The potential closure of the 80-year-old Reid-Hillview Airport could have a lasting impact on San Jose, according to a new report, by straining city resources and reducing the capacity of the city’s downtown airport. Santa Clara County supervisors in December voted to explore closing the airport due to rising costs, declining revenues and growing maintenance...
Ro Khanna touts Green New Deal during South Bay environmental forum
Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna spoke at a forum in the South Bay this weekend to help unveil key actions that Bay Area cities can take to combat climate change, while touting the importance of the Green New Deal on the region’s economy. Khanna, who represents California’s 17th Congressional District on Saturday spoke to a...
Two years later, is ‘Opportunity to Work’ law in San Jose working?
Two years after the adoption of a landmark law to boost hours of low-wage workers, San Jose City Hall has little information about how it’s working and whether it’s being effectively enforced. There also appears to be confusion among employees about the law and the protections it provides, San José Spotlight has learned. Measure E,...
All eyes on San Jose Planning Commission following new vacancy
A month after a San Jose Planning Commission appointment sparked public outcry and proposed reforms, another seat has opened on the powerful panel — raising questions about whether it will lead to more equitable representation. The showdown over the seat began in April when San Jose lawmakers chose ex-Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio for the highly-coveted position...
From immigration to health care: A sitdown with Zoe Lofgren
On her most recent trip to Silicon Valley, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat representing the 19th Congressional District in Silicon Valley, sat down in an exclusive interview with San José Spotlight to discuss some of the region’s most contentious issues ranging from immigration and health care to the influence of technology and homelessness. The veteran...
Sam Liccardo to waive hefty salary increase, ending contentious debate
San Jose elected officials on Wednesday escaped the uncomfortable predicament of voting on Mayor Sam Liccardo’s $58,000 raise, putting to rest an ongoing disagreement between the mayor and his colleagues, who broke with Liccardo to accept their raises. Liccardo said Wednesday that he’ll sign the waiver to reduce his salary increase to 3 percent, instead...
North San Jose: Elected leaders advance plan to build more housing
As housing production in North San Jose stalled over transportation improvements, councilmembers on Tuesday discussed fast-tracking the development of 8,000 apartments in an effort to alleviate the city’s housing shortage and incentivize affordable housing in the area. In a proposal chartered by Mayor Sam Liccardo, the council asked officials to assess the feasibility of allowing...
Los Angeles got a Barack Obama Boulevard. What about San Jose?
Los Angeles just unveiled Barack Obama Boulevard in one of the city’s historic black neighborhoods — nearly two years after San Jose leaders proposed the same idea. Like San Jose, Los Angeles leaders proposed renaming a street after Obama in 2017 and unveiled it a week ago. But San Jose’s petition is stuck — primarily...
San Jose leaders look to speed up housing in North San Jose
In an effort to fast track 8,000 new apartments in the burgeoning North San Jose area, city officials on Tuesday will propose consolidating four development phases into two – a bold move to quickly get more shovels in the ground. San Jose in 2018 adopted a “Housing Crisis Workplan” to lay out the city’s goal...
San Jose struggling to meet spike in trash clean-up requests
The cleanliness of San Jose consistently ranks very poorly in resident surveys, pushing city leaders to ramp up efforts to combat blight, litter and graffiti — including a new app to report such nuisances. But the new technology backfired. The demand for clean-up services has soared and San Jose doesn’t have the staff or equipment...