An East San Jose hospital continues to increase services under Santa Clara County’s ownership — including the latest expansion of its emergency department. This comes after the hospital faced years of divestment under a previous corporate owner. The county has increased emergency beds at Regional Medical Center from 34 to 54 at a time when...
Federal vote-by-mail challenges unlikely to affect Santa Clara County
As the legal battle over federal mail-in ballot restrictions continues to progress through the courts, Santa Clara County’s top election official is reassuring voters — the November elections will proceed as normal. A series of back-to-back legal rulings set off by a U.S. Supreme Court decision last week ended with a judge placing a temporary block...
South Bay coalition wants to protect workers from tech
From artificial intelligence to algorithmic surveillance, recent tech advances are rapidly reshaping the workplace. South Bay labor leaders are alarmed — and drawing together an industry-spanning coalition intended to give workers more say in how these technologies are deployed. Dozens of workers gathered in front of San Jose City Hall on Tuesday to unveil the...
Santa Clara County aims to protect voting rights
As voting rights become diminished, Santa Clara County officials and advocates are pushing back. The Board of Supervisors is working with Black community leaders to encourage residents to participate in local elections, after officials recently approved a plan to draft a resolution to protect voting rights, which will go before supervisors on Sept. 15. Supervisors...
Santa Clara County home aid workers see pay increase
After years of meager wage increases, thousands of home aid workers in Santa Clara County will receive a bump in their hourly pay amid a tight budget cycle — a move advocates said is necessary but falls short to cover rapidly rising costs of living. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a new two-year...
Santa Clara County moves forward with jail transformation
Santa Clara County’s efforts to construct new jail facilities have repeatedly stalled due to rising costs and ongoing disagreements among officials and residents, but the deteriorating infrastructure is propelling the county to finally move forward. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to proceed with a multistep plan to overhaul and...
Santa Clara County court victory keeps millions in federal funds
Millions of dollars will be preserved for Santa Clara County after an appeals court backed the county-led lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration for imposing politically motivated restrictions on federal grants. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed a lower court decision that temporarily suspended the federal government from tying conditions onto...
Immigration, tech discussed at annual San José Spotlight festival
There is no shortage of challenges — and solutions — facing Silicon Valley, according to community leaders and elected officials who spoke at San Jose Spotlight’s fourth annual political festival known as PolitiBeat. The day-long series of panel discussions on Aug. 7 at the Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose explored knotty topics ranging from...
Santa Clara County youth career program pays dividends
Hundreds of foster youth have found a career path to the future through a unique Santa Clara County program that’s celebrating its 10th year. The Intern & Earn program helps young people develop professional skills and gain experience in the workplace. In addition to earning $19.75 an hour, participants receive mentorship and employment counseling. The...
Feds say South County ICE facility will hold minimal detainees
Federal officials say a planned ICE facility in South County will typically house about 10 detainees, according to the most detailed official statement yet released outlining the project. New court documents filed last week lay out the legal response to a lawsuit seeking to block the facility, and claim detention space will be used only...