San Jose is being sued for its gun harm reduction ordinance passed earlier this year—but not by gun rights activists. This week, three local organizations—the Silicon Valley Public Accountability Foundation, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association—announced they are specifically challenging an annual $25 fee gunowners are required to pay per household. The estimated...
Here’s how San Jose plans to prevent traffic fatalities
San Jose has plans to increase traffic enforcement in an attempt to address the rising trend of traffic deaths. Mayor Sam Liccardo announced a $6 million multi-prong plan Wednesday to increase safety projects such as street barriers for pedestrians, protective bike lanes, street lighting and automated signage and enforcement. This follows last year’s near-record number of...
Silicon Valley water board initiates internal investigation
The Valley Water board is laying the groundwork for an investigation of Director Gary Kremen. On Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to have its ethics and conduct committee come up with the appropriate scope and timeline for an investigation into Kremen’s conduct with workers. The board also agreed to temporarily replace Kremen as chair with Director John...
San Jose council review: Budget proposals, development appeal
The San Jose City Council spent much of Tuesday’s meeting focused on one of the biggest topics of the season: the city budget. Officials also weighed an appeal for an Alviso development and considered going out to bid for a long-term operator for the city’s golf courses. Here’s what went down at the March 15...
UPDATE: Golf course leases could be a hole-in-one for San Jose
San Jose is looking to make more green off its golf courses. On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously to find a third party to operate the three city-owned golf courses in an effort to maintain stable income and operations. The city hopes to open bids in the spring and award a contract by the...
Who’s running for San Jose mayor and council in 2022?
More than 30 candidates have jumped into contests for San Jose mayor and City Council, with at least one frontrunner dropping out following Friday’s deadline to compete in the June primary election. In about three months, San Jose residents will narrow the fields for a new mayor and five city councilmembers. Districts 1, 3 and...
San Jose water board member sees internal complaints surface
Newly unearthed records show a South Bay politician dogged by a recent scandal is the subject of numerous internal complaints for allegedly mistreating workers at a major water district. Eleven internal complaints from Valley Water employees have been filed about board member Gary Kremen since 2018, according to public records obtained by San José Spotlight through...
San Jose mayor eyeing run for Congress, sources say
For several years, Silicon Valley politicos have been clamoring about what’s next for San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. And with just nine months left in office, the mayor has remained mostly mum—until now. At a California Chamber of Commerce executive board meeting in Half Moon Bay last week, Liccardo let it slip that he’s eyeing a...
Law group probes complaints at San Jose affordable housing site
Complaints are emerging at a San Jose affordable housing complex—and housing lawyers are taking notice. Attorneys with the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley said several clients face eviction from Renascent Place, a housing site for chronically homeless and disabled people. The law group has heard complaints about property management firm John Stewart Company deactivating room keycards, maintenance workers entering...
San Jose Viet Museum recounts a journey to freedom
Behind one of the world’s largest museum collections dedicated to Vietnamese refugees is a dream of one San Jose man who wishes to keep their stories alive. Tucked in a corner of San Jose History Park, a yellow historic Victorian house is home to the Museum of the Boat People & Republic of Vietnam, where founder...