A popular San Jose neighborhood improvement initiative that strengthens tenant rights and encourages better relationships with landlords has returned. The Responsible Landlord Engagement Initiative (RLEI) took a two-year hiatus after funds for the program ran out. The city is providing $250,000 for one year to fund the program, which is hosted under the umbrella of...
San Jose to boost housing density to meet state mandates
Residents on all sides of San Jose’s housing debate are spoiling for a protracted fight, after the City Council advanced a plan to increase density limits across the city’s sprawling single-family neighborhoods. The policy framework approved Tuesday in an 8-3 vote will guide deliberations over the coming year, as San Jose planners craft an update...
Removal of East San Jose murals upsets residents
Two community murals connected to San Jose youth and the city’s Indigenous community were painted over after a building was sold, sparking a dispute between the former and current owners over whether the artwork was supposed to remain. A lack of communication may have been at fault, resulting in no written agreement between the building...
San Jose wants to stop its shrinking tree canopy
San Jose’s tree canopy is disappearing. The city is working to reverse the trend, but advocates say in order to meet its goals, more investments are needed in low-income neighborhoods where coverage is sparsest. San Jose has one of the thinnest tree canopies in the Bay Area, with about 13.2% of coverage across the city as...
San Jose public workers could strike amid contract dispute
Thousands of San Jose city workers have voted to authorize their bargaining representatives to call a strike, ratcheting up the pressure on City Hall amid a protracted contract dispute. After a week of voting, support for the authorization came in at 97%, according to a Monday announcement from IFPTE Local 21 and MEF-AFSCME Local 101....
State bill could speed up San Jose Diridon Station rebuild
A new state bill could cut a year off the redevelopment of Diridon Station in San Jose by exempting it from California’s landmark environmental law — and the state lawmaker at the forefront of the effort is determined to keep it on track. Senate Bill 1375, introduced by state Sen. Dave Cortese, whose district covers...
San Jose residents push for data center moratorium
As San Jose hammers out local review standards for data center projects, some residents are calling for the city to follow the lead of other jurisdictions and enact an immediate moratorium on new developments. The proposed standards are expected to address widespread concerns that a glut of new projects working their way through the city’s...
Virtual public comment restored to all San Jose meetings
Following San Jose’s recent decision to return online public comment to City Council meetings, city officials have opted to restore such access for its various commissions and committees as well. Tuesday’s unanimous council vote means that San Jose’s 15 commissions — which play a hand in shaping policy, approving permits and adjudicating appeals to city decisions...
Head of San Jose’s police watchdog office is out
San Jose Independent Police Auditor Eddie Aubrey is set to retire at the end of the month, marking an abrupt end to his two-year tenure in the oversight role. The Tuesday announcement comes one week after the Mercury News reported the city had placed Aubrey on leave. City officials have not offered any explanation about Aubrey’s...
San Jose wants to set standards for data center development
As San Jose begins to create standards for building data centers, residents, advocates and researchers warn the city needs to develop robust safeguards for community health before approving any new projects. San Jose is kickstarting its community engagement process this month through September, gathering input on what these standards should look like. Outreach will consist...