By Eric Johnson
Published Mar 18, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom looking troubled in a file photo.

State of the State? We'll See.

Happy Monday.

As you may know, Gov. Gavin Newsom will not be giving his State of the State address this afternoon, as had been planned. That’s because Proposition 1, his $6.4 billion bond aimed at helping unhoused, mentally ill Californians get into shelter and treatment, is too close to call.

Late last week, the governor's national PAC, Campaign for Democracy, sent an urgent request asking supporters to contact Democrats who have had faulty ballots rejected, and encourage them to get them fixed. This is a little-known maneuver known as a “cure,” which allows voters to correct ballots that have been rejected because of missing signatures or other errors after election day. (You can find out if your ballot was counted by following this link to the state’s Ballottrax service.)

Unhoused Individuals and Mental Health

Prop 1 is narrowly ahead as of Sunday night, and its opponents have conceded the race. Nevertheless, opposition from civil liberties groups and advocates for the mentally ill may have (almost?) derailed the measure.

Newsom’s Prop 1: Revolution or Return to Reason?

An assembly hall at Agnews Developmental Center in Santa Clara. Agnews was one of five hospitals that served California residents with developmental disabilities and mental illness, all of which were emptied in the misguided move toward “community care."

Prop 1 was designed to help unhoused people get off the streets by forcing them into treatment. That’s one reason it took two weeks of vote-counting to pass.

California's CARE Court System: Mental Health & Homelessness

Clinicians will have two weeks to decide whether a mentally ill person qualifies for the CARE Court system.

California’s CARE Court system, which compels treatment for people with severe mental illness, was launched in October 2023 despite efforts by civil liberties groups to stop it.

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 Winter! cookbook.

Crispy potatoes deserve Green Goddess dressing

The cutest little new potatoes are destined to be paired with the herbs at left: parsley, chives and dill.

NEW Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this delicious side dish

Get to Know a Group

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brother Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong, enduring, professionally supported mentorship. The organization believes that all children can achieve success when given the proper tools and resources—and volunteer mentors are among the most important of those resources.

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From Our Media Allies

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	Former Santa Clara County Sheriff Loses Appeal on Corruption Case
	Former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith has lost her appeal of a court case that barred her from public office in 2022.

	San Jose Water Proposed Increases Rankle Residents
	Roughly 1 million people in and around San Jose are facing significant increases to their water bills starting next year, if state regulators approve a local company’s plan.

	Historic Downtown San Jose Park Revamp Hit With Major Setback
	The plan to turn a historic-yet-blighted downtown San Jose park into a major event venue as part of the city's revitalization plans faces a major delay.

	San Jose’s New Airport Director Lands Monday
	San Jose’s airport is getting a new director with three decades of experience, including gigs at major hubs in Denver and Austin.

	East San Jose School Superintendent Abruptly Fired
	The Alum Rock Union School District board voted to fire longtime Superintendent Hilaria Bauer after returning from closed session.

	Supervisors Push Back Against AT&T Plan to Wriggle Free From Landline Responsibilities
	The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has approved a proposal from supervisors Joe Simitian and Cindy Chavez to formally engage the California Public Utilities Commission about AT&T’s application to withdraw as California’s “Carrier of Last Resort.”

	Silicon Valley Official Censured for Conduct and Removing Documents
	Valley Water leaders have censured one of their colleagues and stripped her of some responsibilities for taking confidential documents from district offices and allegedly making discriminatory and harassing remarks against district officials and workers.

	San Jose Mayor’s Budget Plan Saddled With a Shortfall
	A looming multimillion-dollar deficit will force San Jose to make cuts in the next budget.

	Santa Clara County May Fund Safe Parking for Homeless Residents
	Santa Clara County officials may help finance San Jose’s multimillion-dollar safe parking efforts and set up more sites on unused public property for the region's homeless residents.

	Fossil-Hunting Fun in Santa Cruz
	Traces and remains of ancient creatures—from whale-ribs to a famous mastodon tooth—frequently surface on Santa Cruz beaches and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

	Santa Clara Wants to Cash in on Upcoming Sporting Events
	Bay Area sports organizers are starting to plan for two major events coming to the South Bay in 2026, and officials in one Silicon Valley city want their fair share of tourist dollars.

Recent Local News

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● Math Center Celebrates Reopening

Mountain View's Mathnasium celebrated its reopening in Mountain View on Pi Day (3-14) with, what else, pies.

(03/15/2024) Mountain View Voice

● Valley Health Center Opens in Morgan Hill

Santa Clara County Valley Healthcare is opening a new health care center in the former De Paul Health Center, expanding primary and urgent care in the historically underserved region.

(03/15/2024) The Mercury News

● United Airlines Flight Suffers Mishap

A United Airlines aircraft flying between San Francisco Medford Airport was discovered to have a missing panel.

(03/15/2024) The Mercury News

● AllTrails CEO Q&A

An interview with the CEO of the popular outdoor app serving more than 60 million users worldwide.

(03/15/2024) The Mercury News

● City of Milpitas Reaches Labor Agreement

The City of Milpitas has reached a labor agreement with City employees represented by the Milpitas Employee Association (MEA) and the Milpitas Professional and Technical Group (ProTech).

(03/13/2024) Milpitas Beat

● The Bobcats of San Jose

Shravan Sundaram is an environmental scientist who photographs urban bobcats in the South Bay, including in San Jose.

