Browsing Category : Community

Silicon Valley Organization Fractured Months Before Election


The Silicon Valley Organization (SVO), formerly the Chamber of Commerce, and the SVO PAC – the political action committee that supports pro-business candidates- are at odds according to an article published by The Mercury News.  The crux of their infighting is whether or not the PAC is its own organization, independent of the SVO.  Months of feuding have resulted in…

Alum Rock Trustee Khanh Tran Served With Restraining Order


Today, Alum Rock Trustee Khanh Tran was served a restraining order requiring him to stay at least 100 feet away from Alum Rock Superintendent Dr. Hilaria Bauer.  During a recent Board meeting, Tran made personal threats to both Superintendent Bauer and fellow Trustee Karen Martinez. Both Bauer and Martinez filed police reports after the incident. Additionally, Bauer filed for and…

Policy Watch: Week of 8/20


County of Santa Clara Approving Redevelopment Successor Agency’s sale of South Hall property to City of San Jose The South Hall Site is the most significant remaining Successor Agency property slated for disposition, This site is located on the block bounded by South Market Street, Balbach Street, Viola Avenue, and South Almaden Road. It is the current site of the…

Policy Watch: Week of 8/14


County of Santa Clara  Proposed feasibility study to provide childcare services at major County campuses for County employees No summary or attachments provided online. Where:  Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors When:  8/14/2018, 9:30 AM, Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, County Government Center, 70 West Hedding Street, 1st floor, San Jose Link to item: No link for this item Link to…

Palo Alto Heads to First Election with Seven Member Council


In 2014, Palo Alto voters approved Measure D, which reduced the number of Council seats from nine to seven, and this November will be the first time residents elect candidates under the new system.  The two seats being eliminated are currently held by Councilmembers Karen Holman and Gregory Scharff, both of whom are termed out of office at the end of the…

Four Seats Up for Election on Gilroy City Council


Gilroy City Council will have four seats up for reelection, and with no term limits in place, Mayor Pro Tempore Daniel Harney and Councilmembers Dion Bracco, Peter Leroe-Muñoz, and Marie Blankley – who was appointed to the position earlier this year – are all running to keep their seats. The only confirmed opponent is Tom Fischer, a well-known community leader and…

Policy Watch: Week of 8/6


City of San Jose Khamis memo to extend standard hours for construction work Councilmember Khamis recommends that council direct the City Attorney to draft ordinance revisions to add standard hours of construction on Saturdays from 9am-6pm, present some options for revising the weekday hours of construction by raising the end time from 7pm to 9pm and implementing a standard “second…

San Jose Unified School District Board Races are Taking Shape 


The San Jose Unified School Board is going to see changes come the November election.  Having made it to the runoff for Santa Clara County Supervisor District 4, Board President Susan Ellenberg will not run for reelection to the School Board.  This vacancy has led to a faceoff between Helen Chapman and Peter Allen for Trustee Area 2. Chapman is…

Policy Watch: Week of 7/30


City of San Jose Placing a $950M GO bond on Nov.6 ballot Council will review the results of a community survey and may place a general obligation bond measure on the Nov. 6 ballot that would levy16¢ per $1,000 of assessed value to raise $950M, averaging $51M annually. The revenue would be used to: Upgrade 911 communications/ police/ fire facilities…

Santa Clara’s New Election Map: The Winners and Losers


Santa Clara’s newly imposed election map has created one predominately minority voter district, pitting candidates of color against one another in an effort to give them a better shot at a Council seat.  The remaining five districts are majority white. Of the candidates who applied for an appointment to the Council seat recently vacated by Dominic Caserta, only two are…