by Rigo Hernández
Mark Sánchez
Mark Sánchez, President of the San Francisco Board of Education, launched his bid for San Francisco District 9 seat that has been occupied by Tom Ammiano. Sánchez, is a longtime educational activist who has been in the board of education for seven years and president for the last two. If elected he will be the second, green party member, along with Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi who is currently supporting him on his supervisor bid.
Sánchez said that among other policies, he would continue working towards progressing education, the way Ammiano has. “I think it’s really important that we continue giving a voice to education,” Sanchez said.
Paid sick days guaranteed for all workers if bill passes
Californian workers would be the fi rst in the nation to have guaranteed paid sick days if a bill sponsored by assemblywomen Fiona Ma passes.
Bill AB 2716 co-sponsored by the California Labor Federation and ACORN would give workers paid sick days that can be used for themselves or for sick family members.
Under the bill, small business employees can get up to 40 hours or 5 working days and other employees can get 72 hours or nine working days per calendar year.
San Mateo Health Department receives grant to prevent falls
The San Mateo Health Department has been awarded a one-year grant aimed at preventing and reducing accidents of falls for seniors through the farewell falls program.
The free program is home-based and focuses on the major risk factor for falls as well as medication management and home safety. To do this a therapist visits the home of the patient a total of two times to see what are the fall risk in their home and give recommendation to reduce falls. After that patients receive a phone call at least once a month to check on the situation and give more recommendations. After a year the therapist re-evaluates what are other fall risk factors and gives final recommendations.
Those eligible must be 65 years or older, live within the peninsula, must have their own home, apartment, or condominium, must provide their own health history. Seniors who are wheelchair-bound, or have either dementia or Alzheimer’s will not be accepted in the program. For more info call, (650)-724-9369.
Mayor and District Attorney announces graffiti report reward program
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and District Attorney Kamala Harris announced A New graffiti rewards program in the North Beach District in San Francisco will pay $250 to any individual who give information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffi ti offenders.
The program is funded by the collection of fines and fees put on graffi ti offenders. A 2000-2001civil grand jury report estimates that the total cost of graffi ti damages and removal adds up to $22,000,000 a year without including the cost on homeowners.
The graffiti rewards fund claim forms are available at the San Francisco District Attorneys office, San Francisco Police Department stations, and the department of Public Works or through each offi ce’s website. For more information call 311.
