Mayor Sam Liccardo led San Jose through some of the most tumultuous times the city has seen in recent history—and with that came incredible highs and deep lows. In an exclusive one-hour interview with San José Spotlight, Liccardo, 52, candidly reflected on his biggest regret, toughest moments and legacy as he looks back on eight years...
2022 in review: Silicon Valley’s top political stories
This year was a tumultuous one for Santa Clara County politics. The region will see a major shakeup with new leaders taking charge—for the first time in decades, in some cases. Local law enforcement and county health care workers are sounding alarms on issues at work, while the longtime county sheriff resigned and was found...
San Jose school district still weighs cops on campus
A year after San Jose’s largest school district decided to bring police officers back to campus, residents say they are being left out of the conversation. A San Jose Unified School District committee charged with reviewing the use of law enforcement and evaluating potential alternatives has made little progress, advocates said. The school board formed...
2022 in review: San Jose City Council’s major decisions
San Jose policymakers marked 2022 with major votes that will have lasting impacts for years to come. Amid a consequential election that ushered in a new mayor and four councilmembers, the San Jose City Council made notable decisions on homeless solutions, filling council vacancies and police oversight. Here are the top policy decisions of 2022:...
San Jose commission to divvy up millions from Google
A select group of San Jose residents have the job of spending about $155 million from Google—and they’re ready to get to work. The group, known as the Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund Commission, is comprised of 13 residents who either have experienced homelessness or come from a field of advocacy, education or workforce development....
‘People are dying on our roads’: San Jose unsafe for bicyclists
San Jose tops the list of Silicon Valley cities with the most bicycle crashes, injuries and deaths, which is nothing to brag about. San Jose ranks the worst in bike safety, tallying 2,803 bike crashes over a decade, resulting in 38 deaths and 2,752 injuries. Palo Alto ranks second with 787 bike crashes, resulting in three...
What’s next for San Jose’s Columbus Park?
After clearing the city’s largest homeless camp around Columbus Park, San Jose is moving ahead with plans to revitalize the location and change its name. The 70-year-old park currently bares the name of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, whose legacy is criticized due to his exploitation of Native Americans. After two rounds of public voting...
San Jose honors former city attorney
The conference room behind the San Jose City Council chambers is now named after a local giant—former City Attorney Rick Doyle. Doyle was a longtime public servant who spent more than 20 years in City Hall. He died at the age of 65 from cancer, just 10 days after retiring, on Aug. 23, 2020. He...
San Jose overuses consultants—and the mayor says enough
San Jose leans too heavily on pricey consultants in policymaking—at times like a stumbling drunk—and Mayor Sam Liccardo says it’s time to sober up. “We see a lot of use of consultants, and it’s not always productive,” Liccardo told San José Spotlight. The outgoing mayor said he’s fed up with San Jose hiring consultants—often costing...
Chinese developer with multiple San Jose projects arrested
The head of a China-based development firm with major land holdings in San Jose has been arrested on allegations of using bribery and kickbacks to gain development approvals in San Francisco. Zhang Li, whose Z&L Properties has two long-stalled development projects in San Jose, was detained in London on Nov. 30 on a warrant from the...