Dear Friends,
Important Upcoming Dates: • Thursday, 8/27/20 Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan Virtual Open House Launch here • Tuesday, 9/1/20 Virtual Q&A with Mayor Beach via Zoom or Phone, 5-6 PM: • Tuesday, 9/8/20 @ 7PM: City Council Meeting with Minimum Wage discussion via Zoom. Agenda posted here. |
As the summer transitions to fall, it seems like a lifetime ago when COVID-19 turned our world upside down -- and now wildfires are raging in San Mateo County. Although recent events have caused tremendous hardship, it has strengthened our community in other ways and reminded us how interconnected and accountable we are to one another. I'm inspired by countless acts of generosity towards front-line workers and community members who are suffering the most. Thank you, Burlingame, for appreciating our first-responders, checking on isolated neighbors, shopping locally, minimizing social gatherings, and wearing face coverings wherever you go.
Here in my August newsletter, I wanted to flag some important civic matters worthy of your attention:

During our City Council's study session on this matter back on February 3, 2020, we learned from the County of San Mateo Health System representatives that 25% of the County's workforce are low wage workers earning $15 or less per hour. Nearly 75% of these low wage workers are between the ages of 25-64 years old, 45% of whom are raising children. Although many Burlingame businesses already pay their workforce $15/hour or more to be competitive, we learned others do not. The fundamental question for our community is whether or not we are willing to pay more for the goods, services, and restaurant meals we purchase in town so that our lowest wage workers (in car washes, retail, restaurants, drivers, and some childcare positions) earn more, and so that our small businesses don't bear the financial burden.
Action request: wherever you stand on this matter, please click here to participate in our City-wide survey published in Burlingame's e-News last week to share your opinion. The survey closes on 9/1/20 so please act now. We value everyone's opinions.
I also invite everyone to join our City Council meeting on 9/8 at 7PM via Zoom when the decision will be made. You may also email your opinion privately (on the public record) to the entire City Council by writing [email protected]. If instead you email [email protected] the City Clerk will read your opinion out loud during the meeting. Find meeting details and Zoom link information here.
2) Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Virtual Open House launches TODAY through 9/17: The City of Burlingame is updating its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for the first time since 2004! During past year, our staff and community have been hard at work studying ways to make walking and biking safer and more accessible here in Burlingame. We're completing the final stages of the plan with draft recommendations, and we need your feedback. The site includes several "study corridors" where you can provide feedback on potential designs. When you have 15 minutes or so to spare, please visit walkbikeburlingame.com. I strongly recommend watching the 4-minute YouTube tutorial before you begin because it provides a helpful overview.

4) Dr. Morrow's latest Health Officer Statement: On 8/6, Dr. Morrow published another statement to the community. His final paragraph reads: "To get out of this situation depends on all of us. Our collective best course of action: No gatherings outside of immediate households, use facial coverings extensively, and social distancing." Please take 5 minutes to read his full statement here.
6) Please, wear those face coverings! Remember, the law requires everyone aged 12 and older (who is able) to wear a face covering when we can't maintain six feet of social distance from others outside our household. That means even if you are exercising outside, you must have a face covering in your possession and put it on anytime you can't maintain a safe social distance. More information about face coverings can be found here: https://www.smcgov.org/covid19-face-covering Earlier this month, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance implementing warnings & fines against individuals who refuse to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth and businesses who allow violations in their establishments. If you observe violations at businesses or gatherings, you may report them to the Burlingame Police Department (non-emergency line) at 650-777-4100 so our officers can observe and respond.
- Sign up for SMC Alert at smcalert.info for timely & reliable emergency information from local government -- imperative in this era of pandemics, wildfires and other disasters.
- Sign up for the City of Burlingame's e-Newsletter for weekly and other time-sensitive email updates
- COVID-19 Community Resource Guide
- County Health Officer's Statements and Orders
- State of California's COVID-19 Resilence Roadmap and FAQ
- San Mateo County COVID-19 statistics
- San Mateo County Reopening Plan
- City's COVID-19 Newsfeed
Be safe, be kind, and let’s continue finding ways to care for one another in the months ahead. Thanks for reading and keep in touch.
Warmest regards always,
Emily Beach
Mayor, City of Burlingame
To receive newsletters like this from me every 4-6 weeks, sign up here.
P.S. If you seek more frequent updates, keep in touch with me via Q&A events via Zoom, Facebook, Twitter, and my website. If you send me an email message, I appreciate your patience with my reply during these busy times.