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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan sought to reduce the number of votes needed to pass his Measure E spending plan. Councilmembers resoundingly said no—partly because there are two alternative plans, widening the gap between Mahan and his colleagues. On Wednesday, Mahan released his $5.2 billion budget proposal for the next fiscal year. In it, he snuck in an...
Santa Clara County’s controversial mental health program in high demand
A Santa Clara County program to help the severely mentally ill receive treatment has outpaced expectations in its first year of implementation, after a hard fought battle to get it approved. The Assisted Outpatient Treatment program (AOT) also known as Laura’s Law, allows different authorities and family members to refer people diagnosed with a severe mental illness—schizophrenia...
Writers strike comes to Cupertino—Apple’s front door
While Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) organized outside the company’s visitor center to protest unfair wages and job security. Members of the local guild leafletted and made speeches on Monday, voicing their frustrations over an ongoing labor dispute between WGAW and the Alliance of Motion Picture and...
San Jose independent police auditor to retire
San Jose’s independent police auditor is planning to retire, city officials said. Shivaun Nurre, who has been in the auditor role since 2018, has worked in the auditor’s office since 2006. Word that she plans to retire comes about a week after she published her annual report on police oversight in the city. During a...
UPDATE: San Jose unveils $5 billion budget with surplus
San Jose’s final draft of its multi-billion dollar budget is out and Mayor Matt Mahan is sticking to his “back-to-basics” approach—prioritizing homelessness, crime and blight. Mahan released his June budget message today, outlining how he plans to allocate the city’s $5.2 billion purse. The monthslong budget process started smoothly, with unanimous approval of his first...
Santa Clara officials won’t kick out embattled colleague
Demands for Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker to resign ultimately went unheeded Tuesday, the conclusion of a seven-hour meeting often stalled by procedural minutiae and recriminations. The Santa Clara City Council voted 4-2 not to schedule a future debate over whether to press Becker to resign, with Becker abstaining. He stands accused of leaking a...
Silicon Valley elected leader wages war with agency
New records show rising tensions, turmoil and dysfunction at the region’s largest water supplier — with one of its own directors now demanding the public agency pay her attorney fees in her fight against them. Valley Water Director Rebecca Eisenberg has ruffled feathers since taking office in January. But six months into her tenure, emails...
San Jose loses another beloved restaurant
The Evergreen community has lost a beloved restaurant after almost 20 years due to unplanned hardships caused by the pandemic and family health. In a letter taped to the restaurant’s door, Evergreen Inn & Pub owners Hector and Emily Lopez said they were closing their cherished restaurant with heavy hearts and thanked their loyal customers....
San Jose police say pointing a gun isn’t use of force
When a police officer points a gun at a person, it can be terrifying, induce trauma and anxiety and can quickly escalate a situation. Police watchdogs and community advocates say when a San Jose Police Department officer points a gun at someone, it should be recorded as use of force. But since summer of last year, SJPD’s internal affairs...
‘Homophobia is everywhere’: Rainbow flags stolen in San Jose
More than 75 rainbow flags have been stolen in Willow Glen as National Pride Month kicks off. It’s become a reoccurring issue. Local real estate agent Holly Barr buys and places the flags on Willow Glen’s main street, Lincoln Avenue, annually beginning in June. Every year she says they get stolen, but she’s not letting...