San Jose councilmembers are supposed show who they’re meeting with behind closed doors — but their public calendars lack vital details and skirt the spirit of transparency. San José Spotlight has reported on inadequate lobbyist disclosures for years, but a recent review shows the public is still in the dark due to incomplete and delayed documentation...
San Jose chamber’s CEO pick could be controversial
A once-political powerhouse for business interests in San Jose is looking to return to its former glory—and soon it will pick a new CEO to help it get there. The San Jose Chamber of Commerce is close to selecting its next permanent CEO after former president and CEO Derrick Seaver resigned in August. Toni Mirenda,...
San Jose employees spent millions on travel, entertainment and dinners
From Disney resorts to animal funeral services, San Jose City Hall employees spent millions with city credit cards this past year. About a quarter of San Jose employees have city-funded credit cards, known as purchase cards or P-cards. The cards are typically issued to specific department representatives with intent to streamline small dollar purchases—mostly office...
San Jose commissioner competes for District 10 council seat
San Jose Planning Commissioner George Casey, who views himself as an independent moderate, is jumping into the District 10 City Council race. Casey, 52, is the third candidate to enter the South San Jose race in an effort to unseat incumbent Arjun Batra, who plans to run next year. The others vying for the job...
These historic San Jose buildings are at risk
Historic buildings facing redevelopment in San Jose reflect a growing divide between preservationists and city leaders, as critics say the push for development often leads to neglect of older structures. The Preservation Action Council of San Jose released its second annual list of eight endangered buildings last month. The list highlights renowned buildings such as...
Former San Jose official reflects on the childhood that changed him
Chappie Jones, former vice mayor of San Jose, grew up on a redlined street in Sacramento, a street informally designated for Black residents, while the remaining streets in the area were not. Today the homes on his childhood street are valued lower than homes on other streets nearby. This basic inequality, rooted in racism, gave Jones profound...
San Jose council gets failing grade for policing
F is for failure. That’s the grade the San Jose City Council scored when it comes to decisions on policing, according to Sacred Heart Community Service’s report card. Advocates said the grades, released Monday, represent years of inaction on making meaningful police reform. “We need to make clear that our city council has failed us...
San Jose vice mayor: A friend or a foe?
In one of his first major decisions in office, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan picked a newcomer as his vice mayor, a position that often signals an ally. But when he needed the votes, she went against him. During two crucial votes this week to fill the empty San Jose City Council seats in Districts 8 and...
Silicon Valley’s outdoor dining an obstacle for disabled community
For lifelong San Jose resident Michelle Mashburn, there are parts of the city where she can never go. That includes streets like San Pedro Square or Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen, where sidewalks and parking spots have been converted for outdoor dining which isn’t wheelchair friendly. “I just avoid it altogether,” Mashburn told San José...
A new year, a new San Jose council
The first San Jose City Council meeting of the year feels like the first day of school. New Mayor Matt Mahan and freshman Councilmembers Rosemary Kamei, Omar Torres, Peter Ortiz and Bien Doan took pictures with loved ones in front of the dais before being sworn into office on Tuesday. Councilmember Pam Foley, who ran for reelection...