Too bad San Jose Councilman Lan Diep couldn’t hide behind his Captain America shield. The eccentric lawmaker, who’s the lone Republican on the San Jose City Council, was spotted at a Bernie Sanders event this summer. But Diep didn’t want to be seen at the far-left Vermont Independent’s rally. “I don’t really want people knowing...
Author: Kyle Martin (Kyle Martin)
Silicon Valley Republicans react to Mike Honda’s new gig
Top Silicon Valley GOP leaders didn’t hold back criticism of a former Bay Area Democrat’s attempts to keep control of the House — after losing his seat three years ago. Former U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, who lost his seat to Democrat Ro Khanna in 2016, earlier this year launched a new political action committee, the Hold the House...
A sitdown with Dianna Zamora-Marroquin
Just in time for the frenzy of the 2020 election, Silicon Valley’s most powerful labor coalition has a new political director — Dianna Zamora-Marroquin, who previously handled communications for the South Bay Labor Council. Zamora-Marroquin told San José Spotlight that her new focus will be on activating young voters and marginalized communities of color to...
San Jose: New urban village plans could displace low-income renters
A new development planned for west San Jose is expected to displace a handful of mostly low-income San Jose residents to make way for a new mixed-use 7-story residential and commercial urban village. “I thought this was going to be my forever home,” said Debra Hernandez, 66, who’s retired and has lived in her one-bedroom...
Should Santa Clara County Fairgrounds be used for homeless housing?
As homelessness worsens throughout the Bay Area, one Willow Glen resident is planning to soon bring 1,000 signatures to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from petitioners demanding transitional housing for homeless people on the county fairgrounds. “Most people want to do something, we just don’t know what we can actually do to make...
Three Bay Area media outlets host regional discussion on gentrification
One East Bay housing advocate says that when dealing with gentrification and displacement, it’s time to “push back.” Housing, gentrification, tech workers, corporations, taxes and displacement — all topics discussed Sunday afternoon during a live broadcast of Connect the Bay, a quarterly live TV program produced by Northern California Public Media, in partnership with San José Spotlight...
San Jose’s ‘cleanest’ homeless encampment swept away
The homeless encampment across the street from downtown San Jose’s Children’s Discovery Museum was swept out and cleared Tuesday morning, and less than a dozen homeless people moved or surrendered many of their belongings while crews from the California Department of Transportation loaded up trucks and hauled it all away. The encampment is affectionately called...
Silicon Valley legislator pushes to ban conversion therapy
Silicon Valley Assemblyman Evan Low, an openly gay state legislator, has been working since last year to get conversion therapy recognized in California as fraudulent and harmful to LGBTQ+ residents. Low this month introduced a new resolution to denounce conversion therapy services, joining with faith leaders to move California one step closer toward eradicating conversion...
New #SanJoseSong featuring New Zealander raises concerns
San Jose’s tourism leaders are trying to get more people talking about and visiting the city. People are definitely talking now. For many in the 10th largest city in America, San Jose is their hometown. For Grace Kelly, that’s not the case. That’s why people are sounding off about the city’s new music promo, featuring...
San Jose: Trump supporters celebrate re-election announcement
Despite living in a liberal bastion, a small but mighty group of Silicon Valley residents are fighting to put President Donald Trump back in office in 2020. One of them on Tuesday flaunted her support for the 45th president in an unusual spot — her feet. Wearing shoes emblazoned with an American flag and “TRUMP”...