NAACP representatives have accused HomeFirst of racially profiling employees and voiced their anger in front of the homeless service provider’s headquarters. The allegations include displaying photos of former Black employees in a handbook “like criminal mugshots,” rescheduling Black employees who needed child care and recently firing a Black employee who is now facing homelessness himself...
San Jose hospital is losing critical workers
The workers charged with keeping critical medical equipment online at a Santa Clara County-owned hospital are about to be out of the job—and hospital staff fear patients could pay the price. The 17 engineers at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose are members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 39. But last month,...
Santa Clara County DA’s embattled investigator will retire
A high-ranking official in the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office under fire for alleged discriminatory remarks against coworkers is set to retire in December. Moises Reyes, chief of the DA’s Bureau of Investigations, will retire on Dec. 19, a spokesperson for the DA’s office told San José Spotlight. This follows more than a dozen claims...
Silicon Valley female officials face violence and family threats
A woman who runs for office in today’s political climate can find herself navigating a minefield of hostile, threatening public behavior, and she will face higher levels of harassment and danger than her male counterparts. In a first of its kind survey, the California Women’s List collected more than 100 responses from various gender identities...
Will social housing in Silicon Valley find funding to break ground?
A local assemblyman’s goal of establishing social housing in California is one signature away from fruition, but lingering questions remain about how these projects will be funded. Assembly Bill 309 author Assemblymember Alex Lee said social housing—a method where governments own, manage and maintain homes designed as affordable housing—will help alleviate California’s housing crunch. But...
Santa Clara County wants alternatives to tear gassing the mentally ill
Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen vowed to improve mental health care in the county jail during his campaign last year, yet tear gas and pepper spray are still used on incarcerated individuals with mental health issues. Sheriff deputies in the jail use tear gas and oleoresin capsicum spray, or pepper spray, on mentally ill...
Santa Clara County official scolded for mass mailers
The Santa Clara County assessor has received a warning for violating political rules about mass mailings at the public’s expense. The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) sent a warning letter Sept. 7 to Assessor Larry Stone for violating the Political Reform Act when he mass mailed an annual property assessment report—exceeding the limit of 200 mailers...
‘Now is the time’: Silicon Valley transit leaders discuss future
Local transportation experts say safety and collaboration between agencies in the Bay Area are critical to pushing forward the future of Silicon Valley transit. Transportation leaders gathered on Wednesday to discuss the future of public transportation during a panel hosted by San José Spotlight. Panelist Rod Diridon Sr., a prolific transportation advocate whose namesake marks San Jose’s downtown...
Will Silicon Valley lawmaker’s plan to toss Trump off ballot work?
A local state assemblyman wants to remove former President Donald Trump from the March primary ballot, but the law may not be on his side. Trump’s eligibility to be on the ballot hinges on the outcome of his federal indictment over the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The first trial date in...
Immigrants put billions of dollars into Santa Clara County
Immigrants are one of Santa Clara County’s key economic drivers, bringing billions of dollars into the community. Approximately 765,800 immigrants contributed $255 billion to the county’s gross domestic product in 2021, according to a recent report that reveals the significant role immigrants play in the region’s labor force, businesses and consumer spending. New Americans in...