A California ballot measure defeated in Tuesday night’s election prevented a change which could’ve made it more difficult for local governments and agencies to receive funding by raising the approval threshold. Proposition 43 looks to be failing with 55.4% of statewide voters voting no and 44.1% voting yes. If passed, it would require a two-thirds...
State homeless prevention plan modeled on Santa Clara County
Riding on the coattails of Santa Clara County’s homelessness prevention program, California will be creating its own statewide prevention strategy. State officials are planning out their first homelessness prevention strategy after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1924 last month. The law requires the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to come up with a blueprint for measurable...
Newsom signs Silicon Valley lawmakers’ bills to combat ICE
While federal immigration agents have stoked fear in Silicon Valley, California has passed a number of bills to keep them and those who run detention centers accountable. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 29 signed nearly two dozen bills, with some spearheaded by Silicon Valley lawmakers to protect immigrants from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)...
State Prop. 43 aims to raise tax measure threshold
A proposition going before California voters in November could make it more difficult for local governments and agencies to get funding from tax measures by raising the approval threshold. Proposition 43 would require a two-thirds majority vote for citizen initiatives pertaining to sale taxes — such as real estate, utilities and transit — which under...
State ballot measure could set strict voting requirements
A statewide ballot measure in the upcoming Nov. 3 election could impact voting rights in Santa Clara County. California Proposition 39 — the Voter Identification, Citizenship Verification, and Registered Voter List Administration Initiative — would require additional identification to vote in future elections. This could have a significant effect on Santa Clara County, where Hispanic...
Bay Area lawmakers’ bills to combat ICE head to Newsom’s desk
Several state bills spurred by Silicon Valley lawmakers to keep federal immigration agents accountable and uphold rights for detainees are headed to the governor’s desk. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities have been rife with alleged human rights violations, with reports of inhumane living conditions, sexual abuse, unsanitary food and inadequate medical care. In...
AI transparency rule from Bay Area lawmakers kicks in Saturday
After several years of delays, legislation from two Bay Area lawmakers that is being called a landmark artificial intelligence transparency law by academics and advocates is set to go into effect Aug. 1. First passed in 2024, the law will require AI-generated content like images and videos to contain easily accessible embedded details about its...
State commits millions of dollars to fight food insecurity
Santa Clara County is set to see a surge of investment in helping its hungriest residents obtain food thanks to millions of dollars from the state. California lawmakers passed a budget that provides $108 million for the CalFood program to allow food banks to purchase, transport and store produce. The budget also commits $20 million...
State budget revisions save Santa Clara County from deeper cuts
Santa Clara County officials are exhaling as the state spending plan for fiscal year 2026-27 pares back steep cuts initially proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The state budget signed Monday includes $900 million for homeless services, nearly double what Newsom had initially suggested. The budget also keeps funding intact for in-home care and mobile mental health crisis...
San José Spotlight wins 5 state journalism awards
San José Spotlight is taking home five wins in a statewide journalism contest. The five awards are from the 2025 California Journalism Awards, an annual competition held by the California News Publishers Association. The contest highlights the best print and digital reporting and photography statewide. Print and digital news organizations compete in divisions based on...