It’s been almost one year since San Jose resident Patricia Dowd became the first person to die of COVID-19 in the U.S. As of Jan. 29, nearly 100,500 individuals have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Santa Clara County, according to the Public Health Department dashboard. About 1,344 county residents have died from the disease. “It’s...
San Jose survey reignites contentious debate on planned closure of Reid-Hillview Airport
A new San Jose survey has revealed stark division among residents about the closure of Reid-Hillview Airport — just ahead of a forthcoming study on lead levels of residents who live beneath the flight path of airplanes. “Everyone tries to make data-driven decisions when possible,” said Juan Estrada, founder of the community organization District 5 United....
San Jose grocery store clerks and other essential workers could get $5 boost
As new strains of COVID-19 circulate across Santa Clara County, South Bay leaders are taking action to ensure essential workers get a pay boost for putting their health on the line. San Jose leaders this week discussed creating an emergency ordinance that would guarantee select retail food workers an extra $5 per hour in hazard...
Santa Clara County blames COVID-19 for not fulfilling public records requests
Santa Clara County is refusing to release records related to COVID-19 because “it is not in the public interest” for county employees to divert their time from the pandemic to collect and review public documents. But government watchdog groups say that excuse is unacceptable. County officials have a legal obligation to fulfill requests under the...
VTA faces a sea of change, tough recruitment process following Fernandez’s departure
Transit experts say it could be months before Valley Transportation Authority selects a permanent leader to replace former CEO and general manager Nuria Fernandez — who recently left her post to join the Biden administration. Following Fernandez’s Jan. 19 resignation, local leaders foresee an uncertain future for VTA and possible changes in transit initiatives across...
Valley Water directors move ahead with Pacheco Pass dam as price skyrockets
Valley Water leaders are moving forward with developing a new dam at Pacheco Pass in south Santa Clara County, despite recently learning that the price tag had doubled since 2019. “It seems to me that the directors of the water district need to take every extreme measure we can find to continue this project, moving...
San Jose AAPI leaders decry lack of representation in Biden’s Cabinet picks
President Joe Biden’s administration has already broken barriers: Biden brings with him the first Black and Asian American vice president and a host of other firsts in his Cabinet. But for the first time in more than 20 years, the incoming president — one who promised the most diverse Cabinet in history — will not...
Santa Clara County releases new online dashboard to track vaccinations
More than a week after Santa Clara County revealed it has administered less than half its allocated COVID-19 vaccines, the county launched a new online dashboard to track the number shots given in the South Bay. The dashboard lists all 16 vaccine providers in the county, the source of the vaccine allocation (federal, state or...
San Jose’s Black leaders reflect on Martin Luther King, Kamala Harris
This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is like no other. The traditional parades, luncheons and celebrations have been replaced by tiny squares on a Zoom call. America is coming off a year of civil unrest and reckoning with systemic racism after the police killing of George Floyd. And many are still reeling from four years...
San Jose transit agencies to receive millions in federal COVID-19 relief
Bay Area transit officials this month will decide how to allocate $975 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to local transit agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). “In the lens of the pandemic, it allows essential workers to keep their jobs and save money,” said Daniel Huynh, a member of Silicon Valley...