mmm. hey jack, how'd you get this spicy cluck sandwich to have the perfect amount of spice? i call it, jack's spice squad. who's in the squad? [whispering] it's me. my new spicy cluck sandwich combo. it's my best chicken ever. trujillo: hello and welcome to my new spicy cluck sandwich combo. "comunidad del valle." i'm damian trujillo, and today, a "comunidad del valle" exclusive: one-on-one with united states senator alex padilla, right here on your "comunidad del valle." ♪♪♪ damian: we begin today with the feed the soul campaign, put on by meals on wheels. with me is caitlin sly, executive director of meals on wheels diablo region. caitlin, welcome to the show. caitlin sly: thanks so much for having me. damian: yeah, first of all, tell us a little bit if you can about meals on wheels, the program, and what y'all provide. caitlin: sure, so at meals on wheels diablo region, we obviously--our core flagship program is delivering meals

to homebound seniors, but we also provide so much more than a meal. we have a lot of supportive services that provide additional things that seniors might need like fall prevention, exercise classes, care management, all kinds of different things. damian: wait, what kind of sense of relief or peace of mind does that provide either the seniors or any extended family members that they might have? caitlin: it's really important. oftentimes the seniors that we serve are very isolated. they live alone. they often don't have family in the area, and it's really important to them and their family members to know that somebody is checking in on them regularly, in addition to providing them the nutrition they need to stay healthy. damian: that's wonderful. t . caitlin: yeah, the feed the soul campaign is in its second year and the goal is to raise money for our breakfast bag program.

and our breakfast bag program was a program that we started during covid because we just saw a huge need of more people coming to us for food and we really realized that the one meal that we deliver each day is just not enough. often the clients that we serve were taking it and dividing it into lunch and dinner, and then some--saving some to eat at night with their medications, which is just heartbreaking. and we really felt that they needed more food so we started our breakfast bag program that provides a week's worth of breakfasts every week. damian: we talked about the-- maybe the mental health of our seniors. it's gotta take a big hit when they don't have, you know, what you and i have, the three meals a day. and the fact that they have to partition the one meal that they used to get, it's hard not to break your heart when you hear that. caitlin: absolutely. the people we serve are, like i said, very isolated

in normal life, and then with covid we've all become more isolated. so that really has taken a toll on the mental health and physical health of the people we serve, so it's really important that they have the nutrition that they need and that they also have a friendly face that visits them. and in addition to the volunteers that deliver the meals, we also have a volunteer program called friendly visitors where we provide companionship for isolated seniors. damian: and you mentioned it briefly. other than maybe yelling at the soap operas on tv, these seniors have nobody else to talk to when it comes on any given day. that's where your volunteers come in. caitlin: exactly. most--very often, the people that--our volunteers that deliver the meals are the only person that our seniors may see every day. oftentimes they've outlived their friends, their family doesn't live in the area, or they don't have family to check in on them, so it's really important when they feel

so isolated to know that someone cares about them and that somebody is checking in to make sure that they're safe and healthy. damian: well, you talk about the very basics in life, the three hots and a cot. what would these seniors do without the assistance of programs like meals on wheels? caitlin: many of them would go hungry, you know? for those of us who can afford it, we could order doordash, or grubhub, or something like that, but for many of the seniors who are on fixed incomes and really can't afford to do that, really need to rely on the meals that we deliver. it's also really important that they're healthy, nutritious, well-balanced meals that provide all of the nutrition that they need to stay healthy. damian: oh, it just breaks your heart. well, you can help if you're out there. meals on wheels needs to expand some of these programs to reach more of our seniors. again, this is the diablo region of meals of wheels. if you'd like more information, they do have

the special campaign that is right now underway. there is the web address for more information, the feed the soul campaign. we'll be back with meals on wheels when we continue. stay with us. ♪♪♪ everyone needs health insurance. covered california is making sure more people can get it. new federal funding of $3 billion is available to help more californians get covered. julie and bob are paying $700 less every month. dee now gets comprehensive coverage with no monthly premium. and the novarros are paying under $100 per month. check coveredca.com to see your new lower price. covered california. this way to health insurance. enrollment ends january 31st.

