food preparation items made from repurposed wood. Artisanal goods at the festival will include gourmet chocolates and confections and handmade natural skincare products.

This will be an indoor event, and organizers will do what they can to keep people safe. Face masks will be required in the galleries and indoor public spaces but may be removed in the courtyard. For more details, visit richmondartcenter.org/haf online.

— RAC

To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words, include the name of the group or individual to whom it is to be credited and should include a brief headline.