District Report - March 2022

A Message from Bill Dodd
 

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this update finds you and your family well. As we emerge from the pandemic, please remain vigilant about coronavirus variants and take appropriate steps to protect yourself.

In the Legislature, we are working to improve essential services – from education to wildfire safety. I’ve introduced bills to address some of the most pressing concerns, including the causes and effects of climate change.

Beyond our borders, I’m deeply concerned about Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine. I have co-authored legislation to impose economic sanctions by divesting all California assets from Russian business.

As I have over the past two years, I continue to host monthly, virtual town halls so you can share your thoughts with me. My next is April 26 and features Attorney General Rob Bonta, who will be discussing the opioid crisis.

In this Issue:

As always, my office is available to help you with a state agency or answer any questions you might have. You can contact me by visiting my website.

Sincerely,

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Bill Dodd
Senator, 3rd District
 


Coronavirus Update

Thanks to millions of vaccinations, California’s economy is open. But COVID-19 has not gone away. To safely go about our daily lives, we need to keep taking steps to prevent the spread. Protect yourself and others by keeping these common-sense safety steps in mind:

Do

  • Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible
  • Wear a mask where required and on public transit
  • Turn on exposure notifications on your phone
  • Get tested if you’re sick
  • Honor mask rules in place at a private business
  • Get tested if required by your workplace
  • Wear a mask when you travel

Don’t

  • Lose your proof of vaccination
  • Think you can’t get the virus or pass it on because you feel well
  • Assume everyone is vaccinated
  • Expect all COVID-19 rules everywhere to be lifted
  • Travel into the U.S. without proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test
  • Attend large events if you’re sick
  • Travel if you’re sick

For more information, go to the California Department of Public Health’s website.

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Women’s History Month & Women of the Year

March is National Women’s History Month, an ideal time for us to collectively acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of women who have shaped our nation.

It’s also when we honor women of the North Bay who made outstanding contributions. The following are my Women of the Year for 2022:


Senate District 3 Woman of the Year: Jill Techel, four-term Napa mayor who served on the City Council during a 25-year period of economic expansion and led the city through a series of natural disasters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


Sacramento County’s Mona Pasquil Rogers, a State Personnel Board member and onetime acting lieutenant governor who became the first woman and Asian person ever to serve in that role.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Noralea Gipner, CEO of Contra Costa County’s Homeless Action Coalition and former Martinez council member.

 

 

 

 

 


 


Cary Snowden, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley and a longtime advocate for Sonoma County youth

 

 

 

 

 


Dawn La Bar, who leads Fairfield’s homelessness relief effort and has devoted her more than 20-year career to social policy and advocacy in Solano County

 

 

 

 

 

 



 


Nancy Kirchhoff, a Yolo County family wine grape grower, photographer and first woman Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Department Commissioner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Free Tax Help/Earned Income Tax Credit

 

Tax Day is fast approaching. You may qualify for tax credits or free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs, which are supported by the Franchise Tax Board.

You may qualify for tax credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program will benefit millions of low income working families and can result in thousands of dollars for qualifying families. I helped champion the creation of California's EITC, which provides even more money to working families.   Each year millions of dollars in tax credits go unclaimed, so see if you’re eligible.

For a list of upcoming workshops, please click here. I urge you to call the contact numbers listed to verify your eligibility, make appointments, and to learn what documentation may be required.

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California Grants Portal

The State Library has enhanced its offering for grantmakers on the California Grants Portal. These updates are intended to improve the accuracy of data and the grantseeker experience. And after receiving feedback, the library has added a new category: Animal Services.

The library has also removed the “uncategorized” option, and is no longer allowing grantmakers to select “other” applicant type. All grants will now have at least one specific category and applicant type. The hope is that this makes it easier for people to search for and identify grants that best meet their needs.

The agency has also collected some tips and other resources to help you on your search for funding and support.

As a reminder, starting in July 2022, grantmaking agencies will begin submitting a selection of post-award data to the California Grants Portal. This data will illustrate the distribution of over $20 billion in state-administered grant and loan funding throughout California communities. The plan is to publish the first complete set of post-award data in the 2023 annual report.

Please contact the State Library with any questions or email CAGrantsPortal@library.ca.gov

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In the News

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