In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 109 after the Supreme Court ruled California’s overcrowded prisons violated inmates’ 8th Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment. It was and has continued to be portrayed to the public as a good thing. A “reward” for nonviolent and non-serious offenders. While the law may allow inmates to...
Engineer Kevin Park announces run for Santa Clara City Council
Local engineer and teacher Kevin Park is the latest candidate running for a seat on the Santa Clara City Council. Living in Santa Clara for the last 20 years, he said he’s prepared to tackle difficult finance and housing issues, especially amid the ongoing pandemic, but he also wants to help realize a new downtown...
From Fallon to Quetzalcoatl: San Jose statues, monuments tell a complicated story
As the controversial likeness of Thomas Fallon sits atop his horse northwest of Downtown San Jose, some are hoping he joins the list of toppled statues across the country. More than a dozen protesters marched Tuesday from Fallon’s historic house to the statue, at the intersection of West St. James and Julian streets. Against the...
Santa Clara County education leader censured for gender discrimination
In a split vote late Wednesday night, the Santa Clara County Board of Education censured trustee Joseph Di Salvo for alleged gender discrimination, a decision that prompted the embattled educator to abruptly cut off his camera during the virtual meeting. As San José Spotlight first reported Tuesday, Di Salvo became the subject of an independent...
Coronavirus LIVE BLOG: July 2 to July 15
Catch up on our current Coronavirus LIVE BLOG here. 1:35 p.m. July 15: Most California schools not likely to reopen in-person, state educational official says California’s top public school official said Wednesday most schools likely would not reopen for in-person learning due to the spread of the novel coronavirus across the state. After the state Department...
With traffic deaths on the rise, San Jose renews focus on safety
Five years after San Jose committed to eliminating all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries, the city is focusing on outreach after 2019 had the second highest number of incidents. There were 60 traffic fatalities last year, the same number as in 2015 when San Jose first became a Vision Zero city, joining a worldwide initiative to eliminate...
Kline: San Jose’s Boring Transit Loop
It is just a day business trip to San Jose, but a good opportunity to check out the new Boring Transit Loop from the airport to downtown. I read it was built in under a year and for $100 million. Sounds like a lot of money, but peanuts for a transportation system. As I exit...
Trump administration reverses policy change for international students
Amid much uproar from schools nationwide, the Trump administration has stepped back from its plan to force international students to leave the United States if their universities switch to an online format due to the coronavirus pandemic. A U.S. district judge announced the reversal during a Tuesday hearing for a lawsuit filed by Harvard University and...
Santa Clara extends agreement for student and workforce housing project
The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a third extension for an exclusive negotiation agreement through next year with Santa Clara Station, the controversial proposed student and workforce mixed-use housing development near the city’s Caltrain hub. Located at 500 Benton Street – across from Santa Clara University and Santa Clara Police Department – the proposed seven-story,...
Newly-approved San Jose police union contract leaves door open for changes
Despite calls for increased accountability and defunding of the police department, the San Jose City Council extended its contract with the Police Officers’ Association for another year with no changes — at least for now. “The conversation has to continue,” said Councilmember Raul Peralez, who is himself a reserve police officer. It was not necessary...