San Jose

San Jose

San Jose calls for more police amid staffing shortages

San Jose is planning on funding 31 new positions in the police department despite struggling to fill more than 100 existing vacancies. The city manager proposed last week spending $2.9 million in the next fiscal year to create 31 new staff positions within San Jose Police Department, ranging from regular beat cops and community service...

San Jose recycling drivers allege union busting

The construction drivers who do the cleanup on some of San Jose’s major development projects say they aren’t asking for much—they just want safe working conditions and their full wages paid. Drivers at Premier Recycling Company said their demands are not being met and that contract negotiations have stalled since September. Ramon Castillo, a union...

San Jose residents could pay more for clean energy

San Jose Clean Energy customers could see more rate changes—and will have less time to protest against it. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to loosen regulations for how often San Jose Clean Energy—which provides renewable power to approximately 350,000 customers—can increase rates. The city’s clean energy provider was previously capped at increasing...

South Bay developer increases San Jose footprint

A major South Bay developer plans to add another huge office building near San Jose Mineta International Airport. A nearly 300,000 square-foot, five-story office building is planned for a 4.5-acre lot at the west corner of Coleman and Aviation avenues. Hunter Partners, a development arm of Cupertino-based Hunter Properties, in partnership with billionaire John Fisher, who holds...

San Jose colleges offer students immigration services

Community colleges want students to know free legal services are available to those in need of immigration assistance. The San Jose-Evergreen Community College District has programs for students and employees to receive immigration-related help for naturalizations, undocumented status and more. Advocates said the resources are crucial for AB 540 and DACA students who have uncertain...

How to participate in San Jose City Council meetings

One of the simplest ways to have your voice heard in San Jose is by keeping up and participating in the city’s council meetings. In our 2022 reader survey, San José Spotlight readers told us they want to be more civically engaged and involved in local policymaking. Many said our coverage of local government has...

Proposed data center spurs North San Jose growth

A massive data center operator plans to expand its footprint even further in North San Jose, following preliminary city approval. The San Jose Planning Commission unanimously approved STACK Infrastructure’s proposal last week to demolish two older industrial buildings and put up an advanced manufacturing facility, two data centers, a parking garage and a power substation to run it all. The...

San Jose budget could reallocate affordable housing funds

San Jose voters passed a property transfer tax to help fund affordable housing, but the mayor wants to reallocate more than 50% of those dollars for other uses. The city manager’s budget unreleased proposal, obtained by San José Spotlight, shows that $38 million of the $70 million in Measure E funds earmarked for affordable housing...

San Jose’s largest school district scrambles for teachers

San Jose’s largest school district is projecting a need for hundreds of teachers starting next fall, but hurdles remain amid an ongoing shortage. San Jose Unified School District estimates it needs to hire 202 teachers for the 2023-24 school year, according to the California Department of Education. Education officials said districts are looking for teachers, but...