th caitlin sly of meals covered california. this way to health insurance. on wheels diablo region here on "comunidad del valle." and again, you touched on this a little bit, but covid exacerbated things and more seniors are in need of kind kind of help. caitlin: yeah, we know that covid has had a much larger impact on seniors than any other age group and that really has resulted in more seniors sheltering at home and more isolation, and as a result, more seniors needing our services. in the need for deliver meals of over 40% since the beginning of the pandemic, and we really don't see that need going down anytime soon, especially with the advent of omicron

and some of these other variants, so we really rely on the community support to be able to keep up with the need. damian: and you have 40,000 clients in contra costa county alone. that--boy, that's an incredible, unbelievable number of the amount of people that you're serving. caitlin: yeah, well, last year we provided 40,000 breakfasts to people in need and we have a lot of clients that are in need of breakfasts, and we really hope to expand that number so that we're able to reach even more seniors that need the extra meal. damian: and there's only one to expand that, and that's through donations, right? how have those donations been through the pandemic? i know that, incredibly, a lot of agencies and people have stepped up even more than before during the pandemic. what are your books telling you? caitlin: we're very, very lucky that our community has been incredibly generous and they recognize the need that seniors are facing. they recognize that this is a pandemic

that has affected them more than anyone else. and people--you know, everyone has a senior in their family or a neighbor who has touched their lives, and so we're really lucky that our community has been generous to us and has ensured that we've been able to meet the need so far. but like i said, we know that that need is not going down anytime soon, and so we just hope that people will continue to give so that we can expand our programs and keep meeting the need into the future. so really, any donation helps provide more breakfasts to seniors in need. damian: and you are bringing a lot of smiles to the faces of those seniors. in return, what are those seniors doing to the faces of your volunteers? caitlin: oh, it's a wonderful experience for our volunteers and for our staff. we get thank you notes, letters, and just smiles every day when we drop off the meals. you know, it's been hard with covid.

we can't hug each other and we can't get as close as we used to, but people are able to show their gratitude, even if from a distance. damian: and you touched on in our previous segment a little bit that it's not just about the meals. you're providing these other services that are crucial to seniors. if you can expand just slightly a little bit more on those other services. caitlin: absolutely. we have, like i mentioned, a fall prevention program where will actually go into the home and install grab bars, or shower chairs, or railings to make the home safer to help prevent falls. we also do balance classes out in the community, as well as exercise classes for more mobile seniors who want to stay active, and engaged, and healthy. we also have nutrition classes and we have a few cafe sites where more mobile seniors can come and sit down, and have a meal, and socialize, which is a really important. and then also, for our clients that are more isolated,

we have a friendly visitor and friendly caller program where we provide companionship and connection for isolated seniors. and lastly, we also have a care management program, so if one of our programs doesn't meet the needs of one of the seniors that we serve, our care management team can help provide referrals to other service that help prevent evictions and things of that nature. damian: that is fantastic. your agency is all-encompassing. any final thoughts, caitlin, before we let you go? caitlin: just that we appreciate any support that we can give. covid-19 has certainly wreaked havoc on our seniors, and you know, they're often the most forgotten part of our society, so we really hope that the community will continue to step up and support us so that we can support our elders. damian: caitlin sly, executive director of meals on wheels diablo region, thank you so much for all these wonderful services you're providing to our east bay seniors. caitlin: thank you so much for your time. damian: great, thank you so much.

again, meals on wheels, they're accepting donations for a lot of these programs to keep them going. there is the website for more information, the feed the soul campaign, meals on wheels diablo region. thank you so much. up next, here a "comunidad del valle" exclusive: one-on-one with united states senator alex padilla. stay with us. ♪♪♪

one of them is diane feinstein. the second one is alex padilla. he's from pacoima, the san fernando valley. he just completed his one year as the new senator from california. we just did an exclusive one-on-one interview with, they call him, the junior senator from california. here is our interview with alex padilla. damian: with me now is united states senator alex padilla on "comunidad del valle." and senator, it's been just over a year since you were sworn in as senator.

nothing's happened really in washington, d.c. since. i mean, what a whirlwind that you walked into as a united states senator. senator alex padilla: oh my gosh, thank you for letting me back with you, damian, and your fan base in the bay area. you're right, what a year it has been. i think back to where we were a year ago. for me, transitioning into the senate, but also the circumstances, right, in the worst parts of covid at the time, not just from case counts but people in hospitals, lost lives on a daily basis, and the wake of the insurrection in the nation's capital. but all that not withstanding, what a year it's been. and to think that i arrived in this senate in time to help negotiate and pass the american rescue plan, which was huge money for working families, for small business owners, for state and local governments, and most importantly, vaccines, vaccines, vaccines. and then to end the year with the president signing

the bipartisan infrastructure package, which is also billions and billions of dollars for california for so many things: public transit in and around the bay area, money for improved internet access, 'cause we all know how important that is nowadays, the resiliency of our electrical grid, and so much more. so a lot that's been done, but a lot more left to do. damian: and before we get into the aspects of the legislation that you've sponsored, or supported, or voted for, on a personal level, behind you is a picture of your amazing wife angela. talk about the difficult part of leaving pacoima, leaving the san fernando valley. i mean, you've been up and down sacramento as a state senator and as secretary of state. this is different. you're crossing the country now and leaving them for-- leaving your family alone for longer periods of time. how difficult has that been? senator padilla: i'll be honest, it's tough. as you know, damian, we're a very close-knit family, so you know, even if i was just going to sacramento or san francisco for the day, we miss each other.

