Newark honors former state senator Ellen Marie Corbett and issues community proclamations

Mayor Michael Hannon opened Thursday’s meeting by announcing the council would close in memory of former state senator Ellen Marie Corbett, outlining her years of public service as San Leandro’s first elected female mayor, a state assemblymember and a state senator. “Senator Corbett was a fierce fighter for her constituents,” Hannon said, summarizing remarks about her legislative work and local advocacy.

The council then read Proclamation No. 1923 declaring September 19–22 as Newark Days, praising the volunteer Newark Days committee and listing planned events including a parade, youth activities and music. Committee leaders described a larger parade line‑up this year, with multiple school bands, equestrian entries and community groups.

The council also presented a proclamation designating September as National Preparedness Month and recognized the city’s PPRR (prepare, plan, respond, recover) trainings. Richard Martinez and David Libby of the city’s CERT program encouraged residents to check or prepare an emergency “Go Kit” and promoted a 20‑hour CERT academy scheduled for October.

Finally, the council proclaimed September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and invited Angela Crawford and Daniel Cardenas of the Jammer Strong Foundation to accept. Crawford and Cardenas described the foundation’s work supporting families and fundraising for pediatric cancer research. “Together we fight,” Cardenas said, summarizing the group’s message of community support and fundraising for research.

These agenda items were ceremonial; the meeting moved afterward into public comment and the substantive consent and action items scheduled for the evening.