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By Eric Johnson
Published May 06, 2024
California Forever's proposed city (in blue) is located roughly halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.
On January 29, The Newsletter ran a piece under the headline “The California Exodus and ‘California Forever’.” Both of these big stories moved significantly over the past week, and we revisit them today.
Also, as always: Peruse your cureated local News Feed; learn about a local nonprofit doing good work; and check out our Recipe of the Week.
Last Tuesday, the company that plans to build a high-tech, green, walkable city of 400,000 in rural Solano County announced that it had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The story involves an insane amount of money, some insanely powerful billionaires, and a detailed set of plans that appear to be quite sane, if not visionary. Here, amid well-earned controversy, we offer two pieces that consider the project on its own terms.
California Forever: Building a New Community From the Ground Up
California Forever CEO on Democracy and City Planning
The California Department of Finance announced this week that the state’s population rose last year, after declining in both 2021 and 2022.
Is the ‘California Exodus’ Over?
Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.
See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Time to dig into this fruity salsa
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Santa Clara County's Homepage |
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| Direct your browser to santaclara.californialocal.com to catch up on the latest news in California and Santa Clara County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community! | |
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Ecology Action |
Ecology Action states its mission concisely: “Reduce emissions.” The nonprofit group advocates for innovative energy, water, and transportation solutions in communities across California.
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From Our Media Allies |
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Los Gatos Finally Manages to Get a Thumbs-Up for Its Housing Element From Sacramento |
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It only took six tries. |
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South Bay Dems Demand Disclosure of Congressional Recount Funders |
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The Santa Clara County Democratic Party has joined retiring Congresswoman Anna Eshoo in demanding transparency behind a controversial recount in the race for her seat. |
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Simitian Knocked-Off November Ballot by Recount |
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The battle lines are drawn: It's Low v. Liccardo. |
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San Jose Affordable Apartments a Plus for Senior Housing Crisis |
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More than 100 Santa Clara County seniors struggling with the cost of living will have a place to call home in downtown San Jose within the next few years. |
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What the Demise of Contentious Housing Law Means for San Jose |
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A brewing battle in the California courts may lift San Jose from the mandates of a controversial law that ended exclusionary single-family zoning statewide. |
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Farmworker Housing Study Oversight Committee Convenes to Review Progress |
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Despite significant progress since the release of a landmark 2018 farmworker housing study quantifying critically overcrowded housing conditions for agricultural workers in the region, thousands more homes are needed. |
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San Jose Turns to AI for Language Translation |
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San Jose is expanding its language translation options in public meetings by using artificial intelligence. |
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Mayor Lauds Development, Transportation Efforts and More in State of City Speech |
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Slowly but surely, the City of Gilroy has made progress over the past year in its economic development efforts, transportation service improvements and the delivery of other public services—and more is on the horizon. |
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Los Gatos Community Helps Struggling Residents Pay Rent |
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Roughly 35% of Los Gatos residents rent, with an average payment of $3,252, according to data from the town and Zillow. That’s 13% higher than San Jose and 55% higher than the national average. |
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El Camino Health Opens Los Gatos Mental Health Clinic |
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Blended with the soft guitar plucks wafting through the large courtyard of the low-rise Los Gatos building near the border with Campbell, there was plenty of optimism Saturday morning, as El Camino Health unveiled its new intensive outpatient clinic. |
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Silicon Valley Deluged by Health Care Workers’ Labor Fights |
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A wave of labor disputes is hitting Silicon Valley’s overburdened hospitals as health care workers reach their breaking point with pay and working conditions. |
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SJ Police Union Defends Action of Mayor’s Bodyguard, Criticizes NAACP Leader |
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One day after the downtown altercation, NAACP chapter President Rev. Jethroe Moore sent an email to acting Police Chief Paul Joseph critical of the arrest of the alleged attacker. |
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Kaiser Doctors in Silicon Valley Move to Unionize |
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Frontline physicians at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara County plan to unionize, and are the last Northern California group within the giant private hospital system to make the move. |
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Liccardo Calls for Taxpayer-Funded Automatic Recounts in Close Races |
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Sam Liccardo urged his fellow candidates – and the public – to embrace the results of the 16th Congressional District recount. |
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As May Approaches, Cal Fire Offers Fire Prevention Tips |
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With the month of May beginning this week, with its warmer weather, lower humidity and drying vegetation, Cal Fire is urging Bay Area homeowners to do all they can to protect against fire. |
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San Jose Bathrooms May Soon Have Sex Trafficking Signs |
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San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan wants to create a sex trafficking awareness campaign in public restrooms throughout the city. |
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Sunnyvale Approves History Museum Expansion |
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The Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum, which catalogs the city’s history from the first orchards to aerospace companies, has plans to expand. |
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Recent Local News |
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• Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation Holds Policy Convention
Housing, climate change and inequity were among the topics for discussion as local community leaders met to discuss the most pressing needs in the region.
(05/06/2024) → Mountain View Voice• Billions of Cicadas Are Invading the U.S. Should Californians Be Worried?
It is being called the Cicada-pocalypse and the Cicada-geddon. Over the next few weeks, hundreds of billions, maybe even trillions of cicadas — grasshopper-like insects — will emerge from underground burrows all across the Midwest and the South where they have been living for as long as the past 17 years.
