Santa Clara is proposing a bevy of policies aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions over the next couple decades. The city is updating its Climate Action Plan, with goals to curb greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2035 and for the city to be carbon neutral by 2045. The plan calls for carbon-neutral data centers and helping hotels,...
Santa Clara starts task force to study homelessness
Santa Clara is assembling a task force aimed at tackling homelessness within the city and needs recruits. The city is working with San Francisco nonprofit Homebase to examine the needs and service gaps for the unhoused by creating a task force and strategic plan. The task force will be comprised of four to eight members, including...
Silicon Valley congressman meets with Ukrainian official
Kyiv, Ukraine may be more than 6,000 miles from Santa Clara County, but the two regions share a partnership highlighted by a recent meeting between government officials. Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna met with Ukraine Consul General Dmytro Kushneruk on Monday to discuss the needs of his country and how the Bay Area can help. Ukraine has...
How to watch and participate in Santa Clara City Council meetings
One of the easiest ways to get involved in local politics in Santa Clara is to follow and participate in City Council meetings. Here’s how you can watch, learn and make your voice heard at Santa Clara City Council meetings. Also see our guides for San Jose City Council and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meetings....
UPDATE: Santa Clara begins tracking police military equipment
Santa Clara took a step toward police transparency Tuesday when the City Council approved a new policy determining when and how its police department will be allowed to use military-level equipment. The policy, which the City Council approved unanimously, guides how the Santa Clara Police Department should pay for, acquire and use certain types of...
Santa Clara to hire attorney after firing city manager
Days after firing the city manager, the Santa Clara City Council plans to hire an attorney—but won’t let the mayor take charge of the search. The council voted 6-1 on Tuesday to have Councilmember Karen Hardy seek out legal counsel to represent the local government. Councilmember Kathy Watanabe cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing this...
Santa Clara officials fire city manager
The Santa Clara City Council has fired city manager Deanna Santana in an emergency meeting Thursday night. The council voted 4-2 in closed session to remove Santana as city manager based on a lack of confidence and to suspend her with pay immediately. The council also voted 4-2 to reconvene in a week to appoint...
Santa Clara business leader’s potential campaign could create conflict
A rumored ally of Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor has his eyes on a City Council seat, but running for it would create a conflict of interest for him in his other roles. Sources say Christian Pellecchia, vice president of operations at Santa Cruz-based Slatter Construction and board chair of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of...
Santa Clara quietly settles lawsuit with chamber of commerce
This time last year, Santa Clara publicly threatened to sue its chamber of commerce for nearly $600,000 it claimed the city was overcharged—but the two sides quietly settled the dispute for about half that amount last fall. The city and the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce reached a settlement that requires the business group to pay the...
Santa Clara says goodbye to Columbus Day
Santa Clara leaders Tuesday night praised the City Council for voting to ditch Columbus Day and instead celebrate a day that highlights indigenous people and cultures. “We’re particularly happy and proud that our task force was able to make this recommendation while also acknowledging another thing that we saw in our surveys,” said Neil Datar,...