San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has positioned himself as a rising political figure, drawing attention beyond city limits with a mix of controversial proposals and bold policies. However, the future of his career depends heavily on the state of San Jose at the end of his term and whether his ambitious promises translate into tangible results. His leadership has been marked by efforts to address homelessness, improve public safety, and stimulate economic growth, yet these policies have sparked both

  Santa Clara County is grappling with a severe housing shortage as the number of homeless individuals continues to rise faster than the construction of new shelters and affordable homes. Recent data reveals that there are 10,711 homeless people in the county but only 3,454 beds across 38 temporary shelters and programs. This means that for every three unhoused individuals, only one bed is available, underscoring the urgent need for expanded housing solutions. The c

In a striking turnaround that reshaped the San Jose political landscape, Anthony Tordillos claimed victory in the District 3 special election runoff after initially placing second in the April 8 primary. As chair of the San Jose Planning Commission, Tordillos entered the race with relatively low name recognition compared to his opponent, Gabby Chavez-Lopez, who had built her profile through leadership in a community-focused organization. Despite this, Tordillos secured a commanding win in the ru

An endangered missing advisory has been issued for two young girls reported missing from San Jose early Thursday morning. The California Highway Patrol is seeking public assistance in locating the two minors, both considered at risk due to their age and unknown circumstances. The missing children are identified as 11-year-old Paulina Rodriguez-Morales and 13-year-old Yaneretzi Paredes-Estrada. They were last seen around 2 a.m. Thursday in San Jose and are believed to be traveling

United States Representative Sam Liccardo, a Democrat from San Jose, is raising serious concerns about whether recent federal job and funding cuts are weakening the ability of national agencies to protect marine life in the San Francisco Bay Area. His inquiry comes amid a troubling spike in whale deaths recorded along Northern California's coastal waters. According to regional scientific data, at least 24 whales have died in the Bay Area so far this year. A significant number of those dea

A cultural and community-driven revival is bringing new life to the Creekside neighborhood in downtown San Jose. Once a relatively quiet area near the city’s western edge, the neighborhood is experiencing renewed energy through public art, outdoor events, and social spaces designed to reengage the local population and support small businesses. It began with a local initiative called Creekside Socials, which introduced occasional events to activate underused public ar

In a historic gesture of recognition and cultural respect, the California State Assembly has unanimously passed a bill to rename a significant stretch of Highway 101 in San Jose as the "Little Saigon Freeway." Authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, the bill designates the portion of Highway 101 between the Story Road exit and the I-280/680 interchange—just under half a mile in length—for this honor. The renaming serves as a tribute to the vibrant Vietnamese American commu

Downtown San Jose’s nightlife scene is under scrutiny after it emerged that certain high-profile venues have been operating past midnight without proper permits, sparking outrage among other business owners who say they have faced a long and expensive battle to comply with the city’s strict regulations. Two popular venues — San Pedro Social and Kaizen Lounge — have run large-scale nightlife operations in violation of city requirements for more than a year, raising questio

San Jose State University has been recognized as one of the top public universities in the United States, receiving a five-star rating in a 2025 national college ranking that evaluated more than 700 four-year institutions. The ranking focused on a combination of academic quality, affordability, and alumni outcomes, placing SJSU among the best-performing public colleges nationwide. Only 19 public universities earned a five-star distinction, with 14 of them located in California. Sa

  Internal White House emails obtained in court filings reveal a rapid, coordinated attempt by senior Trump administration officials to publicly shame and financially punish universities. On March 18, top staff received a directive from President Trump via Senior Policy Strategist May Mailman, working closely with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, to “get something going on Twitter” targeting San Jose State University and the University of Pennsylvania. Accordin

San Jose has taken a bold legal step to address persistent drug activity and public safety concerns in one of its most historic public spaces. Repeat drug offenders are now officially prohibited from entering or lingering near St. James Park in the downtown area, following a court-issued injunction designed to reclaim the park for broader community use. The order was granted in late April and allows authorities to arrest individuals with prior drug offenses if they are found within 100 yards of

San Jose has updated its long-standing rent control policy to clearly include recreational vehicles (RVs) located on mobile home lots, following disputes over illegal rent increases by mobile park landlords. The clarification addresses recent cases where property owners raised rents beyond legal limits, claiming RVs were not covered under the city’s mobile home ordinance. The rent control regulation, which has been in effect for over 40 years, prohibits rent increases of mor

A high-profile project to create a new public art landmark in downtown San Jose has officially been canceled as the nonprofit behind the initiative repositions its focus toward a broader and more community-centric redesign of Plaza de Cesar Chavez. After several years of planning and fundraising, the once-anticipated “Breeze of Innovation” sculpture will no longer be pursued. The nonprofit, which raised over $3.3 million in its quest to realize the ambitious project, n

A 25-year-old man from Nicaragua has been charged with assaulting federal immigration officers during an attempted arrest at an immigration enforcement facility in San Jose, California. The incident occurred during what was intended to be a low-profile apprehension after the man, Francisco De-Jesus Morales, failed to appear at his final removal hearing. According to federal documents, Morales had been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge earlier this year

San Jose officials have canceled this year’s Independence Day fireworks celebration at Almaden Lake Park, marking the first interruption of the popular event in a decade. The decision comes after serious safety concerns were raised following incidents during last year’s celebration, which drew more than 30,000 visitors to the neighborhood. For longtime resident Cathie Bacosa, the cancellation is a relief. Last July 4, she awoke around midnight to a fire raging in her b

San Jose’s independent police auditor is advocating for the authority to review every police use-of-force incident, including those that do not result in injury. This expanded oversight model, already in place at the county level, has sparked debate and resistance from the city’s police department and councilmembers, who cite budget and staffing concerns. In 2024, San Jose police reported 400 incidents involving the use of force, of which 13 led to great bodily injury.

The Santa Clara County Democratic Party has confirmed it will not revise its dual endorsement in the upcoming June 24 runoff election for San Jose’s District 3 city council seat. This decision upholds the party's earlier support for both Gabby Chavez-Lopez and Anthony Tordillos, despite the two now facing off against each other in the final round of voting. The move reflects longstanding party practices and strategic considerations specific to the unique nature of this race.

A beloved local Mexican restaurant that has served San Jose for over two decades is at risk of closing its doors as plans for a new fast-food restaurant could force it out. Taqueria Eduardo, located at 255 Race Street near West San Carlos Street, is one of two locations operated by owner Luis Martinez. However, this long-standing neighborhood staple may not survive the potential arrival of a new Chick-fil-A at the same location. The San Jose Planning Director’s Hearing is scheduled for

Despite a significant investment of $350,000, a recent study funded by the city of San Jose to explore community-based alternatives for addressing domestic violence has come up short on actionable solutions. The city had initially allocated $400,000 for the research project titled “Community-Led Solutions to Domestic Violence,” which was aimed at developing methods to support survivors without involving law enforcement. The study, released on May 20, was conducted by a nonprofit o

San Jose is moving forward with plans to boost its local economy in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup and Super Bowl by reintroducing large-scale building advertisements known as supergraphic signs. These giant ads, attached to downtown and North San Jose buildings, are being revived to capitalize on the surge in visitors expected during these global sporting events. The city council has unanimously approved the return of these supergraphic signs, which were previously phased out