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Budget season in San Jose is over, but the months-long negotiations have set the stage for new political fights that are only beginning to take shape. The City Council on Tuesday put the final seal of approval on the $5.5 billion budget that will see San Jose through the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. Facing down a... The post San Jose’s budget lands with wins, losses, work to do appeared first on San José Spotlight .
As Santa Clara County’s population ages, health and community service nonprofits are growing to meet their needs. On Lok, a community-focused care provider for older adults, held a Wednesday grand opening for its 20,348-square-foot PACE center in South San Jose. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) expands access to comprehensive care, providing... The post Community-focused San Jose center serves older adults appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The Mountain View City Council is expected to adopt a balanced budget next week for the 2026-27 fiscal year, despite flattening revenues and rising costs, a trend that has defined the city’s financial outlook for the past couple years. The city is planning to close out the current 2025-26 fiscal year with a roughly $1.9 million... The post Mountain View looks to adopt budget amid economic uncertainty appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County will be the first in the region to fund efforts to release every Bay Area resident unlawfully detained by ICE. County leaders are signing a roughly $200,000 agreement with La Raza Centro Legal, a nonprofit legal clinic based in San Francisco, to expand the Bay Area Habeas Network, whose attorneys work to... The post Santa Clara County to fund legal aid for Bay Area ICE detainees appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A San Jose home that was part of a national Catholic movement to provide a “house of hospitality” to the marginalized is transferring hands, though its mission to help homeless people will remain. Catholic Worker San Jose is selling its seven-bedroom home on North Sixth Street, known as Casa de Clara, to nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe... The post San Jose nonprofit buys property to help homeless people appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose has slipped eight spots in a national ranking of city parks, with one of its weakest scores highlighting a challenge local leaders have struggled to solve for years: finding enough money to maintain and improve neighborhood parks. The Trust for Public Land’s 2026 ParkScore report ranks San Jose No. 49 among the nation’s 100 largest... The post San Jose scores poor ranking over lack of park investment appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The post Fact Brief: Has San Jose been using Automated License Plate Reader cameras for at least 15 years? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County leaders are walking back a portion of proposed budget cuts to keep a pioneering suicide prevention program that’s contributed to one of the lowest death rates in all of California. At a Monday budget hearing, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to save two positions from being cut from the county program... The post Santa Clara County funds suicide prevention despite budget cuts appeared first on San José Spotlight .
While utility hikes are a regular occurrence for San Jose residents, an especially sharp jump in garbage disposal fees and water rates have led to pushback amid growing concern over rising living costs. Under new fee schedules set to take effect July 1, the start of fiscal year 2026-27, San Jose’s garbage disposal service fee... The post Water and garbage rates increase for San Jose residents appeared first on San José Spotlight .
In November 2024, the Valley Water board of directors approved the Water Resources Protection Zones Ordinance to address the environmental and safety issues from encampments along Valley Water waterways and facilities. We understood that there wouldn’t be an easy fix, but our progress over the past year shows that a coordinated approach can bring real... The post Santos: Cleaner creeks, safer waterways — protecting our resources is working appeared first on San José Spotlight .
When two Palo Alto police officers attempted to arrest a drunk woman at a restaurant, they noted in their report that they heard a loud “pop” sound after pushing the woman against the wall. One of the officers told the woman: “I know it hurts because you are moving so much.” Only after they handcuffed... The post Audit: Palo Alto cops frequently fail to activate body cameras appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County is celebrating a decade of providing services to LGBTQ+ residents through an official department. The Office of LGBTQ Affairs on Friday celebrated its 10-year anniversary amid a Pride Month flag raising ceremony, resource fair and inclusive “lavender” graduation for LGBTQ+ high school and college students. The county department hosted the event in partnership... The post Santa Clara County LGBTQ+ office hits 10 years of service appeared first on San José Spotlight .
I recently looked seriously at replacing my 2014 natural gas water heater with a heat pump water heater. At first, the decision looked easy. Silicon Valley Clean Energy was offering a large rebate, and with stacked incentives the total could be about $4,000. A contractor estimated that a 65-gallon heat pump water heater could cost... The post Hakhamaneshi: Why I walked away from a $4,000 water heater rebate appeared first on San José Spotlight .
