DEAR JOAN: There is something that I have noticed for years, and I finally decided to ask the only expert I know.
At the southbound Thornton Avenue exit to Interstate 880 in Newark, there are some power lines that extend all the way across the freeway. Every time I go that way I see many birds sitting on the lines, but only on the southbound side, never on the other side.
This is not a once-in-a-while thing; I’ve noticed it for many years.
I’ve never seen them fly away, they all just sit there. Can you think of anything special about these particular power lines?
Inquiring minds want to know.
— Sherry Hughes, Newark
DEAR SHERRY: Not being able to read bird minds, or the minds of any living beings, I can’t say for certain, although I’m sure they have an excellent reason. I can, however, list a few possibilities.
First off, birds really like sitting on elevated lines, whether those are power lines, telecommunication wires or cable lines. The high wires provide an excellent vantage point for surveying the area, giving them a bird’s eye view of the territory. From there, they can look around for food and watch out for predators.
The lines are also a convenient spot for taking a rest and as there are other birds on the line, a chance to converse. They come and go as they please, but it’s not likely they would all fly off at once unless something really frightened the entire flock. It might look like the birds sit there all day and night, but it’s a revolving cast.
Such gatherings also provide some communal support and protection from predators, and in the winter, the combined flocks can offer a little extra warmth.
Considering how much power is surging through the lines, we have to wonder how the birds can casually perch on them and avoid electrocution. The answer? Science.
Just like water, and nature itself, electricity seeks a balance. It flows from high energy points to low energy points. A bird sitting on the wire doesn’t interrupt or redirect the flow, but if it was to have one foot on the wire (high energy) and another on the ground (low energy), the electricity would seek to balance, redirecting through the bird to complete the circuit, with deadly consequences. The birds are remarkably exact about the positioning on the lines, keeping a small but equal distance between them, and avoiding touching anything else.
Why the birds choose one wire and not the other most likely has to do with environmental factors. The wind might be stronger on that side, the wires might not provide the same vantage point, or there could be something on that side of the freeway or the lines themselves, that the birds just don’t care for.
The birds like a clear pathway when they fly off the wire, and the ones on the northbound side might be more advantageous.
Wish we knew for certain, but maybe one day the birds will talk.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
The Crusaders scored 28 points in the first quarter and didn’t look back in a rout of Salinas at home. Despite having four touchdowns called back because of penalties, the San Francisco school had no problem moving the ball against the Cowboys. The lead grew insurmountable in the second half as a running clock initiated in the third quarter. Riordan (10-0) will play Serra (7-4) for the Open Division title next week. – Nathan Canilao
No. 2 Serra 29, No. 7 Archbishop Mitty 13
The Padres rushed for 312 yards and shut down Mitty’s offensive attack to cruise to a 16-point win at home. Speedy receiver Charlie Walsh led Serra with a rushing and a receiving score. Kicker Saul Marks knocked in three field goals and Serra’s defense forced three turnovers.S Serra will get a rematch with Riordan – after falling to the Crusaders in the WCAL regular season finale – in the Open Division finals next week. Nathan Canilao was in San Mateo and has the story here.
CCS Division II
No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 34, No. 7 Wilcox 21
After trailing by two at halftime, the Fightin’ Irish took over the game behind a second-half surge to down visiting Wilcox at City College of San Francisco. Three second half touchdowns from quarterback Michael Sargent charged SHC’s offense, and the San Francisco school’s defense held Wilcox to just one score in the final two periods to seal the win. SHC (5-6) will host another South Bay powerhouse in undefeated Santa Teresa (11-0) next week. – Nathan Canilao
No. 4 Menlo School 17, No. 5 The King’s Academy 7
Menlo earned a hard-fought postseason win, defeating TKA at home. Quarterback Jack Freehill threw a touchdown pass to Chuck Wynn and Trevor van der Pyl’s 82-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Menlo. Dylan O’ Malley rounded out Menlo’s scoring with a 27-yard first-quarter field goal. Quarterback Jaiden Flores to wide receiver Ricky Gutierrez was the only score TKA had on Saturday. Menlo (9-2) will travel to top-seeded St. Ignatius next week for its semifinal game. TKA ends its season 9-2. – Nathan Canilao
CCS Division V
No. 2 Sobrato 28, No. 7 Santa Cruz 17
Sobrato advanced to the Division V semifinals after defeating Santa Cruz at home. Junior running back Brady Lennon led the way with rushing touchdowns from 35 and 10 yards. Jacob Sorrentino had a 75-yard touchdown grab and senior Jacob Kimerer had a 65-yard touchdown run. Sobrato improved to 7-4 and will host Terra Nova (8-3) next week.
NCS Division V
No. 3 Salesian 38, No. 6 Northgate 33
Quarterback Izeah Buchanan tossed four touchdown passes to lead the Pride to a win over Northgate at home. Basketball star Carlton Perrilliat Jr. caught two touchdown passes while Joseph Tarin had two receiving scores of his own as Salesian will advance to the section semifinals at Ferndale next Saturday. Senior Jahlil Lindsey had a 95-yard scoop-and-score and kicker Roberto Mora knocked in a 27-yard field goal to round out the scoring for Salesian. Northgate (5-6) ends its 2025 season one game under .500. – Nathan Canilao
MORGAN HILL — A dozen illicit massage parlors were shuttered in Morgan Hill for allegedly providing sexual services, authorities said Thursday.
The 12 businesses were shut down by police during an 18-month operation, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. The parlors either had their permits revoked or were denied permits after the city changed its municipal code to tighten requirements.
Some of the businesses were found to be advertising sexual services online or caught by investigators providing sex, authorities said. Others had contraception in the rooms, lied in the permit application process or were otherwise generally promoted as a place for illegal sexual activity. Police found that the alleged sexual activity occurred both after-hours and during regular business hours.
The businesses that were shut down include A&M Health Center, Angel Beauty Spa, Body Care Foot Spa, Body Care Massage, Elegant Foot Spa, Flower Day Spa, Laura Health Center, Lucky Spa, Morgan Hill Spa, New Times Massage, September Day Spa and TWNS Spa.
Police also made multiple arrests of people on suspicion off pimping, pandering, supervising prostitution activities and soliciting prostitution, authorities said.
In 2023, Morgan Hill saw an “unprecedented” increase in applications for massage business permits after similar businesses were closed across the Bay Area, officials said. The city partnered with reputable massages businesses, law enforcement, the California Massage Therapy Council and the Santa Clara County Illicit Massage Business Coalition to update the city’s municipal codes to “balance the needs of legitimate businesses with the safety of our community.”
Administrative Sgt. Christopher Woodrow said in a press release that the process of investigating illicit massage businesses is “time consuming” and “often frustrating.”
“We took a multidisciplinary approach which included developing profiles from permit applications, communicating with other agencies and working on tips from community members,” Woodrow said. “Resources were often declined and there were no victims of human trafficking willing to provide testimony against their suspected traffickers which meant our team had to work even harder to ensure our decisions were not overturned on appeal.”
Capt. Mario Ramirez said in the press release that some of the shuttered businesses left the city after their licenses were revoked, but others hired attorneys to appeal the decision.
“The hard work and dedication of our team ultimately prevailed in all instances where suspected sexual activity was occurring,” Ramirez added.
Santa Clara County is one of three counties with the highest number of illicit massage businesses in the country, alongside Los Angeles County and Orange County, authorities added. The Human Trafficking Institute has found that California is the home of more than a quarter of the estimated 10,000 illicit massage parlors operating across the United States.
“When you visit a licensed massage therapist, you’re entering a professional healthcare environment. We follow strict codes of ethics, maintain state licensure, and uphold the same professional boundaries you’d expect in any other healthcare setting,” Sarah Ellingson, owner of Rooted Republic, said in the press release. “By supporting legitimate, licensed massage therapists, our community helps protect the integrity of the profession and ensures that therapeutic touch remains a safe, respected, and valuable form of care.”
SAN JOSE — A Halloween morning burglary at a West San Jose home ended in the arrest of five people, police said.
The burglary happened around 10:15 a.m., San Jose police spokesperson Stacie Shih said in a news release. A witness reported seeing two people force their way into a garage and take various items.
The suspects left the scene in a vehicle before officers arrived, but officers used automated license plate reader cameras to identify and track down the car, Shih said.
Officers stopped the vehicle outside a home in the 100 block of Muirfield Drive. A search of the vehicle turned up a stolen rifle, a privately made handgun and property stolen in the burglary, as well as evidence related to other burglaries, Shih said.
Three occupants — a 55-year-old man, a 41-year-old woman and a 32-year-old woman, all of San Jose — were arrested on suspicion of burglary and booked into Santa Clara County jail, Shih said.
In addition, a 44-year-old man and a 19-year-old man who live at the Muirfield Drive residence were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and firearm-related crimes, according to Shih. The pair was also booked into county jail.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Chris Santistevan at 408-277-4401 or 4376@sanjoseca.gov.
Big surf and high tides have the potential to cause flooding, the National Weather Service warned on Thursday, Nov. 6.
The “Coastal Hazard Message” warning goes through late Friday night, with a west–northwest swell expected to bring 4- to 6-foot waves, with sets to 8 feet at some beaches, according to the agency’s San Diego office, which covers the Orange County region.
“Elevated surf combined with high tides could lead to minor tidal overflow,” the forecasters warn.
Also, strong rip currents and hazardous swimming conditions for inexperienced swimmers will be present.
Big waves up to 6 feet were already starting to show on Thursday in areas such as the Huntington Beach Pier.
Areas of the South Bay, including the Manhattan Beach Pier and El Porto, were expected to see similar wave heights.
Lifeguards are expecting 3- to 5-foot surf and a 7-foot tide at 9:23 a.m. on Friday in the Seal Beach area.
Sand bags are available at the 8th Street Beach Lot and Fire Station #44, officials said.
Seal Beach and other beach towns have been building up sand berms to protect against winter flooding in recent weeks.
The extreme high tides will be about 7 feet at about 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning.
“A beach hazards statement is issued when threats such as rip currents and other hazards, such as minor tidal overflow, are likely,” officials said. “Caution should be used when in or near the water.”
Their latest report covered layoffs announcements by big companies through October in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This study tracks the layoff location based on either the corporate headquarters or the actual sites of the cuts, if mentioned in the layoff news release.
California-related layoff plans in the first 10 months of 2025 account for 14% of the 1.1 million layoffs announced across the U.S. Challenger expects this year to be the nation’s worst for this layoff yardstick since the Great Recession era, minus 2020’s pandemic-scarred economy.
Let’s put that 14% share in context. California is the nation’s largest economy. It has 18 million workers, more than any other state, and 11% of the nation’s 159 million jobs.
Additionally, Golden State businesses comprise 11% of the 500 companies that comprise the high-profile S&P 500 stock index. And 13% of the INC. 5000 ranking of America’s fastest-growing companies hail from California.
The national layoff hotspot was Washington, D.C., with 303,800. After California came New York, with 81,701, followed by Georgia with 78,049, and Washington state with 77,700.
As for California’s economic rivals, Texas ranked seventh with 46,400 planned cuts, and Florida ranked ninth with 22,800 planned cuts.
Who’s cutting
A handful of industries dominate the list of layoff plans.
Start with massive government job cuts, primarily in the District of Columbia, as the Trump administration aggressively shrinks the federal payroll.
Nationwide, Challenger reported that announced layoff plans for all government workers totaled 307,600 in the first 10 months of 2025 – the largest cut in any industry and up 269,900, or 715%, in the past year.
The next three shrinking industries have deep ties to California.
Technology had 141,200 cuts announced nationwide, up 20,700 or 17%. Warehousing had 90,400, up 71,500 or 378%. And retail had 88,700 cuts, up 52,500 or 145%.
Growing cuts
California-centric layoffs rose by 22,100 in a year from the first 10 months of 2024. That’s the fifth biggest jump and 5% of the nationwide increase of 665,000.
The largest increase was in D.C., at 269,000, followed by Georgia, with an increase of 60,200, and New Jersey, at 52,700. Florida was No. 8, up 9,800.
Texas had the largest decline, down 20,600, followed by Rhode Island, down 10,600, and Nevada, down 8,400.
The California bump looks less egregious on a percentage-point basis, ranking No. 20 with a 16% increase. Nationwide, these cuts grew by 65%.
The biggest percentage jumps were in Alaska, at 2,346% – yes, it grew almost 25-fold – followed by Maine, up 1,446%, and D.C., up 773%. Florida was No. 12 at 76%.
The largest dips were in Wyoming, down 99%, followed by Rhode Island, down 90%, and Nevada, down 76%. Texas was No. 34, off 31%.
Job chill
The layoffs are further proof of a cooling economy.
Through July, the latest numbers available, the BLS reported that 1.3 million Californians had been laid off or discharged, representing a 69,000 increase – a 6% jump – compared with the first seven months of 2024.
Nationwide, these job cuts totaled 11.4 million in the same timeframe, a 4% increase of 445,000 in a year.
Challenger also tracks hiring announcements on a national basis. It’s not pretty.
So far in 2025, big companies have announced plans to hire 488,100, which is 35% lower than 2024 and down 53% from the median hires of the previous nine years.
And seasonal hiring plans have been modest at many companies that supply the holiday spirit, from retailers to shippers. Expected year-end staffing increases are down 59% in a year.
Merchants are seeing this wobbly job market help to depress consumer confidence. The Conference Board’s optimism indicators have decreased by 18% statewide and by 8% nationwide over the past year.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
LOS GATOS — A senior living community in Los Gatos that opened its doors earlier this year has been bought for more than $50 million by a big-time real estate investor from Chicago.
Ivy Park at Los Gatos has been bought for $54 million by an affiliate controlled by Harrison Street Real Estate, according to documents filed on Nov. 5 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.
An alliance of two Bay Area real estate firms, Vacaville-based Chronograph Properties and San Jose-based Swenson, developed the senior community and sold it to the Harrison Street affiliate.
The purchase price was well above the January 2025 assessed value of $38.4 million as calculated by the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office. A county assessment is just one metric that can be used to provide a snapshot of a property’s value.
Harrison Street Real Estate, which is owned by Harrison Street Asset Management, was founded in 2005 and has been a frequent investor in senior living centers, according to the company’s website.
Over the 20 years since it was founded in 2005, the firm has invested approximately $14.6 billion in senior housing assets that total a combined 43,000 units, the company stated in August in connection with its purchase of a portfolio of senior living communities in the New York City area.
A Menlo Park man and a San Jose woman died following a multi-vehicle crash in Santa Clara on Sunday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The two individuals were traveling northbound in a 2023 Hyundai Elantra on Highway 101 when they were struck from behind by an unknown vehicle, causing the first vehicle to hit the median barrier and flip over, according to CHP.
The unknown vehicle then reportedly drove away from the collision, which occurred around 1:11 a.m.
The two passengers of the Elantra managed to exit the overturned car, which was then struck by a third vehicle – a Hyundai Accent – leading to the two fatalities, according to CHP.
The driver of the Accent reportedly remained on the scene.
The victims were a 27-year-old woman from San Jose and a 44-year-old man from Menlo Park.
Information on this incident is being listed as preliminary at this point and the CHP is expected to release a full report on Monday.
OAKLAND — BART passengers were experiencing delays Sunday due to maintenance operations and police activity that hampered trips on sections of the Bay Area transit system.
In one occurrence, a 10-minute delay had occurred Sunday morning at the Coliseum station in Oakland in the direction of Daly City due to police activity. It wasn’t disclosed which law enforcement agency was involved. By 9:30 a.m., that delay had ended.
BART also reported Sunday morning that a 10-minute delay was underway on the San Francisco line in the direction of Berryessa in San Jose, Antioch, and Millbrae due to overnight track maintenance. By 10 a.m., that advisory had ended.
In recent months, BART passengers have suffered through mammoth delays and systemwide shutdowns that snarled the regional transit system.
SAN JOSE – San Jose State defeated Hawaii 45-38 Saturday night behind a career-high 215 receiving yards and two touchdowns from wide receiver Danny Scudero, marking the fifth consecutive Spartans victory in the Dick Tomey Legacy Game.
Despite trailing 31-14 at halftime, the Rainbow Warriors (6-3) rallied to move within one score with 1:16 left in the game. But their last-ditch onside kick rolled out of bounds and sealed a victory for the Spartans (3-5).
Both of Scudero’s touchdowns came in very opportune moments.
The two best passing offenses in the Mountain West were on display as Hawaii started the second half with a 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Micah Alejado to running back Landon Sims, making it 31-21 SJSU in the third quarter.
The following drive, Spartans quarterback Walker Eget hit Scudero for a 62-yard touchdown pass.
Alejado, though, hit wide receiver Jackson Harris for a 68-yard touchdown to cut SJSU’s lead to 21-14 with 4:07 left in the second quarter.
Then the following drive, Eget hit Scudero for a 50-yard touchdown to pad the Spartans’ lead to 28-14.
Then a sack by SJSU linebacker Jordan Pollard sack stifled a Hawaii drive, which led to a Spartans 24-yard field goal by Matthias Brown, securing a three-possession lead at 31-14.
Eget finished the game 20-for-40 for 458 yards and the two TD passes to Scudero. SJSU wide receivers, Scudero, Leland Smith (113) and Kyri Shoels (109) all went over 100 yards for the second time this season.
Defensively, Pollard finished with eight tackles, with two tackles for loss, including the sack.
Hawaii’s Alejado finished the game 31-for-46 for 367 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Despite trailing 31-14 at halftime, Hawaii made things uneasy in the fourth quarter, closing within 38-35 after a 20-yard touchdown pass from Alejado to Pofele Ashlock Harris with 9:32 left in the fourth quarter.
But the Spartans cashed in again on their following possession with Steve Chavez-Soto scoring on a 1-yard run to make it 45-35 with 5:37 left in regulation.
Chavez-Soto had three rushing touchdowns in the game as San Jose State’s running back duo of Chavez-Soto (10 carries, 53 yards) and Lamar Radcliffe (10 carries, 97 yards) combined for 150 yards and four touchdowns.
SJSU will be back at home Saturday Nov. 8 against Air Force (2-6,1-4) with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.
SAN JOSE – The day after the Sharks were blown out by the Utah Mammoth last month, coach Ryan Warsofsky said his team – desperate to get off to a fast start — was too focused on the result of winning, and not enough on the details of how to make it happen.
“So we’ve got to worry about – and every coach says it — the process, and the way we have to work and the way we have to play,” Warsofsky said Oct. 18, “and (victories) will come with that.”
Since that 6-3 loss to the Mammoth on Oct. 17 in Salt Lake City, the Sharks have switched from a 1-1-3 alignment to a much faster, more aggressive 2-1-2 forechecking style. The move has allowed the Sharks to utilize their speed and create a few more high-danger scoring chances, while preventing fewer grade-A opportunities for opposing teams at the other end.
With that has come what everyone in teal wanted from the start — more wins. Since a 0-4-2 start, the Sharks,“You ask any player, they don’t like being under pressure.
The Sharks are still sporting a modest 3-6-2 record, but the eight points they have after 11 games actually represent their best start to a season since the 2021-22 season, when they began 6-4-1.
“I think our strength is we’re young and we’ve got some guys with some juice in this room,” Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro said. “Using our skating and being as aggressive as possible, what we’ve been doing — obviously being smart while we’re doing it — but our aggressive play has really helped us so far.
“Since we’ve been playing better with that, we haven’t changed a thing.”
In beating the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday, forwards Alexander Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev each had a goal and an assist, and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 29 saves in his best performance of the season.
Macklin Celebrini assisted on Will Smith’s second-period goal that gave the Sharks a 4-1 lead and now has five goals and seven assists in a career-long six-game point streak, as the Sharks earned their first win on home ice this season.
Celebrini now had 17 points in 11 games, becoming just the fifth teenager in the past 15 years to record 17 or more points in a single calendar month. The others were Connor McDavid in February and November 2016, Clayton Keller in March 2018, Andrei Svechnikov in November 2019, and Connor Bedard in March 2024.
That Celebrini’s hot streak began soon after the Sharks made the change to a less conservative forechecking style probably isn’t a complete coincidence.
“I think it helps just not sitting back as much, not giving (teams) free entry,” Celebrini said. “Putting a little bit more pressure, turning over more pucks, I think it helps us just get possession.
“You ask any player, they don’t like being under pressure. So I think the more pace and pressure we can put on the other team’s players or defensemen, it helps us get more possession time.”
Since a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 18, a game they controlled for the final two periods, the Sharks have gone 3-3-0, with the three losses by a combined four goals.
“I think you can see in these last couple of games, we’ve come out pretty strong, come out really fast, gotten the first goal,” said Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, who made 29 saves Thursday. “We’re in games. There haven’t been a lot of games this year, maybe like one or two, where we didn’t really have it that night, and we didn’t really have a shot.”
The Sharks’ next few games will offer a stiff test. After Saturday’s game against the Central Division-leading Avalanche, the Sharks face the Atlantic Division-leading Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. That’s followed by games against the improved Seattle Kraken, the Winnipeg Jets, last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners, and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
“We’ve definitely taken steps in that process, of what it looks like to win, and what it feels like, what it takes, and how hard you have to work, the details you need to play with,” Warsofsky said. “We still have a ways to go, but our group is definitely taking the teaching and the coaching of what it takes, and our guys are growing it with that as we go.”
DICKINSON UPDATE
Sam Dickinson was still with the Sharks as of Friday afternoon, as the team didn’t make any announcement about whether they would keep the rookie defenseman on the NHL roster to the Ontario Hockey League. Dickinson played his ninth game of the season on Thursday and had 14:23 in ice time, all at even strength, as he played on the Sharks’ third defense pair with Shakir Mukhamadullin.
If the Sharks play Dickinson in a 10th game, they would burn the first year of his three-year entry-level contract, making him eligible for restricted free agency – and a likely significant pay rise — following the 2027-28 season. The Sharks also have the option of loaning Dickinson back to his major junior team, the London Knights.
INJURY UPDATES
Sharks winger Ryan Reaves will not be available Saturday after he sustained a lower-body injury in the second period of Thursday’s game. Reaves had a second-period breakaway and got a shot on goal as he fought off a check from Devils winger Paul Cotter, but tripped over Allen’s glove and fell hard on his back. Reaves did not return for the third period. … Defenseman Nick Leddy (upper body) practiced Friday but will not play Saturday, Warsofsky said.
San Jose continues to fail to improve animal shelter services to the community.
A scathing city audit of one year ago has failed to deliver measurable results. The city still fails to provide low-cost public spay and neuter, nor is outreach to rescue groups or trap-neuter-return a priority. The San Jose animal welfare community continues to be ignored.
In response to a number of ethics complaints that I filed regarding staff who have mismanaged SJACC, I was told by a deputy city manager that the “city is experiencing increased communication and complaints from you that is distracting staff from important work.”
This “Ivory Tower” attitude of entitlement, lack of ownership and accountability by city leaders funded by taxpayer money is clearly troubling — especially given that the budget for SJACS has increased to $17.5 million while performance and services have declined.
On this last No Kings Day, we stood along El Camino Real, a few yards from an inflated brown bear holding a “Resist” sign. During our time at the curb, at least half a dozen protesters in frog costumes passed behind us.
That evening, we joined a march through downtown Palo Alto led by a penguin, under the benevolent eye of an inflated frog who bounced at the edge of each crosswalk as we passed.
Later, I realized: On the first No Kings Day in June, the left reclaimed the American flag as a symbol of our commitment to democracy. Last Saturday, we reclaimed the frog as a symbol of life and joy, a counter to the alt-right’s misappropriation of Pepe as a racist meme.
Susan Luttner Palo Alto
Students shouldn’t worry about ICE raids
It is heartbreaking to see the pain and suffering so many families are experiencing. People are forced to live in constant fear that they won’t make it home to their families after a long day of underpaid work.
Despite having worked their whole lives and being positive members of our community, they are labeled as illegal aliens and criminals. So many Latino students are faced with even more anxiety and stress as they are forced to prepare in case their parents are deported. Children who have parents who have been deported are also at risk of developing depression and not doing well academically.
Students should be able to focus on school without having to worry about themselves or their family members being deported. Immigrants pay taxes even though they are not eligible to receive any benefits. Immigrants are an essential part of our society.
Wendy Martinez San Jose
Colleges must increase mental health services
College can be one of the most exciting yet most challenging times in a young person’s life. Between academic pressure, financial stress and the transition to adulthood, many students quietly struggle with anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges. Unfortunately, on many campuses, the demand for counseling services far exceeds the number of available counselors.
Adding more counselors, peer-support programs and wellness activities such as mindfulness workshops, stress-relief events or support groups can make a real difference. These don’t just help students in crisis; they also promote emotional resilience and well-being.
No students should have to wait weeks for an appointment when they’re struggling. By expanding counseling staff and providing accessible mental health programs, colleges can show that they truly care about their students’ success — both academically and personally.
Mireya Ramirez San Jose
Speak up to stop Trump’s wrecking ball
The wrecking ball is in full swing.
Aid to starving countries from USAID is gone; convicted criminals serving their full sentence is gone; civil discourse is gone; the dignified Oval Office is gone, replaced with ostentatious gold everywhere; the East Wing of the White House is gone. The list goes on and on. Will the freedom we all cherish be next?
It’s not about America first. It’s about Donald Trump first; always has been and always will be. These are sad times for America. Only we can stop the wrecking ball. Make your voice heard and vote.
Pat Toby San Jose
Trump’s future plans bode ill for Democrats
The Trump administration, having already commenced the process of desensitizing Americans to military presence in major cities, possibly in preparation for declaring martial law in the event that other measures fail to keep them in power, is perhaps now doing the same, foreshadowing the domestic use of lethality against opponents.
They strategically selected a most unsympathetic group, “foreign drug traffickers,” labeling them as “terrorists” justifying “armed conflict” to creatively legitimize lethal attack and commence the desensitization process for making it acceptable to kill anyone they desire to label as a “terrorist” with no proffered legitimate evidence, oversight or accountability. Thus far, the president’s domestic critics have only been subject to punitive attacks by government agencies, including the Department of Justice, funding elimination and civil suits. But it is noteworthy that Stephen Miller, one of the administration’s top white supremacist henchmen, has ominously described the Democratic Party as fomenting left-wing domestic “terrorism.”
From classic movies with live music to new tunes from Vampire Weekend and a Grateful Dead Celtic band, there’s a lot to see and hear this weekend in the Bay Area.
Here’s a partial rundown.
Classical picks: Hitchcock + orchestra; New Century
This week’s events light up the classical music scene with an iconic film score, a symphony at the opera, and a tribute to the seasons.
Halloween-appropriate: Scary enough? It has to be, when the San Francisco Symphony’s “Film with Live Orchestra” series presents Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” featuring composer Bernard Herrmann’s brilliantly spooky score. With the film on the big screen, conductor Conner Gray Covington will lead the orchestra in a live performance of the spine-tingling music. Come early to see the Symphony’s latest Art Installation, “Dia de los Muertos,” for a pre-show treat.
Symphony at the Opera: Since the start of fall, San Francisco Opera has brought dazzling productions to the stage; now, with “Parsifal” up and running and “The Monkey King” still to come, the company is presenting a concert conducted by company Music Director Eun Sun Kim. This one-night-only event features mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack singing works by Manuel de Falla; Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony completes the 90-minute program.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $29-$250; sfopera.com.
New Century, new “Seasons”: The New Century Chamber Orchestra starts the fall season with Vivaldi’s beloved “Four Seasons,” along with works by Dvorak and Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova; conducted by company music director Daniel Hope, four performances are on the schedule.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at First Church UCC, Berkeley; 7:30 Oct. 31 at Empress Theatre, Vallejo; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Herbst Theatre, San Francisco; and 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael; tickets $35-up; ncco.org.
— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent
More movies and music
Fans of classic silent films can catch two of them — “Phantom of the Opera” and “Nosferatu” — at Grace Cathedral this weekend. But the real star of the events won’t be on the screen but seated at Grace Cathedral’s famed 7,500-pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ, which has been a key facet of the church since it was installed in 1934. The organ will be played by musician Dorothy Papadakos, who started out as a jazz pianist in her native Reno and has evolved into a world-renowned organ player, thanks in part to her long stint as organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York as well as her Grammy-winning stint with the Paul Winter Consort (their live album “Silver Solstice” remains a New Age/ambient classic).
Papadakos is, among other things, considered a talented improviser, which will come in hand in these gigs. She’ll accompany the 1925 silent version of “Phantom of the Opera” starring Lon Chaney, at 8 p.m. Oct. 30, and the 1922 version of “Nosferatu” — a film that was once ordered destroyed because it was deemed to be an unauthorized adaptation (read: ripoff) of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” — at 8 p.m. Oct. 31. The church — which is a San Francisco landmark and always worth a visit — is at Taylor and California streets in San Francisco. Tickets are $34.50-$44.50; go to www.sfjazz.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Cool shows, great album
In late October of last year, Vampire Weekend performed two memorable sold-out shows — an evening gig, followed the very next day by a matinee performance — at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City. The shows included many longtime Vampire Weekend fan favorites, of course, such as “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” “A-Punk” and “Oxford Comma.”
Yet, the NYC-born indie-pop act — led by vocalist-lyricist-guitarist Ezra Koenig — also performed a wonderful assortment of cover songs during those two shows. The list includes a number of Big Apple-appropriate tunes, such as the easily recognizable “Seinfeld Theme,” the Frank Sinatra favorite “Theme From New York, New York,” the Ramones’ blistering “Blitzkrieg Bop” and Billy Joel’s classic “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,” the latter of which was reportedly performed with a candlelit table and waiter in a tux on the Garden stage.
Other cuts to make the Vampire Weekend setlist were The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House,” The Surfaris’ “Wipe Out,” Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” and Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town.”
Now all VW fans can experience the shows thanks to “Weekend at the Garden,” a limited edition double-LP recorded during that epic NYC stand. The offering, which includes portions of the two performances rather than the complete shows, is part of the band’s Frog on the Bass Drum vinyl series.
The Shaker Theater is showing the original 1968 “Night of the Living Dead” in a warehouse with a haunted maze in October 2025 in Oakland. (Shaker Theater)
Pop-up theater brings scares to Bay Area
This Halloween, you can see a scary movie in your local AMC theater. Or you can watch one as perhaps it was meant to be watched: In a dark warehouse full of horrific decor, where it feels like zombies could break down the door any minute.
The Shaker Theater is a new underground pop-up cinema in a residential part of northern Oakland. For its inaugural run, it’s been playing George Romero’s 1968 “Night of the Living Dead” during October, with final runs up until Halloween evening. It’s the uncensored, 96-minute original preserved on real celluloid. There will be popcorn and soda and, for more fun, before the movie the theater is playing clips from its “deep archives of rare and bizarre material.” Think Halloween safety films, forgotten trailers and classic monster-movie moments.
To get into the screening, visitors must first navigate a “Corridor of Horror” designed by local artist Rob Vertigo. Picture a classic haunted house, but turned into spooky-maze form. Did your group just lose a member? It’s probably nothing to worry about, they’re no doubt right behind you …. Wait, that’s not Chad! (Screams.)
Details: Preshow begins at 6:30 p.m. and movie starts at 8 p.m.; 950 54th St., Oakland; $18 online or $20 at the door; instagram.com/shakertheater.
— John Metcalfe, Staff
Freebie of the week
We tend to think of great film experiences as those that expose us to brilliant camerawork, incisive dialogue, or a poignant or hilarious reflection on the world at large. But let’s not forget the joys that await us at the other end of the spectrum. There is nothing quite like experiencing a truly terrible film with a room full of gleefully derisive bad-movie fans. There’s a reason why “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” spawned three sequels and too many spoofs and homages to count, and it wasn’t John K. Culley’s nuanced cinematography. Halloween, it seems, is a favorite time to indulge in bad-movie bliss, probably because violent mutant vegetables and irritable aliens fit most comfortably in the horror genre.
And so it is that this week delivers the opportunity to view one of the most glorious and beloved bad movies of all time, “Robot Monster.” The film, in case the clever title doesn’t make it obvious, is about an alien robot sent to destroy Earth but who defies its orders when it saves an imperiled woman from certain death. The 1953 film took four days and $20,000 to make, $4,000 of which was spent on incorporating 3D technology. One of the stars was cast because he already owned a gorilla suit and therefore didn’t need to be costumed. So, yeah, this was not an extravagant production. Yet, it grossed $1 million in its first year and has gone on to be a favorite among those who revel in the wonders of wretched filmmaking. If such a buffet of bad moviemaking – in 3D!! – is your thing, “Robot Monster” will screen at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Internet Archive, 300 Funston Ave., San Francisco. The screening is free but if you feel like making a donation to the Internet Archive or co-presenter the Golden Gate Stereoscopic Society — both of which are dedicated to preserving humankind’s digital history — certainly no one would hold it against you.
When you think about it, Wake the Dead would be a tremendous name for a screeching-loud punk band or maybe a Goth band. But the real Wake the Dead is neither of those things. It is a collection of very talented Bay Area musicians merging two of their musical passions – Grateful Dead classics and Irish/Celtic music. The name is certainly appropriate, as it references the Dead as well as Irish wakes, which are known to be deeply heartfelt and celebratory affairs. The moniker also mirrors the title of the Dead’s 1973 album “Wake of the Flood,” the first recording the band released acting as its own label. Adding to the plays on words, the band’s annual gig at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley celebrates the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), the holiday widely observed in Mexico, in which family members and friends gather to honor loved ones who have passed away.
If all this is simply too much to ponder, just know that Wake the Dead will, per tradition, return to the Freight & Salvage on Nov. 1 to perform a Day of the Dead-themed show at which you are likely to hear high-energy Celtic takes on such Dead classics as “China Cat Sunflower” and “Eyes of the World.”
Details: The show begins at 8 p.m.; tickets are $26.50-$44; or you can livestream the show for $25; more information is at thefreight.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Celebrating Día de los Muertos
The skeletons are dangling from the windows and looming merrily overhead the staircase in the festive lobby of Davies Hall, as the San Francisco Symphony gears up at 3 p.m. Nov. 1 to mount its 18th annual celebration of the Day of the Dead, the joyous Mexican tradition held to pay love and respect to ancestors who have passed on. The centerpiece of the festivities is a symphony concert, but multiple preconcert family-friendly activities are planned in the lobby and upper floors, including marigold flower making, offering-altar installations, a mariachi instrument petting zoo, sugar skull decorating and costumed dancers from Casa Círculo Cultural. The Symphony, conducted by Lina González-Granados, will perform traditional and contemporary Latin American music associated with the holiday, including Gabriela Ortiz’s “Kauyumari,” selections from Arturo Márquez’s “Espejos en la Arena,” the Intermezzo from Ricardo Castro’s “Atzimba” opera, Paul Desenne’s “Hipnosis Mariposa,” Jimmy Lopez’s “Loud,” Márquez’s popular Danzón No. 2 and Gabriela Lena Frank’s “The Mestizo Waltz.”
Details: Tickets, which are 50 percent off for those under 18, range from $27.50-$175; go to www.sfsymphony.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
An orchestral showcase
The San Francisco Opera takes a breather from its usual regimen of presenting full-fledged and lavish operatic productions to let Music Director Eun Sun Kim shine a solo spotlight on her instrumentalists in a single night concert of music by Ludwig van Beethoven and Manuel de Falla at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in War Memorial Opera House. The program opens with “Siete Canciones Populares Españolas,” a set of songs inspired by de Falla’s home country of Spain, sung by mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, and continues with the second orchestral suite from the same composer’s ballet “El Sombrero de Tres Picos” (“The Three-Cornered Hat”). Following the intermission, the concert will conclude with Beethoven’s mighty Fifth Symphony. Tickets, $29-$250, can be purchased through www.sfopera.com.
SAN JOSE – Deputies with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office shot and killed a man armed with a knife during a traffic stop Monday evening in San Jose, police said.
The fatal encounter unfolded just after 7:30 p.m. in the area of College Drive and Fruitdale Avenue, the San Jose Police Department said in a social media post late Monday.
The man was taken to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.
An investigation is underway into the shooting, police said, adding more details are expected to be released Tuesday.
Streets in the area of College Drive and Fruitdale Avenue remained closed late Monday.
Cupertino’s De Anza College in Cupertino has been named a Pathway Champion for 2025 for its efforts in ensuring that students are on the path to transfer to a four-year university.
The Campaign for College Opportunity, a statewide research and advocacy group, awarded De Anza top rankings among California community colleges for student success in completing transfer-level math and English in academic year 2023-24. De Anza ranked third in the state for students completing transfer-level math (78.8%) within one year. The community college also ranked second in the state for Black students completing transfer-level English within one year of enrolling in their courses (82.6%).
De Anza earned similar recognition from the group in 2024, when it ranked second statewide in two categories for the 2022-23 academic year: students completing transfer-level math within one year (81.4%) and students completing transfer-level English within one year (81.2%).
The nonprofit compiles the rankings to recognize community colleges that are helping students reach their goals through “equitable course placement practices,” following the passage of state legislation in 2018 requiring community colleges to move away from traditional placement methods that led many students to spend time in remedial courses before they could take transfer-level math and English.
In response to that legislation, De Anza developed new assessment practices, curriculum and other services that support students in completing those college-level courses.
Tavern Talk
The Cupertino Historical Society and Museum is holding its next Tavern Talk on Nov. 12, 6-8 p.m., at Florentine’s Trattoria to celebrate the restaurant’s 61st anniversary and talk about its first location in Cupertino.
Florentine’s Trattoria is now located at 14510 Big Basin Way #11 in Saratoga. Tavern Talk tickets are $25 at http://bit.ly/4nlzcbg.
Their names hardly do them justice: Mother Dragon, Fish, Two-Headed Dragon, Starfish, Octopus and Tripod.
Six colorful, whimsical, playground sculptures surrounding Legg Lake within the expansive Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte have become beloved park icons for kids and adults alike for more than six decades.
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
One of the crowd-sourced photos turned in to LA County Department of Arts and Culture by a county resident. (images courtesy of LA County Department of Arts and Culture
1 of 8
Back in the 1960’s a sculptor named Benjamin Dominguez created several works of art inspired by fantasy sea creatures that were placed in playgrounds all around Whittier Narrows Recreation Area park on Oct. 24, 2025 in South El Monte, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
In order to find out more about them, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture is asking the public to send them their personal photos of themselves and their children or grandchildren playing on the sculptures, captioned with memories of a mid-century era when parks intertwined public art, interactivity and a child’s imagination.
“Depending on the response, how many photos we receive, we will have a phase two to determine creative ways to share them with the public,” wrote Laleña Vellanoweth, the county’s civic art conservation and collections manager in a statement released Thursday, Oct. 23.
Erica Rojas was in the park on Friday, Oct. 24 with her husband. They were training their dogs to walk and behave on the trails, when Rojas noticed the theme of ocean life after passing by the Octopus and Two-Headed Dragon sculptures.
“I love any artist that has inspiration from both land and sea,” she said.
The county’s project has two parts: conservation and historical research, Vellanoweth wrote.
The department is bringing on apprentices to comb through the photos, people’s comments and dig out letters and other records for clues on how the sculptures got here and why. They will also digitize and catalog the data. Conservation goals include: upkeep of the outdoor artworks that are subject to wear-and-tear, weather and seismic activity.
The outdoor, interactive artworks were designed by Mexican artist Benjamin Dominguez (1894-1974). He studied art at Academia de Artes Plasticas at the University of Mexico and graduated in 1925. He perfected a centuries-old faux-bois craft, known as “concrete wood” while at the university and used it to create these unique park sculptures.
Dominguez emigrated to the United States at age 62 and was commissioned to make tiger and lion enclosures at a zoo in El Paso, Texas. But he first began building his concrete-and-steel sea creatures at a park in Las Vegas, which was recently bulldozed to make room for a development. All the sculptures were destroyed.
In 1961, Dominguez was commissioned to make the six playground sea creatures for Whittier Narrows park by Frank G. Bonelli, the father of parks and recreation in LA County and a former county supervisor. A nature park in San Dimas bears his name.
“We noticed that the Dominguez sculptures at Vincent Lugo Park has tons of historical information and wanted to create that type of archive for our sculptures,” wrote Vellanoweth.
The county has consulted with Eloy Zarate, a history professor at Pasadena City College and co-founder of the San Gabriel-based Friends of La Laguna. The group raised $1.1 million to restore the La Laguna playground art, which includes a lighthouse with a slide kids love to go down. As a child, he played on the interactive sculptures in San Gabriel where he grew up, he said.
“We are the ones that brought Benjamin Dominguez to life. We said, ‘Hey, this guy was important,” said Zarate.
He said the six Whittier Narrows sculptures are similar to the ones Dominguez designed in Las Vegas, especially Mother Dragon, her yellow-orange body dotted with blue spikes and surrounded by red-and-white mushrooms.
Zarate has offered to write the nominating papers for the Whittier Narrows artworks so they can be accepted on the National Register of Historic Places.
“That is one of the last things we will do,” he said, noting the 20 years he and his group have given to preserving the artist’s unique playground artworks.
Besides San Gabriel and Whittier Narrows park, the third place where his work is preserved is Atlantis Play Center in a park in Garden Grove, at 13630 Atlantis Way, Zarate said. That park features Sandy Sea Serpent, with its tail winding up a hill that kids slide down. “All these structures are meant to be played on,” Zarate said.
His works in these parks represent “a rare example of handcrafted, mid-century playgrounds, when parks were designed to be creative and interactive rather than standardized,” wrote the Los Angeles Conservancy.
The works at Legg Lake were preserved in 2015 through the support of then L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina, according to the inscription on the informational display in front of one of the sculptures. It concludes by saying Dominguez’s works are an example of the contributions made by immigrants to Southern California.
In today’s political climate, in which ICE raids are resulting in the arrest of hundreds of immigrants, including those undocumented who’ve made a living and raised a family in Southern California for decades, the recognition of Dominguez at an L.A. County park is made more meaningful, Zarate said.
He hopes the county in its crowd-sourcing effort will acquire many photos, letters and documents relating to the Whittier Narrows park artworks.
“It is important particularly in today’s environment to understand people who come to this country and work, who give a significant amount to the country they’ve settled in,” Zarate said.
One can’t go into Whittier Narrows park without noticing the iconic serpent, or the octopus, for example, which are closer to the entrance on Santa Anita Avenue and the Pomona (60) Freeway.
“I mean, they are part of the park, and you recognize it,” said Armando Salcido on Friday, Oct. 24. Salcido and a friend were heading to get a closer look at some of Dominguez’s other sculptures scattered within the vast county park. “It is the first time I’ve seen the dragon. It’s really nice.”
For questions or for help converting your physical images into digital images or submitting over 10 images, contact Danielle Galván Gomez, civic art registrar, at dgalvangomez@arts.lacounty.gov.
Submission deadline is Dec. 12 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
As President Donald Trump’s renews his threats to send the National Guard to the Bay Area, Santa Clara County and San Jose are proposing “ICE-free zones” that would prohibit immigration enforcement activity to take place on county or city-owned property.
Since Trump took office in January, the county — and its largest city — have pledged to protect its immigrant communities, filing lawsuits against the federal government over its attempts to restrict funding to ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions and spending on programs like “know your rights” trainings and immigration legal services. San Jose last month also instituted a policy that requires federal agents to remove face coverings while conducting immigration enforcement operations within the city.
The latest initiative, which stems from the “ICE-free zones” instituted earlier this month in Chicago, is being led by Supervisor Sylvia Arenas from the county and Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Domingo Candelas and Rosemary Kamei from the city. Both the county and the city have long held non-cooperation policies that prevent officers from aiding federal agents in immigration enforcement efforts.
“This is really in the spirit of standing with our community and letting our community know that we want to make sure that we are not somehow inadvertently responsible in helping carry out some of the immigration enforcement activities,” Arenas said at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
The supervisor, whose district includes parts of San Jose, Morgan Hill and Gilroy, is asking officials to identify a list of county-owned or controlled properties that could “potentially be used for immigration enforcement staging, processing or surveillance.” The proposal, which was unanimously approved by the board, also wants signage posted on those properties that notifies the public that immigration enforcement activities are barred on the site.
The San Jose City Council’s rules committee is expected to vote on whether to move its own proposal forward on Wednesday afternoon.
Ortiz, who represents East San Jose on the City Council, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the effort started with a “simple but powerful idea: that city property, property built and maintained by the people, should only be used for city or county purposes.”
“When immigrant families see federal agents parked outside of our community centers, it doesn’t just create fear, it creates barriers to education, to healthcare, to housing assistance, to the very services that help families survive in this Valley,” he said. “That’s not who we are as a city, and that’s not what our public spaces have been created for.”
Similarly, the city proposal authored by Ortiz, Candelas and Kamei asks city officials to compile its own list of owned and operated properties “that are open space with publicly accessible parking lots that could be misused for non-city purposes.”
The proposals have already garnered support from immigrant rights advocates who maintain that the initiative will help protect the county’s diverse communities.
Jeremy Barousse, the director of policy at the nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe, urged the board during the meeting “to pass a strong policy that excludes federal immigration enforcement from using county property to execute their harmful family separation agenda.”
“This is our community and we must not let malicious federal agents use local government property to violate the constitutional rights and safety of our people,” he said. “Our county is a beautiful place that thrives due to the vibrant contributions of our immigrant communities and we must protect this diversity and our community with a powerful unifying partnership across the county that asserts ‘hands off’ our communities.”
In the meantime, Santa Clara County is continuing its work to ensure it protects its immigrant communities in the event Trump sends the National Guard to the Bay Area like he recently did in Los Angeles. Deputy County Executive David Campos assured the board that “no one is more prepared” than Santa Clara County.
“As scary as it is, and we feel a lot of anxiety, we’re actually ahead of the curve in terms of where other Bay Area governments are, and as a region the Bay Area is certainly looking to be more prepared than LA County was,” Campos said. “My objective and the objective of the administration is to make sure we are as prepared as we can be.”
