Obstacles that disabled residents deal with daily intensified during the pandemic. A new office promises to change that trajectory with a training and information center dedicated to improving services across Santa Clara County. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the new Office of Disability Affairs on Tuesday, a victory that advocates say...
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‘Bad to horrific’: Racial discrimination and wealth inequality grew under COVID-19
Inequality in Silicon Valley has gone from “bad to horrific” over the pandemic, as indicators such as hunger, homelessness, income inequality and the wealth gap have all increased since last June, new research shows. “While our community was shocked at the incredibly high levels of racial discrimination and income and wealth inequality detailed in the...
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San Jose delays evictions by two months
San Jose tenants won’t be pushed off an eviction cliff this summer, but they’re still uncomfortably close to the edge. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to extend the local eviction moratorium that was set to expire June 30 through Aug. 31, ensuring two more months of protection for tenants who have fallen behind...
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UPDATE: San Jose flea market decision delayed another week
The future of the San Jose Flea Market is up in the air following two days of deliberation but no decision on a proposed mixed-use development that would shrink the market by two-thirds of its current size. The San Jose City Council met Tuesday to consider plans for the Berryessa BART Urban Village, but continued...
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San Jose seeks help with airport connector bids
Getting to the airport in a driverless car or electric train might be one step closer to reality—if San Jose officials are ready for it. On June 29, The San Jose City Council will consider approving a $425,000 agreement with consulting firm ARUP to help progress a new type of transit system connecting Diridon Station to the Norman Y. Mineta-San...
San Jose prepares to redraw council districts
San Jose is getting ready to redraw its 10 City Council districts—and will decide whether some populations should be grouped together based on common interests. “How do (you) articulate whether some are more important than others, and what are the criteria?” asked Angelo Ancheta, director of the Community Law Center at Santa Clara University, at...
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San Jose’s hotel tax revenue won’t recover until 2025
San Jose’s hotel tax revenue for 2021 is inching up from last summer’s levels, signaling a return to life. But monthly profits are still a third of what the city saw prior to the pandemic, according to city data. “(The hotel tax) has been one of the city’s hardest hit revenues from the pandemic,” San Jose Budget...
Santa Clara County loses last COVID mandate
Santa Clara County Public Health discontinued the last of its COVID-related regulations on Monday. Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s public health officer, issued an order eliminating remaining local requirements such as teleworking and social distancing, but businesses and governments will still need to determine the vaccination status of personnel through self-attestation. On Friday, the California...
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San Jose flea market vendors go on hunger strike, lawmakers to decide market’s fate
After months of negotiations, rallies and protests, the fate of the San Jose Flea Market now rests with the San Jose City Council. San Jose released Friday its final plan for the Berryessa BART Urban Village, a 3.4 million square foot project on the flea market site. The San Jose City Council is expected to approve...
Fentanyl deaths in Santa Clara County rise during pandemic
The number of fatal fentanyl overdoses in Santa Clara County nearly tripled during the pandemic, and experts say the two are intricately linked. “(The pandemic) seems to have exacerbated a lot of latent trauma that our clients have,” said Gary Montrezza, CEO of Pathway Society, a substance abuse counseling center based in San Jose. “Those who are...