San Jose officials have greenlit the long-planned Westgate West Costco warehouse in what some residents describe as a once-thriving shopping center. While the San Jose City Council unanimously approved plans — with recusals from Councilmembers Pam Foley due to a financial conflict and Arjun Batra, who owns Costco shares — the decision was met with...
Silicon Valley campaigning turns nasty in final days of election
With just weeks before the November election, campaigns have become ugly with local races in the bull’s-eye of unfounded accusations. District 8 San Jose Councilmember Domingo Candelas is being compared to former President Donald Trump. Mailers are defining San Jose City Council District 2 candidates Joe Lopez and Pamela Campos as political radicals, and in...
UPDATE: San Jose leaders approve embattled colleague’s excused absence
The San Jose City Council is formally excusing embattled Councilmember Omar Torres’ absence from an earlier meeting as he battles child sex abuse allegations — allowing Torres to dodge the public eye while holding onto his seat. Councilmember Bien Doan was the lone objection to the council’s Tuesday 8-1-2 vote, with Torres and Councilmember Dev...
San Jose leaders prime old golf course for development
A shuttered golf course in East San Jose is ready for a future mixed-use housing project following city leaders’ recent adoption of development guidelines for the area. Months of community engagement with District 5 and District 8 residents led the San Jose City Council to unanimously agree earlier this month that any proposed housing development at the former Pleasant...
How embattled San Jose councilman could lose his job
San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres has been a public no-show despite refusing to step down over a child sex crime investigation. Now critics are calling on the City Council to remove him. Mayor Matt Mahan has argued with at least one person online over whether the council has that kind of power. He and other...
San Jose officials call on Omar Torres to resign amid child sex allegations
San Jose councilmembers are calling for the resignation of Omar Torres almost a week after a police affidavit revealed he’s under investigation for alleged sex crimes involving minors. “We are in the midst of an active and ongoing investigation, and as our police department uncovers the truth, that truth will be shared with the community....
San Jose candidate temporarily decertified as a police officer
A San Jose police sergeant and City Council candidate has had his officer certification temporarily suspended by the state police board amid allegations of mortgage fraud. The state’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training temporarily decertified Tam Troung on Sept. 18 due to his pending criminal proceedings. The state board decertifies officers when they...
Police: San Jose official investigated for alleged ‘oral copulation of a minor’
New court records released Thursday show San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres is being investigated for “oral copulation of a minor” — a stunning development in a criminal investigation that’s rocked Silicon Valley. In the filings, police say they interviewed an individual named Terry Beeks, who is described as a 21-year-old Chicago resident allegedly extorting Torres....
Crime data in San Jose just got smarter
Residents will soon be able to view San Jose Police Department crime statistics broken down by council districts as part of an effort to expand transparency requirements citywide. Rules Committee members voted unanimously to approve a proposal by Councilmember Arjun Batra to publish public safety data by districts. Batra said his goal is to change the...
San Jose official lawyers up, blasts child sex abuse allegations
Less than 24 hours after San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres was detained and investigated for sexual misconduct involving a minor, he claims he’s being extorted and has lawyered up — and his attorney is a familiar face in political circles. Torres has enlisted Nelson McElmurry, a San Jose lawyer who earlier this year ran for...