In the wake of the mass shooting at a train yard in downtown San Jose last May, VTA officials promised to improve work culture to make life easier for employees. But after a year, workers say little has changed and they’re not hopeful about the future. VTA employees started publicly complaining about a toxic work culture...
San Jose officials mark anniversary of VTA mass shooting
San Jose officials are holding a day of remembrance for the victims of the VTA mass shooting one year ago. The tragedy, which occurred on May 26, 2021, left nine VTA employees dead, plus the shooter—a disgruntled worker who killed himself as law enforcement entered the building. Shots were fired around 6:30 a.m. during a...
San Jose is not jumping aboard the SB 9 lawsuit train
One San Jose official hoped to join Southern California cities in suing the state over recent housing legislation, but her efforts didn’t go far. On Wednesday, Councilmember and mayoral candidate Dev Davis asked some of her City Council colleagues to support a recent lawsuit against Senate Bill 9, which allows homeowners of single-family lots to divide...
San Jose candidates raise—and spend—big ahead of primary election
With ballots going out to voters in about a week, San Jose candidates across six races have collectively raised more than $3 million in an election year set to be the most expensive in the city’s history. In the most high profile race, replacing terming-out Mayor Sam Liccardo, four frontrunning mayoral candidates have raked in more than...
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...
Google invests in San Jose homeless services, Black cultural center
Google executives joined elected officials in San Jose Thursday to announce a $500,000 grant to aid homeless services and help build a new African American cultural center. The grant will be split evenly between nonprofit People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), and a service and cultural center project for the city’s African American community, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren...
San Jose council review: Measure E priorities, water ballot measure opposition
San Jose officials discussed a new program to help residents with overdue utility bills at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, as well as opposition to a water district ballot measure and looking at better ways to use public dollars to combat homelessness. Here are the highlights from the council’s April 12 meeting: Measure E funding priorities San Jose officials...
Santa Clara County officials call freeway trash ‘a hot mess’
Willow Glen resident De Anna Mizradegan doesn’t understand why the Interstate 280 exit ramp near Meridian Avenue is constantly covered in trash. She’s contacted officials in San Jose and Santa Clara County to urge Caltrans to clean up the area, but claims the state agency has done almost nothing to keep this location clear of trash....
Election 2022: The race for San Jose City Council District 1
With San Jose Vice Mayor Chappie Jones terming out this year, three candidates are vying to represent the residents of West San Jose. Ramona Snyder, president of the San Jose Downtown Foundation board, Rosemary Kamei, a Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee, and Tim Gildersleeve, a paratransit operator, are facing off for the District...
Does Silicon Valley transit’s leadership need an overhaul?
A Silicon Valley legislator wants big changes for the region’s major transit agency, and not everyone is on board. Assemblymember Marc Berman held a panel this week to explore ideas for reforming VTA’s governance structure. Under the current system, elected officials from Santa Clara County and all its cities are appointed members of the 18-person...