San Jose officials have narrowed down the list of candidates who might temporarily fill the vacant downtown seat on the City Council from 11 to five. Councilmembers will interview Bob Staedler, Jahmal Williams, Danielle Marie Christian, Carl Eugene Salas and Baltazar Lopez on Jan. 28 before appointing one of them to fill the District 3...
San Jose selects operator for second safe parking site
A safe parking site for people living in their vehicles will open next month, and San Jose officials have chosen who will manage it. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to award WeHope, a nonprofit homeless services provider, a $2.8 million contract to oversee the city’s second safe parking site on 1300 Berryessa Road. The...
Here’s who’s running for San Jose City Council District 3
The deadline has passed for candidates to enter the race to replace disgraced former District 3 San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres – and several notable names are on the ballot. Seven people — including past candidates, City Hall employees and well-known community organizers — have qualified to run for the open San Jose City Council...
San Jose has a new vice mayor
Two-term San Jose Councilmember Pam Foley is getting a new title: vice mayor. Foley, who represents District 9, will take over the ceremonial role from District 1 Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, who Mayor Matt Mahan in 2023 appointed in an attempt to bridge political divides between labor and business interests. Foley’s new role will start Jan....
San Jose candidate catches flak for recent move into district
One prominent community leader’s bid for the open District 3 San Jose City Council seat is raising eyebrows — and questions about her commitment to the neighborhood. Gabby Chavez-Lopez, executive director of Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, moved back into a family home in the historic downtown Hensley neighborhood on Nov. 16, just 11 days...
San Jose D3 candidates raise funds for special election
Candidates in the upcoming special election to represent San Jose’s downtown core are sharing early fundraising numbers as the deadline to apply for the race comes to a close. Matthew Quevedo, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Matt Mahan, said his campaign raised more than $121,000 by year’s end — the most cash raised by a...
2024 in review: San Jose City Council’s top decisions
The San Jose City Council had a busy 2024, topped off with a general election that brings new faces to the dais come next year. It could shift votes toward more pro-business policies, but many of this year’s decisions already leaned in that direction. Councilmembers created policies aimed at shaping the city’s future in housing...
San Jose cuts fees for multifamily housing developers
More multifamily home construction could be in San Jose’s future, with the approval of a new developer incentive program. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted 9-1 to squash financial penalties for developers who build less than the required 15% affordable housing benchmark, provided the projects are multifamily homes. Councilmember Peter Ortiz was the sole no...
New luxury apartments could boost downtown San Jose
Business and city leaders are touting the recent opening of a 23-story apartment building as a major win in the effort to bring more people into downtown San Jose. Representatives of Boston-based developer Morro, San Jose Downtown Association leaders and Mayor Matt Mahan earlier this month celebrated the opening of The Fay at 10 E....
San Jose leaders approve scaled-down El Paseo redevelopment
San Jose housing advocates are expressing concern over a recently-approved development that dropped its pledge toward more than 100 affordable homes, including a former vice mayor. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a modified plan to redevelop the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center with a 772-home apartment complex. Developer Sand Hill...