Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Benito County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in public safety with high priority
Election integrity and election-night results
Days before Election Day, the board retroactively cleaned up two years of voting-system contract paperwork and approved the vendor's name change to Liberty Vote USA. The CEO publicly criticized the Clerk-Recorder for going around her office.
DA and Probation building roof repair
The roof over the District Attorney and Probation offices is deteriorated enough that officials fear a collapse in heavy winter storms. The Board approved a ~$120,000 repair project (with contingency allowances) and agreed to pay for it out of the $500,000 emergency-preparedness fund.
Emergency services leadership and disaster council
An outside review found 17 gaps in the county's emergency readiness — thin OES staffing, missing or outdated plans, and weak documentation of training — just as an El Niño winter approaches. The Board wants a director-level position consolidating OES, EMS, fire and 911 oversight, and asked for salary and funding options.
Overhaul of county public defender system with $1.7M state grant
A resident cited the county's own evaluation showing the defense system handled 1,100+ cases a year with as few as one or two attorneys. The state has set aside $1.7 million for an institutional public defender's office, and the speaker asked that funds stay dedicated to defense.
Recall petition against Supervisor Kosmicki underway
The June 2 recall of Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez passed by 33 votes and is now officially certified. Voters in District 5 will pick a replacement on November 3, 2026.
Evacuation planning and emergency communications
The Sheriff said the county will be 'on its own' during a statewide storm and warned residents who ignore evacuation orders may not be rescued. All emergency messaging will come through the Sheriff's office, and the county is pushing residents to sign up for SBCAlert, Nixle and know their evacuation zone.
Sheriff's radio communications upgrade
After years of delays, the ~$2.5 million radio project has four radios in testing and a new repeater on Fremont Peak, with cellular and Starlink backups planned. Neighboring agencies, including San Jose PD, will get interoperability access.
Opioid Settlement Fund Treatment Expansion
The county rejected Bright Future Recovery's late bid and awarded residential treatment to Sun Street Centers, meaning men needing detox will likely be sent out of county. Supervisors directed staff to find a way to contract with the local provider for extra beds.
AMR ambulance contract extension and rural response times
The AMR contract extension to 2029 was tabled after supervisors questioned whether rural response times of 30 minutes are realistic for South County and whether the county has an exit clause before a potential fire/EMS special district forms.
Veterans services contract with Monterey County
A three-year, $480,000 contract keeps the local veterans services office running — and it pays for itself many times over, returning roughly $2.7 million in benefits to San Benito veterans and families this year.