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| I heard Caltrain was going away; is this true? |
| Caltrain is at risk, but it's not going away anytime soon. Caltrain is owned and managed by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, a partnership of the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and the City and County of San Francisco through the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. |
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| Since the partnership acquired Caltrain in 1992, the partners have funded a significant percentage of Caltrain's operating budget. However, a troubled overall economy and cuts in state funding to the partners triggered a budget crisis that threatened dramatic cuts in Caltrain service. This crisis was resolved, largely by one-time-only funds and Caltrain avoided service cuts. The partners are currently working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on next year's budget. |
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| Additionally, Caltrain's long-term future is dependent on two things – stabilizing the rail system's funding with a permanent source of revenue, either through the partners or for Caltrain itself; and modernization through electrification. |
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| Additional details, plus past Caltrain budgets and ridership information are available at http://www.caltrain.com/about/fiscalcrisis.html |
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| I've never been late with my mortgage, but I'd like to get my home loan modified so that my monthly payments are more affordable, but my bank won’t respond; what can I do? |
| If you are NOT in default on your current home loan(s), you are not limited to working with your bank to adjust the loan(s) to lower your monthly payments. If your credit score is good enough, you can go to any lender to refinance your current mortgage at a better (lower) interest rate. |
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| If you ARE in default, your options are more limited and a very defined, California foreclosure process starts when you receive an official Notice of Default from your lender |
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| Based on advice from the experts, the first step is to contact a non-profit mortgage and credit counseling agency that is certified by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The non-profit’s counselors also should be individually certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. |
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| Link: http://www.nfcc.org/index.cfm |
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| California Foreclosure Guide put out by the University of San Francisco, School of Law and Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto : Homeowner's Foreclosure Guide |
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| My family member was recently arrested by the police and taken to jail. I'm sure it's a case of mistaken identity; can the supervisor's office help me get my relative released from jail? |
| As a matter of policy and as a matter of law, I do not and cannot become involved in legal proceedings. The proper venue for all such questions would be the court, and the best method is through the appropriate lawyers. The State Bar of California and the San Mateo County Bar Association provide free referral services. The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and the Private Defender Program also offer assistance for qualified clients. |
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| State Bar of California http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Home.aspx San Mateo County Bar Association https://www.smcba.org/ Legal Aide Society of San Mateo County http://www.legalaidsmc.org/ |
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| Private Defender Program https://www.smcba.org/For%20the%20Public/PrivateDefenderProgram.aspx |
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| I'm having trouble getting my child into the public school just down the street from my house; it's our neighborhood school. Can the supervisor's office help? |
| In San Mateo County , there are nearly 91,500 students in 24 public school districts of varying sizes – ranging from Woodside’s 460 students in its one school to the more than 10,600 students in the 20 schools of the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District. Your home address determines your school district, and please remember that many school districts comprise all or portions of multiple cities. I would be happy to listen to your questions and concerns. However, in general, the proper venue for school-assignment questions is the particular district’s administrative offices, the superintendent’s office and/or the district’s board of trustees. |
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| Link to the San Mateo County Office of Education and a list of all school districts http://www.smcoe.k12.ca.us/AboutSMCOE/Pages/Districts.aspx |
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| My elderly relative recently passed away and I found a whole closet full of old medications and I know we're not supposed to flush them down the toilet; where can I take them for proper disposal? |
| Since 2006, I have worked with the sheriff’s office, the county’s Environmental Health Division and most of the Peninsula ’s cities to provide secure, inexpensive and convenient disposal methods for unwanted medications. There are pharmaceutical disposal bins located at 10 police departments in the county, plus four sheriff’s locations. |
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| For more information, plus disposal information for “sharps” http://flowstobay.org/cs_pharm_disposal.php |
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| The value of my house is much lower than just a few years ago; how do I get my property taxes re-assessed? |
| The Hon. Mark Church is the San Mateo County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder. His office Web site has downloadable “Decline in Value” forms in English, Spanish and Chinese. The link is http://www.smcare.org/assessor/default.asp |
