A growing coalition of San Jose residents has banded together to preserve the city’s last remaining railroad trestle, after the century-old structure’s future was thrown into doubt by a trail expansion project. Supporters of the Coyote Creek Trestle — a decommissioned timber railroad bridge north of Kelley Park — launched the preservation campaign after San Jose...
San Jose faces legal heat over mental health crisis calls
A group of civil rights organizations is ratcheting up the legal pressure on San Jose over longstanding complaints that too often mental health-related emergency calls receive a police response — rather than assistance from mental health professionals. In a recent letter to Mayor Matt Mahan, lawyers representing local police watchdog group Silicon Valley De-Bug allege...
Silicon Valley lawmaker secures millions for veteran housing
The redevelopment of a San Jose housing site for veterans has been bolstered with funding secured by a Silicon Valley lawmaker. Congressman Ro Khanna has secured a more than $3 million grant for the veterans shelter at 10 Kirk Ave. in East San Jose. The money will be used for site improvements that include a...
San Jose eyes reviving outdoor dining program
When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and health officials banned most indoor business activities, Doug Cookerly was among dozens of San Jose business owners who took advantage of the city’s emergency Al Fresco outdoor dining program to add outside seating. “It was a savior,” Cookerly, who owns the bar Hop & Vine located on The Alameda,...
Divided San Jose council approves police housing preference
A measure to allow San Jose Police Department personnel to jump to the front of the line in a new workforce housing effort has won approval. But the victory comes only after sharp dissent on the City Council, amid criticism the plan is unfair to other city workers. The amendment, which modifies a recently approved...
San Jose District 7 candidates square off at public forum
District 7 voters got an early look at the candidates running to represent them on the San Jose City Council at a Thursday candidate forum, the first to be held in the district this election cycle. The four candidates facing off in the June 2 primary — incumbent Councilmember Bien Doan, City Hall staffer Hanh-Giao...
San Jose looks to cut homeless shelter operating costs
San Jose has doubled the number of homeless shelters it operates over the past year and a half — and with that comes staggering operational costs that will require creative cuts. The city is projecting its shelters will rack up $94 million in maintenance and operating costs in the upcoming fiscal year. This eye-popping figure...
San Jose wants to spin off AI policy initiative
For many public officials, artificial intelligence holds the promise to massively boost government operations. But the emerging technology also faces serious questions about how it can be used without compromising data security and user privacy or displacing workers. For the past two years, San Jose has been helping government agencies across the globe navigate this...
San Jose filmmakers create space to support women
In a male-dominated broadcast industry, two people are working to shift the power dynamic by establishing a production and event space for women. Farran Tabrizi Chevallier and Tricia Creason-Valencia are the co-founders of PowerHouse, a vibrant Victorian home in downtown San Jose that serves as a podcasting, co-working and community event space. The two have...
San Jose workers want safeguards from AI
San Jose has been an early adopter of generative artificial intelligence tools. Now the city’s largest public sector union is demanding it also move quickly to embrace safeguards for workers. Amid ongoing contract renewal negotiations with the city, AFSCME Local 101 has introduced a package of proposals intended to give workers a greater say in...