No Party Preference (Nonpartisan, independent) voters, are receiving the No Party Preference “Cross-Over” Notice and Application in the mail. No Party Preference (NPP) voters are voters who are registered without a qualified political party and will be allowed to vote on one of three party ballots:  American Independent Party, Democratic Party, or Libertarian Party. The cross-over notice will list options to participate in the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election.

The March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary includes a partisan presidential contest, in which parties will vote to nominate their candidate to run in the November 2024 General Election. In addition to the partisan presidential contest, each ballot, regardless of voter’s party, will also include U.S. Senate, Congressional, state legislative, and local contests that are open to all voters. The Registrars of Voters from the Bay Area Elections Coalition issue a joint message: “While it is important to take action to vote each election, it is particularly important during a Presidential Primary. All voters should take action and check their voter information (address and party) before the election. In addition, No Party Preference voters, or those who are registered without a qualified political party, will also have to act to either cross-over to a party ballot, re-register if the party does not allow cross-over voting, or decide to vote the nonpartisan ballot without a presidential contest.”

This will be the first election in California in which party or No Party Preference ballots will be sent to every registered voter. Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration status to ensure the party affiliation or nonpartisan status so that they will receive the correct party ballot when Vote by Mail ballots are sent out on February 5th. Voters can do so by going to https://registertovote.ca.gov/ and clicking on “check your registration status.”

No Party Preference voters have options to participate in the presidential primary:

Option 1. Request a cross-over ballot for one of the following: American Independent Party, Democratic Party, or Libertarian Party. These parties allow NPP voters to cross-over without changing their party.

Option 2. Re-register with a political party if you want to vote on the presidential contest for the Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party, or Republican Party. These parties do not accept cross-over voters.

Option 3. Take no action. The ballot you receive will not include a presidential contest but will include all other applicable contests.

For more information, contact the Contra Costa County Registrar’s office at (925) 335-7800.

Dan Mierzwa will replace Russell Watts who is retiring Dec. 31

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appointed Dan Mierzwa as the next Treasurer-Tax Collector effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Mierzwa’s appointment follows the announcement of Russell Watts’ retirement in December. He is currently Yuba County’s Treasurer & Tax Collector and must submit proof of residency and voter registration in Contra Costa County before he assumes the office.

Mierzwa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Finance and Business Administration minors from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. He also holds a Certified California Municipal Treasurer certification.

“I’m honored by the opportunity to help during this transition in leadership and am committed to maintaining the levels of transparency and accountability with sound financial practices that serve the best interests of the public,” Mierzwa said. “We will also continue improving our online payment and business license application services and explore ways to save and recover costs to deliver our services.”

The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office acts as the bank for the County, providing financial services to County departments, schools, and special districts and managing more than $4.9 billion in the County’s investment pool. The office also collects various taxes – including business taxes from those operating in the unincorporated areas, and property taxes. While the Treasurer-Tax Collector mostly provides services to the County and taxing districts, the office also invests public funds and collects business related taxes, namely business licenses and transient occupancy taxes, as well as short-term rental and cannabis taxes.

“The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office holds a key position of trust in the financial affairs of local government,” said Board Chair District I Supervisor John Gioia. “Dan’s experience and knowledge of both the treasury and tax collection functions will continue the County’s efforts to protect, invest, and disburse funds in a prudent and safe manner.”

The current term for the elected office expires on Jan. 4, 2027. Government Code section 25304 requires that the Board of Supervisors appoint someone to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. The annual salary for the position is $254,901.24.

Watts, who is leaving office to spend more time with family, has served as the elected-Treasurer-Tax Collector for 13 years.

California State Parks welcomes the public to start 2024 in a healthy way and to enjoy the fresh air with the annual First Day Hikes, on Monday, January 1. Currently, up to 60 state parks will be participating, with over 70 guided hikes taking place across the state. Californians and visitors from around the world can hike amongst the gentle redwoods or learn about the geology of the desert or catch a glimpse of bald eagles and other unique wildlife—California has some of the most unique and iconic parks in the country for everyone to explore.

