San Jose’s airport is getting a new director with three decades of experience, including gigs at major hubs in Denver and Austin. Starting Monday, Mukesh “Mookie” Patel will take over as the city’s director of aviation at San Jose Mineta International Airport, the city announced this week. “Our next airport director has big shoes to fill,”...
NBC Bay Area: Lawsuits claiming sexual assault by Uber drivers could take a decade to decide
Thousands of women are suing San Francisco-based Uber claiming their driver sexually assaulted them during a ride. Some are now being told due to the backlog of cases and legal motions, their cases may not be resolved until the next decade.
San Jose firefighters demand protection following break-in
Two recent incidents have San Jose firefighters questioning the dangers of their job beyond the blazes they battle. On March 2, someone broke into San Jose Fire Department’s Station 8 on E. Santa Clara Street in downtown and stole equipment and personal property. A few days later, a firefighter responding to a call at Santa...
San Jose mayor’s budget plan saddled with a shortfall
A looming multimillion-dollar deficit will force San Jose to make cuts in the next budget. Instead of detailing what will be lost, Mayor Matt Mahan has outlined his nonnegotiables. His March budget message prioritizes addressing street homelessness and blight, increasing public safety and making San Jose easier to invest in. Those may seem like the same...
San Jose police’s failure to stop cannabis robbery fuels fight over fees
San Jose cannabis entrepreneurs say police don’t care about protecting their property, and a shocking video appears to validate their frustrations. Security camera footage obtained by San José Spotlight shows three getaway cars easily maneuvering around two San Jose Police Department vehicles and escaping unscathed after suspects robbed Exotix, a South San Jose weed shop...
San Jose mayor touts plan to end homelessness
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has a plan for the city’s homeless residents, ranging from temporary housing to encampment clearings, but the budget may not be able to support it. Mahan plans to push for more temporary housing, camp sweeps and a program that reconnects homeless people to their families as part of budget discussions for...
Silicon Valley congressman nets millions for Black cultural center
A proposed cultural center aiming to honor the history of Silicon Valley’s Black residents and provide expansive support services just received millions to help build on its future. The Silicon Valley African American Cultural Center, slated to open in 2027, has secured $4.1 million in federal funding thanks to Rep. Ro Khanna. The mixed-use development...
Will San Jose require drug testing for cash assistance?
San Jose’s top political leader supports the idea of drug testing people who receive public assistance — a controversial measure just approved by San Francisco voters and widely lambasted by progressives across the Bay Area. But despite success from San Francisco, it’s unlikely South Bay residents will see a similar policy any time soon. That’s...
San Jose Sharks sued over child sex abuse cover-up
A recently filed lawsuit claims Sharks Sports & Entertainment covered up a Jr. Sharks coach’s alleged grooming and sexual abuse of child hockey players. At the center of the allegations is Kevin Whitmer, a former San Jose Jr. Sharks hockey coach who the lawsuit accuses of inappropriately touching players under the guise of medical evaluations,...
San Jose mayor glides into four more years
To no one’s surprise, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has secured another four years in office. Mahan decisively won his bid for reelection with a commanding lead Tuesday — securing more than 87% of the vote. He beat Tyrone Wade, a retired marriage and family crisis counselor, who unsuccessfully challenged former Mayor Sam Liccardo in 2018. Mahan’s election...