OAKLAND<\/p>\n
California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed AB 50, the Equity in Birth Control Act, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, who chairs the Assembly Health Committee. She says the bill ensures Medi-Cal recipients can access over-the-counter birth control without a prescription, eliminating unnecessary barriers to streamline Californians\u2019 access to FDA-approved contraception.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccessing reproductive care should never depend on your income or type of insurance,\u201d Bonta said. \u201cAB 50 ensures that Medi-Cal recipients can access over-the-counter birth control just like those with private insurance. As Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, I remain committed to expanding California\u2019s leadership in reproductive justice, especially as a federal administration seeks to roll back reproductive rights and leave our daughters with fewer freedoms than their mothers had.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis critical bill removes a systemic barrier that has denied Californians with Medi-Cal coverage from the same over-the-counter birth control access as those with private insurance. No one should face barriers to birth control \u2014 especially when it is available off the shelf and without a prescription at local pharmacies,\u201d said Amy Moy, the co-chief executive officer of East Bay nonprofit group Essential Access Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thank Assemblymember Bonta for her leadership, applaud the Legislature\u2019s strong bipartisan support and appreciate Governor Newsom signing AB 50 into law,\u201d Moy continued. \u201cEssential Access Health has co-sponsored every major birth control access law in California over the past 15 years\u2014and we will not stop until everyone can get the contraception they need, when and where they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
AB 50 was supported by a coalition of health advocates, local governments and women\u2019s rights organizations. The law goes into effect Sept. 26. Bonta represents Assembly District 18, which includes Oakland, Emeryville and the city of Alameda. For information online, visit a18.asmdc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Assemblymember Bonta\u2019s office<\/p>\n Halloween event happening on Oct. 26 in Montclair Village<\/p>\n The Montclair Village Halloween Trick-Or-Treat and Family Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26, featuring treats and festive fun for the whole family.<\/p>\n In the Oakland hills\u2019 Montclair Village district, wear your coolest costume and get ready for trick-or-treating, live music with some spooky tunes, arts and crafts projects and lots more fun. The event will feature a pumpkin trick-or-treat bag giveaway courtesy of Flair Travel and Pelago. For details online, visit montclairvillage.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Montclair Village Association<\/p>\n PIEDMONT Two short videos feature technical experts answering common community questions about traffic on Moraga Avenue and wildfire evacuation in connection with the Draft Moraga Canyon Specific Plan. Building on a previous video introduction to the Moraga Canyon plan, these videos provided information on key issues ahead of the City Council\u2019s meeting this week, when they were to consider the plan\u2019s adoption.<\/p>\n The Planning Commission voted to recommend the council adopt the Moraga Canyon plan at a public hearing in September. In the first video, Sam Tabibnia of Fehr & Peers \u2014 the transportation consultant leading traffic engineering work on the plan \u2014 explains what real-world traffic counts and industry-standard modeling show about Moraga Avenue today and with new development.<\/p>\n In the second video, Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan explains how evacuations are planned, managed and regionally coordinated today \u2014 and how the Moraga Canyon plan would support community safety.<\/p>\n The plan details development locations, site improvements and infrastructure requirements for the construction of an anticipated 199 units of new housing on city-owned land in Moraga Canyon, 60 of which would be affordable to lower income households. For more details about the Moraga Canyon plan and to view the videos, visit bit.ly\/46XtIxb<\/a> online.<\/p>\n \u2014 city of Piedmont<\/p>\n Volunteers needed to teach English as a second language<\/p>\n Would you like to help adults learn English? The Piedmont Adult School is seeking adult volunteers to serve as conversation partners with our adult students of English as a second language (ESL). Volunteers will meet one-on-one with students. On Mondays from 6 to 6:45 p.m. (for beginning students) and 7 to 7:45 p.m. (intermediate students) and on Tuesdays from 7 to 7:45 p.m. (advanced students).<\/p>\n No experience is required, and support and training materials will be provided. Make a difference in someone\u2019s life! To volunteer, call 510- 594-2717 or visit bit.ly\/3K9AwQw<\/a> online. Visit the Piedmont Adult School online at adulted.piedmont.k12.ca.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Piedmont Adult School<\/p>\n
\nVideos from city detail Draft Moraga Canyon Specific Plan<\/p>\n