Funding to help homeless, cyclists

Assemblymember Alex Lee secured $2.5 million for the City of Milpitas in the 2022-23 state budget, which will help fund Milpitas’ Homeless Prevention and Unhoused Services and Bike Lanes Facilities Enhancement.

“As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, I’m honored to have secured millions of dollars to support my hometown of Milpitas,” Lee said in a statement.

The state budget includes $1.5 million to support continuing and expanding Milpitas’ mobile shower and laundry services for the homeless to twice a week for three years ($300,000), establish a Milpitas Resource Center as a two-year pilot program ($500,000), and provide rent relief to vulnerable Milpitas residents ($700,000).

Milpitas also requested $1 million to support safer bicycle traffic. The allocation will help upgrade existing bike lane infrastructure with green pavement and bike boxes at intersections, buffered bike lanes and/or separated bikeways marked with bollards, posts or on-street parking.

Going batty

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is hosting two events this month featuring bats.

On July 20, 6-7 p.m., the authority is partnering with Saved By Nature and Bat Conservation International for a Zoom webinar on bat basics, San Jose bats and how to support bats in the backyard.

Register at https://savedbynature.networkforgood.com/events/44747-the-basics-of-bats.

The Bat bonanza continues July 29 with a family-friendly nature program in search of bats at the Little Uvas Creek Preserve, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Attendees will watch the sunset and see the bats emerge.

Directions provided after registration at Eventbrite.com.

Source: www.mercurynews.com