Former President Jimmy Carter left a strong impression on the people, including Silicon Valley leaders who spent time with him during his decades of social justice work post-presidency. Carter died on Dec. 29, 2024 at age 100. Since his death, Silicon Valley leaders have reflected on a 2013 visit from Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, with Habitat...
Rental listing scams are up in Santa Clara County
Rental listing scams are becoming more elaborate, with local authorities warning residents to take caution. When Shereen Jarrett was searching for an affordable apartment during the months she was homeless, numerous red flags popped up. After visiting properties, she learned there were no vacancies and the person claiming to be the property owner was an...
2024 in review: Little Saigon had a roller-coaster year
A courtroom battle over an alleged ‘Godfather.’ A City Hall protest against one San Jose mayoral staffer. A fight for control of a Vietnamese cultural garden. The takedown of a renowned charity organization. A common thread connected all these stories in 2024: unhealed wounds over the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese community is more dynamic and...
2024 in review: San Jose City Council’s top decisions
The San Jose City Council had a busy 2024, topped off with a general election that brings new faces to the dais come next year. It could shift votes toward more pro-business policies, but many of this year’s decisions already leaned in that direction. Councilmembers created policies aimed at shaping the city’s future in housing...
2024 in review: Silicon Valley’s biggest stories
From a historic election recount to a San Jose councilmember’s arrest: 2024 was one for the books. As the South Bay turns a page into 2025, San José Spotlight is looking back at the pivotal moments that made this year memorable — from scandals and protests, to historic votes and those we lost. Mental health...
San Jose’s beloved civil rights leader Rev. Jeff Moore dies
Silicon Valley leaders are reeling after the sudden death of the Rev. Jethroe “Jeff” Moore II, a beloved civil rights activist who devoted his life to fighting for social justice and human rights. Moore laid down for a nap a day after Christmas in his favorite chair, friends and family said, and never woke up....
San Jose-PG&E partnership could end power utility plans
Improved relations with PG&E could lead San Jose officials to drop the proposal for a city-owned power utility despite unanimous support from City Hall. As San Jose plans for growth to the north and downtown areas, Deputy City Manager Kip Harkness said in a recent memo that breakthroughs in talks with power giant PG&E could...
San Jose counts homeless people along creek ahead of sweep
San Jose officials have homed in on a stretch of waterway to clean up debris and ban homeless encampments. A 12-mile stretch along Coyote Creek is slated to be cleared of homeless people starting in January and an encampment ban will be reinforced following that. The areas include Tully Road to Capitol Expressway, O’Toole Lane...
San Jose police recruit died by suicide with city gun
A San Jose police academy recruit died by suicide using a city-issued handgun in late September — secretly rattling the department and highlighting the risk of arming cadets. The unusual tragedy has also prompted questions about whether higher-ups missed any warning signs. It’s unclear why the recruit decided to take their own life. But multiple...
San Jose allows housing development in business districts
The dynamic in three San Jose neighborhoods is about to shift, with a greater focus on residential development. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to change the neighborhood business districts of Japantown, Willow Glen and 13th Street to allow for new housing. The updated zoning code will enable development of 50 to 65 homes per acre at heights...