Santa Clara County has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of people under pretrial supervision in recent years—a trend sparked by COVID-19 and likely to continue after the pandemic has ended. Between early 2019 and 2020, the population of people under pretrial supervision in the county doubled, according to a report from the Office...
EGD: Explaining San Jose’s partnership with Helium
A peculiar news release landed in my inbox the morning of Sept. 29 about San Jose using some cryptocurrency program to raise money for internet services for those who can’t afford it. I almost immediately rolled my eyes upon even seeing the word “cryptocurrency” in a government news release. What’s more, I had never heard of...
San Jose wants to cut parking spaces in downtown developments
San Jose officials want to cut the level of greenhouse gas emissions downtown. The city’s solution is to eliminate parking space mandates for developers. The downtown area is expected to experience dramatic growth over the next decades, and officials want commuters to lean more toward public transit. City officials are also exploring the use of...
Op-ed: Everyone needs a place to call home
What is synonymous with the American Dream? Of course, the first thing that comes to the minds of many is a house or home. A home is a place where children play, families eat and life happens. Our fondest memories, loving relationships and reprieve from the outside world occur inside our homes, thus making it...
California students must take ethnic studies—some in San Jose already do
California high school students will have a better understanding of the state’s history, diversity and culture under a new policy. Some Santa Clara County schools are ahead of the curve, offering ethnic studies as an elective. Local elementary school districts—such as Oak Grove, Alum Rock and Mount Pleasant—already have ethnic studies as part of the curriculum....
Prosecutor officially challenges Santa Clara County DA
Deputy district attorney Daniel Chung has officially announced his candidacy to lead the Santa Clara County DA’s Office. Chung confirmed on Tuesday he filed his papers to run for DA in the 2022 election. He told San José Spotlight the theme of his campaign is restoring justice and that it focuses on three pillars: integrity, competence...
San Jose leaders helpless to stop destruction of celebrated mural
A San Jose mural commemorating Hispanic heritage that deters graffiti is likely going to be painted over, despite community efforts to save it. The mural, which spans the side of a gym on 899 South First Street in San Jose, was created in April 2016. It depicts Dia de los Muertos figures, labor leader César Chavez...
Bramson: Ending homelessness in the election season
When homelessness starts to dominate politics you know the election season isn’t too far away. And this year, with concern for the unhoused polling as a top issue, you can be sure that we’ll be hearing plenty of plans on what can be done now to solve this crisis on our streets. Some of this...
Affordable housing at East San Jose airport? Experts say it’s in the soil
Eighty-two years after Reid-Hillview Airport opened, Santa Clara County supervisors want to shut it down and consider converting it into affordable housing. For decades, advocates and elected officials have pushed to close the airport and rezone the property for housing. But whether that happens depends on the soil’s lead levels. A study commissioned by the...
San Jose advocates say new federal immigration guidance falls short
President Joe Biden’s administration recently unveiled new immigration guidelines—and reactions are mixed in San Jose. While some local advocates say the guidance is lacking, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the House Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee, is applauding the new policy. “(It is) an important step in the right direction, particularly after the prior administration undermined...