County of Santa Clara Government News

Santa Clara County supervisors could relax restrictions on how much they can raise for their reelection campaigns.

Santa Clara County will be conducting the 2025 Point-In-Time Count of unhoused residents next week, and is seeking volunteers to help.

Santa Clara County jail deaths reached a 20-year high in 2024.
Ten people died in the custody of the Sheriff's Office last year across the main jail, Elmwood Correctional Facility and county hospitals where deputies transported incarcerated people for medical care. More than half of the total deaths happened at the Elmwood facility in Milpitas. The number of deaths doubled from five in 2023.

Santa Clara County has increased its commitment to the well-being of children and families.
Despite a shortfall, the county bumped up its Children's Budget by 9.1% mid-year to $1.29 billion, ensuring a focus on critically needed services.

A $950 million affordable housing bond has helped build thousands of affordable homes across Santa Clara County, though its efforts have focused on some parts of the region more than others.

A Morgan Hill-based developer has submitted plans for a 104-unit housing project on an 18.3-acre parcel in unincorporated Gilroy.

Santa Clara County is nearly two years behind on receiving state approval for its housing plans, allowing developers to push projects forward in unwanted ways.

Eyes welled with tears as people lit candles and spoke the names of Santa Clara County homeless residents who died this year at a Friday memorial — a reminder of the harsh reality of living on the streets and the urgency to get more people housed.

With almost 30 years of experience, a Silicon Valley property tax collector is quite protective of his elected post — especially with cash-strapped schools and public services at risk. But that doesn't mean his reelection can't be challenged.

While taking responsibility for managing hazardous and biological waste, county officials today said private contractors – not hospital employees – had been hired to handle hazardous and medical waste identified by the DA.

Fruit picking, wine tasting and weddings — Silicon Valley leaders want to preserve the romance of their farmlands through tourism as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” gives way to strip malls and tech campuses.

Santa Clara County's top educator says a series of investigations into his ousted predecessor have revealed even more issues beyond major allegations of misspending public funds and malfeasance and now the findings are being turned over to authorities.

Last week, as the country’s attention was transfixed on the manhunt for the person who gunned down a health insurance executive—which resulted in an outpouring of personal stories about patients being mistreated by the nation’s medical care system—the Santa Clara County DA’s Office held a press conference to reveal environmental and privacy abuses by health care officials closer to home.

Santa Clara County gun owners will have to pay more for concealed carry weapons licenses — and threats of lawsuits are already rolling in.

California Secretary of State reports final, unofficial results for all races, to be certified Dec. 13.

Human flesh and blood. Confidential patient information. Fentanyl.
Santa Clara County’s top prosecutor alleges his investigators found these items and more after a covert, yearlong investigation into illegal dumping by Valley Medical Center, St. Louise and O'Connor hospitals.

Santa Clara County on Dec. 2 launched its new “CARE Court” process, a 24-month program that offers support for people facing mental health challenges and are at risk of becoming embroiled in the criminal court system.

Santa Clara County deputies brag about beating incarcerated people "between floors" and other brutal behavior at the county's embattled jail, according to screenshots obtained exclusively by San José Spotlight.

As the sweeping promises of a new behavioral health court take shape slower than expected across California, Santa Clara County is one of the last to roll it out.

A tight West Valley city council race is headed to a recount with fewer than 10 days until the vote must be certified.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced the appointment of two Superior Court judges in Santa Clara County, Jon Heaberlin and Meghan Piano. The new judges were among 10 Superior Court judges and two Court of Appeal justices appointed statewide.

Civic-minded residents of Santa Clara County are invited to apply for service on the 2025-26 Civil Grand Jury, a component of the judicial branch that is dedicated to upholding transparency and accountability in local governance.

After some trial and error, Santa Clara County just made it easier to request a non-police response for someone in mental health crisis.

A state transparency law is shedding light on the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s cache of semi-automatic weapons – and publicizing the lesser known police agencies inside California’s top prosecutor offices.