The money that San Jose is paying to fund pension plans for employees is on a major upward trajectory that’s taking a larger share of the city budget, largely because depressed investment return forecasts have city retirement plans lowering their expected rate of return. Payments to retirees of the two pension plans, the Police and...
San Jose homeless residents near Coyote Creek escape rising waters
As heavy rains battered San Jose early Thursday, city officials mobilized an emergency response team to warn residents along the Guadalupe River to evacuate from flash floods, but some homeless residents camping at Roosevelt Park along Coyote Creek say they were left behind. Many of those unhoused individuals — some of whom lost everything during...
San Jose lawmaker asks: What does it cost to build affordable housing?
Just a week after the San Jose City Council approved spending millions of dollars on five affordable housing projects, Councilmember Johnny Khamis wants to know: “Are we really getting the biggest bang for our buck?” Khamis on Wednesday proposed studying the costs of building affordable housing in San Jose at a council committee meeting, saying the city is...
Santa Clara County makes major investment to fight wage theft
Santa Clara County officials on Tuesday voted to add an additional half million in funding to the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, a move that was applauded by all across the political aisle. Labor activists and former victims of wage theft, sexual harassment and human trafficking were among those in the crowd advocating for the...
Growing inequality: A look at the 2019 Silicon Valley Index
As big tech’s grip on Silicon Valley strengthens, the gap between the rich and the poor widens. A new report highlights the downsides of the region’s booming economy: Exacerbated inequality, rising housing and transportation woes, and a stifled market for competitors to break into. The 2019 Silicon Valley Index by Joint Venture Silicon Valley showcases why more people are leaving...
San Jose City Council talks Measure T, closing the ‘digital divide’
As San Jose prepares to roll out millions of dollars in Measure T funding this summer, city leaders on Tuesday discussed their plans to divvy up the money across the city. Measure T – a $650 million bond that was passed in November by nearly 70 percent of voters – is earmarked for public safety, infrastructure and...
San Jose denies airport commission chair access to records
San Jose leaders on Tuesday denied the airport commission chair’s request to see documents that detail the impacts of raising height limits in downtown San Jose. One government watchdog says the denial could run afoul with California’s public records law. San Jose lawmakers this month will weigh raising building heights up to 35 feet above...
Santa Clara County sees spike in whistleblower complaints, expands office
Improper hiring, employee or employer misconduct, corruption, favoritism and misuse of public resources. These are just some of the cases the Santa Clara County Whistleblower Program has taken on since it was established in 2010. But now the county’s watchdog office is expanding by adding new staff and updating the intake system for complaints, many of which are filed anonymously by county employees...
Greenlee: Decision on height limits will impact SJC for decades
I am an airline transport pilot with over 37 years of military and commercial experience and I want to make sure that all stakeholders of Mineta San Jose International Airport, including airlines, local businesses, citizens of San Jose and passengers who travel through the airport are aware of upcoming decisions that will impact operations at...
Ann Ravel joins the Senate race to replace Jim Beall
After months of speculation, former FEC commissioner Ann Ravel on Monday jumped into the race to replace Silicon Valley Senator Jim Beall next year. “I care a lot about California, and I want to do things that are in the public interest,” Ravel said in an interview with San José Spotlight on Monday. “I’m interested only...