An upcoming mental health inpatient facility is set to treat dozens of teens and adults in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood, though nearby residents are raising concerns. The San Jose Planning Commission unanimously approved plans March 26 for the conversion of an existing office building at 913 Willow St. to a 48-bed mental health inpatient...
UPDATE: San Jose officials approve charging first responder fee
City leaders have approved a fee program allowing the San Jose Fire Department’s emergency medical services to collect payments from people they treat. Fire Chief Robert Sapien said San Jose needs to join the 23 fire agencies across California that already have first responder fees for people using the fire department’s emergency medical services. While...
Santa Clara County health care workers go on strike
Scores of Santa Clara County hospital and health lab workers are on strike as the county scrambles to relaunch lifesaving care at a long-depleted East San Jose hospital. Nearly 200 clinical lab scientists, microbiologists, medical laboratory technicians and other workers at county hospitals and public health labs are on strike until Thursday. The strike will affect...
Campbell hits the brakes on new tobacco shops
One small West Valley city has some of the most smoke shops per person in Santa Clara County. Officials are taking steps to change that statistic. The Campbell City Council unanimously approved a temporary ban Tuesday preventing new tobacco retailers from opening in the city for at least 45 days. Officials want to curb tobacco sales...
Silicon Valley faces challenges as its population gets older
Although Silicon Valley has a reputation for attracting young, tech-savvy workers, the cycle may no longer be true as statistics point toward older adults shifting the dynamic and the area being ill-equipped for the looming change. Fewer births and longer life expectancies will have Americans age 65 and up outnumbering children by 2030, according to...
San Jose congressmembers speak out against Medi-Cal cuts
Straight from the halls of Washington D.C., local representatives joined forces with Santa Clara County officials Tuesday to defend the most vulnerable against sweeping federal cuts they say could devastate California’s second-largest public health and hospital system. Reps. Sam Liccardo and Zoe Lofgren, from Districts 16 and 18 respectively, rallied alongside County Executive James Williams...
Silicon Valley fast-food workers face parental rights violations
A new survey of fast-food workers across the state revealed the difficulties of starting a family while holding down a job — and many don’t know their rights. The California Fast Food Workers Union and nonprofit Legal Aid at Work published a report Monday cataloging fast-food workers’ experiences with pregnancy and parenting in the workplace....
San Jose to get more maternity services
A new maternity clinic offering holistic care is coming to West San Jose. It still means moms in East San Jose will need to travel across town to take advantage of these services. The Millie Clinic opens next month at 1471 Saratoga Ave. The clinic aims to fill a gap in the traditional health care...
San Jose firefighters take part in cancer research after initial denial
San Jose said no to letting its firefighters participate in a state-funded cancer prevention and research program — until pressure forced the city to reverse course. Thirteen state legislators advocated for San Jose firefighters in a Feb. 14 letter to participate in the program that wouldn’t cost the city a dime. San Jose was awarded...
Santa Clara County hospitals threatened by Medi-Cal cuts
When it comes to Northern California’s largest public hospital system, Santa Clara County leaders fear they’re building a sandcastle at low tide. The county’s largest stream of federal money and funding source for its public hospitals will be washed away if Congress follows through on its proposed $880 billion in spending cuts to Medicaid, known...