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Washington, D.C.—California was front and center during a virtual congressional hearing last week over whether expanding federal housing vouchers could help the growing homelessness crisis. The vouchers are part of a federal program to assist low-income families, elderly and disabled residents with affording housing. “Wages for those below the median income have not kept pace...
South Bay congressmembers push for gun control after San Jose VTA shooting
Washington, D.C.— America has a familiar routine when it comes to mass shootings: Vigils are held, thoughts and prayers offered, money is raised to support the victims’ families and heated arguments ensue over gun control. Then comes the eventual return to the status quo, until the next mass shooting, when the cycle repeats itself. The...
South Bay leaders weigh-in on federal relief funding
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation, many cities and towns took a financial hit as tax revenue dried up and public health expenditures increased. But now the federal government is doling out funds to help communities recover. San Jose and Santa Clara County are receiving approximately $212 and $374 million, respectively, from the American...
San Jose receiving $212 million in federal COVID funding
Washington, D.C.—San Jose and Santa Clara County are set to receive approximately $212 and $374 million, respectively, through the American Rescue Plan to help offset the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. “I think if you talk to the residents who won’t lose their business or their homes, they’ll think this is a pretty big...
Silicon Valley congressman tackles Black maternal mortalities
Washington, D.C.—Charles Johnson said he quickly notified hospital staff when his wife’s catheter turned pink with blood. His wife, Kira Johnson, had just given birth to their second son during a scheduled cesarean section at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Staff examined his wife and ordered a CT scan, he said, but hours passed...
San Jose legislator, locals, weigh in on gun control bills in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Zoe Lofgren remembers feeling a pang of anger when she first learned a mass shooting had terrorized her district more than two years ago. The 2019 massacre at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, which left three dead and more than a dozen injured, strengthened the San Jose Democrat’s commitment to gun control....
Santa Clara County should adopt technology to help homeless, audit says
Across the country groups that work with unhoused populations have ditched paper records for new technologies, but not in Silicon Valley. According to a report released last month by State Auditor Elaine Howle, the coalition of groups that work with homeless residents in Santa Clara County rely on outdated methods to track the people they...
Some San Jose leaders ready to discuss sanctioned encampments
With homelessness on the rise, some city leaders in San Jose say it’s time to explore new ways to support those living on the streets. In a recent newsletter to his District 10 constituents, Councilmember Matt Mahan announced plans to develop a comprehensive homeless encampment management strategy. “We’ve gone far too long without actively managing...
State task force questions Silicon Valley tech companies about political ads
As politics and big tech increasingly collide, a new state task force is examining whether more regulation is needed to increase accountability for Silicon Valley companies who run digital political advertising. The Digital Transparency Task Force, a division within California’s Fair Political Practices Commission, recently questioned representatives from Google and Facebook about their political advertising...
Khanna questions DOJ official on ‘zero tolerance’ immigration policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a recent congressional hearing, Rep. Ro Khanna asked Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz if the Trump administration’s zero tolerance immigration policy ultimately harmed national security. “That’s certainly what the marshals expressed concern about, precisely that issue,” Horowitz replied. The Inspector General’s office issued a report last month examining the Trump...