Silicon Valley Newsroom

Opposition to Prop 16 Grows in Silicon Valley

Mar 05, 2010, by Silicon Valley Newsroom Politics Comments (9)

If it is passed, the Proposition 16 amendment on this year’s ballot will require local governments to obtain two-thirds voter approval before they can provide electricity to new customers or expand their services. In other words, citizens could block attempts by their city councils to expand the service area for existing public utilities or create new ones.

City’s Deficit Rises Yet Again

Mar 04, 2010, by Silicon Valley Newsroom Politics Comments (27)

There’s bad news for the City Council again. The deficit is up 16 percent and now stands at $116.2 million. The problem, says City Manager Debra Figones, is employee pension costs, and especially the pension costs for retired policemen and firemen. While they were expected to grow by $38 million during the next fiscal year, the estimate has been adjusted and now stands at $53 million. Exacerbating the problem is reduced revenue from business tax receipts, which continues to drop.

Tech Museum Revival Loses Momentum

Mar 03, 2010, by Silicon Valley Newsroom Politics Comments (16)

When Peter Friess came to the Tech Museum in 2006, he brought with him a vision of transforming it into a world class institution with “blockbuster” traveling exhibits and constantly updated permanent exhibits. He believed that this would stop the museum’s sharp decline from 1999 to 2005, when revenue dropped 50 percent and attendance declined from 809,000 visitors to just 391,000.

Campos Wants to Expand Gang Injunction

Feb 26, 2010, by Silicon Valley Newsroom Politics Comments (41)

How far do citizens’ rights to assemble freely extend? Citing an increasing gang presence in the city’s streets, Councilmember Nora Campos says it may be too far. The ACLU thinks differently.

Reed Marshals California Mayors and Top CEOs to Take on State

Feb 23, 2010, by Silicon Valley Newsroom Politics Comments (3)

Mayors of California’s ten largest cities met with the CEOs of some of the state’s ten largest companies at San Jose’s Morton’s Steakhouse last night for more than just an evening of rare beef and wine. They are all fed up with how the state is operating, and decided to work together to fight for real changes