Self-Help for the Elderly: 20 Years of Service to Seniors in San Mateo

Last weekend I was honored to be the host for the 20th anniversary luncheon celebrating Self-Help for the Elderly's presence in San Mateo's Central Park providing hot meals, health care, and social activities for seniors in San Mateo County.

Self-Help for the Elderly is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 in San Francisco to provide core social services to seniors.  In 1992, Rossalyn Koo and other community leaders worked with then Councilmembers Jerry Hill and Claire Mack to bring Self-Help's mission to San Mateo Central Park. 

The Central Park recreation center, which in 1992 was slated for closure due to budget issues and declining use, is today a vibrant hub of activity seven days a week for over 1,000 senior per year.  Hot meals every day and free health care screenings tell only part of the story.  At any given time, you might find yoga classes, singing lessons. or ballroom dancing taking place with senior as "young" as 65, to as old as 98! 

This past Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the center's opening, Self-Help honored all the Mayors of San Mateo from 1992 to the present.  As Deputy Mayor, it was my honor to host this very special event.  Besides acting as emcee of the event, I was glad to help serve over 200 meals to those seniors in attendance!

Congratulations to Self-Help for the Elderly on 20 years in San Mateo, and I look forward to another 20 years!

Here are some photos from the event:

Serving meals to the senior at the 20th anniversary luncheon.

Hosting the 20th Anniversary Event at Self-Help for the Elderly

Honoring San Mateo Mayors (L-R):  John Lee, Jack Matthews, Brandt Grotte,
Jan Epstein, Claire Mack, and Carole Groom!

One of the many great performances from the 20th Anniversay Luncheon for Self-Help for the Elderly:  The Chinese Youth Symphony.

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Town Hall Meetings Coming to San Mateo

 Here is a press release going out from my office tomorrow morning:




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:           David Lim, San Mateo City Council

dlim@cityofsanmateo.org

Town Hall Meetings Coming to San Mateo:  Councilman David Lim Helps to Host Two Upcoming Town Hall Meetings To Engage Community On Local Issues

San Mateo, CA – October 10, 2011 –  San Mateo City Councilmember David Lim will be helping to host two important town hall meetings in San Mateo over the next three weeks.    


On Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. at San Mateo City Hall, David will serve as moderator at a town hall meeting featuring Assemblymember Jerry Hill and former Assemblymember Sally Lieber as they discuss “How Redistricting Affects You.”   


Sponsored by the San Mateo Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans, the event is free to all members of the public.  Light refreshments will be served.


“With San Mateo County being drawn into new districts for the California Assembly (22^nd District), California Senate (13^th District), and U.S. Congress (14^th District), it is important for residents to know how these new district boundries will affect their representation at all levels of government,” noted David.  “We are lucky to have two of our local leaders from Sacramento on hand to discuss this important topic in an informal town hall format.” 

On Tuesday, October 25, 2011 from 6-7 p.m. at the San Mateo Public Library (3^rd Ave. at El Camino), David will hosting “San Mateo Unplugged” a town hall meeting to discuss goals and issues important to residents of the City of San Mateo. 

In discussing the goal behind “San Mateo Unplugged,” David stated, “Residents asked me to host more informal gathering where instead of agendized meetings, they can just come and chat with members of the City Council about issues important to them.  It allows for a more open exchange of ideas about what’s important to our community and how we can work together to make things happen.”

Flyers for both events can be found attached to this press release. 

For more information, contact San Mateo City Councilmember David Lim at (415) 290-4044.  

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Asking Questions About Rising Garbage Rates

This past Monday, the City Council reluctantly agreed to set a public hearing for November on a 9.9% rate increase to our trash bill, but not before I asked some tough questions about the need to increase the rate.  


I put together a brief slide presentation on the issue.  You can view the slide show by clicking on the link below, and also watch video of Monday's meeting.  


My basic issue is whether it is necessary to raise our bills for trash pick up in these tough economic times.  


I hope to hear more from all of you when this issue comes up in November.  


