Dear Friends,

This month, the beginning of three religious and cultural holidays coincided during the same week of February 16^th. It is extremely rare that Lunar New Year, Ramadan and Lent start at the same time. The last time the three different lunar calendars aligned was in 1863 and the next time it will happen in 2189. All three holidays represent periods of reflection and charity and serve as a good reminder for all of us to focus on what is important and what keeps us connected.

I read a wonderful piece by Joyce Vance on Valentine's Day titled An Agenda of Joy that had a similar focus. It listed responses from readers who had shared their ideas for handling stress. Many of the ideas were related to spending time with animals, spending time outdoors, cooking, arts and crafts, and music. It was a delightful and inspiring read. I would like to copy Vance's idea and create our own Agenda of Joy. Please send me your ideas at [email protected].

E-Bike Deception

We've witnessed two e-bike accident-related fatalities in San Mateo County within six months. Last August, a four-year-old boy on a Burlingame sidewalk was fatally struck by a car that had collided with an e-bike. On February 9th a 16-year-old teenager riding an electric motorcycle or e-moto at a high rate of speed on a Highway 1 shoulder collided with a box truck killing the teen.

E-bike crashes have become a public health crisis and we can't look away. On February 10^th I hosted a town hall with Supervisor Ray Mueller for city councilmembers, city managers, law enforcement and school district officials to hear their concerns and ideas for solutions. We also asked for feedback on a draft county ordinance I've been working on with the county attorney's office and the sheriff's office.

We heard powerful and sobering presentations from Dr. John Maa, a Marin County trauma surgeon, Bob Mittelstaedt, an e-bike advocate and retired attorney, and our Sheriff, Ken Binder. Dr. Maa reported on the increasing numbers of severe injuries from these accidents that mirror injuries from motorcycle accidents - head trauma and bone fractures. The severity of these injuries are often due to the speed and weight of the vehicles. Dr. Maa said the most vulnerable group involved in crashes are teenagers, with e-bike crash rates among 10 to 15-year-olds being a startling five times higher than any other group.

A fundamental problem is that not everything we call an e-bike is actually an e-bike. In advertising e-bikes, manufacturers and retailers appear to confuse consumers about these devices. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes aren't allowed to go faster than 20 mph, Class 3 e-bikes no faster than 28 mph. E-bikes have to have a power limit of 750 watts to be street legal. If they are modified to go faster or have more power, they are illegal on public roads. Unfortunately, modification is often as easy as downloading an app or pushing a button on the handlebar. As Bob Mittelstaedt noted, the vehicles involved in most accidents are illegal on public roads.

State law requires any bike rider or passenger under 18 riding on public property to wear a helmet. Class 3 e-bike riders must be 16 or older and are required to wear a helmet at any age. Current rules on allowing riding bikes on sidewalks vary from community to community.

With the proposed county ordinance, we will ensure that state law will be enforced and that our roads, bike lanes and sidewalks are as safe as possible. We have an obligation to address this public health crisis and use all legal tools available to save lives, especially young lives.

Renewed Focus on Human Trafficking

Heightened law enforcement attention to human trafficking activities during the Super Bowl weekend paid off in a big way. Thirty-nine sting operations across the Bay Area were conducted by local, state, federal, and nonprofit partners gathering and sharing real time intelligence to root out this insidious crime of exploitation. The results: 73 victims rescued, 10 of them minors (one was only 12 years old), 29 traffickers arrested, and 36 Johns cited. Shockingly, the highest number of victims were rescued in San Mateo County, 20, none of them minors.

I'm proud that our county has re-engaged in the work against human trafficking and is investing into this important work during large sporting events and beyond. During the board meeting on February 10^th, we unanimously approved $831,829 in additional funding to support eight new public safety positions focused on human trafficking, domestic violence and survivor support. The funding will pay for positions in the District Attorney's office, staffing for the new Family Justice Center, and criminalists to meet growing demand for forensic testing, including DNA analysis.

