Fentanyl deaths are on the rise in Santa Clara County, striking both young and old. As of early this month, Santa Clara County has recorded more fentanyl-related deaths than there were in all of 2019. Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner Dr. Michelle Jorden said there are even more deaths under investigation that are likely to...
Court employees say COVID-19 exposure and lax rules put them at risk in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Superior Court employees say they’re not being protected from COVID-19, and they fear for their health and safety every day they go to work. Court employees are exposed to COVID-19 on an almost weekly basis. Safety concerns voiced by workers are routinely ignored. Mask wearing is not rigorously enforced. Those are some...
Santa Clara County moves forward with job cuts in face of deficit
Despite calls from county employees and labor advocates to reconsider, Santa Clara County continued on its path to lay off employees in anticipation of balancing its 2021-22 budget. In a 3-2 vote Nov. 20, the Board of Supervisors pushed through the elimination of 170 county positions. Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Dave Cortese cast the dissenting...
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...
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...
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...
Santa Clara County eyes subpoena for Sheriff’s Office conduct reports
Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, after months of negotiation, refuses to sign an agreement allowing a civilian law enforcement watchdog access to critical records. Now, county officials are stepping in and subpoenas might be on the way. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Nov. 3 to direct the county’s attorney to draft a policy...