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A pedestrian attacked San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s security detail after a verbal altercation turned physical. The altercation occurred on Tuesday around 6 p.m. while Mahan gave an on camera interview with KRON4 after attending a restaurant opening near South First and East San Fernando streets in downtown. Video of the incident shows a man...
San Jose Chamber CEO wants to build inclusive community
The new leader of a once-powerful San Jose business group is determined to rebuild the organization after years of controversy. Bay Area native Leah Toeniskoetter began her role as CEO of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce in January. She is the third CEO in roughly three years — a result of the fallout from...
San Jose officials not reporting lobbyists meetings
San Jose councilmembers are supposed show who they’re meeting with behind closed doors — but their public calendars lack vital details and skirt the spirit of transparency. San José Spotlight has reported on inadequate lobbyist disclosures for years, but a recent review shows the public is still in the dark due to incomplete and delayed documentation...
San José Spotlight honored for championing freedom of information
San José Spotlight won a prestigious James Madison Award this month at a gala hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Northern California chapter, an honor that celebrates champions of transparency and accountability. The annual awards, now in their 39th year, highlight individuals and organizations working to preserve and advance freedom of information in Northern...
San Jose pastor facing child sex abuse charges can post reduced bail
A judge on Friday allowed a prominent Silicon Valley leader and former pastor to post bail at a reduced amount after he was arrested and charged with six felony counts of child sex abuse. Prosecutors asked Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon to keep former River Church youth ministry leader Brett Bymaster in jail, arguing...
UPDATE: San Jose names new independent police auditor
San Jose has appointed a new independent police watchdog after months of scandal and instability plagued the office responsible for investigating officer malfeasance. Eddie Aubrey, who heads the office of professional accountability for the Richmond Police Department, is taking his expertise down south as San Jose’s independent police auditor (IPA). The San Jose City Council...
San Jose community college’s newest chancellor is familiar face
After a national search, a local community college district has selected one of its own as chancellor. The San Jose-Evergreen Community College District board of trustees unanimously appointed Beatriz Chaidez — who’s acted as interim chancellor since July — as permanent chancellor last week with an annual salary of $385,360. Board President Tony Alexander said...
San Jose park maintenance has multimillion-dollar backlog
A multimillion-dollar work backlog in San Jose is leaving empty spaces where playground equipment used to be, basketball courts eroded and turf riddled with holes from squirrels and gophers. San Jose’s parks department has a more than $554 million infrastructure backlog, according to a 2024 city status report — with many East Side parks in disrepair. Most of...
San Jose airport adapts to new world of travel
Ridership is climbing back up across Bay Area airports after COVID-19 sent traffic plummeting, and the battle for airway dominance is intensifying. Oakland officials this week approved renaming its airport to include “San Francisco” in the title, provoking a lawsuit from the region’s dominant competitor across the bay, San Francisco International. But it also raises...
Former San Jose church leader arrested for alleged child abuse
A prominent Silicon Valley leader and former pastor has been arrested and charged with six felony counts of child sex abuse, after being under investigation this year for allegations that surfaced about his time as a youth ministry leader at a popular South Bay church. Brett Bymaster faces time behind bars for alleged lewd acts...