The county's human trafficking task force stopped operating in 2022 and it wasn't until last year that Supervisor Ray Mueller and I revived the effort. We initially funded one position in the DA's office with Measure K funding, then in December hosted a countywide training for law enforcement, hospitality and medical staff. With this added significant effort, our message is clear: we will not tolerate modern day slavery in our region and are committed to helping victims become survivors.

Go Red For Women

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. Nearly 45% of women age 20 or older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease but often don't know it. Women can show different symptoms than the signature chest pain and pressure, such as jaw, neck and upper back pain, nausea or vomiting, cold sweats, indigestion or extreme fatigue.

The American Heart Association launched its Go Red For Women campaign in 2004 to address the awareness and clinical care gaps of women's cardiovascular disease. Mills Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame will host a Go Red event this Wednesday, February 25^th at 5 p.m. Please don't miss it. Getting educated could save your life.

Overdose Reversal

Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose within minutes. In 2024, San Mateo County had 54 opioid-related overdose deaths and 121 opioid-related emergency department visits; 13 of those visits were among 20 to 24-year-olds. Opioids like fentanyl often make their way to young people through counterfeit pills that are labeled as something else.

The San Mateo County Overdose Prevention Coalition has launched a program that will provide local organizations with free units holding Naloxone. The medication is a nasal spray that is safe to use and easy to deploy, making it possible for anyone - family, friends, bystanders - to provide immediate lifesaving aid. It can be administered even before calling 911, as seconds count if someone is experiencing an overdose. If you have a potential site for a Naloxone Stand Box, you can apply here.

Raising Eating Disorder Awareness

Supervisor Ray Mueller designated the last week of February as Eating Disorder Awareness Week with the theme "Break the Stigma. Start the Conversation." About 10% of the population is affected by this condition and it is very difficult and expensive to treat it. Supervisor Mueller's office is hosting community events at County Center, on the coast, online, and a screening of SafeSpace. During the board presentation on February 24th, I was deeply moved by his intern Danika Gonzalez Johnston who shared her story of recovery and struggle with eating disorders since she was only five years old.

Visiting with Rotarians

I had the great honor to be invited to speak to two groups of Rotarians, the San Francisco Rotary Club and a combination of the Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Millbrae, San Bruno and South San Francisco Rotary Clubs. What a joy to be among such civically engaged, community-minded and smart people! Their motto "Service above Self" truly guides their outstanding work around the world to fight disease, provide clean water, support education, and promote peace.

I was asked to compare my work at the local, state and federal levels of government. While Congress is the largest body of government and gives you the biggest megaphone, it is also the slowest and most seniority-driven. Rules are designed to rig the system to maintain the status quo. Bills die in committee and almost the only way to get a bill signed into law is to turn it into an amendment to a must-pass bill. Partisanship has created a toxic culture. In the California Legislature, by contrast, every bill gets a hearing. I had more than 300 bills signed into law, making the 18 years I spent there one of my most productive periods. On the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, the work is the most tangible, local and nearly immediate. For example, the county built the Navigation Center to house 240 homeless individuals in just one year and will soon complete the North County Wellness Center within two years.

As a cynic, you could describe the commonality of politics on every level like this: Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedy. Alternatively, as someone who has dedicated my entire life to public service, I would prefer to say that what measures success on every level of government is Hubert Humphrey's moral test of society: How we treat those in the dawn of life - the young. How we treat those in the twilight of life - the elderly. How we treat those living in the shadows of life - the sick, needy, poor.

Before I Go…

Have you ever considered serving on the Civil Grand Jury? The Civil Grand Jury is a judicial body composed of 19 citizens. It is impaneled to act as an "arm of the court," as authorized by the State Constitution, to be a voice of the people and conscience of the community. Our current civil grand jury system has its origins in 12th century England and has a fascinating history. Serving on the grand jury is a profound way to contribute to our county's government operations. You can find the application here.

We live in tumultuous times but can never give up hope. We can't say it's too big, too hard, too ingrained. I look forward to receiving your ideas for dealing with stress and creating our own Agenda of Joy!

All the best,

Jackie