Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor wants to put a bond measure on the November 2020 ballot that would generate funds to improve public facilities and infrastructure, she announced Thursday during a State of the City address. “While our community is thriving, we need to improve our parks, our libraries and our infrastructure to keep up...
San Jose lawmakers discuss combatting rise in rapes
After examining a report by the San Jose Police Department on a spike in rapes across the city, lawmakers serving on a public safety committee Thursday wanted to know why victims avoid law enforcement and other hurdles with solving cases. Mayor Sam Liccardo also devoted $750,000 to help police leaders increase resources to address the rise...
It’s official: Milpitas Vice Mayor Karina Dominguez joins Assembly race
After serving six months as Milpitas’ vice mayor, Karina Dominguez says she’s ready “to make history” again. Dominguez announced exclusively to San José Spotlight that she’s running for Assembly District 25, a highly-contested seat vacated by Kansen Chu who told this news organization in May that he’s leaving Sacramento to run for county supervisor. Dominguez,...
New #SanJoseSong featuring New Zealander raises concerns
San Jose’s tourism leaders are trying to get more people talking about and visiting the city. People are definitely talking now. For many in the 10th largest city in America, San Jose is their hometown. For Grace Kelly, that’s not the case. That’s why people are sounding off about the city’s new music promo, featuring...
Santa Clara not complying with records law, Civil Grand Jury report says
A civil grand jury this week released a scathing report on Santa Clara’s alleged failure to comply with the state’s public records law — a report city officials are disputing. The law, known as the California Public Records Act, dates back to 1968 and allows people to look at and receive documents created and kept by government...
How Santa Clara County will help seniors paying taxes they don’t need to
School districts in California don’t require homeowners who are eligible for a parcel tax exemption to renew it every year, which means seniors over the age of 65 and low-income or disabled homeowners don’t have to reapply to continue getting a tax break. But California law only allows school districts to grant exemptions — not...
San Jose: Trump supporters celebrate re-election announcement
Despite living in a liberal bastion, a small but mighty group of Silicon Valley residents are fighting to put President Donald Trump back in office in 2020. One of them on Tuesday flaunted her support for the 45th president in an unusual spot — her feet. Wearing shoes emblazoned with an American flag and “TRUMP”...
San Jose OKs three new fire stations, relocating two existing stations
San Jose is now in the market to build three new fire stations and relocate two existing ones after the City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to move forward with the search for five new sites. Emergency responses have spiked 83 percent in the last decade, according to a memo from San Jose Fire Chief...
San Jose political advisor Alex Lee jumps into Assembly race
Another candidate on Monday entered the race to replace Silicon Valley Assemblyman Kansen Chu, setting the stage for one of the region’s most closely-watched races next year. Alex Lee, 23, a policy advisor and former field representative for Assemblyman Evan Low, announced he’s jumping into the fray. He joins a slew of other candidates, including...
Top takeaways from Santa Clara County’s new $8.1B budget
After a week of budget hearings, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve the hefty $8.1 billion budget, funding projects that prioritize strengthening existing programs and services as the county prepares for an economic downturn. The budget from County Executive Jeff Smith, approved by the Board of Supervisors Friday, focused on...