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Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo had his first day on campus this week, and he couldn’t be more excited. Liccardo, who termed out last year, started a part-time gig as a Stanford University law professor on Monday. His course explores the fiscal, legal and political struggles of policymaking to solve what he said are the...
How was San Jose police union unaware of alleged drug smuggling?
The shocking drug smuggling allegations against a longtime San Jose police union office manager are prompting critics to voice concerns about the union’s integrity and its internal oversight process. Joanne Segovia, executive director of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association (SJPOA), was charged by federal prosecutors last week with attempting to illegally import fentanyl. Segovia,...
Beloved Bay Area journalist suffers severe injury
For more than 50 years, Mike Colgan’s distinctive voice filled Bay Area airwaves—from headline-grabbing political scandals to national sporting events, Colgan was there. He retired from journalism in 2020 and moved to Arizona to enjoy a quiet life with his wife, but retirement was cut short. Colgan, a longtime fixture and icon in local journalism,...
Embattled eBay exec has ear of another San Jose mayor
Days after his election, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan allowed a disgraced former eBay executive linked to a vicious stalking scheme to build his transition teams, work on his schedule and broker a meeting with a tech leader. New emails obtained by San José Spotlight highlight the continued political influence of Steve Wymer, the former...
San Jose official fights small business displacement
High rents and new development have caused a number of small businesses across San Jose to close shop or to cease operations entirely. That’s why San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz is asking the city to draft a policy to protect small businesses from being displaced. There are about 60,000 small businesses in San Jose, roughly 7,000 of...
A double life for some Silicon Valley politicos
Three Santa Clara County politicos lead a double life as policy advisors and researchers by day and elected officials at night. Omar Din, J.R. Fruen and Lucas Ramirez help San Jose councilmembers research and implement policy, while also governing in the cities where they live. Din serves as Sunnyvale vice mayor, Fruen as a Cupertino...
The Biz Beat: Braise has the wildest PB&J in San Jose
The AJ’s Original PB&J at Braise is the lunch treat you have been looking for all your life. You just never knew it until now. It might be the most decadent and delicious sandwich ever, with fresh baked bread, house made nut butter, jelly and roasted bone marrow. It’s the creation of Braise partner and chef...
Disgraced San Jose police union manager appears in court
Two days after federal prosecutors announced a bombshell drug charge against the San Jose police union’s office manager, she made her first appearance in court. Joanne Segovia, who the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged this week with attempting to illegally import a form of fentanyl, surrendered to authorities today at the federal courthouse on South First...
Lack of political will tanked ex-San Jose leader’s PG&E idea
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo once called for Pacific Gas & Electric—one of the largest public utilities in California—to be “customer-owned” through a nonprofit, cooperative firm. His idea was quashed when the company emerged from bankruptcy in 2020, but the concept might still be possible if the circumstances are right. PG&E began to spiral toward...
San Jose won’t meet homeless housing goal
One of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s main goals is to finish his predecessor’s promise and complete 1,000 interim homes for the unhoused by the end of this year—but city staff said that’s impossible. Interim homes are quick-build temporary shelters designed to be a fast and cheap solution to getting homeless residents off the streets and on the path to permanent...