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Santa Clara County braces as first omicron COVID case detected in California

Local health officials are racing to get ahead of a newly discovered COVID-19 variant, worried about a potential increase in transmissibility and vaccine evasion. On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed one omicron case detected by UC San Francisco. The person returned from South Africa last week, is fully vaccinated and has...

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...

UPDATE: San Jose council sends airport billboard plan back to commission

San Jose lawmakers stalled putting up electronic billboards along Highway 101. The San Jose City Council voted 9-1 Tuesday to send a proposal to construct two billboards by media company Clear Channel back to the Airport Commission. Councilmember Raul Peralez voted no. This follows several failed votes to approve the proposal. The proposal will be heard again...

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...

‘You’re not wanted here’: Advocates decry barriers around San Jose homeless camp

In an effort to clear one of the Bay Area’s largest homeless camps, San Jose installed barriers near Columbus Park right before Thanksgiving, prompting concern from some unhoused advocates. The city installed K-Rail barriers at the intersection of Spring and Hedding streets and east of it earlier this month. The city also placed “no outlet/not...

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...

What do San Jose commissioners actually accomplish?

San Jose City Council decisions are almost always final, but they don’t start that way: Most major decisions go through a commission of appointees before they head to the council’s 11-member dais. Before a law or policy is passed, it’s usually first taken up by the relevant commission. After presentations from city officials, public comment...