It’s not often that Mountain View gets the chance to shape housing legislation that could have an impact far beyond its borders. But the city recently inspired the introduction of a bipartisan bill that could make it easier for municipalities to use federal funds for affordable housing. Last week, U.S. Reps. Sam Liccardo (D-California) and Mike Flood...
San Jose politicians listen to residents’ federal concerns
ICE raids, public health and the Israel-Hamas war dominated a recent town hall with Congressmember Sam Liccardo and Santa Clara County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas. The political leaders, who represent South San Jose, met with dozens of residents Thursday at John Muir Middle School to listen to their concerns. People questioned how the county was supporting...
Lawsuit challenges Santa Clara County sales tax measure
Santa Clara County leaders already face an uphill battle convincing voters to pay more taxes to keep their public hospitals afloat — but a fast-moving lawsuit and pushback from wealthier cities will steepen the climb. A judge next Wednesday could decide the fate of the county’s proposed five-eighths cent sales tax increase, known as Measure A, after local...
Silicon Valley lawmaker has plans to help high fire risk communities
One local lawmaker wants to put high fire risk communities at the forefront of wildfire prevention and mitigation, with federal help. Congressman Sam Liccardo is launching a regional partnership between the federal government and local cities to support wildfire prevention efforts. The partnership aims to strengthen multi-jurisdictional communication in the face of climate change, while...
San Jose cuts fees for its two card rooms
San Jose leaders are reducing card room fees and slashing police staff that monitor gambling, marking a turn in the city’s long — at times tense — relationship with casinos. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to lower regulatory fees for the city’s two licensed card rooms — Bay 101 and Casino M8trix —...
Silicon Valley leaders discuss how federal cuts will hurt region
Santa Clara County officials want their largest city’s support in hiking sales taxes to keep their public hospital system alive against federal cuts. But San Jose leaders have conditions. Congressman and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo suggested the city could tie its support for the sales tax measure — now known as “Measure A”...
Trump chip deal critics say it undercuts U.S. becoming AI leader
Some Democrats are troubled by President Donald Trump’s recent deal to allow two tech companies to sell artificial intelligence chips to China as long as they provide the U.S. government some of the revenue. “I certainly have concerns about what we might call linkage, that is linking revenue to the Treasury to national security decisions,”...
Silicon Valley lawmakers to take part in town hall on federal cuts
Federal and state lawmakers will converge in San Jose this weekend for an emergency town hall with the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors about how massive federal spending cuts will derail the public hospital system and social safety net services. The community meeting, hosted by District 2 Supervisor Betty Duong, will bring the elected...
Navy ship to retain San Jose activist Cesar Chavez’s name
The name of San Jose activist Cesar Chavez will stay on a U.S. Navy ship, after a local lawmaker pushed the federal government to continue honoring his name and legacy. An Aug. 1 letter from U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan confirmed the federal government will not rename the USNS Cesar Chavez, a ship...
San Jose mayor leads search for city attorney replacement
San Jose’s city attorney plans to retire later this year — and Mayor Matt Mahan is quietly leading the search for the next top lawyer to help advise and defend new city policies. City Hall sources, who asked for anonymity to speak freely, told San José Spotlight Mahan’s office is narrowing down a field of...