Campaign finance reports are crucial to learning who’s funding elected office seekers. But new data shows Santa Clara County is rife with disregard for election transparency laws. Nearly 40 political campaign committees across the county have failed to file transparency reports by legal deadlines since 2018 — in many cases even after receiving two written...
Election 2024: Betty Duong in tight race for D2 county supervisor
Betty Duong knocks on the door of an East San Jose porch wearing a big floppy sun hat and white sneakers. She chats with the man who opens the door in Vietnamese about her run for the District 2 seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors when suddenly the man’s wife sees her and exclaims...
New East San Jose superintendent to deal with school closures
A struggling East San Jose school district plans to close multiple campuses as it brings on a new superintendent to help guide officials through the difficult process. Due to a projected $20.8 million budget shortfall, along with declining enrollment, Alum Rock Union School District will have to close up to nine of its 21 schools....
Sunnyvale older adults to get living center, convalescent hospital
More than 100 apartments for older adults and a medical facility could be coming to Sunnyvale within the next few years. The Sunnyvale Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for a six-story senior living site and 72,000-square-foot convalescent hospital at 1027-1035 West El Camino Real during its Monday meeting. It will have 36 assisted-living homes and...
Campbell shields affordable housing residents from rent shock
Officials in one West Valley city are taking action to combat a statewide policy gap that leaves residents in affordable housing vulnerable to rent increases that could price them out. The Campbell City Council voted 4-1 last month to cap affordable housing rent increases at 5%, plus cost of living changes or a flat 10%...
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San Jose still searching for new flea market site
San Jose officials are hard-pressed to find an alternative site for the Berryessa Flea Market as development is set to displace vendors and threaten their livelihoods. The city has explored two of eight potential locations — the former Sears near Eastridge Mall and a former landfill in South San Jose — but they lack substantial...
Silver Taube: Proposition 6 would ban forced labor in jails and prisons
In the November election, Californians will vote on a ballot measure, Proposition 6, that would amend California’s Constitution and ban forced labor in jails and prison, one of the last remnants of slavery. If Proposition 6 passes, inmates could not be forced to work. Prop 6 does not increase wages. Compensation for any work assignment...
Santa Clara County to allow Tasers in jails with limits
Santa Clara County leaders have agreed to arm sheriff’s deputies in the jails with Tasers despite a year of protests from civil rights activists and community groups. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the purchase of 75 Axon Tasers with a 3-1-1 vote, but with certain use conditions. Deputies can’t fire more than four...
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San Jose mayor pulls endorsement of cop running for City Council
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has withdrawn his endorsement of Tam Truong, a City Council candidate and police officer who’s still running for office after county prosecutors charged him with grand theft related to mortgage fraud allegations. District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office last week filed a one-count criminal complaint charging Truong with grand theft of...
Santa Clara County sees 24% spike in new homeless residents
A year ago, the emergency homeless shelter in San Jose run by Family Supportive Housing received about 25 calls a day from desperate families needing a roof over their heads. The amount of calls have skyrocketed this year, with at least 50 calls a day as the phones ring nonstop. The number of new households...