Individuals coming out of jail have few resources to help them integrate back into society. Santa Clara County officials want to help change that. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently approved a potential guaranteed basic income program for former inmates. The program’s financial feasibility will be discussed at the county’s budget meeting in...
Santa Clara County leaders take action on gender inequality
Santa Clara County officials have approved landmark legislation to tackle gender inequality. The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) last week. CEDAW is a framework to gather data and implement gender-equitable practices in local government. Advocates said the move holds the county accountable for...
Santa Clara population ticks up as rest of region drops
All but four Santa Clara County cities lost residents over the last year amid a continuing trend of statewide population drop driven by declining birth rates, elevated deaths and people leaving the state. While San Jose, the state’s third largest city, lost a half-percent of its population, dropping to 959,256 people, Santa Clara, the county’s...
San Jose recycling drivers allege union busting
The construction drivers who do the cleanup on some of San Jose’s major development projects say they aren’t asking for much—they just want safe working conditions and their full wages paid. Drivers at Premier Recycling Company said their demands are not being met and that contract negotiations have stalled since September. Ramon Castillo, a union...
Union upset over Santa Clara County’s plan to cut vacant jobs
Santa Clara County plans to slash hundreds of vacant positions, a move union leaders said would exacerbate existing staffing issues. County officials want to eliminate about 650 vacant roles out of roughly 3,500 total vacancies to help offset a projected budget deficit of $120 million. Funds would be reallocated elsewhere in the proposed 2023-24 budget....
San Jose residents could pay more for clean energy
San Jose Clean Energy customers could see more rate changes—and will have less time to protest against it. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to loosen regulations for how often San Jose Clean Energy—which provides renewable power to approximately 350,000 customers—can increase rates. The city’s clean energy provider was previously capped at increasing...
The ‘political assassination’ of Santa Clara Councilman Anthony Becker
Forty eight hours after Santa Clara’s city attorney confidentially emailed a critical grand jury report to councilmembers, the city’s politically-charged police union launched a damning website blasting the city’s top leaders. The site revealed the confidential report’s name, full paragraphs with incriminating details and photos of five councilmembers criticized in the report—including Anthony Becker, who...
South Bay developer increases San Jose footprint
A major South Bay developer plans to add another huge office building near San Jose Mineta International Airport. A nearly 300,000 square-foot, five-story office building is planned for a 4.5-acre lot at the west corner of Coleman and Aviation avenues. Hunter Partners, a development arm of Cupertino-based Hunter Properties, in partnership with billionaire John Fisher, who holds...
Santa Clara councilmember pleads not guilty to multiple charges
Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he leaked a confidential civil grand jury report to the San Francisco 49ers organization and lied about his actions. Becker was indicted by the DA’s office last month and faces a felony perjury charge for allegations he lied to a civil grand jury...
San Jose colleges offer students immigration services
Community colleges want students to know free legal services are available to those in need of immigration assistance. The San Jose-Evergreen Community College District has programs for students and employees to receive immigration-related help for naturalizations, undocumented status and more. Advocates said the resources are crucial for AB 540 and DACA students who have uncertain...