City Attorney Rick Doyle cautioned the council on rejecting the contract extension on the grounds of religious or political beliefs, which could be considered a First Amendment violation. Instead, they opted to reject the extension since Chick-Fil-A is not open on Sundays – one of the airport’s busiest travel days. At the suggestion of Yeager...
Amid criticism, San Jose lawmakers expand safe parking program
The San Jose City Council on Tuesday expanded a safe parking pilot program to two more locations despite deep concerns about the program’s half-million dollar price tag and fierce opposition from residents. Last November, San Jose launched a safe parking pilot program for those living in their vehicles. LifeMoves, a nonprofit that provides services to the homeless,...
Cannabis equity and safe parking top San Jose council agenda
One of the San Jose City Council’s recently-adopted priorities could get fast-tracked this Tuesday in order to meet a state deadline. Earlier this month, councilors added the creation of a cannabis equity program to a list of priorities for the upcoming year, intended to guide city officials in managing their workload. The program aims to reduce...
Labor leaders eye Johnny Khamis’ seat, endangering mayor’s agenda
After nearly a decade of conservative leadership, Jenny Higgins Bradanini says San Jose’s affluent Almaden Valley is ready for a change. “I’m definitely more progressive than Johnny Khamis and I think District 10 is ready for a progressive voice,” said Bradanini, 55, president of Women’s March San Jose, who this week announced her run for...
San Jose planning commission vacancy leads to showdown
A routine appointment to the San Jose Planning Commission became a somewhat contentious affair Monday after former commissioner Norm Kline was granted an interview under unusual circumstances. Kline applied for the appointment ahead of the deadline, said City Clerk Toni Taber, but his name didn’t appear alongside the nearly two dozen other applicants. Taber said...
‘Rundown shopping center’ revamp worries business owners
Cambrian Park Plaza — the 17-acre shopping center known for its iconic carousel display — is long overdue for renovation, but many longtime business owners are worried they’ll be squeezed out. Weingarten Realty is planning a significant redevelopment that calls for a six-story hotel, town square, park,115,000 square feet of entertainment and retail space, senior...
San Jose City Council approves six new priorities for the next year
After tallying the votes, San Jose lawmakers locked in six new policy priorities for next year at Tuesday’s San Jose City Council meeting. Prior to the meeting, councilors nominated over two dozen ideas to pave the way for city officials to manage their works load and put the council’s most important initiatives first. Tuesday’s vote to add six new items to the...
San Jose City Council to decide its newest priorities
The San Jose City Council is set to lay the groundwork for its goals over the next year. Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, councilors nominated 28 ideas for the process that will assist city officials with managing their work loads and prioritizing the council’s most important initiatives. Here are a few of the nominations: Streamline the...
San Jose lawmakers look to help minorities get into cannabis industry
With corporate giants like Monsanto lining up to invest in cannabis, some San Jose lawmakers are trying to make room in the industry for residents who fell victim to the war on drugs. Next week, councilors will decide whether to move forward with a cannabis equity program, previously proposed by Councilmembers Magdalena Carrasco and Raul Peralez. The concept is...
San Jose City Council talks Measure T, closing the ‘digital divide’
As San Jose prepares to roll out millions of dollars in Measure T funding this summer, city leaders on Tuesday discussed their plans to divvy up the money across the city. Measure T – a $650 million bond that was passed in November by nearly 70 percent of voters – is earmarked for public safety, infrastructure and...