Stay ConnectedWelcome to the Only in San José (OSJ) civic education podcast, aimed at demystifying and democratizing the process of civic participation in local government–ground zero of systemic change. Hosted by Ellina Yin.
OSJ is powered by Dreaming Collaborative, a civic non-profit working at the intersection of culture, technology, and civic life to reimagine the practice of democracy in local government. Visit www.dreamingcollaborative.org to learn more about our work.
Copyright: © Only in San José
Join host Ellina Yin and County Executive James R. Williams to tackle the 2025 Measure A, a temporary Santa Clara County Sales Tax for the upcoming Special Election on November 4, 2025. Santa Clara County Residents will understand the why’s and how’s of this Measure as we dive into the details and the math!
Early Voting at the Registrar of Voters Office: 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112
Dates & Hours
Monday - Friday, October 6, 2025 – November 3, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, October 25, 2025 – October 26, 2025, November 1, 2025 – November 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Election Day, November 4, 2025, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Guest: James R. Williams is the County Executive for the County of Santa Clara, a position he has held since July 2023. James began his career with the County in 2010 as a Social Justice and Impact Litigation Fellow in the Office of the County Counsel. He is a first-generation American and the first person of color to lead the largest and most diverse county in Northern California.
Only in San José/Only in Santa Clara County is a civic education podcast series dedicated to demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in the City of San José.
About Us| Join Patreon |One Time Donation| Volunteer
Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Resources:
Impacts of Federal Budget Cuts https://www.santaclaracounty.gov/federalfunding
2025 Measure A https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/list-local-measures-2
H.R.1 Bill Text: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1
Join host Ellina Yin and County Executive James R. Williams to unpack what the newly passed H.R.1 means for Santa Clara County. This bill includes the most significant cuts in our nation’s history to Medicaid and food assistance — jeopardizing health care and food for millions of Americans. Learn how this federal law could reshape daily life for residents—and what the County is doing to prepare.
Guest: James R. Williams is the County Executive for the County of Santa Clara, a position he has held since July 2023. James began his career with the County in 2010 as a Social Justice and Impact Litigation Fellow in the Office of the County Counsel. He is a first-generation American and the first person of color to lead the largest and most diverse county in Northern California.
Only in San José/Only in Santa Clara County is a civic education podcast series dedicated to demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in the City of San José.
About Us| Join Patreon |One Time Donation| Volunteer
Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Resources:
Impacts of Federal Budget Cuts https://www.santaclaracounty.gov/federalfunding
2025 Measure A https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/list-local-measures-2
H.R.1 Bill Text: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1
Join host Ellina Yin and Guest David Ginsborg, as we unpack the upcoming Special Election for Santa Clara County Assessor on November 4. This episode breaks down who’s running, what each candidate stands for, and why this often-overlooked office plays a critical role in how property taxes fund our schools, cities, and public services. We’ll also address circulating misinformation, clarify what’s fact versus fiction, and help you make sense of what’s truly at stake in this election. You can check out the full episode on the County Assessor here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/onlyinscc/episodes/Episode-13-County-Assessors-Office-with-David-Ginsborg-e39jgmv/a-ac7ata8
Early Voting at the Registrar of Voters Office: 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112
Dates & Hours
Monday - Friday, October 6, 2025 – November 3, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, October 25, 2025 – October 26, 2025, November 1, 2025 – November 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Election Day, November 4, 2025, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Guest Bio: In 2021, David K. Ginsborg retired from nearly 30 years in government service which included serving as one of the youngest Chiefs of Staff for then Congressman Bob Filner; Policy Director for Supervisor Ron Gonzales; and most recently for nearly 25 years for Assessor Larry Stone as his Deputy Assessor. Previously he also worked in commercial real estate in southern California.
Only in San José/Only in Santa Clara County is a civic education podcast series dedicated to demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in the City of San José.
About Us| Join Patreon |One Time Donation| Volunteer
Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Resources:
Santa Clara County Voter Information: https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/elections/november-4-2025-statewide-special-election
Candidate: Bryan Do https://www.bryando.org/
Candidate: Neysa Fligor https://www.voteneysaforassessor.com/
Candidate: Rishi Kumar https://rishikumar.com/
Candidate: Yan Zhaohttps://www.yan4assessor.com/
Partial/Reduce Property Tax Exemptions for qualified Seniors: https://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/states-that-exempt-seniors-from-property-taxes/ County Assessor Office: https://www.sccassessor.org/
Annual Assessor Reports: https://www.sccassessor.org/forms-and-publications/annual-report
In Episode 31, join host Ellina Yin and the team behind the Silicon Valley Pain Index (SVPI) for a deep dive into this year’s report. The Annual Silicon Valley Pain Index features new data that highlights the region’s persistent inequalities. The SVPI was originally inspired by Professor Bill Quigley's Katrina Pain Index following the devastating 2005 hurricane and later by 2020 Black Lives Matter national protests in the wake of the police murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Guests: Dr. Michael Dao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at San Jose State University and currently serves as the Associate Chair in the Department of Kinesiology and is the current Director of the SJSU Human Rights Institute.
Dr. Anji Buckner-Capone is an Associate Professor, Public Health and Recreation, College of Health and Human Sciences and practitioner of community health promotion with expertise in program planning and evaluation, health education, and advocacy.
Ruth Melton is a fourth year at San Jose State University, majoring in Communication Studies. She was a student assistant and co-author for the 2025 Silicon Valley Pain Index report released this month. Her interest in working with families and education comes from her non-profit involvement over the years.
