As San Jose prepares its annual budget proposal, one factor looms larger than any other: Pensions. As of June 30, San Jose had $3.5 billion in unfunded liability—pension debt owed to city retirees that’s not covered by the return on investments made by the city’s two retirement plans. The city’s retirement plan for police and firefighters...
Silicon Valley trans community faces workplace discrimination, harassment
As the LGBTQ community mourns the murder of Natalia Smüt and pushes back on violence, some say transgender people face a more subtle form of violence and hostility—workplace discrimination. Roxanne built a decades-long career as an attorney and judge, then she went public with her identity as a transgender woman. “I haven’t even been able to...
San Jose Google project one step closer to reality
More than three years after Google set its sights on San Jose, a major milestone occurred Wednesday for its plan to build a massive campus in the city’s urban core. The San Jose Planning Commission unanimously approved Google’s proposed 80-acre campus at its evening meeting—moving the city’s largest land use project another step forward. “I...
Is San Jose ready for a strong mayor?
San Jose might not be ready for a strong mayor—at least not yet. That was the concern discussed during a public meeting this month by a commission reviewing the proposal to change San Jose’s governance. Among large cities in the U.S., San Jose’s way of government is unusual: the mayor has little power compared to the...
San Jose lawmaker asks for $1M to reopen small businesses
Small businesses lost millions over the course of the pandemic. One local lawmaker wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again. San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez requested Wednesday that $1 million in federal funds go to support businesses as they reopen. Peralez, whose district includes downtown San Jose, spoke alongside members of the Greater Downtown...
It’s official: San Jose Councilman Raul Peralez is running for mayor
Nearly a year after telling San José Spotlight he’s eyeing a run for mayor, downtown Councilmember Raul Peralez on Wednesday publicly kicked off his campaign. And he’s already staked out his campaign platform: Affordable housing, equity and boosting disadvantaged communities and local businesses. “I didn’t grow up in a wealthy or a politically connected family,...
South Bay leaders quit city committee, decry lack of focus on police reform
Seven prominent leaders are quitting a San Jose public safety committee after claiming it was a sham and that it failed to address police reform as promised. The San Jose Reimagined Safety Advisory Committee, which includes 46 leaders across Silicon Valley, formed in September in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The goal,...
San Jose business leader mulls ending political endorsements, new name
The Silicon Valley Organization’s newly-hired chief executive officer says the powerful business lobby should no longer endorse candidates. In the latest episode of The Podlight, CEO Derrick Seaver told host Bob Staedler that he’s looking to ending the organization’s tradition of political endorsements and changing SVO’s name back to a variation of its previous name,...
San Jose panel discussing ‘strong mayor’ wants more money
A San Jose panel tasked with deciding how much power the city’s mayor will wield is getting more than $100,000 to do its work. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved more funds for the Charter Review Commission, along with a bigger push for more community outreach. “I don’t know if we’ve made leaps and...
Silicon Valley libraries slowly reopening. Here’s what you need to know
For patrons and staff alike, the reopening of the Santa Clara City Library feels like Christmas morning. The public institution recently expanded access to indoor services alongside the Santa Clara County Library District and some branches of the San Jose Public Library. At all three branches of the Santa Clara City Library—Central Park, Mission Branch and Northside Branch—patrons...