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Santa Clara leaders Tuesday night praised the City Council for voting to ditch Columbus Day and instead celebrate a day that highlights indigenous people and cultures. “We’re particularly happy and proud that our task force was able to make this recommendation while also acknowledging another thing that we saw in our surveys,” said Neil Datar,...
Candidate for Santa Clara County sheriff drops out of crowded race
One candidate vying for the Santa Clara County sheriff spot is dropping out just weeks after filing papers to run. Dave Knopf, former assistant chief of the San Jose Police Department, told San José Spotlight he’s quitting the race. Knopf said he wanted to take on the challenges of the office, but believes it would...
San Jose lawmakers do an about face on food pantry fees
After a costly city permit threatened a downtown food pantry’s operation, the community stepped up to raise more than $18,000. Now, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Councilmember Raul Peralez are asking their council colleagues to step up too. Lighthouse Ministries, located at 309 N. 17th St., fed more than 1,000 people a day, six days a...
Santa Clara County’s VMC emergency workers stage walkout
Emergency workers at the Valley Medical Center walked off the job Tuesday to protest staffing shortages among physicians and unsafe working conditions during the biggest COVID-19 surge in the county. Roughly 30 health care workers showed up in front of the VMC emergency department in protest of a month-long issue that has driven doctors away and...
Not all Santa Clara County cities see new state housing law the same way
Cities across California are deciding if they are going to welcome or fight a statewide housing bill that could change the makeup of neighborhoods. Senate Bill 9, effective as of Jan. 1, allows property owners to build additional housing on an existing lot which they could then sell. Homeowners on lots larger than 1,200 square feet...
Where can you find at-home COVID-19 tests in Santa Clara County?
With the widespread outbreak of the omicron variant, at-home COVID-19 tests are vital but hard to locate. To help meet this need, Santa Clara County will start distributing 60,000 COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits Saturday at four drive-through locations: Hellyer County Park, Martial Cottle Park, Vasona County Park and Foothill College. Dr. Jennifer Tong, associate...
Campbell school district, teachers reach contract agreement after months of protest
The Campbell Union High School District and its educators have come to an agreement after more than a year of negotiations and months of protesting. The agreement, approved at a Thursday school board meeting, includes a $5,000 base pay increase for all teachers, retroactive to last July, and a 3% increase in salaries scheduled to...
Grants for Santa Clara County microbusinesses will leave some hanging
COVID relief for very small businesses in Santa Clara County is on the horizon, but a bevy of rules may prevent it from reaching some struggling entrepreneurs. The county is waiting to receive $2.4 million from a California program that aids microbusinesses across the state. Once in hand, the county anticipates distributing $2,500 grants to...
Coalition pushes for alternatives to new Santa Clara County jail
In a final push to oppose plans for a new Santa Clara County jail, local residents and advocates are using a new avenue to shame elected officials for wobbling on important issues—a comedy skit. Led by Race Equity and Community Safety (RECS) and Show up for Racial Justice in the South Bay (SURJ), about 30...
Santa Clara soccer field parking lot could be new revenue stream
Santa Clara is eyeing the soccer field parking lot adjacent to Levi’s Stadium as a way to earn extra city revenue from stadium events when it’s not in use. Whether that’s feasible or not depends on a voter-approved law limiting how the city can use parks and open space. At a Santa Clara City Council...