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San José Spotlight
San Jose officials support retail theft crackdown reform
San Jose’s top political leader supports harsher penalties for drug dealers as voters consider new measures to hold thieves and drug suppliers accountable. California voters passed the criminal justice proposition in 2014 and established a $950 threshold for determining whether a theft would be considered a misdemeanor or a felony. But opponents of Proposition 47 gathered enough signatures to give Californians an opportunity to vote for harsher punishments on theft and drug crimes under a new reform initiative dubbed the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act. If passed, people with a history of theft convictions could be charged with a felony for stolen amounts under $950 including smash and grabs. Harsher punishments also would be reinstated for drug dealers.
UPDATE: Silicon Valley water agency delays decision to fine homeless people
The penalization of homeless people living along regional waterways appears to be less imminent after leaders of Santa Clara County’s largest water agency delayed a policy on penalties and fines for later this year. The Valley Water board of directors on Tuesday postponed voting on a policy that poses $500 fines or up to 30... The post UPDATE: Silicon Valley water agency delays decision to fine homeless people appeared first on San José Spotlight.
Bramson: How we’ve discarded the right to belong
Vagrancy laws have been around since the founding of our country. A set of unclear and often confounding principles, these punitive measures have taken a variety of forms over the years to essentially criminalize the basic condition of being poor and having nowhere to go. The ordinances have been weaponized to target laborers and activists... The post Bramson: How we’ve discarded the right to belong appeared first on San José Spotlight.
San Jose spruces up downtown signs ahead of Super Bowl
San Jose is revisiting a plan to make the heart of the city more walkable and easy to navigate ahead of two major sports events. The city is working to replace outdated signs in the downtown area to highlight local landmarks, businesses and public transportation options before Super Bowl 60 and the FIFA World Cup come... The post San Jose spruces up downtown signs ahead of Super Bowl appeared first on San José Spotlight.
Advocates say San Jose is misusing opioid settlement funds
San Jose has received more than $1 million from opioid makers and distributors after major companies settled a lawsuit with cities and states wanting to hold them accountable for the opioid epidemic — but advocates are not happy with the proposed use of the funds. Criminal justice and mental...
Zisser: Can we trust the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office to use ‘less lethal’ but still deadly Tasers?
Conducted energy devices — Tasers — conduct electricity into a human being’s body to disrupt the neuromuscular system of that person. They can cause death, and of course there is risk of abuse by officers. Various local community and civil rights groups are advocating, as recently as this week, against the adoption of these weapons... The post Zisser: Can we trust the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office to use ‘less lethal’ but still deadly Tasers? appeared first on San José Spotlight.
Santa Clara project pairs hundreds of homes with golf course
The owners of the Pruneridge Golf Club are teeing up hundreds of homes to be built alongside the nine-hole course — but first they must reconfigure it. Demmon Family Partnership filed plans with Santa Clara in mid-May to build two apartment buildings on part of the Pruneridge Golf Club, adding 324 apartments, of which at... The post Santa Clara project pairs hundreds of homes with golf course appeared first on San José Spotlight.
Mallon: The deceptive influence of anti-transit groups
As a transit advocate, I’ve seen the positive impact advocacy can have on our community. However, a growing trend threatens the future of transit: the influence of anti-transit organizations posing as pro-transit experts. Anyone who regularly reads Bay Area newspapers has likely seen articles written by Marc Joffe of the Cato Institute. Organizations such as... The post Mallon: The deceptive influence of anti-transit groups appeared first on San José Spotlight.
San Jose homeless motel transfer delay impacts residents
A San Jose motel riddled with mold and roaches that houses formerly homeless residents is in ownership limbo as a continued slew of problems plague the property no matter who operates it. SureStay, a motel-turned-housing site that provides rooms for older adults and disabled individuals, was supposed to change ownership from San Jose to the Santa... The post San Jose homeless motel transfer delay impacts residents appeared first on San José Spotlight.
Sunnyvale drone show replaces fireworks on Fourth of July
In the heart of Silicon Valley and the middle of a heat wave, one city hopes to use new technologies to emulate a classic Fourth of July tradition. Instead of fireworks, Sunnyvale is hosting a drone light show at Baylands Park at 6:30 p.m. City officials said the drone show will be safer and more... The post Sunnyvale drone show replaces fireworks on Fourth of July appeared first on San José Spotlight.
Want to fly from San Jose to D.C.? Here’s how to make it happen
The South Bay’s airport wants to offer a direct flight to Washington, D.C. — but it needs the public’s help. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) posted a pitch on X, formerly Twitter, asking travelers to help it compete for a nonstop route to Washington, D.C. Spirit Airlines will be the carrier if the airport can acquire the route.
Nonprofit settles with Cupertino over lease dispute
An autism nonprofit will pay Cupertino thousands of dollars after settling a monthslong dispute over the closure of a group home for children. The Cupertino City Council unanimously approved a settlement between the city and nonprofit Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) last month after PACE stopped operating the group home at 7576 Kirwin Lane,... The post Nonprofit settles with Cupertino over lease dispute appeared first on San José Spotlight.
State bill affecting Santa Clara County landlines pulled after backlash
A state bill that would have let AT&T off the hook for emergency landline service — circumventing state regulators and affecting remote pockets of Santa Clara County — is on hold after public backlash. Assembly Bill 2797 has been pulled from the California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee meeting slated for Tuesday. It comes... The post State bill affecting Santa Clara County landlines pulled after backlash appeared first on San José Spotlight.
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