In today's newscast:
San Benito County estimates impacts of H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill"
Local governments are trying to calculate the impacts of federal funding cuts to many health care programs.
At a special meeting Wednesday, San Benito County Supervisors learned more than 1,000 residents could lose CalFresh benefits. Medi-Cal eligibility may also be at risk for some.
Rachel White, with the county’s behavioral health department, said people of all ages will be impacted.
"H.R. 1 kind of destabilizes access, especially for children," she said, "but we are working within our department to try to cover that by utilizing the available funding we have."
Supervisor Angela Curro asked how long the department’s reserves would last.
"Where the conversation's at at the state level," she noted, "is, 'Well, how much of your general fund can you contribute towards these problems?' And I keep telling everyone, "None. We got nothing to give.' I mean, we are literally the turnip that you cannot squeeze any more money out of."
White said her department can cover no more than two years of increased expenses.
Gilroy group opposes data centers, city council delays vote
The Gilroy City Council has postponed a vote that could amend the review and approval process for certain development projects. Specifically, those with substantial environmental impacts, which includes data centers.
“ It would give the opportunity for the community to prevent future data centers, but it does not prevent data centers in and of itself,” said Landon Sepulveda, a lead organizer with South Valley Community Resistance, a grassroots group leading the Stop Gilroy Data Center campaign.
Sepulveda said the group filled the city council chambers with over 100 people objecting to future data center developments in Gilroy. He was one of dozens who spoke in support of amending the zoning code at the June 15 meeting.
“This isn't even our main ask, and yet they're still kinda dragging their feet on it," said Sepulveda. Despite the vote being pushed to August, Sepulveda says his group won't be waiting around.
“Corporations— with money and power that come to smaller cities that don't necessarily have the ordinances in place—they don't see people. They see what it can give them, what the land can give them."
