Riechel Reports - San Bruno CA Events

Article Source: San Mateo County CA Bosard of Supervisors President David Canepa

President David Canepa - 2025 December e-newsletter

San Mateo County celebrates a year of firsts

Dear friends,

As 2025 comes to an end and I wrap up the year serving as President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, I am so thankful for all the accomplishments the county and its partners have achieved in what has been an incredible year of firsts.

For me, the theme of this past year has been “building community” as the county has prioritized fiscal prudence, continued to combat the affordability crisis, invested in health care and transit infrastructure and addressed the epidemic of social isolation and loneliness afflicting our oldest and youngest residents.

As the holidays may be the most festive time of the year, I want to remind us all that it can also be a bit bleak for many of us, including incarcerated parents with children. This year, to bring a little cheer to these children, the county hosted its first ever Christmas tree lighting and toy drive Dec. 11 at 500 County Center to benefit the Service League, which provides intensive services for individuals in county jails.

Thank you to the hundreds who attended this event and donated gifts and a very special thanks to the Aragon High School Chorus who kicked off the season with live music as hot cocoa was served in what will become a new holiday tradition annually in downtown Redwood City.

For those who have followed my monthly newsletters for the past 9 years, thank you for reading and engaging with my office. And now, please enjoy my top stories of 2025 list as we look ahead to another year of making history in San Mateo County!

Tops of 2025: 500 County Center welcomes the world to the greenest civic building in the nation

In May, the county celebrated the 169th birthday of San Mateo County and the ribbon cutting of 500 County Center, the greenest civic building in the United States.

The evening started under the stained-glass rotunda at the Old County Courthouse in downtown Redwood City with a reenactment marking the county’s founding and was followed by a brief procession of hundreds of attendees to the new civic building accompanied by the Woodside High School Band.

Barely 18 months old, 500 County Center is already the winner of numerous Best of the Best Sustainability awards, including from engineering News Record and the American Institute of Architects.

It was a beautiful evening to celebrate the county’s storied past, the possibilities of the future and to toast the renaissance of San Mateo County.

The event has hosted by the Board of Supervisors, County Executive’s Office and Historical Association to welcome the public to the new workplace for San Mateo County employees which is becoming a destination for large community gatherings with its immense lobby and vast courtyards that can accommodate hundreds of people.

To me, 500 County Center represents the cultural, artistic, political and economic revival of what has become the healthiest and near wealthiest county in California and will serve county residents as a community-building center for generations to come.

I want to take the time to recognize architect Javier Arizmendi, History Museum Director Mitch Postel, Chief of the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol Deanna Tryon and County Executive Mike Callagy for welcoming the nearly 700 attendees who joined the celebration

Tops of 2025: Midway Village completes Phase 1 as another landmark deal locks in affordable housing into the 22nd Century

Midway Village in Daly City’s Bayshore neighborhood marked the completion of 147 new affordable homes and broke ground on 113 more in April as part of the largest affordable housing redevelopment in San Mateo County’s history.

And in November, the county officially purchased the property at 493 Eastmoor Ave. for $4.4 million, unlocking the path to building 72 units of 100% affordable housing for households earning 20%–50% of the area median income.

The two projects highlight the county’s commitment to addressing the affordability crisis and are cause to celebrate. The celebration at Midway Village included a ribbon-cutting for Midway Village I and the ceremonial launch of construction on 113 homes as part of Midway Village 2.

This is a transformative project that took a very old and outdated affordable housing complex with 150 units into what will be a modern complex that will have more than 500 units for individuals, often on the brink of being homeless.

Developed by the nonprofit MidPen Housing, the project also includes 27 units for local educators and 12 units for young adults transitioning out of foster care. One of the project’s first residents is a 22-year-old who aged out of the foster care system named Nathan Smith.

In addition to resident amenities similar to those in Midway Village I, this second phase will also feature a 15,000-square-foot childcare center where Peninsula Family Service will serve 109 children, including children from low-income families in the broader community.

Regarding the Eastmoor project, our county should be extraordinarily proud of identifying and investing in this transit-rich, community-centered project near the Colma BART station. This is exactly the kind of bold action that prevents displacement, keeps families housed, and stops homelessness before it starts.

By purchasing the property, we’re enabling the developer to secure the tax credits and financing necessary to bring this project to life. And the best part? No new funds were required. The $4.4 million was already allocated as part of our commitment to affordable housing. Now, with county ownership and a long-term lease in place, 55 years with an option for 44 more, we are ensuring long-term affordability and long-term stability.

This is how we build a future where everyone has a place to call home. This is putting community first, and this is the San Mateo County we can all be proud of.