First Day Hikes is a national-led effort that encourages individuals and families to experience, with a seasoned guide, the beautiful natural and cultural resources found in the outdoors and in doing so may inspire them to take advantage of these treasures throughout the year and an individual’s lifetime.

With more than 70 guided hikes taking place in California’s State Park System on January 1, distance and difficulty will vary per hike or activity. Visitors are encouraged to check out details of start times and description of hikes. This year’s First Day Hikes webpage–parks.ca.gov/FirstDayHikes2024–is more interactive, as the public can search a map of locations by park name, county and region. Visitors are also able to see the status of the hike and the last time it was updated, and by zooming into the map, they can find hikes taking place near that region of the map. Additionally, the webpage provides information on new hiking opportunities around the holiday. For example, Carpinteria State Beach will offer a hike the morning of Saturday, December 30, and La Purísima Mission State Historic Park will have a Last Day Hike of the year the morning of Sunday, December 31. 

Below are a few hikes taking place on January 1:

• Angel Island State Park: Join a 5-mile hike to the top of Angel Island’s Mount Caroline Livermore. The hike will pass through oak woodlands, chaparral and wind-blown hillsides. Visitors can take in spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area: Instead of a hike, visitors can come in their four-wheel-drive vehicle at the Discovery Center for a quick tour of the western portion of the park. Explore ancient seashore, mesquite dunes and desert washes. See interesting geology, desert plants, signs of wildlife and maybe even some wildflowers. The route will consist of a roughly 20-mile loop, arriving back at the Discovery Center at its conclusion. 
• Calaveras Big Trees State Park: Hikers can experience a snowshoe-guided hike through the park’s North Grove. Snowshoes will be available to borrow, and the first portion of the program will be an introduction to how to snowshoe.
• Salt Point State Park: Hikers can enjoy the pristine beauty of the Sonoma coast. This 2.5-mile, three-hour, easy-to-moderate and round trip hike takes participants along the ocean terrace from Gerstle Cove to Stump Beach.
• Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park: Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the Simi Hills and the San Fernando Valley and learn about the history of the Butterfield Overland Stage Route The park will offer four hikes of different lengths and difficulty.

Most parks require a parking fee for the hikes. However, if visitors have checked out the State Library Parks Pass or have qualified for the Golden Bear Pass, they can enter for free at participating parks. Additionally, parents of fourth graders are invited to download the California State Park Adventure Pass that allows free entrance to visit park units like Millerton Lake State Recreation Area or Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Learn more about these free passes at parks.ca.gov/OutdoorsForAll.

As with any outing, it is important for all visitors to recreate responsibly. Below are helpful tips to stay safe during First Day Hikes and all year long:

• Know Before You Go: Prior to leaving home, check the statusof the park unit you want to visit to find out what restrictions and guidelines are in place. Have a backup plan in case your destination is crowded. Stay home if you are sick.
• Play It Safe: Find out what precautions you should take when exploring the outdoors, especially if this is your first time visiting the State Park System. For example, make sure to dress in layers, bring plenty of snacks and water, and wear appropriate hiking shoes.
• Leave No Trace: Leave areas better than how you found them by staying on designated trails and packing out all trash. Do not disturb wildlife or plants.

For more safety tips, please visit parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.

Visitors can also use apps to stay safe and enhance their experience in the outdoors with:

• what3words:Use the what3words app to communicate precise locations within any of the 280 state parks using just three words. This tool aids dispatchers in emergency situations, enabling assistance to those in need. Share locations with family and friends, and provide directions to events, trails or campsites using this convenient app. To learn more on how the app works, visit ca.gov/what3words.
• OuterSpatial:Discover the ultimate guide to California’s state parks with the OuterSpatial app. Navigate through interactive maps, receive real-time updates and stay connected with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Enhance your exploration by monitoring visits, completing challenges like the Passport to Your California State Parks and sharing memorable experiences.

Visitors are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtags: #HikeInto2024, #FirstDayHikes, #HikeWithCAStateParks and #CAStateParks.

