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This article was produced in a joint partnership between San José Spotlight and Content Magazine, a nonprofit print publication featuring the innovative and creative people of Silicon Valley. When Alexa Arena commutes to San Jose from her home in San Francisco, she often takes Caltrain. “The good news is when you’re sitting on a train,...
Santa Clara County schools prepare for COVID-19 outbreaks
As schools in San Jose complete the second week of in-person classes, administrators are preparing for COVID-19 infections and outbreaks. “We anticipate there will be COVID-19 cases in schools,” Santa Clara County officials said in a statement to San José Spotlight. “However, we have to balance the risks of COVID-19 in schools with the considerable harm...
Silicon Valley transit agency workers demand hazard pay
VTA’s largest union is demanding back hazard pay for bus drivers, light rail operators and other essential transit workers who have worked throughout the pandemic. “If it wasn’t a dangerous situation… then you have to ask yourself, why was the majority of VTA management working from the comforts of their home?” asked John Courtney, president...
Newsom urges South Bay residents to oppose recall
Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging local residents to vote no on the recall effort taking place in less than a month. “We thought the last election, we all said it: this is the most important election in our lifetime,” Newsom said at a Monday news conference in San Jose. “Well, we defeated Trump, we did not...
San Jose mayoral candidate opposes state housing legislation
San Jose Councilmember and mayoral candidate Dev Davis is taking a stance against two controversial state housing bills. “Adding density in an area of the city where infrastructure improvements are not made is a recipe for disaster,” Davis wrote in a memo. “These bills could dramatically affect our neighborhoods and our ability to deliver critical...
San Jose one step closer to moving mayoral elections
San Jose is one step closer to moving its mayoral elections to coincide with presidential election years. The city’s Charter Review Commission voted Monday to recommend moving mayoral elections to presidential election years starting in 2024. The mayor elected next year would have a chance to run for two additional terms in 2024 and 2028. The...
San Jose considers cutting minimum parking requirements
Three out of four commuter trips in San Jose are made by one person occupying a single vehicle, according to census data. Fewer than 5% of work trips are made on public transit. San Jose wants to change this by removing a critical part of city driving: parking spaces. The city is considering cutting minimum...
Is free public transit feasible in Santa Clara County?
At a time when VTA is struggling with long-term budget woes, service cuts and the aftermath of a mass shooting, it may seem ludicrous to imagine the agency offering free rides. Transit advocates support the idea of fare-free transit, but say reliable service must come first. The agency would also need to figure out how to...
Segregation in Santa Clara County: how experts define redlining
It’s tough to talk about housing in Santa Clara County without looking at the region’s history of redlining, a tool that once contributed to racial segregation and discrimination across the U.S. for decades. The term appears in conversations on topics ranging from political representation and community governance to historic districts and land use policy. A recent...
How does the eviction ban protect Silicon Valley tenants?
For tenants behind on rent during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, experts advise following the three “S” rules: stay in your home, submit a declaration and seek rental assistance now. “We know that this is a very difficult time for many renters and small property owners,” said Emily Ann Ramos, a preservation and protection associate at...