Tops of 2025: First-of-its-kind Wellness Center to bring critical health care services to north San Mateo County residents

The North County Wellness Center hit a significant milestone in August when the final structural beam was signed by the Board of Supervisors and placed atop the $140 million clinic site at a topping off ceremony in South San Francisco.

This is more than just a building, it’s the future hub of critical county services that will provide specialty care and, for the first time, comprehensive dental services which will provide an additional 5,500 dental visits annually.

Once complete in 2027, this Wellness Center will house the Health System, Human Services Agency, Tax Collector and the District Attorney’s Office all under one roof. That means more coordinated care, streamlined services, and a more equitable experience for the people we serve.

Whether someone is navigating a health crisis, seeking housing support, or accessing justice, this center will offer compassion, dignity, and access. Thank you to our project partners, the contractors, planners, and workers who have brought us to this point.

Thank you to the county departments who envisioned a better way to serve and to the staff who will bring this space to life. And thank you to the community for your support during construction. Let today be a reminder that public infrastructure is about people and this Wellness Center is a promise to put people first.

I look forward to returning here soon to cut the ribbon and officially open the doors to better service, stronger partnerships, and healthier futures.

Tops of 2025: Board passes $5.5 billion budget, one of the strongest and most resilient in California

San Mateo County’s budget is widely regarded as one of the strongest and most resilient in California, based on standard public-finance benchmarks used across the state.

The Board of Supervisors adopted a revised $5.5 billion FY 2025–26 budget that protects core services while maintaining nearly $580 million in reserves, even amid significant uncertainty around state deficits and potential federal funding cuts. Maintaining that level of reserves while continuing to invest is a key indicator of fiscal strength.

The county also demonstrated structural balance and forward planning. Rather than relying on one-time fixes, the Board adjusted the budget to account for possible revenue volatility, added 24 targeted positions, and preserved long-term obligations such as infrastructure, public safety, health care, and housing. Many California counties have had to draw down reserves or defer investments; San Mateo County did neither.

Compared to peer counties, San Mateo County benefits from a diversified and high-value tax base; strong property-tax and sales-tax performance; conservative fiscal policies around reserves and debt; and multi-year financial forecasting tied to capital planning.

In short, while there is no single official ranking of “strongest” county budgets, by every conventional measure, reserve levels, service protection, adaptability, and long-term planning, San Mateo County’s budget stands among the strongest in the state and positions the county well to weather economic or policy shocks without compromising essential services.

The Board also approved a $975.3 million 2025-30 Capital Improvement Plan, a 5-year blueprint of costs and funding sources spanning 268 projects across departments.

Projects range from replacing a water line at Memorial Park to construction of the new North County Wellness Center in South San Francisco, improving the reception area at the Human Services Agency office in Daly City, upgrading sewers at the Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo and studying solutions to flooding in North Fair Oaks.

Tops of 2025: Voters to decide potential historic regional lifeline for Caltrain, SamTrans and BART

The Legislature delivered a historic win for San Mateo County in September by passing Senate Bill 63. With strong bipartisan and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s support, SB 63 gives voters the chance in 2026 to approve a regional sales tax to sustain and improve public transit.

As Legislation Committee Chair on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, I’ve worked nearly two years to secure a fair deal for San Mateo County. Without new funding, Caltrain faces an annual $75 million deficit that would force service cuts, strand riders, worsen traffic and harm air quality.

A stable funding stream would keep Caltrain, SamTrans, BART and other transit systems running and improving. As I serve on the MTC, SamTrans and Caltrain boards, I couldn’t be proud of the regional and collaborative efforts achieved in the past year to save public transit.

The bill gives voters in San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties the chance in November 2026 to approve a regional sales tax measure dedicated to preserving and improving public transit.

SB 63 guarantees around $50 million per year in “return-to-source” funding for SamTrans, money that goes straight back into transformative local projects, from faster bus service to safer streets.

Meanwhile, we’re already making progress. Caltrain’s electrification has boosted ridership by 76% over the past year, offering riders faster, cleaner, and quieter trains. BART has rolled out new trains, enhanced safety measures by installing new fare gates at its 5 stations in San Mateo County and stepped-up cleaning protocols.

The county provided BART with a $10.3 million bridge loan that ensures the upgraded security gates will be maintained after installation and that the agency will discuss strategies with the cities and county for increasing fare enforcement and BART police presence.

Of the 82 new fare gates, 29 of them have been installed at the Millbrae station, an intermodal transit station that links BART with Caltrain, SamTrans and shuttles to SFO International Airport. The stations are immediately adjacent to the Gateway at Millbrae, a new mixed-use world-class development that will soon be the headquarters of SamTrans and Caltrain.

