An event Aug. 21 in San Mateo’s Central Park is being organized by youth aligned with Citizens Climate Lobby and will feature speakers such as state Sen. Josh Becker, Assemblymember Kevin Mullin, Supervisor Dave Pine and San Mateo Deputy Mayor Rick Bonilla.
In the News
San Mateo Daily Journal: Additional state guidance was released mid-Wednesday, just ahead of the local return, requiring teachers and school staff to either get vaccinated or to access COVID-19 testing at least once a week State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, lauded the order, having called for such a move last week and advocating for teachers and school staff to be prioritized during initial vaccine efforts. “Vaccinations are our best weapon to beat COVID-19. The governor’s move today ensures that everyone — our kids, teachers and all school staff — are better protected as California comes back to school with in-person learning."
The Almanac News: State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, lauded the new requirement: "Vaccinations are our best weapon to beat COVID-19. The Governor's move today ensures that everyone — our kids, teachers and all school staff — are better protected as California comes back to school with in-person learning," Becker said. "As a parent of two teens, I thank the Governor, teachers, school workers and our school districts for coming together on this issue. Together, we're building a wall of safety around our kids."
Last week, State Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) called for all teachers and school staff in Bay Area school districts to be vaccinated before the first day of school or be tested regularly. In an interview with Patch on Tuesday after holding a news briefing in East Palo Alto, Becker said: "If we lose another year of in-person learning, that's on us as adults. "It's really incumbent on us to make every effort to put kids first and to really inspire confidence in the schools to make them as safe as possible — really to build a wall of protection and security around them."
CalMatters: State Sen. Josh Becker, a Democrat who represents sections of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, has been one of the few calling on districts to require teachers to be fully vaccinated before returning to campuses. “We’re at a tipping point,” he said. “The delta variant in many ways puts our mindsets back to March 2020. But back then, we did not have the defense.”
Palo Alto Online: Over the last 16 months, East Palo Alto nonprofit StreetCode Academy has equipped community members with digital tools and skills they need to virtually communicate as they stay close to home during the pandemic. StreetCode was recently recognized as the Nonprofit of the Year in California's 13th Senate District, which is represented by Sen. Josh Becker.
KRON 4: State Senator Josh Becker (D-San Mateo) is calling on school districts to require that all teachers and school staff must be fully vaccinated, or submit to regular testing. “We are in the middle of a crisis that can be ended within weeks if people simply get vaccinated,” Becker told reporters at a news conference held at Ravenswood Family Health Network in East Palo Alto. His district includes San Mateo County and Santa Clara County.
FOX 2/KTVU: State Sen. John Becker, (D-Menlo Park) said his office has dedicated three to four employees to help constituents navigate the complicated governmental bureaucracy – something that a legislator is supposed to do. "What's been unusual," Becker said, "is the volume of requests and the amount of staff time that has to be directed to helping with EDD."