San José Spotlight’s inaugural all-day political festival PolitiBeat, a first for the region, brought together dozens of leaders in government, education, media and sports to discuss the successes and challenges facing San Jose and Silicon Valley. Held last Saturday at the iconic Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose, PolitiBeat offered more than 150 attendees the...
Report: Silicon Valley Latinos face ongoing struggles
Latinos in Silicon Valley are facing exacerbated quality of life challenges in the wake of the pandemic, including education gaps, worsening housing conditions and health disparities, according to a new report. The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley’s 2023 Latino Report Card, unveiled Tuesday at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, shows that even as some...
Silicon Valley inequality persists four years in a row
A vast amount of wealth in Silicon Valley is concentrated in just a few households, while residents throughout the region struggle to afford basic needs. That’s according to the 2023 Silicon Valley Pain Index, an annual report put forward by researchers at San Jose State University. This year’s findings highlight how eight households in Silicon...
Full report: Silicon Valley Pain Index 2023
The Silicon Valley Pain Index is produced by the San Jose State University Human Rights Institute. The annual study focuses on racial discrimination and wealth inequality. The report was first published in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and was inspired by an index compiled about New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina....
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 elected leader wages war with agency
New records show rising tensions, turmoil and dysfunction at the region’s largest water supplier — with one of its own directors now demanding the public agency pay her attorney fees in her fight against them. Valley Water Director Rebecca Eisenberg has ruffled feathers since taking office in January. But six months into her tenure, emails...
How San Jose lawmaker’s bill could curb workplace violence
Manuel Huizar, a 24-year-old San Jose Safeway employee, was fatally shot by shoplifters last year. In April, Home Depot employee Blake Mohs, 26, was shot and killed while attempting to stop a robbery in Pleasanton. In May 2021, nine people were fatally shot by a transit worker at San Jose’s VTA rail yard. It was...
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...
Will ranked choice voting come to Santa Clara County?
A new voting system may come to Santa Clara County—if officials decide to pursue it. Assembly Bill 1227, authored by Silicon Valley Assemblymembers Evan Low and Alex Lee, would allow the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to implement ranked choice voting for county elections. Ranked choice voting—recently adopted in Bay Area cities such as...
UPDATE: Silicon Valley special ed teachers demand safer classrooms
Santa Clara County special educators are continuing to push for safer classrooms amid serious injuries. Dozens of special education teachers gathered in front of the Santa Clara County Office of Education Wednesday afternoon to protest before a board meeting. They chanted, “What do we want? Safe schools!” and held signs that said, “Stand up for...