OAKLAND
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’ access to FDA-approved contraception.
“Accessing reproductive care should never depend on your income or type of insurance,” Bonta said. “AB 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’s 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.
“This 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 — especially when it is available off the shelf and without a prescription at local pharmacies,” said Amy Moy, the co-chief executive officer of East Bay nonprofit group Essential Access Health.
“We thank Assemblymember Bonta for her leadership, applaud the Legislature’s strong bipartisan support and appreciate Governor Newsom signing AB 50 into law,” Moy continued. “Essential Access Health has co-sponsored every major birth control access law in California over the past 15 years—and we will not stop until everyone can get the contraception they need, when and where they need it.”
AB 50 was supported by a coalition of health advocates, local governments and women’s 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.
— Assemblymember Bonta’s office
Halloween event happening on Oct. 26 in Montclair Village
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.
In the Oakland hills’ 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.
— Montclair Village Association
PIEDMONT
Videos from city detail Draft Moraga Canyon Specific Plan
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’s meeting this week, when they were to consider the plan’s adoption.
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 — the transportation consultant leading traffic engineering work on the plan — explains what real-world traffic counts and industry-standard modeling show about Moraga Avenue today and with new development.
In the second video, Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan explains how evacuations are planned, managed and regionally coordinated today — and how the Moraga Canyon plan would support community safety.
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 online.
— city of Piedmont
Volunteers needed to teach English as a second language
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).
No experience is required, and support and training materials will be provided. Make a difference in someone’s life! To volunteer, call 510- 594-2717 or visit bit.ly/3K9AwQw online. Visit the Piedmont Adult School online at adulted.piedmont.k12.ca.us.
— Piedmont Adult School
To submit an item for the Montclarion and Piedmonter’s “In brief” section, which is now published in print on each month’s second Friday, please email it, at least three days before print publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words and include a short headline along with the name of the group or individual to credit for it.