Board receives countywide racial equity roadmap; supervisors endorse continued implementation and reporting

The county’s Division of Equity & Social Justice presented the first Santa Clara County racial equity strategic roadmap Tuesday, outlining principles, priorities and a timetable for departmental action plans.

Chief Equity Officer Dr. Ana Lilia Garcia told the board the roadmap will provide a common definition of equity, normalize key terms, and establish a set of principles for county operations — including a data‑driven approach, community engagement with those most affected, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The roadmap identifies four priority areas and asks every county department to submit departmental racial equity action plans by June 30, 2025.

Supervisors gave broad support to the roadmap and framed the work as operational rather than ideological; several emphasized the need for disaggregated data, intersectional analysis and an annual review of budget impacts through the county’s budget‑equity tool. Multiple supervisors and community speakers emphasized that equity work seeks to close historical gaps — for example, the legacy of redlining — and to prioritize populations most harmed by structural disparities.

Deputy County Executive David Campos said he was taking oversight of the Division and will work with departments to strengthen capacity and identify resource needs. The board asked administration to provide quarterly reports on progress and welcomed the roadmap’s requirement that departments align equity goals to measurable outcomes.

Action: board accepted the equity roadmap and directed staff to return with departmental action plans; the item passed 4–0 (one supervisor absent).