The anticipation has been building for more than a year. And the suspense will linger a little longer — but soon a jury of renowned architects, designers and engineers will have selected three finalists from nearly 1,000 entries in a competition to create an original design that represents Silicon Valley to the world the way...
Downtown San Jose residents may soon get relief from blaring train horns
To stop blaring train horns from waking San Jose residents at night, a “quiet zone” proposed by city leaders could be created as early as November. According to San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez, the city submitted a Notice of Intent to designate a partial quiet zone around crossings from Horning Street to North Montgomery Street...
Fire victims say San Jose, Caltrans failed to heed warnings to clear debris
It was a ticking time bomb. Brush covered the ground, people flicked cigarettes out of cars and the sun glared down on land by Interstate 280 in San Jose. Alexis Cook, 26, who lived with her daughter and stepfather near Interstate 280 and CEFCU Stadium, knew someone had to clean up the dried needles dropping...
San Jose: Debate heats up over plan to install electronic billboards
A plan to allow up to 90 digital billboards in downtown San Jose has some residents fired up, citing worries about aesthetics, safety and even bird health. “The hazards of electronic billboards are manifold,” Puragra “Raja” GuhaThakurta said at a recent city meeting. “Some of you have brought up driver distraction and the damage it...
San Jose pension plans face perilous future in COVID-19 economy
The coronavirus pandemic has already wreaked havoc on the city’s financial health, with officials tightening their belts last month to make up for a $71 million shortfall in its $4.1 billion budget this year. But questions remain about how the budget crisis will affect the city’s pension system, which has an unfunded liability of $3.4...
UPDATE: San Jose council approves police reform, tax hike, food relief measures
As COVID-19 continues to ravage the economy and discussions of race and police brutality dominate the national conversation, city leaders approved measures for the 2020 ballot to address food insecurity, police reform and economic hardship in San Jose. In its first regular meeting since the July legislative break, the San Jose City Council voted Tuesday...
San Jose police chief announces retirement
San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia will retire in December after 28 years on the force, he announced Monday evening. Serving as the city’s top cop since 2016, Garcia’s move comes as the department faces intense scrutiny and calls for defunding months after the police killing of George Floyd and the department’s response to local...
Overburdened San Jose office takes more than a year to act on wage theft claims
Managing a property oftentimes means solving unpredictable problems at odd hours. Scoti Blesie, a handyman for a San Jose apartment building, found himself fixing leaks or repairing damage from break-ins at all hours. On many occasions, he would receive calls in the middle of the night. The work piled up, but the pay allegedly did not. “We’re...
San Jose wants voters to raise card room taxes, add more table games
When shuttered blackjack and poker tables finally reopen in San Jose, card rooms could face a tax increase city officials hope might help close a looming budget deficit. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday will consider asking voters in November to increase taxes on card rooms’ monthly revenues, earnings of third-party “prop” players and...
San Jose council’s Latino Caucus celebrates a win after ‘strong mayor’ defeat
Those following Mayor Sam Liccardo’s push for — and subsequent dropping of — a strong mayor ballot measure are likely to feel whiplash after Tuesday’s City Council meeting. A fiery debate culminated in a unanimous vote that left some councilmembers wondering why they had to fight so hard in the first place. Prior to Tuesday’s...