Northern California’s representatives are keeping a close eye on the swell of militarized law enforcement sent to Los Angeles this week, predicting that President Donald Trump may expand his use of the tactics in the coming days. While many Democratic lawmakers call for peace as more troops move in, one Northern California lawmaker said the...
San Jose BART extension faces nearly 2-year delay
Silicon Valley’s long-awaited BART expansion could be delayed for another year and a half while officials consider cutting one of the project’s largest contracts to save costs. VTA wants to look for a new contractor to bore the expansion’s five-mile tunnel, after being unable to reach an agreement with the current contractor, Kiewit Shea Traylor....
Funding falls through for Santa Clara County mental health facilities
Santa Clara County received zero Proposition 1 help from Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand its mental health facilities, despite him turning up the pressure on counties to provide more treatment beds. Last month, Newsom announced $3.3 billion in Prop. 1 grants to 126 recipients across the state. Santa Clara County was left out. The county...
Santa Clara County sheriff expands use of drones
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office wants to expand its use of drones to reduce deputy violence. Yet its oversight agency warns the rules for deployment are too loose, and some officials are concerned about over-policing communities of color. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with using drones as first responders, with...
Silicon Valley transit workers overwhelmingly approve contract
The union representing Santa Clara County bus drivers and light rail operators has approved the latest contract proposal from VTA after months of negotiations and a 17-day strike that stopped transit service. Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, which represents more than 1,500 frontline VTA workers, voted 70.5% to approve the proposed contract, with...
Silicon Valley VTA workers vote on new contract offer
VTA has a new proposal for its frontline workers months after a historic strike halted public transit across Santa Clara County. Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, which represents more than 1,500 frontline VTA workers, will vote on a new contract offer Tuesday, ending the months-long labor dispute. The offer mirrors similar proposals approved...
County says San Jose fire may have violated federal law
Santa Clara County’s emergency medical services chief is denouncing the San Jose Fire Department for potential violations of federal law, after this news outlet exclusively reported that Chief Robert Sapien knew about firefighter narcotics thefts — which led to patients receiving drugs from tampered vials — for longer than the city has let on. In...
Santa Clara County takes over managed health care program
Facing dramatic federal funding cuts, Santa Clara County leaders want to lessen the taxpayer dollars needed to support its massive public hospital system. That means reining in an institution the county created decades ago — which officials warn risks putting its own survival over health services. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously May 20 to...
Santa Clara County works to save services amid federal cuts
A massive structural budget deficit is forcing Santa Clara County leaders to get creative in finding ways to avoid hits to critical social safety net services. A San José Spotlight review of County Executive James Williams’ budget recommendations for fiscal year 2025-26 shows four main takeaways about what services could be eliminated, reduced, saved and...
Need for Santa Clara County senior meals outgrows budget
Amy and George Hsu look forward to an affordable lunch five days a week at Sunnyvale United Methodist Church. It’s where they socialize with dozens of older adults, listen to a lively jazz band play “Blueberry Hill” and get a meal with fresh fruit and vegetables they wouldn’t be able to budget for on a...