Libraries may close, summer youth programs could be canceled and flights at San Jose Mineta International Airport could be delayed if city employees vote to strike this week over failed contract negotiations. It would be the largest strike San Jose has seen in the last 40 years, with potentially 4,500 city employees staying home. This decision to...
Fired city worker to sue San Jose mayor
A former executive team member in San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s office plans to sue the city, claiming she was fired after being wrongfully accused of leaking confidential information. Stacey Katz Brown claims Mahan and his chief of staff, Jim Reed, declined to give her a chance to defend herself and damaged her reputation in...
San Jose sets workplace guardrails for using AI
As more people integrate artificial intelligence into their everyday lives—from students using ChatGPT for homework to adults using AI for art—San Jose leaders are adapting it into their daily work. The city released its first set of employee guidelines on Monday for generative AI, a technology that has the ability to generate text, images and...
San Jose insider enters District 2 council race
A San Jose City Hall insider is running to replace her boss for the southside council seat. Vanessa Sandoval, chief of staff for Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, has joined the race to represent District 2, which stretches from the border of Morgan Hill and up to a portion of South San Jose, ending at Sylvandale Avenue....
San Jose’s gun law leaves officers unclear on enforcement approach
The San Jose Police Department is contending with how to train its officers to enforce the city’s controversial gun law. Details surrounding the department’s initial training and subsequent refresher courses have not been publicly shared as police work to implement the Gun Harm Reduction Ordinance, which went into effect at the start of this year....
San Jose sued over public records—again
San Jose consistently breaks state law by “perpetually extending its own deadline” for responding to public records requests, a complaint filed against the city alleges. Stacey Brown, a former employee of Mayor Matt Mahan’s office, is suing San Jose, claiming the city has taken months to respond to a records request she filed in March, and...
Former San Jose official challenges ally for District 4 seat
Tensions are rising as a former California lawmaker seeks his old San Jose City Council seat, a position held by his close political ally. Former state Assemblymember Kansen Chu, who at one time represented District 4 in San Jose, and current D4 Councilmember David Cohen both started their political careers roughly two decades ago on...
San Jose councilmembers decry ‘racist’ politics
Two Latino leaders in San Jose want to strengthen free speech protections in the wake of recent political attacks against them. Councilmembers Omar Torres and Peter Ortiz are facing intense criticism from three local groups over comments they made related to city housing policy and unions. The groups include the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Premier...
San Jose free food pilot feeds those in need
Residents in affordable housing across San Jose and Palo Alto have access to free food through an effort to prevent food waste and provide support to low-income families. First Community Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, is offering free groceries in a pilot program at Iamesi Village in downtown San Jose and Curtner Studios near Guadalupe Parkway....
Longtime San Jose leader first to enter District 10 race
Longtime government leader and media specialist Lenka Wright is running to represent South San Jose. Wright, a former broadcast journalist turned communications director for Mountain View, is eyeing the District 10 San Jose City Council seat to represent the Almaden and Santa Teresa area. She is the first to announce her candidacy for the 2024 election, although incumbent...