Keep it Up!
Despite a significant increase in residency and visitation, the number of COVID-19 cases in Eastern Placer has remained fairly stable – averaging less than 1 per day for the last 10 days. I am so encouraged by the number of masks I see here in the eastern part of the county. We need to keep it up! Unfortunately this virus is something we are going to have to live with until we have a vaccine that can be widely distributed. This is not a sprint to the finish line – it is a very long endurance race, and we need to support each other in order to make it through. Please continue your vigilance in caring for yourself, your loved ones and our community.
Considering the long-term nature of the situation COVID-19 has put us in, we must be dedicated to finding a balance between protecting human life and ensuring people are able to continue to take care of themselves and their families. Reopening and slowing the spread of the virus are both critically important components of getting through this. Shutting down businesses has had profound impacts on many additional areas of public health, including access to medical care for other health issues and increases in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Safely reopening is not about profit, it is about sustaining our whole community.
Many don’t know that the single largest area of Placer County’s budgeted expenses is allocated to our provision of Health and Human Services programs. The 2020-2021 budget the Board of Supervisors approved on June 23rd included more than $230 million in funding for Health and Human Services programs, staff and services. Placer County’s efforts in this area are tremendous as we seek solutions to societal issues faced within our communities, and these problems go far beyond COVID-19.
Throughout the County HHS divisions provide essential services in partnership with non-profit organizations, schools, hospitals, and other community groups working to help our residents. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the secondary pandemic has been the impacts to other aspects of public health. Specific to Eastern Placer County, here are some facts about what the Sierra Community House and our other partners have experienced in North Lake Tahoe / Truckee:
- 400% increase suicide crisis calls
- 216% increase in households needing hunger assistance:
- 90,000 meals delivered to families in our region
- 30,000 meals delivered to youth through Boys and Girls Club
- 130,000 meals for youth in region from Tahoe Truckee Unified School District
- $47,000 in food cards to over 600 families
- 100% increase in rental assistance for domestic violence/sexual assault victims:
- 135 rental assistance applications totaling $182,000
- 150% increase in calls to the Crisis Intervention hotline
- Very significant increases in emergency housing needs in our region:
- Emergency shelter
- Transitional housing for families (out of homelessness)
- Safe housing from domestic violence
Covid-19 has required all of us to change some of our activities and habits to protect ourselves. In addition, many have had even more impacts to our lives in order to take of our children and family members. But as indicated by the numbers above, there are many in our community who not only have had to adjust as we have, but are suffering significantly more with lost employment and income, increased debt, lost housing, and even worse.
Fighting the spread of COVID-19 is critical. Fighting the resulting secondary pandemic is just as critical. We must be in this together. Fighting to help our community remain stable, employed and mentally healthy, is critical and each of us can help. Please don’t condemn others, instead let’s help educate. Please don’t judge people, there could be circumstances or factors unknown to you. All of us in and around our community are struggling in our own way with the impacts of this pandemic. We won’t get through this by antagonizing each other and creating more conflict and tension. I encourage everyone to seek compassion and understanding. We truly are stronger together.
I also hope you will consider contributing to our non-profits that are providing services to so many in desperate circumstances. They are on the front lines of this pandemic and are doing amazing work to help mitigate the impacts to the community.
Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or need any assistance with County issues or concerns.
-Cindy Gustafson, District 5 Supervisor
‘Know Before You Go’ North Lake Tahoe Informational Guide Released
Going outdoors is an important part of our mental, emotional and physical health. The North Lake Tahoe destination has compiled a number of “Know Before You Go” resources to help ensure safe and responsible recreation and travel across the Sierra region during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more
Electric buses and trail improvements coming to eastern Placer
Electric buses will be purchased and operating within the next three years to serve residents in eastern Placer as part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide more achievable housing. During this week’s meeting, the Placer County Board of Supervisors accepted nearly $3.6 million in grant funds from Neighborhood Partners, LLC in exchange for implementing transit and trail improvements. The transportation improvements will be completed by the county to support Meadow View Place in Martis Valley, a 56-unit housing project. Learn more
Community Development Operations Update
The County’s Tahoe CDRA office re-opened to the public on June 15, 2020. The offices are open by appointment only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-2pm. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling (530) 581-6200. You can also submit applications for residential and commercial development projects and look up zoning requirements by using our eServices digital suite. Learn more
State orders some Placer County businesses to close and others to cease indoor operations
In response to the increasing spread of COVID-19, State Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell issued an order for several businesses in Placer County to either close or eliminate indoor operations starting Sunday, July 12. The State had indicated previously that any California county that remains on the monitoring list for three days will be ordered to draw back its reopening efforts. Learn More
Contact information:
175 Fulweiler Ave., Auburn, CA 95603
Supervisor Cindy Gustafson: cindygustafson@
District Director Lindsay Romack: lromack@placer.ca.gov
District Aide Kelly McCaughna: kmccaughna@placer.
Temporary Assistant District Aide Judy Friedman: jfriedman@placer.ca.
