After pushing for construction of a new county jail in downtown San Jose for years, Santa Clara County supervisors are now putting the project on hold and proposing a mental health facility instead. When 2020 began, the tumultuous year became an unintended pilot program in reduced incarceration in the county. With a third of the...
UPDATE: Supervisors approve $1 million to review sex discrimination policies at county schools
After emotional and contentious debate about federal changes to campus sex discrimination laws, supervisors agreed to spend up to $1 million to study the issue in Santa Clara County schools. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Oct. 20 to begin the process of reviewing county compliance with Title IX and other laws regarding sexual harassment...
What early end to census could mean for Santa Clara County
With the Trump Administration prevailing in ending the census count early, Santa Clara County officials say they’re not sure if everyone who needed to be counted actually was. And that could have serious and far-reaching impacts for years to come, they say. “Because the census has been cut short, we believe we’re not going to...
San Jose facility forced to move mentally ill patients, baffling families
Some 30 psychiatric patients who live in a Santa Clara County facility in San Jose have been notified they may have to move out — but they say they don’t know why. Riviera Villa houses patients with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. The patients have been caught in the middle of...
Update: Los Altos Hills, South Santa Clara fire districts dodge ax — for now
Despite scathing audits and pleas from fire officials to create a consolidated fire district, Santa Clara County Supervisors refused to dissolve the South Santa Clara and Los Altos Hills fire districts. Instead, supervisors punted the decision to the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO. The group typically completes a comprehensive review of the county’s fire...
Religious leaders plead to increase indoor services in Santa Clara County
Church members from across Santa Clara County are asking supervisors to reconsider restrictions that will limit services to 25 percent of capacity, even as the county moves into a less restrictive tier of pandemic restrictions imposed by the state. For nearly two hours Oct. 6, church members, pastors and representatives asked the Board of Supervisors...
Santa Clara County sets affordable housing requirement on new developments
Housing developers who want to build in unincorporated parts of Santa Clara County next year will, for the first time, have to set aside units for low-income residents or pay an in-lieu fee. The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 6 approved the requirement that low-income housing make up 16 percent of new developments containing three...
After 40 years in politics, Jim Beall casts his final vote in Sacramento
For Jim Beall, there were no first-day jitters when he stepped foot on the Senate floor eight years ago. “It was December of 2012 – my first day — and by the time I finished the day, I had introduced, I think, three bills,” Beall said. And after a distinguished four decades in public office in...
Victims urge supervisors to tackle sexual harassment at Santa Clara County schools
During a young woman’s sophomore year at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, a fellow student sexually assaulted her off campus. That began years of intense suffering, taunting and trauma. “I was forced to choose between my physical and mental safety and my education,” according to the student, who ultimately left the high...
Santa Clara County supervisors pump $13 million to help people quarantine
Santa Clara County residents who are exposed or have contracted COVID-19 are getting more financial help to cover the cost of isolating and quarantining. Supervisors on Sept. 22 approved a $13 million infusion to the county’s cities to pay for motel costs, at-home support and financial assistance related to mandatory quarantine if residents get the...