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Greetings, D4 residents -
Fall is here! Even for those of you who prefer summer, the heatwave we felt at the beginning of September sure makes the cooler, rainy weather feel more welcome than ever. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who checked on friends, neighbors, family, and pets during the extreme heat. I’d also like to thank everyone who conserved energy during flex alerts, as well as those who helped the county achieve a 16% reduction in water use during the month of July. Please be aware that the Valley Water Board recently approved enforcing the California State ban against watering decorative lawns on commercial and industrial properties, including homeowners’ associations.
This month, my office kicked off the Alternatives to Incarceration work groups with a social meet-and-greet on the patio of the County building. The work group participants are going to engage in a lot of tough conversations over the next six months and I thought it would be nice for people to meet one another first outside the context of their roles in the work groups. We enjoyed sandwiches & played a bingo game that allowed participants to meet one another and learn things like their favorite movies or hobbies! This week, the work began in earnest as 2 of the 3 workgroups have already held their first meetings. Our September Food 4 Thought (Campbell) moved indoors to avoid the wind and rain (special thanks to Orchard Valley Coffee for allowing us to set up shop inside). Also this month, I was honored to join in Celebrating Inclusive Collegiate Partnerships at West Valley College with the College of Adaptive Arts, and had the privilege to be a part of unveiling an incredible new mural at the Billy DeFrank Community Center. You may have also seen coverage of the Governor’s Governor’s announcement regarding CARE Court, and you can find some of my reactions and thoughts in this month’s Medium Post.
We also celebrated Labor Day during the month of September, but the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement works year-round to protect workers’ rights. You can learn more about how the department assists residents of our county with issues relating to minimum wage, wage theft, and human trafficking. You can contact the OSLE anytime if you are concerned about workplace issues. You can also report anonymously at the OSLE Advice Line (1-866-870-7725).
Thank you to the small business owners who took part in the community engagement sessions for the Disparity Study which aims to increase county contracting opportunities for local small businesses, especially women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous People of Color) owned business enterprises. I would love to see more of these opportunities, so please share your input in writing if you were unable to attend the engagement sessions.
Finally, I will be nominating a new member to serve on the County’s Social Services Advisory Commission (SSAC). The SSAC generally meets monthly to advise the Board of Supervisors and County staff on social service needs and concerns of Santa Clara County residents including child welfare and family supports, food assistance, financial assistance and resources for youth, families and older adults. SSAC members should include current, former or potential recipients of County social services or individuals knowledgeable of the needs and concerns of Santa Clara County residents. If you are willing to serve on the SSAC please check out the Boards and Commissions website for more information and an application link. Feel free to contact my office with any questions.
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 [email protected].
I and my team are here for you.
Be well,
Susan
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