State Sen. Dave Cortese plans to run for California Attorney General if Rob Bonta decides to enter the governor’s race. It could boost the odds of the next top state prosecutor coming from Santa Clara County. Cortese represents District 15, which covers portions of San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin. He previously served...
New laws affecting Silicon Valley in 2026
California lawmakers approved dozens of new laws in 2025 addressing housing development, wildfire prevention, labor protections and more. Several of the measures, authored by Silicon Valley legislators, will take effect in 2026 and shape daily life across Santa Clara County and the state. Environment Plastic grocery bag ban Senate Bill 1053 closes a loophole in...
State recognizes San Jose’s Japantown as a cultural district
For community leaders in San Jose’s Japantown, receiving statewide recognition as a cultural district affirms what they already know about the historic neighborhood. After a competitive process of more than 70 applicants, Japantown is one of 10 neighborhoods chosen last week to be a state-designated cultural district. This recognition provides the district with a $10,000...
Longtime San Jose mayoral chief of staff leaves for new role
In a San Jose City Hall shakeup, longtime mayoral chief of staff Jim Reed announced Thursday he is leaving to lead a statewide policy initiative launched by Mayor Matt Mahan earlier this year. Reed has been a central figure in City Hall politics for more than a decade, having served as chief of staff for...
San Jose mayor looking for ‘change agent’ governor
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan hosted several gubernatorial candidates at a tiny home site Friday, in the hopes of showcasing the city’s approach to slash homelessness through building temporary housing — and to get their buy in. During a tour of the city’s newest tiny home village at Cherry Avenue, Mahan said he’s looking for...
California’s Prop. 50 has a rocky road ahead
California has overwhelmingly approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to gerrymander congressional seats in favor of Democrats for the next several election cycles. His most powerful allies in Silicon Valley are tempering their zeal. Though Proposition 50 does little to local political boundaries, a whopping 71% of Santa Clara County voters went in favor of the...
Newsom signs off on Silicon Valley lawmakers’ bills
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed dozens of bills into laws earlier this month, tweaking bureaucratic processes to improve voter transparency, election accountability and workers rights. Several state lawmakers from San Jose and Santa Clara County had their bills approved. Here’s an overview of some new laws, which take effect Jan. 1, 2026 unless otherwise stated. Improving...
Feds to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English
By Josh Funk, AP Transportation Writer Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday he will withhold $40 million from California because it is the only state that is failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers. An investigation launched after a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on Aug....
California expands privacy protections for sidewalk vendors
Immigrants selling food, flowers and other merchandise along the sidewalks of California will have new privacy protections intended to keep their identities secret from federal immigration agents. The measure, signed into law this past week by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, comes on the heels of other recently enacted state laws meant to shield students in schools...
South County school district backs ultraprocessed food ban
Associated Press health writer JoNel Aleccia in Temecula, California, contributed. California will phase out certain ultraprocessed foods from school meals over the next decade under a first-in-the-nation law signed Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The law seeks to define ultraprocessed foods, the often super-tasty products typically full of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. The legislation...