Editor’s Note: This article is part of a San José Spotlight series examining the newest San Jose councilmembers and their first six months in office. If you have lived as many lives as San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan, it gives you a unique perspective on life. For Doan, he believes more than anything that people...
San Jose passes budget, compromises on mayor’s housing plan
A lengthy battle over how to prioritize revenue from a tax measure ended Tuesday with city leaders striking a compromise before approving the city’s multibillion dollar budget. The most contentious part of Mayor Matt Mahan’s budget plan — how to spend Measure E dollars– failed in a 6-5 vote. Measure E is a 2020 voter-approved property tax...
San Jose council divided on core budget issue
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan sought to reduce the number of votes needed to pass his Measure E spending plan. Councilmembers resoundingly said no—partly because there are two alternative plans, widening the gap between Mahan and his colleagues. On Wednesday, Mahan released his $5.2 billion budget proposal for the next fiscal year. In it, he snuck in an...
‘Homophobia is everywhere’: Rainbow flags stolen in San Jose
More than 75 rainbow flags have been stolen in Willow Glen as National Pride Month kicks off. It’s become a reoccurring issue. Local real estate agent Holly Barr buys and places the flags on Willow Glen’s main street, Lincoln Avenue, annually beginning in June. Every year she says they get stolen, but she’s not letting...
San Jose leader to spend night in homeless shelter
San Jose officials are being challenged by a formerly homeless resident to stay in a shelter before voting to open more—and one is up for the offer. Sketch Oppie, who sits on the San Jose’s Housing and Community Development Commission, recently asked the city council to experience what a homeless shelter is like before diverting funds...
UPDATE: Downtown San Jose street to become pedestrian path
San Jose is on the road to preserving pedestrian-only access indefinitely on San Pedro Street—but it will take years and millions of dollars in long-term infrastructure improvements to make it possible. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to give initial approval for plans to repave the street as a sidewalk and reroute the...
First candidate enters San Jose District 2 race
South San Jose is where resident Babu Prasad raised his children, established his first business and bought his first house. Now it’s where he’s running for office to continue serving his community. Prasad announced his run for the San Jose City Council District 2 seat on Sunday. He hopes to replace current Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, who leaves office in 2024 after two...
San Jose casinos could lose a big bet
A San Jose ballot measure on gambling is turning into a one-way benefit and none of it’s going to the casinos as originally intended. San Jose voters approved Measure H in 2020, allowing the city’s two casinos—Bay 101 and Casino M8trix—to add more tables in exchange for paying higher taxes. Since the measure passed, the...
How to participate in San Jose City Council meetings
One of the simplest ways to have your voice heard in San Jose is by keeping up and participating in the city’s council meetings. In our 2022 reader survey, San José Spotlight readers told us they want to be more civically engaged and involved in local policymaking. Many said our coverage of local government has...
Longtime San Jose sports club could become housing
A beloved tennis and swimming club that’s operated for nearly seven decades appears likely to be sold, demolished and redeveloped with dozens of townhomes. The San Jose Swim & Racquet Club is “under contract” to be sold to a developer, Dion Campisi, a real estate agent with Colliers International representing the seller, told San José Spotlight....