A new poll released Wednesday found 80 percent of San Jose voters would support a measure to limit campaign contributions and move mayoral elections to presidential years to boost voter turnout. The three-day poll was funded by the campaign supporting the measure, called The Fair Elections Initiative. 504 likely Nov. 2020 voters were surveyed. The...
Update: San Jose approves response to VTA board grand jury findings
During a San Jose City Council meeting Tuesday, city lawmakers unanimously approved a response to a grand jury investigation that found problems with the Valley Transportation Authority’s governance, including a lack of knowledge and experience from board members who represent cities across the county. Mayor Sam Liccardo, who is on the VTA Board of Directors,...
Three finalists for San Jose Planning Commission announced
After months of speculation, three finalists for a highly-coveted position on the San Jose Planning Commission were announced Thursday. According to city documents, the finalists are: Mariel Caballero, a Santa Clara County deputy director at the probation department; Louis Barocio, vice principal at East Side Union High School District; and business owner Rolando Bonilla. The...
Santa Clara County searches for its next Poet Laureate
In an effort to help elevate poetry and celebrate the literary arts, Santa Clara County is looking for its next Poet Laureate, a poet appointed by the government to compose poems for special occasions. Established in 2008 by the Board of Supervisors, local poets are chosen based on their past bodies of work. “The Santa...
Santa Clara County lawmakers declare a Climate Emergency
Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese’s resolution to declare a climate emergency was approved by the Board of Supervisors earlier this week. The declaration acknowledges that global climate change is “caused by human activities” that have resulted in a climate emergency that impacts the well-being health and safety of Santa Clara County residents. It demands immediate...
San Jose leaders push to fund Planned Parenthood shortfall
Two Silicon Valley lawmakers are looking to patch up a $250,000 loss of funding for San Jose’s Planned Parenthood centers after the nonprofit organization pulled out of Title X, a decades-old program that provides grants for affordable birth control and reproductive health care. The decision to leave the program came after President Donald Trump demanded...
VTA confirms new BART stations still on-track for end of year opening
As part of its Capital Program Committee meeting Thursday, VTA gave an update on the BART Silicon Valley extension. This 10-mile stretch of fresh track includes two stations, one in Milpitas and another at Berryessa, near the San Jose Flea Market. As part of its agreement with BART, VTA will hand over the operation of...
State political watchdog fines Alum Rock school board member
The Fair Political Practices Commission has slapped a $7,000 fine on Alum Rock Union Elementary School District Board Member Dolores Marquez for alleged mishandling of surplus campaign funds and other charges dating back to 2014 and 2016. In a stipulation order drafted by the commission and unanimously approved by the commissioners last week, Marquez is...
San Jose ranks highest with singles looking for love
If you’re looking for lasting love, look no further — you’re in the right place. A new survey sponsored by dating website Match found that San Jose is not a city of flings, ranking number one in Bay Area cities for singles looking for long-term relationships. Across the nation, it ranks No. 4 in the...
CA High Speed Rail recommends a route through San Jose
Despite the governor’s confusing comments in the State of the State address earlier this year, California High Speed Rail is moving forward with plans to connect the Central Valley backbone with the Peninsula. In its latest open house Thursday, NorCal HSR employees met with community members along the San Jose to Merced corridor. State Sen....