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Greetings, D4 residents -
Thank you to everyone who participated in D4 Picnic in the Park way back at the end of October. It was wonderful to spend time with community partners, neighbors and others who joined us at Orchard City Green in Campbell. We had so much fun we’re already thinking about next year’s event. In this newsletter, you’ll find some of the images from that day, and you can find more here.
A day of family fun on a warm sunny day was a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of fall and transition into the holiday season. I am thankful for the time I was able to spend during this past month with loved ones and community.
While there is much for which to be grateful, we are also reminded every day of the many ways in which we need to better care for and support one another. I was deeply saddened by yet another mass shooting targeted at the LGBTQ+ community in November. November 20 was Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which honors the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. If you would like to show your support, you can visit the Billy DeFrank Center’s 2022 pictures and stories display, where you can spend time honoring the memory of trans individuals who were murdered this past year. The display will be available through January 2.
Board Actions/Updates
This month, the Board approved several programs to support the small businesses in our community. These programs are discussed in more detail in this month's Medium blog post but in a nutshell, the new measures include-
1. An extension of the fee waiver program for County inspections. Rather than being out of pocket awaiting reimbursement or tax credits, eligible small businesses can continue to receive inspections without incurring that cost of doing businesses.
2. Additional funding for businesses that applied for COVID relief from the fund of public health non-compliance fines. This additional round will be dispersed first to those who have already applied but did not receive funds through the first round, and another application period will be opened if additional funding remains.
3. Funding for zero-interest loans through Kiva, a non-profit organization that facilitates loans to support entrepreneurs of very small business and helps amplify existing private funding.
I continue to think about novel approaches to provide targeted support to small businesses in our community without incurring undue administrative costs. I encourage anyone with questions about these programs or others at the state or city level to reach out to my office.
Personnel Board
The “Volunteer” section of this newsletter always includes a link to County Boards and Commission opportunities, but this month I’d like to call attention to an opening on the Personnel Board. Duties of the Personnel Board include:
- Hearing appeals of any person in the classified service relative to any suspension, demotion, or dismissal unless an alternative hearing procedure is available to the person pursuant to an agreement between the Board of Supervisors and a recognized employee organization.
- Advising the Board of Supervisors or the County Executive on matters concerning the administration of the personnel system which are outside the scope of representation with recognized employee organization.
- Recommending to the Board of Supervisors merit system rules.
If you are interested in applying for a position on this commission, please use this link.
VMC $10M Grants for Community Organizations
The COVID-19 Nonprofit Resiliency and Sustainability Grant Program aims to strengthen the sustainability and responsiveness of nonprofits in Santa Clara County that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is intended to support a stronger and more vibrant nonprofit sector, providing services to the most vulnerable members of our community in an equitable, diverse, respectful, and inclusive way. Nonprofits providing services in Santa Clara County can apply for grants of up to $150,000. Applications are due on December 19. More information is available at www.vmcfoundation.org/cvgrants, and questions can be sent to cv19rsgrant@hhs.sccgov.org.
As we return to in-person gatherings, please feel free to send an invitation to my office for me to attend your neighborhood or community event. I enjoy engaging with residents and look forward to seeing you all soon.
I am on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor and LinkedIn. There you can find resources, news and events.
As always, if you have questions, comments, and/or concerns, email me at supervisor.ellenberg@bos.sccgov.org.
I and my team are here for you.
Be well,
Susan
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