Santa Clara County has renamed its main public hospital’s entrance to honor a former top official, even though his relationship with county doctors turned icy during crises.
What was once Renova Drive in front of Valley Medical Center in San Jose is now Jeff Smith Way, after former County Executive Jeff Smith. The road’s namesake stepped down last year after more than a decade as the county’s longest-serving executive since the 1970s. He steered the region through its toughest times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, calls for jail reform and demands for changes in the county hospital system.
At a Sept. 4 unveiling ceremony for the renaming, Smith said he’s excited about the future of the county’s health system, and its planned purchase of Regional Medical Center, even if the road ahead may be imperfect.
“The concept I always believed was the most important thing to introduce to the county is that everybody is a leader,” Smith said at the event. “Whatever you happen to be doing — you’re a leader and responsible for the success of the entire county, not just the success of what you do. I really still do believe that and I think I’m surrounded here by people who also believe that (and) who will go forward and make things better.”