The San Jose Police Department is struggling with a surge in retirements and challenges in recruiting officers, according to a new report. In the last year, 117 San Jose officers resigned, well above the 69 retirements the department estimated, according to Chief Anthony Mata. A 2020 department audit shows there are 1,149 sworn officers in the department....
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Woman dragged by San Jose police officer sues
A San Jose woman is suing the city for injuries she suffered when a San Jose police officer kicked her in the stomach, handcuffed her and dragged her across a parking lot. Guadalupe Marin filed suit Wednesday morning in the Northern District federal court. She is seeking damages for excessive force, violations of due process...
San Jose union blames VTA after worker suicide
In the wake of the suicide of a worker who survived the mass shooting in May, VTA’s biggest employee union is laying blame at the feet of the agency. The transit agency confirmed Tuesday that Henry Gonzales, a veteran paint and body worker at VTA’s Guadalupe Light Rail Yard, died in an apparent suicide. He served...
Growing diversity in San Jose could signal rise in progressive politics
The new census data released this month paints a clear picture of the rapidly growing diversity in Santa Clara County, and those numbers could signal a rise in progressive politics. With the white population plummeting for the first time in the nation, the Asian population is now the largest ethnic group the county. Asians represent 38.9%...
Santa Clara County nixes leaded fuel at Reid-Hillview Airport, considers early closure
After a decades-long fight by activists to shutter a small airport in East San Jose, county supervisors made a historic decision to eliminate leaded fuel by any means—including closing the airport. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously early Wednesday morning to eliminate lead exposure from operations at Reid-Hillview Airport. County lawmakers want to explore prohibiting the...
Silicon Valley transit agency workers demand hazard pay
VTA’s largest union is demanding back hazard pay for bus drivers, light rail operators and other essential transit workers who have worked throughout the pandemic. “If it wasn’t a dangerous situation… then you have to ask yourself, why was the majority of VTA management working from the comforts of their home?” asked John Courtney, president...
UPDATE: Santa Clara County pursues investigation of sheriff
Facing calls to resign and numerous investigations, Sheriff Laurie Smith is pushing back against claims that her office squandered hundreds of millions of dollars by unsuccessfully trying to improve jail conditions. “That is absolutely incorrect,” Smith said, adding that she hopes County Counsel does a thorough examination of her office’s progress in meeting goals set...
San Jose expands eviction help centers
East San Jose residents, who face disproportionately higher rates of poverty compared to other parts of the city, will soon have a center to help them battle evictions. San Jose’s housing department plans to open an eviction help center in East San Jose in the Franklin McKinley School District, which is close to lower-income families...
Newsom urges South Bay residents to oppose recall
Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging local residents to vote no on the recall effort taking place in less than a month. “We thought the last election, we all said it: this is the most important election in our lifetime,” Newsom said at a Monday news conference in San Jose. “Well, we defeated Trump, we did not...
East San Jose airport switches to unleaded fuel as demands for closure escalate
Amid a contentious fight to close an East San Jose airport, officials announced Monday it will switch to unleaded fuel — but the move might not quell opponents’ concerns. The announcement came Monday from the Community and Airport Partnership for Safe Operation. The organization, which has fought to keep the airport open, reportedly received the...