Homeless residents living inside trailers at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo set up for those with COVID-19 or at risk of contracting the deadly virus were evicted after three weeks when the trailer park was suddenly shut down on Monday. The residents were moved into hotels instead. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve...
Hundreds ask San Jose lawmakers to defund police ahead of budget vote
On the eve of San Jose lawmakers’ vote on the city’s annual budget, hundreds logged into a virtual public hearing Monday, most with a singular message: defund the police. Residents and advocates got 60 seconds each to make a case to councilmembers on what changes should be reflected in the $4.1 billion budget for the...
Liccardo focuses on police, inequality in San Jose’s $4.1B budget
San Jose’s $4.1 billion budget will be finalized this week, a major annual decision that comes this year in the midst of a pandemic that’s caused enormous projected deficits. But Mayor Sam Liccardo’s focus in a recently-released proposed budget was first on police reforms and inequality. Liccardo’s annual June budget proposal addresses head-on community calls...
San Jose activists storm Liccardo’s house, call for defunding police
Sandy Sanchez was moved to tears in front of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s house Friday evening. Her son, Anthony Nunez, was fatally shot by two San Jose police officers four years ago. He was 18 years old. “I received his high school diploma a year later. He was working so hard to get it,”...
San Jose police should wear face masks in public, officials say
As the coronavirus pandemic spread across the nation this spring, police departments in major cities began requiring officers to wear masks and gloves when interacting with the public. The San Jose Police Department added a mask requirement to its COVID-19 response plan March 30. The policy reads: “Effective immediately all personnel will wear all PPEs...
San Jose got more than $200M in coronavirus aid. Now it’ll have to up its expense tracking
San Jose has led on many of the region’s coronavirus response efforts, but officials are still figuring out how to track the related costs so the city doesn’t foot the entire bill while facing a major budget shortfall. Now San Jose officials are about to hire an outside consultant to monitor and help guide how...
Petition to fire San Jose police officer for actions during protests gains traction
More than 134,000 signatures have been added to an online petition calling for the firing of San Jose Police Officer Jared Yuen, after he was recorded licking his lips while holding his rubber round gun and shouting expletives at protesters May 29. Citing multiple videos of Yuen taken by bystanders on the first day of...
San Jose gets grant to look deeper at local cannabis industry equity
When San Jose opened its doors to the recreational cannabis industry in 2018, officials hoped those most hurt by its criminalization for decades would make up a big portion of the entrepreneurs that would benefit from its legalization. But data shows that though people of color were most likely to be cited, fined and jailed...
San Jose musician shot in the eye while playing music during protests
Armed with his Ibanez guitar and a harmonica around his neck, Joseph Cañas happily strummed protest songs on May 29, boosting morale and lifting spirits amid a chorus of Black Lives Matter chants. The 25-year-old was one of hundreds of demonstrators marching on the first day of weeklong protests in San Jose over the police...
Team San Jose pivots from conferences to coronavirus aid
Team San Jose – once the marketing giant for the city and the managing force behind its conventions – has pivoted its in-house catering to provide meals to shelters housing people impacted by COVID-19. The city of San Jose converted Parkside Hall and South Hall, both part of the McEnery Convention Center which is operated by...