Nearly a year after it first convened, the 23-member body in charge of making changes to San Jose’s city charter is finished with its duty. Wednesday’s meeting of the Charter Review Commission unanimously rubber-stamped final recommendations for numerous changes to city laws—including shifting the timing of mayoral elections and adding more council districts. Commissioners voted 16-0,...
San Jose school trustee jumps into District 7 council race
East Side Union High School District Board President Van Le is joining the contested race for the San Jose City Council District 7 seat. Le, 63, has served as a board member in one of the largest San Jose school districts since 2010. She also owns a State Farm Insurance agency in the city. “My slogan...
San Jose residents clash over proposed redistricting maps
Bitter and passionate words marked the San Jose City Council’s first public redistricting hearing as advocates urged lawmakers to embrace two different visions of redrawn political boundaries. Mayor Sam Liccardo and fellow councilmembers refrained from discussion Tuesday, opting instead to hear from more than 150 residents. The hearing is the first of three to be...
San Jose council candidate leads protest against redistricting proposal
More than 20 people gathered in front of San Jose City Hall Tuesday evening to protest a redistricting map they say is divisive and discriminatory. The protest, organized by District 7 City Council candidate Bien Doan, calls for the rejection of the Unity Map—a proposal brought forth by a coalition of local civil rights, labor...
San Jose planning commissioner is running for City Council
San Jose Planning Commissioner Rolando Bonilla isn’t a stranger to City Hall—he used to work on its 18th floor for years. This time around, Bonilla wants to have his own council office. Bonilla filed papers Monday to run for the District 5 City Council seat, which covers East San Jose. He’s served on the Planning...
Politicos launch attacks against Santa Clara County redistricting map
As Santa Clara County lawmakers prepare to approve new political boundaries, some local politicians are raising complaints about the process. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 earlier this month to advance a proposal for redistricting the county’s five political boundaries, choosing the so-called Yellow Map over two other options. Supervisors Mike Wasserman and Joe Simitian voted against...
How Sam Liccardo plans to influence 2022 elections
Mayor Sam Liccardo may be leaving San Jose City Hall next year, but the longtime politician isn’t ready to give up power. The city’s top lawmaker wants to have his finger on the pulse of the City Council—and even potentially pick his replacement. Liccardo formed a political action committee in late October to influence the consequential...
San Jose lawmaker’s social media pages kept separate, she says
San Jose Councilmember Dev Davis drew the ire of campaign watchdogs and local residents regarding her Facebook page in September. But the District 6 rep has since wised up when it comes to social media. Davis was co-mingling her official Facebook page with her mayoral campaign page, San José Spotlight learned. Davis’ campaign team put “Councilwoman...
Former San Jose council candidate forms shadowy political nonprofit
A new local advocacy group is rallying against San Jose’s policies on gun control and homelessness, but the organization doesn’t want the public to know who is behind it—or who is funding it. The political nonprofit, called Silicon Valley Public Accountability Foundation, promotes a stance against gun control and the “housing first” approach to solve homelessness—all while...
UPDATE: San Jose commission OKs three council district maps
San Jose will soon be divided in a new way following a city commission vote Wednesday for new council districts. The San Jose Redistricting Commission is recommending three maps to redraw the city’s political boundaries, pushing months of heated debate about which neighborhoods belong in which districts to the City Council. The 11-member commission chose...