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Milpitas has an exclusive ride-share service much cheaper than Uber for locals to get around town—but not many people know about it. The Simple Mobile Access to Reliable Transit (SMART) program is a city ride-share service, with a fleet of six vehicles, that takes residents across the city at a maximum cost of $2.50 per...
Ousted Milpitas city manager files claim against city
Former Milpitas City Manager Steve McHarris is leveling sweeping accusations of incompetence, unethical behavior and intimidation by members of the city council, including the mayor, vice mayor, city attorney and the former mayor. McHarris filed a claim against the city for damages on May 1, just months after a split council voted not to renew McHarris’...
The Biz Beat: Mil’s Diner—an all-American classic in Milpitas
Red swivel seats look into the bustling kitchen and cozy red-upholstered booths surround the inside of Mil’s Diner, which is so perfectly timeless that no one has any real idea how long it has actually been in business. Co-owner Teri Lane spent 18 years as a waitress before she and Anthony Camacho bought the establishment...
Milpitas investigates confidential information leak
Amid a flurry of finger pointing, Milpitas officials plan to hire an outside investigator to look into who on the City Council leaked confidential information to a person threatening litigation against the city. San José Spotlight has learned City Manager Steve McHarris is at the center of the issue, and is threatening legal action against...
Milpitas city attorney under fire for offensive tweets
A Milpitas official is raising concerns about a series of offensive tweets from the city attorney, who claims his account was hacked. Councilmember Anthony Phan said Twitter posts from City Attorney Michael Mutalipassi that were made 13 years ago are misogynistic. The tweets from 2009 and 2010 include misogynist comments on rape and female body...
Robes, candles and chants: South Bay official in hot water over religious ceremony
On a Sunday evening late last month a Milpitas employee working at City Hall saw something very unusual and eerie: several people wearing dark robes, walking through the building while chanting, burning candles and possibly sage. To the worker’s surprise, one of the people participating in what appeared to be a religious after-hours ceremony was...
Milpitas axes third city manager in six years
Frustrated Milpitas residents and councilmembers are calling for a reversal on the sudden decision to let go of City Manager Steve McHarris. McHarris is the third city manager to be let go in Milpitas since 2017, and is yet another loss in leadership that has shocked residents and left them wondering when the tumultuous string...
Longtime San Jose official leaves for smaller city
San Jose’s public works director has left to take on a leadership position in a neighboring city. Matt Cano, who worked for San Jose in a variety of roles over the span of nearly 24 years, took over as deputy city manager in Milpitas on Jan. 30. He has an annual base salary of $275,341, plus...
South Bay reentry program changes lives of formerly incarcerated
Mark Ashford has been in and out of the criminal justice system for 26 years, never staying out for more than five months at a time. A few years ago, everything changed with the help of a support program and reentry services. “It is possible for people to change,” Ashford, 46, told San José Spotlight....
UPDATE: Milpitas officials ban natural gas in new buildings
Milpitas is the latest Silicon Valley city to ban natural gas in all new buildings, disregarding attempts from a local energy company to score an exemption. The Milpitas City Council approved two policies Tuesday to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Councilmembers unanimously approved a policy requiring more electric vehicle charging stations around...