Board Votes to Place Historic Affordable Housing Bond Measure on November Ballot
Staff Contact: Alexander Lin
Alexander.Lin@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5027
On Tuesday, June 21, in response to the urgent need for affordable housing and the lack of funding to build it, my Board colleagues and I voted unanimously to place a $950 million Bond Measure (Measure A) on the November ballot to generate funds to build housing for homeless, low- and moderate-income residents and first-time homebuyers.
The County Housing Task Force on which Supervisor Mike Wasserman and I served recommended the development of new revenue tools throughout the County to address affordable housing needs. In addition, polling results (
http://tinyurl.com/SCC-Affordable-Housing-Poll) by EMC Research reflected a strong concern among voters about the lack of affordable housing as well as support for a measure to pay for it. This was unprecedented – in previous surveys, respondents have consistently rated crime and traffic as the biggest problems facing the County.
For the first time in recent memory, voters see the most important problem facing Santa Clara County as housing. We have nearly five thousand people living on our streets and in our creeks, and the housing for them does not exist. This is why the Board voted to let the voters decide about this bond measure.
VTA Board of Directors Implements Historic Community Workforce Agreements Policy
Staff Contact: Hope Cahan
Hope.Cahan@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5029
As many of you know, I am Chair of the VTA Board of Directors this year. I am proud to announce that the VTA Board voted to implement a historic policy during our meeting on September 1. We approved a Community Workforce Agreement policy that will require projects over $2 million dollars to incorporate a hiring program that targets disadvantaged or underrepresented workers for training and hiring in the field of local construction.
Unfortunately, many members of our disadvantaged or underrepresented communities find it difficult to find consistent work once they have completed their pre-apprenticeship program. This policy will provide new opportunities for our:
- Veterans
- Homeless
- Re-entry participants
- Foster and At-Risk Youth
Not only will this policy help close the equity gap in our Valley by creating pathways for our community members to access careers in the construction industry, it will also promote efficiency of construction operations; provide orderly and peaceful settlement of labor disputes and agreements, avoid labor work stoppages, strikes and lockouts; and, promote the public interest of timely completion of VTA projects.
This is a real win-win for our community!
For more details, please see the VTA agenda for 9/1/16:
http://tinyurl.com/VTA-Sept1-Agenda.
Over 280 Youth Participate in Santa Clara County Youth Employment Program
Staff Contact: Victor Perez
Victor.Perez@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5023
To commemorate the Santa Clara County Youth Employment Program’s success in training and the placement of over 280 youth in employment this summer, special award presentations were made during a Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting on Monday, August 15. I was very pleased to join families and friends in celebrating two foster care and two CalWORKs youth for their hard work and accomplishments this summer as well as two employers for their dedication to working with the Santa Clara County Youth Employment program.
Through the partnership of our Social Services Agency and Work2Future we were able to provide over 280 youth with the opportunity to work part-time in the arts, government, nonprofit and private sectors. About 110 foster care youth and 171 CalWORKs youth participated in this five-week program, which offered participants invaluable and meaningful work experience that will surely expand their academic and career paths.
Congratulations to the Santa Clara County Youth Employment Program Class of 2016!
2016 Santa Clara County Binational Health Week
Staff Contact: VanLan Truong
VanLan.Truong@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5025
Please join my Board colleagues and me as we present a Proclamation on October 4, 2016 at 9AM to celebrate the 12th Annual Santa Clara County Binational Health Week (BHW) in the Board of Supervisors Chambers (70 W. Hedding St., San Jose, CA 95110). In partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose, Santa Clara County, since 2005, has hosted over 190 community events, with 1,900 participating agencies and 6,300 volunteers. Since then, over 140,000 Santa Clara County residents have received health education, health screenings and other information and services to help them improve their health.
The primary goal of BHW is to promote and improve the quality of life for Latinos and all residents living in Santa Clara County. To this end, my staff serves on the BHW planning committee to coordinate the various BHW events every year. This year, there will be 27 events that will take place between September 26 and October 27.
For more information on 2016 Santa Clara County Binational Health Week activities, please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/SCC-BHW.
Finance and Government Operations Committee Commences Special Meetings on Jail Reform
Staff Contact: Maja Marjanovic
Maja.Marjanovic@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-6418
On Friday, August 26, the County's Finance and Government Operations Committee held its first special meeting on jail reform. This was the first in a series of meetings dedicated to ensure consideration of over 600 jail reform recommendations. For the most up-to-date jail reform matrix, please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/SCC-JailReformInfo. At the August 26 meeting we discussed suicide prevention facility improvements, use of force policy drafting progress, organizational and leadership structure of the jail and the importance of a classification system that is tailored to respond to the programming and service needs of individuals in custody.
Snapping a Picture of your Hotel Room Could Help Stop Human Trafficking!
Staff Contact: Alexander Lin
Alexander.Lin@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5027
Do you want to help combat human trafficking, but are not quite sure how? TraffickCam, an app on iOS and Android devices, allows you to submit pictures of hotel rooms around the world that are then added to a national database. Police cross-reference pictures from ads with those in the database to track down where victims are being trafficked.
