Efforts to improve Black maternal health outcomes have been doggedly pursued for decades. While there has been some encouraging data, there is still much to do to reduce instances of mortality and morbidity for Black infants and mothers (to include all pregnant and birthing people). Black mothers and infants have the highest rates for preterm...
San Jose recycle company accused of labor violations settles
An East San Jose recycling company agreed to settle unfair labor practice charges with drivers who said they were wrongfully laid off for trying to unionize. But it wasn’t exactly the deal they were looking for. Drivers at waste management company Premier Recycle went almost three years without a labor contract and faced a “vicious...
‘We can fight this,’ San Jose congressman says about eliminating DEI
California Democrats in Congress say they don’t want state leaders to cave to the Trump administration’s attempts to attach strings to federal support and its most recent demand to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs at schools — even if that means the state could lose out on millions or billions of dollars in federal funding. “The...
Federal cuts jeopardize Silicon Valley community funders
Community financial institutions are the backbone to a healthy society, providing loans for small businesses, disaster recovery, low-income families, immigrant communities and affordable housing developments. That essential service is now in danger. President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) last month put a target on these institutions and brought...
Ex-San Jose official pleads ‘no contest’ to child sex abuse charges
Disgraced former San Jose councilmember Omar Torres has pleaded “no contest” to charges he molested a minor relative in the 1990s – on the same day downtown residents vote for his replacement in a special election. Torres made the plea in Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Sevely’s courtroom Tuesday. The 43-year-old ex-councilmember faces...
San Jose police and fire unions want reserve funds to fill vacancies
Union leaders representing hundreds of San Jose police officers, firefighters and other workers said they shouldn’t be dealing with service and staffing cuts when the city has millions in reserve funds. Leaders with the San Jose Police Officers’ Association and San Jose Fire Fighters Local 230 are arguing the city has the necessary funding to...
Freshman Silicon Valley lawmaker makes his mark
Silicon Valley’s newest assemblymember has hit the ground running in his first four months, with a hefty bill package supporting economically disadvantaged Californians. District 26 Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens was sworn into office Dec. 8, and since then he’s met with thousands of residents, community leaders and local officials. The freshman state lawmaker is carrying 17...
San Jose special election PAC spending tops $800K
Spending has skyrocketed on the eve of San Jose’s special election, which will determine who will represent downtown on the City Council. Heading into Election Day, Matthew Quevedo, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Matt Mahan, is holding on to his fundraising lead with about $271,000 raised, according to recent campaign filings. Among the seven...
San Jose congressman talks tariffs with small businesses
President Donald Trump’s tariffs have begun to hit the economy, and one congressional lawmaker heard fear, frustration and anger from local businesses during his trip to San Jose. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who sits on the House Subcommittee on Trade, introduced legislation to ensure Congress, not the Trump administration, decides who imposes broad tariffs. In partnership...
Stroll: Bay Area electric mandates — a vast expense with minimal benefit
Will you or your landlord need to replace your gas-fired furnace or water heater? Starting in less than two years, it may cost tens of thousands of dollars if the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has its way. And it’s unlikely to make much difference to air quality. A district report notes that some...