San Jose is increasing the salary range for veterinarians by nearly 47% this year, hoping to fill monthslong vacancies for two roles in its backlogged animal shelter. While a full-time vet hired in the city before February would earn roughly $95,000 to $115,000 annually in base salary, the San Jose City Council has since sweetened the...
San Jose gets millions for prefab homeless housing
With an influx of $50 million from the state, San Jose is gearing up to build more than 200 prefabricated units in the southern part of the city. A new housing site on Branham Lane and Monterey Road will be a the first of its kind in the state—a three-story prefab modular project with 204...
Judge orders San Jose, mayor to list withheld public records
San Jose will provide a basic list of all the records it’s withholding to San José Spotlight—months after city officials refused to say how many documents have not been released under the public records act. San José Spotlight and the First Amendment Coalition sued the city and Mayor Sam Liccardo for improperly withholding emails in February....
UPDATE: Appeal to stop West San Jose hotel denied
A group of West San Jose residents’ last ditch effort to stop development on a six-story hotel on Winchester Boulevard has failed. Residents Gaz Salihue, Shehana Marikar and others on behalf of the Hamann Park neighborhood appealed the environmental review and special use permit for a 119-room hotel at 1212-1224 S. Winchester Blvd. They’ve opposed...
UPDATE: San Jose officials question legality of letting noncitizens vote
San Jose is exploring extending the right to vote for noncitizen residents, but it may not be constitutional in California. At a San Jose City Council study session Tuesday, more than 100 residents spoke in favor of extending the right to vote in local elections to all residents, regardless of immigration status. The proposal, introduced...
UPDATE: Silicon Valley food bank HQ cleared to move forward
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is proceeding with plans for its new headquarters in Alviso following a challenge to its environmental footprint. On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council denied an appeal of the project brought by Alviso resident Mark Espinoza, who claimed the environmental review for the massive, 250,000 square-foot warehouse was inadequate and...
What team are San Jose officials on: Chavez or Mahan?
Almost all San Jose councilmembers and candidates are backing one person for mayor: Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez. Chavez is facing off against San Jose Councilmember Matt Mahan this November, but only one of his colleagues has endorsed him—Mayor Sam Liccardo who is terming out. Vice Mayor Chappie Jones has yet to make a public endorsement,...
San Jose mobile app rife with problems
San Jose spent millions on a mobile app to improve community services, but only about 10% of residents use it. The city has put $2.3 million into developing its San Jose 311 app, which became operational in 2017. The app is designed as a one-stop shop for residents to report a variety of issues including...
San Jose offers homeless services before final sweep
San Jose is connecting homeless residents with resources days before it sweeps them from a sprawling encampment near Columbus Park. Dozens of unhoused residents strolled down Spring Street Thursday afternoon for food and services, ranging from legal help, youth and veteran services and health care. The city partnered with Santa Clara County and groups such...
Fact check: San Jose police staffing at center of mayor’s race
In San Jose politics, history has a way of repeating itself. Eight years ago when Mayor Sam Liccardo sought the city’s top political job, the biggest issue on the campaign trail was police staffing levels. That comes as no surprise—Liccardo as a councilmember strongly backed Measure B, a 2012 initiative championed by his predecessor Chuck...