What's new

Connect with your community each week with the following updates on COVID-19, City services, events and programs, wellness opportunities, and family resources. 

• Coronavirus Report
• Palo Alto Municipal Election Resources 
• Homekey Palo Alto Awarded $4M by County Board of Supervisors 
• Get Ready & Stay Informed Before the Next Big Earthquake 
• Weekly City Manager Blog Series: October 3, 2022 

Coronavirus Report

As of October 5, the CDC reported a 7-day moving average of 43,692 new cases. On October 6, California reported a 7-day daily average of 3,336 cases. On October 5, Santa Clara County reported a 7-day rolling average of 205 new cases.

Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccine, Get Boosted 

To help save lives, support community health, and keep you and your family healthy this fall, it’s important to receive the updated COVID-19 booster dose. The new bivalent boosters became available for people ages 12 and older over Labor Day weekend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are safe, effective, and free to everyone ages 6 months and up. COVID-19 vaccination has many benefits and is an important tool to help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Talk with your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated and boosted today. You can also visit sccfreevax.org to find a convenient appointment. Learn more about getting the COVID-19 vaccine here. 

Free COVID-19 Testing Continues in Palo Alto 

Through a partnership with Santa Clara County, the community may get tested for free at the Palo Alto Art Center on October 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/testing to learn more, including other free testing options offered to the community.

Community Recovery and City Updates

Palo Alto Municipal Election Resources 

Every registered voter in Palo Alto will receive a vote-by-mail ballot from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters in the mail. Ballots will be sent on or about October 10 and you should receive your ballot a few days later. All vote-by-mail ballots come with a pre-paid postage return envelope. You can register to vote by October 24 or on Election Day, November 8, at an official Vote Center. On the 2022 Palo Alto Municipal Election ballot, three (3) of the seven (7) City Council seats are up for election. Two measures will also appear on the ballot: one to establish a new business tax (Measure K) and the other to affirm the decades old practice of annually transferring a percentage of revenues from the natural gas utility to the City’s general fund (Measure L). The measures, if approved by voters, would generate approximately $16.6 million in revenue annually. For Palo Alto elections information including voting resources such as drop off locations and vote centers, council candidate information, and local ballot Measures K and L materials, visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/elections. 

Homekey Palo Alto Awarded $4M by Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors 

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on October 4 to approve the first round of funding from the County’s $40 million “Challenge Grant” program to combat homelessness.?At the Board of Supervisors meeting, the first $8 million in Challenge Grant funding was awarded for two sites including?Homekey Palo Alto?and Homekey Branham Lane in San José.?Located at 1237 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto near the Palo Alto Baylands, the?Homekey Palo Alto?site?will provide a dignified transitional step for unhoused residents on the path to stable housing. This follows?the State announcement from August 24, confirming the City of Palo Alto and LifeMoves were awarded $26.6 million to be used to develop an interim housing shelter with the capacity to serve over 300 individuals annually with on-site support services. Read more about the County’s grant award here. 

Get Ready & Stay Informed Before the Next Big Earthquake 

Based on the United States Geological Services earthquake map, in the last 30 days, the United States has seen 1,697 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or greater. With October marking the anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake and the international event focused on earthquake safety called the Great Shakeout planned, a new community update shares details on ways residents can get ready for the next big earthquake, offering tools, tips, and online resources to keep your family safe before an earthquake, during, and after. Read more here. 

Weekly City Manager Blog Series: October 3, 2022 

Each Council meeting, City Manager Ed?Shikada?provides “City Manager Comments” sharing recent City news, and updates for the community to stay informed on important issues. Understand your COVID-19 exposure risks and continue to get tested and vaccinated/boosted with available City and County resources. Attend upcoming community workshops from open-ended drawing with the Artist-in-Residence at Cubberley to learning how you can take climate action during the Making Better Choices in Your Home Workshop on October 15. Plus, share your input on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update at a community meeting on Thursday, October 13. Read the community updates here.

Be Well

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Data from the CDC indicates that one in four women and nearly one in 10 men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Learn about and be aware of the cycles and types of abuse, and how someone can help end these cycles. A good place to start is national domestic violence support groups, and being aware of what a personalized safety plan is. It may be helpful for you, a family member, or a friend.

Financial Health & Wellness: Join the Library as they welcome financial wellness instructor Brad Hamada of the Heartland Institute of Financial Education for a 6-part series on financial health and wellness. These in-person workshops will take place at Mitchell Park Library on the 3rd Saturday of each month, beginning October 15 from 2 – 3 p.m. Topics include Building Savings and Wealth, Increase Cash Flow and Manage Debt, Preparing with Proper Protection, Your Health and Wealth, Understanding Asset Accumulation Strategies, Fulfilling Long Term Goals. Sign up for a preferred topic here.

Recipe of the Week: Another fall squash recipe with spices this week: cinnamon roasted butternut squash, with a hint of maple. This recipe is sure to smell fantastic out of the oven and provide caramelized perfection on the plate. 

Family Resources

Making Better Choices in Your Home Workshop: Take climate action in your own home! Learn how to make different, climate-friendly choices in your home that have a global impact on climate change. Upgrading your home’s appliances to electric not only helps globally, but also creates a healthier environment within your house. Switching away from gas-based appliances has a positive impact on home air quality and reduces gas emissions, supporting community health and community climate impacts. Learn about how you can start making the switch from gas to electric at the upcoming open-house style workshop at Mitchell Park Community Center on Saturday, October 15. Stop by any time between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register and learn more here. 

Monthly Book Sale: The Friends of Palo Alto Library is holding their monthly book sale this weekend on October 8-9 at the Cubberley Community Center 4000 Middlefield Road. Saturday hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday it will be open 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Go here for more information. 

SunShares Informational Webinar: Bay Area SunShares is a renewable energy program that provides discounts on rooftop solar and battery storage systems. Join a Palo Alto specific webinar on Wednesday, October 12 at 6:30 p.m. to learn how to register for the program, take advantage of financing, get a better understanding of City of Palo Alto Utilities solar and electricity rates, and more. Learn more and register here.  

Navigating College Admissions Successfully: This free Zoom presentation by Stand Out for College is designed to help families understand how COVID-19 has changed the college admissions landscape and how it affects Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen. Join on Wednesday, October 12 at 4 p.m., find more here.

Sign Up for Palo Alto FireMed

Did you know that an emergency ambulance ride can cost between $250-700, even with medical insurance? Save money and get peace of mind during an emergency that you are doing all you can to protect your family, visitors to your home, or employees. A new program for Palo Alto residents and businesses makes sure you are not stuck with a bill during an emergency. Palo Alto FireMed is convenient and cost-effective, covering unlimited ambulance rides within the Palo Alto city limits for a low cost of $8 per household per month. The membership fee is easily added to your monthly City of Palo Alto Utilities bill. Sign up today at www.cityofpaloalto.org/FireMed.

Stay Informed

CALENDAR: View all upcoming community events on the City Calendar.

COMMUNITY UPDATES: Read the latest Weekly City Manager Blog series.

ENGAGE: Find ways to engage and be civically involved at www.cityofpaloalto.org/engage.

Online COVID-19 Resources: 

California's Website for COVID-19 - covid19.ca.gov? 

California Department of Public Health

Santa Clara County Public Health Department

Find a free vaccine clinic near you

Find free COVID-19 testing near you

Resources for those in need of help and support:

Palo Alto FireMed Ambulance Subscription Program 

Looking for a job? The City is hiring! 

Employees working for businesses that are struggling or closed

People who are stressed, anxious, or seeking mental support