Silicon Valley’s powerful labor lobby has unveiled its 2022 endorsements—and there are a few surprises and notable snubs. The South Bay Labor Council, which comprises more than 100 unions across the valley, announced a sole endorsement Tuesday for Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez in the San Jose mayor’s race. The group didn’t back Councilmember...
Author: Staff Reports
San José Spotlight receives half-million grant from American Journalism Project
San José Spotlight has received a $500,000 grant from the American Journalism Project, the nation’s largest venture philanthropy dedicated to local news. The grant will allow the South Bay’s only nonprofit newsroom to hire a revenue development professional and audience growth specialist to expand its reach—both topically and geographically. The American Journalism Project (AJP) announced four new...
Full transcript: San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s 2021 State of the City
Editor’s Note: This is a transcript of Mayor Sam Liccardo’s full 2021 State of the City address. Good evening. As I fulfill the mandate of our city charter to articulate an annual state of the city address, I reflect on the pain that so many in our city have experienced over the last year. The...
San José Spotlight wins award for coverage of VTA mass shooting
San José Spotlight this month won a national award for its breaking news coverage of a mass shooting in May at a VTA light rail yard that killed nine transit workers. The award from the Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers recognizes our nonprofit newsroom among the top news publications in the country. LION Publishers is...
San Jose Speaks: A conversation with Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan
San José Spotlight hosted an exclusive conversation with Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan in the final installment of our San Jose Speaks series, which features interactive conversations with South Bay leaders, influencers and decision makers. Dewan discussed how schools are recovering from COVID-19, bringing children back safely to campuses, policing in...
San Jose leaders, advocates and victims talk gun policy
In the wake of a mass shooting in San Jose that killed nine VTA workers, our exclusive panel brought together elected leaders, victims of gun violence, Second Amendment advocates and community leaders for a thoughtful discussion on gun policy and common sense solutions. The Aug. 26 discussion, which included audience questions, was moderated by San...
San Jose Speaks: A conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna
San José Spotlight hosted an exclusive conversation with Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna in the latest San Jose Speaks series, which features interactive conversations with South Bay leaders, influencers and decision makers. Khanna discussed federal gun control policy in the wake of a mass shooting at a VTA rail yard, universal health care, the housing crisis,...
San Jose Speaks: A conversation with Police Chief Anthony Mata
San José Spotlight hosted an exclusive conversation with newly-appointed San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata in its latest San Jose Speaks series, which features interactive conversations with South Bay leaders, influencers and decision makers. Mata discussed his vision and future plans for the San Jose Police Department, efforts to “defund” the police, resident complaints about...
Full report: Silicon Valley Pain Index 2021
The Silicon Valley Pain Index, conducted by the San Jose State University Human Rights Institute, is an annual report focusing on racial discrimination and income inequality in the region. The report was inspired by an index compiled about New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Human Rights Institute released its findings this week. Here is the...
A look at how San Jose mourned after mass shooting
This week will forever be engrained in the minds of San Joseans. What started as an ordinary day Wednesday ended with nine families saying goodbye to their husbands, fathers, brothers, and best friends. Nine men were gunned down at a VTA rail yard after a disgruntled employee opened fire following a union meeting. The shooter,...