Browsing Category : Government

Policy Watch: Week of 9/10


County of Santa Clara Deferred to 9/25: Certifying Final EIR for 55-acre Civic Center Master Plan This issue was on the August 28th agenda, but was held over until this meeting, nd has been deferred again to Sept. 25. The Board may certify the Final Project EIR for the Civic Center Master Plan.    The Master Plan includes 55 acres of…

Evergreen School District Trustees Face Opponents in November Election


There are three seats up for election in the Evergreen School District, and interested candidates have already thrown their hats into the ring. Trustee Jim Zito – a conservative vote on the Board- and his ally Trustee Balaji Venkatraman are both campaigning to be reelected, while Board President Sylvia Alvarez has decided to step down when her term expires later…

Policy Watch: Week of 8/27


County of Santa Clara  Supervisor Chavez referral to provide pre-development support to School Districts or Public Hospital District to explore affordable housing developments This referral would authorize the Office of Supportive Housing to enter into agreements of up to six months with Santa Clara County school districts and or a public hospital district to explore specific affordable housing developments on…

Number of Candidates Running for Cupertino City Council Grows


Cupertino has a growing number of folks interested in having their names on the ballot for City Council this November. Mayor Darcy Paul and Councilmember Savita Vaidhyanathan are running for reelection, while Councilmember Barry Chang is termed out at the end of the year. Paul, who in the past has been critical of development, particularly the massive Valco project, but…

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 8/14


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…