The San Jose Police Department will be getting more military grade equipment, including projectile launchers that have been at the center of costly lawsuits, following approval by city leaders. But some local community groups are strongly opposed to the purchases, and are raising concerns over whether San Jose is trying to avoid attention on the topic. Critics say the city...
San Jose to consider paying six figures after woman crashes scooter
A woman who suffered serious facial and oral injuries when a scooter she was riding struck a broken lamp post base in downtown San Jose is set to receive a $337,500 payout from the city. The San Jose City Council will consider approving the tentative settlement agreement with Andrea Ortega at its Nov. 14 meeting....
Former San Jose mayor turns pro labor in PG&E battle
A former San Jose mayor is switching up his political allies to take on a common adversary, the west coast’s largest power utility. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo is leading a new labor-backed coalition to oppose Pacific Gas and Electric’s proposed rate hike of 18%, or nearly $39 per month. This hike is to...
San Jose sweeps homeless providing limited services
Mary Cruz Resendez has been living on and off the streets of San Jose since 2008. Her home for the last eight months has been at Four Corners, an encampment of about 40 people at the junction of Monterey Highway and Capitol Expressway. After struggling with addiction for years, Resendez told San José Spotlight she’s now...
Loophole costs San Jose thousands of homes
The builder’s remedy has come to roost in San Jose, with a major project now planning to scale back by several thousand homes. One of the first significant projects to see a new application under builder’s remedy is on the San Jose Flea Market site. The developer plans to reduce the project size to 940...
San Jose mayor unveils ‘scorecards’ to track city’s progress
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan unveiled the first iteration of city “scorecards” to track progress in key areas, hoping this will serve as a model nationwide. San Jose City Council on Tuesday got its first taste of Mahan’s scorecard system and its focus areas: community safety, reducing unsheltered homelessness, cleaning up neighborhoods and blight, attracting...
Should San Jose ask developers to pay for public art?
San Jose creatives want more funding for the arts—and they are turning to the city for help. San Jose Arts Advocates, a coalition of art and culture leaders, is asking city officials to move forward on applying a “percent for art policy” on new development to fund art and culture projects. The coalition held a...
San Jose officials take stand against LGBTQ hate
A resolution to support San Jose’s LGBTQ+ community sparked an emotional outcry from residents and politicians. The San Jose City Council this week unanimously declared its support for transgender and broader LGBTQ+ communities after a wave of hateful remarks from a conservative parents group, Informed Parents of Silicon Valley. Councilmembers Pam Foley and Omar Torres...
San Jose affordable housing for families to break ground
A busy San Jose thoroughfare will see an infusion of affordable housing as the city faces a lofty goal to build tens of thousands of low-income homes. The San Jose City Council this week approved the last piece of financing for a $61 million affordable housing project on South Bascom Avenue called Dry Creek Crossing....
San Jose targets retail theft with new police unit
Thieves hoping to snatch items off the shelves of San Jose retailers may have a tougher time this holiday season. City policymakers this week launched a new police team to stop retail theft after the city saw a 25% spike in the crime from 2021 to 2022. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved creating...