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Two Santa Clara County supervisors are demanding an investigation of Sheriff Laurie Smith and her office concerning a death and injuries that occurred in the county jail that cost taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements. Supervisors Joe Simitian and Otto Lee issued recommendations Wednesday night as part of the agenda for the next week’s board meeting. They’re...
Illegal labor practices alleged at costly San Jose wastewater plant
San Jose is pouring more money into upgrades for a costly wastewater treatment plant, even as evidence emerges that the construction company overseeing the project employed unlicensed and uninsured contractors. In April, the City Council approved $14 million to cover new construction costs for an upgrade to the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, the largest plant...
Amid budget woes, Santa Clara spends big on city manager’s office
As cities across the Bay Area grapple with budget cuts and deficits spurred—or in some cases, worsened—by the pandemic, massive salaries in one South Bay city have drawn public scrutiny. In Santa Clara, salaries in the city manager’s office have topped the list for government worker pay in California. According to public records, City Manager...
San Jose VTA workers demand toxic work culture investigation
More than two months after a disgruntled VTA employee’s killing spree, a group of VTA workers are demanding the transit agency investigate a hostile work environment they say has been festering for months. During a Thursday board meeting, Tammy Dhanota, a representative for SEIU 521, presented a petition on behalf of approximately 30 infortmation technology...
Fake San Jose police notice highlights homeless camp tension
A fake police notice distributed at a homeless encampment in South San Jose has amped up tensions between unhoused individuals and nearby homeowners. Notices appeared late Saturday night and indicated the San Jose Police Department would conduct a clean-up in the area the following morning. The letters warned residents to take their things and leave....
Wife of slain San Jose VTA worker pushes for new law
After a disgruntled employee killed her husband more than two months ago, Terra Fritch wanted retribution. With the shooter dead she could only take money from his estate and pension through a lawsuit. But she quickly found her way blocked. “Every lawyer I talked to said by the time we get a conviction, and then...
Masks will be required indoors in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County and seven other Bay Area counties have issued a new health order requiring masks indoors in public places. The mandate applies to everyone regardless of vaccination status. Officials announced the health order during a news conference on Monday. The order, which takes effect midnight on Tuesday, applies to most public settings, with...
Exiled Santa Clara County deputy DA considers running for office
Prosecutor Daniel Chung has excoriated Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen in print, and now he wants to take his job. Chung, a deputy district attorney on paid administrative leave, is strongly considering entering the 2022 race for Santa Clara County District Attorney. He told San José Spotlight that he intends to make a...
Housing assistance hard to obtain in Santa Clara County
When the city evicted a group of tenants from a cluster of mobile homes in south San Jose, Santa Clara County put them up in a hotel within a day. Getting this treatment doesn’t come easy, though—you pretty much need to have your house condemned. That’s what happened to several individuals who lost their homes...
Owner of troubled San Jose apartments is a lawsuit magnet
After residents at Foxdale Village Apartments complained about their water being shut off without notice, KDF Communities offered tenants a three-day rent credit and reimbursement for hotels. This might be too little, too late. If history is any indicator, KDF and its property manager, VPM Management, may soon have lawsuits on its hands. KDF Communities,...