To view my slide show, click HERE


To view my questions raised on this issue at Monday's meeting, click HERE

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Caltrain Station Closures

The pending closure of our Caltrain stations in the City of San Mateo due to the current fiscal crisis facing Caltrain has generated quite a number of concerned emails and phone calls from many of you.  I wanted to update you on my efforts to help protect Caltrain service in our community. 

Earlier this week, I drafted a resolution that will come before the San Mateo City Council at our Monday, April 4 meeting.  The resolution urges the Caltrain Joint Powers Board (JPB) to postpone consideration of any station closures until the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is able to complete an effort to find a funding solution that will keep our stations open.  

In summary, the City Council resolution urges Caltrain to delay any decision on station closures until the MTC is able to finish it's work in helping to find funds to keep any stations on the Peninsula from closing.  The MTC became involved in this process earlier this month, and have expressed the opinion that it is "reasonable" to believe a solution will be found to keep our stations open.  

In addition, the City Council resolution highlights the many wonderful projects and policies in San Mateo which are based around Caltrain, as well as highlighting the need of SAMTRANS to protect their current budget to protect crucial bus service in our county for seniors, children, and those without other modes of transportation.   

While I do not have a direct vote on either the Caltrain Joint Powers Board or the SAMTRANS Board of Directors, I was grateful to have the help of the Vice-Chair Omar Ahmad of the Caltrain Board, and Chair Karyl Matsumoto of the SAMTRANS Board.  Both Mr. Ahmad and Ms. Matsumoto have worked tirelessly on this issue, are sensitive to the needs of the City of San Mateo, and helped with the language of the resolution.   

You can view a full version of my proposed resolution and the accompanying memo (which contains a concise history of the current crisis) by clicking on the links below.   

Thank you again for the many letters of concern about this issue, and with your continued support I know we will be successful in protecting sustainable, alternative modes of transportation such as Caltrain both now and into our future.  

To view the RESOLUTION, click HERE.  

To view the memo describing the history of this issue, click HERE.  

To view the MTC report described as "Exhibit A" in my memo, click HERE.

Helping to Kick Off "San Mateo Hep B Free" Campaign!

This morning I was honored to help shine a spotlight on the "SAN MATEO HEP B FREE" campaign at Mills-Peninsula Hospital in Downtown San Mateo.

Hepatitis B ("Hep B") is a disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Infection with HBV can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and liver cancer. 80% of liver cancer worldwide is caused by HBV infection.

Unfortunately, 1 in 10 Asians and Asian-Americans have chronic hepatitis B, as compared to 1 in 1000 Caucasians with the disease, making it the greatest health disparity affecting Asian and Pacific Islander populations both locally and worldwide.

The good news about this deadly disease is that there is a successful vaccination to protect individuals from Hep B. Through proper screening and public education, people do not need to suffer from the an infection of Hep B.

In San Mateo, where 20% of our 96,000 neighbors are of Asian heritage, it is important to spread the word about proper screening and vaccination for Hep B.

This morning, I took 10 minutes out of my day to give a blood sample to get screened for Hep B. The next clinic where free screening will be offered will be this coming Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Daly City.

I urge all residents to take part of this free clinic, and to help eradicate Hep B from our communities! Please email me for more specific information if you or a friend would like to be screened.

Five minutes can help eradicate Hep B from our communities!

Happy Holidays to San Mateo Seniors

Today I had the pleasure of helping to serve hot meals to over 100 seniors at the "Self-Help For the Elderly" Holiday Party at San Mateo Central Park.

"Self-Help for the Elderly" is a non-profit organization that serves the needs of seniors living in the Bay Area. They provide hot meals for seniors through a weekly hot meals program, and also provide a wide range of social activity to keep seniors active.

It was my pleasure to help spread the holiday spirit by helping to serve hot meals at the holiday celebration. The lunch was followed up by an afternoon of dancing and singing!

For more information about "Self-Help for the Elderly", click here, or feel free to contact me.

Happy Holidays to all San Mateo Seniors!