Emma, the Instagram-famous Persian cat that roams Recycle Bookstore in San Jose, is “prissy, finicky, very loud and opinionated.” According to store owner Eric Johnson, there is a long tradition of cats in bookstores, dating back to the practical need of stopping mice from nibbling away at the inventory. But Emma, Johnson said, has a...
San Jose congressman wants to protect undocumented crime victims
One San Jose lawmaker wants to increase protections for undocumented immigrants who assist law enforcement in investigating crimes committed against them. Congressman Jimmy Panetta, whose district includes South San Jose, has introduced the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, which would remove a cap for U and T visas. The visas are meant to encourage...
Is San Jose’s mayor hitting the mark on his promises?
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has set himself on a launchpad for higher office, from TV interviews in other cities to big policy promises that have chafed the left. But the mayor’s political future will rely on the state he leaves San Jose in — and whether he’s fulfilled his promises to bring people indoors,...
San Jose mayor and Trump aligned in homeless response
When it comes to homelessness, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and President Donald Trump see eye to eye: get homeless people off the streets and into treatment centers. Trump signed an executive order last Thursday calling to prioritize funding for cities and states that prohibit homeless encampments and drug use in public, and directing more...
Liccardo bill would create pathway to financing ADUs
Rep. Sam Liccardo introduced a bill last week that would create a new federal financing pathway for accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, to address the nation’s housing shortage. The bill, H.R. 4479, also known as the SUPPLY Act, has 16 co-sponsors and was introduced on the House floor on July 18. ADUs — sometimes referred...
San Jose official wants ICE agents to wear identification
One San Jose official wants to unmask federal immigration officers when they conduct operations in the city. District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz is proposing a policy that would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to wear identification. The policy notes masked ICE agents and people impersonating them pose threats to public safety. Ortiz...
San Jose safe sleeping site slated to open next month
San Jose’s first sanctioned homeless encampment is opening next month following site construction delays. The vacant lot at 1157 E. Taylor St. is scheduled to open in August and will allow up to 56 people to sleep in tents without fear of being swept. Mayor Matt Mahan said last year the safe sleeping site would...
San Jose mayor uses AI for work
By Matt O’Brien, AP Technology Writer Before the mayor of San Jose, California, arrives at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new business, his aides ask ChatGPT to help draft some talking points. “Elected officials do a tremendous amount of public speaking,” said Mayor Matt Mahan, whose recent itinerary has taken him from new restaurant and...
San Jose lawmaker fights to keep activist’s name on Navy ship
The federal government might strip the name of one of San Jose’s most beloved activists from a naval ship. The U.S. Navy, under the direction of Secretary of State Pete Hegseth, is considering renaming Navy cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez. Elected leaders, along with Cesar Chavez’s family members, are fighting back to keep the ship’s...
San Jose homeless population is still rising
San Jose’s homeless population has ticked up despite ongoing investments to build temporary housing. Silicon Valley’s largest city has 6,503 homeless residents, up 237 people from a 2023 point-in-time count, according to data shared by San Jose. About 60% is unsheltered, or 3,959 people, and 2,544 are sheltered. The city’s homeless population peaked in 2022...