A petition launched Friday to stop Santa Clara County from banning recreational cannabis sales at dispensaries under a new health order garnered thousands of signatures within hours, the latest call from advocates to overturn the controversial decision. As first reported by San José Spotlight on Wednesday, Santa Clara County leaders reversed a previous decision in...
San Jose activists call on Supreme Court to delay DACA decision amid COVID-19 pandemic
San Jose activists on Friday called on the U.S. Supreme Court to delay a ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. During a livestream hosted by immigrant rights group SIREN, Executive Director Maricela Gutiérrez led the call to salvage the Obama-era program through a Zoom call, which...
Silicon Valley leaders to host a telethon for coronavirus assistance fund
In a massive effort to replenish a COVID-19 financial assistance fund, a slew of South Bay elected, nonprofit and business leaders will host a telethon Saturday to raise funds to help low-income residents pay rent and other basic necessities. The telethon will be hosted by NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48. The widespread call for...
Coronavirus: Surveys track rapid changes to daily life in America
Surveys of life after the coronavirus pandemic paint a familiar picture of social distancing, increased hand washing and economic stress. Nearly a month ago, the Kaiser Family Foundation asked 1,216 people to detail the changes and differences they’ve made — voluntarily or not — in the weeks since cases of COVID-19 arrived in the United States. SingleCare,...
As unemployment and financial need rises, officials unveil programs to help
Californians are losing their incomes at record rates as residents stay inside and businesses close their doors due to a statewide stay at home order to stop the fast-spreading coronavirus that has infected 9,191 and killed 203 people across the state. But Santa Clara County and state government officials on Thursday announced new programs aimed...
Should you wear a mask to go out? State, county leaders weigh in
Californians have gotten mixed messages about wearing face masks in public to protect against COVID-19, but state and Santa Clara County officials aligned on Thursday. Public health leaders in the Bay Area Thursday night recommended residents use non-medical, cloth face coverings when they go out for essential purposes. Covering one’s mouth and nose can reduce...
San Jose: Views from above during the COVID-19 outbreak
Life in Silicon Valley has changed dramatically since March 17, when a regional shelter in place order took effect, relegating workers to the four walls of their homes and shuttering businesses not deemed essential. County officials issued the order — and then extended and strengthened it Tuesday — to slow the spread of the contagious...
Silicon Valley’s largest developments delayed amid COVID-19 uncertainty
It’s been a month of uncertainty for many Bay Area workers facing state and local stay-at-home orders, but construction sites have been particularly confusing places to be. And things got a little more complicated this week. Top Bay Area health leaders on Tuesday updated the region’s existing shelter in place order, extending it to May 3 and...
San Jose legislator pushes to protect farmworkers during COVID-19 crisis
The question of who qualifies as an “essential worker” during the coronavirus crisis is no longer limited to health care workers and first responders — it now includes grocery store clerks, restaurant employees and truck drivers. Local legislators are now pushing to add farmworkers to that list, as they’re filling produce trucks and grocery store...
In Santa Clara County, school is out for the rest of the year — sort of
Parents grappling with distance learning and homeschooling across Silicon Valley have waited weeks to hear whether local classrooms will reopen before summer. On Wednesday they got an answer: no. Superintendents across Santa Clara County sent out an email to parents around the region to formally announce that school districts would not reconvene physically this school...