WASHINGTON D.C. — Mourners gathered by the thousands around the U.S. Capitol this week, waiting in long lines to pay their respects to the late Rep. John Lewis of Georgia. Some honored his legacy as a civil rights icon by wearing masks or shirts emblazoned with the Black Lives Matter emblem. A few even had...
Lawsuit against San Jose college district moves forward
A prominent San Jose developer’s lawsuit against the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District will move forward after the court ruled last week that the district can be held legally liable for an alleged contract breach after pulling out of a lucrative land deal. “Essentially, (the judge) said if you can prove everything that you say,...
Silicon Valley’s COVID-19 testing guru quit last job amid pressure to reopen economy
Three months ago Dr. Marty Fenstersheib was pressured to reopen the economy in San Benito County. He knew COVID-19 cases would surge if he bowed to the pressure. Hours after a high-stakes confrontation with county supervisors, he quit. Now, he is the COVID-19 testing guru in Santa Clara County where he is credited for the...
San Jose nonprofits receive millions in PPP loans, saving jobs and preventing cuts
Dozens of nonprofits in Silicon Valley received millions of dollars from the $660 billion federal Paycheck Protection Program, a data analysis by San José Spotlight found. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, nonprofits leaders said these dollars have been vital for their survival, especially as the demand to maintain – or increase – services continues. According to data...
Coronavirus LIVE BLOG: July 16 to July 29
Catch up on our current Coronavirus LIVE BLOG here. 3:15 p.m. July 29: With San Mateo, entire Bay Area now on state watchlist With Wednesday’s addition of San Mateo, all Bay Area counties are on the state’s watchlist, affecting more than 7 million people in the Northern California region. Collectively, nine counties — Alameda, Contra Costa,...
Ro Khanna says outdated IT hurt government’s COVID-19 response efforts
WASHINGTON D.C. — One Silicon Valley legislator said the federal government urgently needs to update its information technology systems — especially as it deals with the COVID-19 crisis. “Two years ago, I introduced and passed the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act to modernize federal websites and digitize government processes,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, told...
Anna Eshoo and mental health advocates push suicide prevention legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A few weeks ago, Palo Alto resident Victor Ojakian received an unexpected letter in the mail. It was from one of his son’s former classmates. The boys went to secondary school together and played some of the same sports, he said, but they weren’t best friends or even especially close companions. Yet...
Report details how a Santa Clara County trustee discriminated against women
A new report obtained by San José Spotlight through a records request revealed Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee Joseph Di Salvo was “dismissive and disrespectful” toward women and attempted “to undermine or to intimidate a woman into changing her opinion.” Earlier this month, Di Salvo was censured by the board in a split...
Santa Clara County restaurant CEO sued by landlord for late rent — despite moratorium
Despite Santa Clara County’s ban on evictions amid the pandemic, Flights Restaurant founder and CEO Alexander Hult is being sued by his landlord in Mountain View for back-rent payments. The county ordinance allows tenants impacted by COVID-19 to pay back rent payments within a year with no late fees and prevents landlords from evicting residential and...
Why does it take so long to get COVID-19 test results in Silicon Valley?
Chad Minnis took a coronavirus test days after his baby was born to ensure he wouldn’t get her – or the rest of his family – sick. Fourteen days later, the 32-year-old still had no idea whether he’s carrying the deadly virus. While he received several generic emails apologizing for the inconvenience and promising an...