Santa Clara County is planning the region’s first bike superhighway—but a route still needs to be selected. “I don’t see a bicycle superhighway going down El Camino,” Erik Lindskog, a member of VTA’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said at Wednesday’s meeting. “I think a bicycle superhighway needs to be a little more separate from...
VTA light rail is coming back to San Jose
Light rail commuters in San Jose might soon be able to catch a train again after service came to a halt in late May, according to a timeline released Thursday by VTA. The timeline includes six phases, with a goal to resume light rail service by the end of July. The update came after weeks...
San Jose’s low-income schools see large share of police calls
In the last five years, police logged at least 9,200 calls for service to schools in San Jose. A disproportionate amount came from high schools with high populations of minority students or students living in poverty, a data analysis by San José Spotlight found. Seven of the 10 schools with the most police service calls to...
Dam project leaves Santa Clara County’s largest drinking water source dry
A new earthquake retrofit project will render Santa Clara County’s largest drinking water source out of service for the next decade. Amid a massive drought that’s forced local officials to impose 15% water use reductions, the Santa Clara Valley Water District held a ceremonial groundbreaking on its latest project Wednesday—a large outlet tunnel at Anderson Dam in...
Pop star inspires Silicon Valley lawmaker’s conservatorship reform
A Silicon Valley lawmaker is vowing to continue his fight for conservatorship reform after pop icon Britney Spears recently slammed California for allegedly failing to protect her from abuse and exploitation. “We need to close loopholes and create accountability and transparency,” state Assemblyman Evan Low said in a statement. “I will continue to fight for...
Another candidate joins Silicon Valley Senate race
Jaime Raul Zepeda doesn’t have the political experience like his opponents. He says he doesn’t want it. “If candidates are funded by the exact same special interests who have funded everyone else before you, it’s going to be the same conversation,” Zepeda, 38, told San José Spotlight. “I don’t want to start my campaign by...
When will San Jose light rail return? VTA can’t say
After more than a month without light rail service, South Bay commuters are growing frustrated with the local transit agency refusing to say when service will resume. On Twitter, tweet after tweet from residents ask VTA the same question: When will the light rail train service resume? I can’t believe you guys still haven’t resumed lightrail....
San Jose lawmaker investigating Capitol attack
Washington, D.C.—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has tapped Rep. Zoe Lofgren to serve on a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The San Jose Democrat said she was honored to be selected and will work to uncover the truth. “The fact that there were deficiencies in the management of...
Silicon Valley transit agency brings remote workers back to the office
VTA is having its remote workers return to the office—and some say that puts them at risk. “We’re not opposed to coming back to the office, we just want to do it in a safe, logical way,” said Tammy Dhanota, a public communications specialist and VTA chapter chair at SEIU Local 521. The union includes...
Library vital to San Jose State University students remains closed
The San Jose Public Library welcomed back eager patrons at 23 branches earlier this week. But Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, a critical resource to the local community, will remain closed a little longer. The library is scheduled to open Aug. 2. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library is a significant resource to...