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Santa Clara County on Wednesday will move into the less-restrictive orange tier of the state’s reopening plan, removing capacity limits for retailers and doubling capacity for indoor dining and other businesses. The county is currently in the red tier since March 2. Local health officials say COVID-19 cases are steadily falling, which means restaurants, movie...
San Jose lawmaker looks to turn complaints about gas leaf blowers into policy
Gas-powered leaf blowers were driving San Jose resident Marty Stuczynski crazy. He had reached out to San Jose City Hall for years without success. While attending a video call with freshman Councilmember Matt Mahan, he mentioned the problem again. To his surprise, he was invited to start a working group with four or more residents...
Santa Clara County advocates celebrate win for immigrants
Santa Clara County scored a substantial legal victory this month when the U.S. Department of Justice dropped an appeal on a legal rule that sought to limit public services for immigrants. County Counsel James Williams called the decision to drop the case “a victory for the rule of law,” he said, because otherwise the change...
San Jose to vote on sweeping homeless camps, creating sanctioned encampments
Some San Jose leaders want to clear homeless encampments immediately — despite health regulations cautioning not to do so during a pandemic — and move homeless residents to a government-approved camping site. The San Jose City Council could vote Tuesday to dismantle encampments — against COVID-19 health guidelines. Councilmember Raul Peralez and city officials proposed...
San Jose pumps the brakes on Valley Water water-recycling plan
In an effort to address drought and increase local groundwater supply, the Santa Clara Valley Water District is fast-tracking a plan to purify and recycle more water in San Jose. But city elected leaders — concerned for the environment and limited staff resources due to COVID-19 — are pumping the brakes and want more time...
San Jose Speaks: A conversation with Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone
San José Spotlight earlier this month welcomed Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone in its latest San Jose Speaks series, which features interactive conversations with South Bay leaders, influencers and decision makers. Stone discussed Proposition 19, which was approved by voters in 2020 and significantly complicated the rules for transferring property tax assessments. The March...
40 years of fighting for LGBTQ rights in San Jose
It may be hard to imagine now, but there was a time when a majority of San Jose and Santa Clara County voters rejected an opportunity to ban discrimination against the LGBTQ people among them. “’Gay people are so disgusting they deserve no rights, and we don’t even want them in town.’ That was the...
San José Spotlight wins SPJ’s James Madison Freedom of Information Award
San José Spotlight has received the Northern California Chapter’s Society of Professional Journalists’ prestigious James Madison Freedom of Information Award for its “regular and inventive use” of public records in covering local government in Santa Clara County. “This honor is a testament to the great work produced by our talented team of journalists,” said Ramona...
Universal basic income in San Jose? Some say it could be a game changer
Could universal basic income work in San Jose? Cities across California have tried guaranteed income programs to bolster economic security, supplement social safety nets and achieve greater racial and gender equity. Some politicians and researchers believe the idea might be the perfect antidote to problems like homelessness and financial insecurity, while others worry about how such...
Can Santa Clara County keep $1 billion housing promise?
An audit released this week suggests Santa Clara County might not be able to make good on using $1 billion in public funds to build the homes promised when voters passed Measure A in 2016. The premise of Measure A has always been that the nearly $1 billion bond would be used within a decade...