San Jose wants to pay $113 million to convert four hotels into housing to help solve its homelessness crisis. Funding is expected to come from the state’s Project Homekey program, which subsidizes emergency housing run by local governments and nonprofits. Applications opened Sept. 30, and individual funding may be awarded as soon as 45 days after...
San Jose building height limits come with price tag
Dan Connolly warned San Jose officials in 2019 that pushing up the height limits on downtown buildings could cost airlines money. They didn’t listen to him. Two years later, his predictions have held true—and he’s not happy about it. “We chose a scenario where the airport and airlines lost and the developers won,” he told...
San Jose school district using counselors as substitute teachers
Facing a substitute teacher shortage, the San Jose Unified School District is calling on its counselors to step in. The unusual move has raised concern for advocates, who worry students will lose out on much-needed mental health services and face anxiety after returning to classes following months of distance learning due to COVID-19. Starting this...
State orders San Jose to halt implementing hotel rent
San Jose’s Housing Department violated a state agreement by setting monthly rents too high for formerly unhoused residents living at the SureStay Hotel. Now the city needs to recalculate. In April 2020, homeless residents vulnerable to COVID-19 received free emergency shelter in hotels across Santa Clara County through Project Homekey—the state program subsidizing emergency housing run by local governments and nonprofits. After...
San Jose extends COVID vaccination deadline for city workers
San Jose made a last-minute change to its COVID-19 vaccination policy that gives reluctant employees more time to get the jab before punishments start. Thursday was the deadline for city employees to be vaccinated, but Mayor Sam Liccardo said workers will be given a one-week grace period to get their first shot before being placed...
The Capital of Silicon Valley struggles with email system
Despite complaints and frustration from the mayor about San Jose’s email platform, the city can’t afford to switch its operating system. “That kind of migration and transition would be a huge project for (roughly) 7,000 city employees,” Chief Information Officer Rob Lloyd told San José Spotlight. San José Spotlight last week revealed that Mayor Sam Liccardo...
Cindy Chavez confirms worst kept secret: She’s running for San Jose mayor
After leading supporters in a chant in front of her home near downtown, Supervisor Cindy Chavez announced she’s running for mayor of San Jose. “Equality has been my North Star. And so many of you here have shown me the way,” Chavez said. “I wanna live in a city of equals. A city where birth...
Judge rejects San Jose’s bid to throw out police brutality lawsuit
A federal judge is allowing a class action lawsuit to move forward against alleged police brutality at last year’s Black Lives Matter protests. The suit alleges that the city and SJPD used excessive force on demonstrators and issued an unconstitutional curfew to suppress their view of anti-police and anti-racism in violation of their First Amendment...
San Jose small businesses get break on paying taxes
After being hammered by the pandemic, small businesses will have one less expense to incur — at least for now. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a nine-month extension of a program that waives the city’s business license tax for businesses hurt by COVID-19. The extension will run from Oct. 1, 2021...
San Jose plans dynamic initiative to house and employ homeless
Responding to the growing homeless crisis, San Jose has ambitious plans to shelter and employ thousands of unhoused residents within the next five years. The Rules and Open Government Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend the City Council support a housing blueprint and efforts to employ homeless residents to clean up the city. The council...