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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Workers showed up to work sick with COVID-19 symptoms. Management hid positive test results from employees. Supervisors banned phones to prevent documenting unsafe facilities. These are some of the allegations many South Bay workers have made since Santa Clara County began to ease shelter-in-place restrictions to allow some businesses to...
The next South Bay labor battle: Who will replace Ben Field?
As the dust settles on the failed ‘strong mayor’ measure, there’s a new fight brewing in Silicon Valley’s labor camp: Who will replace Ben Field? The executive officer of the South Bay Labor Council, a powerful coalition of more than 100 unions, abruptly resigned July 13, less than two weeks after a heated, 9-hour debate...
Symbol of Silicon Valley takes shape as list of finalists narrows
The anticipation has been building for more than a year. And the suspense will linger a little longer — but soon a jury of renowned architects, designers and engineers will have selected three finalists from nearly 1,000 entries in a competition to create an original design that represents Silicon Valley to the world the way...
Downtown San Jose residents may soon get relief from blaring train horns
To stop blaring train horns from waking San Jose residents at night, a “quiet zone” proposed by city leaders could be created as early as November. According to San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez, the city submitted a Notice of Intent to designate a partial quiet zone around crossings from Horning Street to North Montgomery Street...
Fire victims say San Jose, Caltrans failed to heed warnings to clear debris
It was a ticking time bomb. Brush covered the ground, people flicked cigarettes out of cars and the sun glared down on land by Interstate 280 in San Jose. Alexis Cook, 26, who lived with her daughter and stepfather near Interstate 280 and CEFCU Stadium, knew someone had to clean up the dried needles dropping...
Poll shows Dave Cortese leads Senate race; opponent calls it unethical
A new poll obtained by San José Spotlight shows Santa Clara Supervisor Dave Cortese has a double-digit lead in the November Senate race, but his opponent is calling foul. The poll, conducted by EMC Research, surveyed 815 likely voters in state Senate District 15 between June 11 and 19. It found that Cortese is “well-positioned” for...
Santa Clara County approves Caltrain sales tax measure
Caltrain moved one step closer to being saved when the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a sales tax measure Tuesday to keep the rail running. “I appreciate that folks weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, keep talking and get us to ‘yes,'” said Board President Cindy Chavez. However, to be placed on...
What you should know about Prop. 15
Supporters of California Proposition 15 say the initiative will generate millions for schools and local government, but opponents fear it would be catastrophic for business owners. Prop. 15, also known as the Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Educational and Local Government Funding Initiative, asks voters to approve an amendment to the Constitution requiring...
New gender-bias complaints emerge against Santa Clara County school official
Two local educators have leveled new complaints of gender-based harassment against Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph Di Salvo, who’s been in hot water over his behavior toward women. The complaints came to the board after Di Salvo claimed a long record of supporting women in July to rebut an independent investigation that...
Santa Clara County COVID-19 tax plan fails
Santa Clara County’s effort to tax residents to pay for COVID-19 relief measures failed after a short debate Tuesday. County leaders proposed two options for asking voters in November to approve a 5/8-cent sales tax to help close the county’s estimated $300 to $600 million budget deficit. The county has spent $165.4 million so far...