San Jose Spotlight

6 days ago | localnewsmatters.org | Annalise Freimarck |San Jose Spotlight

CUPERTINO OFFICIALS ARE PULLING the plug on studying how to improve safety on one of the West Valley’s busiest roads. The Cupertino City Council voted 3-1 to defund the Bollinger Road corridor study last week, which would have gathered data to assess potential safety improvements. Councilmember Sheila Mohan voted no and Councilmember J.R. Fruen recused himself because he has financial interest in a property along the road.

1 week ago | nbcbayarea.com | Brandon Pho |San Jose Spotlight

Genesis Smith is spread thin. There aren't enough social workers in Silicon Valley, leaving her to juggle tense encounters with parents whose children have been placed in protective custody with hour-long drives as far as Merced to check on foster placements. "If you love your job, you will never work a day in your life. I love my job. I look forward to work.

1 week ago | nbcbayarea.com | Brandon Pho |San Jose Spotlight

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 remove a majority of the governing board of Santa Clara Family Health Plan in favor of filling the seats with county employees.

1 week ago | localnewsmatters.org | Lorraine Gabbert |San Jose Spotlight

SAN JOSE PARKS, Recreation and Neighborhood Services continues to wrestle with budget cuts and backlogs, and the upcoming year isn’t going to be easy. The city is facing a projected 2025-26 budget deficit of $35.6 million — and the parks department won’t go unscathed. The budget is expected to decrease park funding by $2.5 million next year, according to Sheena Talosig, spokesperson for the department.

1 week ago | localnewsmatters.org | Brandon Pho |San Jose Spotlight

A MASSIVE STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT is forcing Santa Clara County leaders to get creative in finding ways to avoid hits to critical social safety net services. A San José Spotlight review of County Executive James Williams’ budget recommendations for fiscal year 2025-26 shows four main takeaways about what services could be eliminated, reduced, saved and added — and what it all means for residents in light of a $70 million federal funding loss.