City of San José
Ethics Commission & Planning Commission Appointments
The City of San José is looking to appoint some new commissioners. The Council will interview five applicants for the Ethics Commission and appoint up to three members to terms expiring in 2019.
The applicants for the Ethics Commissions are:
- Rolanda Pierre-Dixon, incumbent
- Reginaldo Villareal
- Patrick Vigil
- Madhavee Vemulapalli
- Roy Truitt
The City is also looking to appoint one member to the Planning Commission for the term expiring in 2016.
The applicants for the Planning Commission are:
- Karl Lee
- Sergio Jimenez
- John Salah
- Jason Papier
- Shiloh Ballard
- Jess Gutierrez
Successful applicants must receive at least 6 votes to be appointed to either commission.
Where: San José City Council
When: Tuesday, February 24 (7:00pm)
Agenda: Ethics Commission | Planning Commission
City of Sunnyvale
The City of Sunnyvale is going to bring up the Valley Transportation Authority’s Bus Rapid Transit Plan. Per the staff discussion, the Bus Rapid Transit project values a trade-off between an enhanced transit system with increased ridership with reduced automobile capacity and access.
Ask any transportation expert and they’ll tell you that buses are what will help drive future expansions of regional transportation – a much needed improvement – even compared to higher profile projects like light rail and commuter rail line expansions. Ask your average driver and losing a lane to busses will only spell longer travel times on already lengthy commutes. This is the heart of the tradeoff that Sunnyvale looks to take up when they discuss VTA’s Bus Rapid Transit.
Where: Sunnyvale City Council
When: Tuesday, February 24 (7:00pm)
Agenda: link
County of Santa Clara
$1.8 million to support immigrant services for DACA/DAPA
A referral from Supervisors Chavez and Cortese would ask for a one-time allocation of $1.8 million towards outreach, education and legal support goals for the Immigrant Family Relations Implementation plans. The goal is to establish a twenty-month service plan to help with legal services relating to the President’s Executive Order enacting Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and expanding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The proposal includes three phases split into outreach, community preparation and application assistance.
While the expansion of DACA and DAPA are on hold at the Federal Level, the county is moving forward with support at the local level. As the agenda correctly points out, Santa Clara County is one of the most diverse counties in the state and nation. Recognizing the significant need to assist members of the community and accomplish the goals of the Presidential Executive Order, the County is looking to fund a significant undertaking to help the community eligible for DACA and DAPA.
Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
When: Tuesday, February 24 (9:00am)
Agenda: link
Working group on Homelessness
The Board of Supervisors are set to approve the creation of a short-term working group tasked with evaluating the County’s response to homelessness. The working group will focus on the region’s emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent housing solutions for homeless families and individuals to focus on identifying the area’s most critical needs and feasible solutions that can happen sooner rather than later.
Your favorite odd couple are back, tasked with tackling one of the most crucial roles government and businesses can take to solve the pervasive problem of homelessness in the region.
Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
When: Tuesday, February 24 (9:00am)
Agenda: link
Dennis Raj is Political Director for the South Bay Labor Council
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