San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s announcement Tuesday that he’s endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg, just one week after his last pick, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., dropped out of the race is raising eyebrows from critics. Some are questioning the Silicon Valley mayor for backing a billionaire after Harris dropped out because she didn’t have enough capital...
UPDATE: Lawmakers approve San Jose mayor’s spending plan for proposed tax
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s support for a real property transfer tax has been gaining more traction, as several community leaders, housing advocates and formerly homeless people lined up to speak next to the mayor at a news conference Tuesday to support using the funds generated from the tax toward affordable housing projects and homeless...
San Jose lawmakers to discuss transforming BART stations into transit communities
The Valley Transportation Authority has spent years developing a plan to create new, vibrant communities around transit hubs, especially at a time when BART is expanding its reach in Silicon Valley. On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council will hear a report highlighting VTA’s major goals for Phase II of BART’s Silicon Valley expansion project, just...
San Jose leaders consider backing mayor’s plan for PG&E ratepayer takeover
With growing support from a host of 114 elected leaders in 58 cities and 10 counties, Mayor Sam Liccardo recently announced that his vision of turning PG&E into a customer-owned utility has received widespread recognition statewide. Nearly a month after introducing the proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission — which will ultimately decide on...
San Jose: World AIDS Day is a time of remembrance, hope
Dennis Pitt-Clute takes 31 pills a day to combat his AIDS diagnosis, but when the 70-year-old works at PACE Clinic, a primary care facility dedicated to serving those who HIV, he’s more concerned about whether clients take their medications and make their appointments. “Some people really have difficulty getting to PACE, and I don’t understand...
In Silicon Valley fashion, Salvation Army red kettles tap into electronic donations
Red kettles and ringing bells are a familiar scene during the holidays, but now there’s new ways to give during the Salvation Army’s annual fundraising campaign — and it’s perfect for techy Silicon Valley. Shoppers across the nation now have the ability to donate electronically through Apple and Google Pay, a first for the longtime...
San Jose lawmakers approve new tax for primary ballot
A hotly contested real property transfer tax will be placed on the March 2020 ballot, but it wasn’t easy getting there. Several lawmakers reignited a debate Tuesday around putting the measure on the ballot before settling on a draft. In a 8-3 vote, the councilors approved the ballot draft language for next year’s primary election,...
Year in review: Some of San Jose City Council’s major decisions in 2019
As the 10th largest city in the country and the third largest city in the state, San Jose in 2019 set a precedent in creating policy, especially at a time when the interwoven crises of housing and inequality are intensifying. This year, the San Jose City Council took several momentous actions addressing major challenges the...
San Jose considers new changes to fines for landlords who violate rental laws
After a year of tweaking crucial San Jose tenant protections, the City Council on Tuesday could approve new penalty fees for landlords who flout the law. But once more, the stage is set for the lawmakers to argue on the merits of penalizing landlords who break the rules on laws such as just cause eviction, the Ellis...
San Jose: Annual UnThanksgiving event highlights dark side of the holiday
Hours before the sun rose and turkeys went in the oven, a ceremonial fire illuminated traditional dancing and drum at the Mexican Heritage Plaza early Thursday morning. Organized by local Aztec dance group Calpulli Tonalehqueh, the 8th annual UnThanksgiving event in East San Jose was a way to honor the history of indigenous peoples in...