When COVID-19 — and the panic of the pandemic — hit the South Bay, Milan Balinton was at the local Walmart buying grocery carts full of food and supplies nearly every day, but none of it was for him. The supplies were for the people he serves as the executive director at the African American...
As air travel begins slow comeback, San Jose airport gets $9.6M for new marketing plan
For years, San Jose’s Mineta International Airport has bustled with throngs of globetrotting jet-setters from around the world. Millions of travelers pass through annually — more and more each year. That was until the coronavirus and nationwide stay-at-home orders brought its exponential growth to a screeching halt this spring. But now, as travelers are cautiously...
Lawmakers take defunding off table, but San Jose activists and police see need for more social workers
Shifting money from San Jose’s police budget to pay for social service workers may be a fierce debate but the two sides agree on one issue. The city’s police officers respond to far too many emergencies for which they lack training such as dealing with homeless people and mental health crises. “We’ve been asking for...
From the editor: What was the point of that 9-hour City Council debate?
Regardless of what side of the political aisle you sit on, one thing is clear. The split City Council vote Wednesday to put a measure on the November ballot that would award Mayor Sam Liccardo two more years and expand his powers was political theater. The councilmembers spent 9 hours debating the issue. That’s not...
Coronavirus LIVE BLOG: June 18 to July 1
Catch up on our current Coronavirus LIVE BLOG here. 4:26 p.m. July 1: California reaches goal of amassing 10,000 contact tracers, Newsom says Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday the state met its goal to amass 10,000 contact tracers to identify cases and reduce the spread of COVID-19. In doing so, the universities of California of San...
UPDATE: In a split vote, San Jose council approves drafting ‘strong mayor’ measure
San Jose councilmembers voted 6-5 to approve a November ballot measure to expand Mayor Sam Liccardo’s power, extend his term until 2024, shift mayoral elections to presidential years and enact a slew of campaign finance reforms. Liccardo, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, Councilmembers Johnny Khamis, Pam Foley, Dev Davis and Lan Diep voted in favor of...
Santa Clara County program may help ‘defund police’ response to mental health crises
As calls to defund the police in the wake of the killing of George Floyd sweep the nation, the focus has turned to how law enforcement handles calls related to mental health crises. At its most basic level, “defund the police” is a demand for money to be moved from police budgets and reinvested into...
Bernhardt: Racist cops aren’t held to same standard as teachers, Mayor Liccardo. Here’s why.
In the midst of a scandal over Facebook posts made by current and former members of his city’s police department, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo pushed back against calls to defund the police by posting and later deleting a tweet that compared racist cops to teachers. “And when teachers are caught saying vile things,” the...
Carl Guardino’s next move finally revealed
After Carl Guardino announced in January he is stepping down as CEO of Silicon Valley Leadership Group, speculation swirled about the powerful business leader’s next move. “I truly do not know what is next, as I did not believe it was appropriate to start searching in any way while I was still being entrusted to...
Peralez: Rushed ‘strong mayor’ initiative is politics at its worst
Today a constitutional convention will take place, proposing changing how people are represented and how government operates. A frenzy of proposals contemplating complex restructuring, an extension of current leaders’ term-limited time in office, the value of neighborhood representation, consolidation of power and increasing voter participation will be considered in a 12-hour political showdown. This affront...