Government
- Tue. 11/03
Justice Department sends about 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states; Santa Clara County not on its list
The department lists four California counties: Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento and San Diego. Voters can report problems by phone, email or online.
- Mon. 11/02
Election Day!
Control of Congress, an open governor's seat, 14 propositions and a Bay Area transit tax are on the ballot. Here is what to know, from Washington to your school district.
- Sun. 11/01
Map: Where to drop off your ballot in Santa Clara County before 8 p.m. Tuesday
The county has 111 official drop boxes open around the clock and 110 vote centers. Here is every location, plus the rules for signing, mailing and tracking your ballot.
- Sun. 11/01
Apple asks San Jose for a handout: in exchange for about 3 acres worth more than $12 million Apple is offering bike lanes and $2.6 million
Apple would pay nothing for land a rough county yardstick puts near $12 million, and the streets sit in the middle of its property, making them worth more to Apple than to anyone else.
- Sun. 11/01
San Jose would spend $3 million to help wind down First Community Housing, a major affordable-housing nonprofit
The nonprofit owes $23 million more than it owns and holds about $125 million in city loans; the city hasn't said how much it expects to get back.
- Sat. 10/31
San Jose's four council-appointed officials in line for 2.5% merit raises
A mayor's memo would give the city manager, attorney, clerk and auditor raises back to July 1 and 40 extra hours of leave.
- Sat. 10/31
San Jose hauled 24.4 million pounds of trash in a year as illegal dumping keeps growing
City, state and water-district crews split the cleanup of streets, creeks and freeways. Records show why trash piles up, what is being tried and what it costs.
- Fri. 10/30
San Jose council to vote Nov. 10 on local emergency ahead of El Niño storms
The proclamation would free emergency reserve money for flood contracts and last until the council ends it.
- Fri. 10/30
Governor's race: Becerra leads Hilton by 24 points in latest PPIC poll; Santa Clara County backed Becerra in June
Becerra won 31.5% of the county's primary vote. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan finished fourth here.
- Fri. 10/30
Congress, District 19: Panetta, who covers the biggest slice of San Jose, faces Republican Verbica
The district takes in about 42% of the city. Panetta has $5.47 million on hand.
- Fri. 10/30
Congress, District 18: Lofgren faces Republican engineer Shane Lewis
Lewis would tie federal school aid to test-score gains. Lofgren says her focus is winning back the House.
- Fri. 10/30
Congress, District 17: Khanna, with $16.6 million on hand, faces Republican Tandon
The sitting Democrat is the San Jose area's biggest fundraiser by far.
- Fri. 10/30
Congress, District 16: Liccardo, with $2.26 million in the bank, faces Republican Soulé
The first-term Democrat and former San Jose mayor has outraised his challenger nearly 1,000 to 1.
- Fri. 10/30
San Jose votes Tuesday on keeping its detention-center pause to 2028 as Palo Alto passes its own
Palo Alto's council voted unanimously Oct. 26 for a one-year pause on new private immigration detention sites.
- Fri. 10/30
San Jose drafting data center rules; staff say Planning Commission hearing planned Nov. 18
A city report says one large data center could bring $3 million to $6 million a year in utility tax.
- Fri. 10/30
Council accepts audit of how San Jose handles abandoned-car complaints
About 10,000 cases in nine months. The mayor wants results by council district and tracking of repeat license plates.
- Fri. 10/30
Free sandbags return Sunday as Valley Water braces for a strong El Niño winter
Three San Jose sites open Nov. 1. The water district has declared an emergency to speed up creek work.
- Thu. 10/29
New congressional lines are in place for Nov. 3. Here is what changed for San Jose
Proposition 50 redrew California’s House map, and courts let it stand. San Jose is still split among the same four districts.
- Thu. 10/29
How to vote in San Jose: Deadlines, drop boxes and vote centers
Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3. Missed the registration deadline? You can still register and vote in person.
- Thu. 10/29
Federal pressure on California’s election reaches Santa Clara County
The Justice Department asked the county to set aside 902 ballots. The county refused, and courts have so far sided with state officials.
- Thu. 10/29
Lieutenant governor to tax board: What the candidates for California’s other statewide offices say
Seven statewide offices and a Board of Equalization seat are on the Nov. 3 ballot. Two races pit Democrat against Democrat.
- Thu. 10/29
Measure RTM: What the Bay Area transit sales tax would do
A half-cent sales tax for 14 years would raise about $980 million a year for BART, Caltrain, VTA and other transit. San Jose’s rate would rise to 10.5%.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 45 explained: Faster environmental review for "essential" projects
The measure would set deadlines for reviews and lawsuits under the California Environmental Quality Act.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 44 explained: 90% spending rule for community health clinics
A health care union backs the rule; clinic and doctor groups oppose it, and both state parties say no.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 43 explained: Two-thirds vote for local special taxes placed by voters
The amendment would reverse court rulings that let citizen-led local taxes pass by a simple majority.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 42 explained: Ban on new state taxes on savings and other personal property
Supporters say it protects retirement savings; opponents say it targets Prop. 40.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 41 explained: Voiding new taxes that skip the spending limit, and new audits
Opponents say the measure is aimed at canceling Prop. 40.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 40 explained: One-time 5% tax on billionaires
Most of the money would go to health care. Polls show support slipping.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 39 explained: Voter ID requirement for every ballot
Mail voters would write part of an ID number on the envelope, and in-person voters would show ID.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 38 explained: $8.4 billion bond for immunology research
Half the money would go to one new research institute and half to grants for UC campuses and other institutions.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 37 explained: $25 billion for middle-income home loans
The initiative would help first-time buyers of newly built homes with small down payments.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 5 explained: Changing how recalls replace state officials
Voters would decide only whether to remove an official; the seat would then be filled another way.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 4 explained: Lifting the ban on public money for campaigns
The measure would let state and local governments create public financing programs for candidates.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 3 explained: Making the high-earner income tax permanent
The rates first approved in 2012 would no longer end after 2030.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 2 explained: Doubling the state's rainy day fund
The amendment raises California's savings cap from 10% to 20% and changes how deposits count against the spending limit.
- Thu. 10/29
Prop. 1 explained: $11.25 billion state housing bond
The Legislature asks voters to borrow for apartments, homebuyer help and veterans home loans.
- Thu. 10/29
Clocks fall back Sunday; bill to end the switch awaits Senate
San Jose sunsets move to 5:09 p.m. The House voted in July to keep daylight time all year.
- Thu. 10/29
San Jose council takes up 3% raises for city workers and renaming Plaza de César Chávez; vote results not yet in written record
The city's official meeting record does not yet show how the council voted on the worker contracts, the plaza renaming or a phased ban on watering decorative grass with drinking water.
- Thu. 10/29
San Jose to pay $400,000 to settle suit over police car hitting pedestrian
The council votes Nov. 3 on the settlement of a 2023 crosswalk crash at East San Antonio Avenue.
- Thu. 10/29
San Jose council asked Nov. 3 to host 2028 Olympic torch relay, with no cap on city costs
Staff estimate city services at $227,700 to $283,250, more with a cauldron ceremony. Mayor Mahan will lead private fundraising.
