For California Local members who are tired of the state's endless housing crisis, this week's edition of The Newsletter brings good news. And as always there's somethiing for everyone who would like to know what's up in their own neighborhood just below, in our carefully curated News Digest. And yes: A featured local nonprofit, and a recipe!
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By Eric Johnson
Published May 20, 2024
Construction of multifamily housing developments is set to skyrocket in the next half decade.
Image credit: Sundry Photography, Shutterstock
Here Comes the California Housing Boom
What You Should Know About the State's Ambitious Housing Plans, and How to Get Involved
Here at California Local we see what’s coming out of most of the newsrooms in ten Northern California counties and select important stories to include in our News Digest (see below). In doing so over the past couple of months, our friend and colleague Chris Neklason noticed two phrases appearing everywhere, as cities and counties raced to complete the “housing element” of their “general plans.”
We understand that not all of you are familiar with those two terms, and may not yet be aware that California is already experiencing the start of a housing boom. Folks in Santa Cruz, where Chris lives, are well aware of this fact, as downtown is in the midst of a dramatic transformation, and the same thing is happening here in Midtown Sacramento. In these two articles, Chris explains how this works, and how you can help shape the way it will all play out on the ground.
How California Manages Housing as a Public Resource
Like the 33 million acres of forest in California, the nearly 15 million units of housing in the state are tended and managed with future generations in mind. Meet the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
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San Benito County's Homepage |
| Direct your browser to https://sanbenito.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and San Benito County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community! | |
Recipe of the Week
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.
Savory cherry sauce perfect for grilling season
New! Savory cherry sauce with sweet onions goes great with pork, chicken
Get to Know a Group
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San Benito County Historical Society |
Since 1957, the Historical Society has devoted itself to collecting and preserving materials pertaining to the San Benito County of yesteryear.
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From Our Media Allies |
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California State Parks Foundation Calls on the Legislature to Restore Library Parks Pass Funding |
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California State Parks Foundation responded to Governor Newsom's revised 2024-2025 budget and raised concern about the elimination of funding for a popular state park access program, the California State Library Parks Pass. |
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Agency Approves $55 Million for Hwy 101/25 Interchange |
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The California Transportation Commission on May 17 approved $55 million for the Hwy 101/25 interchange project in Santa Clara County. |
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Salinas Valley Health Opens Cardiology Office in Hollister |
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The move helps accommodate patients referred by Hazel Hawkins Hospital. |
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Dept. Of Agriculture Awards $12.5 Million to San Juan Bautista |
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The funds are a combination of grants and low-cost federal loans to improve wastewater infrastructure. |
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Health Plan Set to Open New Resource Center in Gilroy |
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Santa Clara Family Health Plan this week announced the purchase of a building for its future Community Resource Center in South Santa Clara County. |
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SBC Chamber & Foundation Announce Man, Woman of the Year |
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The 103rd annual awards dinner celebrating Cathy Alameda, Vince Luna and the businesses of the year is scheduled for Sept. 14. |
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SB County Housing Element Out for Public Review |
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San Benito County has released its draft of the 2023-31 housing element and is seeking input from county residents during the month-long public review period. |
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Supes to Commission Impact Report for ‘Empower Voters’ Initiative |
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The San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted this week to commision a report on the possible impacts of a new land use initiative expected to appear on the ballot in November. |
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San Benito Supervisors Drop Potential Sales Tax Increase for Now |
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It would have applied to unincorporated areas of the county only. |
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City Halts Negotiations on Gilroy Gardens Property |
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The City of Gilroy has halted negotiations with a company that previously showed interest in purchasing the city’s 536-acre property that includes Gilroy Gardens. |
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County Releases Revised Draft Environmental Report for Housing Project |
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Public comment period ends June 14. |
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A Look Inside: Anderson Reservoir Diversion Tunnel |
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Crews for Valley Water and various construction contractors later this month will finish digging a new 1,736-foot diversion tunnel for Anderson Reservoir—which has been about 80% complete since February. |
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San Juan Bautista Planners OK Gas Station Design |
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Commission votes 3-0 to accept changes after multiple proposals were rejected. |
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County Celebrates New Ambulance Fleet at Saint Louise Regional Hospital |
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A fleet of 12 new ambulances dedicated to transporting patients among the county’s hospitals and medical offices was unveiled at Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy on May 9. |
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Tri-County Collaborative Receives Grant |
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The $1.28 million will be used for education programs, data surveillance and services aimed at preventing fentanyl overdoses. |
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Recent Statewide News |
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• Why UC Grad Students Are Going Out on Strike
The job action starting today at UC Santa Cruz isn’t about pay, but instead is in response to how UC deployed police to clear pro-Palestinian encampments on campuses.
