I ask the residents and visitors of Orange County to please wear a face covering when you are in a public place and unable to properly social distance, as well as following hygiene and social distancing guidance. This is of the utmost importance to stop the spread of the virus.

We must also remember that we must protect public health while allowing people to go to work safely and responsibly, so they can pay their bills and feed their families. We don’t have to sacrifice public health for the economy, or vice versa, when we can focus on ensuring both are protected.

On October 7th, I joined Saddleback Church, from 8:00AM - 11:30AM in Costa Mesa at the Orange County Fairgrounds to distribute groceries to Orange County residents in need of food assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We were able to provide food to thousands of individuals & families. Thank you again to Saddleback Church for providing the donated food which made this all possible.

At the October CalOptima Meeting, my colleagues on the CalOptima Board of Directors and I voted on expanding access to care for PACE members in Orange County. This new expansion of services includes funding for staff PPE, disinfectant products and the hiring of new staff to make the experience for PACE patients more accessible.

I further voted with the other directors on expanding behavioral health access through the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program, which has an evidence-based approach for preventing the adverse effects of behaviors that interfere with learning and social interaction. 

During these unprecedented times, it’s important that we make sure CalOptima’s PACE members receive the best quality care. In doing so, expanding the programs and accessibility to those under CalOptima’s care is a top priority. I am delighted these new additions to PACE will be implemented.

In response to the many emails and phone calls I have received regarding Orange County's navigation of the the state's tier system, I was compelled to write the following opinion piece in the Daily Pilot:
https://www.latimes.com/…/commentary-sacramentos-covid-19-m…

The month of September was declared as Public Health Lab Appreciation Month by the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

 The month of September is dedicated to the skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals in our Public Health Laboratories for all of the work that they do.

For more on the celebration visit https://bit.ly/2QSItL0

Great news!

The County has extended its deadline for #SafeDineOC applications up to October 16!

Business owners may also apply for a grant of up to $5,000 for reimbursements on masks, employee training, site reconfiguration, cleaning supplies and more.

The County is pleased to offer this free resource on Thursday, 10/15 to residents who need assistance finding employment opportunities during this challenging time.

For more information on how jobseekers and businesses can access and participate, visit https://www.oconestop.com/job-fairs.

The evening of September 27th through the evening of September 28th marked the beginning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year. I want to wish everyone practicing the Jewish faith a blessed and wonderful new year.

Chuseok, the three day Korean harvest festival, took place from September 30th to October 2nd. It is a special time for families and friends to pay respects to the spirits of their ancestors. Most importantly, its a time for family to come together, share food, stories and give thanks to their ancestors for an abundant harvest.

Happy Chuseok!

October 12th celebrates the 1492 discovery of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola by the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, who on his journey to find a quicker sea route to the East Indies, stumbled across the New World. This led to the eventual European settlement of North and South America and the eventual establishment of the United States 284 years later. 

Columbus Day is testament to the pioneering spirit of Christopher Columbus and to the great contributions that the Italian-American Community has made to the progress of our nation. Happy Columbus Day!