🌱 Shoutout To Vickie Dao + HB Progresses On Homelessness Goals

Good morning, Huntington Beach, and happy National Cabbage Day! Let's get this Thursday started off right.

A friendly face with an understanding of Asian cultural nuances makes a significant difference at the City of Hope. Also, the City is making strides toward achieving its goals regarding homelessness. Finally, Bolsa Chica annexation could happen at some point in the nearer future.

First, today's weather:

Sunny; breezy in the p.m. High: 73 Low: 44.

Here are the top five stories today in Huntington Beach:

1. A shoutout to Vickie Dao, the medical assistant at City of Hope Huntington Beach. “Dao serves as a cultural envoy of sorts for the cancer organization’s API patients in the area, particularly those whose first language is Vietnamese.” Her expertise in understanding “Asian cultural nuances is key to addressing cancer care disparities.” (HB News)
2. We learned Tuesday that “Huntington Beach is making slow but steady progress on its homelessness goals” according to a report. There is the “city’s Navigation Center that offers people a place to stay while they sort out something long term or permanent.” Also, the City “contracted with Be Well OC to operate vans that can respond to non-emergency mental health calls.” (Spectrum News 1)
3. The City Council voted Tuesday to continue a Bolsa Chica annexation exploration. The 6-1 vote called for an update of the Bolsa Chica Annexation Feasibility Study. The sole no-vote came from Councilman Erik Peterson. (@mjszabo)
4. HB’s homeless shelter opened toward the end of 2020. It houses more than 100 individuals every night. “Day-to-day operations at the shelter, including janitorial services, are handled by Santa Ana-based Mercy House.” In addition, the Navigation Center has been instrumental in serving meals and offering support. (OC Register/Paywall)
5. Senator Dave Min has weighed in regarding the “recent anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ flyers disseminated in Huntington Beach.” He issued a statement on Wednesday that called on every HB resident “to stand up against this disgusting bigotry.” For the people who anonymously disseminated the flyers, his message was, “if you want to traffic in hate, do it somewhere else.” (@SenDaveMin)

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Today in Huntington Beach:

• Walking Audiobook Club at the Huntington Beach Public Library (4:30 PM)
• Kindergarten Information Night at the Ocean View School District (6 PM)
• Pub Quiz at O'Malley's On Main (7 PM)
• NA Meeting at Community Bible Church (7:30 PM)
• Karaoke Thursday at the Old Crow Smokehouse (8 PM)

From my notebook:

• A Krepp/Grand neighbor made a new group: HB Garage Bands - Everyone who is interested is welcome to join. (Nextdoor)
• An eagle-eyed Huntington Harbor West neighbor wants you to message them if you lost a valuable piece of jewelry on Super Bowl Sunday. (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.