Even as long-term solutions for homelessness in Santa Clara County gain momentum and support, emergency measures are lacking and likely will get worse. That was the grim reality presented to the county’s Unhoused Task Force, which held its initial meeting Sept. 9. Proposed by Supervisor Dave Cortese earlier this year, the group aims to address...
Time of reflection, change as San Jose police chief nears retirement
Quoting Steve Jobs, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said he’s not out to please everybody. “If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader — go sell ice cream,” said Garcia, 49, who announced last month he is retiring at the end of the year. Having worked in the city’s roughly 1,400-member...
Years of neglect take toll on San Jose’s declining parks, audit finds
Parks have assumed a heftier role during the pandemic, becoming food distribution sites, gathering spots and operating spaces for local businesses. But according to city staff, the quality of many San Jose parks is on the decline and has been for the past few years. A recent report released by the city auditor found 72%...
New developer fee to fund art in San Jose? District 6 candidates answer in face-off
District 6 City Council candidates took on art — specifically making it more culturally equitable and charging developers a fee to fund it — in a debate hosted by the collaborative San José Arts Advocates. The online discussion between incumbent Dev Davis and challenger Jake Tonkel took on importance given the city has seen a...
Bay Area transit leaders, unions butt heads on safety of public transit
A plan to address safety for public transit workers that is drawing harsh union criticism faces more scrutiny next week as transit leaders continue efforts to get people back on the roads during COVID-19. James Lindsay, international vice president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said five members have died across California in the past two...
San Jose activists turn to digital media to keep public engaged
After police violence in San Jose erupted during protests over Minneapolis cops killing George Floyd, hundreds of speakers poured into online government meetings to air their grievances. In the era of Zoom and COVID-19, Mary Jessie Celestin, a 21-year-old activist, is building a connective digital platform for budding activists she says is just as important...
Santa Clara City Council candidate runs into conflict with downtown redevelopment
Suds Jain’s Santa Clara home, nestled in the core of District 5, now presents an 80-foot detour in his campaign for a seat on the City Council. A resident of the Old Quad neighborhood near Santa Clara University since 1998, the Planning Commissioner’s home is just under 1,000 feet away from the edge of the...
How San Jose police union contracts shield officers accused of misconduct
As San Jose and cities around the country study how to reform police departments, the role union contracts play in obscuring information about officers under investigation is facing scrutiny. “I am concerned that over the years a number of issues have been put into (police union) contracts that limit the management decisions of the police...
Santa Clara County joins legal effort to oppose postal service changes
Following President Donald Trump’s denunciation of voting by mail, Santa Clara County led a nationwide coalition of 32 municipalities in joining a legal challenge opposing changes to the United States Postal Service. The coalition, which includes the nonprofit watchdog group Public Rights Project, filed two amicus briefs Sept. 4 in cases challenging changes that might...
San Jose mayor delivers harsh words but sees little action against PG&E
As thousands of people lost power in San Jose during a scorching August heat wave, Mayor Sam Liccardo condemned PG&E for having aging infrastructure and accused them of lying. “You are hearing messages from PG&E suggesting over the last several days we have been suffering from rolling blackouts prompted by decisions from the California Independent...