Santa Clara County appears to be backing off a pledge to ditch plans to build a new jail for a mental health center, citing the need to improve its crumbling jail and inhumane conditions faced by inmates. Supervisors unanimously accepted a report in January from County Executive Jeff Smith and Deputy Executive Martha Wapenski that...
Activists protest sweep of San Jose homeless camp, call it a photo-op
Advocates for the homeless gathered Monday to protest an upcoming sweep this week of an encampment, comparing the action to former President Donald Trump’s church photo-op and calling it cruel and out of touch. “We have open buildings, we have the space. There’s no need for these people to be on the street in inclement...
Santa Clara County faith groups scramble to comply with changing COVID-19 orders
It’s been a tumultuous time for South Bay faith groups who have heard varying guidance from the federal, state and county government about whether they could worship inside. All indoor church operations are officially suspended in Santa Clara County despite recent pushback from local churches and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that suggested such a...
The fight against digital billboards in San Jose heats up
A local grassroots organization is urging lawmakers to halt plans for erecting electronic billboards throughout San Jose. In 2018, the San Jose City Council approved Phase 1 of a two-part plan that would increase the number of digital signs in the city. Phase 1 would allow up to 22 billboards on 17 city-owned sites. The council...
Safety concerns in downtown San Jose a focus for business leaders
The recent robbery of a 64-year-old Asian woman on South Second Street in Downtown San Jose was on the minds of attendees at San Jose Downtown Association’s first virtual public meeting of the year. The discussion of downtown safety was a last-minute addition to the meeting’s agenda. But the association said its agenda had to...
Following COVID-19 vaccine scandal, Good Samaritan permanently closes vaccine clinic
Good Samaritan Hospital, one of the largest medical centers in the county, is permanently closing its COVID-19 vaccine clinic, claiming that it has vaccinated all of its staff and therefore fulfilled its responsibilities. The news comes three weeks after the hospital faced backlash for allowing teachers and staff at an affluent Los Gatos school district...
San Jose police chief finalists talk racial equity, biased policing and use of force
Seven law enforcement leaders vying to be San Jose’s next police chief Saturday answered questions from residents about everything from racial equity to biased policing and use of force. The virtual forum was facilitated by Gary Peterson, who led the recruitment process. He picked a handful of questions from more than 500 submitted through an online survey. The forum...
San Jose mayor forms new advocacy group to get ‘a little more control’
Mayor Sam Liccardo has started a new advocacy organization called “Solutions San Jose.” Some political insiders say it could rival lobbying and fundraising activities of the Silicon Valley Organization, the area’s largest chamber of commerce which has lost business members and dissolved its PAC following a scandal last year over its use of a racist...
Hazard pay is coming to San Jose for grocery workers
Hazard pay is finally on its way for San Jose grocery workers. After hours of debate, the San Jose City Council voted 7-3 on Tuesday to give retail food workers an extra $3 per hour for putting their health at risk during the pandemic. Hazard pay would apply only to stores that have over 300...
Santa Clara County cuts hundreds of jobs to reduce deficit
County officials this week approved eliminating more jobs to bring a gaping budget deficit down to just north of $140 million — that’s about $60 million less than projected last fall. The projections are also much better than last summer, when supervisors thought they might battle a shortfall between $200 and $500 million. But reaching this...