In late July, the Marin County Public Health Office released information showing that while Marin’s Latinx community is only 16 percent of the county’s population, it accounted for over 80 percent of the county's COVID-19 cases, illustrating the disproportionate affect in San Rafael's Canal District. Many Latinx within the Canal District and our county are considered essential workers and do not have the luxury to stay home during the pandemic or quarantine away from their family if they contract the virus.
The Canal District and all our county’s Latinx community need more resources and support systems to help mitigate the virus and stop the spread of this deadly disease.
College of Marin is standing with the Canal Alliance urging local officials in Marin County and the City of San Rafael to declare a state of emergency for the Canal neighborhood to bring critically needed resources and support to our Latinx community. I signed the Canal Alliance’s letter addressing this. I encourage you to read it.
The Canal Alliance provides much needed services, resources, and support systems for local immigrants and their families. To confront COVID-19, they currently have an Emergency Fund to raise money for immediate needs that have been brought on by the pandemic. They are providing information about how to lower one’s risk of getting COVID-19, how to stop the spread, where to get tested, and resources for mental health. This organization provides essential resources in our county and state and we proudly work with them.
College of Marin serves a high number of Latinx students yearly and we cannot stand by and let members of our community suffer through this terrible pandemic alone.
Please join me in contacting your local and state representatives asking for a State of Emergency to help control this outbreak in the Canal District:
California Assemblymember Marc Levine
California State Senator Mike McGuire
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi
U.S. Senator Kamala Harris
U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California
Regional Director of Northern California, Office of the Governor, Elmy Bermejo
Marin County Public Health Director, Matt Willis, MD, MPH
San Rafael Community Development Director, Paul Jensen
San Rafael City Manager, Jim Schutz
Department of Health and Human Services for the County of Marin Director, Benita McClarin
Thank you for your support.
Stay healthy and safe!
Sincerely,
David Wain Coon, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President
College of Marin