The pandemic has taught us the importance and the need for public services. To keep our safe, reliable drinking water, it’s incumbent upon us to not take risks now or into the future. Safe, reliable water supply is crucial to sustaining our economy and quality of life, and because of that we are urging your...
Ex-employees allege San Jose councilmember used city staff to aid his reelection campaign
Two former employees of San Jose Councilmember Lan Diep told San José Spotlight the District 4 representative is using his elected office staff and public resources to support his reelection campaign. In general, using taxpayer dollars and government resources for campaign purposes is not permitted and is considered a misuse of public funds. The City...
UPDATE: San Jose City Council approves adding more bike lanes across city
Biking in San Jose is about to get a lot safer — and easier — for residents. The City Council on Oct. 6 unanimously approved the Better Bike Plan 2025, which would prioritize rider safety while increasing the amount of bike lanes, bike parking and bike sharing services citywide. The bike network would also help...
Conservation more than the sum of its parts for Deb Kramer
Not many people knew about the Coyote Creek watershed before Deb Kramer began leading a local effort to protect it. Now, Coyote Creek and the nonprofit dedicated to its preservation are setting the standard for environmental advocacy in the South Bay Area. Kramer took the reins at Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful in 2014 and has...
Lan Diep wants 4 more years to keep paying it forward on San Jose City Council
As the first-born son of Vietnamese American refugees, Lan Diep prides himself on taking advantage of the opportunity given to him by his parents. “Lan was raised with a profound sense of gratitude for his life in America. His parents reminded him … they were much more fortunate than countless other refugees whose ships never...
UPDATE: San Jose sows seeds to begin public discussion on police reform
City leaders are gearing up to launch a public discussion on reforming San Jose’s police department, acknowledging it will be difficult. “We expect this to be a pretty messy process, especially if we’re bringing divergent perspectives to the table,” said Deputy City Manager Angel Rios. “We’d be lucky if we get 30% consensus. What we’re...
Public service a family affair for San Jose council candidate David Cohen
During the civil unrest of the 1960s, David Cohen recalls stories of being carted around in a stroller and carried on his parents’ backs during protests. He became eligible to vote in 1986 and during the 1988 presidential election he signed up to volunteer with the “Get Out the Vote” campaign. That year, while studying...
UPDATE: San Jose council OKs anti-displacement plan to protect renters, landlords
Amid a housing crisis exacerbated by COVID-19, San Jose leaders approved a 10-part plan to provide rent relief and give nonprofits first dibs on property that goes on the market. The anti-displacement plan was approved Sept. 23 past the 12 a.m. curfew in a 10-1 vote. Councilmember Johnny Khamis cast the lone dissenting vote. Displacement...
Update: Spend $3 million more to pick up San Jose trash, officials recommend
The mayor and three councilmembers are recommending San Jose dump another $3 million to help clean up the city’s trash problem. Mayor Sam Liccardo and councilmembers Lan Diep, Dev Davis and Sergio Jimenez announced the idea Sept. 14 amid mounting complaints about the city wide trash buildup. “There’s no shortage of San Jose property that...
Poor residents, city no match for San Jose’s huge ‘faceless, corporate slumlord’
Kashana Ashford spent the sweltering Labor Day weekend moving her family out of an extended-stay hotel. Ashford is a 41-year-old cafeteria worker and former bus driver for the Mountain View Whisman School District. For more than five months she’s been bouncing from one temporary housing arrangement to the next with seven children because their apartment...