The San Jose City Council is going to correct a decadeslong freeway oversight and approve sound walls along Interstate 280 near a forgotten neighborhood. Sound wall barriers would be constructed along the I-280 corridor next to the San Jose Gardner neighborhood and elementary school. The work is expected to be approved by councilmembers Tuesday. The...
San Jose expands paid family leave to attract police, workers
More than 1,000 officers with San Jose’s police union will no longer have limited hours of parental leave to spend with family. City officials have expanded the existing 40 hours of paid leave for workers to 320 hours, with all of San Jose’s major unions becoming eligible as of Oct. 22 — including officers with...
Silicon Valley ad campaign ties candidates to embattled official
A text campaign attacking two labor-backed candidates for their prior association with embattled San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres is popping up on phones across Santa Clara County — a political play some are deeming dirty with the election just a week away. The advertisements show pictures of San Jose City Council District 2 candidate Pamela...
Former San Jose mayor pulls endorsement of education official
A dispute is deepening over Santa Clara County’s top education leaders — one of whom just lost her reelection endorsement from former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo amid the firing of county Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan. Liccardo — who’s vying for Congressional District 16 — on Thursday confirmed he withdrew his endorsement for...
LaFortune: San Jose is scary
As we officially start our roll into the long holiday season, it is my pleasure to point out just how quirky, funny, joyful and creepy San Jose can be. This month, let’s have some Halloween fun and visit some scary places we love. If you haven’t been in a while, it is time to go...
49ers spend millions in Santa Clara council races
Special interest groups have sunk millions of dollars into November’s Santa Clara city elections to decide its future government. The San Francisco 49ers have spent the most money supporting who the team wants sitting on the City Council, burning $2.3 million so far. Other special interest groups include the Santa Clara Police Officers Association, Santa...
The Biz Beat: San Jose’s Flaming Ox mixes flavors of Taiwan
San Jose’s Flaming Ox restaurant specializes in a Taiwanese menu with food truck-like simplicity, offering a small selection of expertly prepared but versatile dishes. It’s no coincidence, after founder Eric Chung worked the Asian cafeteria station at Apple’s Cupertino campus. From there he launched the first of two high-volume catering trucks that grew to serve...
Will Cupertino City Council’s majority flip?
Two opposing candidate duos are trying to nab the two available Cupertino City Council seats to have power over one of the city’s most divisive issues — development. Councilmember Kitty Moore and former Planning Commissioner R “Ray” Wang, want to flip the existing development-friendly council majority, while Councilmember Hung Wei and former Mayor Rod Sinks...
San Jose cop turned candidate has fraud case dismissed
A San Jose police sergeant faced with mortgage fraud allegations has had his case dismissed, potentially improving his chances in his bid for a City Council seat. Tam Troung, who was charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office with a single count of grand theft on Sept. 5, had his case moved to...
Controversial West Valley school superintendent leaves district
An embattled education official has made a hasty exit from a West Valley school district, following months of community strife that left parents and students feeling unheard. Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson will resign June 30 for “personal reasons,” following lengthy community unrest over his leadership style, according to a...