VTA is having its remote workers return to the office—and some say that puts them at risk. “We’re not opposed to coming back to the office, we just want to do it in a safe, logical way,” said Tammy Dhanota, a public communications specialist and VTA chapter chair at SEIU Local 521. The union includes...
Santa Clara County fears July 4th will jumpstart fire season, toxic air
Santa Clara County officials have a simple request of residents celebrating this Fourth of July weekend: Please don’t burn the county down. “Fireworks are a greater danger in Santa Clara County than ever before,” said county Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention Hector Estrada. “They result in deaths, injuries and property damage. And unfortunately, year after year,...
VTA to get $20 million from state after San Jose mass shooting
State lawmakers are set to give $20 million to VTA to help it recover from the deadliest shooting in Bay Area history. The funding is included in the state budget and will allow the transportation agency to provide mental health resources to employees and their families, resume light rail service and improve safety upgrades at the Guadalupe...
Silicon Valley transit agency publicizes dispute over alleged debt
Two Bay Area transit agencies disagree on whether one owes the other money—and local officials say the dispute could be handled better. “The more I read about it, this is clearly a power play,” said Eugene Bradley, founder of Silicon Valley Transit Users. “They’re going to have to work something out.” The San Mateo County...
Santa Clara County creates department for disabled residents
Obstacles that disabled residents deal with daily intensified during the pandemic. A new office promises to change that trajectory with a training and information center dedicated to improving services across Santa Clara County. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the new Office of Disability Affairs on Tuesday, a victory that advocates say...
Santa Clara County loses last COVID mandate
Santa Clara County Public Health discontinued the last of its COVID-related regulations on Monday. Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s public health officer, issued an order eliminating remaining local requirements such as teleworking and social distancing, but businesses and governments will still need to determine the vaccination status of personnel through self-attestation. On Friday, the California...
Fentanyl deaths in Santa Clara County rise during pandemic
The number of fatal fentanyl overdoses in Santa Clara County nearly tripled during the pandemic, and experts say the two are intricately linked. “(The pandemic) seems to have exacerbated a lot of latent trauma that our clients have,” said Gary Montrezza, CEO of Pathway Society, a substance abuse counseling center based in San Jose. “Those who are...
Santa Clara County first to make Juneteenth a holiday
In light of the recent decision to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, Santa Clara County leaders hope residents will become more aware of African American history. President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Federal employees will observe the holiday on Friday, although this year Juneteenth is on Saturday. Prior to...
Santa Clara County workers get revised mask rules
California’s workplace safety board has changed its rules on masks again—this time to align with the entire state which reopened Tuesday. Cal/OSHA ruled Thursday that vaccinated workers can shed their masks in the workplace—even if some of their colleagues are unvaccinated—except in places where they are required for everyone such as public transit. Workers also...
Silicon Valley’s top health leader reflects on lessons learned as COVID-19 rules lift
Even after death threats, Dr. Sara Cody stands tall. She especially stood tall Tuesday, the same day the state reopened, and for the first time publicly removed her mask. Fifteen months after Cody declared a shelter in place order — the first in the country to do so — the county’s top health official reflected...