The need for reliable public transportation has never been greater, especially amid the pandemic. Valley Transportation Authority, the South Bay’s largest transit agency, is on the edge of transformation with several critical projects — such as BART to San Jose and a light rail extension to Eastridge — while grappling with unprecedented budget challenges. What...
Reform at Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office moving slowly, report finds
Just two weeks after the Board of Supervisors moved toward issuing subpoenas for Sheriff’s Office records, a report shows more obstacles may be in the way to achieve law enforcement reform in Santa Clara County. OIR Group, a consulting firm that provides independent review of law enforcement practices, offered 10 recommendations in August for the...
South Bay Latinx community starts push for immigration reform in Biden administration
While President-elect Joe Biden plans how to meet the challenges facing the nation, San Jose’s Latinx community is creating a strategy for immigration reform. The Si Se Puede Collective will be asking local officials to sign a list of demands, which include a pathway to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, ending...
San Jose starts talks on police misconduct under Measure G
Now that voters overwhelmingly passed Measure G to expand the authority of the independent police auditor, city leaders are charging forward with plans to take police misconduct investigations out of the hands of the San Jose Police Department and ensure officers are fired or disciplined following abuses of power. The city’s Rules and Open Government...
Santa Clara County eyeing more job cuts to balance next year’s budget
Santa Clara County supervisors are set to approve more layoffs across county government to prepare their 2021-22 budget for shortfalls due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Supervisors on Nov. 18 discussed eliminating about 170 county jobs. They will cast a final vote Nov. 20 on the layoffs, which are part of a broader plan to...
San Jose hospital pleads for donations to help with COVID-19 surge
As COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the South Bay, hospitals are struggling to keep up with the demand for resources. San Jose-based Valley Medical Center Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center hospital system, is pleading with charities across the valley for donations to help deal with the pandemic. Foundation...
VTA postpones Santa Clara County cuts to service for next year
The Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority postponed voting on its proposed service cuts for next year, bringing transit advocates a sense of cautious relief. “This isn’t over,” said public transit advocate Monica Mallon. “We’re going to be needing to fight the cuts next year.” VTA announced Nov. 17 it would delay committee and board votes...
Homicides, school burglaries spike during San Jose shelter in place
San Jose has seen a significant spike in crime during the pandemic. The frequency of homicides, school burglaries, commercial robberies, reports of domestic violence and auto theft has increased since the onslaught of COVID-19, according to the San Jose Police Department. Homicides Lieutenant Steve Donohue told the San Jose City Council Nov. 17 that out...
Santa Clara County moves forward with airport closure, plans to repurpose land
Santa Clara County is moving forward with closing the Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose, county lawmakers decided Tuesday after hundreds of pleas from the community to use the land for affordable housing and other community needs. The supervisors voted 4-1 to begin preparing for a potential airport closure and begin the planning process for...
Santa Clara County grapples with how to build mental health facility in place of jail
Santa Clara County supervisors doubled down on their commitment to eliminate jail beds and create a new mental health facility to replace the recently-demolished Main Jail South in San Jose. But they are discovering moving forward with the idea is complicated. In October, supervisors decided to halt a decade-long plan to replace failing jail facilities and instead...