Progressive and labor-friendly politicians have enjoyed a majority on the San Jose City Council for the past two years, but the November elections may flip the balance. Formidable business-backed candidates advanced in every council race during the March 5 primaries, which could spell trouble for the South Bay Labor Council — the main cultivator of...
How to participate in Los Gatos Town Council meetings
Watching your city’s public government meetings is a simple way to stay informed. In a 2022 reader survey, San José Spotlight readers told us they wanted to be more civically engaged and involved in local policymaking. Earlier this year, we compiled a guide on how to engage with public meetings in San Jose. As we...
Milpitas launches rent relief program for local workers
Some Milpitas residents are about to get a break on rent, as the city pushes to address the affordability crisis. Milpitas’ workforce rent relief program will give up to 50 households $645 a month to help supplement rent for up to two years, prioritizing low-income residents who live and work in the city. The program,...
San Jose election spending reached all-time high in 2022
Campaign funding flooded into San Jose elections in 2022, making that cycle the most expensive in city history. A report compiled by transparency watchdog Maplight found mayoral candidates and individuals vying for five San Joes City Council seats raised more than $7 million collectively in 2022, an all-time high. That amount omits independent expenditures, which...
Sunnyvale’s ride-share proposal would help disadvantaged residents
Sunnyvale residents may soon have a new ride-share option that costs less than an Uber and is more convenient than existing public transit. After overwhelming support from residents, the Sunnyvale City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to apply for grants and partner with Silicon Valley Hopper (SV Hopper) — a ride-share service that operates for less...
Silicon Valley voter turnout in primary election inches up
Santa Clara County is almost done counting primary election ballots, with advocates hoping a neck-and-neck congressional race and historic county contest will get voters to the polls in November. Voter turnout as of Wednesday sits at 37.38% according to the county’s Registrar of Voters, with 382,958 ballots counted out of just more than 1 million registered...
Lawmakers pass the buck on San Jose transparency bill
A state bill to increase public access to the communication of government officials died on the desks of lawmakers without consideration — a sign of the uphill battle transparency measures face in Sacramento. Senate Bill 908 — introduced in January by State Sen. Dave Cortese — would have required public officials to forward messages about government business...
San Jose program to build backyard homes is thriving
Hundreds of granny units are popping up everywhere in San Jose due to a successful city program implemented five years ago. The city has issued nearly 3,000 permits and seen 1,451 granny units, also known as backyard homes or accessory dwelling units (ADUs), completed since launching its preapproved contractors program in 2019. In the first...
Sunnyvale city manager to retire after steering key changes
Sunnyvale’s top administrator is retiring after seven years on the job. City Manager Kent Steffens will step down in June, according to a Wednesday news release. He led the city in completing recent projects including the new City Hall and kickstarting plans to rebuild the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The city will begin looking for...
San Jose adopts landmark policy to stop displacement
A long-awaited landmark policy will preserve housing specifically for residents at risk of displacement in hopes of keeping them in San Jose. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the first policy in the city to give tenant preference based on geography. New or acquired affordable housing projects that are city funded or...