Silicon Valley climate activists are urging the VTA to declare a climate emergency and reallocate funds from a 2016 half-cent sales tax to public transit projects in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But the San Jose City Council on Tuesday, which has five directors on the VTA board that includes Mayor Sam Liccardo...
National debate over universal health care spills into San Jose
Democrats — especially on the presidential debate stage — have been throwing around the term “Medicare for All” for quite some time, confusing the American electorate on the different policy proposals the umbrella phrase could be referring to. To set the record straight, a panel of elected leaders and policy experts Tuesday hosted a discussion...
Thousands march in downtown San Jose for Women’s March 2020
“People united, will never be divided!” “Show me what democracy looks like!” “This is what democracy looks like!” “What do we want?” “Justice!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” The chants and cheers at the 4th annual San Jose Women’s March were deafening. Thousands poured onto the streets from City Hall to Arena Green in...
Downtown San Jose gas leak shuts down San Fernando as buildings are evacuated nearby
Three buildings have been evacuated near San Jose City Hall, and San Jose Fire Department officials are asking others to shelter in place due to a natural gas leak at on Fifth Street and San Fernando. The leak was caused by a contractor working in the area who struck the line at Fifth Street, between...
San Jose approves Alum Rock housing project, airport expansion plan
The San Jose City Council this week unanimously approved investing nearly $9.4 million to construct an 87-unit mixed-use affordable housing complex located in the heart of San Jose’s East Side in Alum Rock. The project’s total costs, which amount to nearly $55.4 million, are in part funded by Measure A funds — a $950 million affordable housing bond...
San Jose City Council to approve plan for major airport growth
In an effort to meet the growing needs of Silicon Valley travelers, San Jose lawmakers on Tuesday will vote on adopting an ambitious plan for the Mineta San Jose International Airport, as aviation leaders prepare for an increase in new travelers over the next decade. Forecasting a surge of new growth in air travel, airport...
San Jose: Proposed Buddhist temple in Evergreen neighborhood met with backlash
A proposed Buddhist temple in San Jose’s Evergreen neighborhood sparked a contentious, nearly two-hour meeting at the Village Square Branch Library Thursday night. Around 150 residents gathered at a monthly District 8 Community Roundtable meeting to hear presentations and ask questions about the Wat Khmer Kampuchea Krom temple, planned to be developed on 1.86 acres...
San Jose lawmakers support exempting nonprofits from Measure E
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who has been leading the effort on Measure E, a real property transfer tax on properties valued at $2 million or more, wants to ensure the measure doesn’t impact nonprofits. San Jose lawmakers during a council committee meeting Wednesday unanimously approved the mayor’s proposal, which calls for exempting 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations from the...
San Jose measure to shift mayoral elections won’t extend Liccardo’s term
A labor-backed initiative, which seeks to shift San Jose’s mayoral elections to presidential years to boost voter turnout, will no longer extend Mayor Sam Liccardo’s term for an extra two years to align local and national elections. Instead, South Bay labor groups who are leading the initiative they hope will attract a higher concentration of voters —...
UPDATE: San Jose approves amnesty program for illegal granny units
San Jose leaders kicked off the new year Tuesday by unanimously approving an accessory dwelling unit amnesty program for residents who need to get a permit for their backyard cottages and get them up to code. The program is one of the final steps in the city’s plan to make accessory dwelling units easier to...