Gun rights groups, instructors and activists say they’re outraged over San Jose’s proposed gun control ordinances—and they’ve promised to take the city to court if the measures become law. “The whole proposal is completely disingenuous. It fails to provide any proven solutions. It is blatantly unconstitutional,” said San Jose resident Dave Truslow, a National Rifle Association...
San Jose approves interim city manager
Jennifer Maguire could soon become the third woman to lead America’s 10th largest city. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday approved Maguire’s salary after she was unanimously appointed acting city manager. She replaces Dave Sykes who is retiring this month after more than three decades at City Hall. “I am honored to support the...
San Jose vice mayor sheds stocks, keeps Palantir
After he was forced into a last-minute recusal from a San Jose City Council vote in February, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones liquidated most of his stock holdings. But he’s holding onto a handful of lucrative stocks, including a controversial one. Jones told San José Spotlight that of the 40 stocks listed on his public disclosure forms,...
San Jose to make gun owners carry insurance, pay into public fund
Gun owners in San Jose will soon have to pay for insurance to keep their firearms. The San Jose City Council unanimously passed gun control measures Tuesday that will require all gun owners in the city to carry insurance and pay an annual fee to cover taxpayer costs related to gun violence, or risk having their...
San Jose mayor’s advocacy group linked to consulting firm
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s secretive advocacy organization has hired a PR firm linked to a racist ad that toppled a business group’s political action committee. Liccardo’s group—Solutions San Jose—is working with Storefront Political Media, a San Francisco PR firm linked to a racist ad in a local City Council race last fall, San José...
Residents call for changes to San Jose government, elections
San Jose is asking residents to weigh in on the city’s ruling document—and some say radical changes are needed. The city’s Charter Review Commission, a 23-member panel that meets every two weeks to discuss changes to the city charter, held its first public hearing Monday on changes to the city’s governance. The two major changes being...
UPDATE: San Jose lawmakers approve Berryessa urban village, shrink flea market
Months of negotiations, rallies and proposals ended Tuesday with the San Jose City Council voting unanimously to approve a multi-million square foot development at the site of the San Jose Flea Market. Councilmembers approved the Berryessa BART Urban Village project, a plan to rezone a 61.5-acre portion of the flea market site to include up...
Report: 1 in 4 San Jose police officers received a complaint
San Jose’s City Council mended fences earlier this week when it restarted a group to examine police reform. But findings in a report on police misconduct suggest the city has ways to go. The Independent Police Auditor’s report examined complaints of police misconduct in 2020 and contains key statistics that concern local activists, including those involved...
San Jose leaders resurrect police reform board
Two months after seven activists quit a police reform group en masse, city officials and community members say they’re ready to bring the group back with renewed focus. The San Jose City Council voted Tuesday to reform what was originally called the Reimagining Community Safety Committee, created in September in the wake of the murder of...
UPDATE: San Jose to conduct another search, release a log of emails on mayor’s advocacy group
In response to an appeal from San José Spotlight over a denial of public records, San Jose will conduct a more thorough search for Mayor Sam Liccardo’s emails related to an advocacy group and produce a log explaining why certain communications are being withheld. The decision came Wednesday after the Rules and Open Government Committee...