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Downtown eateries and bars took a hit during COVID-19, but now some downtown businesses are grappling with a major loss in foot traffic after many tech companies continued allowing employees to work from home. San Jose’s urban core is home to thousands of professionals at major tech corporations, including Adobe, Cisco and Zoom. But these...
‘VTA is not a family’: San Jose transit agency seeks help to fix toxic work culture
After weeks of allegations about VTA’s toxic work culture, the agency plans to hire a consultant to figure out how to improve conditions for employees. The VTA Board of Directors on Thursday moved forward with a referral to look for a consultant who can review VTA’s work culture and find ways to improve the experience...
San Jose State offers beds on campus for homeless students
After several years of grappling with student homelessness, San Jose State is finally offering beds on campus for students living outdoors or in their cars. The 12-bed pilot program launched last month, provides on-campus beds for SJSU students seeking emergency housing. The beds are located in University Housing. Students facing housing insecurity can apply for...
LGBTQ+ community’s historical distrust of police continues in San Jose
Silicon Valley Pride’s ban on uniformed police officers in this year’s parade is a flash point in decades of tensions between law enforcement and the local LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community’s apprehensive relationship with police began long ago, most notably with the 1969 Stonewall Riots from which Pride originated. These riots were a response to...
San Jose sued for records related to alleged illegal labor practices
A labor organization is suing San Jose for failing to turn over public records it claims are vital to its investigation of alleged wrongdoing at a massive public works project. The South Bay Piping Industry is seeking documents related to a major upgrade of the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, according to a verified lawsuit filed on...
Santa Clara County sees few breakthrough COVID hospitalizations
Despite concerns about breakthrough COVID-19 infections, the number of hospitalizations among vaccinated residents in Santa Clara County remains low—and is mostly driven by older residents and those with underlying health issues, county health officials say. At county-run hospitals, only 12 of 52 patients with COVID-19 involve people who are fully vaccinated, which health experts say suggests breakthrough...
Former opponent challenges embattled Santa Clara County sheriff
As Sheriff Laurie Smith battles investigations and demands for resignation, she must now also face a former opponent who wants her job. Kevin Jensen, a retired captain for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, filed paperwork to run for sheriff in the 2022 election. Jensen squared off with Smith in 2014 and lost. But he believes...
San Jose airport closure could poison another neighborhood
County officials are working to shut down Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose, citing lead exposure for surrounding residents. But shutting it down could shift the lead burden onto another low-income neighborhood: Washington-Guadalupe. Should Reid-Hillview close, some Washington-Guadalupe residents fear planes en route to Mineta San Jose International Airport will bring leaded fuel pollution to...
Santa Clara County workers catch COVID after return to office
COVID-19 infections are rising across multiple Santa Clara County departments about a month after management ordered workers back to the office, and some employees are frustrated and bewildered that they have to return. A county spokesperson told San José Spotlight that 221 positive infections occurred among approximately 22,000 employees between between July 3 and Aug....
San Jose-Google payment goes to affordable housing, rent relief
San Jose is investing $3 million from Google in various fixes for the city’s housing crisis, including pandemic-related rent relief. The City Council unanimously approved the allocation of funds on Tuesday, with $1.25 million going to tenant and landlord outreach on the eviction moratorium and rental relief programs, $1 million for affordable housing nonprofit organizations,...