In her first six months in office, state Sen. Aisha Wahab has faced critiques for pro-worker, anti-discrimination bills and even a recall committee—but said she still hasn’t hit her stride. Last November, Wahab became the first Muslim, Afghan American elected to the state Legislature and jumped right into the work, authoring 10 bills since her...
San Jose finds interim head for critical department
As San Jose works to fill the vacant director role of its housing department, a seasoned city leader with a history of smashing barriers will take over in the interim. Deputy City Manager Rosalynn Hughey will temporarily lead the housing department as San Jose conducts a nationwide search to fill the role permanently. In three weeks, current...
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’...
‘Not enough representation’: Silicon Valley Latinas struggle to enter tech industry
Despite being raised in the shadow of tech giants like Apple and Google, Stephanie Valenzuela struggled to see how she fit into the industry. As a Latina, Valenzuela said she rarely saw herself represented. Valenzuela has worked as a tech recruiter as part of a small cohort of Latinas in the sector. She wants to...
Will San Jose’s St. James Park revamp be a gamechanger?
One of San Jose’s oldest parks that laid the ground for presidential speeches, memorials and even lynchings wants to remake history again after more than 150 years. St. James Park, located on nearly seven acres in the downtown core, is getting a complete makeover through a partnership between Levitt Foundation, Friends of Levitt Pavilion San...
San Jose and SJSU want to keep talent in the city
San Jose State University and San Jose City Hall are partnering in a bold endeavor—a marketing campaign to help students feel more connected to the city and keep them local after graduation. They are each investing $100,000 in a citywide branding strategy and student fellowship program to create an easier path to employment for students interested in...
San Jose approves hike in mayor race donations
Mayoral candidates in San Jose will soon be able to raise more money for their campaigns—if just slightly. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $100 increase to campaign contribution limits for the mayoral race. Come March 2024, individuals will be able to donate up to $1,500 per mayoral candidate. This small change comes as...
San Jose pilot program to tackle blight
San Jose streets are blighted with trash, broken windows and graffiti—and instead of waiting for residents to point it out, the city wants to find and fix it first. The city is launching a pilot program where its employees will conduct blight inspections and enforcement in downtown and other areas for six months, starting in...
San Jose school district puts safety onus on each campus
The San Jose Unified School District has denied a community petition to form a task force to shore up safety demands after a string of threats were made toward students at various schools. Abraham Lincoln High School parent Trudi McCanna and English teacher Elizabeth Neely petitioned the school board to create a communication plan and...
Santa Clara County makes cuts to tackle huge deficit
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is cutting hundreds of vacant positions to close a looming deficit—paving the way for the passage of a $11.3 billion budget for 2023-24. Supervisors addressed the $120 million deficit last Thursday by not only cutting 600 positions, but also shifting more money into county reserves, totaling $218.6 million,...