Increasingly, more families and communities of color in San Jose are struggling to stay in their homes and keep their businesses. As the city prospers amid an economic boom, vulnerable residents in low-income neighborhoods affected by a spike in development and increasing cost of living expenses are subject to higher rates of displacement in the...
Update: Strike begins for Santa Clara County workers amid contract dispute
After months of negotiations with Santa Clara County, thousands of its workers, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 521, went on strike Wednesday — a protest that hasn’t happened in 40 years. “We are striking because there is a crisis in Santa Clara County when it comes to public services,” said Social Worker Supervisor...
After a hard battle, East San Jose wins a seat on the planning commission
A drawn-out, months long battle over racial representation on San Jose’s Planning Commission came to an end Tuesday after two new appointees were chosen by the City Council, following hours of intense debate from both sides of the political aisle. After a lengthy interview process, Rolando Bonilla and Mariel Caballero were appointed to one of...
San Jose airport therapy animal program continues to spread ‘pawsitivity’
In the aftermath of 9/11, Silicon Valley’s airport became the first in the country to pioneer a therapy animal program to ease passengers’ fears and anxieties before boarding flights. Now, 18 years later, the program is still going strong, and the animals are bringing joy to airport-goers of all ages. Adam Albert, a volunteer since 2015, brought Johnny, his...
Santa Clara may be split into three districts for future voting
Santa Clara residents will likely see a question on the March 3 ballot next year that asks whether the city should be split into three voting districts, a yearslong contentious topic in the South Bay city. The city’s Charter Review Committee, which is an advisory board, has worked on the most recent effort to shape Santa Clara’s...
Milpitas lawmaker joins Assembly race
After two of her Milpitas City Council colleagues dropped out of an Assembly race to replace Kansen Chu, Councilmember Carmen Montano announced Monday that she’s jumping into the fray. The announcement comes a little more than a week after Milpitas Vice Mayor Karina Dominguez ended her Assembly campaign after three months and longtime South Bay...
San Jose to tackle anti-displacement amid concerns of developers on panel
Amid the region’s housing crunch and an increasing homeless population, San Jose is searching for solutions to temper the ongoing crisis, as more families and communities of color are subject to displacement. In response, the City Council on Tuesday will discuss anti-displacement strategies to curb the adverse effects of Silicon Valley’s economic boom. “The City Council’s study...
Jill Biden stops in Bay Area to stump for her husband
A small crowd of eager donors crammed into a Fremont home on Saturday night for a fundraiser for former Vice President Joe Biden, days after the Democratic presidential hopeful’s campaign was overshadowed by reports that President Donald Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate the Biden family — a charge that’s now led to an impeachment inquiry. But...
Alex Padilla joins Santa Clara County leaders to tackle voter suppression
Voting has never been a universal right throughout America’s history, some officials say, and the present is no exception. Political and community leaders discussed Thursday what can be done to encourage participation despite current forms of voter suppression in Santa Clara County. Secretary of State Alex Padilla joined Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Dave Cortese, County...
San Jose: East Side leaders call for more equity on powerful panel
For months, a long-winded battle over the appointment of a new commissioner to San Jose’s Planning Commission has had the city’s East Side community up in arms, as they demand the city’s leadership for equal representation on the powerful committee that makes important planning and land use decisions. Days before the City Council is set...