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| Dear Friends and Neighbors‚
We’re starting off the month of February with many changes coming at us quickly because we’re in a new political era. That’s unsettling and disruptive for many of you living in my district. But in Santa Clara County we have always defended our ideals‚ celebrated and honored our many cultures‚ taken care of our people in need‚ and protected our environment. Locally is where we have always done the most good for our community! I encourage you to get involved and stay informed about the many events‚ activities and issues coming your way in February! I’ve highlighted many of them inside this newsletter.
Today’s “Unhoused Health Fair” is a great example of how our community organizations lift each other up and help one another for the greater good of the people who live here! I hosted my annual Unhoused Health Fair at San Jose City Hall with everything from health & dental screenings to bike repairs and information about housing‚ shelters and resources for older adults and children. So many of our community and non-profit organizations contributed their time‚ energy and resources to help people who often cannot help themselves. In my next newsletter in February I’ll highlight pictures of this great event.
February represents our colorful‚ diverse community with more Lunar New Year festivities including Korean‚ Chinese‚ Vietnamese‚ Taiwanese and more! It’s also Black History Month with plenty of activities for everyone to participate in at our public libraries‚ music venues and event centers.
American Heart Month is also in February – a time to take stock of your blood pressure‚ cholesterol‚ exercise and diet! There are many events you can attend to get all the information you need about maintaining a healthy heart. And of course‚ don’t forget to keep your schedules and hearts open for Valentine’s Day on February 14 – celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners‚ family and friends!
Please send me Dave.Cortese@sen.ca.gov any upcoming‚ free events in District 15 that you want highlighted in this newsletter that is published twice a month.
Let’s Keep Moving Forward‚
Sincerely‚
Dave Cortese
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| There are more free Lunar New Year events from Eastridge Mall to the Children’s Discovery Museum throughout the month of February celebrating our Korean‚ Chinese‚ Vietnamese‚ Taiwanese cultures and many more.
Click on these links to get more information:
Lunar New Year in San José
Discover Lunar New Year Events & Activities in Morgan Hill
Tax Season is Upon Us
Get Free Tax Help Or Become a Tax Help Volunteer
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Free Tax Help provides free tax preparation for low-to-moderate-income households in the Bay Area. We make sure taxpayers claim the tax credits they are eligible for‚ helping maximize their refund to make ends meet. You also can sign-up as a tax preparer volunteer. For more information call 408-345-4300.
Today January 31 is The Last Day to Enroll In Covered California Health Insurance
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Don’t miss out on getting health insurance for you and your family. Open enrollment for Covered California is ending today! In 2025 consumers will see the largest savings available to them due to federal and state financial help. Additionally‚ a new federal rule expands access to Covered California coverage to recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Consumers can enroll through January 31‚ 2025 and get free confidential assistance with their applications.
Helping Los Angeles Area Fire Victims
California Love‚ California Strong
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| In partnership with California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom‚ the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement kicked off the California Love‚ California Strong campaign this month.
As part of the effort‚ we encourage everyone who is able to give their time‚ resources‚ gratitude‚ and love to our fellow Californians. Please visit CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov for ways to get involved and learn more.
Whether you’re helping locally or from afar‚ your involvement makes a difference. Share your efforts on social media using the hashtags #CALove and #CAStrong.
American Heart Month
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American Heart Month is important because it serves as a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases‚ which are the leading cause of death in the United States‚ encouraging people to focus on their heart health by learning about risk factors and getting necessary screenings‚ ultimately aiming to prevent heart disease and save lives.
City of San José
Black History Month |
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| The theme for this year is “The Blackprint; For the Journey Ahead.” It reflects the resilience and brilliance of our Black community.
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum‚ a celebrated psychologist‚ educator‚ and author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria‚ will be our keynote speaker this year. Dr. Tatum’s insights and vision will undoubtedly inspire.
Calendar of Events in San José – February
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Click Here to See Events for February
City of Morgan Hill
Cash for College |
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Calendar of Events in Morgan Hill
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Click here to see events in February
City of Gilroy
CASH FOR COLLEGE WORKSHOP |
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| Experts will be available to help you complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application and answer any question you may have regarding the Gavilan Promise awards‚ admissions‚ scholarships‚ Cal Grants‚ and other financial aid.
Saturday‚ February 29th‚ 9am – 1pm.
