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Transit experts say it could be months before Valley Transportation Authority selects a permanent leader to replace former CEO and general manager Nuria Fernandez — who recently left her post to join the Biden administration. Following Fernandez’s Jan. 19 resignation, local leaders foresee an uncertain future for VTA and possible changes in transit initiatives across...
San Jose’s only Black administrator is breaking barriers in a male-dominated world
As a child, San Jose’s Planning Director Rosalynn Hughey was fascinated by her father’s work. He was a contractor, who built single-family homes from the ground up. She watched in envy as her brothers tagged along to help him create. This was the ’70s and Hughey was a girl — girls, at least in her...
City survey: What do you want to ask San Jose’s next police chief?
San Jose is one step closer to selecting a new police chief and wants to hear from residents about what to ask the finalists. The city is hosting a forum Jan. 30 to ask the candidates questions submitted by residents. “Given the heightened scrutiny on policing this year and the need for strong leadership that...
Santa Clara County transit leader Nuria Fernandez joins Biden administration
Santa Clara County’s own Nuria Fernandez resigned from the Valley Transportation Authority today to serve in the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Biden-Harris administration. “Now I will be stepping into a national role that is bigger and broader yet will have profound impacts at the local level,” Fernandez, VTA’s CEO and general manager, said...
San Jose Vice Mayor Chappie Jones reappointed as City Council evaluates process
When Chappie Jones was growing up in a redlined neighborhood in Sacramento, his role models were Black elected officials like Maynard Jackson and Harold Washington — the first Black mayors of Atlanta and Chicago, respectively. Today, he’s creating a legacy of his own by beginning his second term as vice mayor of San Jose. The...
Santa Clara County COVID-19 deaths surpass 1,000
More than 1,000 people have now died in Santa Clara County from COVID-19. The grim statistic was reported by county health officials Jan. 14, as hospitals struggle to keep up with the relentless surge in cases and morgues run out of space. “One thousand deaths is a devastating and tragic milestone for our community,” said...
A bodybuilding pastor: Homeless advocate Scott Wagers is unapologetic about his calling
A muscle T-shirt wearing, bodybuilding rabble-rouser may not be the typical image of a church pastor, but Scott Wagers said he had a calling to help the homeless to bring him closer to God — and get him arrested from time to time. Wagers, 55, has worked on behalf of San Jose’s homeless for three...
Top San Jose administrator retiring after nearly two decades
After working for the city of San Jose for 18 years, Deputy City Manager Kim Walesh announced she will retire March 30. Walesh, who previously served as the city’s economic development director, is leaving as San Jose faces significant challenges with its business climate spurred by COVID-19 and a looming transformation of its downtown core with...
San Jose wants to boost opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses
As minority businesses struggle to survive during the pandemic, the San Jose City Council is amplifying its efforts to ensure smaller, BIPOC, LGBTQ and women-owned businesses get a fair shot at competing for government contracts. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Jan 12. to advance a proposal from Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmember...
UPDATE: San Jose expands services for homeless amid COVID-19
Faced with an uptick in homeless deaths amid the pandemic, city leaders expanded shelter services for San Jose’s unhoused residents. The San Jose City Council on Jan. 12 unanimously adopted a $11.3 million expenditure plan for its Homeless, Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program, which provides homeless outreach and shelter services citywide. The budget approval allows the city...