San Jose is abandoning its commitment to transparency by adopting controversial protocols to limit public access to city records while also cutting out the only independent party that reviewed appeals to denied requests. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously last week without discussion to advance a proposal from former Mayor Sam Liccardo to “reduce the fiscal…

San Jose officials are being challenged by a formerly homeless resident to stay in a shelter before voting to open more—and one is up for the offer. Sketch Oppie, who sits on the San Jose’s Housing and Community Development Commission, recently asked the City Council to experience what a homeless shelter is like before diverting funds for affordable…

Panicked nonprofits and housing advocates are spinning all sorts of nonsense in their efforts to hold onto their poorly-spent Measure E proceeds. Local Real Estate Agent Mark Burns cuts through the yak to provide a clear-eyed understanding of what Measure E was supposed to do, and how to ethically and intelligently spend those monies. An…

When Jade Sweeney surveys the area where she slept in south San Jose just last week, she not only feels sad—she feels violated. She said her belongings were taken and discarded by city workers following a sweep of her camp. She’s lived in San Jose for more than 50 years and became homeless last year.…

One of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s main goals is to finish his predecessor’s promise and complete 1,000 interim homes for the unhoused by the end of this year—but city staff said that’s impossible. Interim homes are quick-build temporary shelters designed to be a fast and cheap solution to getting homeless residents off the streets and on the path to permanent…

‘Just talk to all of these $100k+ earners moving out – they feel that they are overpaying their fair share’ Governor Gavin Newsom announced his opposition to the AB 259 by Assemblyman Alex Lee (D-Silicon Valley), the wealth tax bill earlier this week, cementing that the bill would ultimately not be passed this year even if passed…

A new poll floating around San Jose is trying to gauge how much support former Mayor Sam Liccardo would receive if he ran for Congress. The mysterious survey asks questions that pit Liccardo against Congressmember Zoe Lofgren, who currently represents parts of San Jose. About 10 questions tout the former mayor’s accomplishments, including his gun regulation law and leveling out…

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan created five committees to meet privately and advise him on the city’s most pressing problems, but some say the move lacks transparency and could flout the law. Mahan formed committees to help him tackle homelessness, crime, blight, permitting for development and downtown vibrancy. There are 123 total people on the committees, including community leaders, business executives,…

Dear Neighbor, Thank you to the over 2000 residents who joined us to celebrate a new era in our city focused on getting back to the basics! I couldn’t have imagined our inauguration without each and every one of you there to mark a renewed focus and increased accountability on our biggest issues: homelessness, blight and crime.…

Every year, Americans in snowy states wait with bated breath to see whether Punxsutawney Phil will spot his shadow. And every year, we take Phil’s weather forecast – six more weeks of winter, or an early spring? – as gospel, meteorology be damned. It’s about as strange (and cute) as holidays get. So how did Groundhog…