To keep small businesses safe from crime, San Jose officials are considering a slew of measures to offer them assistance—including use of security cameras. On Wednesday the city’s Rules and Open Governance Committee referred a package of anti-crime proposals, including several items addressing small businesses, to the Public Safety, Finance & Strategic Support Committee for further discussion....
San Jose officials say crime is up, advocates say data is misleading
San Jose officials say early jail release policies have led to a spike in crime — and they’re searching for solutions. Violent crimes, including rape, robbery, homicide and aggravated assault, went up 10.4% from 2020 to 2021, according to San Jose Police Department data – and 2022 may be on track to beat it. Mayor...
San Jose mayor rallies for more state homeless funding
A coalition of California mayors is calling on the state to continue funding a grant for homelessness services to address what they call the state’s biggest crisis. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, joined by eight other mayors from the California Big City Mayors coalition, urged Gov. Gavin Newsom Monday to expand a program that helps local...
Election 2022: The race for San Jose mayor
Six candidates are competing to become mayor of San Jose—a coveted political position in Silicon Valley that comes with a host of complex problems. Mayor Sam Liccardo, who was elected in 2014, terms out at the end of the year, and a gaggle of councilmembers and political unknowns are fighting to replace him and lead the...
San Jose council review: Google plans microgrid, homeless to have say on housing
A homeless advocate on the housing commission. Slicing off funds for the unhoused. Digital literacy grants and plans for a Google microgrid had San Jose councilmembers talking on Tuesday. Here’s a breakdown of the April 19 City Council meeting: Housing commission expands The City Council unanimously approved adding another seat to its 13-member Housing and...
San Jose workers fleeing city, others rally for higher wages
Hundreds of job vacancies, low wages and unmanageable workloads have city workers frustrated and demanding changes. More than 80 city employees gathered in front of San Jose City Hall early Tuesday as union leaders called for a pay increase for more than 3,000 workers. The city has a workforce of roughly 6,200 employees. The coalition of unions, made...
San Jose still lacks structure to collect gun fees
San Jose has an ambitious plan to curb gun violence by mandating gun owners pay an annual fee. But nothing is in place, and the clock to implementation is quickly winding down. Earlier this year, San Jose became the first city in the nation to require residents who own firearms to pay an annual $25 per...
Valley Water breaks ground on North San Jose flood control project
A new project to reduce flood risks from rising sea levels is underway in North San Jose’s Alviso neighborhood. On Thursday, South Bay officials broke ground on the first phase of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project—a local, state and federal partnership to provide tidal flood protection in the area, as well as restore...
San Jose council review: Measure E priorities, water ballot measure opposition
San Jose officials discussed a new program to help residents with overdue utility bills at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, as well as opposition to a water district ballot measure and looking at better ways to use public dollars to combat homelessness. Here are the highlights from the council’s April 12 meeting: Measure E funding priorities San Jose officials...
San Jose mayor’s Twitter hack raises broader security concerns
Cybersecurity experts are urging public officials to beef up their online security in the wake of San Jose mayor’s Twitter account getting hacked. An unknown person or group briefly hijacked Mayor Sam Liccardo’s Twitter account last week and used the account to promote non-fungible tokens or NFTs—a digital product similar to cryptocurrency. Liccardo’s office referred...