San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan says he intends to begin proceedings to remove embattled Councilmember Omar Torres under the city charter amid an ongoing investigation into Torres over child sex abuse allegations. Doan said the Torres scandal is shedding light on needed changes to the city charter — including the creation of a mandatory administrative...
San Jose City Hall workers want Councilman Omar Torres gone
Some San Jose City Hall employees are criticizing politicians for permitting Councilmember Omar Torres to stay in office despite calling for his resignation. This comes as the embattled councilman is asking for a 30-day leave of absence amid a child sex misconduct investigation. City Hall employees who spoke to San José Spotlight on condition of...
San Jose leaders approve Costco amid resident uproar
San Jose officials have greenlit the long-planned Westgate West Costco warehouse in what some residents describe as a once-thriving shopping center. While the San Jose City Council unanimously approved plans — with recusals from Councilmembers Pam Foley due to a financial conflict and Arjun Batra, who owns Costco shares — the decision was met with...
Silicon Valley campaigning turns nasty in final days of election
With just weeks before the November election, campaigns have become ugly with local races in the bull’s-eye of unfounded accusations. District 8 San Jose Councilmember Domingo Candelas is being compared to former President Donald Trump. Mailers are defining San Jose City Council District 2 candidates Joe Lopez and Pamela Campos as political radicals, and in...
UPDATE: San Jose leaders approve embattled colleague’s excused absence
The San Jose City Council is formally excusing embattled Councilmember Omar Torres’ absence from an earlier meeting as he battles child sex abuse allegations — allowing Torres to dodge the public eye while holding onto his seat. Councilmember Bien Doan was the lone objection to the council’s Tuesday 8-1-2 vote, with Torres and Councilmember Dev...
Union distrusts San Jose cop’s fundraising for fallen officer
Union representatives are calling out San Jose police Sgt. Tam Truong for running a fundraiser for the family of a fallen officer while being sued for alleged financial fraud. But family members don’t see a problem. Truong set up a GoFundMe page for Community Service Officer Long Pham, who was struck and killed by an...
How embattled San Jose councilman could lose his job
San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres has been a public no-show despite refusing to step down over a child sex crime investigation. Now critics are calling on the City Council to remove him. Mayor Matt Mahan has argued with at least one person online over whether the council has that kind of power. He and other...
San Jose officials call on Omar Torres to resign amid child sex allegations
San Jose councilmembers are calling for the resignation of Omar Torres almost a week after a police affidavit revealed he’s under investigation for alleged sex crimes involving minors. “We are in the midst of an active and ongoing investigation, and as our police department uncovers the truth, that truth will be shared with the community....
San Jose officials stall on Muwekma Ohlone Tribe recognition
Nearly two months after a handful of San Jose leaders requested federal recognition for an Indigenous tribe, the proposal appears to be dead in the water — with no political will to bring it back. Muwekma Ohlone Tribe members and supporters say San Jose officials have no interest in supporting the tribe’s goal of federal...
San Jose allegedly tried to interrogate cops investigating city official
In a frenzied attempt to uncover who’s “leaking” details about a councilman accused of child sex crimes to the media, San Jose’s top administrators allegedly tried to question more than two dozen police officers — without informing them of their rights or following an investigatory process. This news organization obtained a letter from the San...