Nearly two months after California lifted most pandemic restrictions, the Delta variant is driving a surge in positive COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. That’s prompting health officials to reinstate safety guidelines—and raising questions about the possibility of another shutdown. First identified in India, the Delta variant is believed to be twice as contagious as previous dominant COVID-19...
Is free public transit feasible in Santa Clara County?
At a time when VTA is struggling with long-term budget woes, service cuts and the aftermath of a mass shooting, it may seem ludicrous to imagine the agency offering free rides. Transit advocates support the idea of fare-free transit, but say reliable service must come first. The agency would also need to figure out how to...
Study: San Jose children near Reid-Hillview Airport exposed to high lead levels
Lead levels at the Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose are dangerously high for children in the surrounding area, according to a report issued by the county. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors commissioned the lead study in 2020 using 17,000 blood samples collected between 2011 and 2020 from children living near the airport....
Masks will be required indoors in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County and seven other Bay Area counties have issued a new health order requiring masks indoors in public places. The mandate applies to everyone regardless of vaccination status. Officials announced the health order during a news conference on Monday. The order, which takes effect midnight on Tuesday, applies to most public settings, with...
Exiled Santa Clara County deputy DA considers running for office
Prosecutor Daniel Chung has excoriated Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen in print, and now he wants to take his job. Chung, a deputy district attorney on paid administrative leave, is strongly considering entering the 2022 race for Santa Clara County District Attorney. He told San José Spotlight that he intends to make a...
Housing assistance hard to obtain in Santa Clara County
When the city evicted a group of tenants from a cluster of mobile homes in south San Jose, Santa Clara County put them up in a hotel within a day. Getting this treatment doesn’t come easy, though—you pretty much need to have your house condemned. That’s what happened to several individuals who lost their homes...
How does the eviction ban protect Silicon Valley tenants?
For tenants behind on rent during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, experts advise following the three “S” rules: stay in your home, submit a declaration and seek rental assistance now. “We know that this is a very difficult time for many renters and small property owners,” said Emily Ann Ramos, a preservation and protection associate at...
Santa Clara County Board of Education looks to fill vacant seat
The Santa Clara County Board of Education will appoint a new trustee next month to fill a seat recently left vacant. “There are families even in District 2 which need services just as much as any families in the county,” said Anjali Kausar, CEO of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce and a candidate for the...
Santa Clara County to require COVID shots for public employees
Santa Clara County will require its 22,000 employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in an attempt to curb infections driven by unvaccinated individuals. The vaccine policy and timeline are still under development. The vast majority of county employees across all departments are fully vaccinated, a county spokesperson told San José Spotlight. The spokesperson did not provide...
Rising heat threatens Silicon Valley’s vulnerable populations
Extreme heat is dangerous and sometimes lethal—and it’s becoming difficult to escape in the age of climate change. In Silicon Valley, some residents struggled to stay cool during a heat advisory earlier this month. About 50 people gathered at three public cooling centers in San Jose from July 9-11, according to Daniel Lazo, spokesperson for...