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Santa Clara County has largely been spared some of the worst effects from California’s increasingly destructive fire season over the years. But local fire officials say that likely won’t last forever. Factors such as elevation, weather and luck have typically experienced Santa Clara County from experiencing large blazes seen elsewhere throughout the state. Though that...
Santa Clara County breakthrough COVID hospitalizations remain low
The hospitalization rate for unvaccinated Santa Clara County residents is 23 times higher than those immunized against COVID-19, new county data shows. Between July 29 and Sept. 3, 464 people were hospitalized in the county due to COVID-19. This includes both county-run and private hospitals. County officials told San José Spotlight 360 patients either were not fully...
Santa Clara County could spend $25 million on prefab homeless shelters
Building more housing is the key to fighting the growing homelessness crisis in Santa Clara County. Two officials want to give a local nonprofit $25 million to do so. Supervisors Joe Simitian and Otto Lee announced a proposal Thursday to grant LifeMoves, the region’s largest temporary housing provider, a multi-million dollar contract to help it...
Jail is no place for the mentally ill, Santa Clara County sheriff says
There’s a mental health crisis in Santa Clara County jails. Everyone agrees it’s bad, but Sheriff Laurie Smith isn’t sure people recognize just how bad it’s getting. The sheriff, who oversees the jail system, says what she sees worries her. In an exclusive interview with San José Spotlight, Smith estimates that approximately 25% of the...
Los Gatos police chief resigned in advance of firing, union says
Los Gatos’ former police chief Peter Decena was ousted by the town manager amid efforts to hire more 911 dispatchers, says the president of the town’s police union. “I can tell you what he told me personally to tell the press… He resigned in lieu of being fired by the town manager,” Bryan Paul, president...
Santa Clara County prepares for potential COVID boosters
Santa Clara County is ready to offer all eligible residents COVID-19 booster shots within 24 hours of federal approval, but whether the plan is needed—and to what extent—remains unknown. After intense debate Friday, vaccine advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected Pfizer’s request to add a third shot to its two-doses regimen for the general...
State opens more funding for Santa Clara County supportive housing
When Charlotte Burris first called the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing to get out of the van she uses for shelter, there were only spaces for unhoused residents with COVID-19. Burris said she tested positive shortly after calling and received temporary housing, describing it as a gift in disguise. “I’ve been homeless for...
Santa Clara County paratransit riders want service improvements
Zsa Zsa Taylor has been doing everything possible to keep her joy alive after a diagnosis of MS and cancer. But her commute makes that tough. Like other Santa Clara County residents with disabilities and mobility issues, Taylor travels around the region using VTA Access, a paratransit program that normally services more than 500,000 riders...
Santa Clara County proceeds with controversial mental health treatment law
Santa Clara County is moving forward with implementing a controversial law that allows authorities to order psychiatric treatment for people with serious mental illness. The county Board of Supervisors gave the Behavioral Health Services Department the go-ahead at the end of August to begin hiring staff who will work in a Laura’s Law assisted outpatient...
Latino leaders urge San Jose residents to take part in redistricting
Latinos are now the largest ethnic minority in California according to the 2020 Census, but political districts don’t reflect that fact. A legal advocacy group wants to change that at the state and county level. Mayra Valadez, a coordinator for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, gave a presentation at a virtual meeting Monday...