News from the East Bay Regional Park District

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, East Bay Regional Park District

On December 3, the Park District held a grand opening celebration for the Tyler Ranch Staging Area in Sunol and the opening of 2,800 acres of new open space for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. New amenities include 78 parking spaces, equestrian staging/trailer parking, accessible restrooms, a small family picnic area, and access to 18 miles of trails.

The new parkland offers panoramic views of the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Bay, Mount Diablo, Brushy Peak, Mission Peak, Mount Umunhum, and Mount Tamalpais. From the staging area to Sunol Ridge, there is a challenging trail with 1,700 feet of elevation gain. Further north along the ridgeline is Sunol Peak at 2,163 feet, just under the height of Mission Peak.

The new parkland is part of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, which covers over 9,000 acres. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/parks/pleasanton-ridge.

The Park District recently updated Ordinance 38 to allow Class I e-Bikes on all trails where regular bikes are allowed, and Class II e-Bikes on all paved Regional Trails. Class 1 e-Bikes are pedal-assist and require pedaling for assistance from the electric motor. Class II e-Bikes have a throttle and allow pedal assist but do not require pedaling for assistance from the electric motor. All e-Bikes must follow the 15-mph bike speed limit. Bikers should also remember to slow down around others, call out or ring their bell when passing, and stay on designated trails only. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/recreation/biking.

Holiday Fun in East Bay Regional Parks. The winter holidays are a great time to get into nature and spend time with family and friends. Christmas at the Patterson House at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont celebrates a turn of the 20th century holiday at a beautifully restored Queen Anne mansion fully decorated for the holidays. Purchase tickets in advance online or at the door, as space allows. Winter Wonderland at the Tilden Merry-go-Round at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley is a beloved East Bay holiday tradition! Ride the carousel, visit with Santa or Olaf, view the lights and decorations, and enjoy holiday treats. Winterfest at the Tilden Steam Train at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley offers a spectacular ride through the park on the Redwood Valley Railway with lights and holiday decorations. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/holidays-parks.

Wintering Ladybugs at Reinhardt Redwood. Every year, between October and February, ladybugs cluster together in large groups to hibernate. A single cluster may contain hundreds of thousands of ladybugs. They cluster together in shrubs during cold winter weather, then disperse in the springtime. You can see them along the trails in many parks and open spaces, but one of their favorite places to gather is the intersection of Stream and Prince trails at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/parks/reinhardt-redwood. 

New Year Activities. The new year brings new excitement and opportunities to get into nature. Kick off the year with a naturalist-led hike or activity! For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar and search “New Year.”

 The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

OAKLAND, Calif.  – SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West President Dave Regan issued the following statement on California’s healthcare worker minimum wage law (SB 525):

“California’s healthcare worker minimum wage law (SB 525) addresses critical staffing shortages by helping to retain existing healthcare workers and attract new caregivers to the industry. The state needs to hold fast to its commitment to invest in its healthcare workers and solve the staffing crisis in our hospitals, clinics, and medical centers. 

Passed overwhelmingly by the state legislature and signed by the Governor, the bill had backing from across the healthcare industry, including the California Hospital Association and frontline healthcare workers.

The impact of the new healthcare minimum wage on the state budget has been severely overstated. As part of a compromise among healthcare stakeholders, the minimum wage will be gradually phased in over the next few years. In addition, a UC Berkeley Labor Center report states that the impact on the California budget will be partially or fully offset by low-paid workers no longer relying on Medi-Cal for their healthcare coverage.

With billions in profits, the healthcare industry has the financial resources to raise wages for their lowest-paid workers. Even before Governor Newsom signed the healthcare worker minimum wage into law, many healthcare employers had already implemented or incorporated a path to a $25/hr minimum wage for their workforce, including Stanford Healthcare, Fresenius Medical Care, Satellite Healthcare, and the biggest healthcare provider in the state, Kaiser Permanente in its largest labor contract. 

Frontline healthcare workers are counting on the state of California not to waver from its commitment to addressing the patient care crisis and supporting those who provide that care.”

