The debate on sanctuary city policies intensified at a City Council meeting this week after an update on activities of a government office — implemented to help and protect undocumented immigrants — sparked controversy. The debate, spurred by the recent death of a San Jose woman who was allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant, continued at a...
Labor leaders eye Johnny Khamis’ seat, endangering mayor’s agenda
After nearly a decade of conservative leadership, Jenny Higgins Bradanini says San Jose’s affluent Almaden Valley is ready for a change. “I’m definitely more progressive than Johnny Khamis and I think District 10 is ready for a progressive voice,” said Bradanini, 55, president of Women’s March San Jose, who this week announced her run for...
San Jose planning commission vacancy leads to showdown
A routine appointment to the San Jose Planning Commission became a somewhat contentious affair Monday after former commissioner Norm Kline was granted an interview under unusual circumstances. Kline applied for the appointment ahead of the deadline, said City Clerk Toni Taber, but his name didn’t appear alongside the nearly two dozen other applicants. Taber said...
San Jose City Council to explore new policies to help build housing
“The revised numbers show that out of nearly 4,000 housing units permitted or approved last year, only 6 percent were affordable,” Auerhahn told San José Spotlight. “We need to be looking at solutions that add to affordable housing, not proposals to further subsidize luxury downtown homes while zeroing out their affordable housing contributions.” During Tuesday’s council...
San Jose firefighters call on county to open ambulance contract
After failing to meet response times amid a spike in 911 call volume, San Jose firefighters are asking the county to consider opening an ambulance contract to competitive bidders. The county contract, which was extended for three years in December, follows a model in which the county works with a private, for-profit ambulance company to provide services...
Should San Jose waive wage theft policy for Chase bank?
San Jose on Tuesday will grapple with waiving its wage theft policy to award a major banking contract to Chase — which has disclosed prior wage theft violations — or to create its own public bank. The city’s current banking agreement with Wells Fargo is set to expire on June 30. City officials put the...
San Jose behind on housing goals, Liccardo suggests cutting taxes
Mayor’s budget plan In preparation for the City Manager’s Office creating next year’s budget, the council is poised to approve a budget plan issued by Liccardo earlier this month. Liccardo’s proposal calls for tightening the city’s purse strings as City Hall braces for an economic downturn. “The recent release of the City’s five-year general fund forecast shows...
South Bay residents and elected officials respond after New Zealand massacre
The reverberations of a well-planned “terrorist attack,” in the words of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand yesterday have left Muslim communities in the South Bay reeling. Prayers for the 49 dead and scores who were injured could be heard in Friday sermons across the Bay Area, as...
San Jose City Hall had no diaper changing stations — until now
San Joseans now have a place to change their children’s diapers in City Hall — for the first time. The Capital of Silicon Valley had no diaper changing stations in any of the 42 public restrooms inside City Hall. Now, on the first floor of City Hall, in both the men’s and women’s restrooms, two pull-down changing tables...
Sam Liccardo focuses on housing crisis in new budget plan
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s new budget priorities align closely with his goal of alleviating Silicon Valley’s housing crisis by investing in affordable housing, pursuing another housing bond and cutting red tape for developers. “We need a lot of tools in the toolbox in order to meet our goals,” Liccardo told San José Spotlight in...