News!

Mayor Tran: Coyote Creek Matters

Authored by Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran. Published in the Milpitas Post October 13, 2017.

Milpitas is part of a much larger watershed that benefits Santa Clara Valley.

We live in an astonishingly beautiful region nestled against the rolling grasslands and oak forests of the Diablo Mountain Range. Milpitas residents clearly want to protect these beautiful landscapes.  We voted overwhelmingly (79%) last November to renew the city’s Hillside Ordinance that insures protection of our scenic hills while allowing common sense development.

The Coyote Valley Linkage to the Latino Community

Co-authored by Sergio Jimenez, San Jose Councilmember and Ada Marquez, Environmental Scientist and Faculty Member, San Jose State University. Published in El Observador October 6, 2017.

From the acquisition of California from Mexico in 1848, to the agricultural ties of the Valley of Heart’s Delight, to the transition of Silicon Valley, Latinos have strong cultural connections to Santa Clara Valley. Historically, we merge the issues of economic equality, civil rights, and local environmental concerns together. Latinos have consistently shown they care about our culture, nature, future generations, and a strong connection to the land. There is a place right here in Santa Clara Valley that deserves such care, though many don’t even know about it. It’s known as the Coyote Valley.

Silicon Valley farms? They're there, and they're worth millions

Written by Eric Kurhi. Published in the Mercury News September 24, 2017. Photo by Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group

SAN MARTIN — As fourth-generation men of the earth, the Bonino brothers know their picked profession isn’t for everyone.

Their century-old LJB Farms has been around since long before the term “Silicon Valley” was coined, but it’s now an outlier in Santa Clara County, a throwback to days when it was known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight.

Heidi Sickler: San Jose's sustainability plan is good government use of tech

Written by Heidi Sickler. Published in the Mercury News September 4, 2017. Photo by Karl Mondon.

Silicon Valley’s technology industry continues to demonstrate its enduring power to innovate. Year after year, the companies that call the Valley home dominate the marketplace with new tools, applications, and services.

However, tech is not the only sector of our local economy that is demonstrating world-class creativity.  Our local governments also are adopting innovative policies and programs to address many of the issues critical to the region’s quality of life.