Antioch Medical Center doctor offers advice

By Antonia Ehlers, PR and Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

The holidays are in full swing, but they can be challenging for parents of children with diabetes. Unfortunately, the rate of children with diabetes has been on the rise for years, especially type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is directly linked to the increasing number of children who are overweight.

“Diabetes is a condition where your body is unable to properly process sugar into energy/fuel for our bodies,” explained Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center Pediatrician Kristin Moschetti, MD. “When you are overweight, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases because it causes the cells in our body to become resistant to the effects of insulin. This extremely important hormone is the key to helping our bodies to process sugar properly.”

The stress of the holidays also can spike blood sugar, according to Moschetti. Parents of children who need insulin should plan for more frequent blood sugar checks; insulin doses might need to be changed.

“Think of the cells in your bodies as billions of tiny little cars,” Moschetti said. “Cars need fuel to run. For our cells, that fuel is sugar that we get from carbohydrates. So, think of the gas pump to get that fuel into the cells being insulin. If insulin isn’t working properly to get sugar into the cells, the sugar builds up in the bloodstream and causes the blood to become toxic.”

For children with type 2 diabetes, eating a low-carbohydrate meal before going to a party can help to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels. Low-carb options include popcorn, low-sugar yogurt, cheese, veggies, chicken, tuna and peanut butter. Dipping sauces can add extra flavor.

“You don’t want your child’s blood sugar to get too high,” Moschetti said. “It can affect party behavior. Eating food with lots of carbohydrates will cause your child’s blood sugar to spike higher, which can make your child irritable and moody.”

Moschetti encourages parents to bring healthy snacks to holiday parties. Charcuterie boards are all the rage, and it’s fun for kids to create holiday shapes such as a Christmas tree, menorah, candy cane or snowman that’s adorned with fresh veggies, fruits, cheese and popcorn.

“I want parents of children with diabetes to know that they can enjoy holiday celebrations,” Moschetti said. “At the end of the day, we want our kids to enjoy the holidays and be kids, so it’s OK to eat a small amount of the unhealthy foods. However, moderation is key. All you need is a little party pre-planning and a few healthy options.”

On Sunday, Dec. 10, BART rang in the holiday season with our riders during our inaugural SweaterFest ‘23. More than a thousand of you showed up to Rockridge Station to celebrate with us — a reminder of just how much the Bay Area loves BART.   (See more photos)

We encouraged attendees to wear their BART holiday sweaters – from 2023, 2022, or 2021 (the first year we launched the sweaters) – and pose for a group photo on the steps to the station.

Some BART fans showed up as early as 11am – three hours before the start of the event – to be the first in line to buy a 2023 holiday sweater. By 2pm, the line to purchase BART merch snaked around the Rockridge sign and the plaza. 

“I didn’t know BART had a fashion line,” said one rider passing through the station.  

In addition to selling tons of BART-themed gifts, including the last-remaining 2023 holiday sweaters and beanies, we also launched our BART Stamp Rally with official BART passports, and handed out lots of free BART merch, including number plates and the new BART train plushie.  

Thanks for coming out, Bay Area. Happy Holidays!  

This year, BART sold 3,500 holiday sweaters in total. To help meet the strong demand, we pre-sold 2,370 sweaters earlier in the year. We ordered more than 1,000 additional sweaters to sell during the holiday season and were thrilled when they sold out quickly.  

If you weren’t able to get a sweater before they sold out this year, we encourage you to stay up to date on all things BART by following us on social media, signing up here for our BART News email subscription, and downloading the official BART app.  

Mount Diablo, CA— California State Parks Foundation today announced that its Mount Diablo Bike Turnout campaign raised $755,090 exceeding its goal of $750,000. California State Parks, California State Parks Foundation, and Mount Diablo Cyclists have partnered to build Phase Two of bike safety turnouts at Mount Diablo State Park.

“State Parks is very appreciative of the community’s enthusiasm around this project,” said Clint Elsholz, Acting District Superintendent of Diablo Range District. “The generosity of so many will accelerate our progress around enhancing safety measures at Mount Diablo State Park.”

