Author Archives : The Left Hook

Policy Watch: Week of 12/16


|| Santa Clara County || Cortese referral to adopt “support with amendments” position on SB50 “Equitable communities incentives” (ECI) are the bonuses that takes the form of relief from certain local develop controls for qualifying projects. Under SB 50, residential developments must meet a variety of conditions in order to receive ECI benefits. Developments must be proposed on a site zoned…

Mayor Liccardo and Council Allies Give Nine Developers $67 Million Subsidy to Build Luxury High Rises


Tuesday night San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and a bare City Council majority voted to give nine developers a $67 million subsidy for the sole purpose of increasing the developers’ profits.  An independent study commissioned by the City showed that downtown high rises are profitable, but not at the level of return desired by the nine developers.  In accordance with…

Council Member Lan Diep Quietly Leaves the Republican Party


Lan Diep, the last remaining Republican on the San Jose City Council, quietly left the Republican Party several months ago and re-registered as Decline to State.  Records at the Santa Clara County Registrar of voters indicate that he made the change on March 11 of this year.  Diep is running for reelection in a hotly contested race against two Democrats,…

Policy Watch: Week of 8/12


Santa Clara County Chavez referral for report on the development of Measure A Extremely Low-Income (ELI) housing at 5 County-owned sites Following passage of the 2016 Measure A Housing Bond Measure, Santa Clara County set a goal of creating 4,800 new homes for the homeless within 10 years. To date, the Board of Supervisors has already approved funding for over…

Council Unanimously Votes to Expand Prevailing Wage to Subsidized Private Developments


Following multiple scandals uncovering wage theft and human trafficking at some on the city’s largest development projects, San Jose City Council voted to approve a groundbreaking ordinance requiring prevailing wages as a condition of any tax and fee breaks, development incentives, or other public subsidies provided to for-profit private developments. Other elements relating to expanding the workforce pipeline, including providing…

Josh Becker, Candidate for State Senate, Receives Governor Newsom’s Endorsement


Today, Josh Becker, candidate for State Senate District 13, announced that he has received the endorsement of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The announcement, which came via email, included a quote from Newsom which in part read, “Josh is a long-time, dedicated community leader and I look forward to continuing to work with him on the key issues of education, housing,…

Policy Watch: Week of 6/24


City of San Jose 6/21 CARRASCO, LICCARDO, ARENAS, FOLEY MEMO – Direction on moderate-income housing strategy, including approving a forgivable loan program for ADU construction 6/21 Memo – The Mayor and 3 councilmembers recommend: Directing staff to continue to pursue process improvements that can streamline the ADU permitting process Adopt Councilmember Foley’s memorandum to the extent that a loan program…

Labor Council Names New Political Director


Communications Director Dianna Zamora-Marroquin is taking the reins of the South Bay’s largest, most sophisticated political program as she transitions into the role of Political Director for the South Bay Labor Council.  Zamora-Marroquin, who has been with the Labor Council for four years, brings extensive campaign experience, having worked on numerous races ranging from ballot measures to local and congressional…

Policy Watch: Week of 6/3


Santa Clara County Amending county policy regarding cooperation with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) On October 18, 2011, the Board of Supervisors adopted Board Policy 3.54 regarding cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Civil Immigration Detainer Requests. The Policy states that the County will honor civil detainer requests from ICE only if, among other requirements, “there is…