WASHINGTON, D.C. — San Jose is among nearly two dozen cities that have opposed the Federal Communications Commission for orders it issued under the premise of facilitating the launch of 5G communication technology. In a call with reporters last week, officials from around the country said the FCC’s orders on small-cell deployment amount to federal...
San Jose council OKs $6.8 million to make city streets safer
It’s been five years since San Jose joined a national effort dedicated to reducing traffic fatalities, but the city’s pedestrian and cyclist death toll hit an all-time high last year. In an effort to reduce deaths, city lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously approved pumping $6.78 million over the next year into the Vision Zero plan, which...
Details of Jim Zito’s divorce become campaign issue in race for San Jose council
San Jose City Council candidate Jim Zito controlled nearly every aspect of his ex-wife’s life, from the temperature in their home to chores, finances and even how much toilet paper the family used, court documents reviewed by San José Spotlight show. Zito and his ex-wife, Zoe Bizzell, married in 1991, lived in the Evergreen suburbs...
San Jose program for free college gets $250K eBay donation
A program that provides free college to hundreds of underprivileged San Jose students on Monday has received a boost from a longtime local tech business. Through its foundation, San Jose-based eBay is donating $250,000 to the San José-Evergreen Community College District Foundation to support San José Promise, the program that offers up to two years...
San Jose rejects controversial hotel project, approves wage theft policy
San Jose lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously rejected a proposal to build a new hotel with two entertainment venues in a sleepy suburb of the city, following immense pressure from residents who voiced opposition to the project. The hotel, which would have been located at 615 and 623 Stockton Ave., was heavily protested for being plopped in...
Smith: SJ construction workers continue to wait on wage theft protection
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. What’s that sound? The sound of time being wasted by Mayor Sam Liccardo and five of his colleagues in cracking down on human trafficking and wage theft in the construction industry. The fact that San Jose construction workers are exploited and victimized by wage theft perpetrated by unscrupulous low-road...
Percival and Currin-Percival: Moving San Jose’s mayoral elections to presidential years will strengthen democracy
In April 2019, in a 6-5 vote, the San Jose City Council defeated a proposal to move the timing of the city’s mayoral elections from their current gubernatorial cycle to presidential years, which have historically generated higher levels of voter participation. Indeed, political science research demonstrates clear evidence that the simplest and most effective solution...
San Jose lawmakers denounce SVO’s altered photo of Sylvia Arenas
Supporters of San Jose Councilmember Sylvia Arenas are crying foul after an image of the Latina lawmaker surfaced on a new opposition website that appears to have darkened her skin. The image, which cropped up this week on a website funded by the Silicon Valley Organization’s PAC, first appeared in a Mercury News article four...
Formerly homeless residents fear eviction from San Jose affordable housing project
Despite the affirmations and empowering quotes covering San Jose native Marcelina Taguinod’s apartment door, she’s been feeling down. Taguinod, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, has isolated herself in her room in downtown San Jose’s Second Street Studios, a permanent supportive housing complex for formerly homeless people. A tenant at the development since it opened in early May,...
San Jose approves new anti-graffiti efforts and Diridon Station design
San Jose elected leaders Tuesday unanimously approved beefing up anti-graffiti efforts with a new policy that reduces the time it takes to paint over tagging on private property when more than one complaint has been filed. The new shortened process means city officials can re-inspect a private property site where graffiti was previously reported and immediately issue...