Patch.com:Bistro Vida in Menlo Park was named the small business of the year in the Peninsula by state Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park). Becker applauded owner Ali El Safy's community spirit and effort to adapt during the pandemic, which included engaging nearby businesses in building parklets and turning Santa Cruz Avenue into a "temporary community plaza." "That group effort Downtown, encouraged by Ali's boundless good cheer, has warmed — and won — many hearts in our community," Becker said.
In the News
GovTech.com: Sen. Josh Becker, who introduced the bill earlier this year, said many schools need guidance or support to train teachers how to use new technologies effectively in the classroom. This has only become more pressing as demand for remote and hybrid learning options increased during COVID-19. Becker said, "That’s what this bill is all about – it’s really about technical support and training for teachers to use technology,"
The Almanac News: "In my district, these moves would increase rates by a projected 30% — a strong step toward the professional wage rate care providers deserve," said state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, in a statement. Becker called the increased funding "truly historic." "It's easy to get lost in the terminology of rate reform or childcare slots, but at the end of the day there are kids that are going to be served (because of this legislation)," he said. "Women and men who are going to get back to work. ... Child care work force pay is so low; everybody knows this is a critical time at brain development."
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.
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.”