TraffickCam now has more than 1.5 million images of hotels across the world – tell your friends and family about this app so that we can work to increase that number exponentially!
TraffickCam is free and available for
iOS and
Android devices.
Santa Clara County District Two Public Policy and Law Fellowship and Internship Program of 2016
Staff Contact: Victor Perez
Victor.Perez@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5023
For the past three years I have had the pleasure of welcoming young and bright students at the high school, Collegiate and graduate/law school levels to our Santa Clara County District Two Public Policy and Law Fellowship and Internship Program. This summer I was delighted to bring aboard another amazing group of individuals who immediately set out to work on policy recommendation projects. The program culminated with an event in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, where the interns and fellows presented before a panel of County leaders and managers who have the ability and authority to implement their recommendations.
Anne Marie Gordon, Kody Lizana, Ron Miasnik and Marianna Yañez all worked diligently on a wide range of policy issues to meet the deep and significant needs of our constituents. Their recommendations specifically addressed issues regarding the re-entry service system, the educational system, the housing of homeless youth, anti-bullying efforts and Title IX compliance. I am truly inspired by their passion, their values and their confidence.
Congratulations Anne Marie, Kody, Ron and Marianna on a job well done - best of luck with all your future endeavors!
Board Approves Jail Diversion and Behavioral Health Subcommittee Recommendations
Staff Contact: Maja Marjanovic
Maja.Marjanovic@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-6418
On Tuesday, August 30, very close to the anniversary of Michael Tyree’s death, my Board colleagues and I approved several substantive recommendations of the Jail Diversion and Behavioral Health Subcommittee of the Reentry Network regarding the Santa Clara County Jail Diversion Program.
As a result the County will:
- Improve the screening and assessment process by developing and implementing a standardized, validated tool and process with public safety partners in order to divert individuals from jail into community services when appropriate.
- Expand community based behavioral health treatment by
- Increasing post-custody mental health and co-occurring outpatient services by 40 slots to address a service gap for clients.
- Increasing the Criminal Justice Full Service Partnerships capacity by 20 slots.
- Adding 50 post-custody client slots to the 90-day Intensive Outpatient Service Team. This service will connect clients with housing, services and benefit assistance with the support of Peer Mentors.
- Developing a Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center in East San Jose as a community drop-in center for law enforcement with the intent to open two more centers in the most optimal locations in the County once the East San Jose location has been launched.
- Expand housing services by
- Adding flex funds to Full Service Partnerships to provide housing for 50 clients.
- Establishing a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program that would initially house up to 90 chronically homeless clients with serious mental illness.
The overall objective is to divert individuals with behavioral health issues away from jail and into appropriate community-based treatments. Please join us for our next meeting of the Jail Diversion and Behavioral Health Subcommittee on September 23 at 2:30pm, during which we will discuss additional ways we can strengthen the County’s jail diversion program.
When it is available, you will be able to access the meeting agenda through the following link:
http://tinyurl.com/JDBHS-Sept23-Agenda.
Bail and Release Work Group Concludes, Issues Final Report
Staff Contact: Maja Marjanovic
Maja.Marjanovic@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-6418
The Bail and Release Work Group concluded its work on Friday, August 26 by forwarding the final report with eighteen recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. These recommendations speak to the importance of growing our pretrial justice reform efforts. The Bail and Release Work Group is asking the Board of Supervisors to
- Explore the feasibility of a public or nonprofit bail agency that would improve access to bail for indigent defendants.
- Increase reliance on pretrial supervision.
- Increase support for defendants through partnerships with community-based organizations.
- Improve the promptness of in-custody arraignments.
- Expand and formalize pretrial diversion.
- Employ domestic violence-specific risk assessment tools.
For the full report with eighteen recommendations please click on the following link:
http://tinyurl.com/BRWG-Aug26-Mtg.
My colleagues on the Bail and Release Work Group and I believe that many defendants who sit in our County jails waiting trial should be provided with pretrial options outside of jail so that they can keep their jobs, housing, and their relationships intact without a negative impact on public safety.
Heart Safety for All
Staff Contact: Alexander Lin
Alexander.Lin@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5027
In partnership with Racing Hearts, my Board colleagues and I are working to increase the heart safety of all residents. Together we are placing life-saving heart defibrillators (automated external defibrillators, or AEDs) in high-risk community locations. With the tremendous response to date, we have completed the installation of 249 AEDs - each of which is supported by a robust 5-year program of supplies and service - which will now help to protect over 943,230 students and adults per year, totaling 185 sites. We are thrilled at the response to this program, but our job is not finished. If you have a location in your area which is high-risk that you feel would benefit from our county's matching grant program, Racing Hearts (acting as Program Manager for the County) is available to answer questions about how to start work on bringing AEDs into your community. Please contact them at 650-308-4183 or email at
info@racinghearts.org.
