Nora Frimann was named San Jose’s second female city attorney Tuesday after serving in an interim role since the retirement of former City Attorney Rick Doyle. “I am honored to have been selected to serve San Jose as City Attorney,” Frimann said in a statement. “The City Attorney’s office will do our best to continue...
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: San Jose City Council approves Bay 101 casino settlement
After years of legal battles between San Jose and the Bay 101 casino, the City Council voted 10-1 Sept. 22 to approve a 2020 settlement agreement and put a series of suits to bed. Most notably, Bay 101 sued the city in 2013 for charging “unconstitutionally excessive” fees. As a compromise, the city will consider...
The search for San Jose’s landmark narrows: Here are top three finalists
And then there were three. After years of planning, fundraising and community input, Urban Confluence Silicon Valley finally named the finalists in its international ideas competition to build an an iconic landmark in San Jose expected to draw tourists from around the world. Chosen from more than 900 entries originating in 70 countries, 13 expert...
San Jose makes dent in low-income housing shortage with grants, developments
San Jose made progress this week in securing housing for low-income, senior and homeless residents. Gov. Gavin Newsom awarded $14.5 million to the city on Sept. 16 to purchase property to house the homeless. Earlier this week the San Jose City Council approved three more affordable housing projects. The city also greelit a revamp of...
Update: San Jose police can continue to use rubber bullets for violent protesters
San Jose police can continue to use rubber bullets for crowd control if people are being violent, despite Mayor Sam Liccardo’s push to ban them in crowds altogether after protesters suffered serious injuries during demonstrations against the police killing of George Floyd in May. Liccardo was the lone dissenter in the City Council’s 10-1 decision,...
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...
San Jose police release body cam videos from protests
After pressure from the San Jose City Council, the city’s police department late Friday, released body-worn camera footage of recent protests over the police killing of George Floyd. “Body-worn camera video is an essential component in investigations and in maintaining the public trust,” Police Chief Eddie Garcia said in a statement. “Coming up with a...
Time of reflection, change as San Jose police chief nears retirement
Quoting Steve Jobs, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said he’s not out to please everybody. “If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader — go sell ice cream,” said Garcia, 49, who announced last month he is retiring at the end of the year. Having worked in the city’s roughly 1,400-member...