The San Jose City Council is holding off on creating a new, city-run power utility until officials are better informed to make a decision. Councilmembers unanimously voted today to defer a decision to Oct. 3 that would amend city code to establish “San Jose Power” — a city-run electricity utility to capitalize on two new...
‘Our council did not do its job’: San Jose mayor opposes strike settlement
The largest planned strike in decades by San Jose city workers is over before it starts. The city’s two largest unions representing 4,500 workers – IFPTE Local 21 and AFSCME Local 101 – officially called off their strike today, avoiding what could have been a shutdown of several critical services. San Jose City Council voted...
San Jose strikes deal to avoid worker walk off
San Jose leaders and union officials have reached a tentative deal on wages less than a day before the city’s core workforce prepared to strike. After months of impasse and a week spent in daily mediations, the city and its two largest unions—IFPTE Local 21 and AFSCME Local 101—agreed to suspend the strike until the...
San Jose flea market sales tax revenue took major hit
Newly obtained data shows how much San Jose’s historic flea market has contributed annually to city coffers and how it has faltered over time. Emails withheld by the city and released to San José Spotlight after a judge’s ruling show the financial decline of the San Jose Berryessa Flea Market, which has seen a roughly 50%...
San Jose leaders and unions close to striking a deal
San Jose leaders are moving toward a resolution with union leaders in an attempt to stop the biggest planned strike of city workers in recent history. Two of the city’s largest unions may reach a deal by Monday morning — 24 hours before the three-day strike is set to begin on Aug. 15. Staff Up...
San Jose has hundreds of vacancies but barely hiring
As San Jose braces for what could be largest strike by employees in 40 years, an examination of the city’s 800 job vacancies reveals that only a fraction are open for applicants. City officials say this is intentional and strategic – prioritizing the most important positions to fill first. But union leaders say some of...
Silicon Valley Black cultural center receives funding boost
As Silicon Valley’s Black population continues to shrink, local leaders are celebrating a decades-long effort with a new cultural center to honor the history and contributions of Black residents. The Silicon Valley African American Cultural Center is slated to open its doors in 2027, with the help of $3 million in state funds thanks to the...
San Jose is failing on promise to add more police officers
San Jose is off to a slow start staffing up the police department since Mayor Matt Mahan took office in January. Filling dozens of empty vacancies at the San Jose Police Department has been a long term goal for Mahan dating back to his time on the campaign trail. But so far it’s been an uphill...
DoorDash Kitchens in San Jose offers dine-in options
DoorDash Kitchens’ new San Jose location has evolved to become a fast-food restaurant as well as a delivery service. Although it initially resembled a ghost kitchen, DoorDash Kitchens now offers dine-in services at the Plant Shopping Center on Curtner Avenue. The location, which had its soft opening in May and officially opened on July 31,...
Former San Jose staffer enters District 10 race to unseat ex-boss
Former city employee Nooran Bayzaie was considering a run for the District 10 San Jose City Council seat when his boss and sitting councilmember fired him. Bayzaie, 22, most recently worked as a legislative and policy aide for District 10 Councilmember Arjun Batra. Bayzaie said he was let go a couple of weeks ago, the...