San Jose lawmakers are looking to overhaul the city’s campaign finance regulations in hopes of avoiding more ugly political contests in 2022. Councilmember Sergio Jimenez introduced a proposal, updated from an earlier version discussed in November, that includes a requirement that campaign committees file mailers with the city clerk, an online repository for all campaign...
What stocks do San Jose lawmakers own?
San Jose elected officials can hold stocks, but at what point does it interfere with their work? Stock ownership became an issue for the San Jose City Council in February when two members abruptly recused themselves from a vote on hazard pay for grocery workers due to a potential conflict of interest. “That was a learning lesson for me,”...
How San Jose mayor’s ally helped Bloom Energy skirt a natural gas ban
Two weeks before San Jose passed a landmark ban on natural gas for new commercial buildings, city officials introduced an exemption that benefited a local energy company, Bloom Energy, whose vice president is a personal friend to the mayor. And the way they did it shows the stark difference in access granted to political insiders...
South Bay residents worry Opportunity Housing will worsen parking and traffic
South San Jose residents voiced fears about parking, traffic and development during a Monday night community meeting on Opportunity Housing, a controversial initiative to increase the number of homes that can be built in single-family neighborhoods. “I don’t care who lives in my neighborhood,” resident Christina Ferrigno said. “What I do mind is if a...
Silicon Valley’s largest business group names new CEO
Silicon Valley’s embattled chamber of commerce chose its new CEO on Tuesday, and it’s a familiar face—Derrick Seaver. As San José Spotlight reported last week, Seaver was one of three finalists for the top job at the Silicon Valley Organization. He previously served as SVO’s executive vice president for more than four years before leaving...
First 100 days: Has San Jose Councilmember David Cohen kept his campaign promises?
San Jose Councilmember David Cohen came out on top of a tight four-way primary in March 2020 and became the only candidate last year to unseat an incumbent. By ousting former Councilmember Lan Diep, Cohen’s victory shifted the City Council in favor of labor-aligned candidates. On the campaign trail, Cohen promised to build more affordable...
Nonprofits will have an easier time renting in San Jose under revised policy
It might soon become even easier for nonprofits to find spaces to operate in the city—welcome news for community organizations with limited resources. San Jose amended its policy on nonprofits using city-owned land with a unanimous vote Tuesday. The policy will set clearer guidelines for assisting nonprofits and other public organizations, like schools, in renting...
San Jose councilmembers will only have 10 minutes to speak
All night marathon San Jose City Council meetings could soon be a thing of the past. Councilmembers David Cohen and Dev Davis authored a plan to place time limits for lawmakers to speak during council meetings. The proposal, which passed on a 9-2 vote Tuesday, would give each councilmember 10 minutes to speak on an...
San Jose will draft new law to stop illegal sideshow promoters
Many residents around San Jose may know the sounds of illegal street racing all too well: cars revving, tires screeching and even worse, guns firing. On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved drafting a new law that seeks to put an end to the chaos before it even starts. Police data shows people...
UPDATE: San Jose leaders extend outdoor dining program
San Jose businesses can continue operating safely outdoors through December, city lawmakers decided unanimously Tuesday. The Al Fresco program has allowed many businesses such as gyms and cafes to move outdoors amid COVID-19 health restrictions. But rules that permit businesses to run on city-owned parking lots, streets and parks free of charge were set to...