A downtown Campbell street is about to become safer for pedestrians on their way to peruse the city’s local businesses. Civic Center Drive is slated for safety improvements at the intersections of Second and Third Street. The work will include higher visibility crosswalks, islands between lanes, curb ramps and places where the end of the...
Valley Water CEO on leave amid misconduct complaint
Valley Water CEO Rick Callender is on “voluntary leave” after one of his employees filed a misconduct complaint against him, according to agency leaders. The region’s largest water supplier is searching for an interim leader in Callender’s absence through April 1. Richard Santos, a Valley Water board member and one of Callender’s elected bosses, confirmed...
Former Cupertino college trustee drops lawsuit against district
A local community college district is no longer facing legal action from a politician who used to serve on its board. Gilbert Wong, a former Foothill-De Anza Community College District trustee and Cupertino mayor, filed a motion dismissing his lawsuit with prejudice against the district, its board members and former chancellor on Jan. 13. Wong sued...
Santa Clara tackles gas emission reductions
Santa Clara has paused its ban on natural gas in new buildings and is looking for other ways to lower its greenhouse gas emissions. The Santa Clara City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to suspend the city’s ban on natural gas in new construction over potential legal issues, with Councilmembers Kevin Park and Suds Jain voting...
Santa Clara County focused on immigrant community protections
With the incoming presidential administration threatening mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, Santa Clara County is stepping up to protect them. Santa Clara County has created policies and provided funding to defend immigrants against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but is facing pushback. America First Legal Foundation, a conservative group led by President-elect Donald Trump’s...
San Jose selects operator for second safe parking site
A safe parking site for people living in their vehicles will open next month, and San Jose officials have chosen who will manage it. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to award WeHope, a nonprofit homeless services provider, a $2.8 million contract to oversee the city’s second safe parking site on 1300 Berryessa Road. The...
Santa Clara County aims to restore East San Jose hospital services
Santa Clara County officials have finalized their $150 million purchase of Regional Medical Center from private corporation HCA Healthcare, which depleted the hospital’s services over the years. But the hard work to make it whole again is just beginning. County officials are racing against the clock to restore the gutted trauma care services by April...
San Jose State transgender athletes in jeopardy after federal ruling
The Biden administration’s efforts to expand Title IX policies have been struck down, resulting in a loss of protections for LGBTQ+ students. The court ruling made by U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves in State of Tennessee v. Cardona erases the Department of Education’s attempt to increase protections for sex discrimination in schools as it applies...
VTA BART expansion work to include minority-owned businesses
VTA has pledged to increase contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses in its ongoing BART expansion into San Jose. Sergio Lopez, mayor of Campbell and chair of VTA’s board of directors, signed the Equity in Infrastructure Project pledge on behalf of the agency Monday, alongside more than a dozen local government agencies. The VTA board unanimously...
San Jose starts ban on RV street parking
San Jose has begun temporarily banning RVs in designated areas across the city this week. Under a $3.3 million pilot program, Oversized and Lived-In Vehicle Enforcement (OLIVE), the city has chosen 30 temporary tow-away zones to clear RVs for street sweeping and cleanup throughout this year. It will establish a new temporary tow-away zone every...