San Jose’s Housing Department violated a state agreement by setting monthly rents too high for formerly unhoused residents living at the SureStay Hotel. Now the city needs to recalculate. In April 2020, homeless residents vulnerable to COVID-19 received free emergency shelter in hotels across Santa Clara County through Project Homekey—the state program subsidizing emergency housing run by local governments and nonprofits. After...
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San Jose extends COVID vaccination deadline for city workers
San Jose made a last-minute change to its COVID-19 vaccination policy that gives reluctant employees more time to get the jab before punishments start. Thursday was the deadline for city employees to be vaccinated, but Mayor Sam Liccardo said workers will be given a one-week grace period to get their first shot before being placed...
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The Capital of Silicon Valley struggles with email system
Despite complaints and frustration from the mayor about San Jose’s email platform, the city can’t afford to switch its operating system. “That kind of migration and transition would be a huge project for (roughly) 7,000 city employees,” Chief Information Officer Rob Lloyd told San José Spotlight. San José Spotlight last week revealed that Mayor Sam Liccardo...
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Cindy Chavez confirms worst kept secret: She’s running for San Jose mayor
After leading supporters in a chant in front of her home near downtown, Supervisor Cindy Chavez announced she’s running for mayor of San Jose. “Equality has been my North Star. And so many of you here have shown me the way,” Chavez said. “I wanna live in a city of equals. A city where birth...
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Judge rejects San Jose’s bid to throw out police brutality lawsuit
A federal judge is allowing a class action lawsuit to move forward against alleged police brutality at last year’s Black Lives Matter protests. The suit alleges that the city and SJPD used excessive force on demonstrators and issued an unconstitutional curfew to suppress their view of anti-police and anti-racism in violation of their First Amendment...
Silicon Valley transit agency lacks COVID vaccine mandate
VTA has a substantial number of unvaccinated employees, but the South Bay transit agency isn’t taking any steps to require a COVID-19 vaccine. As of Tuesday, 1,258 workers are fully vaccinated, while 1,470 are at least partially vaccinated—69.37% of VTA’s workforce. The agency has about 2,100 employees. Since the public transit agency is an independent...
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San Jose small businesses get break on paying taxes
After being hammered by the pandemic, small businesses will have one less expense to incur — at least for now. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a nine-month extension of a program that waives the city’s business license tax for businesses hurt by COVID-19. The extension will run from Oct. 1, 2021...
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San Jose plans dynamic initiative to house and employ homeless
Responding to the growing homeless crisis, San Jose has ambitious plans to shelter and employ thousands of unhoused residents within the next five years. The Rules and Open Government Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend the City Council support a housing blueprint and efforts to employ homeless residents to clean up the city. The council...
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$400K settlement for San Jose couple after hotel altercation
Marissa Santa Cruz was celebrating her 22nd birthday with her boyfriend Paea I’suva Tukuafu when the party abruptly ended. San Jose police arrived in response to a noise complaint in the couple’s hotel room at the Holiday Inn at 1350 North First Street. After sponge rounds and batons flew, the couple is now walking away with...
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Who paid for these ads? San Jose mayor candidates’ ads prompt questions
As the race for San Jose mayor ramps up, two candidates are raising eyebrows over potential campaign violations. If complaints are filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission, it might decide to investigate, said Sean McMorris, a policy consultant to watchdog group California Common Cause. The actions of San Jose Councilmembers Dev Davis and Matt Mahan, both...