Santa Clara County officials want their largest city’s support in hiking sales taxes to keep their public hospital system alive against federal cuts. But San Jose leaders have conditions. Congressman and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo suggested the city could tie its support for the sales tax measure — now known as “Measure A”...
Silicon Valley lawmakers to take part in town hall on federal cuts
Federal and state lawmakers will converge in San Jose this weekend for an emergency town hall with the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors about how massive federal spending cuts will derail the public hospital system and social safety net services. The community meeting, hosted by District 2 Supervisor Betty Duong, will bring the elected...
Santa Clara County selects interim assessor ahead of election
As candidates race to replace former Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone, one of Stone’s trusted assistants is temporarily helming the office. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved Greg Monteverde, an assistant assessor under Stone for seven years, as acting assessor until the Nov. 4 special election determines a successor to fill the...
San Jose mayor signals doubt on county sales tax measure
Santa Clara County’s three-month sprint to raise sales taxes could stage a showdown between one of California’s most progressive Board of Supervisors and one of the state’s most centrist Democrats. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has declined to state his position on Santa Clara County’s proposed five-eighths cent sales tax increase measure, which county supervisors...
Santa Clara County puts sales tax measure on November ballot
Santa Clara County voters will be asked to approve a five-eighths cent sales tax increase to protect the public hospital system from shattering under federal spending cuts. The Board of Supervisors on Thursday voted unanimously to add the proposed tax to the Nov. 4 special election ballot, which will also ask voters to decide on a...
Santa Clara County approves budget amid Trump cuts
Santa Clara County supervisors took their first step toward adopting a $14 billion budget that weighs the region’s critical services against federal funding losses under President Donald Trump. After weeks of workshops and hearings, supervisors tried to close their budget talks on a high note. But their unanimous vote Thursday – with the final one...
Santa Clara County opens new residential mental health facility
A new residential treatment facility in Santa Clara County will provide people with a safe place to heal and recover. County officials announced the opening of 1072-1082 Vermont St. in San Jose, known as Vermont House, at a Thursday news conference. The two houses can hold up to 15 people who have a mental illness...
Funding falls through for Santa Clara County mental health facilities
Santa Clara County received zero Proposition 1 help from Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand its mental health facilities, despite him turning up the pressure on counties to provide more treatment beds. Last month, Newsom announced $3.3 billion in Prop. 1 grants to 126 recipients across the state. Santa Clara County was left out. The county...
Santa Clara County sheriff expands use of drones
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office wants to expand its use of drones to reduce deputy violence. Yet its oversight agency warns the rules for deployment are too loose, and some officials are concerned about over-policing communities of color. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with using drones as first responders, with...
Santa Clara County takes over managed health care program
Facing dramatic federal funding cuts, Santa Clara County leaders want to lessen the taxpayer dollars needed to support its massive public hospital system. That means reining in an institution the county created decades ago — which officials warn risks putting its own survival over health services. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously May 20 to...