For the better part of a decade, NASA Ames and UC Berkeley have been planning to build a $2 billion space center at Moffett Field, but few details about the massive project on Mountain View’s border have been publicly known. That changed recently with the April release of an environmental report laying out different scenarios for the project.... The post Plans for massive Mountain View space center raise housing concerns appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A Santa Clara County jail worker who sexually exploited incarcerated women by smuggling in drugs faces just one year behind bars. Marcos Pina Mejia, 56, pleaded guilty June 8 to two felony counts of bringing methamphetamine into Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas and two misdemeanor counts of having sex with a detained person. The civilian, non-sworn... The post Santa Clara County jail worker who exploited women gets light sentence appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose leaders are rallying opposition to a measure headed for the statewide November ballot that could undermine a cornerstone of the city’s efforts to keep low-income people housed. The measure, championed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, raises the threshold to pass local voter-sponsored tax initiatives, and also limits the amount cities can tax... The post State proposition could wipe out San Jose’s Measure E funds appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose is pushing ahead to create standards for data centers amid community angst around health and environmental impacts — though advocates said it’s too soon to tell whether these standards will protect residents or fast track approvals. At the Rules and Open Government Committee meeting Wednesday, Councilmembers David Cohen, Rosemary Kamei, Bien Doan, Domingo Candelas and Vice... The post Advocates worry San Jose will fast track data centers appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A judge has once again denied an ex-Santa Clara official access to his electronic devices seized during an investigation that led to his felony perjury conviction. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Javier Alcala denied former Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker’s motion to return the devices after a Friday hearing that centered on giving Becker... The post Former Santa Clara official again denied access to devices appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Lack of affordable housing and dwindling access to healthcare are the top issues plaguing the lives of both Bay Area immigrants and citizens, according to a recent report. Services, Immigration Rights and Education Network (SIREN) and the San Jose State University Human Rights Institute conducted a recent survey of about 300 immigrants and those in the... The post Bay Area immigrants struggle with housing and healthcare appeared first on San José Spotlight .
When dozens of service workers at Hilton’s Graduate Hotel in downtown Palo Alto were suddenly laid off in April, some were told it was because management planned to close down the restaurant on the ground floor. To the surprise of former employees, the hotel’s restaurant is still bustling and staffed — with temporary contract workers.... The post Palo Alto hotel laid off full-time staff and brought in contract workers appeared first on San José Spotlight .
As Mountain View enters the third year of a 10-year plan to revitalize the local economy, the city is seeing retail vacancies trending down in the heart of town, while downtown office vacancies are increasing. The retail vacancy rate in the downtown area was 6.1% in April, down from 8.5% two years ago. In contrast, the downtown... The post Mountain View to tackle downtown office vacancies as rate tops 30% appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose officials are bringing World Cup celebrations into neighborhoods across the city through a series of free watch parties in cultural business districts, hoping to unite residents while driving visitors to local businesses during the tournament. San Jose’s “Kick Off in the Districts” World Cup watch party series begins Thursday with a free viewing... The post World Cup watch parties to take place across San Jose appeared first on San José Spotlight .
At a time when the U.S. is reeling from social safety net cuts, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget makes it even more challenging for groups to effectively address homelessness in Santa Clara County, nonprofit leaders and advocates said. The governor’s proposed budget includes $500 million for Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) statewide for the... The post State budget shortchanges Santa Clara County homeless response appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The San Jose City Council passed a $5.5 billion budget Tuesday, balancing a $50 million deficit by tapping into reserve funds and making wide ranging service cuts — but no layoffs. Over the course of the four-month-long budgeting process, San Jose leaders have warned the city may need to resort to painful fiscal trimming. However, in... The post San Jose passes budget with millions of dollars in service cuts appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County leaders and California Attorney General Rob Bonta are suing to stop the construction of an ICE facility near Gilroy, after this news outlet first reported on the federal government’s plans and obtained blueprints showing the building would hold and process detainees. Officials announced the lawsuit Wednesday, naming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... The post Santa Clara County sues to stop planned ICE facility appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Soccer fans from around the world are expected to flood Santa Clara this weekend for the FIFA World Cup, bringing team chants, fan marches and crowds to Levi’s Stadium — but outdoor merchants and food vendors may not benefit from the event at all. Santa Clara has created a “special event zone” to temporarily restrict sidewalk... The post Santa Clara’s special event zone helps businesses, not vendors appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The post Fact Brief: Is San Jose home to one of the last three Japantowns in the United States? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
In May, we celebrated Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to honor the contributions, cultures and resilience of our communities. Now that the month has passed, we find ourselves thinking less about celebration and more about responsibility. The responsibility to protect what belonging truly means for every person in Mountain View, Santa... The post Op-ed: AAHPI month is over, but the work is not appeared first on San José Spotlight .
