Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County’s controversial mental health program in high demand

A Santa Clara County program to help the severely mentally ill receive treatment has outpaced expectations in its first year of implementation, after a hard fought battle to get it approved. The Assisted Outpatient Treatment program (AOT) also known as Laura’s Law, allows different authorities and family members to refer people diagnosed with a severe mental illness—schizophrenia...

Silicon Valley community colleges get new leadership

Foothill De Anza-Community College District has selected a new chancellor after a monthslong nationwide search. The school board announced its pick on Tuesday: Lee Lambert, a community college chancellor based in Arizona. Lambert starts this August, replacing chancellor Judy C. Miner who’s retiring. District stakeholders said they hope the new leader addresses the needs of both...

Santa Clara County fairgrounds plans plod ahead

Plans to revamp the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds into a sports and recreation facility have been progressing for more than a year, but it’s unclear when shovels will hit the ground. After more than a year of exclusive negotiations with the San Jose Earthquakes, Major League Cricket and San Jose State University—all of which are eyeing...

Silicon Valley water district sponsors state bill to help house homeless people

A new state bill would give the Santa Clara Valley Water District expanded authority to help thousands of homeless people living along creeks, streams and other district lands find housing and services. District officials say Assembly Bill 1469 would add language to the district’s governing act specifying it can assist unsheltered people, allowing it to play a...

Santa Clara County could guarantee income for formerly incarcerated people

Individuals coming out of jail have few resources to help them integrate back into society. Santa Clara County officials want to help change that. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently approved a potential guaranteed basic income program for former inmates. The program’s financial feasibility will be discussed at the county’s budget meeting in...