Browsing Category : Community

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


San Jose Renters’ rights and affordable housing Two proposals are being put forward addressing the crisis facing renters in San Jose. From Council member Peralez:  A prohibition against discrimination based on source of income (Section 8 and other housing subsidies).  Recommendations on improvements and a comprehensive analysis of the data and effectiveness of the City of San Jose’s Rental Rights…

Economic Equity and Financial Stability Initiative


Fueled by a booming Silicon Valley, California’s economy is making tremendous strides since the Great Recession hit in late 2007. However, throughout the state, Californians have witnessed an era of vast income disparity.  Too many individuals and working families have not experienced the wage growth needed to keep up with the cost of living. Tweet

Santa Clara Headed for Minimum Wage Hike


 The City of Santa Clara could have a new ordinance raising its minimum wage by midsummer.  Council member Dominic Caserta led the effort to raise the wage to $11 an hour starting next January, with a plan to work with Sunnyvale and Mountain View on a regional $15 dollar an hour wage by 2018. Tweet

Kamei Appointed to Fill Vacant County Board of Education Seat


Rosemary Kamei is the newest member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education.  Last night’s vote wrapped up a 5-hour examination of the five candidates who applied for appointment to the vacant seat created when Leon Beauchman left to focus on other responsibilities.  It ultimately came down to two very well qualified candidates: Kamei and former City Council member…

Wage Theft Issue Gains Momentum


It’s a story not too many other media outlets seem to be paying attention to, (except us and NBC Bay Area )yet it’s critical to thousands of Silicon Valley workers.  The San Jose City Council voted to move forward with a proposal to strengthen wage theft laws in San Jose.  The tally that put the close vote over the line…

After 6-Week Vacancy, Mercury News Hires City Hall Beat Reporter


The new San Jose City Hall beat reporter is home grown SJSU grad Ramona Giwargis, whose last gig was at the Merced Sun Star newspaper for three years.   Giwargis describes herself as a “Broadcast media professional” on LinkedIn.  That was most likely from the days when she worked in TV in Salinas, Eureka or as an intern at NBC…

Lots of Job Openings at City of San Jose


San Jose City leaders will face a sobering statistic next week with the Employee Hiring Audit that shows some 600 vacancies among City jobs.  The Audit makes recommendations on what to do about it, now that Measure B seems to have effectively emptied out hundreds of posts.  Tweet

Mtn. View Goes Bold With BRT


Too often, policy decisions are made on narrowly focused considerations, such as politics or special interests, and do not give proper weight to the true benefits of a proposal. Last Tuesday, the Mountain View City Council bucked that trend by voting in favor of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Tweet

Morgan Hill Files Suit Against County Office Of Education, 6th District to Sue the County


The Morgan Hill Unified school district filed suit against the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) in the county’s superior court.  The beleaguered County Office of Education, who carries a mission of serving and supporting local school districts, has now been sued by six of the county’s local school districts over its unprecedented approval of 43 charter schools.  Tweet