South Bay officials are touting a new economic analysis of Super Bowl 60, which found the game drove $720 million in total economic activity throughout the Bay Area, $195 million of which went to Santa Clara County. The report, released Friday by the Bay Area Host Committee, may bolster the case from leaders in San... The post Super Bowl 60 pumps $195M into Santa Clara County appeared first on San José Spotlight .
As Palo Alto prepares to create a new residential community along San Antonio Road, city leaders are confronting a question that had dogged prior planning efforts: How much office space should the new neighborhood accommodate? The focus on the debate is on what’s known as the CTI subarea next to U.S. Highway 101 and just... The post Proposed Palo Alto office complex sparks debate appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County fairgrounds leaders caused an uproar this year for pushing the annual fair date to keep vendors happy and – as a consequence – some youth farmers out of contention for junior livestock shows. The parents’ response: Fine, we’ll organize our own. Preparations for an alternative fair are now underway among farmers in... The post South County families create their own livestock fair appeared first on San José Spotlight .
By all accounts, Palo Alto’s first Pride Month event was a resounding success. King Plaza in front of City Hall was transformed into a sea of rainbows on Sunday afternoon, with rows of colorful pop-up tents lining the streets and hundreds of attendees (and a handful of pet dogs) adorned in pride regalia. To mark... The post Hundreds turn out for Palo Alto’s first Pride event appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is going back to City Hall with his hat in his hands. But while his bid for governor failed, he’s shown residents and political observers a new side of himself – and the monied interests he’s willing to rub shoulders with. Mahan – who was in sixth place behind Steve Hilton... The post State primary may have seeded San Jose mayor’s future goals appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County is expanding the types of renters covered under its eviction protection laws — and the amount landlords will pay to help displaced tenants relocate. The Board of Supervisors on June 2 voted 4-1 — with District 5 Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga voting no — to revise the county’s 1993 tenant protection law, which... The post Santa Clara County expands protections to include more renters appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The ballots have been cast. The campaign mailers are finally slowing down. The California primary election is behind us. That means it is time to get back to the real work of helping people who need it the most. Not that the work ever stopped, of course. Every day, outreach workers meet people living outside... The post Bramson: Primaries are over — back to the real work of helping people in need appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Nestled in a 100-year-old former residence, Sourdough Eatery in San Jose feels like a roadside attraction on Route 66. Part delicatessen, part art gallery and part living history museum, it is a tribute to owner Barbara Lenhart. Every visible wall is covered with Lenhart’s oil portraits of celebrities, politicians and glamor girls. Lenhart sits at... The post The Biz Beat: San Jose’s Sourdough Eatery offers art on the side appeared first on San José Spotlight .
When San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announced his run for California governor in January, the news divided residents. Longtime supporters cheered on Mahan’s bid to elevate his centrist brand of politics into the statewide policy conversation. But the decision to seek higher office before reaching the halfway mark in his four-year term also drew sharp... The post Will San Jose mayor face fallout after running for governor? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Education is often called the great equalizer. But for young people in foster care, education is too often disrupted by instability, interrupted schooling, trauma and a lack of consistent support systems. At the very moment these students need more guidance, more advocacy and more opportunity, proposed budget cuts in Santa Clara County threaten to remove... The post Bell: Santa Clara County budget cuts threaten future for foster youth appeared first on San José Spotlight .
An East San Jose school district’s redistricting plans have left some community members frustrated. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees has redrawn its boundaries, shifting from at-large trustees to trustees representing specific areas of the district. The board on May 20 voted 3-2 — with Trustees Corina Herrera-Loera and Minh Nguyen voting... The post East San Jose school district redraws its boundaries appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County leaders and advocates are calling on state lawmakers to protect the healthcare system from devastating federal cuts as it finalizes its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Latinas Contra Cancer, All Things Disability Equity, Fund Healthcare Not Billionaires, Regional Nurses Professional Association and others held a Friday rally at Valley Medical Center... The post Santa Clara County leaders demand state funds for healthcare appeared first on San José Spotlight .
More than a year after San Jose officials pledged sweeping reforms at the city’s troubled animal shelter, a Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury said the work of rebuilding public trust is far from over. The civil grand jury’s May 27 report found the San Jose Animal Care Center has reduced overcrowding and increased adoptions,... The post San Jose animal shelter improves care, but has more to do appeared first on San José Spotlight .
In April, San Jose broke ground on a new downtown housing project with something many Americans consider essential missing entirely: parking. The historic Bank of Italy building is being converted into much-needed housing — with no on-site spaces for cars. Impractical? Maybe not. Instead, the project reflects a question cities across the country are increasingly... The post Philbrick: How much space should we dedicate to cars? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose State University has smoked the competition in a national computer science and technical skills assessment, beating out Stanford, CalTech and UC Berkeley. Since 2021, SJSU has jumped 47 spots to become No. 2 in the nation for data-driven programming and software engineering skills, just behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The university offers... The post San Jose State at top of class when it comes to AI appeared first on San José Spotlight .
California is creating its first standalone housing agency to help streamline funding for affordable housing development — except it has no new money due to proposed state budget cuts. Starting July 1, the state will create the California Housing and Homelessness Agency to house various departments overseeing state and federal housing funding programs under one... The post California streamlines affordable housing funding appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Detailed blueprints show an ICE facility with detention and processing space is planned in South Santa Clara County. The 111-page document obtained by this news outlet, dated Sept. 17, 2025, illustrates plans for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility with detention areas, detainee processing areas, interview and holding rooms, spaces for mothers with... The post Blueprints confirm ICE involvement in South County facility appeared first on San José Spotlight .
People will often ask, “What is it that makes San Jose unique? What is that cultural identity?” Recently, I heard a wise, globe-traveling civic and cultural leader describe San Jose as the place where everyone from all over the world can find a piece of home. In San Jose, you can find your people, your... The post Urbanowski: The World Cup and our international city appeared first on San José Spotlight .
In the race for Santa Clara County District Attorney, incumbent Jeff Rosen holds a lead in his bid to reign supreme for another four years. Early results show Rosen, who is running for his fifth consecutive term since he was first elected to the office in 2010, is ahead of his opponent Daniel Chung. As... The post Jeff Rosen ahead in Santa Clara County DA race appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A measure to increase taxes on San Jose hotels appears to be on an easy path to victory. More than 65.6% of votes tallied so far are in favor of Measure A, which would increase the city tax levied on hotel guests from 10% to 12%, according to election returns released Wednesday evening. Officials with the... The post San Jose hotel tax on track for victory appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The FIFA World Cup is the last of the sports trifecta to bring an economic boost into Santa Clara County following the Super Bowl in February and NCAA March Madness. An international crowd is expected to descend on Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, increasing sales and foot traffic in neighboring cities between June 13 through... The post Will the World Cup be a boon to Silicon Valley businesses? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The post Fact Brief: Did groundwater pumping in the 20th century cause land to sink in Santa Clara County? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has officially bowed out of the race for California governor. As of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Mahan is in sixth place with 4.4% or 195,887 votes, trailing conservative pundit Steve Hilton in first place with 26.9% or 1,167,298 votes, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra in second... The post San Jose mayor concedes race for California governor appeared first on San José Spotlight .
As the ballots pour in, Genny Altwer has emerged as the frontrunner for the San Jose District 9 City Council race, the city’s only open contest this election cycle. Three other candidates remain in a tight heat for the second place spot that would allow them to progress to the November runoff. As of 5... The post Genny Altwer keeps lead in San Jose District 9 race appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Early results show incumbent Councilmember Peter Ortiz leading the pack of candidates seeking the District 5 seat to represent East San Jose on the City Council. As of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Ortiz is ahead with 44% of the vote or 3,110 votes, while former state lawmaker and District 5 Councilmember Nora Campos is in second... The post Peter Ortiz maintains lead in San Jose District 5 race appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Early election night results show San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan with a commanding lead in the race for the District 7 seat on the San Jose City Council. As of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Doan has 48.3% of the vote or 3,418 votes, followed by Van Le, an East Side Union High School District trustee in... The post Bien Doan leads in San Jose District 7 council race appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Early results show District 1 Santa Clara County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas comfortably fending off a challenger to hold onto her agricultural South County seat. As of 8:47 p.m. Tuesday, Arenas is leading with 63% of the vote or 21,739 votes. Morgan Hill Unified School District board member Rebecca Munson is in second with 36.9% of... The post Sylvia Arenas ahead in early results for South County contest appeared first on San José Spotlight .
