Author Archives : The Left Hook

UTLA Reaches Bargaining Deal with District


After six days on strike along with parents, students and community members across Los Angeles, UTLA has reached a historic agreement that addresses major issues impacting schools, students and professions. Below are links to the full text and summary of that agreement, which the UTLA Board of Directors has endorsed for a YES vote. Click here to read the 2-page…

Policy Watch: Week of 1/21


City of San Jose Amending contract w/ Transdev (formerly Veolia) for 6.9% wage increase for airport shuttle bus staff (incl. Teamsters Local 665); new RFP for these services will be issued in FY18-19 On the Consent Calendar, Council will approve an amendment to the Agreement with Transdev Services, Inc. for airport shuttle bus service to increase compensation by 6.91% beginning…

UTLA Strike Bargaining Update


Yesterday, the UTLA bargaining team held a press conference during which they announced their decision to offer to return to the bargaining table.  “The district has accepted our offer to bargain tomorrow, with Mayor Eric Garcetti mediating in an effort to help us work toward an agreement,” said Arlene Inouye, bargaining team chair. “State Superintendent Tony Thurmond has also been in touch with…

Policy Watch: Week of 1/14


County of Santa Clara Consider Minority Business Consortium proposal for $150K pilot to increase minority business participation in County contracting On December 18, 2018 (Item No. 34), the Board unanimously approved a Report from Administration relating to a Pilot Project Expanding the County’s Underrepresented Business Communities Outreach Efforts. Subsequent to the Board’s approval of this item, staff has prepared a…

Policy Watch: Week of 1/7


County of Santa Clara Discuss City of Sunnyvale consideration of district elections, and approve recommendations, if any No details were listed on agenda. Where: Santa Clara County Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Elections When: January 8, 2019, 6:00PM Link to item: N/A Link to agenda: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=10839     City of San Jose Mayor Liccardo appointing Vice Mayor Council will approve a…

Policy Watch: Week of 12/17


Santa Clara County Public hearing to consider approval of purchase of Saint Louise Regional Hospital On November 6, 2018, the Board approved the acquisition of Saint Louise Regional Hospital, currently owned by Verity Health System of California—a nonprofit public benefit corporation that has declared bankruptcy. Adhering to standard due diligence and public notification procedures for a purchase of this size…

Council Takes a Step Towards Curbing Section 8 Discrimination, Charging Commercial Developers for Affordable Housing Impact


The San Jose City Council voted to draft a source of income discrimination ordinance that would make it unlawful for landlords to discrimination against tenants solely because they use vouchers to help pay the rent.  The ordinance, if passed, would not force landlords to accept tenants using vouchers, such as those issued by US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s…

Policy Watch: Week of 12/10


City of San Jose Approving amendments & Implementation Framework for 4 Urban Villages  City Council may approve amendments, including an Implementation Framework, for the following Urban Village Plans: Roosevelt Park Little Portugal Five Wounds 24th & William. The Implementation Framework would apply to new development projects that are subject to a rezoning application which converts employment lands to allow residential…

San Jose City Council Approves Controversial Land Sale for Google Mega Campus


After a 10-hour City Council meeting filled with protests and impassioned testimony, the San Jose Council voted to sell public land in downtown to Google for its mega-campus. Hundreds of San Jose residents raised concerns that the deal, which had been marred by a lack of transparency and community engagement, could displace families, worsen the housing crisis and fail to…

San Jose Moves One Step Closer to Giving Google a Sweetheart Deal On Sale of Valuable Public Lands


Today, the City Council will vote on selling some of San Jose’s most valuable public land in the Downtown-Diridon area to Google for their proposed mega campus.  The City and Mayor claim the land is being sold at fair market value, yet that is a misrepresentation. Google is, in fact, getting nothing short of a sweetheart deal. The fair market…