Author | Lightnews

Grace Hase

Grace Hase

@gracehase.bsky.social

410 followers 300 following 92 posts

Reporter @ The Mercury News | Mizzou J-school alum | 90s sitcom enthusiast | proud union member | climbing rocks in my spare time 🧗 tips: [email protected]

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Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Sep 12

The special election for Prop. 50 is expected to cost the state $282.6 million — more than the 2021 gubernatorial recall election, according to a letter from the Department of Finance obtained by @mercurynews.com.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/12/h...

Here’s how much the special election for California’s partisan redistricting measure will cost

Prop. 50 is expected to cost more than the 2021 gubernatorial recall election.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Sep 2

Santa Clara County hoped to build 4,800 new homes with the $950 million housing bond passed by voters in 2016. Instead, the county is projected to exceed that goal by 38%. Here's how they did it:
www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/31/s...

Santa Clara County hoped to build 4,800 new homes with Measure A money. How did they exceed that goal by 38%?

Measure A funds are currently projected to aid in the creation of 6,665 new affordable homes.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Aug 20

A group of local voters filed a lawsuit on Monday to try to halt the Santa Clara County sales tax measure that is expected to help offset federal cuts made in Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill." www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/19/l...

Local voters file lawsuit to block Santa Clara County sales tax measure from the November ballot

County officials say the sales tax measure will help offset federal cuts in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Aug 18

Ex- Santa Clara city manager Deanna Santana is suing the city, accusing officials of not paying her full severance & alleging she was retaliated against and the subject of a harassment campaign by the San Francisco 49ers and several City Council members.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/18/e...

Ex-Santa Clara city manager sues her former employer, alleging harassment, retaliation and failure to pay her full six-figure severance

Deanna Santana was fired in 2022 with the council citing a “lack of confidence” in her ability to do her job.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Aug 14

California's Department of Housing and Community Development sent a notice to Cupertino last month informing the city that it was in violation of state housing law.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/13/c...

Cupertino is violating state housing law, California’s top housing agency says

The city was previously sued by pro-housing groups over the issue in April.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Aug 14

A new report on the San Jose BART project says switching to a different tunnel design will cost $600 million more. But an independent expert hired by VTA to review the report is questioning its “validity” and says the numbers are “overinflated.”
www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/11/v...

VTA says switching tunnel design for BART extension would cost $600 million more — but independent experts call it “overinflated”

A highly anticipated report on the San Jose BART extension revealed that switching the tunnel design could add $600 million to the project – an estimate questioned by independent experts who challe…

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Aug 5

Former Assemblymember Evan Low was fined $106,000 by the FPPC in April for violating state campaign finance laws. New records show that Low paid the fine with campaign donations.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/05/e...

Evan Low paid $106,000 ethics violation fine with campaign donations

A state watchdog organization found earlier this year that Low violated state campaign finance laws in 23 counts.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jul 25

Cupertino shelled out more than $20,000 on a previously undisclosed investigation into former City Manager Pamela Wu, who stepped down last month after being put on paid administrative leave for unknown reasons.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/24/r...

Records reveal Cupertino spent more than $20,000 to investigate ex-city manager who stepped down last month

Pamela Wu stepped down last month after being placed on paid administrative leave in May.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jul 22

A Santa Clara HOA that "engaged in extensive deception" over an abandoned well under a condo now owes $6 million in attorney fees.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/22/h...

South Bay husband-and-wife legal duo that took on ‘David and Goliath’ sinkhole case against HOA awarded $6 million in fees

A judge previously awarded the condo-owners $1.8 million and said the HOA engaged in “extensive deception.”

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 26

The cost of replacing Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone, who announced he was stepping down earlier this week, will be hefty. County officials said it could cost at least $13.1 million, but as much as $26.2 million if a runoff is needed.

www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/26/f...

Following Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone’s resignation, a special election to replace him will cost at least $13.1 million

Stone, 84, will step down on July 6.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 24

ICE agents have been using publicly available online portals and leaning on jail staff to pinpoint release times of people they are seeking to deport. Santa Clara County said it won't interfere.

www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/24/i...

ICE detainments at Santa Clara County jail spark alarm over strength of sanctuary policies

The sheriff’s office confirms four recent detainments of people upon their jail releases, and say federal agents are using publicly available data to conduct the enforcement actions.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 23

Santa Clara County’s homeless population has hit a record number despite local efforts that moved more than 8,000 people into permanent housing over the last few years, according to preliminary results from the county’s “point-in-time” count.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/21/s...

