News
Board push to protect County residents from AT&T proposal to yank landlines
Board of Supervisors approved proposal from County Supervisors Joe Simitian and Cindy Chavez to formally engage the California Public Utilities Commission regarding AT&T’s application to withdraw as California’s “Carrier of Last Resort.” Fully wireless communications is not a perfect replacement, leaving communities with non-existent or spotty service at risk. County will explore all options, legal, legislative, and regulatory advocacy, to help preserve these lines of communication.
Supervisors “grow” Sanborn Park
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a 103-acre property in unincorporated Saratoga to expand Sanborn County Park. The acquisition provides an opportunity to create a new trail connection that will provide public access to a historic area of the park.
Celebrating County Parks: a century of preserving open space
A century ago Santa Clara County acquired 400 acres of rolling foothills between Saratoga and Cupertino for the County’s first public park — Stevens Creek County Park. This laid the foundation for the modern-day Santa Clara County Parks system, which today includes 28 locations encompassing more than 52,000 acres set aside for recreation and habitat protection.
Simitian calls on County to advocate on behalf of County residents on AT&T proposal
County Supervisor Joe Simitian previewed for his colleagues and County staff that he will be asking the County to take up the issue of “Carrier of Last Resort” (COLR) landline phone service at the March 12 Board of Supervisors meeting. Simitian’s effort is in response to AT&T’s application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to relieve itself of its obligations as a COLR. Being a COLR is intended to ensure that everyone in California has access to safe, reliable, and affordable telephone service—meaning landline or plain old telephone service.
February 2024, Newsletter
Read about progress on climate change, teacher housing and a County health clinic in the West Valley. Save the Date for the annual Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant public meeting, Silicon Valley Reads events and a little 2014 Joe History.
County Supervisors recognize Vicki Reeder as ‘2023 Los Altan of the Year’
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors this week recognized Vicki Reeder for her many years of volunteerism in the City of Los Altos and the wider Santa Clara County community. County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who made the motion to honor Reeder, described her as a leader and staunch defender of women’s equality and women’s rights, and a passionate community activist in Los Altos.
Santa Clara County Supervisors support affordable housing for adults with disabilities in neighboring San Mateo County
Santa Clara County supports development of affordable housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Portola Valley (in San Mateo County). The County’s action provides $1.5 million from its Stanford Affordable Housing Fund.
Plans for West Valley health clinic move forward
The Board of Supervisors voted to continue to pursue plans to develop a full-service County health clinic on the De Anza College campus in Cupertino.
County moves to make breast cancer screenings more accessible
Santa Clara County is taking steps to make breast cancer screenings more accessible to more County residents. County Supervisor Joe Simitian authored the proposal to improve early detection of breast cancer.
Investing in our community by providing affordable housing
We need to build more housing – and more affordable housing – to ensure that folks don't get pushed out of our area simply because they can no longer afford to stay. On our County Board of Supervisors I’ve worked to increase funding for affordable housing, and to address the root causes of homelessness. I’ve championed affordable housing specifically for local agricultural workers, teachers, adults with disabilities, and low-income residents, because the needs are different sector to sector. I’m excited to see these efforts now come to fruition.