Santa Clara County residents will vote on yet another tax measure this year — but instead of hospitals, they’ll be asked to help expand public access and protect wildlife along Silicon Valley’s sweeping foothills, woodlands and grasslands. Voters in June will be asked to accept a tax of two cents per square foot of building...
East San Jose school district cuts workers due to deficit
A school district in East San Jose is laying off employees as it faces a budget deficit and declining student enrollment. East Side Union High School District is giving pink slips to more than 80 workers, with layoffs taking effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. The decision follows a vote by the...
Silicon Valley families say CARE Court has failed them
More than a year after Santa Clara County launched a new state-mandated program to treat people with severe mental illness, families claim the system has failed to help them. When CARE Court was first proposed, Gov. Gavin Newsom heralded it as the solution to treat thousands struggling from a serious mental illness through involuntary treatment....
San Jose mayor touts 15-point housing plan for California
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan aims to stand out from the crowded field of California governor candidates with a statewide policy plan to speed up housing production. Advocates say there’s plenty to like — even if certain facets of the plan could cut funding to local public services. Mahan unveiled his 15-point plan March 5...
Santa Clara adopts safety plan to reduce traffic fatalities
Santa Clara has joined a growing number of Bay Area cities pursuing policies aimed at eliminating traffic deaths. The Santa Clara City Council voted early Wednesday morning to adopt the city’s Vision Zero plan, committing to a strategy to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries on local roads. City officials decided to implement the plan...
Committee recommends closing fewer San Jose schools
A committee tasked with recommending campus closures in San Jose’s largest school district is suggesting fewer schools should close than expected. The San Jose Unified School District Schools of Tomorrow Implementation Committee decided Tuesday to recommend shuttering five schools and moving a magnet program, rather than closing nine schools as initially planned. The school board...
Santa Clara County studies impact of possible rural hospital closure
Santa Clara County is forecasting additional stress on its public health care system — the second largest in the state — if the only rural hospital in neighboring San Benito County closes. A January report from Santa Clara Valley Healthcare estimates the closure of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital — a 25-bed facility in Hollister — would...
Santa Clara County miffed at Newsom’s CARE Court criticism
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Santa Clara County needs to step up its game in treating people with severe mental health issues. County leaders and advocates disagree. At a news conference Monday, Newsom singled out the county as one of 10 that are not bringing enough people through the state-mandated CARE Court system — designed to...
Decision on San Jose school closures delayed
A committee tasked with recommending which campuses in San Jose’s largest school district to close has hit the brakes on making a decision. Poised to close up to nine schools due to declining enrollment, the San Jose Unified School District Schools of Tomorrow Committee on Tuesday postponed making a decision and adjusted criteria for how...
San Jose Islamic center a hub for free medical and dental care
During Ramadan and daily prayer, the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose offers a place for spiritual reflection. It also provides a community hub, voting center and supportive services from food to health care. The center is unique in that it not only provides a food pantry and food distribution, it also offers free medical...