In the News

San Mateo Daily Journal: Daniela Sanchez-Sevilla credited a program offering local community college students free tuition and additional educational support with putting her on the path to be the first person in her family to attend a four-year university.

“I saw all my other peers kind of float around in their college journey and not really have direction,” Sanchez-Sevilla said, a Redwood City native attending Cañada College. “Promise Scholars gave me direction.” With a $2 million grant from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, 500 more San Mateo County Community College District students will have access to the initiative.

San Francisco Examiner: A $2 million grant could allow a total of 2,500 San Mateo County students to attend community college for free in the coming year. San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Canepa on Monday announced the $2 million county grant to expand the Promise Scholars program, adding another 500 incoming students.

Patch.com: State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, applauded the county's $2 million investment. Becker recently introduced an education equity package through legislation aimed at increasing access to higher education and closing the digital divide. "It cannot be ignored that many communities throughout the state were already facing deep economic pressures that were exacerbated by the pandemic," Becker said. "By removing financial barriers to college and job training, we are providing communities with the power to attain a more secure financial future."

CAlMatters: Just as science and research are helping us fight COVID-19 with new vaccines and therapies, evidence-based approaches are essential to end widespread gun violence. Unfortunately, bureaucrats at the state Attorney General’s office are blocking access to key data that gun violence researchers need to do their important work. California needs the red tape removed, and we’ve introduced new legislation, Assembly Bill 1237, to accomplish that.

Mercury News: Senator Becker, who has been in office for three months, said he’s “from the Jewish community we know what it’s like to be victims of hate and we know how powerful it is when we all stand together, our community is more powerful when we all stand for each other.” He continued “saying the slurs are unacceptable, the acid tongue jokes are unacceptable, and surely the violence against our Asian American neighbors, and brothers and sister is unacceptable, we will not stand for it.”

Utility Dive: In California, State Senator Josh Becker just recently introduced legislation calling for this exact level of data collection. SB67, also known as the California 24/7 Clean Energy Standard, calls for enhanced hourly tracking of clean energy resources to help the state meet its goal of using 100% clean energy.

CBS 5, KPIX-TV: [Senator] Becker requested that the state allow vaccinations for all residents 16 and older in communities like East Palo Alto and North Fair Oaks, which have had higher infection rates and lower vaccination rates compared to the rest of San Mateo County. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated, Becker said.

Bay City News via San Mateo Daily Journal

State Sen. Josh Becker on Monday urged California health officials to expand vaccine eligibility in San Mateo County’s vulnerable communities ahead of April 15.