Santa Clara County finds record number of homeless residents in latest count

The county’s homeless population increased 8.2% from the 2023 count.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 20

Santa Clara County’s Rapid Response Network has seen a surge of calls this month as fear of ICE raids intensify across California.

www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/20/s...

Santa Clara County’s Rapid Response Network sees a surge of calls amid fears of ICE raids

The county has invested more than $8 million in immigrant support services for the upcoming fiscal year.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 13

Santa Clara County approved its $13.7 billion budget this week, but financial challenges still lie ahead as they brace for federal cuts to Medicaid and other social services.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/13/s...

Santa Clara County approves $13.7 billion budget — but fiscal challenges still lie ahead

The county is still bracing for federal cuts to Medicaid and other social services.

www.mercurynews.com

Reposted by Grace Hase

ctguild.bsky.social @ctguild.bsky.social · Jun 12

This is the official bsky account for the Chicago Tribune Guild. We learned today that @chicagotribune.com is offering buyouts to our journalists. This move by Alden Global Capital, our rapacious ownership group, shows a total lack of vision and respect for the newsroom and the city we serve. (1/5)

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 12

The one year countdown for the FIFA World Cup is officially on. Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara will host six matches next summer.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/12/d...

‘Dreams will take root:’ Santa Clara starts the yearlong countdown to the 2026 World Cup

The Silicon Valley enclave is one of 16 cities across North America that was selected to host the 2026 World Cup. The soccer tournament will feature teams from 48 countries — up from 32 &#821…

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 11

Santa Clara County is planning to use local dollars to continue funding gender-affirming care as the Trump administration threatens to revoke federal funding for programs that support trans people and the LGBTQ+ community.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/11/s...

Amid Trump’s threats, Santa Clara County will continue funding gender-affirming care with local dollars

The county will use $1.27 million from a reserve set aside earlier this year to offset the financial impacts of federal actions.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 10

VTA officials want to end the tunnel contract for the San Jose BART extension over the cost. Agency officials said it will delay the start of tunneling by about 18-months, but don't expect it to impact the overall project schedule.

www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/09/v...

VTA recommends dropping controversial tunnel contract for San Jose BART extension over cost

The decision comes as the agency is searching for upwards of $1 billion in cost savings.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · Jun 10

It’s not. VTA said it’s independent of any tunnel redesign decision.
More here: www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/09/v...

VTA recommends dropping controversial tunnel contract for San Jose BART extension over cost

The decision comes as the agency is searching for upwards of $1 billion in cost savings.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · May 30

Santa Clara could start charging for parking in two different areas in the city.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/30/s...

Santa Clara could start charging for parking at the Convention Center, Franklin Square

The city is hoping paid parking can be an alternative revenue stream.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · May 29

ICYMI: Santa Clara County and San Francisco have become partners in the legal fight against Trump. Read more about how the partnership was formed and how both counties view themselves as the "first and last lines of defense."⬇️
www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/27/s...

‘First and last lines of defense’: How Santa Clara County, San Francisco are leading the Bay Area’s legal fight against Trump

Santa Clara County is on track to surpass the number of lawsuits it filed against Trump during his first term.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · May 29

San Jose is considering a proposal to place a temporary moratorium on new smoke shops in the city following a recent county health assessment that found the density of tobacco retailers in East SJ was more than double that of the rest of the county.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/29/s...

Will San Jose put a temporary ban on new smoke shops?

A recent report found the density of tobacco retailers in East San Jose was more than double than that of the rest of the county.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · May 27

Santa Clara County and San Francisco have poised themselves as the "first and last lines of defense" against the Trump administration as billions in federal funds are at risk.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/27/s...

‘First and last lines of defense’: How Santa Clara County, San Francisco are leading the Bay Area’s legal fight against Trump

Santa Clara County is on track to surpass the number of lawsuits it filed against Trump during his first term.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · May 22

Santa Clara County wants to transition to a “single plan” model for Medi-Cal managed care in hopes of improving reimbursement rates. But the Santa Clara Family Health Plan is pushing back, calling the move a “hostile takeover” in a recently filed lawsuit.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/22/s...

Santa Clara County wants to change its Medi-Cal model, but Family Health Plan calls it a “hostile takeover”

The change will require state approval and is expected to take several years.

www.mercurynews.com

Grace Hase @gracehase.bsky.social · May 20

Downtown College Prep will close its three remaining campuses next month, citing declining enrollment and financial problems.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/20/s...

San Jose charter school Downtown College Prep closing its 3 remaining campuses

Decision was driven by declining enrollment and financial woes, according to the board of directors

www.mercurynews.com