The San Jose City Council has appointed Susana Alcala Wood to the post of city attorney. The unanimous vote Tuesday marks the final procedural hurdle to confirm Wood as San Jose’s top legal counsel. Wood officially starts Nov. 9, with an annual salary set at $390,000. Councilmembers approved Wood’s hiring without discussion. San José Spotlight...
San Jose scratches head over official’s ethical dilemma
The San Jose Police Department pays $55,000 a month to rent an evidence warehouse on Monterey Road. The owner: a San Jose official who votes on police spending. District 6 Councilmember Michael Mulcahy is the managing partner of his private, family-owned real estate firm SDS NexGen Partners, which has leased the warehouse to the city...
Meet downtown San Jose’s new City Council team
San Jose’s newest councilman has hired an office staff of fresh faces to restore trust with District 3 residents and bring downtown out of a dark chapter after his predecessor resigned in disgrace. Councilmember Anthony Tordillos has stacked his office with people across a broad range of experience to serve residents seeking help with potholes,...
San Jose Chick-fil-A moves forward after planning mistake
A contentious Chick-fil-A project is moving forward after hitting a road bump. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved removing a condition Tuesday that would have required a recently approved Chick-fil-A to construct the development without demolishing existing commercial buildings at 1301 W. San Carlos Street. Property owner Zotta Family Trust and applicant 4G Development...
UPDATE: San Jose Little Italy street renaming stirs up controversy
San Jose’s Little Italy is getting a street renamed in its honor, but few in the neighborhood are happy — except the San Jose Sharks. The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to rename a part of North Almaden Boulevard “Little Italy Way,” which is not the street the historic Italian American neighborhood originally wanted....
San Jose leaders approve higher limit for gifts
San Jose elected leaders are increasing how much they can accept in gifts from business and labor interests — arguing it will save taxpayers money. The City Council on Tuesday voted 8-2, with Councilmember Peter Ortiz and Mayor Matt Mahan voting no, to raise its gift limits from $50 to $200, which equates to a higher number of...
UPDATE: San Jose approves Sharks deal amid criticism
San Jose leaders have approved a deal to keep the Sharks in town through 2051 — including a $351 million subsidy for arena upgrades. Critics question how the city plans to finance the proposal during a structural budget deficit. The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously in support of a deal that would keep the...
San Jose cuts fees for its two card rooms
San Jose leaders are reducing card room fees and slashing police staff that monitor gambling, marking a turn in the city’s long — at times tense — relationship with casinos. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to lower regulatory fees for the city’s two licensed card rooms — Bay 101 and Casino M8trix —...
San Jose’s newest councilmember sworn into office
San Jose’s newest elected representative took office at the City Council meeting Tuesday — marking a new chapter for District 3 whose prior leader is behind bars. Councilmember Anthony Tordillos took the oath of office — and his seat on the dais alongside his 10 colleagues — following applause from an audience celebrating the former...
San Jose lags on state homeless audit recommendations
It’s been over a year since the state ordered San Jose to improve the way it collects and displays data on its homeless services, but the city still has work to do. A 2024 state audit released last April gave the city seven recommendations to improve how it tracks expenses and measures effectiveness for its...