Issue Archive
Older, resolved, or archived tracked issues. Sorted by most recent activity first.
The Churchill Avenue Rail Crossing — Safety, Community, and Loss • Featured
active • Transit
Last activity: Apr 30, 2026
One of the most emotionally resonant civic debates in Palo Alto centers on the Churchill Avenue rail crossing — and what its future means for community safety and connectivity. Residents have clashed over a proposal to close the Churchill c…
Budget Deficits — An Albatross Around the City's Neck • Featured
active • Budget priorities
Last activity: Apr 30, 2026
Palo Alto is facing a structural fiscal crisis that is constraining nearly every policy decision. A long-range financial forecast presented to the City Council shows budget deficits every fiscal year through 2032, larger than previous proje…
SB 79 & the Housing Transformation of South Palo Alto • Featured
active • Housing Affordability
Last activity: Apr 30, 2026
Palo Alto is confronting a housing mandate of 6,086 units by 2031 — and the arrival of SB 79 on July 1, 2026 is dramatically raising the stakes. One of the primary concerns for city officials is the numerous historic sites in the SB 79 "spl…
Transportation & Transit Future (VTA) • Featured
active • Transit
Last activity: Apr 25, 2026
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is navigating a dual mandate — running a regional transit system while developing affordable housing on underutilized land near stations. Ten VTA projects currently in active development…
Federal Funding Threats to County Services • Featured
active • Budget priorities
Last activity: Apr 25, 2026
The county is confronting $70 million in anticipated lost federal funding it will need to backfill, with the Office of Supportive Housing facing the largest losses of $29 million. Federal Medi-Cal cuts are driving multiple departmental shor…
Mental Health Services Budget Crisis • Featured
active • Mental health
Last activity: Apr 25, 2026
The Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department is facing a $100 million deficit for fiscal year 2026–27, driven by federal Medi-Cal cuts triggered by H.R. 1, changes in state funding, the end of one-time COVID-19 dollars, and …