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VTA will potentially mandate COVID vaccinations for its workers starting next week—a policy that may have a dramatic impact on its workforce. Workers at the Santa Clara County public transit agency will have 60 days to comply with the policy once it goes into effect, according to a company-wide memo issued earlier this week. Workers...
San Jose libraries halt plans for in-person programs amid COVID surge
Local and regional libraries are halting plans to resume popular in-person programs amid rising COVID-19 infections in Santa Clara County. San Jose libraries hosted programs like the weekly children’s story time, language classes and mock citizenship naturalization interviews in person prior to the pandemic. Things went online in March 2020, and the city planned to...
Silicon Valley lawmaker’s single-payer health care plan faces ‘uphill fight’
A bill proposing a state single-payer health care system, which would be the first in the nation if passed, has a swell of public support. But it’s unclear if that will be enough to make it over the finish line. Assembly Bill 1400, also known as CalCare, would address issues such as the lack of...
Santa Clara County residents swamp emergency rooms for COVID tests
Santa Clara County residents are flooding emergency rooms throughout the region in search of COVID-19 tests amid the county’s biggest infection surge. Emergency rooms in hospitals across the South Bay are overwhelmed by the onslaught of seekers, tying up resources for those with imminent needs, county officials and hospital representatives said. “We have seen a dramatic increase...
Santa Clara County politicians want to dramatically expand COVID testing
With COVID-19 infections skyrocketing in Santa Clara County, officials want to make it easier for residents to get tested for the virus. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to have staff drum up ideas for how to expand the acquisition and distribution of at-home COVID-19 tests for the county’s nearly two million...
Santa Clara County petition sparks EPA inquiry of leaded aviation fuel
Santa Clara County officials and advocates are rejoicing as the federal government agrees to reassess the use of leaded aviation gasoline nationwide. During a news conference Wednesday, County Counsel James Williams announced the Environmental Protection Agency approved a petition from the county and several environmental organizations to evaluate whether leaded fuel used by airplanes is...
San Jose requires COVID boosters for workers, visitors at city facilities
San Jose is now the largest city in the state to require its employees and visitors of events at city-owned venues to show proof of a COVID-19 booster shot. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to impose a new mandate requiring city workers and visitors of city-owned facilities, such as the SAP Center and San...
Lawmakers say Santa Clara County is in a mental health crisis
Santa Clara County lawmakers are recognizing that mental illness and substance abuse is contributing to a major public health crisis in the region, and they want to do something about it. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday for staff to explore a coordinated response to the mental health and substance use treatment needs...
San Jose extends Coyote Creek Trail, adds patrol program
In an effort to encourage residents to use a new section of the Coyote Creek Trail, San Jose is partnering with Valley Water to start a police patrol around the area that was once the region’s largest homeless encampment. The patrol program, which costs $800,000, is part of the city’s new safety plan for the...
State law changes what Silicon Valley residents can throw away
Scraping food off your plate into the trash just become a no-no in more Santa Clara County cities as of 2022. California’s new composting law ushered by Senate Bill 1383 aims to fight climate change by reducing methane emissions created by organic material in landfills. The bill requires a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal...