Bay Area transit officials this month will decide how to allocate $975 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to local transit agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). “In the lens of the pandemic, it allows essential workers to keep their jobs and save money,” said Daniel Huynh, a member of Silicon Valley...
Santa Clara County inmates report unsafe conditions, go on hunger strike as COVID-19 cases soar
Inmates in Santa Clara County’s jails are on a hunger strike as cases of COVID-19 rage through the correctional system amid reports of unsanitary, unsafe and cruel conditions. As of Jan. 14, there were 109 active cases of COVID-19 among county inmates, a slight dip from a high of 127 earlier in the week. Silicon...
San Jose Vice Mayor Chappie Jones reappointed as City Council evaluates process
When Chappie Jones was growing up in a redlined neighborhood in Sacramento, his role models were Black elected officials like Maynard Jackson and Harold Washington — the first Black mayors of Atlanta and Chicago, respectively. Today, he’s creating a legacy of his own by beginning his second term as vice mayor of San Jose. The...
A San Jose tobacco shop and LGBTQ center form unlikely partnership
Seated next to each other, they look like an odd couple. But two community leaders have forged an unlikely partnership — and it’s helping LGBTQ youth in unexpected ways. When the popular Crema Coffee on The Alameda closed one of stores, most San Joseans expected the space to be filled by another cafe or restaurant....
Will a $300K consultant fix Santa Clara’s tourism woes?
Santa Clara is mulling whether to pay a consultant $300,000 to create a tourism strategy for the city, a move scrutinized by several city councilmembers given the city’s questionable history of hiring expensive consultants. “It’s starting to look more like wasteful spending,” said Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker. “I’d rather see available funds spent on...
Top San Jose administrator retiring after nearly two decades
After working for the city of San Jose for 18 years, Deputy City Manager Kim Walesh announced she will retire March 30. Walesh, who previously served as the city’s economic development director, is leaving as San Jose faces significant challenges with its business climate spurred by COVID-19 and a looming transformation of its downtown core with...
San Jose cuts water in park with large homeless population, blames needles
A San Jose park that’s home to nearly 200 homeless residents was suddenly left without water — and city leaders initially suggested needles were to blame for clogging the drain. The water has since been restored by reopening one of the park’s two restrooms. It’s a critical need, advocates say, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic....
San Jose wants to boost opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses
As minority businesses struggle to survive during the pandemic, the San Jose City Council is amplifying its efforts to ensure smaller, BIPOC, LGBTQ and women-owned businesses get a fair shot at competing for government contracts. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Jan 12. to advance a proposal from Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmember...
UPDATE: San Jose expands services for homeless amid COVID-19
Faced with an uptick in homeless deaths amid the pandemic, city leaders expanded shelter services for San Jose’s unhoused residents. The San Jose City Council on Jan. 12 unanimously adopted a $11.3 million expenditure plan for its Homeless, Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program, which provides homeless outreach and shelter services citywide. The budget approval allows the city...
‘The war has begun’: Silicon Valley official called to resign over Facebook posts
Silicon Valley leaders are demanding a local Republican elected official resign following a series of Facebook posts inciting violence Wednesday, just as a pro-Trump mob took over the U.S. Capitol in a dangerous attempt to overturn the election. Phil Reynolds, who is an elected member of the Santa Clara County Republican Party’s Central Committee, publicly...