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Affordable housing is a rare find in Silicon Valley, but one policy could make it more attainable—if it ever makes it back to the City Council. The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, or COPA, is a policy that would give qualified nonprofits first rights to make an offer on a residential property and keep more...
Here’s what issues are heading to San Jose City Council
After a month-long hiatus in July, the San Jose City Council will come back to review one of the biggest land deals this fall and take up police and election reform again. Police reforms The long-awaited recommendations to reimagine policing are coming back to council in late October or early November, according to Will Armaline, a San Jose...
San Jose State loses out on millions in student housing
San Jose State University is missing out on a sizable pot of state money for affordable housing. While 26 California universities received portions of a $1.4 billion affordable housing grant to build needed below-market housing for students, San Jose State University—with a homeless student population of 11.2% according to a spring 2021 SJSU basic needs...
How a ‘deceitful’ measure might shake up Silicon Valley water board
More than half of Valley Water’s board of directors is up for reelection this November, with one facing competition due to a recent extension of term limits. Four of the seven directors’ terms end this year. Three are seeking reelection, with two running unopposed. Incumbents Tony Estremera from District 6, John Varela from District 1...
UPDATE: Are you eligible for a monkeypox vaccine in Santa Clara County?
At a Santa Clara County town hall, public health officials said a person’s network is a major factor in contracting monkeypox. On Thursday, they told the LGBTQ+ community in attendance that unlike COVID-19 — which is an airborne virus— monkeypox has more to do with individuals being in close contact with people within their social...
New COVID vaccine coming to Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County residents will soon have another COVID-19 vaccine option that may be more amenable to those who remain unvaccinated. The two-dose shot, produced by Maryland drugmaker Novavax, is the nation’s first so-called protein vaccine. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved its use for unvaccinated adults ages 18 and older. Compared to...
San Jose has no plans to address vacant homes
Amid an ongoing housing crisis, thousands of San jose homes are sitting empty—but City Hall has no plan to address it. The latest U.S. Census data shows 13,769 San Jose homes were not occupied in 2020. Vacant properties include those for rent, waiting to be sold and those not on the market, which may have been left...
Silicon Valley doctors demand changes after death of colleague
Health care workers are demanding county leaders address workplace issues following one death by suicide and another attempt by Santa Clara Valley Medical Center physicians. “We’re in a crisis,” Valley Physician Group chairman Stephen Harris told San José Spotlight. The union represents nearly 500 doctors at three public hospitals in Santa Clara County. “We have suffered mismanagement for...
Long COVID poses risk for Silicon Valley: ‘It’s very debilitating’
Brandie Parshall caught COVID-19 in December 2020. One month later, she started experiencing debilitating malaise, chronic fatigue, heart issues and brain fog. In June 2021, she started being treated for long COVID symptoms, seeing Stanford specialists at the Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome Clinic. Long COVID is when symptoms persist for more than four weeks after infection,...
Santa Clara official looks to oust Mayor Lisa Gillmor
A Santa Clara councilmember is looking to shake up the status quo by running for mayor. Anthony Becker, who represents District 6, plans to face off against six-year incumbent Mayor Lisa Gillmor in November if she seeks reelection. Becker, who says Gillmor has been in power for far too long, announced his candidacy in front of City Hall...