In the aftermath of this summer’s explosive grand jury findings, VTA has been taking a long, hard look at its current governance setup. At the latest Ad-hoc Board Enhancement Committee meeting, members of VTA’s Board of Directors fielded a wide-ranging discussion about how to best address not only the findings of the grand jury, but...
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San Jose mayor proposes mandatory gun liability insurance
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo unveiled a gun safety proposal Monday that he knows won’t “suddenly end gun violence” — but will ensure the nation’s 10th largest city will stop paying for it. Liccardo is suggesting San Jose require gun owners in the city to carry mandatory liability insurance for weapons or pay an in-lieu...
Bramson: A troubling boom on the streets
My great grandmother was born in New York City in 1902, lived there all her life, and died in 2006. After raising two children and then losing her husband at a relatively young age, she worked as a bookkeeper until she was 88 years old, helping her kids get through college and start their own...
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San Jose: Internal complaints against police officers spiked
While citizen complaints against the San Jose Police Department steadily decreased for the last five years, the number of internal complaints increased and allegations tied to excessive use of force spiked by 39 percent, according to an annual report conducted by the city’s police auditor. On Tuesday, San Jose lawmakers will hear the findings of...
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San Jose among five cities splitting $3.75M to combat car break-ins
Five Bay Area cities, including San Jose, will split $3.75 million from the state to increase coordination among law enforcement agencies tackling the escalating scourge of smash-and-grab car burglaries in the region. Leaders in the Fremont, Milpitas, Newark, Santa Clara and San Jose police departments say their cities have each seen a significant uptick in...
From the editor: When the housing crisis hits home
The moment felt a little surreal. After months of planning, saving and talking endlessly about it, we moved back to California and here I was on a hotter-than-usual Saturday afternoon, turning the key to our new apartment. After living in Nevada for more than a year and fielding countless inquiries about when we’re moving back,...
Santa Clara County residents prepare for all-mail election in 2020
Dozens of South Bay residents gathered at Rookies Sports Lodge this week to learn more about the sweeping changes to the Santa Clara County voting system ahead of the consequential 2020 elections. With prominent social issues like the housing crisis front and center, Mario Lopez, a civic engagement manager at Silicon Valley At Home, stressed...
Residents brace for 8×8’s move next to busy Campbell intersection
Campbell officials celebrated the day San Jose-based 8×8 announced it would become the city’s largest employer by moving its headquarters to a busy part of the small South Bay city in the new year. But rather than excitement, some residents or neighbors can only muster anxiety about the news of the move. The office it’s set...
San Jose: Homelessness forum highlighted statistics and solutions
A panel discussion on homelessness brought dozens out to San Jose Thursday to talk solutions to a problem affecting thousands within Santa Clara County. Leading voices from the city, county and local nonprofits met with the San Francisco Chronicle at the Cisco campus to detail what’s been done, what’s happening now and what could be...
San Jose to consider prohibiting landlords from snubbing Section 8 renters
For years, landlords have shut the door on prospective tenants who receive housing subsidies to help pay rent. But now, voucher holders in San Jose may be getting their fair shot at securing housing in the private rental market. Next week, the San Jose City Council will vote on adopting an ordinance aimed at reducing...