As I reflect on these past dozen years and what we’ve been able to achieve, both in my Santa Clara County Supervisorial District 5 and countywide, I’m ever mindful that so much of the work we do comes to fruition over time and in collaboration.
Often it’s not possible for just one person — even an elected official — or just one organization to successfully tackle the complex challenges facing our county. But together we can accomplish a lot.
In partnership with community members, nonprofits, the private sector and civic entities, I’m proud of the tangible progress we’ve made through the years on initiatives my office and I championed to improve affordable housing, health services, support for youth and seniors, the environment and more.
Long-term projects like the ones below won’t be wrapped up by the time I complete my term and walk out the doors on Dec. 31. But I remind myself that patience is a virtue (along with persistence and a sense of urgency) when it comes to the pace of institutional progress.
For elected officials it’s best to think of the work as a relay race. You grab the baton from your predecessor, run as far and as fast as you can, then hand off the baton the person who comes next. Our newly elected District 5 Supervisor, Margaret Abe-Koga, will “carry the baton” in the new year and beyond.
Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Center: Ten years ago, a constituent asked me, “Why aren’t there any inpatient hospital beds for kids and teens facing a mental health crisis here in Santa Clara County?” Each year hundreds of young people were being transferred from emergency rooms in our County to hospitals as far as Sacramento for acute psychiatric care.
I proposed that we build such a facility right here in our county, and the project should be completed late next year. Connected by a skybridge to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the 207,000-square-foot facility will provide psychiatric services for adults as well as children and adolescents. Its state-of-the-art design features divided age-appropriate amenities, including indoor and outdoor therapeutic environments, that allow for a continuum of care in a single setting.
West Valley Teacher Housing: No one wins when local teachers and school employees must commute from miles away because they can’t afford Silicon Valley’s high housing costs. I proposed the first county-led teacher housing back in 2018. That development, on Grant Avenue in Palo Alto, is nearing the finish line, with completion expected in 2025. Supported by the county, school districts and Meta, the 110-unit development will offer housing to teachers and other staff employed by local school districts in northern Santa Clara County and southern San Mateo County.
Now we’re working to bring educator workforce housing to serve West Valley schools and residents. To that end our Board of Supervisors has already approved Eden Housing as the project developer on county-acquired land on Wolf Road in Cupertino. Stay tuned.
West Valley Health Clinic: In November, I was honored to oversee the opening of the county’s first primary care clinic in North County, conveniently located to serve those living in the areas of Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. It’s the first county-run full-service health clinic in District 5. I’m gratified that we’re moving in a similar direction in the West Valley, where too many residents fall into that missing middle of health care, earning a little too much to qualify for most government programs but not enough to afford first-rate insurance or out-of-pocket care.
This year our board continued negotiations with the Foothill-De Anza Community College District to establish a similar county-run clinic in the West Valley, providing services for the area’s 400,000 residents as well as on-site health care and career training opportunities for community college students.
These are just a few examples. There are many more, but I’m out of time and out of space.
My congratulations to Supervisor-elect Abe-Koga, who comes to the county with a wealth of experience, most recently on the Mountain View City Council. I hope you will reach out to her office with your questions, suggestions, concerns and comments. Engaged constituents have given me energy and been the inspiration behind a number of my initiatives and efforts.
After serving as an elected official at five different levels, it is now my turn to say thanks — many, many thanks. Thanks for the memories and the opportunities. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure. Wishing you and yours a healthy and joyful new year.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian represents District 5, which includes Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Stanford, portions of San Jose and unincorporated communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
