Publicly-funded warnings about disastrous local hospital closures are appearing in the mailboxes of Santa Clara County residents. Critics can’t help but notice the timing. The foreboding mailers, under the county government’s official letterhead, are appearing weeks before voters decide on a five-eighth-cent sales tax measure Nov. 4. County leaders say the sales tax, known as...
Santa Clara County remains on guard despite ICE reprieve
South Bay civic leaders said they remain ready to support the region’s immigrant community after news broke Thursday morning that President Donald Trump is backing off plans to surge federal law enforcement personnel in the Bay Area. “They’ve made the right decision. Our region is on the rise,” Mayor Matt Mahan said during the news...
Silicon Valley military families may lose their low-cost grocer
The U.S. Department of War may close Santa Clara County’s only place for military service members and their families to buy food and household items at reduced prices. The commissary at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View has long served as a grocery lifeline for military families in the Bay Area. But Congressman Sam Liccardo...
Bay Area group donates food for Diwali
Thousands of Santa Clara County residents celebrate Diwali every fall by creating colorful rangoli designs and eating traditional dishes with family. One local group takes the holiday spirit a step further by collecting thousands of pounds of food for those who need it most. The Bay Area chapter of nonprofit Sewa Diwali is gathering nonperishable...
San Jose looks to ban ICE from using city-owned properties
San Jose leaders are pushing to identify all city-owned properties and develop a plan to prohibit any federal immigration activity on them. Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Domingo Candelas and Rosemary Kamei introduced the policy during the Rules and Open Governance Committee on Wednesday, which was unanimously approved and will be considered by the full City Council...
Ex-Santa Clara official guilty of perjury still can’t access devices
Former Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker will receive just three of his numerous belongings back after being held for nearly three years in a perjury investigation. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Javier Alcala did not grant the motion to return more than 30 items to Becker and his husband Wednesday, including laptops and phones....
San Jose council signs off on new city attorney
The San Jose City Council has appointed Susana Alcala Wood to the post of city attorney. The unanimous vote Tuesday marks the final procedural hurdle to confirm Wood as San Jose’s top legal counsel. Wood officially starts Nov. 9, with an annual salary set at $390,000. Councilmembers approved Wood’s hiring without discussion. San José Spotlight...
San Jose homeless housing site doubles capacity
One San Jose tiny home site has added more than 100 beds to house homeless residents, becoming the 10th temporary housing location to open or expand this year. Rue Ferrari has become the city’s largest tiny home site, housing up to 266 formerly homeless individuals. The expansion has more than doubled its capacity, adding 108 tiny...
Santa Clara County will create ICE-free zones
Santa Clara County leaders will establish ICE-free zones throughout Silicon Valley — raising physical barriers and locking gates to prevent federal immigration agents from unlawfully using county properties for surveillance and arrests. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to follow Chicago’s lead and create an inventory of vacant lots, garages and other county-owned spaces...
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto to reduce workforce
Citing financial challenges and economic uncertainty, the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is preparing to reduce its workforce by 87 positions in December, according to a notification that the Palo Alto medical institution filed with the state this week. The hospital at 725 Welch Road submitted on Oct. 10 a notice with the state Department of...