Standard Blog

San Jose group debates reimagining community policing

The conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin brings an end to one chapter in the ongoing battle for racial equity. But San Jose’s new community safety advisory group sparked by George Floyd’s murder just began convening. Three meetings in and discussions over police and community relations already prove to be so divisive among...

San Jose mulls major changes to campaign finance law

San Jose lawmakers are looking to overhaul the city’s campaign finance regulations in hopes of avoiding more ugly political contests in 2022. Councilmember Sergio Jimenez introduced a proposal, updated from an earlier version discussed in November, that includes a requirement that campaign committees file mailers with the city clerk, an online repository for all campaign...

Johnson & Johnson vaccine back on in Santa Clara County

Bay Area health leaders, including Santa Clara County’s top health official, are lifting the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The county halted administration of the one-shot vaccine after reports of extremely rare cases of blood clotting. The pause came a month after Santa Clara County received its first doses of the highly-anticipated shot...

Do San Jose’s wage theft policies lack teeth?

San Jose has a long history of wage theft on construction projects throughout the city—what are officials doing to prevent it? A recent San José Spotlight investigation revealed numerous allegations of wage theft and unsafe working conditions on a public works project built last year intended to provide emergency shelter to the city’s homeless. Days after...

South Bay schools reopened, but most students stayed home

Schools in Santa Clara County recently reopened after much anticipation, but most students opted to stay home.  Reasons for choosing to continue remote learning ranged from concerns of catching COVID-19 to abbreviated days making transportation difficult for parents. Chris Funk, superintendent for East Side Union High School District and a San José Spotlight columnist, said...

Will South Bay keep expanded homeless housing post-pandemic?

Santa Clara County made strides in housing its unsheltered residents during the pandemic. Now county officials want to make sure it doesn’t backslide as the region prepares for a post-pandemic future. With the help of emergency federal and state funding, the county’s Office of Supportive Housing provided shelter to more than 5,500 households over the last year. COVID-19...

The Podlight: How Derrick Seaver will rebuild embattled business group

The Podlight is a podcast collaboration by San José Spotlight and Silicon Valley Synergy. The Podlight features a weekly look at the top headlines and in-depth conversations with San José Spotlight reporters about South Bay policy, politics and government, delving into critical issues such as housing, technology, business, homelessness, land use and development. In this...

Should San Jose require nonprofits to disclose lobbying?

More than 50 individuals, companies and advocacy groups legally lobby San Jose each year about subjects including Google developments and cannabis. Lobbying is governed by the city’s lobbying ordinance, which requires lobbyists to register, pay annual fees and file weekly reports disclosing conversations with city officials. But 501(c)(3) nonprofits, or charitable nonprofits, are exempt from...