A San Jose commission is looking for tips from neighboring cities on how to better handle problems within the police department amid public scrutiny. The Charter Review Commission on Monday listened to presentations from four police oversight groups: the Oakland Community Police Review Agency, the Orange County Office of Independent Review, the BART independent police auditor and...
San Jose co-living housing project still dormant
San Jose was once set to host the largest co-living building in the world. But financial struggles and a torrent of lawsuits have all but killed that plan. Housing advocates now hope the space can be used for affordable housing. The lot at 199 Bassett Street in downtown San Jose remains empty after plans to...
Mahan’s in: San Jose councilmember launches bid for mayor
Raucous cheers greeted Councilmember Matt Mahan as he stepped in front of the mic Saturday at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds with his wife and kids in tow. After months of speculation, Mahan announced his run for mayor Saturday, ending rumors that the freshman councilmember would enter the race. Mahan, who represents District 10 in...
Santa Clara County largely spared fire season devastation—for now
Santa Clara County has largely been spared some of the worst effects from California’s increasingly destructive fire season over the years. But local fire officials say that likely won’t last forever. Factors such as elevation, weather and luck have typically experienced Santa Clara County from experiencing large blazes seen elsewhere throughout the state. Though that...
How diverse are San Jose’s commissioners?
San Jose commissions have struggled for years to fill the ranks with new members. A closer look at demographic data shows the commissions are also struggling to keep up with the city’s changing makeup. There are 29 commissions in the city, totaling 326 seats, according to data provided by the city clerk. Fifty seats are vacant. Five commissions, which...
Silicon Valley lawyer jumps into San Jose council race
Elizabeth Chien-Hale is a lawyer, educator and president of one of the largest neighborhood associations in downtown San Jose. Now, she wants to add elected official to her resume. Chien-Hale is running for the coveted San Jose City Council District 3 seat to replace Councilmember Raul Peralez, who terms out next year and is running for...
San Jose releases Liccardo’s private emails: What we learned
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo routinely uses his private email account to discuss city matters, communicate with local nonprofits and strategize with lobbyists, a San José Spotlight analysis of his recent emails found. One email thread also shows how Liccardo potentially mixes city resources with his nonprofit Solutions San Jose— an advocacy organization formed earlier...
San Jose squashes proposal for prefab homeless housing
The week started with San Jose Councilmember Matt Mahan announcing an ambitious proposal for housing up to 5,000 homeless residents on public land by the end of next year. His colleagues killed the plan before the week was out. Mahan told San José Spotlight he’s disappointed by the outcome of Wednesday’s Rules and Open Government Committee meeting,...
With federal settlement, San Jose State promises to better protect students
San Jose State University is promising major changes to how it handles claims of sexual misconduct and discrimination following a federal settlement of a decades-long sex abuse scandal in its athletics department. The university will pay $1.6 million to female student-athletes sexually harassed by an athletic trainer named Scott Shaw, the U.S. Department of Justice announced...
UPDATE: San Jose committee recommends mental health, gun safety proposals
Nine people died at a May mass shooting at VTA’s Guadalupe light rail yard. A new proposal from a San Jose councilmember wants to make sure another tragedy doesn’t happen again. Councilmember Raul Peralez unveiled a sweeping plan Wednesday aimed at evaluating workplace culture among city employees and reducing gun violence. Peralez wants the city...