It’s budget season in Santa Clara County, and once again the powers that be are ringing the familiar bells of control and fear. San Jose is facing a deficit. Are you surprised? I’m not. Here’s the playbook: Elected officials keep the public locked in a scarcity mindset of “never having enough” to distract from their... The post Brammer: Civic Circus — The myth of scarcity in San Jose’s budget appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The construction of 120 affordable apartments on a city-owned parking lot in downtown Mountain View is officially underway after facing years of financial struggles to get built. City and local leaders gathered outside Mountain View’s Civic Center Plaza Wednesday morning to celebrate the groundbreaking of Corso, a five-story affordable housing development at 444 Bryant St., near Mountain View’s City Hall. The... The post Affordable housing breaks ground in downtown Mountain View appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose is set to address concerns from residents who have complained for months about excessive noise and after-hours activity at a park in their Berryessa neighborhood — all stemming from pickleball. Umang Doshi, who lives across from the pickleball courts at Cataldi Park, said the constant popping of paddles hitting balls has dramatically affected daily life... The post Residents near San Jose park plagued by pickleball appeared first on San José Spotlight .
New rules and work requirements for Medi-Cal and food stamps imposed by the federal government could strip benefits from thousands of people in Santa Clara County. As of Monday, work requirements for people receiving food stamps, known as CalFresh in California, have expanded to include adults ages 18 to 64, raising it from the prior... The post Thousands to lose Medi-Cal and food aid in Santa Clara County appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Bay Area civil rights hero Clarence B. Jones died last month at 95 in an assisted living facility in Cupertino. Most coverage rightly focused on how he helped draft Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. But reducing Jones to that single moment misses what his life represented. Yes, he was a witness... The post Genzel: We must take action to honor local hero Clarence B. Jones appeared first on San José Spotlight .
For years, Mountain View has been making progress in combating greenhouse gas emissions with a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045. But that target is shaping up to be more challenging than anticipated, as shifting political winds have altered federal and state policies that the city once counted on to help reach its decarbonization goals. “The last time the... The post Mountain View grapples with carbon neutrality goal as support wanes appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose is poised to bring back virtual public comments during its meetings, two years after the city cut the option due to hate speech concerns. The reintroduction of remote participation, which could come as soon as the June 8 budget hearing, is a response to a new state law mandating digital access for a... The post San Jose poised to restore virtual public comment appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San José Spotlight is highlighting community members who make a difference for AAPI Heritage Month. Ellina Yin compares citizen participation in local government to putting together a piece of IKEA furniture using one of those frustrating assembly manuals that have no words. A self-trained community educator and activist, Yin wants to be the Allen wrench,... The post San Jose activist wants to demystify local government appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose is taking another look at ranked choice voting after the City Council rejected a proposal to adopt the idea in city elections four years ago. Amid concerns over the spiraling costs from special elections, councilmembers are considering a charter amendment that would give the city the option to use ranked choice voting in... The post San Jose may rethink voting method for special elections appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Palo Alto is seeking to earn a pro-housing designation from the state of California this year, a label that would mark a major shift in the way the city has responded to growing regional housing needs amid significant resident pushback to new development. If the city’s application succeeds, Palo Alto would join 74 other cities — including... The post Palo Alto seeks ‘pro-housing’ designation after resisting growth appeared first on San José Spotlight .
An East San Jose youth center that burned to the ground last year has only made the community more determined to raise it from the ashes. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees on Thursday voted 4-1 to enter an exclusive negotiating agreement with SOMOS Mayfair and the School of Arts and Culture,... The post Burned East San Jose youth center could be rebuilt appeared first on San José Spotlight .
After two years of uncertainty, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds leaders are gearing up to change their own governing structure, ceding more control to the county over the 165-acre public property’s future. The Fairgrounds Management Corporation board of directors on Wednesday voted unanimously to move forward with the county’s recommendations to go from five volunteer board... The post Santa Clara County Fairgrounds shifts leadership structure appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The little things can make a big difference. This year’s housing market has been a mixed bag. Some weeks’ sales are red hot, and others are ice cold. Even with all the challenges our market has had this year, it is remarkably resilient compared to other parts of the country. We are truly fortunate in... The post Collins: Presentation is essential in today’s housing market appeared first on San José Spotlight .
In a warehouse on The Alameda, San Jose Taiko members beat drums, play a bamboo flute, shake a beaded gourd, ring bells, switch positions and instruments and dance in practiced choreographed movements for hours. The group was practicing for performances at a San Francisco Giants’ game and a festival in Japantown. Taiko — which means... The post San Jose Taiko expresses Japanese American pride appeared first on San José Spotlight .
