In this edition of The Podlight, host Bob Staedler sits down with Derrick Seaver, the new CEO of the Silicon Valley Organization, to dig into how he will rebuild the business group after a racist campaign ad last fall led to widespread fallout and distrust in the community. Seaver outlines plans to rebrand the organization, focus on equity, better support small and medium-sized businesses and revamp campaign strategy.

How Derrick Seaver will rebuild embattled business group

On this episode of The Podlight, host Nick Preciado chats with San José Spotlight reporter Lloyd Alaban about why the City Council delayed a controversial vote to redevelop the historic San Jose Flea Market. Later, he's joined by reporter Tran Nguyen to break down a new report that reveals racial discrimination and income inequality in Silicon Valley.

Contentious vote on San Jose Flea Market delayed

On this episode of The Podlight, editor Nick Preciado and Senior Reporter Eli Wolfe dig into a petition by VTA workers to investigate a hostile work environment and mistreatment by management. The calls come just months after a disgruntled VTA worker gunned down nine of his colleagues before taking his own life.

VTA workers call out toxic work environment

On this episode of The Podlight, editor Nick Preciado exclusively speaks with Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith about alleged mismanagement of county jails, warehousing mentally ill people behind bars, severe understaffing issues, looming investigations into her leadership and calls for her to resign.

Exclusive: Sheriff Laurie Smith opens up about jail scandals

On this episode of The Podlight, host Nick Preciado digs into the abrupt resignation of San Jose State University president Mary Papazian amid a sex abuse scandal. Later, reporter Tran Nguyen examines how renters are coping with the threat of eviction after a ban on COVID-related evictions expired.

SJSU president quits amid sex abuse scandal

On this episode of The Podlight, editor Nick Preciado talks to reporter Lloyd Alaban about San Jose's redistricting process and why some new maps are angering residents and businesses. Then, Senior Reporter Eli Wolfe digs into bullying and harassment faced by the Los Gatos mayor.

Redistricting raises ire in San Jose, mayor faces bullying in Los Gatos

On this episode of The Podlight, host Nick Preciado talks to reporter Tran Nguyen about her exclusive reporting on San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo's new PAC and its $400,000 fundraising haul. Later, Senior Reporter Eli Wolfe breaks down a controversial San Jose proposal to use license plate readers to deter crime.

San Jose mayor's new PAC, license plate readers

This week host Nick Preciado speaks with reporter Tran Nguyen about her new data reporting revealing how many homeless encampments San Jose has cleared since January.

Then, reporters Lloyd Alaban and Lorraine Gabbert discuss San José Spotlight's new documentary series highlighting the plight of essential workers during the pandemic, Backbone of Silicon Valley.

San Jose sweeps hundreds of homeless camps

This week, host Nick Preciado talks to San Jose City Hall reporter Jana Kadah about the mayor's proposal to require city employees to get a COVID-19 booster shot. Then reporter Tran Nguyen explains why homeless deaths in Santa Clara County have soared in recent years -- and how activists are honoring the lives lost.

San Jose's COVID booster mandate, a rise in homeless deaths

This week, host Nick Preciado and reporter Tran Nguyen discuss why emergency workers at Valley Medical Center walked off the job amid the biggest spike in COVID-19 cases. Later, Senior Reporter Eli Wolfe dives into the county's decision to approve a new jail -- despite strong opposition from the community.

Emergency workers at VMC walk off job, a new jail approved

On this episode of The Podlight, host Nick Preciado chats with three members of San Jose's Charter Review Commission about a series of recommendations that could change city policies -- including a plan to switch to ranked choice voting and expand council districts.

San Jose could have ranked choice voting, 14 council distrcits

With Election Day less than three weeks away, host Nick Preciado sits down with two of Silicon Valley's most prominent political experts -- Terry Christensen and Garrick Percival -- to get their predictions and analysis on key races and measures.

Election 2022: Primary predictions & analysis

Downtown San Jose faces a host of challenges, from homelessness to vacant storefronts and shuttered businesses. Will it ever bounce back? Two experts -- Councilmember Raul Peralez and San Jose Downtown Association CEO Scott Knies -- weigh in on the state of downtown.

The state of downtown San Jose

Lowriding is back in San Jose after policymakers voted to repeal a decades-old policy that banned cruising. Host Nick Preciado speaks with San Francisco State professor John Ulloa and Councilman Raul Peralez about the city's lowriding roots and what lifting the ban means for the community.

San Jose lifts lowrider cruising ban

Homeless deaths on the streets of Silicon Valley are on the rise -- with 14 people dying in one month alone. Host Nick Preciado digs into the troubling trend with two homeless experts and advocates, Todd Langton and Shaunn Cartwright.

