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Santa Clara County nurses speak out against staffing shortages

Nurses are sounding the alarm on staffing shortages at Santa Clara County hospitals that they say are causing delays in patient care. Nurses rallied at county hospitals Tuesday to protest furloughs and dangerous staffing shortages stemming from President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which slashed funding for vital services including Medi-Cal and food stamps. Dozens...

San Jose employee enters District 9 City Council race

Lifelong District 9 resident Gordon Chester says he’s observed San Jose stagnate or even backslide on a number of fronts over his 39-year life — from road safety to public services and housing affordability. Now, the longtime city employee is stepping into the crowded race to represent his home district on the San Jose City Council,...

Santa Clara County nurses say furloughs hinder patient care

The chilling effects of President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” have caused nurses to be furloughed across Santa Clara County’s hospitals. Dozens of local nurses have been furloughed over the past few months, creating staffing shortages across the entire public health care system, according to nurses and union representatives. They also pointed out furloughs at...

Stone: What exactly does the Santa Clara County assessor do?

Unlike the sheriff or the district attorney, people often ask me: “What exactly does the assessor do?” My answer surprises them. “The assessor is not a political position.” Their reaction is almost always the same: “But you get elected, don’t you?” Yes, the law requires election, but after the ballots are counted, there is nothing political about...

Willow Glen 7-story development moves forward

Willow Glen residents are expressing bitter disappointment after a proposed seven-story residential building in their neighborhood gained a permit under a state law streamlining housing development. The decision — made during the Dec. 3 San Jose Planning Director Hearing — clears the way for San Francisco-based Redco Development to build 126 apartments on a roughly...

More South County homeless receive health care

Local officials are reporting a sharp uptick in homeless people seeking health services in South County – a trend they credit to successful outreach. South County patient encounters with the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program — which provides mobile and fixed-site primary care, substance abuse and oral health services — have exceeded last year’s totals. As...

San Jose housing commissioners against mobile home rent increase

The San Jose Housing and Community Development Commission is recommending not to raise rents for residents living in the city’s 58 mobile home parks. A majority of commissioners on Thursday didn’t support a proposed 10% increase to space rents once a mobile home is sold. The city Housing Department proposed the increase as a way...