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Thousands of Santa Clara County union workers voted to authorize their bargaining team to call for a strike as their contract is set to expire later this month and the county grapples with a budget deficit. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521 members are upset over the shortage of workers and vacant positions that...
On DACA’s 11th anniversary, San Jose recipients want acceptance
Immigrant rights advocates rallied in downtown San Jose on DACA’s 11th anniversary, calling for the program’s continuation as its future remains in limbo. Advocates with Amigos de Guadalupe, an immigration nonprofit, carried posters bearing phrases like “¡Actua ahora!” and chanted “Si Se Puede” outside the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building on Second Street today. They want the...
San Jose hospital to cut acute psychiatric care
The pending closure of an inpatient psychiatric facility has the potential to worsen an ongoing mental health crisis in Santa Clara County, which has a severe shortage of behavioral health beds and services. Good Samaritan Hospital plans to close it’s 18-bed inpatient psychiatric facility at its Mission Oaks Hospital location in Los Gatos. It’s parent...
San Jose’s Berryessa neighborhood to see hundreds more homes
A San Jose developer’s plan to build up to 850 homes and a large commercial space near Berryessa BART received the green light from city officials. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved the project on Tuesday, though not before it touched off a debate about whether the city should be stricter with density and affordable...
Santa Clara County gets windfall from opioid settlement
Santa Clara County is flush with millions of dollars from a nationwide opioid settlement. But how to spend it is still up for debate. Local health officials received $5.8 million from the first installment, with the potential for up to $48 million over the next 18 years. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors wants to...
PolitiBeat: San José Spotlight’s inaugural political festival
San José Spotlight’s inaugural all-day political festival PolitiBeat, a first for the region, brought together dozens of leaders in government, education, media and sports to discuss the successes and challenges facing San Jose and Silicon Valley. Held last Saturday at the iconic Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose, PolitiBeat offered more than 150 attendees the...
UPDATE: San Jose eases rules on cannabis dispensaries
The San Jose City Council approved changes to existing regulations on dispensaries, expanding where they can set up shop and relaxing expensive annual audit requirements. The council had been discussing revisions since late last year after industry complaints that the strict rules effectively barred cannabis storefronts from being able to open in most of the...
San Jose passes budget, compromises on mayor’s housing plan
A lengthy battle over how to prioritize revenue from a tax measure ended Tuesday with city leaders striking a compromise before approving the city’s multibillion dollar budget. The most contentious part of Mayor Matt Mahan’s budget plan — how to spend Measure E dollars– failed in a 6-5 vote. Measure E is a 2020 voter-approved property tax...
Report: Silicon Valley Latinos face ongoing struggles
Latinos in Silicon Valley are facing exacerbated quality of life challenges in the wake of the pandemic, including education gaps, worsening housing conditions and health disparities, according to a new report. The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley’s 2023 Latino Report Card, unveiled Tuesday at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, shows that even as some...
Silicon Valley inequality persists four years in a row
A vast amount of wealth in Silicon Valley is concentrated in just a few households, while residents throughout the region struggle to afford basic needs. That’s according to the 2023 Silicon Valley Pain Index, an annual report put forward by researchers at San Jose State University. This year’s findings highlight how eight households in Silicon...