WASHINGTON, D.C — Amid a chaotic presidential transition, political experts are warning Congress that a smooth transfer of power is vital for national security. At a House subcommittee hearing on Thursday, Lisa Brown told legislators the presidential transition is a vulnerable time for the United States. Errors and oversights are more likely to occur during...
Two Silicon Valley legislators eyeing run for California Secretary of State
With speculation swirling that California Secretary of State Alex Padilla could be selected to fill Kamala Harris’ U.S. Senate seat once she becomes vice president next month, some local politicians are lining up to potentially replace him. Five California legislators have opened exploratory committees looking into a run for secretary of state, including two South...
San Jose school board approves agreement for police on campus
The San Jose Unified School District reaffirmed its relationship with police this week despite protests from community organizers. The Board of Education on Dec. 10 unanimously approved updated terms and conditions for on-campus police “for the purpose of maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, staff and community members,” according to a Memorandum of...
New Alum Rock school trustee resigns, leaving seat empty
Newly-elected Alum Rock School District Trustee Scott Hung Pham has declined to take his oath of office, leaving the district scrambling to fill the seat just weeks after he was elected. According to district documents, Pham submitted an email about his decision to district Superintendent Hilaria Bauer on Dec. 4. But many people, including those...
UPDATE: San Jose details how it is spending $650 million in Measure T funds
Two years after San Jose voters passed a $650 million disaster preparedness bond, the city says it is making headway on fixing roads, preventing floods and improving emergency response times. The City Council voted unanimously to put Measure T on the 2018 ballot after dilapidated roads, mismanaged land and lack of emergency centers threatened resident...
South Bay legislators hit the ground running in new posts
New state Senator Dave Cortese and San Jose Assemblymember Alex Lee both introduced large pieces of legislation on their first day in Sacramento. On Dec. 7, within hours of beginning his post as representative of California’s Assembly District 25, Lee introduced AB 20, called the Clean Money Act. The legislation seeks to bar all businesses...
Congress considering $908 billion COVID-19 relief package
WASHINGTON, D.C — A bipartisan group of senators unveiled a $908 billion coronavirus relief proposal this week as millions of Americans continue to grapple with the ramifications of the pandemic. Among other provisions, the plan designates approximately $288 billion for small businesses and $160 billion for local and state governments. It would also provide a...
White House report: Santa Clara County among highest in state with COVID-19 cases
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest warning of another stay-at-home order comes on the heels of a White House coronavirus report advising California to implement more restrictions to slow the recent surge of COVID-19. The state overall had 76,738 new cases, or 194 new cases per 100,000 residents, with 49.5 percent occurring in the...
San Jose bans natural gas in new commercial buildings
San Jose became the largest city in the country to ban natural gas in commercial buildings, but its plan to keep businesses running during a power outage was criticized by activists and lawmakers. The City Council voted 8-3 on Dec. 1 to approve the ban but in the wake of a public health crisis and...
San Jose to vote on extending natural gas ban
Eyeing an all-electric future, the San Jose City Council will vote Dec. 1 on whether to expand its existing natural gas ban to include new commercial developments. San Jose’s current ordinance, passed by lawmakers last year, bans natural gas in new residential buildings including single-family homes, low-rise apartments and condos — but incoming office and...