Even after death threats, Dr. Sara Cody stands tall. She especially stood tall Tuesday, the same day the state reopened, and for the first time publicly removed her mask. Fifteen months after Cody declared a shelter in place order — the first in the country to do so — the county’s top health official reflected...
What does California reopening mean for Santa Clara County?
Santa Clara County residents can return to life near normal as California officially reopens today following more than a year of COVID-19. Starting today, the majority of businesses can operate at full capacity and vaccinated people can mostly remove their masks while grocery shopping, eating at restaurants or working out at the gym. The relaxation of...
Silicon Valley city limits public input at meetings
In one Bay Area city, public meetings are going to run a bit differently, with more or less transparency depending on who you ask. In a split 3-2 vote, the Los Gatos Town Council this month approved a change to the consent calendar—a list of items usually approved with a single vote of the council—that...
San Jose students survey residents on Reid-Hillview Airport closure
When Yajaira Gutierrez first heard of a widespread survey about the potential closure of Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose, she was surprised by what it found. “I thought the results were really alarming,” Gutierrez told San José Spotlight. “It didn’t make sense to me that the community would rather keep that airport open than shut...
How long will South Bay government meetings stay online?
During the pandemic, government meetings went online to allow for greater public participation and compliance with social distancing guidelines. But with COVID-19 on the decline, some are wondering when meetings might return to an in-person format. Hybrid meetings may be the answer. Both the San Jose City Council and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors...
South Bay leaders weigh-in on federal relief funding
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation, many cities and towns took a financial hit as tax revenue dried up and public health expenditures increased. But now the federal government is doling out funds to help communities recover. San Jose and Santa Clara County are receiving approximately $212 and $374 million, respectively, from the American...
How Santa Clara County residents can prepare for fire season
With warm temperatures, dry vegetation and little rain in the past year, parts of San Jose and Santa Clara County are at risk of wildfires. Here’s what residents can do to prepare for this year’s fire season. Buildings near the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) are most at risk, said Erica Ray, spokesperson for the San...
Q&A: What San Jose businesses need to know about masks, COVID vaccines and social distancing
Differences between local and national COVID regulations are causing confusion and placing the burden of enforcement on businesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks or social distance “in any setting.” But in Santa Clara County, everyone is still required to wear masks...
Demand for Silicon Valley food pantries remains high
As California recovers from the pandemic job loss, the demand for food pantries in San Jose remains at a record high with no signs of declining. “We are not seeing a significant decrease (in the need for food pantries),” said Cat Cvengros, spokesperson for local food bank Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. “The biggest reason...
Santa Clara County cracks down on student absenteeism
More than 25,000 Santa Clara County students are chronically absent from school each year. Elected officials want to change that. The county Board of Supervisors this week voted unanimously to create a plan and funding options to address the issue. County leaders hope that contracts and a work plan are ironed out for the start...