Tag: <span>City</span>

Milpitas City Hall is in a state of civil war

We had a moment there – it came and went. But for like half a second, it seemed like things could go so well…

Last December, Carmen Montano became the 18th Mayor of Milpitas. Garry Barbadillo, in the course of campaigning for his City Councilmember seat, recalled a time when the Milpitas City Council routinely voted 5-0. In other words, everything they passed, they passed unanimously. I liked the message. It pointed to an age of solidarity, of common sense, of putting the people’s business before the City’s business.

That age is not the one we’re living in.

Earlier this year, the new Council voted 3-2 to discontinue City Manager Steve McHarris’s contract. Montano, Barbadillo, and Vice Mayor Evelyn Chua voted Yes; Councilmembers Hon Lien and Anthony Phan voted No.

Read more…

Homeless on Railroad Ave., Milpitas, prepare to have their Vehicles Towed.

Photos by Ann Zeise, GoMilpitas.com, March 12, 2022

Homeless Encampment Pano
Homeless Encampment Pano
Unpacking Vehicle
Homeless residents preparing to have their vehicles towed by moving out belongings to the street.
Allysson McDonald and Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal wait as witnesses
Allysson McDonald and Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal wait as witnesses
Allyson and Resident
Allyson McDonald and a Resident

Mayor Tran announces that vehicles parked behind library will be towed on March 12

By Eric Shapiro, MilpitasBeat, March 11, 2022

Earlier this week, on Mayor Rich Tran’s Facebook page, the Mayor posted that the “abandoned, inoperable, and unregistered” vehicles parked behind Milpitas Library were being given notice by the Milpitas Police Department (MPD) to move or risk being towed in another 72 hours.

The Mayor’s post and plans come in the midst of an active discussion on homelessness in Milpitas, during which the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley advised the City of Milpitas that its planned sweeps of homeless encampments were unconstitutional and the City’s homelessness task force provided recommendations to the Milpitas City Council. Last week, Councilmember Karina Dominguez headed up a sleep-out outside of Milpitas City Hall to draw attention to the plight of the city’s homeless residents.

In an email exchange with The Beat, when asked what the City would do to help the unhoused residents whose cars will be towed, Assistant City Manager Ashwini Kantak wrote, “The issues that cause homelessness are complex. The City’s role is to balance the rights of those who are homeless with the need to ensure proper safety, hygiene, and impact on the entire community – and strictly enforce City laws.

Read more in the Milpitas Beat

City of Milpitas to provide $5000 grants to 280 small businesses

City of Milpitas to provide $5000 grants to 280 small businesses

By Eric Shapiro, Milpitas Beat, February 4, 2022

At the end of last month, on January 31, the Milpitas Small Business Assistance Grant Program was launched by the City of Milpitas. Its purpose: to support city businesses hit hard by COVID-19.

The money for the grant program — $1,500,000 in total — comes from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). More than 280 small businesses in Milpitas will receive grants amounting to $5,000 and/or free technical assistance. Applicants can apply till March 1, 2022. The following requirements must be met, and those businesses meeting them will be entered into a fair and transparent lottery:

  • Employ between 1-25 employees;
  • Operate out of a physical commercial storefront within the city limits of Milpitas. Daycare centers located in physical commercial and/or home-based locations are eligible for grants;
  • Have active and current City of Milpitas business licenses; and
  • Demonstrate good standing with the City of Milpitas (i.e., no code enforcement issues) and California Labor Commissioner’s Office.

Read more

Skip to content