(03/13/2024) The Mercury News

● Youth Alliance Distributes Donated Laptops

200 laptop computers were donated to Youth Alliance by AT&T, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Human-I-T, for distribution to Hollister and Gilroy residents lacking "digital basics".

(03/12/2024) Benito Link

● Copper Wire Thefts Plague VTA Sites

Incidents of copper wire theft reported at Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority sites have resulted in over $500,000 of damages so far this year.

(03/12/2024) The Mercury News

● Data Center Project Blocked

The Santa Clara Planning Commission denied a conditional use permit for a development at 2805 Bowers Avenue involving the replacement of an existing two-story building with a new four-story data center.

(03/12/2024) Silicon Valley Voice

● Council Considers New Tenants for Downtown Palo Alto Building

The 7410 square foot building at 445 Bryant Street is city-owned, with rent to be used to fund programs specifically for Palo Alto youth and teens.

(03/12/2024) Palo Alto Online

● Business Profile: Jinxbot

Meet Jason Reynolds and Jinxbot, a 3D printing service operating out of a storefront at 693 Calderon Avenue and a workspace on Old Middlefield Way in Mountain View.

(03/11/2024) Mountain View Voice

● Cupertino Jollyman Park All-Inclusive Playground Construction to Begin This Year

After two years of planning, Cupertino is ready to begin the contractor bidding process and then start construction of the $4.8 million project.

(03/11/2024) The Mercury News

Recent Statewide News

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● California Speeds Plans to Empty San Quentin's Death Row

California prison officials announced they will move the last 457 condemned prisoners out of San Quentin's death row by summer. They will be transferred to other state prisons and housed in the general population.

(03/18/2024) Los Angeles Times

● Alan G. Sieroty, Former State Senator Who Helped Create the Coastal Commission, Dies at 93

Sieroty, of Beverly Hills, served as a state Assembly member and senator, championing disability rights and efforts to protect California's coast.

(03/17/2024) Los Angeles Times

● California Unlikely to Meet Landmark Goals for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

California will miss its goals unless it can increase emission reductions threefold, according to a new study.

(03/15/2024) Los Angeles Times

● Q&A: How the 50-Year-Old Case That Transformed English Learner Education Began

An interview with Lucinda Lee Katz, the first grade teacher of the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case Lau vs. Nichols.

(03/14/2024) EdSource

Government Announcements

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	Wenders LLC Recalls Trader Joes Nuts - 50% Less Sodium Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews Because of Possible Health Risk
Wenders LLC of Dublin, CA is recalling specific production lots of Trader Joes Nuts - 50% Less Sodium Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews - (SKU Number - 37884) Lot# T12139, T12140, T12141, and T12142 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious United States (03/16/2024)

	Kick Ash Products Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds in Product
Kick Ash Products of Ellison Bay, WI is recalling Door County Love Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola with Lot #061241, because it may contain undeclared ALMONDS. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the United States (03/13/2024)

	Taylor Farms Pacific Recalls Kroger Brand Ready-To-Eat Apple Walnut With Chicken Salad Bowl Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2024 - Taylor Farms Pacific, a Tracy, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 19,976 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) apple walnut with chicken salad bowl products due to misbranding... United States (03/13/2024)

	John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Coconut and Milk in Great Value Honey Roasted Cashews 8.25 Oz
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc (JBSS) announced today it is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of 8.25 oz Great Value Honey Roasted Cashews, because it may contain undeclared coconut and milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to coconut or milk run the risk of serious or life-thre United States (03/11/2024)

	Jen's Breakfast Burritos, LLC, Recalls Ready to Eat Breakfast Burrito Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2024 - Jen's Breakfast Burritos, LLC, an Auburn, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 144 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast burrito products that may be adulterated with Listeria... United States (03/10/2024)

	Wesco, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall and Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanut in Wesco Mint No Bake Cookie Bites
Wesco, Inc. of Muskegon, MI is recalling 750 units of Wesco Mint No Bake Cookie Bites, because it may contain undeclared peanut. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The affected Wesc United States (03/07/2024)

	Salm Partners, LLC, Recalls Johnsonville Polish Kielbasa Turkey Sausage Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 - Salm Partners, LLC, a Denmark, Wis., establishment, is recalling approximately 35,430 pounds of Johnsonville turkey kielbasa sausage that may be contaminated with foreign materials, specifically... United States (03/07/2024)

	Stonewall Kitchen Issues Allergy Alert for Wheat in Limited Quantity of Gluten Free Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Mix
Stonewall Kitchen of York, Maine is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of their Gluten Free Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Mix because it may contain an undeclared allergen, wheat. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat (which contains gluten) may risk serious allergic reaction if t United States (03/06/2024)

	El Chilar Rodriguez LLC. Issues Voluntary Recall of El Chilar Ground Cinnamon "Canela Molida" Due to Elevated Lead Levels
El Chilar Rodriguez LLC of Apopka, FL is recalling 127 cases (12 bags/case) of El Chilar Ground Cinnamon "Canela Molida" (1.25 oz bag), because it may contain traces of lead. United States (03/06/2024)

	Colonna Brothers, Inc. Issues a Voluntary Recall for "1.5oz Marcum Ground Cinnamon & 2.25oz Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon" Because of Possible Health Risk Due to Elevated Lead Levels
Colonna Brothers of North Bergen, NJ is recalling its 1.5oz Marcum Ground Cinnamon & 2.25oz Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon because of a possible health risk due to elevated lead levels. Short term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that increased bloo United States (03/06/2024)