Marching down a narrow neighborhood street with signs reading “Green New Deal Now” and “We Can’t Breathe,” about 20 youth climate activists sought to surprise San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo with an early morning protest outside his home. “No justice, no sleep,” one of the protesters chanted through a megaphone while cars squeezed between the...
Residents rally against VTA’s proposed service cuts
As seconds ticked away on a rigidly-enforced timer, dozens of county residents implored the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority to save public transit from deep service cuts. The transit agency will vote on the cuts through a series of committee votes starting Nov. 10. “Keep our world living another day,” said high school student Pragya Natarajan. “Do...
New San Jose job program brings hope to workers displaced by COVID-19
Angellina Duran was scheduling appointments for a cardiologist prior to the pandemic. Things started to fall apart when she and her stepfather came down with COVID-19. Her stepfather, who was her primary childcare provider, was in the hospital for several weeks fighting for his life. He returned in a weakened state. After she recovered from...
Silicon Valley incumbents heading back to Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Silicon Valley’s congressional incumbents held strong on Election Day with Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna, Zoe Lofgren and Anna Eshoo all retaining their seats. In District 17, Khanna received 75.8% of the vote. Republican challenger Ritesh Tandon took 24.2%. “I am so honored to have such strong support and want to thank everyone...
Nation on edge as votes continue to be counted in presidential race
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hundreds began gathering at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. as the sun set on Election Day. The polls weren’t closed, the ballots hadn’t been counted — but the crowd appeared confident President Donald Trump was on his way out. Some danced in the street while the song “Celebration,” blared from...
San Jose Unified students to return to school in January
With the spread of COVID-19 slowing in Santa Clara County and schools no longer responsible for testing, San Jose Unified School District officials will allow students to return to class Jan. 5. Nancy Albarrán, SJUSD superintendent, said staff members are preparing classrooms and common areas, and developing training for in-person learning. In September, the school...
Khanna introduces $900 billion bill to expand jobs in science, technology
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, has introduced a bill aimed at expanding job opportunities in science and technology. The 21st Century Jobs Act would allocate $900 billion over 10 years for research and development in emerging technologies, such as climate science, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. It would further create a...
Your COVID-19 questions answered: Part Two
San José Spotlight last month hosted an exclusive Q&A webinar with Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody, one of the nation’s leading health experts and the driving force behind the country’s first shelter-in-place order in March. Eight months later, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, Cody sat down with...
San Jose moves to preserve undeveloped land in Coyote Valley
San Jose’s General Plan task force this week overwhelmingly voted to preserve Coyote Valley as open space for wildlife and limited agricultural use. More than 160 letters were submitted ahead of a meeting Oct. 29, including 116 with the subject “Please Protect Coyote Valley” asking task force members to preserve the land as agricultural and...
Fauci tells Silicon Valley leaders: ‘We’re getting close to 100,000 COVID-19 cases per day’
As COVID-19 deaths in the United States bypass 229,000 and positive cases across the country rise above 9 million, Dr. Anthony Fauci has grim news for Americans: “Unless we do something to turn this around, we’re going to have a very difficult, very painful winter.” The head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious...