08 Sep Supervisor Gioia to Host ‘Community Impact’ Town Halls in West Contra Costa

District 1 Supervisor John Gioia will host a series of town halls to get residents’ input on how a new Community Impact Fund will be spent in West Contra Costa County. (Office of John Gioia via Bay City News)

By Danielle Parenteau-Decker

Contra Costa County is dedicating $1 million to address inequity and financial and health disparities in West Contra Costa, and Supervisor John Gioia wants to know how residents think it should be spent.

The money is part of a $5 million Community Impact Fund split evenly among the Board of Supervisors’ five districts. Approved by the board on June 24, the CIF is being funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars still remaining from the sweeping 2021 federal legislation signed by President Biden to provide economic relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. The county says it wants to know where residents “believe investment would make the biggest difference.”

Residents can participate in a countywide online survey, which includes 16 questions such as: “If you had funds to invest in your community, what would be your top 3 priorities?” The survey also asks about quality of life and the biggest challenges that the respondent’s own household contends with.

In West Contra Costa, Gioia is hosting six town halls between this month and next, all to be held in person and on Zoom, he announced Friday on Instagram. The first event is youth-only, but the rest are open to all. Gioia listed more information on his “District 1 Community Impact Fund Townhalls Page.”

Below are the details for each meeting:

• 23, 5 p.m., Youth 13-24 only, RYSE Center, 3939 Bissell Ave., Richmond
• 30, 6 p.m., Pinole City Hall, 2131 Pear St.
• 2, 5:30 p.m., St. Peter Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 5234 Cypress Ave., El Cerrito
• 6, 1 p.m., RYSE Center
• 9, 6 p.m., San Pablo City Hall, 1000 Gateway Ave.
• 11, 10 a.m., RYSE Center

Whether people want to be at the meetings or attend virtually, they should RSVP by visiting tinyurl.com/CCIF-RSVP. Light refreshments will be provided onsite.

Other Contra Costa supervisors will host town halls in their respective districts as well.