Jackie's News, May 2026

Dear Friends,
May has been an eventful month, filled with inspiring moments and challenges. As I share some of my activities and highlights from this month, I hope you will find inspiration in the countless people who do good work in San Mateo County.

A Homecoming on Memorial Day

Memorial Day is one of our most somber holidays. It's a day when we remember our fallen servicemembers and the sacrifices they made to protect our freedoms. On the eve of this year's Memorial Day, we had something special to celebrate. We welcomed home the remains of a Marine 81 years after he made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. Private First Class Helmut Fred Behlert was laid to rest at Golden Gate National Cemetery on May 20^th with full military honors. Behlert was killed in action on June 15^th, 1944 in Saipan during one of the pivotal battles of World War II. Saipan was Japanese held territory in the Mariana Islands. Securing the island allowed the Allies to establish an airbase to launch B-29 bombers directly at the main island. The assault was also one of the deadliest amphibious landings of the war. Thousands of American service members were killed. PFC Helmut Behlert was one of them.

Present for his homecoming was the closest living relative of PFC Behlert, his niece Ruth Green, 94, of El Sobrante. In an emotional ceremony at SFO the week before the burial, Green watched as a group of Marines carried Behlert's coffin from the plane to the hearse. Green said that the man she calls "Uncle Helm" was her favorite relative of all and she waited for his return all these years. As she approached the hearse, she rose from the walker she was sitting on, bowed her head onto the American flag draped over the coffin and then gently tapped it with her left hand as if tapping her uncle's shoulder.

At the memorial service, I had the distinct honor to present Green and her family with a Resolution from the Board of Supervisors.

The identification of Behlert's remains was a long time coming. In 2001, Behlert's brother submitted his DNA, prompted by an Ann Landers column encouraging families of missing service members to do so. Twenty-five years later, the family received the call that his remains had been identified.

More than 70,000 service members are still missing, so I encourage their families to submit DNA. It allows our military to keep its promise to leave no soldier behind. Families can contact the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency for details.

Hillsborough Memorial Day Parade

Still reflecting on this remarkable homecoming, I rode in the Hillsborough Memorial Day Parade with my son and my granddaughter. People of all ages waved American flags in honor of our fallen heroes, connecting the past and the future.

The Funding Battle with the State Continues

Time is running short for San Mateo County to receive funding the State of California owes us. It was very disappointing but not surprising that the Governor's May revised budget did not include Vehicle License Fee replacement funding from the last two years totaling $157 million. This amounts to almost 20% of the county's general fund and the loss of it would result in devastating cuts to essential services to cities and the county.

Assemblywoman Diane Papan, Supervisor Noelia Corzo, and I, along with a large contingent of community leaders, testified in front of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee in late April in Sacramento. In early May I returned with Senator Josh Becker and a large contingent of community leaders to testify in front of the Senate Budget Subcommittee. I believe we made a very convincing case that the funding is obligatory, not discretionary. I can't thank enough our city council members, state representatives, and the dozens of first responders, labor and nonprofit leaders, educators, and housing and health leaders for making the two trips and explaining the painful consequences.

It is deeply disappointing that the administration has neither made us a short-term offer, nor any effort for a long-term fix. The decision is particularly baffling because San Mateo County has been a great partner to the state and implemented its top priorities. We are now relying on the legislature to budget the money we are owed. The budget deadline is June 15^th.

Supporting the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act

In a unanimous vote the board approved my resolution, co-sponsored by Supervisor Gauthier, in support of state legislation that will hold fossil fuel polluters financially accountable for their climate related cost. Wildfires, flooding, sea level rise and other catastrophic disasters have caused billions of dollars in damages. It's outrageous that the polluters aren't paying for the damage they are doing. Instead taxpayers are paying the price in health and in dollars. Other states like New York and Vermont have passed such legislation and California is expected to re-introduce a bill in January next year.

It's the right thing to do, but the convincing was done by two articulate students. I was proud to introduce Emily Ma, a junior at Aragon High School, and Liam Hroziencik, a student at Cañada College, who shared how climate change has touched their lives with the impacts of wildfires and the danger of flooding. All of us were impressed with their talents and passion.

Art Takes a Bus Ride

Students also were the winners of the 2026 SamTrans contest to create art to wrap buses. Celebrating its 50^th anniversary, SamTrans asked students to create images of past, present, and future SamTrans service. They delivered masterpieces. I particularly liked 7^th grader Cynthia Chui's three drawings of bus riders looking out the window at architecture from yesteryear, today, and the future.

You can look for the two wrapped buses on our roads for the next few months.

Before I go…

Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer and that means hot weather is here. It's a good time to honor and thank our Emergency Medical Services workers who safeguard the health and safety of all San Mateo County residents. We presented a large group of them with a proclamation designating May 17^th to 23^rd as Emergency Medical Services Week.

Remember that June 2^nd is election day. Use your right to vote, it's the beating heart of our democracy. You can vote in person, by mail, or drop off your ballot at one of the ballot drop boxes. Find locations near you here.

All the best,

Jackie