A California bill that would allow public officials to remove disruptive individuals from meetings is poised to become law after gaining bipartisan support. State Sen. Dave Cortese and Assemblymember Evan Low introduced a bill earlier this year to update and strengthen the 69-year-old Ralph M. Brown Act, California’s open meeting law. The state legislators say...
In heated Silicon Valley contest, Assemblymember Alex Lee leads the pack
In a competitive race for a highly-coveted California Assembly seat, Assemblymember Alex Lee and Bob Brunton appear to be headed to a November runoff. As of Monday afternoon, state election results show Lee led the pack of five candidates with 38.9% of the vote. He was followed by Brunton, who netted 21.4% of the vote...
South Bay politician poised to become State Assembly speaker
A progressive South Bay legislator is poised to become the next speaker of the State Assembly, marking the first time this powerful position has been held by a politician from a rural district. Assemblymember Robert Rivas announced Friday he’s secured enough votes from the Democratic Caucus to become the Assembly’s next speaker. The speaker is a...
Election 2022: The race for California Assembly District 24
Five candidates with various elected office experience are fighting to represent a California Assembly district with the largest Asian voting bloc in the state. Assembly District 24 includes Milpitas, Fremont, Newark and the Berryessa area in North San Jose. The new district boundaries were adopted through a redistricting process that happens once a decade. Roughly 53.81% of...
Bay Area poll shows support for high-speed rail
A new poll suggests strong public support for California’s ambitious high-speed rail project, but the challenges of stretching it to San Jose are daunting. UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies reported voters in California favor continuing the high-speed rail project by a five-to-three margin. The poll, which examined a range of issues voters want the state...
Silicon Valley high school grads could get universal basic income
In an effort to disrupt the cycle of homelessness in California, another population may be getting guaranteed funding: low-income high school seniors. State Sen. Dave Cortese’s recent bill SB 1341, which cleared the California Senate Education Committee last week, would provide $1,000 per month unconditionally to roughly 15,000 high school seniors who have experienced homelessness. This guaranteed income would start...
Former Silicon Valley judge leads shift in state juvenile justice
This story was originally published by The Imprint, a national news outlet covering child welfare and youth justice issues. Katherine Lucero—a daughter of farmworkers and longtime juvenile court judge who calls for compassion and support rather than jail and foster care—is now leading the most populous state toward a once-unimaginable goal: a future without youth...
San Jose could split from Russian sister city
Councilmember Sylvia Arenas is recommending San Jose break with its sister city in Russia, adding its voice to international efforts to isolate the country over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Her proposal will be heard by the City Council in the near future. “Ending our city’s formal diplomatic relationship with Russia’s municipal government in Ekaterinburg...
State contest bound to divide Asian voters in Silicon Valley
In a contested California Assembly race where more than half of voters are Asian Americans, four Asian Democrats are vying for the job. Assemblymember Alex Lee, who won the Assembly District 25 seat in 2020, is running for the same job in a new district. His district, which used to encompass Santa Clara, Alviso, Northern San Jose and parts...
Silicon Valley lawmakers want to update public meeting law
California legislators want to change the rules for public meetings following the harassment of local officials in Los Gatos last year. State Sen. Dave Cortese and Assemblymember Evan Low introduced a bill Wednesday to update the Brown Act. The law, created in 1953, governs conduct at public meetings of legislative bodies. Cortese says the law mostly focused...