English
Spanish
Vietnamese
San Jose has worked hard to renovate and reopen its libraries, but the Alviso Branch Library has been historically left behind. North San Jose’s only library serves the biggest population, but has seen the smallest amount of infrastructure funding. When San Jose dispersed library bond funds in 2000 to rebuild or modernize the majority of its 23 public branches,...
Future of San Jose theater unclear amid annexation
San Jose is setting the stage to annex the Burbank Theater, but plans for the space are unclear. Last week, the San Jose City Council unanimously voted to move forward with annexing nearly an acre of land that’s home to the 74-year-old theater at the intersection of South Bascom and Parkmoor avenues. The plans listed...
Ex-San Jose mayor tells congressmember he’s likely running
One San Jose congresswoman may be fending off a challenge from former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo in the next election. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, up for reelection in 2024, said she received a call from Liccardo last week, letting her know he is considering running for her or Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s seat. Lofgren represents the downtown and...
Security contract gives San Jose labor majority the upper hand
Early signs point to a shift toward pro-labor politics in San Jose after the actions of several city councilmembers resulted in a contractor reversing position to earn a multi-million-dollar agreement. In a unanimous vote earlier this week, the San Jose City Council approved a $9 million agreement to hire a new contractor, Good Guard, to...
San Jose mayor’s chief of staff accused of conflict of interest
While working in the top offices of San Jose government, Jim Reed helped raise six figures to elect Mayor Matt Mahan. Then he went to work for him. Many say that could be considered a conflict of interest. And some in political circles are even considering a call to demand Reed step down as Mahan’s...
Downtown San Jose theater faces final curtain call
A San Jose art institution in downtown is closing its curtains later this year. The Tabard Theatre is closing indefinitely on April 2, according to Jonathan Rhys Williams, executive artistic director of the Tabard Theatre Company. “After three years of battling increasing costs, decreasing ticket sales and the ongoing effects of a global pandemic, we are...
State law may overshadow San Jose affordable housing policy
A controversial policy that could make affordable housing more attainable is coming back to the San Jose City Council—but it might be a moot point if a similar policy is passed at the state level. The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, or COPA, is a policy that would give qualified nonprofits first rights to make an offer...
How San Jose plans to tackle its worst problems
The San Jose mayor’s transition committees have finally made their private discussions public. Mayor Matt Mahan created five closed-door committees to meet and advise him on the city’s most pressing problems ahead of this year’s budget process—a move highly criticized because it lacked transparency and potentially flouted the law. The now-dissolved committees were tasked to...
San Jose boosting security at City Hall
San Jose City Hall is beefing up its security in light of employee harassment. Last week, the city installed metal detectors in the lobby of the North Tower—requiring all who enter to be screened by detectors and security wands. The plan was initially approved in February 2022 at a cost of more than $1 million. It...
Mysterious survey tests former San Jose mayor for Congress
A new poll floating around San Jose is trying to gauge how much support former Mayor Sam Liccardo would receive if he ran for Congress. The mysterious survey asks questions that pit Liccardo against Congressmember Zoe Lofgren, who currently represents parts of San Jose. About 10 questions tout the former mayor’s accomplishments, including his gun regulation law and leveling out...