we call each other frequently. when are we coming home? so to know that days every week i'm across country in washington, d.c., is a tough sacrifice. and i especially appreciate angela holding down the fort with our kids, but we keep reminding each other, you know, it may be difficult, but it's gotta be worth it. we're here to help. we're here to make a difference. and there's so many issues, whether it's covid response, push on immigration reform, raising awareness about mental health, and so many other issues. damian: you made a point on capitol hill awhile back that, actually probably on the anniversary of the insurrection, that your children were there witnessing on tv what happened and they asked you, "really, dad?" tell us about that story. senator padilla: yeah, so yeah, a couple weeks ago, it was one year after the insurrection

that the whole world saw last year in the nation's capitol, something you never would have imagined taking place. and i was one of the few-- there's only three senators serving today that weren't in chambers that day. the governor had announced my appointment but vice president harris was still a senator then. she wasn't sworn in as vice president until the 20th of january. and so i was still home that day in transition. you know, i was interviewing potential staff that morning when angela sorta tapped me on the shoulder, and she never interrupts my meetings or my interviews, and said, "there's something happening. you need to come see." and so i wrapped up that session and we watched the insurrection unfold live on television. and the kids weren't in school yet. i mean, it was early january, but also they were home because of covid. and as they see the insurrection unfolding, and they've all been to washington, d.c. they've been to the capitol and they know what it represents, and they know that i was transitioning into the senate.

they did ask, "like, really? that's where we're going?" and as best as i could, you know, to a then 13-year-old, 8-year-old, and 6-year-old, explain, "yeah, and now with more purpose and more resolve," because there's so many underlying things that led up to the insurrection. there's a lot of focus clearly on the big lie, right? donald trump's lies about election integrity in america. i was serving as secretary of state, you know? there is no truth to the massive voter fraud he was implying, but i think it was more than that. if you look back to his first campaign, his four years in office, and the big lie, it's clear the type of america that he and some of the folks who follow him that are full of hate want for this nation's future, and it doesn't include diverse communities like ours. and so i do feel compelled to be the best voice i can be, not just for our community, but for all communities on

all our issues because we're an integral part of this country. always have been, always will be. damian: our next segment will focus on, again, the policy aspects of everything, but one last note on a personal basis, senator. do you feel like you're carrying the weight of a lot of people? coming from the san fernando valley, latino senator, are you carrying the weight of a lot of people with you when you're walking the halls of congress? senator padilla: yeah, absolutely. you know, i think the two words you've heard me use a lot since my appointment last year is this job is both a tremendous opportunity, and it is, but also a tremendous responsibility, right, because of where i come from, not just my community but a lot of the similar communities around california and around the country. but i embrace it, i always have. i mean, i felt this added responsibility when i was a member of the los angeles city council once upon a time, when i was in the state legislature,

certainly as secretary of state, and now even moreso in the united states senate. damian: you've sponsored-- well, we'll talk about that in our next segment. i'm gonna give you some time to have a sip of water. we're talking with united states senator alex padilla. we'll be back after these messages. stay with us.

you can follow me on twitter. my handle is @newsdamian. on instagram, it's @newsdamiantrujillo. you can also pick up a copy of "el observador" newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies all across the bay area. i think they're mostly online now, but check 'em out. we thank you once again for sharing a part of your sunday. we're going into another little hiatus because of the olympics on nbc, but we'll be back in late february, early march. we're gonna leave you now with the second part of our exclusive interview with united states senator alex padilla. buenos dias. damian: and we're back or co-sponsored legislation and having to do with immigration and citizenship.

talk about that, and where that is, and what happened to that. senator padilla: right, look, immigration reform is long overdue in this country, and you know, it's not just a personal issue for me as a proud son of immigrants from mexico. my dad is from jalisco and my mom was from chihuahua. but also no state has more at stake in immigration policy than the state of california because of our population. but for all the arguments that have been made over the years, whether it's support for farm workers, support for dreamers, the contributions of immigrants to the economy in the united states, it's become even more in the spotlight because of the covid-19 pandemic. i mean, believe it or not, under the trump administration, the department of homeland security designated workers in so many industries as essential, essential for national security and our economy. workers in the food supply chain, and we know who works the fields. we know who works in packing houses. workers in the transportation and construction sector, yeah,

look at who's on those job sites. workers in, you know, childcare, elder care. we know how many caregivers are immigrants. and so if our country truly depends on immigrants, then it's important that we treat them as essential. and to know that there's 12 million people in the united states that are undocumented, 5 million working in essential jobs, adults who have lived here on average for 18 years, working, paying taxes, raising families, they deserve to not have to live in the shadows or in fear of deportation. so the first bill i introduced was the citizenship for essential workers act. it's not at the finish line quite yet, but it's one of the many things that we keep pushing for. damian: and at the same time, there's so much legislation. i know that when you were secretary of state in california, i asked you if the russians were trying to get into our voting systems. now i ask you as a united states senator. you've seen maybe some of the intelligence that's coming.

