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Lifelong San Jose resident Olivia Navarro was on her deathbed last year when she realized she needed to change her life. While hospitalized from COVID-19, Navarro told herself if she recovered she would fulfill her high school dream of serving the community. Navarro is attempting to do just that by running for the open District 6...
UPDATE: Concerns remain after San Jose leaders approve police watchdog reforms
San Jose leaders moved forward with recommendations on how to improve the city’s police department, despite lingering concerns and drama around the resignation and retirement of the two top police auditors. San Jose City Council today approved all five recommendations from the Office of the Independent Police Auditor: tracking when an officer points a firearm...
San Jose ex-politician won’t give up social media accounts
A former San Jose councilmember is posturing as an elected official on social media, despite multiple demands by the city to turn over these official accounts. Former Councilmember Maya Esparza is holding the District 7 social media accounts and associated websites hostage, even as the city attorney, manager, clerk and current Councilmember Bien Doan have requested she...
Senior care facility planned for West San Jose
A residential facility for seniors is coming to West San Carlos Street in San Jose’s Burbank neighborhood, following final approval of a plan in the works since 2020. Real estate investment group Oak Glen Ventures’ plans call for a seven-story, 227,617-square-foot mixed-use building that will include a 246-bed residential senior care facility known as San...
San Jose and unions at odds over program cuts
San Jose leaders voted to eliminate vacant jobs, trim retiree sick leave payouts and claw back outdoor events to close a $2.8 million deficit from pay raises—but policymakers and union bosses can’t agree on whether those cuts were necessary. The cuts to patch up the shortfall and rebalance San Jose’s budget came after a contentious,...
The Biz Beat: San Jose Italian eatery has an East Coast secret
One of the greatest compliments Jordanian-born George Keshek, owner of Ristorante da Maria in San Jose, ever received was when members of the Italian-American Heritage Foundation asked him to hold a class on how to cook his classic Bolognese. “Teaching Italians how to make Italian food,” he told San José Spotlight. “But we do it...
San Jose official allegedly hit homeless man with car
A San Jose councilmember allegedly hit a homeless biker with his car and then gave them money at a busy intersection in downtown San Jose, according to three witnesses. Video obtained by San José Spotlight shows District 10 Councilmember Arjun Batra handing money to a man after Batra allegedly struck him with his 2022 Lexus....
San Jose police auditor had drunken argument with officers ahead of retirement
San Jose’s former police watchdog was allegedly set to be investigated for spouting off at a police officer while drunk at a public event, before she abruptly retired. Shivaun Nurre, who served as the independent police auditor from late 2018 until June this year, told San José Spotlight she “had some drinks” at the San...
East San Jose walking trail will be expanded
Twenty years after East San Jose residents began advocating for more open spaces in their community, city leaders have completed a key step in expanding the neighborhood’s celebrated Five Wounds Trail. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to acquire the final parcel of land needed to complete the trail from VTA at no...
San Jose school trustee censured for violating district rules
An outraged Franklin-McKinley School District board of trustees is asking one of its members to resign. Last night, district officials denounced the actions of board member Marc Cooper, saying he misrepresented its curriculum and violated bylaws, as well as the state education code. They voted 4-1 to censure him, with Cooper casting the lone no...