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Days after his election, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan allowed a disgraced former eBay executive linked to a vicious stalking scheme to build his transition teams, work on his schedule and broker a meeting with a tech leader. New emails obtained by San José Spotlight highlight the continued political influence of Steve Wymer, the former...
San Jose official fights small business displacement
High rents and new development have caused a number of small businesses across San Jose to close shop or to cease operations entirely. That’s why San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz is asking the city to draft a policy to protect small businesses from being displaced. There are about 60,000 small businesses in San Jose, roughly 7,000 of...
State lawmaker to run for Santa Clara County supervisor
After decades in local and state politics, Sally Lieber is ready to be a bridge between county government and the residents it serves. Lieber is running for the District 5 seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, which will be open in 2024 when current Supervisor Joe Simitian terms out. The district includes Mountain...
A double life for some Silicon Valley politicos
Three Santa Clara County politicos lead a double life as policy advisors and researchers by day and elected officials at night. Omar Din, J.R. Fruen and Lucas Ramirez help San Jose councilmembers research and implement policy, while also governing in the cities where they live. Din serves as Sunnyvale vice mayor, Fruen as a Cupertino...
The Biz Beat: Braise has the wildest PB&J in San Jose
The AJ’s Original PB&J at Braise is the lunch treat you have been looking for all your life. You just never knew it until now. It might be the most decadent and delicious sandwich ever, with fresh baked bread, house made nut butter, jelly and roasted bone marrow. It’s the creation of Braise partner and chef...
Santa Clara County relaxes COVID rules
Santa Clara County is grappling with how to implement the latest COVID-19 changes, as the state lifts rules on masking and vaccinations in April. The county will follow new state guidelines starting Monday as California loosens requirements, but officials are cautious a month after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the state’s COVID-19 emergency over. Starting next...
Disgraced San Jose police union manager appears in court
Two days after federal prosecutors announced a bombshell drug charge against the San Jose police union’s office manager, she made her first appearance in court. Joanne Segovia, who the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged this week with attempting to illegally import a form of fentanyl, surrendered to authorities today at the federal courthouse on South First...
Lack of political will tanked ex-San Jose leader’s PG&E idea
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo once called for Pacific Gas & Electric—one of the largest public utilities in California—to be “customer-owned” through a nonprofit, cooperative firm. His idea was quashed when the company emerged from bankruptcy in 2020, but the concept might still be possible if the circumstances are right. PG&E began to spiral toward...
Longtime Santa Clara County politico looks to make history
Betty Duong is no stranger to being the first. Now, the longtime community advocate has her eye on being the first Vietnamese supervisor in Santa Clara County. Duong, 42, said she’s running for the District 2 Board of Supervisors seat and plans to make the announcement official in downtown San Jose this Sunday. Experts and...
San Jose won’t meet homeless housing goal
One of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s main goals is to finish his predecessor’s promise and complete 1,000 interim homes for the unhoused by the end of this year—but city staff said that’s impossible. Interim homes are quick-build temporary shelters designed to be a fast and cheap solution to getting homeless residents off the streets and on the path to permanent...