Gov. Gavin Newsom said Santa Clara County needs to step up its game in treating people with severe mental health issues. County leaders and advocates disagree. At a news conference Monday, Newsom singled out the county as one of 10 that are not bringing enough people through the state-mandated CARE Court system — designed to...
Former Valley Water CEO sexually harassed employees, report says
The head of Santa Clara County’s largest water supplier sexually harassed subordinate employees, according to independent investigators looking into allegations of misconduct. Valley Water has released the report conducted by law firm Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, which was investigating internal claims into CEO Rick Callender and his behavior with employees. The more than year-long...
Out-of-state police access Silicon Valley license plate readers
The company behind a network of automated license plate reading cameras is losing its public safety contracts across Silicon Valley. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is the most recent slate of officials to join Los Altos Hills and Mountain View in severing ties with Flock Safety over concerns the company has enabled unlawful...
Silicon Valley tech economy is hot, but not everyone benefits
Silicon Valley’s tech economy is hotter than ever, but many residents are being left behind. That’s one key message from this year’s Silicon Valley Index, an in-depth annual report card for the region from local think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley. The group presented the report at its annual State of the Valley event Friday...
Bay Area lawmakers author bills to deter immigration enforcement
State and federal lawmakers from Silicon Valley are gearing up to push back against immigration enforcement in their home districts and beyond. Several Bay Area lawmakers have introduced legislation this year to tamp down on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by imposing more taxes on immigrant detention centers, enforcing more oversight and ensuring people...
Silicon Valley homeless prevention program goes national
A homelessness prevention program that began in Santa Clara County is expanding across the country. Nonprofit Destination: Home is partnering with 10 different organizations across the U.S. to bring rental assistance and case management for people facing eviction, with a goal of helping more than 10,000 families remain stably housed. These organizations span both large and...
Santa Clara County brings mental health services to shelters
An at-times icy relationship between San Jose and Santa Clara County seems to have thawed as the county works to bring mental health services to the city’s temporary housing sites for homeless residents. Last year, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan claimed the county wasn’t doing enough to address homelessness, and called for more county investments....
Will Santa Clara County give reparations to Black residents?
After a successful push by community organizers, Santa Clara County officials have agreed to explore a reparations policy that could compensate Black residents for historic human rights violations and systemic racism. It’s still unclear when that will ultimately happen. County Supervisors Sylvia Arenas and Betty Duong last month approved a discussion on a reparations policy...
Silicon Valley water CEO resigns amid misconduct probe
The boss of Santa Clara County’s largest water supplier is stepping down — and officials will keep paying him for a year without disclosing what they discovered in a misconduct probe against him. Valley Water CEO Rick Callender is resigning effective March 1 after more than a year-long investigation into misconduct allegations by an employee,...
Silicon Valley low-cost grocer for military families stays open
Santa Clara County’s low-cost grocer for military families was at risk of closing, but will live on for at least another two years. Congressman Sam Liccardo on Wednesday announced the Defense Commissary Agency — a U.S. Department of Defense agency — reached an agreement to continue the Moffett Federal Airfield Commissary’s operations through 2028. The...