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The town of Los Gatos learned a tough lesson when it placed a big bet on the North 40 project to deliver affordable housing. One of the oldest jurisdictions in Santa Clara County, Los Gatos is made up of 71% single-family homes with a median price of $2.1 million on the current market. Construction of...
‘A historic moment’: Santa Clara County unveils landmark Vietnamese service center
After nearly a decade of planning, the $33-million Vietnamese American Service Center near the heart of San Jose’s Little Saigon will welcome residents in for the first time Saturday. “This is such a huge moment for our community to get a service center that is dedicated to us, especially coming out of COVID,” Christina Johnson,...
Tracking COVID-19 outbreaks, cases and vaccination rates in San Jose
COVID-19 has killed 1,821 people in Santa Clara County and infected more than 143,000 others since March 2020. The numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths declined earlier this year when vaccines became available to the majority of the population. The numbers climbed again as the contagious Delta variant ravaged the country in summer, prompting the...
Residents speak out against new Santa Clara County jail
Some Santa Clara County residents overwhelmingly oppose a new jail, calling on the county to shift from punitive practices that criminalize poverty and mental illness. After numerous reports about inhumane conditions behind bars, Santa Clara County wrestled with the idea of building a new jail. But now officials are looking to the public for alternative...
San Jose to begin suspending unvaccinated workers
San Jose City Hall will start suspending unvaccinated workers this week after extending the deadline to coax holdouts to get the COVID-19 vaccine. All 7,037 city workers were given a one-week “grace period” after the Sept. 30 deadline to provide proof of vaccination before mandates are enforced. Those who have their first dose during this...
UPDATE: San Jose board seeks outside review of records policies
A public records appeal from San José Spotlight has revealed a flaw in city policies and now an outside attorney will weigh in, potentially leading to policy changes. The appeal prompted a citizen-led city board on Wednesday to question its role and ability to conduct independent reviews of complaints. The Board of Fair Campaign and...
Sheriff’s office is understaffed, but Santa Clara County says the data is old
A new report suggests the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office needs more deputies, but county officials say the findings are outdated and unhelpful. Santa Clara County recently released a draft that analyzes staffing levels at the sheriff’s office and county jails. The 404-page report, which cost $225,000, was authorized in 2019 and finished late this summer. However, now...
South Bay voters to decide extending taxes for schools
Parcel taxes for schools and library services are about to expire in two local school districts. Residents will decide in a special election next month whether to extend them. In the Berryessa Union School District, Measure A would renew a $79 parcel tax to maintain its level of services for the next eight years. “This...
Where is affordable housing located in San Jose?
San Jose squeezes more than half of its affordable housing in areas with some of the lowest household incomes in the city. About 57% of all below market rate rentals in the city, including some in the development pipeline, are in downtown, central and east San Jose, a San José Spotlight analysis of city data shows. Six districts...
Thousands of San Jose residents owe rent, brace for evictions
With the statewide eviction moratorium terminated, thousands of San Jose residents brace for a wave of ejections. The state ban that protected renters from being booted from their homes for not paying rent due to COVID-19 expired last Thursday. Now tenants have to pay at least 25% of their owed rent from the past year or...