An obscure wage formula used by San Jose is getting an update — bringing a pay bump to some of the city’s lowest paid workers following a year when their wages didn’t rise at all. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved changes to its “living wage” policy, a measure covering workers employed by companies...
Sunnyvale officials say license plate cameras prevent crime
A heated debate over surveillance and public safety is unfolding in Sunnyvale, as residents fear license plate reader cameras could enable mass tracking — while city officials said the technology is critical to stopping crime. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to continue using Flock Safety automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, after...
Residents push back against San Jose’s data center plans
San Jose’s plan to support the rapid development of new data centers in coming years is running into increasingly vocal pushback. What might have been a routine policy review session during Tuesday’s City Council meeting instead became a venue for a procession of angry residents to vent their concerns about the city’s efforts to attract...
Is struggling hotel a bellwether for downtown San Jose?
With the Signia by Hilton San Jose seemingly set to be put on the market, questions are swirling about the future of San Jose’s largest hotel — and what it will mean for downtown. BrightSpire Capital, the owner of the 541-room hotel at 170 S. Market St., signaled to investors in a recent sales call...
High gas prices gouge Silicon Valley
Surging gas prices will cut $1.1 billion from household income in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties this year and eliminate 2,600 jobs, according to estimates from a San Jose economic think tank. A recent report from Joint Venture Silicon Valley shows total economic output in the two counties will drop by $706 million if...
San Jose lawmaker at center of AI regulation fight
San Jose’s former mayor turned congressman finds himself at the center of a national battle over who can regulate artificial intelligence: the states or the federal government under President Donald Trump. A coalition of online child safety and tech watchdog groups is calling on Rep. Sam Liccardo, along with several other lawmakers, to reject an...
Another lawsuit targets San Jose’s license plate cameras
A group of San Jose residents has filed a federal class action lawsuit against San Jose to challenge the city’s automated license plate reader program. The trio of residents — Tony Tan, Scott West and Colin Wolfson — is targeting a program first launched in 2022 that has grown to encompass a network of 474...
San Jose eyes reviving outdoor dining program
When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and health officials banned most indoor business activities, Doug Cookerly was among dozens of San Jose business owners who took advantage of the city’s emergency Al Fresco outdoor dining program to add outside seating. “It was a savior,” Cookerly, who owns the bar Hop & Vine located on The Alameda,...
Silicon Valley farmworkers hit by federal wage cuts
A Silicon Valley lawmaker is calling for the federal government to overturn actions that will drive down wages for seasonal agricultural workers in the region. Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced a March 26 resolution to block the lowering of hourly wages for seasonal agricultural workers. The U.S. Department of Labor in October implemented new rules, before...
San Jose wants to spin off AI policy initiative
For many public officials, artificial intelligence holds the promise to massively boost government operations. But the emerging technology also faces serious questions about how it can be used without compromising data security and user privacy or displacing workers. For the past two years, San Jose has been helping government agencies across the globe navigate this...