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....
San Jose says goodbye to its neighborhoods commission
The San Jose Neighborhoods Commission is on pause, for now. The City Council voted unanimously to suspend the neighborhoods commission until it can come up with a better model to attract and retain commissioners. The 20-member committee—which allows residents and neighborhood groups to weigh in on critical votes and bring concerns to elected officials—has not met...
Is San Jose’s progressive housing policy dead?
A contentious affordable housing policy coming to the San Jose City Council appears to be dead on arrival. The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, or COPA, is coming to the city council in late April, but it seems the long-debated policy will not have enough votes to pass. Councilmember Peter Ortiz tried and failed to defer the policy...
San Jose gives new airline room to fly
San Jose officials waived more than $1 million in fees for Spirit Airlines as the company takes off at San Jose Mineta International Airport. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to grant the airline approximately $1.7 million in fee waivers and marketing dollars. Airport and city officials said the waivers will incentivize more...
UPDATE: San Jose council strengthens wage theft policy
San Jose wanted to loosen wage theft requirements to allow more contractors to work for the city, but councilmembers pushed back. City staff recommended scaling back the city’s wage theft policy for public contacts, but the City Council voted unanimously to strengthen it at a Tuesday meeting. Councilmember Dev Davis was absent. Wage theft occurs...
San Jose Sharks still playing at SAP Center
Sharks Sports & Entertainment and German software company SAP inked a five-year extension to their ongoing partnership, preserving the naming rights to the SAP Center where the hockey team plays their home games. The parent company of the San Jose Sharks will keep SAP’s name across the front of the city-owned arena through 2028. With the...
Could Cindy Chavez say goodbye to Silicon Valley?
Longtime Silicon Valley labor leader Cindy Chavez may be leaving the Bay Area for an executive role down south—a shocking move for the local powerhouse. Chavez, who represents District 2 on the Board of Supervisors, is being considered for the San Diego County chief administrative officer position which oversees day-to-day operations of the county. The prospect of her...