The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a continuous, year-over-year decline in instances of use of force. Sheriff Bob Jonsen‘s deputies used force on people in the jails and out in the community 603 times last year, a slight decrease from 621 incidents in 2024, according to an annual report for 2025. Deputies killed...
VTA could block ICE from using its properties
Property owned by a local public transit agency may become the latest territory federal immigration agents are blocked from using in Santa Clara County. VTA’s board of directors on Thursday asked staff to explore a policy to prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on property it owns, including parking lots, and to continue...
Silicon Valley teachers union leader faces ‘hostile’ conduct complaint
The Santa Clara County Office of Education has placed the leader of a teachers union on administrative leave over a whistleblower complaint about “hostile” conduct — right as the union considers a strike. Association of County Educators (ACE) President Riju Krishna — who frequently speaks at Board of Education meetings to advocate for better working...
Santa Clara County housing funds safe after federal court ruling
Efforts to upend federal grants for permanent housing to address homelessness have been blocked in court — marking a win for Santa Clara County in challenging President Donald Trump’s administration. A federal appeals court in Boston on Wednesday rejected an attempt by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to rewrite the rules...
Outdoor school could avoid closing if it moves to Cupertino
The Walden West Outdoor School in Saratoga could temporarily relocate to Cupertino next school year after uncertainty about the science camp’s future — and criticism of the Santa Clara County Office of Education over poor planning. Superintendent of Schools David Toston’s office initially roused uproar over plans to close the camp for two years for...
Special education cuts could strain teachers in Santa Clara County
Special education teachers in Santa Clara County are at a tipping point following a recent round of layoffs — on top of massive cuts last year that left educators managing larger classes of students with serious medical and behavioral needs. Due to declining enrollment, the Santa Clara County Office of Education plans to cut eight...
New South Bay power substation to be built at existing site
Environmental advocates are claiming victory in a two-year fight to keep an energy substation away from wildlife corridors in the stretches of open space south of San Jose known as Coyote Valley. The California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously March 19 to allow LS Power Grid California to construct a transmission line and terminals at...
UPDATE: Santa Clara County workers want guardrails for AI
Santa Clara County officials want to get ahead of artificial intelligence, and are exploring how to implement guardrails as the growing technology sparks displacement fears among public servants. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday, with Supervisor Susan Ellenberg absent, to move forward with a comprehensive study on how AI is used across its various...
Santa Clara County supermom supervisors pave the way
It’s a delicate dance balancing work and motherhood, especially if you’re a politician. For Santa Clara County Supervisors Margaret Abe-Koga, Sylvia Arenas, Betty Duong and Susan Ellenberg, life as a super mom is both challenging and rewarding. All four women learned early on the sacrifices that come with public service. Late night meetings mean being...
Only two Santa Clara County races are competitive
Several top Santa Clara County officials are running for reelection unchallenged this year — but two incumbents will have to fight for their county-level seats. District Attorney Jeff Rosen and District 1 Supervisor Sylvia Arenas — whose district covers Morgan Hill, Gilroy, unincorporated San Martin and portions of South San Jose — will have to...