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As gas costs continue to reach unsustainable levels, no one is immune to the pump pain. For those commuting miles to work, all are getting gouged equally. While the state searches for solutions to the near $7 a gallon price at the pump, people like police officers, delivery drivers and traveling nurses are dealing with...
Santa Clara County officials request state audit of VTA
A California legislator fighting to change VTA’s leadership is shifting tactics in the wake of public pushback. Assemblymember Marc Berman announced Monday he is not advancing Assembly Bill 2181 this year, which would eliminate VTA’s board of directors on or after July 2023 and shrink the board from 18 to 12 members, at least six...
Full report: Silicon Valley Pain Index 2022
The Silicon Valley Pain Index is produced by the San Jose State University Human Rights Institute. The annual study focuses on racial discrimination and income inequality in the region. The report, first published in 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, was inspired by an index compiled about New Orleans in the...
Silicon Valley business group opposes proposed headcount tax
Santa Clara could ask residents to approve a business tax overhaul in November, despite opposition from regional commerce leaders. If passed, it could bring in millions. The Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce sent a letter Monday to Santa Clara’s mayor and City Council opposing any “dramatic increase” in the business license tax companies pay....
Inequity in Silicon Valley persists for people of color
Life expectancy is shrinking, the poor are getting poorer and Silicon Valley’s wealthiest are flourishing. The 2022 Silicon Valley Pain Index report highlights how Santa Clara County generated $340 billion in gross domestic product in 2021—an increase of 4.4% since 2020—while nearly half of children in Silicon Valley are living in households who can’t make...
Silicon Valley candidate allegedly lied about law enforcement experience
A local business owner has been accused of lying about her credentials to run for Santa Clara County sheriff, and the findings are troubling. Last week, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced a perjury charge against Anh Colton, who came in last out of four other candidates in the primary election for sheriff...
Little progress made to protect San Jose mobile homes
After two years of waiting, San Jose mobile homeowners say the city reneged on a promise to give them more protection. The San Jose City Council in March 2020 unanimously approved a plan to put all 58 mobile home properties under the same land use designation—but only two sites have received the new layer of...
Reader Panel: Few surprises, ample disappointment in San Jose primary
San Jose voters are hardly shocked by the results of the June 7 primary election, and they hold strong—and mostly bitter—feelings about the two candidates battling it out for mayor. Residents who spoke with San José Spotlight said there were few surprise results in the Santa Clara County races they voted on last week, which included...
San Jose small businesses have two weeks to apply for rent relief
San Jose has extended the deadline for a small business grant program through this month, but confusion lingers about who is eligible. Small businesses now have until 5 p.m. on June 30 to apply. The program aims to provide up to $15,000 in funding to 300 small businesses, targeting back rent and utility debts incurred...
Santa Clara County preps COVID shots for infants and young children
The youngest population in Santa Clara County could soon get vaccinated for COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized both the Moderna and Pfizer shots for children as young as 6 months old—making nearly every person in the U.S. eligible for vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still have to...