Author Archives : The Left Hook

Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community


Santa Clara County Expanding CalWORKs subsidized employment  In 2013, Santa Clara County implemented an Expanded Subsidized Employment Program with the goal of increasing job opportunities for CalWORKS Employment Services participants.  The program offers local employers financial compensation for providing participants with a combination of employment, training, skill development and employment. The proposed recommendation would expand the program at no cost…

Setting The Record Straight


At The Left Hook we feel it’s our responsibility to make sure you, the reading and voting public, are properly informed about issues so we want to set the record straight on a recent post on San Jose Inside.  Jennifer Wadsworth reported the San Jose Ethics Commission “ordered” mayoral Candidate Dave Cortese to return close to $10,000 in campaign contributions…

Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community


SAN JOSE  Reed, Liccardo, Khamis plan to delay Measure B  As outlined in the memo from Reed/Liccardo/Khamis & recommended by Rules on Sept. 10, direct the City Manager to begin negotiations with the Police Officers Association and other applicable bargaining units to: (a)    Enter into a stipulation to defer the implementation of the portion of Measure B that calls for…

Former Police Chiefs Sound the Alarm On SJ Public Safety


ICYMI: Four former San Jose Police chiefs are speaking out about the need for strong public safety leadership in San Jose, condemning the current city administration for its lack of responsibility in dealing with the San Jose Police Department. Bill Lansdowne, Chris Moore, Rob Davis and Tom Wheatley are calling for the city to do more to support its police…

Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community


Santa Clara County Living Wage Forum results The Human Relations Commission will take action on a recommendation to present the final report on the “Price We Pay to Live in Santa Clara County” Public Forum to the Santa Clara County administration and the Finance and Government Operations Committee.  Hundreds of people turned out to testify on the state of income inequality…

Tech’s Diversity Problem: More Than Meets the Eye


While tech workers reap high salaries and lavish benefits, the people who cook and serve their food, maintain their offices and provide workplace security often live in poverty – and for every tech job created, four service workers are needed to support it, creating a large and growing underclass of “invisible workers” in Silicon Valley.  The issue — and startling statistics…

Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community


Santa Clara County Living Wage Ordinance Thursday, August 29,Supervisors will accept a report from the Office of the County Executive relating to the feasibility and recommended framework for a County living-wage Ordinance and a Worker-Friendly Employer Certification Program, including progress on the compilation of an inventory of current County contracts greater than $50,000 per vendor.   Tweet

From the ‘What was he thinking?’ Department…


Political candidates can be so entertaining.  The latest example is Milpitas City Council Candidate Garry Barbadillo who prominently posted a photo on his website of himself posing with suspended State Senator Leland Yee.  Yee, you may remember, was arrested last spring on charges of political corruption and gun trafficking (automatic firearms and shoulder launched missiles), allegedly associated with an extremist…

Madison Nguyen Job Hunting in All the Wrong Places


Now that Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen is soon to be out of a job in San Jose City government, she’s looking around for her next gig.  After coming in  third in the race for San Jose Mayor, rumor has it that she’s eyeing the District 3 Board of Supervisors seat, which is currently held by Dave Cortese.  Never mind that…