Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence is a cause near and dear to my heart.  Next Door Solutions To Domestic Violence seeks to end domestic violence In the moment…and for all time.  Next Door Solutions’ programs and services are free-of-charge and designed to empower victims and their families. With a short-term goal to provide safety and a long-term aim to prevent abuse, Next Door Solutions’ programs and services include the following:  Housing Solutions, Crisis & Community Support, Self Sufficiency and Support Groups & Kids Club.

I hope you’ll join us on October 11th to support this incredible organization at the Light Up the Night Event at the Jewish Community Center in Los Gatos.  Proceeds will benefit all of their amazing programs and services.

Tickets can be purchased at:

https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_896c682e-9a6b-11e4-b8ac-0a8b51b42b90&WidgetId=8604672

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The California Coastal Commission has a rich history of protecting and enhancing California’s coastline.  For 20 years, the CCC has been celebrating artwork and poetry from California’s children and they just announced the winners of the 2018 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest.  Students throughout the state from Kindergarten to 12th grade participated.  All art and poetry had a California coastal or marine theme.  View the 2018 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest online and on exhibit at the following locations during 2018:

• Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies , Tiburon, Discovery Day Open House on April 29
• Ford House Museum, Mendocino, July and August
• Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, Ventura Harbor, September-mid-November
• Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz, December 2018 and January 2019

Enjoy!

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From Hollywood dreams to Silicon Valley start-ups; from Napa Valley vineyards to miles of free beaches, California is one of the most beautiful and livable places in America. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, The Golden State is the place for you. One challenge folks shopping for California housing face is the rarity of a vacant home.

The U.S. Census Bureau tracking of the empty-but-owned homes found that 1 percent of ownership residences were vacant in California in 2017, the lowest since 2004 and the fifth-lowest rate nationally. That tied the statewide rate for 2016, which was No. 4 among the states.

California’s vacancy rate tied Massachusetts. Vacancies were only lower in Colorado, Rhode Island, Washington and Michigan. By the way, 1.6 percent of homes across the U.S. were vacant last year, down from 1.7 percent in 2016 and the lowest rate since 2000.

Owned homes go vacant for many reasons, but a common one is the time it takes to sell a home. Another cause: bank repossessions.

It wasn’t too long ago — in 2008 amid the housing market’s bubble bursting and foreclosure explosion — that California was among the states with high vacancy levels: 3.1 percent. Only 10 states were higher.

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While we live in an amazing part of the state, many of us are concerned with growth and traffic from new developments and big company moves. Here is how our tax dollars are being put to work with measure B:

Despite 2016 Santa Clara County Measure B sales tax revenue being held up because of a legal challenge, the County is moving forward on improvements to Foothill Expressway at El Monte and San Antonio Road. Los Altos has already committed $400,000 in design-phase funding for improvements to this project.

Residents and regulator visitors to Los Altos will see the expressway widened from four lanes to six, and see extended turn lanes around these intersections. Signal timing will also be installed to improve the flow of traffic. The County has been presenting the plans for these improvements to various organizations, including the Complete Streets Commission in Los Altos.

2016 Measure B is a 30-year, half-cent countywide sales tax to enhance transit, highways, expressways and active transportation (bicycles, pedestrians and complete streets). Despite its passage by nearly 72 percent of voters, the highest level of support for any Santa Clara County transportation tax, a lawsuit is challenging its validity. The measure is anticipated to generate $6.3 billion (in 2017 dollars) over the next 30 years. Collection of the tax began in April 2017.

Measure B Expressway Improvements

credit: sccgov

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