(05/05/2024) → The Mercury News• Local Student Donates to Los Gatos Library
Local fifth-grader Bradley Hall donated $500 won during a book promotion tour by “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” author Jeff Kinney.
(05/05/2024) → The Mercury News• Everything Apple Plans to Show at May 7 ‘Let Loose’ iPad Event
It’s been more than 18 months since Apple Inc. last updated its iPad line, marking the longest gap in new models since Steve Jobs first unveiled the product in 2010. The drought finally ends on May 7.
• Volunteers to Paint Downtown San Jose Mural
Hundreds of volunteers have signed up to participate in painting a mural on San Pedro Street in downtown San Jose.
(05/02/2024) → The Mercury News• "Planned Community" Proposed in Palo Alto
A mixed-use development of 75 condominiums and retail space is being proposed for 800 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto.
(05/02/2024) → Palo Alto Online• "Care Share" Startup Expands
Service connects at-home moms with working moms to provide accessible and affordable child care.
(05/02/2024) → Mountain View Voice• New Housing Units Open in San Jose
The 130-unit Solaire Apartments affordable housing complex at 425 Auzerais Avenue in downtown San Jose has opened for occupancy.
(04/30/2024) → The Mercury News• Los Altos City Council Candidacy Announced
Local resident Ibrahim Bashir announced his candidacy for one of three open seats on the Los Altos City Council.
(04/30/2024) → Los Altos Town Crier• Los Altos Threatened With Lawsuit
A threat of a legal challenge to at-large elections for Los Altos City Council has been issued.
(04/30/2024) → Los Altos Town Crier• Palo Alto Grapples with Rail Corridor Redesign
The Palo Alto City Council faces hard choices for the redesign of three crossings of the rail corridor.
(04/30/2024) → Palo Alto Online• Mountain View Begins Broadband Survey
The City of Mountain View is studying the state of local Internet service for a citywide broadband needs assessment.
(04/30/2024) → Los Altos Town Crier|
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Recent Statewide News |
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• Metal Detectors, Fear, Frustration. College Commencements Altered Amid Gaza War Protests
At many universities across the country, graduation for the Class of 2024 will feel more like making it through airport security than a procession through a free-flowing campus green or a cheering stadium crowd.
(05/04/2024) → Los Angeles Times• How Congress Is Letting Die an Internet Connectivity Lifeline for Millions
More than half of the U.S. House supports a bill to extend the funds, but it can’t get out of committee.
(05/04/2024) → CalMatters• California's Population Increased Last Year for First Time Since 2020
During the much-ballyhooed “California exodus” amid the pandemic, remote workers moved to other states where they could live for a fraction of the cost compared to cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco.
(04/29/2024) → Los Angeles Times|
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Government Announcements |
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United States (05/05/2024) Palmer Candy Company Recalls White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Palmer Candy Company, Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling its "White Coated Confectionary Items" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immu
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United States (05/03/2024) Chuao Chocolatier Recalls Its: .39 oz /11 Gram Potato Chip Mini Bar Lot 4022 Due to Undeclared Hazelnuts |
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May 3, 2024, Chuao Chocolatier is voluntarily recalling a single production of Potato Chip mini bar .39oz/11 gram LOT 4022 because some packages may contain undeclared hazelnut. People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reactio
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Town of Los Gatos (05/03/2024) Housing Element Meets All Statutory Requirements for State Certification per HCD |
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The Town of Los Gatos announces the 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Draft Housing Element meets all statutory requirements for State Certification per the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) letter received May 3, 2024.
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United States (05/03/2024) Hormel Foods Sales, LLC Recalls a Limited Number of Planters® Honey Roasted Peanuts 4 Oz. and Planters® Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts 8.75 Oz. Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited number of two PLANTERS products that were produced at one of its facilities in April. This recall only impacts two retailers in five states. These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria
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City of Monte Sereno (05/03/2024) Youth Commission Recruitment Notice |
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Notice is hereby given that the City of Monte Sereno is accepting applications from residents wishing to serve on the Citys Youth Commission.
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City of Monte Sereno (05/03/2024) Ice Cream Social |
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The Monte Sereno Youth Commissioners invite you to join them at their upcoming Ice Cream Social.
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City of Campbell (05/02/2024) FY 2024-25 Budget Study Session - Preliminary Workplans, Operating Budget & Capital Improvement Plan |
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FY 2024-25 Budget Study Session staff report now available online
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City of Morgan Hill (05/02/2024) Art a la Carte - Canceled |
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The Library, Culture, and Arts Commission (LCAC) regrets to cancel this year's event because of a poor weather forecast that may make outdoors arts, crafts, and performances impossible.
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State of California (05/02/2024) Alex Lee CA Assembly 24: |
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Bill To Ban Corporate-Owned Single-Family Homes Rentals Passes First Policy Committee
channi
Thu, 05/02/2024 - 11:31
Nicholas Chan
Email
nicholas.chan@asm.ca.gov
Phone
(916) 319-2392
Title
Communications Director, Office of Assemblymember Alex Lee
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Mega corporations are buying up swaths of single-family homes, taking homeownership opportunities from hardworking families. Assemblymember Alex Lees legislation, AB 2584, will protect Californias limited …
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Town of Los Gatos (05/02/2024) Curious about proposed development projects in Los Gatos? |
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Check out the following resources on the Town website:
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