are americans trying to interfere with the american voting system? senator padilla: yeah, well, the election administration, and voting rights, and just faith in the process is so critical to our democracy. we saw last january 6 when-- that's not happening, right? and so how do we restore faith? part of it is election administration. proud of what we did when i was secretary of state. you know, we turned california from one where it was low voter participation into one with high voter registration rates, high turnout rates. and so we have the model for the rest of the nation to follow, making it easier and secure for people to register to vote, to stay registered to vote, and to actually cast their ballots. you know, are there attacks on it domestically these days? you know, there's probably, you know, somebody trying to figure out how to, you know, maybe undermine the voting system, but that's why california leads the nation on election secur

i think moreso, it's really the battle of faith. information, misinformation, disinformation. there's certainly a lot of people trying to, you know, either to cause doubt or worse about election results. and again, we look no further to january 6 of last year of what that could lead to if we don't put it in check. and so the debate over voting rights in the senate these days and in congress is not just about access to the ballot, which is hugely critical, but it's also about faith in the electoral process. damian: let's talk about infrastructure. that was important too. how do we benefit here in california, the bay area? senator padilla: you know, thank you for asking that question because we haven't celebrated it enough until-- i think for the next couple of months, we'll be highlighting some of the money that's coming to california in some of those specific areas. let's start with transportation, whether it's that bart extension all the way to san jose or the electrification of caltrain,

you know, some of the money for the critical bridges. we know the bay area depends on bridges for being able to get around seamlessly. but also money for the electrical grid. you know, you may recall i served in the state senate as chair of the energy committee, and knowing that every season that brings wildfires brings threats to us keeping the lights on. we did advocate for funding in the infrastructure package for money to modernize our electrical grid from a reliability standpoint, a resiliency standpoint, and a climate change standpoint. if the grid is more efficient, we can reduce emissions and do our part to address climate change, which is what's causing the wildfires more intensely every year. money in there for improving internet access, whether it's telemedicine, whether it's kids that are learning from home because of covid or anything else, we know how important a quality internet connection is. but as big as that infrastructure package was,

we're not done. you know, we need the other part of it, the "build back better" part to invest in housing, education, health care, the care economy, and more. damian: anything else, senator, that you wanted to get across, your accomplishments, maybe your vision here as you've completed your first year in office as united states senator? senator padilla: yeah, no, it's been a tremendous honor, a tremendous privilege. it has been an adventure. it has not been easy, but you know, the job is important. i took the job not because it would be easy, but because i know it's so important. for folks out there who may need assistance with navigating federal agencies, our website, padilla.senate.gov. thousands and thousands of people have reached out whether it's a passport issue, whether it's a, you know, health care access issue, or anything else, we are here to serve. damian: all right, well, we thank you very much, united states senator alex padilla,

the pride of california, the pride of the nation actually. we thank you so much for being on our show. we'll see you again soon. senator padilla: thank you, damian. take care. damian: thank you. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪

any parent will tell you the second you have a kid, it's like your heart is living outside of your body, which means you never, ever stop worrying. that's why we got health insurance and for way less than we thought was possible. the kids' doctor and dental check-ups are free, and i get screenings for my cholesterol and my blood pressure. don't get me wrong, i still worry. just a little less. covered california. this way to health insurance. enrollment ends january 31st at coveredca.com my new spicy cluck sandwich with a bigger, crispier and better-than-ever spicy fillet. bigger pickles, more sauce, and the perfect amount of spice to get your taste buds tingling. try my new $6.99 spicy cluck sandwich combo. order on the jack app today.

hollywood awards season is officially underway, try my new $6.99 spicy cluck sandwich combo. and it all kicks off with the golden globes. so in the spirit of rolling out the red carpet, we're kicking off the celebrations by catching up with some of the best in film and tv. first up, we're chatting with golden globe nominee cuba gooding, jr. he talks about his broadway stint in "chicago," and why coming back to new york was so exciting for him. we were just talking about you coming back home to the bronx. we miss you. cuba gooding, jr., what's up, man? you know, just been international. yeah, i see you out here. and now you're going to do broadway.