English
Spanish
Vietnamese
Complaints about the behavior of a supervisor in VTA’s information technology department started appearing just months after he began working there, according to internal records. Records obtained by San José Spotlight show that in 2019, three employees complained about a supervisor, Kenneth Blackwell, shortly after he joined the department. The complaints alleged his behavior was...
East San Jose airport switching to unleaded fuel after years of demands
Representatives from the local aviation community will announce Monday that planes at Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose will run on unleaded fuel, marking a victory for environmental and community groups that have complained for years about the dangers of leaded fuel. Officials from the Community and Airport Partnership for Safe Operation, a nonprofit committed to...
Blood lead levels near San Jose airport are average, despite alarm
Despite Santa Clara County officials describing lead exposure from Reid-Hillview Airport as a decades-long health crisis, a county-commissioned study shows elevated blood lead levels consistent with the state average. The report, released last week, found that out of 17,000 blood samples from children ages 0-18 within 1.5 miles of the airport, only 1.7% have elevated lead levels...
Santa Clara County supervisors demand investigation of sheriff’s jail oversight
Two Santa Clara County supervisors are demanding an investigation of Sheriff Laurie Smith and her office concerning a death and injuries that occurred in the county jail that cost taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements. Supervisors Joe Simitian and Otto Lee issued recommendations Wednesday night as part of the agenda for the next week’s board meeting. They’re...
Bay Area mayors, advocates urge Congress to invest in housing
Local lawmakers and housing advocates are calling on Congress to invest in more housing to help end homelessness and housing insecurity in the Bay Area. A coalition of more than 20 city officials, nonprofits and philanthropy organizations sent a letter to the region’s congressional delegation Tuesday. It urges federal lawmakers to address the ongoing housing shortage...
Santa Clara County Board of Education picks new trustee
The Santa Clara County Board of Education this week filled an almost two-month vacancy on the dais after appointing Tara Sreekrishnan, deputy chief of staff for state Sen. Dave Cortese. Approximately 40 county residents and colleagues of the one-time Cupertino City Council candidate called into Wednesday’s meeting to support her appointment to Trustee Area 2, which...
Will Santa Clara County see another COVID shutdown?
Nearly two months after California lifted most pandemic restrictions, the Delta variant is driving a surge in positive COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. That’s prompting health officials to reinstate safety guidelines—and raising questions about the possibility of another shutdown. First identified in India, the Delta variant is believed to be twice as contagious as previous dominant COVID-19...
Is free public transit feasible in Santa Clara County?
At a time when VTA is struggling with long-term budget woes, service cuts and the aftermath of a mass shooting, it may seem ludicrous to imagine the agency offering free rides. Transit advocates support the idea of fare-free transit, but say reliable service must come first. The agency would also need to figure out how to...
Study: San Jose children near Reid-Hillview Airport exposed to high lead levels
Lead levels at the Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose are dangerously high for children in the surrounding area, according to a report issued by the county. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors commissioned the lead study in 2020 using 17,000 blood samples collected between 2011 and 2020 from children living near the airport....
Masks will be required indoors in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County and seven other Bay Area counties have issued a new health order requiring masks indoors in public places. The mandate applies to everyone regardless of vaccination status. Officials announced the health order during a news conference on Monday. The order, which takes effect midnight on Tuesday, applies to most public settings, with...