Following a San José Spotlight report that no one applied for four vacancies on the city’s watchdog commission, eight new applications flooded in — and the panel is no longer at risk of being dissolved. The five-member panel — known formally as the Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices — investigates alleged election law...
New study: San Jose is more diverse than San Francisco
From singing at your favorite Korean karaoke place or visiting San Jose’s first Michelin star restaurant, Portuguese eatery Adega, residents know the city as a mélange of cultures. While some outside the city might be surprised by San Jose placing in the top 10 most diverse American cities, for people living in San Jose...
San Jose to expand wage theft policy as Silvery Towers contractor goes to court
In the wake of federal proceedings against an unlicensed Hayward subcontractor accused of holding more than a dozen workers in San Jose against their will, city lawmakers on Tuesday prioritized expanding wage theft protections to construction workers. The move comes as part of an increased effort to crack down on battling wage theft, human trafficking and other workplace mistreatments since subcontractor...
San Jose City Council approves six new priorities for the next year
After tallying the votes, San Jose lawmakers locked in six new policy priorities for next year at Tuesday’s San Jose City Council meeting. Prior to the meeting, councilors nominated over two dozen ideas to pave the way for city officials to manage their works load and put the council’s most important initiatives first. Tuesday’s vote to add six new items to the...
San Jose City Council to decide its newest priorities
The San Jose City Council is set to lay the groundwork for its goals over the next year. Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, councilors nominated 28 ideas for the process that will assist city officials with managing their work loads and prioritizing the council’s most important initiatives. Here are a few of the nominations: Streamline the...
Amid worry, San Jose Fire Department’s needs prioritized
Measure T, the astounding $650 million bond passed in November, has city officials fervidly making plans to expand Internet access to low-income households, contemplate the future of Coyote Valley and fund sustainable building projects. But firefighters, who have expected a station in Willow Glen for nearly two decades, have yet to get their turn. As the city plans...
San Jose council approves safe parking, co-living downtown
San Jose is taking the bold step of allowing homeless residents to park their vehicles overnight at certain churches, community centers and libraries. City lawmakers on Tuesday voted to expand San Jose’s safe parking beyond a single city-owned lot to allow parking in places of assembly. Last October, the City Council approved a $250,000 pilot program to allow...
Sam Liccardo beefs with NRA over new gun law proposals
Mayor Sam Liccardo caught heat on social media after Dana Loesch, a vocal and controversial spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, took aim via Twitter at his newly-unveiled gun laws overhaul proposal. “Think of the craziest gun control law out there, and I guarantee you that California lawmakers can come up with something more ridiculous,”...
San Jose City Council to consider ‘co-living’ housing in downtown
Big cities like San Francisco, New York City and Los Angeles have rolled out what some are calling “dorms for adults.” And now San Jose could be next to approve the trendy new living model that’s all the rage in other cities and is designed to help alleviate the growing housing crisis. The “co-living” concept revolves around the...
Pat Dando sculpture in the works to honor lawmaker’s memory
Pat Dando, a former San Jose vice mayor remembered for her advocacy and tireless work ethic, will be honored with a bronze sculpture at the Almaden Library and Community Center next year. The idea for the sculpture took shape at Dando’s memorial service held after the beloved politician and community advocate died from lung cancer in July 2017...