Candidates for state and city government for Santa Clara debated police accountability, racial equity and voting rights on a San José Spotlight virtual forum co-moderated by Editor Ramona Giwargis and Michael Lane, the San Jose director for the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR). Seven candidates for City Council districts 1,...
San Jose candidates for local, state offices face off on racial justice, affordable housing
Eight South Bay candidates competing in state and local races tackled questions on economic recovery, climate change, racial justice, housing and transportation in a two-and-a-half hour discussion hosted by San José Spotlight. The Sept.16 forum was held virtually and moderated by City Hall reporter Carly Wipf and Michael Lane, San Jose director for SPUR. The forum...
San Jose City Council supports restoring voting rights to parolees
The San Jose City Council voted to endorse a measure slated for the November ballot that would restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated individuals. The 10-0-1 vote did not include Councilmember Johnny Khamis who was absent due to illness. If Proposition 17 is passed by voters, California will follow in the footsteps of 19 other...
New developer fee to fund art in San Jose? District 6 candidates answer in face-off
District 6 City Council candidates took on art — specifically making it more culturally equitable and charging developers a fee to fund it — in a debate hosted by the collaborative San José Arts Advocates. The online discussion between incumbent Dev Davis and challenger Jake Tonkel took on importance given the city has seen a...
How did South Bay campaign fundraising fare during the pandemic?
With less than 75 days left before the Nov. 3 general election, recent campaign filings show less than $500,000 in contributions raised between six candidates for San Jose City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors — a potential sign that COVID-19 is draining people’s political giving. Six-figure sums typically are commonplace for...
Voting in Santa Clara County: What you need to know
With less than three months until Election Day, voters are facing confusion and misinformation about how to vote in the presidential election during the COVID-19 pandemic. In California, all voters will receive a ballot in the mail for the Nov. 3 election. In Santa Clara County, voters should expect to see their ballots with pre-paid...
Democrats show united front as National Convention begins
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Democratic National Convention kicked off this week with San Francisco resident Kristin Urquiza solemnly telling audiences her father died of the coronavirus in May after he listened to President Donald Trump’s advice and ignored social distancing guidelines. “My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump,...
FPPC complaint alleges Chu skirted campaign finance laws
California Assemblymember Kansen Chu, who is running for Santa Clara County supervisor, is the subject of a complaint filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission. The complaint, filed by former Assemblymember Paul Fong, alleges Chu violated the Political Reform Act by using his campaign for state Assembly to skirt the donation limits on candidates for...
Dave Cortese scores endorsement from outgoing Sen. Jim Beall
After remaining mum for months, outgoing San Jose Sen. Jim Beall has endorsed Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese in the neck-and-neck senate race, Cortese’s campaign confirmed late Thursday evening. The highly-anticipated decision came as the race between the local veteran lawmaker and Ann Ravel, the Obama-backed attorney, heats up in the last few weeks....
Silicon Valley Democrats salivate over Biden-Harris ticket
Silicon Valley politicians and community leaders reacted Tuesday to presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s selection of Sen. Kamala Harris to be his running mate, with many praising her career-long dedication to California and the Bay Area. The former vice president announced his long-awaited and much-speculated vice presidential pick via text and a tweet. Harris, who...