Jun 24, 2015
In a move designed to address the problem of abysmally low voter turnout, yesterday the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to pay postage for vote-by-mail ballots. The change will go into effect in the November 2015 elections, at a cost of $31,000. For the two elections scheduled in 2016 the estimated cost to the County is $198,000, about…
Jun 24, 2015
Here are some big takeaways from Manh Nguyen’s victory over Tim Orozco in yesterday’s San Jose City Council election: Tweet
Jun 11, 2015
Santa Clara is the heart of Silicon Valley, where some of the world’s biggest companies began in cramped garages. These cramped garages used to symbolize resourcefulness that led to some of the greatest innovations in the world. But now, these same garages where billion-dollar companies were founded represent something darker: they are home to individuals and families that can’t afford…
Jun 1, 2015
On May 26, 2015, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) formally announced his candidacy for the presidency. It wasn’t a surprise: Bernie had been getting out there a lot lately with some of his whacked-out ideas, such as—prepare to faint—free college education for all, a progressive tax system and breaking up dangerously large Wall Street banks (who are even larger today than…
May 28, 2015
Former San Jose City Council member Madison Nguyen is set to launch her campaign for State Assembly to succeed Nora Campos in 2016. She’s sending invitations for her May 29 kickoff to local labor leaders, hoping to gather their support along with some of the much less labor-friendly allies she has, including former Mayor Chuck Reed. Tweet
May 22, 2015
The South Bay Labor Council’s Communications Director is taking off for a new adventure starting next month. Stacey Hendler Ross came to the Labor Council three and a half years ago to help fight the good fight, and there were big wins, including the San Jose Minimum Wage hike, the Santa Clara County Living Wage ordinance and the election of…
May 21, 2015
Silicon Valley is booming, and it is service workers like those at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara that are making this boom possible. While the region’s top tech firms made a record $103 billion in profits in 2013, one in three Silicon Valley households does not make enough money to meet their most basic needs. It is literally a “Tale…
May 11, 2015
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…
May 5, 2015
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…
Apr 29, 2015
Assemblymember Nora Campos has some heavy hitting new help in her District office. Tweet