Track legend and human rights advocate John Carlos spoke at San Jose State University on Wednesday beneath a statue honoring him and alumnus Tommie Smith. The event was part of the university’s Legacy Month, which began in 2006. Since 2024, San Jose has recognized Oct. 16 as Tommie Smith and John Carlos Day, with events...
San Jose school district upgrades at 49 campuses could cost $4B
San Jose’s largest public school district is looking to use bond measure funding to not only pay for workforce housing, but also to update its aging schools. The San Jose Unified School District has plans to modernize all of its 49 campuses and facilities to the tune of $4 billion. Officials are looking to pay...
San Jose leaders zero in on flood risks amid strong El Niño
As a strong El Niño season heightens flood risks throughout California, some in San Jose are raising the alarm that shaky coordination between South Bay government agencies could hamstring emergency preparation efforts. During a Tuesday joint meeting between the Valley Water board of directors and San Jose City Council, a chorus of officials and residents warned that...
East San Jose navigation center is a one-stop resource facility
A homeless man wandered into a navigation center in East San Jose last month. He was injured, walking unsteadily with an open wound on his leg. “I’ve been walking for 10 days, not knowing where to go, and I just landed here,” he said to a worker. He had tried getting help in various places...
How will South Bay transit change if tax increase fails?
Santa Clara County transportation projects could be hurt if a regional tax measure to fund public transit is rejected by voters on Nov. 3, but the impact would be less than other parts of the Bay Area — and the details of service reductions are unclear. Senate Bill 63, also known as the Regional Transit Measure,...
Newsom signs Silicon Valley lawmakers’ bills to combat ICE
While federal immigration agents have stoked fear in Silicon Valley, California has passed a number of bills to keep them and those who run detention centers accountable. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 29 signed nearly two dozen bills, with some spearheaded by Silicon Valley lawmakers to protect immigrants from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)...
VTA workers offered affordable housing built by transit agency
For VTA workers, living in Santa Clara County might become a reality in the future due to a unique piece of state legislation. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into law a bill co-authored by Silicon Valley Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Patrick Ahrens that gives VTA employees preference to buy or rent an affordable home built...
San Jose school trustee admonished for discriminatory remarks
A San Jose school board has publicly admonished a trustee in response to his conduct, and signed a resolution supporting diversity. Franklin-McKinley School District trustees on Sept. 22 voted 4-1 to rebuke Trustee Marc Cooper for discrimination against Muslims and incorrectly stating the U.S. Supreme Court ruled America is a Christian nation. As part of...
San Jose increases parking garage rates, but not meters
It took three attempts for the San Jose City Council to reach a compromise Tuesday on contentious parking rate changes, with officials approving higher garage rates and special event fees while putting off plans for downtown meter rate increases and extended evening meter hours. The final proposal passed 7-3 — with Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Bien...
Santa Clara County fends off legal challenge to sales tax increase
A court ruling invalidates a lawsuit that claimed Santa Clara County incorrectly applied an emergency clause to Measure A that allowed the county to put the sales tax increase on the ballot as a general tax. California’s Sixth District Court of Appeal on Sept. 23 affirmed the county Board of Supervisors’ declaration that the county...