At the January 25, 2022 meeting, the Board of Supervisors took action to further reduce the County of Santa Clara’s excess jail capacity. The Board passed my recommendations to provide more comprehensive behavioral and mental health care, expand community-based alternatives to pre-trial incarceration, and demolish Main Jail North and several portions of Elmwood Correctional Facility. |
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One of our incarceration alternatives is Deflection Centers. These centers provide mental health and addiction resources, treatment, and divert individuals away from jail.
Having served on the Blue Ribbon Commission that investigated our custodial facilities, I personally know the horrible conditions that our mentally-ill clients are living under in the justice system. This is unacceptable. Individuals who are struggling with mental or behavioral health or addiction should not be in jail. They should be receiving treatment. It's time for a humane and safe environment with recreation and programming space that will foster growth and rehabilitation.
However, there are some individuals that do not struggle with mental or behavioral health issues or addiction that commit violent crimes. We are replacing the unsafe and inhumane 835-bed Main Jail North with a smaller 500-bed secured rehabilitative facility. This new facility will include recreational space and ADA and seismic retrofits, satisfying the County’s requirements in the legal consent decrees. Having a small and rehabilitative-focused facility for these individuals will provide a humane space while also fulfilling our obligation to protect the community.
Our community has been very active and engaged in this work throughout the whole process. I want to thank everyone who has spoken on this issue. It is because of your voice, work and diligence that Santa Clara County is rethinking the way we support justice-involved clients and our custodial responsibilities. These bold new steps will pave the way for a system that prioritizes and focuses on rehabilitation, treatment and recovery. Click HERE to read more.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting is on February 8, 2022. Click HERE for more details.
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Thank you to our neighbors that applied to be members of the Community Review Panel, CRP, for our 2022 URJGENT Grant Program. We’re still working on finishing this year’s grant application process and will have updates soon. Click HERE to learn more about our URJGENT Grant Program.
Our next D3 Community Roundtable meeting will be on February 17, 2022 at 7:00 PM. We will be welcoming County of Santa Clara Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody. Click HERE to learn more.
Please continue to stay safe and healthy, and again we wish you a Happy Lunar New Year!
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The D3 Team is celebrating Black History Month. We join the focus on Black wellness and health, and celebrating history to lift up voices to care for one another. We also join in the acknowledgement that Black history IS American history, Black culture IS American culture, and Black stories are essential to the ongoing story of America AND Santa Clara County. We will be recognizing and honoring Black Americans and Black history throughout the month.
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Thank you to our friends at the County of Santa Clara's Vector Control District and Public Health Department for the Lunar New Year graphics.
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS & IMPORTANT RESOURCES
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CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOUSING IN SUNNYVALE
If you are interested in participating in a conversation about housing in Sunnyvale, please join our friends over at the City of Sunnyvale Housing Division for a Study Session and two Workshops.
Community Workshop #1 (English and Spanish)
When: Thursday, Feb. 3, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Register on Zoom
Community Workshop #2 (English and Mandarin)
When: Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Register on Zoom
For more information about the project visit Housing Element Update or contact Ryan Dyson. |
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SUNNYVALE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
"Finding Love" Scavenger Hunt, February 1 - 14, 2022
100 families throughout Sunnyvale installed Valentine's candy heart signs in their yards. Everyone is invited to find these heart signs and post on their social media with #LoveSunnyvale. Free to play with chances to win prizes. Organized by Sunnyvale Arts and Sunnyvale Moms Facebook Group. Click HERE to learn more.
TRANSIT DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY - March 18, 2022
March 18 is Transit Driver Appreciation Day and VTA has a feedback form to show your support for your favorite transit drivers! Visit the following link https://vtaorg.secure.force.com/feedback. Select COMMENDATION in Comment Category and share your appreciation for our local drivers!
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BLOOD DONORS & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in over a decade, posing a concerning risk to patient care. Blood product distributions are outpacing donations. At times, as much as one-quarter of hospital blood needs are not being met. Why is this happening? The pandemic has impacted the national blood supply and the current surge in COVID-19 cases may compound the already dire situation, but you can help!
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CalHOPE's web-based Coping and Stress Management Skills Resources, available in English & Spanish
The CalHOPE Together for Wellness website has easy-to-navigate wellness tools, including ones that educate and provide stress-management and coping skills. The University of California, Los Angeles partnered with CalMHSA to create these online resources to support Californians negatively impacted by the stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spanish version of the CalHOPE Together for Wellness website, Juntos por Nuestro Bienestar, is available through an additional CalMHSA partnership with University of California, Davis. Juntos por Nuestro Bienestar provides culturally appropriate content aimed at teaching coping skills and stress management techniques to the Hispanic population. Click HERE for more information.
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BE PREPARED & GET ALERTS!
The County Office of Emergency Management has put together two great resources for information about how to keep your family prepared and aware.
Visit PrepareSCC.org to learn all the tips to keep your family ready in case of an emergency.
Sign up for AlertSCC. Having the RIGHT information, at the RIGHT time, will help you make the RIGHT decisions in an emergency or disaster. AlertSCC.org is the County of Santa Clara’s official emergency alert and warning system.
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Did you or someone you know lose your vaccination card?
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