(05/19/2024) → CalMatters• These California Schools Connect Kids to Community Services. Will They Survive Budget Cuts?
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the community school initiative with $4.1 billion in grants to connect students and their families to medical care, counseling and other services.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• Should California Doctors Report Domestic Abuse to Police? Here’s How Physician Lawmakers Voted
Pending legislation would lift requirements for California’s doctors to report all domestic abuse cases to police. The Assembly’s three physicians had different opinions.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• California’s Lagging Economy Hinders Efforts to Close State Budget Deficit
As Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators spend the next few weeks fashioning a state budget that’s plagued by a multibillion-dollar deficit, they can’t count on a booming economy to make their task easier.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• California’s Staggering Budget Deficit Squashes Hundreds of Bills
The state’s multibillion-dollar shortfall shapes which spending bills survived the ‘suspense file’ hearings by the Assembly and Senate appropriations committees.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• $20 Billion: The Delta Tunnel’s New Price Tag
The centerpiece of California’s water wars pits Gov. Newsom against local communities and environmentalists. A new report says the benefits of the tunnel exceed the cost since other water supplies would cost more.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters|
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Government Announcements |
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United States (05/17/2024) Reser's Fine Foods Announces Voluntary Recall of Single Batch of Aldi Macaroni 32 oz Salad with Use By Date of Jun/03/24 Due to Unlabeled Wheat Allergen |
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Reser's Fine Foods is voluntarily recalling a single item with a specific use by date, produced at a regional facility and distributed to ALDI. The product is the Aldi Deli Macaroni Salad 32 oz, with a Use By Date of Jun/03/24 due to an incorrect label. The incorrect label does not include an all
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United States (05/17/2024) United Supermarkets Advises Guests in New Mexico and Texas of Palmer Candy's Voluntary Recall of White Coated Confectionary Items Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination |
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United Supermarkets is advising guests about a recall by its supplier Palmer Candy of its white coated confectionary items due to possible Salmonella contamination. Palmer Candy was notified by its liquid coating supplier that there was a potential for contamination with Salmonella from an ingredie
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United States (05/17/2024) Irvington Seafood Recalls "Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw Meat" Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Irvington Seafood of Irvington, AL, is recalling its 1 lb. packages of "Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw meat" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly
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United States (05/16/2024) Mars Petcare US, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls 315 Bags of PEDIGREE® Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food, 44 lb. Bag Size |
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Mars Petcare US is voluntarily recalling 315 bags of PEDIGREE Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food in the 44 lb. bag size only, due to the potential presence of loose metal pieces in the bag. The affected products have a Best By Date of March 4, 2025 and Lot Code 4
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United States (05/16/2024) Update to Palmer Candy Company Recall of White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk |
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The recalled confectionary items were distributed nationwide in Walmart, HyVee, Target, Dollar General, and to distributors in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wy
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United States (05/16/2024) Sun Noodle Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in S&S Frozen Cup Saimin |
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Sun Noodle is recalling approximately 37,158 cases of S&S CUP SAIMIN manufactured from May 9, 2023 - May 8, 2024, because they may contain undeclared egg white powder. Any product produced prior to May 9th, 2023 should have already been discarded due to expiration dates. People who have an allergy o
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United States (05/10/2024) Healthwest Minerals Inc. DBA Mt Capra Products Recalls Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit and Warns Consumers Against the Use of Product as Infant Formula |
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Healthwest Minerals, Inc. d/b/a Mt. Capra Products of Chehalis, Washington, is recalling 1,506 boxes of Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit on the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and advises consumers to immediately discontinue use of the product as infant formula. The FDA is conc
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United States (05/10/2024) Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. Recalls Yogurt Covered Pretzels Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. of Ontario, CA is recalling Yogurt Covered Pretzels, because the yogurt coating has 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 wea
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United States (05/10/2024) Voluntary Recall of Select Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds Due to The Possible Presence of Salmonella |
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Natural Sourcing International is initiating a voluntary recall of one lot of Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds 32 oz. due to the potential presence of Salmonella that may be in some of the finished products. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or
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United States (05/08/2024) Texas Pecan Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts (Not Named Individually), Soy, Dairy(Milk), Sesame and Wheat Not Named in Product |
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Texas Pecan of Dallas TX is recalling 1 Lb and 8 oz products because it may contain an undeclared allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to (tree nuts, peanuts, almonds, brazils, cashews, filberts, macadamias, pistachios, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, soy, dairy (milk), sesame and
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