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The union representing approximately 700 special education workers in Santa Clara County schools has filed a complaint accusing the county’s Office of Education of refusing to implement safety measures or address understaffing that has left the workers increasingly vulnerable to attacks from the students they serve. In a Nov. 7 complaint filed with the federal...
Santa Clara County cement facility shuttering for good
A massive cement plant near Cupertino that has run afoul of regulators thousands of times will be shuttered permanently. Lehigh Southwest Cement Company said it will not restart its cement kiln at its 3,510-acre Permanente Quarry and Cement Plant. The company’s property is located largely in the hills of unincorporated Santa Clara County, with portions...
Low voter turnout to determine San Jose elections
Last updated 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The next update is expected by 5 p.m. Thursday. A competitive San Jose mayoral race and an open seat for county sheriff failed to inspire strong turnout in last week’s election. Poor voter participation in East San Jose neighborhoods could potentially swing two key races. County election officials still...
San Jose school measures sweeping to victory
Santa Clara County voters appear to have delivered a big victory to local school districts this election, with all five education measures leading by decisive margins. The four bond measures and one parcel tax renewal are expected to provide millions of dollars for five local school districts to improve classroom space and address ongoing staff shortages,...
Why some San Jose residents didn’t vote in midterm election
A lack of trust in the political system and time to research candidates kept some Santa Clara County residents from voting in this month’s midterm election, saying daily responsibilities put this year’s contests on the back burner. Some residents said selecting San Jose’s next mayor, Santa Clara County’s new sheriff or supervisor weren’t important enough...
Santa Clara voters say yes to higher business taxes
An overhaul of Santa Clara’s business tax that could help the city patch a gaping budget hole appears on its way to victory at the polls. Nearly 60% of voters in Santa Clara are supporting Measure H in early election returns, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. About 62% of the expected countywide ballots...
Santa Clara County violated state law, could face lawsuit
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is demanding the Board of Supervisors nullify and revote on its appointment of a new county executive, saying the decision—which happened behind closed doors—violated the state’s transparency law. In a letter sent to all five supervisors on Thursday, Rosen said the board twice violated the Brown Act, which...
Santa Clara County school elections bring new leaders
Last updated 5 p.m. on Friday. The next update is expected at 5 p.m. on Saturday. New and familiar school board members are ready to fill numerous seats throughout Santa Clara County come January, making decisions that affect how hundreds of thousands of students will be educated in the coming years. With just more than...
San Jose ordered to divulge missing details about withheld records
After months of refusal, San Jose will be forced to disclose critical details about the records it’s withholding—a victory for San José Spotlight and the First Amendment Coalition. At a Thursday hearing, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Julie Emede ordered the city to produce a new log disclosing details about the hundreds of records it’s shielding,...
San Jose can’t decide who should use safe parking site
San Jose can’t keep its story straight when it comes to opening a safe parking site for homeless residents at the Santa Teresa VTA light rail station parking lot. Initially, the project intended to offer refuge to RV dwellers in the surrounding South San Jose neighborhoods. But after the monthlong sweep at Columbus Park forced more...