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Three years ago, San Jose lawmakers voted to fly a rainbow flag over Chick-Fil-A—an effort to proclaim LGBTQ residents were welcome in one of the world’s most progressive cities. But not everyone shares that sentiment. “I was walking my dog, had my hair down but was wearing my normal boy clothes and someone drove up...
Can San Jose have publicly-financed elections?
The promise to get money out of politics has propelled several San Jose politicos to office. Actually implementing corporate-free elections is tougher. Councilmembers and local activists are pushing for a way to level the playing field for contributions through publicly-financed elections. In that system, the local government provides each registered voter with a voucher to spend...
Thomas Fallon statue headed for San Jose’s broom closet
After nearly a year of heated debate, the controversial Thomas Fallon statue in downtown San Jose may have found its new home: A storage locker. The city’s five-member Public Art Committee, which advises the Arts Commission on the acquisition, placement and conservation of public art, voted Tuesday to remove the statue as recommended by Mayor Sam...
San Jose Flea Market to get new life amid public market development
City leaders and San Jose Flea Market representatives say they’re a step closer to preserving the beloved public space. On Tuesday, market representatives and Councilmember David Cohen, whose district includes the flea market, said they reached an agreement to establish 3.5 acres for an urban market on the current site. The move means the Flea...
San Jose sets new goals to vaccinate hardest-to-reach residents
San Jose officials are looking to match a lofty goal set by the county: 85% of residents vaccinated by Aug. 1. City officials on Tuesday introduced a set of priorities for the next three months, including expanding to 20 mobile vaccination sites, partnering with 10 health care providers to distribute vaccines and creating a strategy focused...
Why does San Jose close Roosevelt Park during Cinco de Mayo?
Last year was the worst Cinco de Mayo that Corena Medina ever experienced. “It was a complete wreck,” said Medina, a resident of the Roosevelt Park neighborhood. “Literally, smoke filled the air from all the (tire) burnouts.” For at least the last 15 years, San Jose has fenced off Roosevelt Park during the week of...
UPDATE: San Jose City Council approves new downtown landmark
San Jose’s new iconic landmark has cleared another hurdle but will now face environmental analysis. Councilmembers on Tuesday unanimously approved “The Breeze of Innovation,” a project that won an international competition launched in 2019 for a new landmark at Arena Green, located at the southern tip of Guadalupe River Park. The council’s unanimous vote will...
San Jose building department sees revenue decline during pandemic
One of San Jose’s most powerful city departments is just beginning to recover from a pandemic-driven decline in revenues—but some operations still lag behind. When Santa Clara County’s shelter-in-place order went into effect last year, leaders in the city’s Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department described a chaotic situation. “Once they shut down, everybody went...
Road conditions, police force most common claims against San Jose
Poorly-designed streets, excessive use of force and car accidents caused by city officials are just a few examples out of hundreds of claims made against San Jose this past year. The city spends millions of dollars in legal fees annually to resolve claims and lawsuits filed by residents and organizations. Most recently, the city faced two...
San Jose airport grapples with fewer passengers
While industries across Silicon Valley are slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline industry is having a tougher time. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport saw a 53% drop in passengers in early April of this year compared to before the pandemic. Nearby San Francisco International Airport saw a 60% drop in passengers during the...