WASHINGTON, D.C. — Calling it a “moral and economic duty,” a South Bay lawmaker is urging Congress to support an emergency legislation package that would provide $160 billion for public health efforts to fight against COVID-19. Among other provisions, the American Rescue Plan would direct $10 billion to expand the domestic manufacturing of personal protective...
San Jose lawmaker proposes revolutionary social housing policy
Housing advocates say an ambitious bill brought to the table this week in the state Legislature seeking to establish “social housing” is the right approach to California’s crisis, but it faces plenty of obstacles, too. Assemblymember Alex Lee, whose district includes part of San Jose, on Tuesday introduced a bill asking the state to begin...
Newly-elected San Jose legislators pressed on COVID-19 vaccine rollout
California and Santa Clara County’s vaccine rollout — full of mixed messages and poor communication — have been widely criticized over the past few weeks. Conflicting numbers have led to confusion and a massive backlog for vaccine distribution, and have left residents looking for answers. Assemblyman Alex Lee (D-San Jose) and Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto...
New Alum Rock district bilingual program helps students learn Vietnamese
Thu-Hong Tran ended a recent Zoom class by asking 14 kindergartners to count to 100 in celebration of 100 days of school. “In Vietnamese please,” she said. In East San Jose, Ben Painter Elementary is the first school in Alum Rock Union School District to launch a Vietnamese dual immersion program, allowing students to learn both English...
Bill to allow legislative staffers to unionize gets support from San Jose lawmakers
Unions are having a transformative 2021: They’re waging war against Proposition 22 and breaking into the traditionally union-hostile tech industry. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and a majority of Silicon Valley’s legislators are hoping to carry some of that momentum into their chambers. On Jan. 25, Gonzalez reintroduced Assembly Bill 314, which would give legislative staffers...
How lawmakers plan to make East San Jose safer for cyclists and pedestrians
A new plan seeks to transform East San Jose into a pedestrian-friendly transit haven by reducing the need for cars and connecting residents across the city. The En Movimiento — Spanish for “In Movement” — plan proposes an expanded network of sidewalks, bike lanes and bus lanes alongside a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) line,...
Santa Clara County’s long-awaited sustainability plan prioritizes economy, environment and equity
Santa Clara County is doubling down on addressing climate change as an emergency, rather than a far-off threat. At its last meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved the county’s master plan for sustainability, which has been about five years in the making. The plan commits to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, electrifying more buildings and planting...
San Jose bus drivers facing a steep rise in COVID-19 cases
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Silicon Valley’s bus drivers have spent hours each day in enclosed spaces. Each bus trip carries dozens of passengers, some of whom don’t wear masks. And the experience has been terrifying. “It’s no different than having a disruptive passenger who is on your bus, who is looking at you...
Silicon Valley legislator blames social media for role in U.S. Capitol attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Finger pointing began before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol even ended. Many faulted then-President Donald Trump for riling up the mob and making baseless claims about election fraud. Some criticized security officials for failing to secure the Capitol, or accused the media of divisive reporting that pushed Trump supporters...
VTA faces a sea of change, tough recruitment process following Fernandez’s departure
Transit experts say it could be months before Valley Transportation Authority selects a permanent leader to replace former CEO and general manager Nuria Fernandez — who recently left her post to join the Biden administration. Following Fernandez’s Jan. 19 resignation, local leaders foresee an uncertain future for VTA and possible changes in transit initiatives across...