Santa Clara County announced Friday that it’s administered one million COVID-19 vaccines. “We need to take a moment and take a deep breath and really celebrate,” said Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody. “This is a really big deal.” The milestone comes just over four months after the county vaccinated its first person and one...
The Podlight: How Derrick Seaver will rebuild embattled business group
The Podlight is a podcast collaboration by San José Spotlight and Silicon Valley Synergy. The Podlight features a weekly look at the top headlines and in-depth conversations with San José Spotlight reporters about South Bay policy, politics and government, delving into critical issues such as housing, technology, business, homelessness, land use and development. In this...
Should San Jose require nonprofits to disclose lobbying?
More than 50 individuals, companies and advocacy groups legally lobby San Jose each year about subjects including Google developments and cannabis. Lobbying is governed by the city’s lobbying ordinance, which requires lobbyists to register, pay annual fees and file weekly reports disclosing conversations with city officials. But 501(c)(3) nonprofits, or charitable nonprofits, are exempt from...
Santa Clara’s latest fight: Lawmakers turning on a Zoom camera
Santa Clara councilmembers have a new battle on their hands: Whether officials should have their video cameras on during online public meetings. The argument stemmed from a petition by San Jose resident and Santa Clara business owner Kirk Vartan, who asked the council to discuss adopting an on-screen requirement at the next City Council meeting....
Santa Clara County considers overhauling ‘military-style’ weapons policy
Santa Clara County is considering overhauling and regulating the sheriff’s “military-style” weapons policy, heeding calls for the demilitarization of law enforcement. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to analyze how the Sheriff’s Office spends its budget on equipment. Supervisors hope to reform or get rid of what they believe is overboard spending on...
Will Topgolf revitalize San Jose’s ‘forgotten stepchild’ of Alviso?
Alviso, despite its quaint small-town charm, isn’t primed as a go-to destination as much as neighboring Willow Glen or downtown San Jose. One San Jose councilmember even called it the “forgotten stepchild” of the city. Topgolf San Jose, a gleaming multi-story golf entertainment center, looks to change that. “This is historic,” said Richard Santos, a longtime Alviso resident...
Santa Clara County to redistribute COVID-19 fines to small businesses
Santa Clara County will begin the process of returning thousands of dollars in COVID-19 safety violation fines back to small businesses. Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to create a grant program that redistributes money collected from pandemic-related health and safety violations back to local businesses. Once developed, the county is expected to partner with local financial...
San Jose business group may have violated rules in CEO hiring
Silicon Valley’s powerful chamber of commerce announced its new CEO a week before its Board of Directors could vote to approve it—an apparent violation of its bylaws. And now some of the group’s top leaders are questioning the hiring process and calling it flawed. The Silicon Valley Organization, plagued by months of scandal over a...
Is San Jose still the 10th largest U.S. city?
The heart of Silicon Valley might have lost its claim to fame as the 10th largest city in the nation. During a Charter Review Commission meeting Monday night, San Jose State University retired political science professor Terry Christensen made a statement that raised eyebrows during his presentation: the city of Austin, Texas surpassed San Jose in...
Santa Clara settles in district election case
Santa Clara’s fight to reinstate at-large council elections is over, ending a battle by five plaintiffs who accused the city of shutting out voters of color. Santa Clara reached a settlement of $712,500 Tuesday night with five Asian Americans who filed a suit in 2017, alleging that the city’s at-large council system violated the California...