South San Francisco, CA May 21, 2020 by Cynthia Marcopulos, SSF Resident
The Magnolia Senior Center has been serving our community for well over forty years. Learning of its closure is very distressing as we, the residents, specifically voted for Measure W which included “programs for seniors and the disabled.” This closure is going against the Will of the Voters.
Most importantly, the Magnolia Senior Center provides a refuge for those who have needed their exceptional services, as well as providing a community for the seniors who may find themselves alone, abandoned and frail. The exceptional staff and the outstanding programs and services provide a caring compassionate atmosphere assuring the seniors of a sense of stability and normalcy in the life-changing challenges they experience in their twilight years.
The Magnolia Senior Center has been a beacon* of hope for many of our aged community. As a city progresses into the future, it should not neglect nor abandon those who were the foundation of this city.
{Updated}
Please contact the City Council immediately as they are planning to vote on the future of the Magnolia Senior Center very soon.
The Council hotline number is 650-829-4670
The Council e-mail contacts are as follows:
council@ssf.net
all-cc@ssf.net
The individual email addresses for the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council members:
Mayor Rich Garbarino rich.garbarino@ssf.net
Vice Mayor Mark Addiego mark.addiego@ssf.net
Council Members:
Karyl Matsumoto karyl.matsumoto@ssf.net
Mark Nagales mark.nagles@ssf.net
Flor Nicolas flor.nicolas@ssf.net
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EDIT UPDATE May 23, 2020 12:30pm
Thank you to Ms Marcopulos for sharing the response from City Assistant Manager Sharon Ranals:
From: “Ranals, Sharon” <Sharon.Ranals@ssf.net>
Date: May 21, 2020 at 4:39:18 PM PDT
To: “CM’xxxxx'” <cm>
Cc: All Council <Council@ssf.net>, “Cullinan, Kelli” <Kelli.Cullinan@ssf.net>
Subject: RE: Magnolia Senior Center – resident input
Dear Cynthia:
Thank you for taking the time to communicate your concerns about possible cancellation of senior programs. There is a rumor circulating on social media and between some of the seniors who utilize the Magnolia Senior Center and the Adult Day Care program which I would like to dispel. The programs that operate out of Magnolia Center are currently closed due to the County Health Officer’s Shelter in Place Order. The building and group programs that operate out of this facility cannot reopen until the Shelter in Place Order is amended to permit group activities for seniors, who as we know are at higher risk for serious outcomes if they contract Covid-19, and must be protected. There is no plan to permanently close Magnolia Center or terminate programs for seniors, or to repurpose the building for some other use. However, any savings that can be captured during the closure will be identified and put toward balancing the budget.
When the Order is lifted, the City intends to restore senior programming at Magnolia. In the meantime, Senior Center staff have been working very hard to continue to safely provide services to our seniors. These efforts include making daily telephone welfare checks and answering phone and email inquiries; creating a printed and online Senior Newsletter which identifies many useful resources; creating and delivering activity kits; and pivoting from regular programming toward addressing food insecurity issues, including making food deliveries to qualifying home-bound seniors in need. Staff are also working with the County to modify operations, such as working with smaller groups and utilizing strict social distancing protocols, to be prepared to provide safe programs as the Shelter in Place is relaxed. I encourage residents who would like more information about any of the services mentioned to call Kelli Jo Cullinan, the Senior Supervisor, at 650-829-3822.
Thank you again for contacting the City, and we hope that you and your family stay well.
Sincerely,
Sharon
There must be some sort of legal action available to us because of this. At the Fed level, it would be akin to Mail Fraud (i.e. Taking money from people then not delivering on what they paid for). This whole CD be REMOVED, either by voluntarily resigning or by US via some legal action. I find it unconscionable that they are allowed to do what they’ve done without incurring legal action. Let’s look into it ASAP, as there must be something in the city of county charters to cover misappropriation funds…a FELONY under U.S. Law if I’m not mistaken!
It is no secret the funds for the Measure W 1/2c sales tax for 30 years is supporting the Civic Campus–totally. The City bait and switched voters into believing it would be fund senior, ‘gangs suppression programs’, and the disabled. They knew if they didn’t mislead us, the measure would not have passed and it didn’t, by the 2/3 required for a capital project (the intended use) –their Civic Campus. The project is over budget and the City is looking to raise money from the various sources, among them the library foundation to keep the project going. Requests to scale the massive $300M cost is going on deaf ears — way above the estimate of $210M and what they estimated to collect from the tax. They don’t listen to citizens. The mayor speaks like he cares, but does he?
They wanted you to forget the real intent of the tax, glad to see voters paying attention. Let’s hold them accountable, its called transparency.
Disgusting…but, sadly, true!
welcome to the self serving gestapo,
you voted for them, how do you think
they were going to pay for all.these taj
mahals they are planning, and all those pay raises? seniors are a disposal commodity to the money changers,
time to drain the south.city swamp