For many years, cycling at Mount Diablo State Park has been a popular — but dangerous — activity. From 2010 to 2014, there was an average of 23 car and bike collisions per year. According to California State Park officials, this also frequently resulted in road rage showdowns between drivers and riders.

Bike turnouts allow bicyclists, who move at slower speeds as they pedal uphill, to pull out of the main traffic lane into their own lane so that vehicles can pass safely. After the first turnouts were created, collisions dropped to three accidents in two years, and road rage significantly diminished.  

With the completion of 30 bike turnouts in 2022, there are now 45 total at Mount Diablo State Park. 

This project was inspired by the memory of Joe Shami who was a passionate advocate for increasing safety for bicyclists and cars at Mount Diablo State Park. Known by locals as “The Legend of Mount Diablo,” Joe’s passion for Mount Diablo State Park and cycling was exemplified by over a decade of weekly trips up the mountain well into his 80s. 

“Tragically, Joe was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Lafayette,” said Randy Widera, Director of Programs of the California State Parks Foundation. “Although he is not with us today, Joe left a special gift in his will of $123,415.61 to California State Parks Foundation to fund additional bike turnouts on Mount Diablo.” 

In an incredible show of dedication to this work, California State Parks allocated the same amount as Joe’s gift with an additional $123,415.61 from the department’s annual roads allocation funding. Taking this initial funding as a challenge, a passionate group of volunteers comprised of Alan Kalin, Mark Dedon, and Ted Trambley spent the past four months doing outreach in the park and at Peet’s Coffee in Danville with locals, cyclists, and visitors.

“We absolutely enjoyed all our time and effort meeting and speaking with the thousands of motorists and cyclists,” said Alan Kalin. “The vast majority of folks understood the critical importance that bike turnouts could make, how they help prevent collisions and save lives.”

Through their efforts and with the support of California State Parks Foundation, they inspired over 300 individuals, organizations, and companies to donate an additional $508,259.26 lifting the campaign to a total of $755,090.48 raised. 

Currently, Phase Two of the Mount Diablo Bike Turnout project is anticipated to break ground in late spring of 2024. For more information on this project, please contact Randy Widera, Director of Programs, California State Parks Foundation at randy@calparks.org. 

To learn more about this project, please watch this short video. Please see here for a map of existing and future bike turnout areas and photos of Mount Diablo. 

California State Parks Foundation, an independent, member-supported nonprofit with over 50 years of history, is dedicated to protecting and preserving the California state park system for the benefit of all. We work in parks and in Sacramento with partners, park staff, and policymakers to address the challenges parks face. To make real and lasting change we are working to build a movement of people who enjoy and advocate for their parks now, and for future generations. Learn more at www.calparks.org, or find California State Parks Foundation on Facebook, or Instagram and Twitter (@calparks).

California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation. 

Mount Diablo Cyclists’ mission is to improve the safety for Cyclists, Motorists, and Pedestrians on the Roads of Mount Diablo.

About Mount Diablo State Park

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area to the east of Walnut Creek, people have been drawn for generations to Mount Diablo for its spectacular views from the summit which extend over 100 miles in all directions on a clear day. Visitors have been attracted by the complex geology that has created amazing rock formations such as the “wind caves” at Rock City, and by the mountain’s variety of habitats which are home to over 600 species of plants and an amazing array of wildlife such as butterflies, bats and birds of prey, tarantulas, bobcats, lizards, snakes and deer.

In 2021 Mount Diablo celebrated its 100th year as a State Park. Though 100 years is a long history as a park, the importance of Mount Diablo was recognized long before that. For thousands of years Native Americans were the caretakers of this land. Many groups considered and treated the mountain as a sacred place and continue to do so today.

Since becoming a park in 1921, Mount Diablo has been protected as a natural area, and over the past 100 years the park has grown from only a few hundred acres to over 20,000 acres. Today it is a destination for those who would like to view wildlife and wildflowers, experience beautiful views, hike, camp, picnic, run, cycle, climb, ride horses, or gaze at the stars.