Carolyn Schuk

At its August meeting, the Santa Clara Planning Commission elected Mario Bouza Vice Chair, greenlit a use permit for the City Light Bible Church in an existing building at 2929 Patrick Henry Dr. and sent a State-mandated proposed replacement housing ordinance back to city staff for revision. The replacement housing ordinance dominated the evening, with commissioners panning its provisions as so far-reaching that it could discourage affordable housing instead of preserving it.

When Sutter Health Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Vina Jones considered whether she should take her coughing child to the doctor, in addition to consulting her own experience as a pediatrician, she also turned to Sutter’s patient chatbot Emmy to help make her decision. “Being a pediatrician doesn’t make me the expert on everything about my kid’s health,” Dr. Jones said. “It pulled up some [clinical] history to help inform my decision. Should I reach out to my clinician? Should I take them in?

Santa Clara’s Planning Commission launched its first meeting of 2026-2027 on Aug. 12 by accepting the resignation of chair Nancy Biagini, approving a 147-unit housing subdivision on Homestead Road and re-electing past president Eric Crutchlow as chair. Commissioners paid tribute to Biagini’s service on the commission. Nancy was “a champion and an advocate for labor,” and projects that respected fair and livable wages, said Crutchlow. Nancy was “the reason I’m here,” said Commissioner Qian Huang.