After residents demanded for decades the Thomas Fallon statue, seen as a symbol of oppression by many, be taken from its lofty perch in the center of downtown San Jose, a key panel agreed. The Rules and Open Government Committee of the San Jose City Council, which sets future City Council agendas, voted unanimously Wednesday...
Why San Jose councilmembers’ Amazon stocks were not disclosed before a meeting — and why it matters
Two San Jose lawmakers’ investments in Amazon and their abrupt departure from a City Council meeting — after they discussed and nearly voted on a policy to pay grocery workers higher wages — is raising questions about why the conflict wasn’t flagged sooner. Councilmembers chalk it up to a lack of forethought. As elected leaders Tuesday debated a $3...
San Jose takes first step to boost pay for grocery store workers amid COVID-19
After hours of “awkward” debate that included the vice mayor and a councilmember getting booted from a meeting due to a conflict of interest, San Jose is moving forward with giving grocery store employees a pay boost during the pandemic. The San Jose City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday to draft a measure that would require large grocery...
San Jose grocery store clerks and other essential workers could get $5 boost
As new strains of COVID-19 circulate across Santa Clara County, South Bay leaders are taking action to ensure essential workers get a pay boost for putting their health on the line. San Jose leaders this week discussed creating an emergency ordinance that would guarantee select retail food workers an extra $5 per hour in hazard...
San Jose Vice Mayor Chappie Jones reappointed as City Council evaluates process
When Chappie Jones was growing up in a redlined neighborhood in Sacramento, his role models were Black elected officials like Maynard Jackson and Harold Washington — the first Black mayors of Atlanta and Chicago, respectively. Today, he’s creating a legacy of his own by beginning his second term as vice mayor of San Jose. The...
San Jose wants to boost opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses
As minority businesses struggle to survive during the pandemic, the San Jose City Council is amplifying its efforts to ensure smaller, BIPOC, LGBTQ and women-owned businesses get a fair shot at competing for government contracts. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Jan 12. to advance a proposal from Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmember...
UPDATE: San Jose expands services for homeless amid COVID-19
Faced with an uptick in homeless deaths amid the pandemic, city leaders expanded shelter services for San Jose’s unhoused residents. The San Jose City Council on Jan. 12 unanimously adopted a $11.3 million expenditure plan for its Homeless, Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program, which provides homeless outreach and shelter services citywide. The budget approval allows the city...
San Jose residents largely aren’t thrilled with living here
When asked to rate life in San Jose, residents still largely give it a “meh” or worse. A plurality of residents — 42% — rate the quality of life in the city as just “fair” and another 16% rates it as “poor,” according to a recent report. Those ratings are essentially unchanged from the previous...
UPDATE: San Jose approves naming street after Barack Obama
San Jose will join cities like Los Angeles and Milpitas in naming a street after Barack Obama, elected leaders unanimously decided Jan. 5. The renamed boulevard will include portions of Bird Avenue, South Montgomery Street, South Autumn Street and North Autumn. The plan has been more than three years in the making. Community leader Alex...
In 2020, San Jose leaders contended with protests, a pandemic, housing shortages — and their own flubs
In 2020, San Jose endured weeks of protest, a housing crisis, a historic election and a pandemic that led to the deaths of more than 650 area residents. Local lawmakers were forced to make tough decisions to keep the city running. Here are some of the year’s most contentious and impactful political moments. George Floyd’s death leads...