After a lengthy four hour debate, the San Jose City Council approved a $2.5 billion budget, a 10% drop from last year. The budget includes the first ever layoffs at SJPD, totaling 100 officers. The 7-4 vote included dissenters who wanted additional funding for police in light of an increasing homicide rate.
Couple that with Mayor Chuck Reed possibly backing off his pension reform ballot measure, and it looks like the political skies will be relatively clear for a ballpark referendum over the next 6-9 months. (Or at least until the next budget crisis hits next year, which would start the process all over again.) Remember that to make Opening Day 2015, shovels must be in the ground no later than late Fall 2012.
newballpark.org 
In comparison, SF’s budget is $6.83 billion; Oakland’s is just under $1 billion.
They still laid off 100 cops with an alarming increase in the homicide rate. Not every things peaches and cream. Its bad times all around.
@Dino Jr.–all 3 cities homicide rates are up from last year, but SJ has like 6 more murders than all of last year and it’s only June. Not sure if extra cops would of prevented this. Crazy.
DJ – yes, homicide rate has increased in SJ…so SJ will no longer be the 4th safest place in all of the USA…maybe 10th or so. Folks have to keep things in perspective.