Briyana Costa holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health (MPH), with a concentration in Community Health Education at San José State University.
Only in San José is a civic education podcast series dedicated to demystifying and democratizing the process of local government and civic participation in the City of San José.
About Us| Join Patreon | One Time Donation| Volunteer
Episode Resources:
SJSU Silicon Valley Pain Index: https://www.sjsu.edu/hri/policy-projects/svpi/index.php
Human Rights Institute: https://www.sjsu.edu/hri/about/index.php
Contact Person: Dr. Michael Dao michael.dao@sjsu.edu
SB33 (Dave Cortese) guaranteed income for unhoused high school seniors
SB685 (Dave Cortese) pilot program covering full cost of college attendance (at select universities) for unhoused youth
AB3229 (Alex Lee) pilot program to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among CalFresh recipients
Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/271482) Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Episode Synopsis: In this Voting Rights Pt 2 episode: Ellina Yin speaks with Dr. Angelica Cortez about the presidential election and the importance of the Down Ballot vote.
Guest: Dr. Angelica "Gel" Cortez is a nonprofit executive, organizer, and leading voice in the Filipina/x/o American power building movement. Voted as a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence and 40 Under 40, she is the mind behind multiple civic and health equity campaigns across the state and nation. She is the current Executive Director of LEAD Filipino and first Senior Vice President of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) for Pacific Clinics, the largest mental and behavioral health service provider in California. Additionally, she is the owner of FancyHeadz, a social enterprise that produces headwear and accessories to support health services in Southeast Asia.
2024 Voter Guide: https://linktr.ee/onlyinsj2024
Learn more about Only in San José: www.onlyinsj.org
Resources:
14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868)
Mis/Disinformation Tools:
InVID Reverse Search Tool: https://www.invid-project.eu/tools-and-services/invid-verification-plugin/
Hive Ai Detection Softwarehttps://thehive.ai/apis/ai-generated-content-classification
Dare to be Greyhttps://www.daretobegrey.com/home
Media Clips
Music: Spunker by Blue Dot Sessions, Creative Commons License Attribution - Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
*Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
In this episode, Ellina Yin speaks with Dr. Angelica Cortez about the history and power of voting and civic participation, and a little bit about the Upcoming 2024 Elections.
Guest: Dr. Angelica "Gel" Cortez is a nonprofit executive, organizer, and leading voice in the Filipina/x/o American power building movement. Voted as a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence and 40 Under 40, she is the mind behind multiple civic and health equity campaigns across the state and nation.
She is the current Executive Director of LEAD Filipino and first Senior Vice President of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) for Pacific Clinics, the largest mental and behavioral health service provider in California. Additionally, she is the owner of FancyHeadz, a social enterprise that produces headwear and accessories to support health services in Southeast Asia.
Check out OSJ's latest podcast project, you can find Only in Santa Clara wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.
2024 Voter Guides: https://linktr.ee/onlyinsj2024
Resources:
Mis/Disinformation Tools:
In this episode, Ellina Yin provides a general overview of and the four different types of recounts, from the Registrar of Voter website: California’s required automatic manual tally, County of Santa Clara's automatic recount policy, voter requested recounts, and court ordered recounts. This episode is specific to Santa Clara County, for Statewide Recount information you can visit the California Secretary of State's (https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/regulations/current-regulations/elections/recounts)
Recently, Santa Clara County became the poster child for EVERY VOTE COUNTS, the March 5 Primary resulted in a rare 2 way tie for second place in the race for Congressional District 16, a statewide contest which impacts Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo is the lead and heading to the November General Election, with current Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian and Assemblymember Evan Low tied for second place, sending all three into the November General Election. However, a recount could potentially change the outcome.
*Special thanks to Grace Hase, a reporter who has been covering the congressional race for the Mercury News for clarifying the different local/county and state processes.
In the news:
Sources:
In this special "2024 Election Series" episode, Ellina Yin covers General Purpose Committees, what they do and why they are important. Ever wonder who is sending you all those mailers during election season? Tune in to learn about all the various ways these committees can shape the political landscape in your community. Source Cited:
In celebration of Earth Day, Ellina Yin speaks with Mari Margil about climate solutions happening around the world and how we can bring some of them home. This episode is from our unreleased archives and was originally recorded March of 2022.
Mari Margil is the Executive Director of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER). She works with civil society, governments, as well as Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities in the U.S., Ecuador, the Philippines, Nepal, and elsewhere, to advance Rights of Nature frameworks. She consulted with Ecuador’s Constituent Assembly, helping to draft the world’s first Rights of Nature constitutional provisions in 2008.
Margil received her Master’s degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and is a co-author of The Bottom Line or Public Health, Exploring Wild Law: The Philosophy of Earth Jurisprudence, and Bearing Witness: The Human Rights Case Against Fracking and Climate Change.
Her writing has also been featured in publications including The Guardian, YES! Magazine, Earth Island Journal, Mongabay, Democracy Journal, World Policy Journal, and Common Dreams, and her work has been featured in the New York Times, and The New Yorker.
Episode Notes:
Innerchild Meditation by Rashmi Guttal featuring music by Nature Healing Society
Rashmi (she/they) is a somatic practitioner, restorative justice facilitator, and mediator. Through her background in asana (yoga), meditation, and conflict resolution, she created somatic mediation, a coaching process to help individuals and couples resolve conflict. Using the Internal Family Systems model, Attachment Theory, and body-based practices, Rashmi guides folx into deeper awareness and compassion for their different ‘parts’. She focuses on nervous system regulation, emphasizing rest, silence, and moving slowly.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
