District 4 News for You

For the latest updates regarding COVID-19 for residents and businesses, please visit the County Public Health Department website.

COVID-19 INFORMATION

Hello District 4 Residents,

As we come to the close of 2020, I want to thank every individual and organization that continues to support our community throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We have weathered 2020 together and will continue to work in partnership for the health and strength of our community as we approach 2021.

Here’s a quick summary of some of the actions taken at the December Board of Supervisors meetings:

SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORTS

My colleague Supervisor Simitian and I have been calling for the County to provide financial support to local, small business owners and their employees in the form of low-interest loans since October. On Dec. 8, the board unanimously approved a next step in the process of getting such a program off the ground by investing an initial $6 million dollars in the Rebuilding California fund that will be tagged specifically for our County residents. It has been my belief since the beginning of this pandemic that if we are to require of our residents and businesses great sacrifice, we must also do whatever we can as a County to make everyone as close to whole as possible.

ISOLATION SUPPORTS

Another key area of our community response to COVID that I have been working to support for more than 6 months is our isolation support program. The isolation support program provides 1) motel rooms for those that cannot safely isolate at home while infectious due to being unhoused or sharing space with other household members, 2) support services like grocery or medication delivery for those that cannot go out, and 3) timely financial assistance for low-income residents who would otherwise not be able to pay rent or feed their children due to loss of income while isolating. The isolation support program is a safety net support for those individuals and a critical tool to assure people who are contagious can stay home from work and prevent continued community transmission. At the Dec. 8 meeting, the Board unanimously approved a referral I introduced with Supervisor Chavez to implement key improvements in this program going to ensure that we can get resources out the door faster and into the hands of those who need them. I firmly believe we can be more effective when we do this work in partnership with trusted providers in the community and tap into existing networks and lessons learned.

SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS

Our Behavioral Health department, the Behavioral Health Contractors’ Associations, and stakeholders continue to balance the need to work with urgency to develop and implement Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams and Mobile Crisis Response Teams with meaningful opportunities for stakeholder engagement on the program design. As a County, we need to better meet the needs of people struggling with mental health issues – this work will also help us better address the challenges presented by unhoused residents in our community and reduce the role of law enforcement in engaging with people who are in crisis.

My work continues on the effort to bring mental health services to every school district in the County – please check out my Friday video on my social media for a description of what is available now and what is on the way.

FISCAL YEAR 21-22 PRIORITIES

At the Dec. 15 Board meeting, my colleagues and I outlined our priorities for Fiscal Year 21-22. Children and families continue to be my focus. As our CEO crafts his recommendations, I want there to be a focus on how the County will support our community’s most vulnerable children, families and older adults. Specifically, I want him to recommend a budget that:

Adequately funds the Coronavirus response and recovery with a special focus on assisting virus-positive individuals who may be unable to isolate safely without external supports and small, locally owned businesses and their employees that have been directly impacted by the shutdown orders
Prioritizes funding of services and programs that support and uplift marginalized populations
Invests in the County’s capacity to be a high-performing organization

The greatest challenge facing our County’s children and families right now is the Coronavirus and its related economic impacts. Our budget needs to reflect that and fund the ongoing response and recovery accordingly.

ENGAGEMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL

In other news, I was elected by my Supervisor colleagues across the state to serve on the executive committee of the California State Association of Counties. Through this role, I will have opportunities throughout the year to engage state legislators on issues that are important to the welfare of Counties. Given the many challenges presented by our public health and economic crises, it is important that the voice of Santa Clara County is at every table (or on every zoom) where decisions are made.

My colleagues on the Board of Supervisors nominated me to serve as Vice President of the Board for the coming calendar year. I look forward to working with our incoming Board President, Supervisor Mike Wasserman. I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to the new District 3 Supervisor, Otto Lee.

Nine months into this pandemic we continue to move toward a safe reopening of the County. We cannot move forward without each of us taking all necessary precautions and steps to protect our community -- wearing a mask, following social distancing, washing/sanitizing your hands, staying home to the extent possible and – sadly – foregoing any holiday celebrations with people outside of your household. I will continue to advocate for a quicker and safe reopening of our County. As I do so, please reach out to my office to let us know how we can continue to be an advocate for you.

I am on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor. There you can find resources, news and events.

As always, if you have questions, comments, and/or concerns, email me to [email protected].

I and my team are here for you.

Happy holidays,

Susan

We'd love you to send us your photos

As this pandemic continues, the D4 Team would like to remind you that you can do your part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask properly.

For my January newsletter, please send photos of your quarantined holiday celebrations (Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year). Photos can include ornaments, decorations, or the meals you made.

Each month, the photos will be compiled into a photo grid and featured in my monthly newsletter and on social media pages.

Email your photos to [email protected] for next month's photo grid.

IN THE NEWS

You can keep track of D4-specific coverage and County news by visiting my newsroom on my website.

NEWSROOM

Twice a month I hold a virtual meeting with D4 residents. This is a chance to get updates on the work the County and my office are doing. We will feature a guest speaker from a County department at each meeting.

In December we heard from the Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency and in November we heard from the Registrar of Voters. Click on the pink button to see the contents of the October meetings and presentations.

My first D4 Community Connects of 2021 will be on January 14.