Valley Water leaders are moving forward with developing a new dam at Pacheco Pass in south Santa Clara County, despite recently learning that the price tag had doubled since 2019. “It seems to me that the directors of the water district need to take every extreme measure we can find to continue this project, moving...
San Jose AAPI leaders decry lack of representation in Biden’s Cabinet picks
President Joe Biden’s administration has already broken barriers: Biden brings with him the first Black and Asian American vice president and a host of other firsts in his Cabinet. But for the first time in more than 20 years, the incoming president — one who promised the most diverse Cabinet in history — will not...
San Jose school district accused of hiring allegedly shady contractor
A labor watchdog organization is accusing the San Jose Unified School District of hiring contractors and subcontractors that allegedly skirted California labor laws. The labor watchdog Foundation for Fair Contracting wrote letters to district Superintendent Nancy Albarrán in December accusing Glendora-based California Commercial Pools Inc., a contracting firm, of failing to comply with the state’s skilled and...
Historic, somber and hopeful: Joe Biden sworn in as 46th president
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It was an inauguration like no other in history. No massive cheering crowds packed onto the National Mall. No groups could gather inside bars or restaurants to party and pop champagne. A sense of uncertainty, not celebration, initially hung in the air — but the nation’s capital seemed to breathe a collective...
Santa Clara County transit leader Nuria Fernandez joins Biden administration
Santa Clara County’s own Nuria Fernandez resigned from the Valley Transportation Authority today to serve in the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Biden-Harris administration. “Now I will be stepping into a national role that is bigger and broader yet will have profound impacts at the local level,” Fernandez, VTA’s CEO and general manager, said...
San Jose transit agencies to receive millions in federal COVID-19 relief
Bay Area transit officials this month will decide how to allocate $975 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to local transit agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). “In the lens of the pandemic, it allows essential workers to keep their jobs and save money,” said Daniel Huynh, a member of Silicon Valley...
Pressure mounts for San Jose Unified School District to remove police from campuses
After community activists said their recent rally against police on San Jose Unified School District campuses fell on deaf ears with school board members – they mobilized a second time on Thursday. This time, the crowd did not shrink. “It’s actually pretty exhausting and heart-wrenching for these families to have to continue to do this,” said...
Silicon Valley congressional delegation votes to impeach president
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Moments before voting to impeach President Donald Trump for the second time, Rep. Zoe Lofgren explained there was no need for a long investigation into whether the president had incited an insurrection. The San Jose Democrat, who spoke Wednesday from the House floor, said the president blatantly motivated right-wing terrorists to attack...
Bay Area living out of reach for some VTA transit workers who sleep in their cars
After a long day of driving a transit bus all over Silicon Valley, Bernard Glinton curls up for a night of rest — in his SUV. The longtime bus driver has slept in his SUV for the last two years to save costs and give himself some much-needed rest. “There’s tons of people who are commuting because...
Ten new state laws Santa Clara County residents should care about
In 2020, California was blindsided by the coronavirus pandemic, unprecedented calls for racial equality and devastating wildfires. The year’s turbulence led to many new laws. Business-related laws include an increase in minimum wage, extended family leave and additional COVID-19 regulations. Others focus on equity, criminal justice and police reform. Of the hundreds of new laws...