San José Spotlight’s all-day political festival returned for its second year to tackle pressing issues facing Silicon Valley, from artificial intelligence and county elections to the region’s evolving identity. Roughly 200 attendees heard firsthand from local leaders in government, education, technology and development, converging on June 14 at the Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose...
Silicon Valley transit agency services off track, state audit shows
Santa Clara County’s main transportation agency needs to change how it is governed and improve its transparency with the people it serves, a recent audit reveals. The California State Auditor released an audit of VTA earlier this month, requesting the public transit agency improve its existing operations by taking measures such as strengthening planning and oversight of capital projects,...
San Jose advocates want more money for non-police crisis team
San Jose officials plan to allocate additional funding toward mental health services in the upcoming budget, after advocates pushed for more non-police emergency response. The Santa Clara County-operated Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST) program will receive about $450,000 from San Jose to fund another mobile crisis response team for a year. But advocates for...
State bill threatens landline services in Santa Clara County
After public outcry across the Bay Area, state regulators this week barred AT&T from pulling out of a crucial lifeline for hard-to-reach residents in remote pockets of Santa Clara County: basic landline services. But on the eve of the California Public Utilities Commission’s Thursday decision, a state law proposal about horse racing was gutted and...
Former Santa Clara County sheriff loses another appeal
The California Supreme Court won’t hear former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith’s appeal of a case that disqualified her from holding public office. The high court denied Smith’s petition for review on June 18, records show. It comes after jurors in a 2022 civil trial found Smith guilty of six corruption and willful misconduct...
San Jose wage theft policy compromises with developers
San Jose could withhold certifications from big developers who use contractors with unpaid wage theft judgments in California under a new construction policy. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved the “responsible construction” policy on Tuesday after first reviewing it last year. Companies found to have unpaid wage theft settlements must address those before the...
Santa Clara County approves ‘less invasive’ house arrest monitors
Santa Clara County courthouses are trading in ankle monitors for less conspicuous surveillance of people who are on probation or awaiting trial. County judges in the coming weeks can instead monitor people through wristwatch trackers or specialized mobile phones with limited functionality, after the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $3...
Santa Clara County stops budget bleed, not future woes
Santa Clara County leaders have managed to approve a $12.5 billion budget that closes a massive deficit. But their problems will only mount in the coming year. The budget — which the Board of Supervisors approved unanimously earlier this month — cuts a total of 222 vacant and filled county jobs and reduces public health...
Popular Cupertino farmers market up for grabs a second time
A popular farmers market in Cupertino is up for grabs in a battle over who can provide the West Valley city fresh tomatoes and strawberries — and it hasn’t been without growing pains. The Foothill-De Anza Community College District has reopened bidding for the Cupertino Farmers Market following community backlash this month after existing operator West Coast Farmers...
UPDATE: San Jose to study potential cost of safe sleeping sites
San Jose officials came through on their promise to add safe sleeping sites throughout the city as they come closer to getting homeless residents off the streets and the waterways cleaned up. In order to reach the city’s goal of moving people living along the waterways, the San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously...