San Jose City Council District 3 candidates shared their ideas on how they’d represent the downtown on Thursday at a forum hosted by San José Spotlight and San Jose Woman’s Club. Seven candidates are vying for the vacant seat in a special election. In a room packed with residents, the candidates — mayoral Deputy Chief...
San Jose could jail homeless residents for refusing shelter
The mayor of San Jose wants to penalize homeless people who refuse shelter by arresting or hospitalizing them, punting the service-resistant onto Santa Clara County for care. Mayor Matt Mahan unveiled his “Responsibility to Shelter” initiative Thursday, where homeless people who choose not to accept shelter after three attempts within an 18-month period will be...
Here’s how downtown San Jose residents can vote in special election
Downtown San Jose voters will receive ballots next week for a special election to decide who will represent them for the next two years. The special election for the District 3 seat on the San Jose City Council will be held April 8. Seven candidates are vying for the open seat after former Councilmember Omar...
San Jose wants PG&E to fund city employees
San Jose leaders are partnering with PG&E to grow the city’s electrical infrastructure — and they want the utility giant to pay for more city employees. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to have officials negotiate with PG&E on planning, building and paying for future infrastructure to support economic growth and efforts toward decarbonization. Councilmembers are...
San Jose opens second safe parking site
With San Jose’s second safe parking site opening, dozens of homeless people living in RVs have a place to land without fear of getting swept — and can be connected to services to help them get back on their feet. The safe parking site at 1300 Berryessa Road welcomed eight RVs Monday, its first day...
Ex-San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres pleads not guilty
Disgraced former San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres is pleading not guilty to child molestation charges as attempts to reach a settlement appear to have failed. Torres entered the plea at the main county courthouse Monday morning after his decision dragged out for months. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Cynthia A. Sevely set a preliminary...
Billboard company spent thousands lobbying San Jose officials
An Ohio media company spent thousands of dollars lobbying San Jose officials to vote in favor of new digital billboards downtown — and succeeded. Public lobbying reports show Orange Barrel Media spent as much as $30,000 in January and February to hire lobbyists who met with everyone on the San Jose City Council or their staff, excluding...
Former San Jose nonprofit leader sues another for defamation
The former leader of a San Jose nonprofit is suing another nonprofit leader, alleging they’re lying about an argument turning into a physical altercation. The Rev. Ray Montgomery, former executive director of faith-based advocacy group People Acting in Community Together (PACT), has filed a defamation lawsuit against Darcie Green, executive director of heath nonprofit Latinas...
Santa Clara County asks state to help fund affordable housing
State funding could be the answer for a long-awaited affordable housing development to begin construction. Santa Clara County is applying for up to $40.5 million in Project Homekey+ funding for the Algarve Apartments at 1135 E. Santa Clara St. next to Roosevelt Park in San Jose. When completed, the development will have 91 homes —...
San Jose wants to send homeless people back to families
San Jose is launching a program to relocate and reunify homeless people with their families as the city strives to end unsheltered homelessness. Homeward Bound, a pilot program proposed by Mayor Matt Mahan, will send outreach workers to make contact with homeless individuals and pay for transportation costs to bus them out of the city....