County Multilingual Wayfinding Signage in Testing Phase
Staff Contact: Victor Perez
Victor.Perez@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5023
On October 7, 2015 my Board colleagues and I approved a Professional Services Agreement with the GNU Group to provide professional services for Multilingual and Wayfinding Signage Standards and Guidelines for the County of Santa Clara. The objective of this project is to increase accessibility to County services by updating customer service signage in all major County buildings to reflect the common languages used by residents.
I am happy to announce that on August 9, 2016, the GNU group carried out a successful testing session in which a group of multilingual residents provided feedback on the effectiveness of the sign standards as well as the placement and locations proposed for the pilot project. Thanks to the collaboration between the Facilities and Fleet Department and the GNU Group, we are one step closer towards developing a more welcoming visitor experience.
Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program
Staff Contact: Van Lan Truong
VanLan.Truong@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5025
As we enter the Fall season, please consider a Santa Clara County Certified Healthy Nail Salon for your beauty services.
The Santa Clara County Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program (a voluntary program under the Department of Environmental Health) gives special certification to nail salons that go beyond existing codes and regulations to provide a safe and toxic-free environment for their employees and patrons. For a list of certified nail salons, please visit
http://tinyurl.com/SCCHealthyNails or ask your favorite salon to sign up to be a certified Healthy Nail Salon.
So far, 34 nail salons have been certified.
The Department of Environmental Health continues to seek Nail Salon applicants to join the Santa Clara County Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program. To find out more about the program and to see if your salon qualifies please contact my office or the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. Their staff will train your employees about safer practices, guide your salon in choosing less toxic products and promote your salon as a Santa Clara County Certified Healthy Nail Salon.
Similar programs have been adopted by San Mateo County, San Francisco County and Alameda County. I am proud to add the County of Santa Clara County to the list of jurisdictions prioritizing the health and well-being of nail salon technicians.
Santa Clara County Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program
http://tinyurl.com/SCCHealthyNails
Katherine Nguyen
Katherine.nguyen@deh.sccgov.org
(408) 918-1958
Human Trafficking Commission (HTC) Now Being Supported by an Independently-Convened Labor Trafficking Work Group
Staff Contact: Maja Marjanovic
Maja.Marjanovic@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-6418
In June, Human Trafficking Commissioner Derecka Mehrens, Executive Director of Working Partnerships USA, convened a Labor Trafficking Work Group. The Work Group will craft a set of policy and programmatic strategies to recommend to the Commission on how best to address labor trafficking.
Since the Commission commenced its work in 2014, it has made considerable progress in tackling sex trafficking. However, labor trafficking has been more difficult to address. Moving forward, the HTC identified a more systemic and strategic approach to combating labor trafficking as a priority. The Labor Trafficking Work Group will support and advance the Commission’s goal by developing a more focused approach to addressing labor trafficking.
The Work Group is co-led by Commissioner Derecka Mehrens of Working Partnerships USA, Ruth Silver Taube of the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, Commissioner Cynthia Guerrero of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and Josue Garcia of the Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council.
VTA is Working to Improve Paratransit Services
Staff Contact: Hope Cahan
Hope.Cahan@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5029
VTA recently hosted 3 well-attended workshops to hear from the Committee for Transit Accessibility, social service providers and community members who use VTA Paratransit services. VTA listened intently about what was working and what improvements should be made by gathering opinions of best practices, effective service delivery and suggestions for oversight of management and operations.
This feedback was compiled and then incorporated into the scope of work that VTA will include in its September RFP (Request for Proposal) for a new service provider. The community participation was significant and allowed for VTA to create an RFP that will improve services throughout the County.
For more details on the workshops, please see the meeting agenda on 8/8/16:
http://tinyurl.com/VTA-Aug8-Agenda.
Nutrition Classes at St. John Vianney Community Center to Help Battle Cancer
Staff Contact: Paul Murphy
Paul.Murphy@bos.sccgov.org
408-299-5028
Class in Spanish on October 5 at 5:30 pm
Class in English on September 27 at 5:30 pm
I am so pleased to let you know of an upcoming speaker series and nutrition class being offered by Cancer CarePoint in our community. As you may know, the County of Santa Clara has entered a partnership with Cancer CarePoint to provide free wig banks at Valley Medical Center; I put this partnership forward and received unanimous support from my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors last spring. Valley Medical Center, the Valley Medical Center Foundation and the Board of Supervisors have partnered to bolster the provision of services by Cancer CarePoint at VMC and in our community.
The Nutrition Class and speaker series are the newest examples of the arrival of Cancer CarePoint in our east side to deliver their amazing support services to families in our community. Please consider attending the class and/or the speaker series to learn more about how we can all work together to battle cancer in our own lives and the lives of our loved ones.
Every participant will be entered into a raffle drawing for a gift card for groceries! Children are welcome to attend. Advance registration is required. Call 408-402-6611 or email
cecilia@cancercarepoint.org. See the flyers in English and Spanish below for more information:
