Only in Santa Clara County

Welcome to Only in Santa Clara County’s special series on the Civil Grand Jury and its role in our judicial branch and democracy at large. In this episode we are joined by the past Juror Scott Duncan who shares his experience serving on the CGJ and other volunteer opportunities.

The Civil Grand Jury consists of 19 citizens who are volunteering from all over Santa Clara County for 1 year term of public service. As a member of the panel, they play a vital role in holding local government accountable, ensuring that public institutions operate fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of the people they serve. To learn more you can visit https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ, call 408-882-2721 or email [email protected].

**The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara is recruiting qualified applicants for the 2026-2027 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. Applications are due March 27, 2026, by 5 p.m., for the one-year term commencing July 1, 2026.

Guest Bio: Scott Duncan is a thirty-year resident of Santa Clara County. Scott has managed three Silicon Valley high-tech companies and is now retired. Now he is now an active volunteer in civic activities, including 18 months as a member of the Civil Grand Jury.

About Only in Santa Clara County (OSCC) is a civic education podcast aimed at demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in Santa Clara County--ground zero of system change. OSCC is powered by Dreaming Collaborative, a civic non-profit working at the intersection of culture, technology, and civic life to reimagine the practice of democracy in local government. Visit www.dreamingcollaborative.org to learn more about our work. 

Support our work with a donation: https://www.dreamingcollaborative.org/donate

Resources:

1. Civil Grand Jury Website: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ⁠ 

2. Apply to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://forms.office.com/g/Qv19z2Ny4g⁠ 

3. Past Civil Grand Jury Reports: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ#GrandJuryReports⁠ 

4. Who can the Civil Grand Jury investigate in Santa Clara County: (a) All County of Santa Clara Government Operations (b) All Law Enforcement Agencies in Santa Clara County (c) All School Districts: ⁠⁠https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/school-districts⁠⁠  (d) All 15 cities in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/cities-information⁠⁠  (e) All 26 Special District in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/special-district-profiles⁠⁠ 

5. Submit a Confidential Complaint to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/civil-grand-jury/civil-grand-jury-complaint-form⁠ 

6. Civil Grand Jury YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmNaolXvmnQ4FfFSjL1dARlsLiKQ-LLsd⁠ 

7. Civil Grand Jury Instagram @scccivilgrandjury

8. California Courts Self-Help: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ 

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Welcome to Only in Santa Clara County’s special series on the Civil Grand Jury and its role in our judicial branch and democracy at large. In this episode we are joined by the past Juror Cecilia Deck who shares her experience serving on the CGJ from a journalism and educator perspective.

The Civil Grand Jury consists of 19 citizens who are volunteering from all over Santa Clara County for 1 year term of public service. As a member of the panel, they play a vital role in holding local government accountable, ensuring that public institutions operate fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of the people they serve. To learn more you can visit https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ, call 408-882-2721 or email [email protected].

**The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara is recruiting qualified applicants for the 2026-2027 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. Applications are due March 27, 2026, by 5 p.m., for the one-year term commencing July 1, 2026.

Guest Bio: Cecilia Deck is a retired journalism educator and former journalist who has lived in San Jose for 30 years.

About Only in Santa Clara County (OSCC) is a civic education podcast aimed at demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in Santa Clara County--ground zero of system change. OSCC is powered by Dreaming Collaborative, a civic non-profit working at the intersection of culture, technology, and civic life to reimagine the practice of democracy in local government. Visit www.dreamingcollaborative.org to learn more about our work.

Support our work with a donation: https://www.dreamingcollaborative.org/donate

Resources:

1. Civil Grand Jury Website: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ⁠ 

2. Apply to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://forms.office.com/g/Qv19z2Ny4g⁠ 

3. Past Civil Grand Jury Reports: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ#GrandJuryReports⁠ 

4. Who can the Civil Grand Jury investigate in Santa Clara County: (a) All County of Santa Clara Government Operations (b) All Law Enforcement Agencies in Santa Clara County (c) All School Districts: ⁠⁠https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/school-districts⁠⁠  (d) All 15 cities in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/cities-information⁠⁠  (e) All 26 Special District in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/special-district-profiles⁠⁠ 

5. Submit a Confidential Complaint to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/civil-grand-jury/civil-grand-jury-complaint-form⁠ 

6. Civil Grand Jury YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmNaolXvmnQ4FfFSjL1dARlsLiKQ-LLsd⁠ 

7. Civil Grand Jury Instagram @scccivilgrandjury

8. California Courts Self-Help: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ 

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Welcome to Only in Santa Clara County’s special series on the Civil Grand Jury and its role in our judicial branch and democracy at large. In this episode we are joined by the past Juror Dev Ghoshal to listen to his first hand experience on serving various volunteer roles in our Court system.

The Civil Grand Jury consists of 19 citizens who are volunteering from all over Santa Clara County for 1 year term of public service. As a member of the panel, they play a vital role in holding local government accountable, ensuring that public institutions operate fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of the people they serve. To learn more you can visit https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ, call 408-882-2721 or email [email protected].

**The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara is recruiting qualified applicants for the 2026-2027 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. Applications are due March 27, 2026, by 5 p.m., for the one-year term commencing July 1, 2026.

Guest Bio: Dev today serves as an investor and Board advisor  to several startups, as well as being involved in non-profits and community organizations.  With a career spanning Management Consulting, leadership roles in large technology companies, as well as helping build several startups, he brings a strong business and problem-solving experience. He has been active in Santa Clara County as a Civil Grand Juror as well as a Commissioner on the County's Juvenile Justice Commission. In his spare time, he loves reading and traveling, and lately has developed a passion for CrossFit and Open Water Swimming in the water around the Bay area. 

About Only in Santa Clara County (OSCC) is a civic education podcast aimed at demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in Santa Clara County--ground zero of system change. OSCC is powered by Dreaming Collaborative, a civic non-profit working at the intersection of culture, technology, and civic life to reimagine the practice of democracy in local government. Visit www.dreamingcollaborative.org to learn more about our work.

Support our work with a donation: https://www.dreamingcollaborative.org/donate

Resources:

1. Civil Grand Jury Website: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ⁠ 

2. Apply to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://forms.office.com/g/Qv19z2Ny4g⁠ 

3. Past Civil Grand Jury Reports: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ#GrandJuryReports⁠ 

4. Who can the Civil Grand Jury investigate in Santa Clara County: (a) All County of Santa Clara Government Operations (b) All Law Enforcement Agencies in Santa Clara County (c) All School Districts: ⁠⁠https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/school-districts⁠⁠  (d) All 15 cities in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/cities-information⁠⁠  (e) All 26 Special District in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/special-district-profiles⁠⁠ 

5. Submit a Confidential Complaint to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/civil-grand-jury/civil-grand-jury-complaint-form⁠ 

6. Civil Grand Jury YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmNaolXvmnQ4FfFSjL1dARlsLiKQ-LLsd⁠ 

7. Civil Grand Jury Instagram @scccivilgrandjury

8. California Courts Self-Help: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ 

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Welcome to Only in Santa Clara County’s special series on the Civil Grand Jury and its role in our judicial branch and democracy at large. In this episode we are joined by the Deputy Manager for the Civil Grand Jury, Britney Huelbig for a deep dive into how the Civil Grand Jury works, its selection process, and more.

The Civil Grand Jury consists of 19 citizens who are volunteering from all over Santa Clara County for 1 year term of public service. As a member of the panel, they play a vital role in holding local government accountable, ensuring that public institutions operate fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of the people they serve. To learn more you can visit https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ, call 408-882-2721 or email [email protected].

**The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara is recruiting qualified applicants for the 2026-2027 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. Applications are due March 27, 2026, by 5 p.m., for the one-year term commencing July 1, 2026.

Guest Bio: Britney Huelbig serves as the Deputy Manager for the Civil Grand Jury with the Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences, with a Criminal Justice concentration. Minored in Law and Society through the Political Science Department.

About Only in Santa Clara County (OSCC) is a civic education podcast aimed at demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in Santa Clara County--ground zero of system change. OSCC is powered by Dreaming Collaborative, a civic non-profit working at the intersection of culture, technology, and civic life to reimagine the practice of democracy in local government. Visit www.dreamingcollaborative.org to learn more about our work. 

Support our work with a donation: https://www.dreamingcollaborative.org/donate

Resources:

1. Civil Grand Jury Website: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ⁠ 

2. Apply to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://forms.office.com/g/Qv19z2Ny4g⁠ 

3. Past Civil Grand Jury Reports: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ#GrandJuryReports⁠ 

4. Who can the Civil Grand Jury investigate in Santa Clara County: (a) All County of Santa Clara Government Operations (b) All Law Enforcement Agencies in Santa Clara County (c) All School Districts: ⁠⁠https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/school-districts⁠⁠  (d) All 15 cities in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/cities-information⁠⁠  (e) All 26 Special District in Santa Clara County: ⁠⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/special-district-profiles⁠⁠ 

5. Submit a Confidential Complaint to the Civil Grand Jury: ⁠https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/civil-grand-jury/civil-grand-jury-complaint-form⁠ 

6. Civil Grand Jury YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmNaolXvmnQ4FfFSjL1dARlsLiKQ-LLsd⁠ 

7. Civil Grand Jury Instagram @scccivilgrandjury

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Welcome to Only in Santa Clara County’s special series on the Civil Grand Jury and its role in our judicial branch and democracy at large. In this episode we are joined by the Honorable Judge Emede for an introduction into what the Civil Grand Jury is and its place within our government.

The Civil Grand Jury consists of 19 citizens who are volunteering from all over Santa Clara County for 1 year term of public service. As a member of the panel, they play a vital role in holding local government accountable, ensuring that public institutions operate fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of the people they serve. To learn more you can visit https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ, call 408-882-2721 or email [email protected]

**The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara is recruiting qualified applicants for the 2026-2027 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. Applications are due March 27, 2026, by 5 p.m., for the one-year term commencing July 1, 2026.

Guest Bio: Honorable Judge Emede assumed the role of Presiding Judge, on January 1, 2025. Appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court bench in December 2009, Judge Emede previously served in the Civil Division, the Criminal Domestic Violence Court, Provisional Remedies and Appellate Division, Probate Court, Family Court, and Misdemeanor Court. Judge Emede is a presenter at various judicial and continuing legal education seminars, and previously taught Community Property and Family Law at Santa Clara University School of Law.

About Only in Santa Clara County (OSCC) is a civic education podcast aimed at demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in Santa Clara County--ground zero of system change. OSCC is powered by Dreaming Collaborative, a civic non-profit working at the intersection of culture, technology, and civic life to reimagine the practice of democracy in local government. Visit www.dreamingcollaborative.org to learn more about our work. 

Support our work with a donation: https://www.dreamingcollaborative.org/donate

Resources:

1. Civil Grand Jury Website: https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ 
2. Apply to the Civil Grand Jury: https://forms.office.com/g/Qv19z2Ny4g 
3. Past Civil Grand Jury Reports: https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ#GrandJuryReports 
4. Who can the Civil Grand Jury investigate in Santa Clara County: (a) All County of Santa Clara Government Operations (b) All Law Enforcement Agencies in Santa Clara County (c) All School Districts: ⁠https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/school-districts⁠  (d) All 15 cities in Santa Clara County: ⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/cities-information⁠  (e) All 26 Special District in Santa Clara County: ⁠https://santaclaralafco.org/cities-and-special-districts/special-district-profiles⁠ 
5. Submit a Confidential Complaint to the Civil Grand Jury: https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/civil-grand-jury/civil-grand-jury-complaint-form 
6. Civil Grand Jury YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmNaolXvmnQ4FfFSjL1dARlsLiKQ-LLsd 
7. Civil Grand Jury Instagram @scccivilgrandjury

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Join host Ellina Yin and County Executive James R. Williams in conversation on the 2025 Measure A, a temporary Santa Clara County Sales Tax for the upcoming Special Election on November 4, 2025. Santa Clara County Residents will understand the why’s and how’s of this Measure as we dive into the details and the math!