- Complete 19/20 or 20/21 FAFSA of CA Dream Act Application online
- Complete Gavilan application for admission
- Get assistance from college Financial Aid and Admissions Representatives
- Get answer to your questions
- Student Documents: Social Security card‚ Alien Registration card of Visa/Passport (if applicable)‚ Driver’s License‚ 2017 & 2018 Federal Tax Return and/or W-2 forms
- Parents Documents: Social Security card‚ 2017 & 2018 Federal Tax Return and/or W-2 forms and records of untaxed income such as child support‚ TANF/Cash Aid‚ social security benefits along with bank account records‚ investments‚ and/or business records.
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Click here for February Events in Gilroy
Sign Up For the Evergreen Blood Drive
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| The next Evergreen Blood Drive‚ sponsored by St. Francis of Assisi of Evergreen and the Stanford Blood Center will be held on Saturday February 15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Francis Community Center‚ 5111 San Felipe Road‚ San José. The event is open to the public and any and all eligible donors are encouraged to come by that Saturday and donate.
Stanford encourages you to sign up in advance to minimize waiting times for all. Walk-ins are on a first-come‚ first serviced basis. Sign up or learn about eligibility. For More information call Tom Mitchell at 408-476-6104. |
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League of Women Voters Gathering Information On Upcoming Legislation
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The League of Women Voters never leaves a stone unturned when it comes to gathering information about upcoming state legislation and new policies in Sacramento. I met with Elizabeth Marquez Bernardino‚ Kathleen Muller‚ Pierluigi Oliverio‚ and Anita Romero to discuss the major issues for the California Legislature 2025. We discussed the insurance crisis‚ the state’s plans to protect immigrants‚ the state’s limitations on local control of land use to speed up the production of housing‚ and how reduced federal funding will impact California’s programs.
Santa Clara County Medical Association’s Annual Gala Honoring Dr. Gloria Wu
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| It was an honor providing a California State Senate certificate to Dr. Gloria Wu‚ the Santa Clara County Medical Association’s President who has made numerous contributions to advancing the healthcare of the eyes.
In her decades of experience in the field of ophthalmology‚ specializing in Retina-Vitreous Surgery‚ Dr. Wu was also the visionary founder of Eyequix and the Journal of Asian Health in 2009‚ which has since become an integral part of Stanford Center of Asian Research and Education (CARE) since October 2020. Dr. Wu is currently dedicated to providing exceptional care to her retina patients through her private practice and her work at Good Samaritan Hospital in San José.
Generations United for The Dream
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| The annual African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) Family Resource Center luncheon is such a meaningful way to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King‚ Jr.’s legacy with longtime friends and community leaders. This is the 45th anniversary with the theme “Generations United for the Dream.”
I was so honored to receive “The Drum Major Award” for my civil rights work.
Protecting Immigrants Constitutional Rights
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| With great relief‚ my California Senate colleagues and I this month passed funding that provides our Attorney General resources to protect due process and established constitutional rights as the new White House administration has announced intent to go into our schools and churches to facilitate mass immigrant deportations.
The California Department of Justice will receive funding to help keep families together and California’s economy thriving because it greatly depends on immigrant workers. 46% of all agricultural workers in CA are undocumented.
We are the largest agricultural producer in the USA. Additional state funding will go to local services. We have over 120‚000 undocumented workers in Silicon Valley‚ not including children in our schools. Many are in my district.
Money to Fasttrack Clean-up
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| In an impactful‚ bi-partisan effort‚ it was a proud moment today when I joined my California Senate members in unanimously passing $2.5 billion dollars for the people of Los Angeles to fast track fire clean-up‚ rebuild their homes‚ businesses‚ schools and much more following the catastrophic fires.
The money will come from the general fund and is expected to be reimbursed by the federal government.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year
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| There’s nothing like the annual Lunar New Year parade at Grand Century Shopping Mall in San José‚ the flag raising and festivities!
What a great celebration with our large Vietnamese-American community. The best part is watching all the children’s faces light up when watching the festivities.
It was an honor to present a California State Senate certificate to the Vietnamese American Roundtable – the group that plans the festivities. We will have many more Lunar New Year posts coming up in the Korean‚ Chinese‚ Taiwanese and other communities as they happen! |
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As always‚ please feel free to contact me with any questions‚ comments‚ or concerns. I can be reached at senator.cortese@sen.ca.gov or by calling (408) 723-4157.
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CAPITOL OFFICE
1021 O Street‚ Suite 7520
Sacramento‚ CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4015
Fax: (916) 651-4915 |
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SAN JOSÉ OFFICE
1155 Meridian Avenue‚ Suite 100
San José‚ CA 95125
Phone: (408) 723-4154
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