Downtown San Jose could see an economic boost if city officials adopt a potential initiative for fast tracking large developments. Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmembers Dev Davis and Pam Foley are proposing an “Innovative Project Pathway Program” aimed at creating a streamlined approach to development in the downtown core. It would apply to developers interested in...
Santa Clara County homeless shelter model displaces seniors
Alma stared at her phone, rattled. She had just received a text from her case manager on Sept. 30 that she’d been evicted from the Sunnyvale homeless shelter while on the way back from work. With nowhere to go, she reverted to sleeping underneath the stairwell of a school. That week, temperatures reached a scorching...
How Silicon Valley candidates are tied to troubled recycler
Candidates running to represent Silicon Valley in Congress are pointing fingers over whose ties are tighter to a Bay Area recycling company under scrutiny by the FBI. In the Congressional District 16 race, Assemblymember Evan Low’s campaign circulated an advertisement titled “Dirty Politics,” calling out Low’s opponent and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s connections...
Rosenfeld: Patrick Ahrens is the clear choice for Assembly District 26
With Election Day around the corner, we face a vital decision for our community’s future. I urge residents to vote for Patrick Ahrens for Assembly District 26, a dedicated public servant, champion for working families and leader who has proven time and again that he understands the challenges we face. He has the vision and...
San Jose homeless family memorializes poisoned dog
A homeless man and his son have built a Dia de los Muertos altar near a freeway overpass to honor his dog that was killed. Candles, marigolds, Christmas lights, skulls and drapes decorate the elaborate altar located at Seventh and East Virginia streets. At the center is a large framed picture of Nacho, Miguel Maruyama’s...
Renovated San Jose hotel houses formerly homeless residents
A newly renovated hotel in downtown San Jose has reopened its doors to house homeless residents. The 72-room Pacific Motor Inn has already welcomed dozens of residents, and by next week it will be full. The hotel, operated by nonprofit People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), will provide temporary housing, meals and supportive services as individuals...
San Jose leaders deny Councilman Omar Torres’ medical leave request
Questions are mounting as to whether or not embattled San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres will resign — and his colleagues are declining to formally excuse his absence from public meetings. For a second time since police filings showed Torres sent lewd texts about minors, councilmembers at a Wednesday Rules and Open Government Committee meeting declined...
Gov. Newsom endorses Silicon Valley congressional candidate
Gov. Gavin Newsom has made a last-minute endorsement in Silicon Valley’s contested race for Congressional District 16. Newsom is backing state Assemblymember Evan Low in his campaign against former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. The endorsement makes sense to political observers who say the two worked together as Low began his tenure in the Assembly...
Lopez: The truth about Congressional District 16 candidates
The truth matters, and the ads you may be seeing attacking Sam Liccardo, paid for by Evan Low’s campaigns and his corporate super PACs, are baseless — even ironic — lies. These ads might lead you to believe that one of the candidates in the race accepted tens of thousands of dollars from a garbage...
Milpitas police investigating defaced election signs as hate crime
Two Asian-American candidates in Milpitas have become targets of hate crimes and have had their political signs defaced. Milpitas City Council candidate Bill Chuan and Councilmember Hon Lien, who is running for the mayoral seat, had their campaign banners defaced with anti-Asian language. “NO ASIANS” was spray-painted over Chuan’s banner on Barber Lane. Alongside it, “NO...