As the Santa Clara County Office of Education board faces backlash for firing Superintendent Mary Ann Dewan, it’s responding with an “extraordinary” request for third-party audits into misuse of school district funds during Dewan’s tenure. The audits will focus on unspecified contract awards and expenditures of public funds, as well as allegations of email surveillance...
San Jose farm park advocates accuse city of retaliation
Supporters of an East San Jose farm say they’ve been trying for years to get the city to invest more in the beloved community park. Instead, city parks officials responded by cutting off the relationship with the group. The 40-year-old Emma Prusch Park Foundation is alleging San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services hasn’t been...
Campbell police use cameras to combat retail theft
A West Valley police department is one of the first in Santa Clara County to target organized retail theft by monitoring businesses’ surveillance cameras — just as voters decide if thieves should receive more punishment statewide. The Campbell Police Department has launched a program that allows businesses to share their live security footage once they call...
San Jose streets getting traffic cameras to improve safety
Dozens of traffic enforcement cameras will be placed across San Jose’s most dangerous streets after city leaders approved a multimillion-dollar pilot program. City transportation officials have examined priority safety corridors where 30% of fatalities and severe injuries are caused by speeding vehicles, and have identified 63 potential locations for “speed safety cameras.” Councilmember Pam Foley,...
Silicon Valley homeless residents still eligible to vote
When Gary Diaz was homeless, all he could think about was how he was going to make it to the next day. Now that he’s staying at a temporary housing program at Tully Inn, he’s been able to get his head above water to do things that are important to him — and that includes...
San Jose official to file complaint over stolen campaign signs
Candidates on both sides of a historic race to seat Santa Clara County’s first Vietnamese American supervisor say their campaign signs have been stolen, torn and defaced. One San Jose leader wants to investigate who’s behind it. District 7 San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan said his office is looking into the theft of campaign signs...
How Silicon Valley candidates are tied to troubled recycler
Candidates running to represent Silicon Valley in Congress are pointing fingers over whose ties are tighter to a Bay Area recycling company under scrutiny by the FBI. In the Congressional District 16 race, Assemblymember Evan Low’s campaign circulated an advertisement titled “Dirty Politics,” calling out Low’s opponent and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s connections...
San Jose homeless family memorializes poisoned dog
A homeless man and his son have built a Dia de los Muertos altar near a freeway overpass to honor his dog that was killed. Candles, marigolds, Christmas lights, skulls and drapes decorate the elaborate altar located at Seventh and East Virginia streets. At the center is a large framed picture of Nacho, Miguel Maruyama’s...
San Jose leaders deny Councilman Omar Torres’ medical leave request
Questions are mounting as to whether or not embattled San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres will resign — and his colleagues are declining to formally excuse his absence from public meetings. For a second time since police filings showed Torres sent lewd texts about minors, councilmembers at a Wednesday Rules and Open Government Committee meeting declined...
Gov. Newsom endorses Silicon Valley congressional candidate
Gov. Gavin Newsom has made a last-minute endorsement in Silicon Valley’s contested race for Congressional District 16. Newsom is backing state Assemblymember Evan Low in his campaign against former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. The endorsement makes sense to political observers who say the two worked together as Low began his tenure in the Assembly...