San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, joined by county law enforcement and prosecutors, is backing a last-minute sales tax to protect Santa Clara County’s public hospitals from massive federal cuts. It comes after Mahan — along with the county’s Deputy Sheriffs Association and Government Attorneys Association — initially cast doubt and uncertainty about his stance on...
What a government shutdown will mean for Californians, from Social Security to national parks
By Rachel Becker, Kristen Hwang, Alejandro Lazo, Cayla Mihalovich and Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. John Lauretig remembers the filthy bathrooms, the overflowing trash cans and the community of people who rallied to clean up Joshua Tree National Park the last time the U.S. Government shut down. For more than a month...
East San Jose hospital back online for trauma patients
Workers at Regional Medical Center’s trauma unit routinely cut car crash victims out of their clothes, replace blood as it sprays from torn aortas and hold pelvic bones together as they pass along instructions over the yelling of suffering patients. Commotion and stress aren’t exactly positive features of most workplaces. But for an East San...
Santa Clara County finds way to fight builder’s remedy
Developers are attempting to use a legal escape hatch to push new housing into South County open space. But county leaders have found a loophole of their own. The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on Thursday voted 5-2 against appeals for two different projects under the same developer. To push the projects through, the developer has...
More Santa Clara County residents report first-time homelessness
More Santa Clara County residents are falling into homelessness for the first time as the cost of living rises. There are a record 10,711 homeless people living in the county this year, according to a count conducted in January. The county surveyed 1,534 homeless people during that time and 58% reported being newly homeless, according...
Silicon Valley health care leaders say federal cuts ‘truly devastating’
Santa Clara County health care leaders weren’t shy about voicing what’s in store for the future of public health at a forum hosted by San José Spotlight, as they brace for billions in revenue cuts. Editor Moryt Milo, who moderated the Sept. 17 State of Health Care in Silicon Valley event, questioned panelists on the ramifications...
Santa Clara County rolls out more affordable housing
More than 200 households have been given stability with the opening of two affordable housing developments near Diridon Station in San Jose. City and county officials on Wednesday celebrated the opening of Bellarmino Place and adjacent Alvarado Park, which will provide housing for older adults and people at risk of homelessness. The Santa Clara County...
UPDATE: Santa Clara County to coordinate response against ICE raids
Santa Clara County’s resistance to federal immigration crackdowns is about to get more organized. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to explore shifting county personnel and forming a county-coordinated regional response to ICE raids and residents facing deportation. It comes as county leaders have put $13 million since December into deportation legal defense and...
Santa Clara County partnership gives surplus food to people in need
Santa Clara County is taking a unique approach to prevent food waste: bring it directly to the people who need it most. Last year, the county started a food recovery program to install commercial refrigerators in affordable housing developments and stock them with produce and ready-to-eat meals. It partnered with nonprofit Martha’s Kitchen to deliver...
Santa Clara County opens walk-in clinic for substance disorders
While Santa Clara County is facing unprecedented revenue losses due to federal health care cuts, one newly opened clinic may survive. Santa Clara Valley Healthcare’s Compassionate Addiction Services and Support (COMPASS) Clinic opened Sept. 2, with federal grant and opioid settlement funds contributing between $2 million to $3 million. The substance use recovery facility is the...