In the wake of federal proceedings against an unlicensed Hayward subcontractor accused of holding more than a dozen workers in San Jose against their will, city lawmakers on Tuesday prioritized expanding wage theft protections to construction workers. The move comes as part of an increased effort to crack down on battling wage theft, human trafficking and other workplace mistreatments since subcontractor...
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San Jose City Council approves six new priorities for the next year
After tallying the votes, San Jose lawmakers locked in six new policy priorities for next year at Tuesday’s San Jose City Council meeting. Prior to the meeting, councilors nominated over two dozen ideas to pave the way for city officials to manage their works load and put the council’s most important initiatives first. Tuesday’s vote to add six new items to the...
San Jose Councilmember Lan Diep draws a challenger
Councilman Captain America has drawn at least one re-election challenger. San Jose’s most eccentric lawmaker, Lan Diep, will face Huy Tran, the housing commissioner he appointed, and potentially Berryessa school trustee David Cohen, in his re-election bid next year. Diep was narrowly elected to the San Jose City Council in June 2016 by 12 votes. He unseated...
San Jose City Council to decide its newest priorities
The San Jose City Council is set to lay the groundwork for its goals over the next year. Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, councilors nominated 28 ideas for the process that will assist city officials with managing their work loads and prioritizing the council’s most important initiatives. Here are a few of the nominations: Streamline the...
Amid worry, San Jose Fire Department’s needs prioritized
Measure T, the astounding $650 million bond passed in November, has city officials fervidly making plans to expand Internet access to low-income households, contemplate the future of Coyote Valley and fund sustainable building projects. But firefighters, who have expected a station in Willow Glen for nearly two decades, have yet to get their turn. As the city plans...
State of the County: 2019 is the year of health
The vital need for healthcare dominated this year’s State of the County address with Board of Supervisors President Joe Simitian stressing the need for quality mental health and homelessness services. His address called for creating a better system where the many facets of healthcare — lack of insurance coverage, homelessness, mental illness and texting while driving —...
Santa Clara County approves refugee funding, $8M for Sheriff’s Office
Santa Clara County lawmakers on Tuesday voted to approve a transfer of $8 million to cover overtime in the Sheriff’s Office, agreed to allocate money for refugee programs and discussed moving the Hope Village homeless encampment. The board approved a one-time transfer of roughly $3 million to cover overtime payments in the Sheriff’s Office, while...
San Jose council approves safe parking, co-living downtown
San Jose is taking the bold step of allowing homeless residents to park their vehicles overnight at certain churches, community centers and libraries. City lawmakers on Tuesday voted to expand San Jose’s safe parking beyond a single city-owned lot to allow parking in places of assembly. Last October, the City Council approved a $250,000 pilot program to allow...
Sam Liccardo beefs with NRA over new gun law proposals
Mayor Sam Liccardo caught heat on social media after Dana Loesch, a vocal and controversial spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, took aim via Twitter at his newly-unveiled gun laws overhaul proposal. “Think of the craziest gun control law out there, and I guarantee you that California lawmakers can come up with something more ridiculous,”...
Santa Clara looks to extend ban on recreational cannabis
Silicon Valley is home to some of the first recreational pot shops in California. But not in Santa Clara. The Mission City passed a moratorium on commercial pot two months ago — after voters approved a measure legalizing recreational sales — and now lawmakers want to extend the ban. “There’s not enough time, really, to do all...