Moving forward together for a better 2021

CONCORD, CA—With 2020 being unprecedented, I’m happy to have it behind us.

Although we’re not out of the woods as far as COVID-19 is concerned, I am full of hope for a promising year ahead and the positive changes that will ultimately come about with the widespread distribution of the vaccine.

Although the vaccine is currently in short supply, our county health officials have a detailed plan for how and when to distribute the vaccine and we can rest assured that our frontline workers and elderly residents will have access soon, followed by the rest of us.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to interview Contra Costa Health Services’ Dr. Ori Tzvieli, who is managing the county’s vaccine distribution plan. You can listen to our conversation online through the city’s new podcast, “Concord Connected.”

The Jan. 7 episode is our inaugural episode, and we look forward to bringing you more news and information through this podcast every two weeks. You can subscribe through any of your favorite podcast services: Apple, Spotify or Soundcloud.

COVID response

Your City Council, city staff and I recognize that small businesses have been hit hard by the stay-at-home health orders requiring businesses to reduce operations or close altogether. Our Economic Development team has been working hard, in partnership with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Contra Costa County and others, to provide resources and information to our local businesses, and we will continue to do so. Learn more at cityofconcord.org/BusinessResources.

In addition to grants and loans available for small businesses, there are educational and support resources that we want to highlight. The WDB has introduced call centers to provide business and human resources assistance.

Business owners impacted by COVID-19 can call 833-320-1919 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays to receive information related to lay-offs, insurance needs, federal small business loans and payroll subsidies. For information about California labor laws, such as paid sick leave laws and the Family and Medical Leave Act, business owners can call the Human Resources Hotline for Employers at 888-599-7645 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

I am really proud to see how our community has come together in the wake of the pandemic, with neighbors helping neighbors and people stepping up to support our local nonprofit organizations.

The Monument Crisis Center, for example, has received more small donations for residents in Concord than ever before. It has made a significant difference in their ability to serve families in need. They now see about 2,500 families each week, a 250 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels. They remain in need of two things: volunteers and financial support. Visit monumentcrisiscenter.org/ to learn more about how to help.

Comfort Food Week

For those who take comfort in sweet and savory delights, look no further than Concord’s 4th annual Comfort Food Week, happening Jan. 15-31. With more than 70 local restaurants participating, you can sample the flavors of worldly cuisine, find great deals, earn prizes, and – most importantly – support local businesses.

To find a list of participating restaurants, check out VisitConcordCA.com.

As we embark on the year ahead, I urge everyone to maintain their vigilance with mask wearing, social distancing and good hygiene so we can defeat this virus. Yes, the vaccine is coming, but it could take a while to be distributed, so let’s all be patient and stay focused.

Mayor Tim McGallian can be reached at Tim.McGallian@cityofconcord.org