During a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing, George Floyd’s younger brother implored representatives to enact law enforcement reforms that will protect minorities from police brutality. “I couldn’t take care of George that day he was killed, but maybe by speaking with you today I can make sure that his death will not be in vain;...
Silicon Valley leaders react to coronavirus threat as Congress reaches $8.3B funding agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency, as the number of coronavirus cases in the state continues to rise, including in Santa Clara County — where health officials confirmed there are three new cases of the virus within county limits, bringing the total cases to 14. While the state of...
San Jose mayor leads municipal opposition of FCC mandate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — San Jose is among nearly two dozen cities that have opposed the Federal Communications Commission for orders it issued under the premise of facilitating the launch of 5G communication technology. In a call with reporters last week, officials from around the country said the FCC’s orders on small-cell deployment amount to federal...
Silicon Valley lawmakers look to keep working in wake of rancorous impeachment process
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a week in which San Jose lawmakers say President Donald Trump delivered a divisive speech and then watched the majority of the Senate vote to acquit him of impeachment charges, California U.S. Reps. Ro Khanna, Anna Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren all say they hope Congress can move forward. “People, they’re desperate...
Major changes coming to San Jose’s upcoming elections
WASHINGTON. D.C. — Preparations are underway across California for the upcoming March 3 primary election, which for the first time since 2008, will allow California voters to participate near the beginning of the presidential primary process. Plus, a new law called the California Voter’s Choice Act takes effect in Santa Clara County this year. That...
San Jose congresswoman will serve as a House impeachment manager
WASHINGTON. D.C. — Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced early Wednesday that San Jose congresswoman Zoe Lofgren will serve as one of the House managers in the Senate impeachment trial. Lofgren will serve along with the six other managers from the House of Representatives: Adam Schiff (CA-28), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), Val...
San Jose Iranian group considers security amid tensions over U.S. attack
WASHINGTON. D.C. — On the heels of an announcement Thursday that the U.S. military had killed Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top military leader, one Iranian advocacy group in the South Bay is preparing for heightened security risks. “Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the...
Members of the military are getting a raise in 2020 and a new Space Corps
WASHINGTON. D.C. — President Donald Trump signed a defense funding bill on Friday that will provide service members a raise in salary, better housing conditions and establish a new branch of the military. Amidst the contention on Capitol Hill over the impeachment proceedings, the Armed Services committees in the House and Senate passed a final...
Zoe Lofgren’s bill to provide green cards to undocumented farmworkers passes House
WASHINGTON. D.C. — A bill that would give undocumented farmworkers a way to earn citizenship status passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, marking a major victory for agricultural workers. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, or H.R. 5038, was a major bipartisan agreement spearheaded by San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. It passed, 260 to...
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo raises eyebrows with Mike Bloomberg endorsement
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s announcement Tuesday that he’s endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg, just one week after his last pick, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., dropped out of the race is raising eyebrows from critics. Some are questioning the Silicon Valley mayor for backing a billionaire after Harris dropped out because she didn’t have enough capital...