Homeless deaths spike in Silicon Valley

San Jose leaders will soon consider a plan years in the making to build a nearly 14,000 square foot Buddhist temple in an Evergreen neighborhood. Co-host Nick Preciado speaks with Pierluigi Oliverio, the city's planning commission chair who supports the project, and Murali Pabbisetty, a neighbor who opposes.

The fight for a Buddhist temple in San Jose

The shocking allegations of drug smuggling by a top administrator at San Jose's police union has rocked Silicon Valley and the nation. Co-host Joseph Geha digs into the situation with William Armaline, director of the SJSU Human Rights Institute, and LaDoris Cordell, a retired judge and former San Jose independent police auditor. The police union declined to participate.

The drug smuggler inside San Jose's police union

More than 10,000 people are homeless in Santa Clara County, a sobering reality despite millions of dollars funneling into the county to address the crisis. Co-host Nick Preciado speaks to Preston Prince, executive director of the Santa Clara County Housing Authority, about how that agency is working to end homelessness and other solutions.

How Silicon Valley is tackling homelessness

A fight over San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's plan to divert funding from affordable housing to create more shelters and short-term solutions is heating up. Co-host Nick Preciado speaks with two housing leaders, Sandy Perry and Delma Hernandez, to understand the plan's implications.

San Jose's fight over affordable housing funds

San José Spotlight editor Nick Preciado speaks with managing editor Alexandria Bordas and senior reporter Joseph Geha about PolitiBeat -- the organization's inaugural political festival that featured eight panels with more than 30 speakers, including local, state and federal lawmakers.

PolitiBeat 2023: A deep dive

A federal judge this month dismissed legal challenges to San Jose's landmark gun safety measures that made national headlines. But will the policies prevent gun violence and mass shootings? Co-host Nick Preciado takes a closer look with Mothers Against Murder Executive Director Margaret Petros.

San Jose's gun safety debate

Co-host Nick Preciado sits down with the county's top political and administrative leaders -- Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg and CEO James Williams -- to discuss the state of the county's mental health crisis.

The state of the county: Mental health

San Jose is exploring a controversial policy to keep homeless residents away from schools and daycare centers. Co-host Nick Preciado speaks to East San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who supports the idea, and homeless advocate Todd Langton of Agape Silicon Valley.

San Jose looks to ban homeless camps near schools

A judge's recent ruling that the city of San Jose and its former Mayor Sam Liccardo violated state transparency laws -- in response to a lawsuit filed by San José Spotlight and First Amendment Coalition -- could have far-reaching implications for public agencies across the state. Co-host Joseph Geha talks to Karl Olson and David Loy, two attorneys at the center of the case.

San Jose broke transparency laws. What's next?

San Jose is seeing a significantly low return of office workers to downtown and one of the highest office vacancy rates in its history. The lack of foot traffic is hurting downtown businesses. What's driving this trend and how can office workers be lured to come back? Co-host Nick Preciado chats with Alex Stettinski, CEO of the San Jose Downtown Association.

Why San Jose office workers aren't coming back

The end of an era: Silicon Valley Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is retiring after three decades in Congress. The veteran Democrat reflects on her decision and legacy. Plus: Political analyst Larry Gerston predicts some key issues that could shape the highly-competitive race to replace her.

Rep. Anna Eshoo reflects on retirement; race to replace her heats up

A successful lawsuit against San Jose and its former mayor brought by San José Spotlight and First Amendment Coalition has inspired a new state bill, SB 908, that would ensure compliance with California's public records law and bolster government transparency across the state. Editor Nick Preciado learns more from Brittney Barsotti of the California News Publishers Association.

How a San Jose-inspired bill could uncover public records

Election Day is here in California. With Silicon Valley voters headed to the polls this week in the March primary election, co-host Nick Preciado sat down with two political observers and experts -- Larry Gerston and Garrick Percival -- for their predictions and analysis.

Primary election 2024: Predictions

Cupertino spent more than $100,000 from a fund for low-income housing on attorneys to defend itself against housing-related lawsuits, San José Spotlight first reported. Editor Nick Preciado sits down with reporter Annalise Freimarck who broke the story to learn more.

Inside Cupertino's move to misallocate housing funds

Despite ballooning costs and delays, BART's much-anticipated extension in Silicon Valley is inching forward as pre-construction work begins on the transit agency's Santa Clara stop. Editor Nick Preciado digs into the update with reporter B. Sakura Cannesta, who covers Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.

A closer look at BART's extension to Santa Clara

The Podlight is produced by San José Spotlight, the city's award-winning nonprofit news organization dedicated to independent political and business reporting. Hosted by editor Nick Preciado and senior reporter Joseph Geha, our show features in-depth conversations with South Bay leaders, lawmakers and influencers about policy, politics and government, delving into critical issues such as housing, technology, business, homelessness, education and development.

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