Blog entry #2: In what way did your CP arise from a local need or perspective? [Make Up]

 My community partner is actually the County of Santa Clara itself, in the office of Supervisor Otto Lee. There I will be tasked with being a communications staffer, and also will have a small legislative portfolio. Given that the County did not arise from a local need per say- but was part of the movement of local governments to increase their power. Santa Clara County has been lucky in that it is the Capitol and Heart of Silicon Valley, hosting many of the worlds most influential and prominent companies. All of that personal wealth has created a county government that is one of the better of in the state, and nation. However just because of the massive successes to be found within Santa Clara County does not mean there is not a tremendous amount of need. 

To quote the California Budget Centers Inequality and Economic Security in Silicon Valley Report. "Silicon Valley’s current economic expansion has been 'top heavy,' with much of the recent income growth going to very wealthy households, therefore doing little to reverse the generation-long trend of widening income inequality." Meaning that while many of the residents in Silicon Valley have stayed economically stagnant, the more wealthy families in SCV gained more power and wealth. Which has shown to be a problem for, or at the expense of the working class families in the area. Meaning that the generational wealth for working class families has been severely affected. With wealth gap greater than it was 25 years ago.

This report also acknowledges that wealth inequality is a regional issue as a whole, and so too is homelessness and the unhoused. Knowing friends who have worked in the homeless community in the County of Santa Clara, say this population are the most prone to illness and disease, but also to being a political lighting rod. With the presence of tents, RVs/mobile homes and tiny houses all dominating conversation, often in a nonsensical style. So tracking how this conversation continues to evolve and change will be a fascinating and impactful thing to track during the pandemic.

In fact, as the book said, just in my lifetime the County has been tasked with being more and more proactive with its community assistance programs. Therefore the area I will be most actively reflecting on  in the CP related blogs will be with community outreach during this pandemic- and the subsequent economic downturn that followed. Because with even more people thrown into economic uncertainty in an area known for being tough for the working class, it will be important for county to provide help however it can.

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