San Jose prides itself on its so-called “sunshine” policies and transparency measures. But the truth is, the Bay Area’s largest city and its government are shrouded in secrecy and darkness. Six years ago, I was the plaintiff in a California Public Records Act lawsuit against San Jose, which resulted in a landmark California Supreme Court...
Staedler: Stormwater permits will require hundreds of millions of dollars to comply
The San Jose City Council agenda last week had an innocuous item called the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit Reissuance. It was previously discussed during the Dec. 5 Transportation and Environment Committee meeting. The new five-year stormwater permit became effective July 1, 2022 and expires July 2027. If you want to know how much you should be...
Editorial: San Jose council was right to appoint members
When the San Jose City Council appointed two new members last week, it felt like a snub of democracy for some. It was the culmination of a heated and lengthy debate over how to fill two open seats on the 11-member council. District 10 became vacant after former Councilmember Matt Mahan became mayor and District 8 opened...
Philbrick: Communicating during an emergency
How do you know a fire or flash flood is approaching, and when do you make the decision to evacuate? How do you know how soon to leave, where to go and whether to drive or take the train? Creating and dispersing emergency alerts that bring accurate and timely information while motivating action is challenging....
Rodríguez: San Jose needs affordable student housing
It is no secret that California is experiencing a housing crisis. The lack of affordable housing is particularly pronounced in the Bay Area and college students—especially community college students—are among the hardest hit. According to a 2021 California Assembly report, about 20% of the state’s community college students reported experiencing homelessness in the previous year....
Op-ed: Public Records Act enforcement needed more than ever
Recently, the San Jose Rules Committee, composed of four councilmembers, unanimously passed a motion intending to make Public Records Act (PRA) requests more restrictive and therefore likely to be unsuccessful. While we doubt any local jurisdiction is legally able to change the state’s PRA regulations, and the committee’s proclamation is consequently only a performative gesture, such shenanigans are...
From the CEO: How do we remain unbiased?
A prominent Silicon Valley leader called me just as I was wrapping up my work for the day. This person, who I’m not naming to respect their privacy, was angry about our election coverage. In particular, one name came up – Johnny Khamis. The former San Jose councilmember unsuccessfully ran for a county supervisor seat...
Collins: COPA—Here we go again
The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, or COPA, is once again up for consideration. This was first proposed nearly three years ago as part of an anti-displacement proposal from San Jose’s housing department. Last year, COPA was stalled from moving forward because it did not have the votes to pass. It’s back again with the new...
Robinson: San Jose City Council asks the right questions in appointment process
Serving San Jose as a councilmember is more than an honor, it’s a job. Congratulations to Domingo Candelas for being appointed to District 8. But now his real work begins. Also, thanks to all the other applicants who went through the process. Their task is to now support their district by working with their new...
Shaw: What’s next for homeless people after the storms?
The atmospheric rivers that slammed California for the past few weeks once again show how vulnerable homeless people are to the weather. High winds, flooding, rain and an evacuation order forced people to seek out safety from the elements, quickly filling Red Cross evacuation sites in San Jose. The storms highlight the type of services...