The mayor of the Bay Area’s largest city may have scored a limited window to push through his agenda with the temporary appointment of District 3 Councilmember Carl Salas. Salas — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s pick during last month’s appointment process — potentially secures the business-backed mayor a six-vote majority amid the City Council’s...
Silicon Valley officials limit public expression
Audiences at Silicon Valley government meetings are running into an increasingly common rule: no applause. Local governing bodies like the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and San Jose City Council are telling people to avoid cheering or booing other speakers during public comments before major votes. The rule comes up when large crowds show up to...
San Jose council appoints temporary downtown representative
San Jose officials have chosen a temporary downtown representative while voters wait to pick a permanent replacement in a special election later this year. The City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Carl Eugene Salas, founder of engineering and technical services firm Salas O’Brien, to temporarily fill the empty District 3 seat starting Feb. 4. Salas...
San Jose’s projected budget deficit skyrockets
As San Jose crunches the numbers in its upcoming budget, a larger than expected shortfall looms on the horizon, along with another round of department cuts and potential layoffs. San Jose initially anticipated a budget shortfall of $39 million for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year, but it has since ballooned to $60 million, according to...
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...