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A new state bill would give the Santa Clara Valley Water District expanded authority to help thousands of homeless people living along creeks, streams and other district lands find housing and services. District officials say Assembly Bill 1469 would add language to the district’s governing act specifying it can assist unsheltered people, allowing it to play a...
Santa Clara County could guarantee income for formerly incarcerated people
Individuals coming out of jail have few resources to help them integrate back into society. Santa Clara County officials want to help change that. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently approved a potential guaranteed basic income program for former inmates. The program’s financial feasibility will be discussed at the county’s budget meeting in...
Santa Clara County leaders take action on gender inequality
Santa Clara County officials have approved landmark legislation to tackle gender inequality. The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) last week. CEDAW is a framework to gather data and implement gender-equitable practices in local government. Advocates said the move holds the county accountable for...
Santa Clara population ticks up as rest of region drops
All but four Santa Clara County cities lost residents over the last year amid a continuing trend of statewide population drop driven by declining birth rates, elevated deaths and people leaving the state. While San Jose, the state’s third largest city, lost a half-percent of its population, dropping to 959,256 people, Santa Clara, the county’s...
Union upset over Santa Clara County’s plan to cut vacant jobs
Santa Clara County plans to slash hundreds of vacant positions, a move union leaders said would exacerbate existing staffing issues. County officials want to eliminate about 650 vacant roles out of roughly 3,500 total vacancies to help offset a projected budget deficit of $120 million. Funds would be reallocated elsewhere in the proposed 2023-24 budget....
Former San Jose vice mayor enters crowded supervisor race
Madison Nguyen said she can’t stay away from politics any longer and plans to run for a county seat. The former San Jose vice mayor announced her bid for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 2 seat Monday, showing up with supporters to file her candidacy papers in-person at the county Registrar of...
Santa Clara County reentry center celebrates five years
A South County-focused reentry program is helping to transform the lives of individuals formerly incarcerated. The South County Reentry Resource Center in Gilroy is celebrating five years of providing crucial services to residents leaving jail and prison. Leaders said part of its success comes from partnering with Santa Clara County programs designed to break the cycle...
Silicon Valley community college wants the 50-plus crowd
It’s never too late to go back to school, and one Silicon Valley community college district wants to welcome older adults as it looks to fill its student ranks. The West Valley-Mission Community College District is releasing a survey in May to garner ideas on how to make higher education age-friendly. Advocates said increasing education access...
Santa Clara County air quality earns failing grade
Santa Clara County is still struggling to clean up its poor air quality, with communities of color among the most affected. The American Lung Association’s newly released 2023 State of the Air report shows Santa Clara County scored an “F” on the report in high ozone days and particle pollution levels—factors that contribute to an array of...
Silicon Valley Vietnamese nonprofits struggle to secure grants
Vietnamese leaders are calling for equitable funding across community-based organizations in an effort to ensure residents aren’t left behind. Santa Clara County’s Vietnamese nonprofits have faced a longstanding gap in funding and resources, despite the population’s significant presence in the region. Advocates said these funding disparities are detrimental to the organizations that provide the greatest support...