Feb 13, 2017
Santa Clara County Report on ordinance to prevent discrimination against renters with Section 8 vouchers At the February 7, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, the County Counsel presented a recommended ordinance to ensure that all persons with the ability to pay for housing, whether through their own funds or using a subsidy such as Section 8, are considered for housing.…
Feb 8, 2017
I’m calling 2017 the Year of Compassion. The first ingredient of compassion is acceptance. We do not tolerate people here in Santa Clara County, we accept and embrace them. Whether they are members of our LGBTQ community seeking civil rights, or refugee children seeking asylum, women seeking equity, immigrants seeking a path to citizenship, the indigent seeking health care, the…
Feb 7, 2017
Tonight, the Milpitas City Council voted 4 to 0 to raise its minimum wage to $15 by 2019, three years sooner than mandated by the State of California. Workers in the City will see their first raise in July of this year. Voting in support of $15 by 2019 were Council Members Marsha Grilli, Anthony Phan, Bob Nuñez and Mayor Rich Tran.…
Feb 6, 2017
Santa Clara County Direction on contracting and business license policies to combat wage theft and pay inequity The committee will receive a report on four recommendations to improve pay equity: Improving pay equity reporting practices for directly-hired employees of the County. Terminating current contractors and disqualifying bidders for violating equal opportunity and nondiscrimination laws. Regulating businesses in unincorporated areas of…
Feb 1, 2017
The rumor around City Hall is that Republican Council Member Johnny Khamis is considering running for Mayor against Sam Liccardo in 2018. Is it no surprise that Council veteran Khamis was hoping to be appointed Vice Mayor and was handed a blow when Liccardo bowed to the political reality of a more progressive City Council by appointing Magdalena Carrasco instead. …
Feb 1, 2017
Yesterday, the San Jose City Council voted on a critical change to the banking component of the City’s rent control law. The original ordinance, passed by the previous Council, allowed landlords who did not raise the rent in a given year to save or “bank” the unused rent increase and apply it at a future date. With a vote of…