NFL-sponsored games and day-to-day events have become entangled in the lengthy legal spat between the San Francisco 49ers and the city of Santa Clara. The Santa Clara City Council decided Tuesday to remove the 49ers from all management responsibilities of Levi’s Stadium — including for the team’s own games. City Attorney Brian Doyle announced that...
San Jose council candidate loses endorsements after divorce claims come to light
Political and business leaders on Wednesday pulled their endorsements of San Jose District 8 candidate Jim Zito, after San José Spotlight reported details about his divorce that include an alleged history of controlling behavior and emotional abuse. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Councilmembers Pam Foley and Johnny Khamis, the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors and...
Details of Jim Zito’s divorce become campaign issue in race for San Jose council
San Jose City Council candidate Jim Zito controlled nearly every aspect of his ex-wife’s life, from the temperature in their home to chores, finances and even how much toilet paper the family used, court documents reviewed by San José Spotlight show. Zito and his ex-wife, Zoe Bizzell, married in 1991, lived in the Evergreen suburbs...
Marijuana sales banned in Santa Clara; temporary councilmember to be appointed
Santa Clarans won’t see the budding commercial cannabis industry bloom in their city any time soon. The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday approved a permanent ban on all cannabis-related activity in the Mission City with a 5-1 vote. Mayor Lisa Gillmor cast the lone no vote, saying there’s room to discuss options other than a...
San Jose rejects controversial hotel project, approves wage theft policy
San Jose lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously rejected a proposal to build a new hotel with two entertainment venues in a sleepy suburb of the city, following immense pressure from residents who voiced opposition to the project. The hotel, which would have been located at 615 and 623 Stockton Ave., was heavily protested for being plopped in...
California Secretary of State formally opposes Santa Clara’s Measure C
The California Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, jumped into local politics this week, taking a position to oppose an upcoming ballot measure that would halve the number of voting districts in Santa Clara. Measure C will be up for a vote on March 3, and will ask residents whether they want to keep the city...
San Jose City Council candidates report staggering fundraising totals
Fifteen candidates vying for five seats on the San Jose City Council spent the last six months frantically fundraising, every incumbent building a war chest to defend their seats while three candidates raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars in their quest for an open seat. In San Jose, council candidates can begin fundraising 180...
Organizers rally to boost Latino turnout in San Jose elections
With California’s primary election less than a month away, Latinos Unidos por una Nueva America — or Latinos United for a New America (LUNA) — hosted a conference this weekend to mobilize Silicon Valley’s Latino voters this election season. Latinos in Action 2020, an organized civic engagement project, seeks to build political power in the...
San Jose mulls new citywide parking policy ideas to cut greenhouse gases
San Jose Planning Commission members received a recent preview of an Urban Land Institute parking study and a slew of recommendations that aim to reduce congestion and the number of miles vehicles travel in the city as a way to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. ULI is an urban planning research organization and thinktank,...
Kylli pushes forward on Santa Clara project after losing ‘backup plan’
Chinese developer Kylli Inc. has faced a couple of tough knocks in recent months as it tries to push forward a mixed-use development in Santa Clara on 49 acres once owned by Yahoo, but the company continues to work on making something of the project. When Santa Clara councilmembers voted Jan. 14 not to extend...