Three San Jose airport commissioners won’t reapply for their positions, claiming that top airport and city officials shunned their feedback on a high-profile policy decision to raise building heights near Silicon Valley’s downtown airport. The terms of Commissioners Raymond Greenlee, Tom Cruz and Mark Schmidt are expiring in June. Commissioners typically get re-appointed with little...
Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran enters California Assembly race
Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran is dropping out of a local supervisorial race to run for state Assembly in an effort to replace Kansen Chu, who announced earlier this month that he’ll run for Santa Clara County Supervisor. Tran broke the big news on Facebook early Wednesday morning. The young mayor said he decided in December...
Santa Clara County approves $5M for sexual assault services
While women’s healthcare services are being threatened nationally, Santa Clara County leaders are fighting to preserve and invest in securing those rights at the local level. In two monumental moves for women, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on Tuesday to reserve $5 million to support services for victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence...
South Bay Senate candidates differ on controversial housing bill
Three of the five candidates running for Jim Beall’s state Senate seat drew a crowd of eager voters on Monday night at a meet-and-greet forum in Campbell, discussing crucial issues such as housing, transportation, climate change and education. The hours-long event hosted by the Silicon Valley Democratic Club did little to sway Silicon Valley Democratic...
UPDATE: San Jose officials delay discussion on Reid-Hillview Airport closure
The potential closure of the 80-year-old Reid-Hillview Airport could have a lasting impact on San Jose, according to a new report, by straining city resources and reducing the capacity of the city’s downtown airport. Santa Clara County supervisors in December voted to explore closing the airport due to rising costs, declining revenues and growing maintenance...
Ro Khanna touts Green New Deal during South Bay environmental forum
Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna spoke at a forum in the South Bay this weekend to help unveil key actions that Bay Area cities can take to combat climate change, while touting the importance of the Green New Deal on the region’s economy. Khanna, who represents California’s 17th Congressional District on Saturday spoke to a...
Two years later, is ‘Opportunity to Work’ law in San Jose working?
Two years after the adoption of a landmark law to boost hours of low-wage workers, San Jose City Hall has little information about how it’s working and whether it’s being effectively enforced. There also appears to be confusion among employees about the law and the protections it provides, San José Spotlight has learned. Measure E,...
Presidential hopeful Julián Castro talks immigration, education during San Jose stop
Julián Castro, a Texas politician gunning to be the country’s next president, stopped Friday morning in East San Jose to share stories of his Mexican American upbringing and political history, and to ask local voters for their support in 2020. “When I think of San Jose, I think of a community that represents the future...
All eyes on San Jose Planning Commission following new vacancy
A month after a San Jose Planning Commission appointment sparked public outcry and proposed reforms, another seat has opened on the powerful panel — raising questions about whether it will lead to more equitable representation. The showdown over the seat began in April when San Jose lawmakers chose ex-Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio for the highly-coveted position...
From immigration to health care: A sitdown with Zoe Lofgren
On her most recent trip to Silicon Valley, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat representing the 19th Congressional District in Silicon Valley, sat down in an exclusive interview with San José Spotlight to discuss some of the region’s most contentious issues ranging from immigration and health care to the influence of technology and homelessness. The veteran...