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As students across the South Bay begin returning to the classroom, lawmakers and education leaders are pushing legislation to make classrooms safer, more supportive and equitable. The Santa Clara County Office of Education recently introduced its legislative package, which includes bills to increase mental health care access, guarantee additional funding for early childcare and incentivize...
‘We are in a race’: South Bay health officials warn of COVID variants
Multiple variants of the coronavirus are circulating in Santa Clara County, and public health officials warn another surge of COVID-19 infections could begin if residents aren’t more careful. Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said Thursday that all residents need to remain vigilant and not let their guard down when it comes...
California to give Santa Clara County $1.5M, but leaders want more COVID vaccines
The state will give Santa Clara County more than $1 million to help increase COVID-19 vaccine equity efforts, but South Bay leaders say that doesn’t alleviate the source of the region’s vaccination bottleneck—a lack of supply. The funding for the county is part of a larger $7.6 million package reserved for Bay Area counties that...
Elder abuse rose in Santa Clara County as county staffing dropped
Incidents of elder and dependent adult abuse have been climbing in Santa Clara County since 2013, but the biggest spike occurred last year while residents were sheltering inside their homes. Meanwhile, the county’s adult protective services struggled with understaffing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The county’s department in 2018 and 2019 received about 5,900 abuse complaints,...
South Bay health leaders skeptical about Newsom expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility
Santa Clara County health officials greeted the announcement that all Californians will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by mid-April with caution and skepticism. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday all residents 50 years and older can get the shot starting April 1.Two weeks later, anyone over age 16 can get a COVID-19 vaccine beginning April...
Santa Clara County faces legal threat over jail conditions
Santa Clara County’s crumbling jail conditions, which have been described as a “hellhole” and led to hunger strikes, could land the county in court The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley on March 17 sent the county a letter demanding conditions be addressed before the end of the month — or else it will sue. “We are deeply...
‘I’m not a virus’: Silicon Valley lawmaker unveils plan to combat anti-Asian hate
Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee introduced a slew of proposals Tuesday to research and combat hate crimes against the county’s Asian and Asian-American population. Lee’s proposals, adopted unanimously by supervisors, will create a community outreach and education campaign against race-based violence against Asians, and begins work on federal and legislative advocacy to encourage proposals...
Santa Clara County moving into orange tier, expanding indoor dining and retail
Santa Clara County on Wednesday will move into the less-restrictive orange tier of the state’s reopening plan, removing capacity limits for retailers and doubling capacity for indoor dining and other businesses. The county is currently in the red tier since March 2. Local health officials say COVID-19 cases are steadily falling, which means restaurants, movie...
Santa Clara County advocates celebrate win for immigrants
Santa Clara County scored a substantial legal victory this month when the U.S. Department of Justice dropped an appeal on a legal rule that sought to limit public services for immigrants. County Counsel James Williams called the decision to drop the case “a victory for the rule of law,” he said, because otherwise the change...
San Jose Speaks: A conversation with Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone
San José Spotlight earlier this month welcomed Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone in its latest San Jose Speaks series, which features interactive conversations with South Bay leaders, influencers and decision makers. Stone discussed Proposition 19, which was approved by voters in 2020 and significantly complicated the rules for transferring property tax assessments. The March...