Tops of 2025: San Bruno Mountain Park gets a long overdue $2 million revamp

I was excited to break the ground and celebrate the $2 million San Bruno Mountain State and County Park Day Use Improvement Project with officials from the county’s Parks Department, the city of Daly City and volunteers with San Bruno Mountain Watch back in May.

The project includes an interpretive center, new picnic areas with BBQ grills and new restrooms.

San Bruno Mountain offers a great outdoor escape from close-by urban life with 12-miles of hiking trails, wildflower displays and spectacular views of San Francisco and the Farallon Islands. This project will enhance visitor experience and bring in more people to explore this remarkable place.

While the peaks of San Bruno Mountain Park are easily seen from Highway 101, its biological significance is not obvious. The park is home to rare and endangered plants and three rare and endangered butterfly species including the Mission Blue and San Bruno Elfin that are found in only a few other places in the world. The new interpretive pavilion will feature exhibits and space for educational programs.

I advocated for Measure K funding to support the improvements the public identified through surveys conducted in 2022 to 2023. I allocated $1 million in discretionary Measure K funds and the Parks Department contributed an additional $1 million in Measure K funding for the project. This is the first major investment in the park in decades and I can’t wait for the public to enjoy it.

Tops of 2025: Ferry service clears major hurdle to operate at Port of Redwood City

The Redwood City Ferry Project got a boost from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which I serve on, when the full MTC Board of Commissioners voted in January to add the project to Plan Bay Area 50+, which makes the project eligible for federal funding.

This game-changing project will connect the Port of Redwood City to Oakland and San Francisco, driving economic growth and opportunity along the Peninsula in an environmentally friendly way. As a certified federal staging area, it also strengthens our region’s emergency preparedness for natural disasters.

The San Mateo County Transportation Authority has pitched in $15 million for the project and the state has provided an additional $5 million.

This historic vote followed action in June 2024 when the MTC awarded the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and the city of Redwood City up to $48 million in Regional Measure 3 (RM3) toll funds for the “101/84 Interchange Reimagined” project. The $300 million total project will make major improvements to the Port of Redwood City and ease traffic at the Highway 101/Woodside Road interchange.

Thank you to Kristine Zortman, the Executive Director of the Port of Redwood City, fellow MTC Commissioner Gina Papan, Michael Quigley, Executive Director of the California Alliance for Jobs and so many others for your advocacy on a project that will create lots of good jobs and boost the regional economy.

Tops of 2025: Momentum grows across the nation to combat epidemic of loneliness

Momentum is growing across California to take on the epidemic of loneliness. Kaiser Permanente hosted the first of its kind Aging Well Summit at the historic Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland, and I was honored to speak about the loneliness crisis and the power of social connection as we age.

I was honored to share the stage with UCSF Dr. Carla Perissinotto and Village Movement California Board Member Carlene Davis prior to keynote speaker Rita Moreno taking the stage to discuss “redefining the journey of aging.”

As we continue to push to redefine the journey of aging, we must do all we can to support the millions of Californians who confront loneliness and social isolation every day. As older adults are becoming a significantly larger portion of the state’s population, I’m proud to be a champion for the for the mental wellness of our aging population and that starts with social connection.

About 53% of San Mateo County residents report feeling lonely. Loneliness affects people of all genders and ages, and anyone can experience it. By 2030, more than 8.7 million Californians will be 65 and older. We must make sure they’re not just living longer but living well, connected, and supported. San Mateo County made history in 2024 as the first in the nation to declare loneliness a public health crisis, a resolution my office authored.

My mission is to continue creating events that bring people together and combat loneliness across San Mateo County with my “Loneliness to Light” initiative, a partnership with the Center for Age Friendly Excellence.

Other events in the series included a pet adoption event with the Peninsula Humane Society in November, Take a Hike for Loneliness, a community event bringing neighbors and friends together at Sawyer Camp Trail in October and a fireside chat at the Magnolia of Millbrae in July to address why men aged 15–44 are dying by suicide at 3 to 4 times the rate of women, often in silence and isolation.

To date, the county has committed more than $3 million to combat the epidemic by funding peer support and mobility options for older adults with our trusted partner Peninsula Family Service.

This initiative is another important step in building a community that connects all of us, regardless of age or the ZIP code you live in.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks for taking the time to read this special “Tops of 2025” edition of my monthly newsletter. It’s been a great year of firsts in the county and I can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store for all of us. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Interns wanted to join our team

We are looking to add to our great group of interns we are currently working with. If you or someone you know may be interested in applying to my Internship Program, submitting this form is the first step: https://forms.gle/hiKqtn7Rird5vXwB9. You can also reach out to Mike Richardson on my staff directly with any questions at mrichardson@smcgov.org.

In friendship,
DAVID J. CANEPA
President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors