Updated in December 2020, the City of San José now has some of the steepest fines for illegal fireworks use: $1,000 for the first violation, $2,000 for a second violation within 18 months, and $3,000 for a third violation.
Drought conditions in California remain at record highs, with most of the state now classified in “extreme” or “exceptional” drought, and much of the Bay Area north of San Jose last week was included in the most severe “exceptional drought” zone.
For those living on hillsides with low grasslands, the fire risks are not as serious as for those living in densely populated communities near forests, or hillsides of brush and timber.
The District Attorney’s office confirmed Friday it has launched an investigation into conflicts of interest and allegations of fraudulent billing involving the Santa Clara Valley Water District and consultant RMC Water and Environment.
An investigation into the Santa Clara Valley Water District has identified conflicts of interest between the public agency and consultant RMC Water and Environment, as well as allegations of fraudulent billing.
Santa Clara Valley Water District CEO Beau Goldie failed to disclose conflicts of interest regarding a $4 million consulting contract with RMC, the beneficiary of more than $18 million from the water district in the last decade.
With California slogging through its fourth year of an apocalyptic dry spell—the worst in 106 years—a new market has emerged for drought-tolerant landscapes.
Agriculture consumes a staggering 80 percent of California’s developed water, even as it accounts for only 2 percent of the state’s gross domestic product. This model is simply unsustainable.
While Silicon Valley copes with its dependence on imported water, our neighbors in Santa Cruz are striving to rely entirely on their local water supply.
