Santa Clara County officials say they’re making plans for a projected surge in hospitalizations due to coronavirus just as deaths across the county reached double digits and infections rose by 106 cases in the last two days. As of Sunday night, 10 people had died from the virus, up from eight on Friday, and the...
Silicon Valley nonprofits feel the blow of coronavirus two-fold
Over the past week and a half, Leslie Bacho has watched as the number of volunteers showing up to stock and pack food at Second Harvest Food Bank has halved, just as the need for that food peaks. The San Jose-based food bank is boxing up food in its warehouse for pickup, rather than have residents...
Death toll rises as Santa Clara County officials plead for medical supplies
Santa Clara County has emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the Bay Area, and on Friday the contagious virus claimed two more lives in the county as more San Jose firefighters tested positive for the illness. Meanwhile, nurses across the county are pleading for donations as they face a shortage of safety...
UPDATE: Fund for Santa Clara County nurses raises nearly $600K as more first responders fall sick with coronavirus
One day after Santa Clara County nurses put out a plea for donations of medical safety supplies to protect themselves from the coronavirus pandemic, a powerful group of allies came together to answer the need. On Friday, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group announced it had launched a drive to collect money and supplies for the...
What does California’s ‘stay at home’ order mean for Silicon Valley?
Want to do your part in fighting coronavirus? Then stay home. That was the message California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered Thursday night to all 40 million Californians as he announced an official “stay at home” order. So far, 675 people have tested positive for the virus statewide and 16 people have died from coronavirus, known as COVID-19....
Coronavirus death toll rises as San Jose State student, first responders test positive
Five people have died from coronavirus in Santa Clara County as of Tuesday evening. Officials announced a man in his 50s died Tuesday after being hospitalized since March 9. One of the deaths in Santa Clara County so far includes a homeless resident, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. As of Monday night, 392 people had...
Santa Clara County lawmakers to approve $137.4M for affordable housing
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is expected to approve $137.4 million in funding for seven new supportive and affordable housing developments, Supervisor Cindy Chavez announced during a news conference Monday. That means another 865 units added to the affordable housing market, which could shelter up to 2,059 of the county’s most vulnerable people....
Santa Clara County reaches last-minute deal with workers to avoid strike
Santa Clara County and the union representing 12,000 of its workers reached a provisional agreement late Thursday to avoid a strike after four days and nights of intense negotiations that ran into the wee hours of the morning. Workers with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521 — which represents more than half of the county’s...
Amid spiking gun violence, Santa Clara County announces new gun team
Given an increase in gun violence in Santa Clara County, officials on Monday announced a new law enforcement team tasked with removing firearms from people with domestic violence and temporary restraining orders. The county’s Board of Supervisors is expected to approve funding for two members of the special 5-member team at its meeting on Tuesday. Officials held a news conference...
Three years later, Coyote Creek flood victims still fighting for justice
The water that inundated the neighborhoods surrounding Coyote Creek nearly three years ago has receded, but the residents of the area are still grappling with the devastating effects — three years later. Friday marked three years since heavy rain caused a deluge that put hundreds of San Jose households underwater, displaced 14,000 people in three...