An investigation has cleared a Santa Clara councilmember accused of verbally assaulting the mayor and another colleague during a meeting. An investigator from California law firm Van Dermyden Makus has found there was insufficient evidence to support claims by Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Councilmember Kathy Watanabe, who accused Councilmember Anthony Becker of making hostile, threatening comments...
New income program gives checks to Silicon Valley families
Some of Santa Clara County’s most vulnerable families are receiving $1,000 checks starting this week—the first of many. The Silicon Valley Guaranteed Income Program is giving 150 families $1,000 a month with no strings attached for two years. The program, run by housing nonprofit Destination: Home, prioritizes homeless and marginalized families while studying the effects of...
San Jose school district still weighs cops on campus
A year after San Jose’s largest school district decided to bring police officers back to campus, residents say they are being left out of the conversation. A San Jose Unified School District committee charged with reviewing the use of law enforcement and evaluating potential alternatives has made little progress, advocates said. The school board formed...
2022 in review: San Jose City Council’s major decisions
San Jose policymakers marked 2022 with major votes that will have lasting impacts for years to come. Amid a consequential election that ushered in a new mayor and four councilmembers, the San Jose City Council made notable decisions on homeless solutions, filling council vacancies and police oversight. Here are the top policy decisions of 2022:...
Santa Clara County loses revenue from Stanford’s property tax exemptions
The largest tax exempt entity in Santa Clara County is depriving neighboring cities of much-needed tax revenue, local leaders say. Stanford University received more than $16.8 billion in tax exemptions last year for its various campus properties, nearly half of the $35.2 billion of property tax exemptions in the county, according to the Santa Clara...
San Jose commission to divvy up millions from Google
A select group of San Jose residents have the job of spending about $155 million from Google—and they’re ready to get to work. The group, known as the Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund Commission, is comprised of 13 residents who either have experienced homelessness or come from a field of advocacy, education or workforce development....
‘People are dying on our roads’: San Jose unsafe for bicyclists
San Jose tops the list of Silicon Valley cities with the most bicycle crashes, injuries and deaths, which is nothing to brag about. San Jose ranks the worst in bike safety, tallying 2,803 bike crashes over a decade, resulting in 38 deaths and 2,752 injuries. Palo Alto ranks second with 787 bike crashes, resulting in three...
What’s next for San Jose’s Columbus Park?
After clearing the city’s largest homeless camp around Columbus Park, San Jose is moving ahead with plans to revitalize the location and change its name. The 70-year-old park currently bares the name of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, whose legacy is criticized due to his exploitation of Native Americans. After two rounds of public voting...
Sunnyvale City Council recount is one for the ages
The race for a Sunnyvale City Council seat, teetering on a one vote margin, isn’t over just yet. With Murali Srinivasan, 65, holding a one vote lead over Justin Wang in the District 3 race, Wang has asked the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters to count each ballot by hand once more, he said. “If...
San Jose honors former city attorney
The conference room behind the San Jose City Council chambers is now named after a local giant—former City Attorney Rick Doyle. Doyle was a longtime public servant who spent more than 20 years in City Hall. He died at the age of 65 from cancer, just 10 days after retiring, on Aug. 23, 2020. He...