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...
‘Borderline treasonous’: San Jose leaders react to stunning riots at U.S. Capitol
Silicon Valley leaders from both sides of the aisle reacted with horror Wednesday after thousands pushed past police and stormed the U.S. Capitol in a dangerous attempt to thwart a peaceful transfer of power. One local lawmaker was even in tears, comparing the stunning scene in Washington to the terrorism acts of 9/11. The mob...
Three South Bay powerhouses lost their CEOs in 2020 — here’s what’s next
Silicon Valley’s most powerful political circles saw major shifts in 2020 as three prominent men leading San Jose’s influential business and labor organizations were dethroned. The resignation of a trio of kingmakers could signal a sea change for local politics in 2021. In 2020, Ben Field resigned from the South Bay Labor Council after a...
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...
A split San Jose council appoints Diep to critical city commission
A divided San Jose City Council voted 6-4 to appoint outgoing Councilmember Lan Diep to a critical city commission created to significantly challenge San Jose’s government. The council voted unanimously Dec. 15 to appoint 22 other members to the newly-formed Charter Review Commission, but opted to vote for Diep separately because he is a sitting...
UPDATE: ‘I am not trying to cripple my successor’ Diep says about San Jose spending plan
After losing re-election, San Jose Councilmember Lan Diep wants to give $440,000 in district funds to the city’s general fund — a move Councilmember-elect David Cohen is calling a Trumpian political ploy. In a memo to the city’s Rules and Open Government Committee, Diep detailed his intent to give his District 4 funds — meant...
Embattled San Jose business group names new leader, blames consultant for racist political ad
A little more than a month after The Silicon Valley Organization posted a racist image on its website — leading to the ouster of its CEO Matt Mahood — San Jose’s largest business organization has a new leader. At least for now. The SVO officials on Dec. 9 announced Robert Linscheid will serve as interim...
UPDATE: San Jose details how it is spending $650 million in Measure T funds
Two years after San Jose voters passed a $650 million disaster preparedness bond, the city says it is making headway on fixing roads, preventing floods and improving emergency response times. The City Council voted unanimously to put Measure T on the 2018 ballot after dilapidated roads, mismanaged land and lack of emergency centers threatened resident...
San Jose bans natural gas in new commercial buildings
San Jose became the largest city in the country to ban natural gas in commercial buildings, but its plan to keep businesses running during a power outage was criticized by activists and lawmakers. The City Council voted 8-3 on Dec. 1 to approve the ban but in the wake of a public health crisis and...
San Jose talks campaign finance after dramatic and costly election
As San Jose winds down from a feisty and expensive election season, Councilmember Sergio Jimenez asked lawmakers to rethink campaign finance regulations to help restore public trust in local government. “We’ve seen an astonishing amount of money spent on negative, divisive and often — as we all recall — misleading or outright false advertisements,” Jimenez...