Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County

Silicon Valley fast-food owners could pay for workers’ rights training

It’s been a good week for fast-food workers in Silicon Valley. Employees at local McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other fast-food franchises roared with applause Tuesday when the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved creating a training program for fast-food workers on their state-mandated labor rights. While workers support the move, store owners say it’s unnecessary...

Federal cuts jeopardize Silicon Valley community funders

Community financial institutions are the backbone to a healthy society, providing loans for small businesses, disaster recovery, low-income families, immigrant communities and affordable housing developments. That essential service is now in danger. President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) last month put a target on these institutions and brought...

Freshman Silicon Valley lawmaker makes his mark

Silicon Valley’s newest assemblymember has hit the ground running in his first four months, with a hefty bill package supporting economically disadvantaged Californians. District 26 Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens was sworn into office Dec. 8, and since then he’s met with thousands of residents, community leaders and local officials. The freshman state lawmaker is carrying 17...

San Jose congressman talks tariffs with small businesses

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have begun to hit the economy, and one congressional lawmaker heard fear, frustration and anger from local businesses during his trip to San Jose.  Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who sits on the House Subcommittee on Trade, introduced legislation to ensure Congress, not the Trump administration, decides who imposes broad tariffs. In partnership...

Silicon Valley firefighters clash over territory

Silicon Valley officials want to extinguish their feud with state firefighters over regional fire protection territory. But their vote to expand Santa Clara County Fire Department coverage threatens to fan the flames. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), a land use board comprised of elected officials from across the county, voted 6-1 Wednesday to remove...