Early Voting at the Registrar of Voters Office​​​​​: 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112

Dates & Hours

• Monday - Friday, October 6, 2025 – November 3, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• ​Saturday​ and Sunday, October 25, 2025 – October 26, 2025, November 1, 2025 – November 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• ​Election Day, November 4, 2025, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Guest: James R. Williams is the County Executive for the County of Santa Clara, a position he has held since July 2023. James began his career with the County in 2010 as a Social Justice and Impact Litigation Fellow in the Office of the County Counsel. He is a first-generation American and the first person of color to lead the largest and most diverse county in Northern California.

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Resources: 

1. Santa Clara County Voter Information: https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/elections/november-4-2025-statewide-special-election
2. County of Santa Clara Finance and Government Operations Committee October 16, 2025 2:00 p.m. https://www.youtube.com/live/hDKpRfIGsPk?si=u15jXx_xfm7kNgcb&t=870 

3. Impacts of Federal Budget Cuts https://www.santaclaracounty.gov/federalfunding 

4. Statement from County Executive James R. Williams on the Passage of H.R. 1 https://news.santaclaracounty.gov/statement-county-executive-james-r-williams-passage-hr-1   

5. 2025 Measure A https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/list-local-measures-2 

6. H.R.1 Bill Text: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1 

Join host Ellina Yin and County Executive James R. Williams to unpack what the newly passed H.R.1 means for Santa Clara County. This bill includes the most significant cuts in our nation’s history to Medicaid and food assistance — jeopardizing health care and food for millions of Americans. Learn how this federal law could reshape daily life for residents—and what the County is doing to prepare.

Guest: James R. Williams is the County Executive for the County of Santa Clara, a position he has held since July 2023. James began his career with the County in 2010 as a Social Justice and Impact Litigation Fellow in the Office of the County Counsel. He is a first-generation American and the first person of color to lead the largest and most diverse county in Northern California.

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Resources: 

1. County of Santa Clara Finance and Government Operations Committee October 16, 2025 2:00 p.m. https://www.youtube.com/live/hDKpRfIGsPk?si=u15jXx_xfm7kNgcb&t=870 

2. Impacts of Federal Budget Cuts https://www.santaclaracounty.gov/federalfunding 

3. Statement from County Executive James R. Williams on the Passage of H.R. 1 https://news.santaclaracounty.gov/statement-county-executive-james-r-williams-passage-hr-1   

4. 2025 Measure A https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/list-local-measures-2 

1. H.R.1 Bill Text: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1 

Join host Ellina Yin  and Guest David Ginsborg, as we unpack the upcoming Special Election for Santa Clara County Assessor on November 4. This episode breaks down who’s running, what each candidate stands for, and why this often-overlooked office plays a critical role in how property taxes fund our schools, cities, and public services. We’ll also address circulating misinformation, clarify what’s fact versus fiction, and help you make sense of what’s truly at stake in this election. You can check out the full episode on the County Assessor here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/onlyinscc/episodes/Episode-13-County-Assessors-Office-with-David-Ginsborg-e39jgmv/a-ac7ata8

Early Voting at the Registrar of Voters Office​​​​​: 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112

Dates & Hours

• Monday - Friday, October 6, 2025 – November 3, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• ​Saturday​ and Sunday, October 25, 2025 – October 26, 2025, November 1, 2025 – November 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• ​Election Day, November 4, 2025, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Guest Bio: In 2021, David K. Ginsborg retired from nearly 30 years in government service which included serving as one of the youngest Chiefs of Staff for then Congressman Bob Filner; Policy Director for Supervisor Ron Gonzales; and most recently for nearly 25 years for Assessor Larry Stone as his Deputy Assessor. Previously he also worked in commercial real estate in southern California.

