In a direct response to curbing police violence and misconduct, Santa Clara County lawmakers Tuesday began “re-envisioning” use of force policies and daily functions of the county’s Sheriff’s Office. The Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the reform measures, introduced by Supervisor Joe Simitian, following the nationwide uproar and calls to defund the police after the...
UPDATE: Santa Clara County declares racism as a public health crisis
Amid a national reckoning over racism and civil unrest that’s swept the country, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously adopted resolutions to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement and declare racism a public health crisis. “A resolution is only as good as the actions that follow it,” said Supervisor...
Santa Clara County suicide helplines see spike in calls amid pandemic
Since the start of the pandemic and orders to stay inside, Santa Clara County has seen a rise in calls to a suicide prevention hotline — a trend that is mirrored nationally. The national Disaster Distress Helpline is receiving a notable uptick in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic with a more than 900% increase in...
Activists petition to remove police officers from East Side Union High School District
A movement to remove police officers from schools is underway in East San Jose. Families of East Side Union High School District are calling on officials to terminate agreements with police for school resource officers and outside law enforcement on campuses. As of Monday, a Change.org petition, created under a profile called “East Side Union...
Santa Clara: State of the City highlighted COVID-19 deficits, accomplishments
Santa Clara faces rough waters as it contends with budgetary shortfalls, continued development and policing reforms, the mayor said in a recent State of the City speech. As the Mission City adapts to the growing economic toll of COVID-19 during shutdowns and rising number of cases nationally, Mayor Lisa Gillmor and city staffers spent nearly...
The land of inequality: New research highlights Silicon Valley’s wealth gap
San Jose State leaders on Tuesday called on tech companies and other institutions to address white supremacy and inequality, which are seeped into nearly every aspect of Silicon Valley life, according to new research unveiled this week. A new report, called the Silicon Valley Pain Index, is shedding a glaring spotlight on wealth and income...
Activists call out San Jose leaders for racial equity office instead of defunding police
Civil rights activists gathered at City Hall Saturday to remember fathers lost to police violence — and call out San Jose lawmakers for ignoring pleas to defund the police. Instead of reducing police spending in next year’s budget, Mayor Sam Liccardo and his council colleagues last week voted to spend $1.5 million to create a...
San Jose mayor faces backlash over time limits during marathon meetings
Mitch Mankin tried twice in five days to speak to his city councilmembers about defunding the police. But the San Jose resident, who works as a policy associate at a housing nonprofit, never got a turn during two public meetings to voice his concerns about one of the biggest debates facing the city — police...
San Jose commemorates Juneteenth in a year like no other
As America grapples with systemic racism, injustice and racial inequality, the Juneteenth ceremony Friday at San Jose City Hall was like no other. Nearly one hundred people gathered in downtown San Jose to honor black lives and commemorate the end of slavery. This year’s ceremony included calls to defund police and end police violence in...
San Jose measure falls short of signatures as mayor says it may violate First Amendment
Days after San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo questioned the constitutionality of a controversial ballot measure, elections officials announced Friday the initiative fell short of a threshold of signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. After more than a year of intense public debate on the future of San Jose’s local elections, Liccardo — during...