Jun 13, 2014
The Saga of San Jose
How San Jose’s suffered under Chuck Reed A once fine city now gone to seed No A’s, no cops, no libraries open From the Merc, not a word of dissent is spoken AND SAM DOESN’T GIVE A DAMN Tweet
The Left Hook
Politics and Policy With a Punch
Monthly Archives : June 2014
Jun 13, 2014
Jun 12, 2014
The Jekyll and Hyde Company You Surely Know
You may have heard about a campaign by 900 immigrant workers at a place called Taylor Farms in Tracy who are organizing with the Teamsters union. Maybe you thought that it’s interesting, but it’s over the hill in Tracy. Or maybe you’ve never heard of Taylor Farms, so you think it doesn’t affect you. Time to think again. Have you…
Jun 10, 2014
A View From the Neighborhood: One City, Together
The current City administration likes to talk about running the City at the speed of business. Who knew it was the molasses business? On December 10, 2010, the Certificate of Occupancy was issued for the Bascom Community Center / Library Café at 1000 South Bascom Ave. On June 7, 2014 the third and final part of that facility was finally…
Jun 9, 2014
Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community
City of San Jose Councilmember Kalra to introduce Wage Theft Task Force Councilmember Kalra is proposing to establish a Wage Theft Task Force to develop a wage theft ordinance for San Jose. The proposed Task Force will bring together stakeholders from the business community, labor, workers, community-based organizations and the City to develop an ordinance to track and enforce wage…
Jun 9, 2014
November is Critical for San Jose
The new Mayor of San Jose will face a number of different obstacles upon taking the oath of office. He will have a demoralized work force, a rising crime problem, a polarized political atmosphere and a new City Council. It is the new City Council that will determine whether San Jose moves forward or stays mired in its current malaise. …
Jun 5, 2014
Fast Food Chains Stealing From Low-Wage Workers
No matter how small the haul is, a thief is a thief, right? If a poverty-wage fast-food worker sneaks out a couple of burgers to take home to the kids, the bosses yell: “Thief!” But what do you call it when the bosses steal from those same workers? How about outrageous, disgusting – or simply unbelievable? Well, believe it or…
SJ Voters Choose Change
In a decisive call for a change in City leadership, 33% of voters cast their ballots for County Supervisor Dave Cortese in a crowded field of candidates to take over as Mayor of the 10th largest city in America. Council member Sam Liccardo will challenge Cortese in a November runoff, coming in 9 points behind Cortese with 25% of the…
Jun 4, 2014
Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community
San Jose Wastewater Technical Training Facility faces training challenges to new and promoted staff; San Jose Issue summary: The San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility has experienced a high turnover rate in operations and maintenance staffing during the last several years. A December facility staffing status memo reported a 25% vacancy rate in the combined five critical classifications: Wastewater Operators,…
Jun 2, 2014
Ban The Box
A criminal conviction was never meant to be a life sentence to poverty. The time has come to “ban the box,” thus prohibiting the practice of discriminating against those with criminal convictions when applying for employment. Job applicants should be evaluated based on their credentials, not old or unrelated convictions. Those effected should be provided the opportunity to explain their…