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| Please also be wary of various tax scams targeting homeowners. http://ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php |
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| I heard the county passed a ban on Styrofoam food containers; why do I still see Styrofoam take-out boxes being used by my favorite restaurant? |
| Your Board of Supervisors recently passed a countywide prohibition on foodservice ware made of polystyrene, expanded (foam) and molded or extruded (clear/colorless). This ordinance took effect July 1, 2011, and includes all foodservice ware made from polystyrene. |
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| More information: http://www.smcgov.org/Attachments/health/pdfs/EnvHealth/FoodProgram/PolystyreneBan.pdf |
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| This county ordinance applies only to unincorporated portions of San Mateo County , and not in the cities. However, there are several cities that have passed their own ordinances regarding polystyrene foodservice ware. The cities also have the ability to “adopt-by-reference” the county’s polystyrene ban. |
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| I know the county inspects restaurants countywide; how do I know how a particular restaurant scored on its most recent inspection? |
| The Environmental Health Division of the county’s Health System inspects all retail food establishments in the county, in unincorporated areas and also within city limits. The link below will take you to the Health System’s main page, where you will also find a clickable link for “Food Inspection Results.” |
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| http://www.smcgov.org/portal/site/health |
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| I was recently laid off and I need help for my family, including health insurance; what are my options through the county? |
| The mission of the San Mateo County Human Services Agency is to assist individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency, promote community and family strength and work to ensure child safety and well-being. HSA provides a variety of programs and services to qualified San Mateo County residents. Some programs are limited to adults, while others are specifically designed for families with children. |
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| The HSA programs include general assistance; veterans services; childcare help; family programs and healthcare services. HSA also administers the CalFresh program (food stamps), which provides assistance with food costs. |
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| This link to the main HSA Web site will get you started http://www.smcgov.org/portal/site/humanservices/ |
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| Where do I find information about affordable and/or public housing? |
| In San Mateo County , housing is probably the largest single budget item for most households. The Bay Area’s high cost-of-living is reflected in definitions for certain US Department of Housing and Urban Development programs. For example, according to HUD’s 2010 guidelines, a San Mateo County family of four (4), with a household annual income of $86,000, is defined as “low income.” |
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| There are several organizations – public and private – focused on helping qualified individuals and families find appropriate housing. Such housing can be in private developments offering below-market-rate rents or in others that accept rental-assistance vouchers. The county also manages several multi-family locations that are part of HUD’s Section 8 program. |
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| The link below will take you to the main Web page of the San Mateo County Housing Department, where you will find information on various housing options and eligibility requirements. |
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| http://www.smcgov.org/portal/site/housingdepartment/ |
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| I have a neighbor, who is a senior living alone, with no family in the area. She seems okay, but I’m concerned that she needs help and doesn’t know how to access it, or her pride won’t let her. Is there anything I can do for her through the county? |
| The number of older adults in San Mateo County (as well as nationally) is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade as the bulk of the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age. This year, 2011, was considered a milestone year because those born in 1946, the first year of the United States’ post-World War II baby boom, reached age 65. And based on state projections, those age 60 or older in this county, could comprise nearly 30 percent of the population by 2030. |
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| Therefore, the demand for senior-centric services – transportation, health care and retail – will only increase. Unfortunately, there also will be a higher number of older adults who need help. Experts expect tomorrow’s seniors to live longer. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be able to live alone. |
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| Through the Aging and Adult Services Division of the Health System, the county offers a variety of programs specifically for older adults. These services range from the Ron Robinson senior health clinic at the San Mateo Medical Center to mental health assessments to In-Home Supportive Services to Meals on Wheels to Adult Protective Services. |
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| Working through the Senior Volunteers of the California Highway Patrol, my office organizes semi-monthly Older Driver Traffic Safety Seminars. The Redi-Wheels program through SamTrans provides dependable and affordable transportation and a variety of private non-profits provide additional services from grief counseling to volunteer coordination to even part-time employment opportunities. |
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| Because every older adult’s circumstances and needs will be unique, the best way to start is by calling 24-hour, toll-free 1-800-675-TIES (8437). This is the main entry point for services provided by the Aging and Adult Services Division. |
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