Resources:

1. Santa Clara County Voter Information: https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/elections/november-4-2025-statewide-special-election 

2. Candidate: Bryan Do https://www.bryando.org/ 

3. Candidate: Neysa Fligor https://www.voteneysaforassessor.com/ 

4. Candidate: Rishi Kumar https://rishikumar.com/ 

5. Candidate: Yan Zhao https://www.yan4assessor.com/ 

6. Partial/Reduce Property Tax Exemptions for qualified Seniors: https://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/states-that-exempt-seniors-from-property-taxes/ County Assessor Office: https://www.sccassessor.org/ 

7. Annual Assessor Reports: https://www.sccassessor.org/forms-and-publications/annual-report

   
   

Join host Ellina Yin in conversation with the retired Deputy Assessor David Ginsborg to demystify how property taxes work—who determines property values, where those tax dollars go, and how assessments shape our local economy and public services. From understanding Prop 13 to uncovering how schools, cities, and counties share the revenue, this episode breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of local government and why it matters for every resident, renter, and homeowner in Santa Clara County. 

Guest Bio: In 2021, David K. Ginsborg retired from nearly 30 years in government service which included serving as one of the youngest Chiefs of Staff for then Congressman Bob Filner; Policy Director for Supervisor Ron Gonzales; and most recently for nearly 25 years for Assessor Larry Stone as his Deputy Assessor. Previously he also worked in commercial real estate in southern California.

From a career serving the public in government to now pursuing his Avodah[1], David Ginsborg took a leap of faith to “start over” in an entirely new field. Upon retiring David sought out a more values based new chapter as the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center of Santa Cruz and Temple Beth El, a reform congregation. David has a Masters in Management from GSPM, which is now part of George Washington University and a Bachelor's degree from U.C. Berkeley.[1] In Hebrew, the word Avodah has been interpreted to mean work, service, prayer or labor. The closest english equivalent is avocation. 

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Resources:

1. ​County Assessor Office: https://www.sccassessor.org/ 
2. Annual Assessor Reports: https://www.sccassessor.org/forms-and-publications/annual-report

Join host Ellina Yin and the team behind the Silicon Valley Pain Index (SVPI) for a deep dive into this year’s report. The Annual Silicon Valley Pain Index features new data that highlights the region’s persistent inequalities. The SVPI was originally inspired by Professor Bill Quigley's Katrina Pain Index following the devastating 2005 hurricane and later by 2020 national Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the police murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Guests: Dr. Michael Dao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at San Jose State University and currently serves as the Associate Chair in the Department of Kinesiology and is the current Director of the SJSU Human Rights Institute.

Dr. Anji Buckner-Capone is an Associate Professor, Public Health and Recreation, College of Health and Human Sciences and practitioner of community health promotion with expertise in program planning and evaluation, health education, and advocacy.

Ruth Melton is a fourth year at San Jose State University, majoring in Communication Studies. She was a student assistant and co-author for the 2025 Silicon Valley Pain Index report released this month. Her interest in working with families and education comes from her non-profit involvement over the years.

Briyana Costa holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health (MPH), with a concentration in Community Health Education at San José State University.

Only in Santa Clara County, is a sister project of the ⁠Only in San José⁠ a civic education podcast series dedicated to demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in Santa Clara County.

About Us ⁠| Join Patreon | One Time Donation | Volunteer

Episode Resources:

1. SJSU Silicon Valley Pain Index: https://www.sjsu.edu/hri/policy-projects/svpi/index.php

2. Human Rights Institute: https://www.sjsu.edu/hri/about/index.php

3. Support the Human Rights Institute with a Donation

4. Contact Person: Dr. Michael Dao [email protected] 

5. SB33 (Dave Cortese) guaranteed income for unhoused high school seniors

6. SB685 (Dave Cortese) pilot program covering full cost of college attendance (at select universities) for unhoused youth

7. AB3229 (Alex Lee) pilot program to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among CalFresh recipients

Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.