County of Santa Clara Government News Digest

Documents filed with Santa Clara County show planning is underway to develop new housing on the 113-acre site of the former Pleasant Hills Golf Course in east San Jose.

San Jose City Councilmember Arjun Batra joined in opposition of a planned Santa Clara County purchase of the South San Jose interim housing sites for use in a jail diversion program.

Despite support for Proposition 36 on the November ballot, meant to rollback elements of Proposition 47, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen voiced his support for the 2014 criminal justice reform measure.

A plan by Santa Clara County to acquire a City of San Jose-owned homeless tiny house site to be used for a jail diversion plan was put on hold following strong opposition from nearby residents.

The Santa Clara County Public Health reported a dead rabid bat was found near downtown Palo Alto on August 13.

Over a hundred unregulated group homes in Santa Clara County are housing formerly incarcerated people on parole or those released from mental health or addiction programs, often in overcrowded or unsanitary conditions.

Following the confirmation of West Nile virus in tested mosquitos, pesticide spraying was ordered for neighborhoods in the 95111, 95112, 95121 and 95122 zip codes in San Jose and unincorporated Santa Clara Valley.

In a July 25 ceremony, Sunnyvale and county officials gathered across from the Lawrence Caltrain Station to celebrate the start of construction of 176 affordable apartments.

In their July 24 meeting, the San Jose Unified School District Board of Trustees strongly rejected findings from the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury.

A lawsuit filed by a group of Palo Alto Police Officers claiming harassment over certain images in a Black Lives Matter mural has been dismissed.

Findings and conclusions from the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report of "irreconcilable differences" experienced by the Santa Clara City Council were disputed.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved contributing $10 million in funding for a proposed housing development of 100% affordable units in Los Altos.

In their June 11 meeting, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved the 2024-2025 budget of $12.5 billion.

The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury released a report finding the county Housing Authority at fault for a $16.2 million loss over two years in a failed office building deal.

The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury released a report on Measure J and the City of Santa Clara's deal with the San Francisco 49ers, finding the city was "outplayed."

Preliminary proposals for a rail and transit hub in downtown San Jose adjacent to Diridon Station have been released, with costs of billions of dollars projected.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District is proposing a new ordinance banning encampments along local waterways to address increasing negative impacts.

Despite bleak fiscal forecast, the county managed to close the deficit in its $12.4 billion 2024-2025 budget.

The 130-unit Solaire Apartments affordable housing complex at 425 Auzerais Avenue in downtown San Jose has opened for occupancy.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to reduce brush and vegetation along a 16-mile stretch of Skyline Boulevard between Los Gatos and Palo Alto.

The owners of Mountain Winery are seeking to develop a boutique hotel and 255 units of housing on the Saratoga property.

Plans for redeveloping the park at 3980 El Camino Real in Palo Alto calls for dividing the park into two sections, with a proposed a61-unit apartment building in one and coaches and RVs in the other.

In the largest independent expenditure to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors race so far, the California Apartment Association threw its weight behind District 5 candidate Margaret Abe-Koga.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors selected Eden Housing to develop affordable housing for teachers in the West Valley. It will be built in Cupertino on a property currently owned by Apple.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to make the Saratoga Library an official passport facility, part of a broader effort to offer passport services at the Milpitas, Cupertino and Los Altos libraries.

A new poll funded by a pro-business political action committee shows two Vietnamese American candidates as the frontrunners for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 2 seat.

Campaign financial statements show where the five candidates are receiving support, as well as their strategies for raising money and getting their message out to voters.

Susan Ellenberg, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, will give her annual assessment of the region's health and what she sees for 2024, touching on key issues such as safety and the budget deficit.

Just weeks after a deal fell through to buy the Richmond Ranch for development, county leaders are moving forward with turning the open space into a massive park.

County leaders may limit how much money they give to nonprofit groups and projects serving low-income neighborhoods in light of looming budget challenges.