April 2024 Newsletter
Greetings D4 residents & friends -
There’s something truly special about a solar eclipse and Earth Day occurring in the same month. The two events act as cosmic & corporeal reminders of the simultaneous magnificence and fragility of our planet. Every individual, level of government, corporation and nation bears an obligation to protect the legacy we hope to leave to future generations, and I hope to play my role, as well. But if you’ll pardon my lightening of the situation . . . don’t let these major events eclipse all that has gone on over the past month in Santa Clara County.
Black Maternal Health Week
The Board of Supervisors reaffirmed its commitment to support Black families and, particularly, black moms & infants. At our April 15th Board of Supervisors meeting, we declared April 11-April 17 Black Maternal Health Week. In the US, Black infants die at almost three times the rate of non-Black babies. This isn’t just a number, but real people dying and losing infants nearly every day. For more on Black Maternal Health Week events, including a short film screening and a multi-county conference, check out my current Medium post here.
Board of Supervisors Meeting – April 15
- You may have heard that Regional Medical Center on the East Side of San Jose has requested permission from the state (as they are required to do) to close their Trauma, StEMI (heart attack) and comprehensive stroke services by August 12, 2024. At the April 15th Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board received a report on the likely impact of these closures. As part of the report, the Board heard from members of the EMS Agency, the County’s Deputy Public Health Officer Dr Sarah Rudman, Santa Clara Valley Health CEO Paul Lorenz, County health system physicians, and County Executive James Williams. The TL;DR is that these closures will have disastrous effects on East Side patients who live closest to Regional and now must be transported greater distances in emergent circumstances where literally every second counts and on the County’s public health system, already stretched, thin, which will have to accommodate a great number of additional patients presenting with life threatening conditions. It is hard to imagine that lives WON’T be lost as a result of Regional’s cost saving measures. Following the meeting, during which dozens of members of the public spoke about their fears of likely results of the closure, County administration sent a letter to the State, making plain the extremely detrimental impact on both the public and our hospital system if they are to grant Regional’s request. I will share more information as it becomes available.
- The Board of Supervisors reviewed a diversity study conducted by MGT consulting to compare county utilization rates of diverse business enterprises relative to their availably in the market. The study analyzed five years of data and was broken down into four categories: Goods & Related Services, Professional Services, Non-professional services, and Public Works & Construction. The findings unfortunately confirmed what many small, diverse business owners already suspected to be true: the County is not maximizing opportunities to contract with available vendors who represent non-white-male owned businesses. We must develop a clear, actionable plan to re-form not only internal processes but how we engage with community to ensure that small, local businesses are aware of existing opportunities. I requested a report back with options on specific measures that can be implemented within our contracting process. At a high level, we need to build out our County-wide procurement systems so we can continue improving the way we collect information and measure improvements. My request also focused on one of the study’s recommendations regarding development of a targeted small/local/diverse business enterprise program, which could ultimately recommend specific contract policies such as bid preferences and subcontractor requirements, which have shown to be effective in other areas.
- The Board heard a report back on the Reid Hillview Airport status that contained information and options regarding unleaded fuel advocacy, transportation, and planning/community engagement for future uses of the airport site. The airport that has been a constant source of stress and pollution and a limitation on the potential vitality of the East San Jose neighborhood in which it sits. The board unanimously approved to accept the report and continue to plan for how the location may be used in the future.
State Level Advocacy Updates
- “Taxpayer Deception Act” Press Conference This month I traveled to Sacramento along with leaders from other Counties, small and large cities, school districts and special districts to join Sacramento Mayor Daryl Steinberg in opposing the proposed California Business Roundtable Ballot Measure that would cripple the essential services provided by counties and other local municipalities. From public health and safety to emergency response and environmental protection, and from road infrastructure and municipal services to addressing homelessness and mental illness, these services are foundational to the well-being of our communities. Yet, if this measure passes, it would severely restrict local governments’ ability to support these vital services. It aims to rewrite our state constitution, limiting the purview of our representatives in the legislature and restricting their ability to adjust tax revenue. It's a blatant power grab by those who seek to prioritize their own interests over the well-being of our communities. The “Taxpayer Deception Act” serves the interests of a privileged few at the expense of the many. It's a threat to our communities, our democracy, and our future. Should this measure make it to the November 2024 ballot, it must be defeated.
- CSAC Legislative Conference Following the press conference, I joined my colleagues across the state for two and a half days of advocacy and conversation around Prop 1 implementation, Prop 47 reform, fire insurance, homelessness prevention and more. I had opportunities to hear from Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas, Senate Speaker Pro Tem Mike McGuire, and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, among others. I and two other CSAC officers also had the rare opportunity to talk with the Governor for nearly an hour about issues directly impacting urban, suburban and rural counties and how we might better partner with the Newsom administration around a number of signature initiatives, including CARE Court, conservatorship eligibility reform, preventing and ending homelessness and more. We shared with the Governor our commitment to accountability and agreed with him regarding the necessity of demonstrating how funds are spent and what outcomes result as a condition of receiving further funds.
- Issue Briefing. On April 5, I hosted my second Legislative Issue Briefing of the year for local elected officials with a focus on collaborative efforts to address mental health and substance use disorder services. Much like our first meeting on housing, we had a full house with representatives from Santa Clara County, the State of California, and the cities of Campbell, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Gilroy. This model is quickly proving to be an extremely productive space where our community leaders can vocalize and flesh out ideas in a collaborative manner.
Blog/Podcast
Continuing the discussions from Black Infant Health Week, this month’s blog post and podcast episode offer a little more personal insight into the work we are doing at the county to provide Black families with resources that for too long were insufficient to meet their needs. The podcast features an interview with Perinatal Equity Initiative Program Coordinator Kamilah Davis for a conversation about the Perinatal Equity Initiative and what it means to see improvements in maternal health. My blog post shares why this work is important to me personally and what the county has been doing to support this vital, justice-driven work.
Until next time, I wish you and your family a wonderful May. Please reach out anytime if I or my team may be of use to you.
For regular updates on County efforts to end and prevent homelessness, visit the county’s Measure A page and the Community Plan to End Homelessness.