With artificial intelligence threatening to upend workplaces throughout Silicon Valley, the area’s representative in Congress has an idea he hopes will reduce anxieties about the revolutionary technology: nudge tech companies to take a central role in educating the workforce of the future. The tense relationship between recent college graduates and AI has been on display... The post Silicon Valley lawmaker favors AI tech partnerships over regulations appeared first on San José Spotlight .
For residents living next to Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in East San Jose, errant golf balls flying over the course’s catch nets and into the surrounding neighborhoods is a fact of life. “I kept the basket on my patio, so when the golf balls came through, I collected them,” Donnette, a resident living in... The post East San Jose neighborhood hit by stray golf balls appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Faith leaders across Santa Clara County are committing money to immigration legal defense services as advocates warn families continue to face fear and uncertainty around detention and deportation. More than 120 donors across the Presbytery of San Jose are giving $15,000 to local immigration advocacy groups to support legal aid services for people facing deportation.... The post Santa Clara County church commits funds to immigration defense appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A grassroots advocacy group in North Sunnyvale is working to stop the area from turning into a food desert. The threat of losing the area’s few remaining grocery stores to housing redevelopments at Fair Oaks Plaza and Lakewood Shopping Center has fueled residents to push city leaders and developers to find a way to preserve... The post North Sunnyvale residents fight development to prevent food desert appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The latest round of campaign finance filings for the 2026 election cycle show money pouring into San Jose’s three competitive City Council races. In each case, a clear fundraising frontrunner has emerged. This cycle, the city is holding elections in its five odd-numbered council districts, though the incumbents in District 1 and 3 — Councilmembers... The post San Jose council candidates raise funds ahead of election appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The post Fact Brief: Is Downtown San Jose’s commercial vacancy rate more than 30%? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Despite ongoing budget challenges, Palo Alto is preparing to restore some of the funding it was planning to cut from the city’s crossing guard program and ask the school district to help pay for the popular service, according to a recommendation the City Council Finance Committee approved May 19. As part of its final hearing... The post Palo Alto poised to restore crossing guard funding after public uproar appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is charging ahead with a natural gas appliance ban that is as impractical as it is punitive. Despite legitimate concerns over implementation, costs and confusing exemptions, the board’s recent meeting on May 13 proved that the voices of 7.7 million residents are falling on deaf ears. This looming... The post Khamis: Bay Area air district’s gas appliance ban is wrong appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Transit advocates say they’ve surpassed their signature-gathering goal to put a sales tax on the November ballot, which would raise $1 billion annually for public transit service across five Bay Area counties and could save some stations from closure. Representatives for the Connect Bay Area campaign on Tuesday said canvassers gathered nearly 306,000 signatures — roughly 120,000... The post Will Bay Area transit tax measure qualify for November ballot? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Bucks not clucks — that’s the future for a contested commercial site in Campbell set to become a Chase Bank instead of a Chick-fil-A that residents fought against twice. The Campbell Planning Commission on May 12 unanimously approved the Chase project on a one-acre site at 2060 S. Bascom Avenue, one block south of The... The post Former Denny’s in Campbell to become Chase Bank appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Outrageous. Catastrophic. A massive leadership failure. These are the words Santa Clara County leaders used this week to describe Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decisions in response to his May 14 state budget revision. Instead of helping California’s second largest public hospital system withstand billions of dollars in funding cuts under President Donald Trump’s H.R. 1 spending... The post Santa Clara County faces $200M losses in new state budget appeared first on San José Spotlight .
There is a distinct therapeutic magic to be discovered in a plate of Chunky Monkey Pancakes from Mix Huevos in San Jose, according to owner Ray Hernandez. Layered with warm banana slices, dark chocolate chips, glazed walnuts and a bourbon butterscotch glaze, it’s his favorite dish and, he said, nothing less than a tonic for... The post The Biz Beat: San Jose brunch spot serves Cali-Mexico fusion appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s bid for governor appears to be stalling. An outside committee set up to support Mahan’s campaign, Deliver for Mahan, has filed papers to shut down while another, California Back to Basics, has refunded a $1 million donation from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, as first reported by the Mercury News. “It’s... The post San Jose mayor’s bid for CA governor fizzles out appeared first on San José Spotlight .
On a recent Sunday afternoon, golfers hit balls that sailed past a gaggle of geese and a lone duck resting on the yellowing fairway of Mountain View’s Shoreline Golf Links. The 18-hole course is part of a 750-acre wildlife refuge and recreation area, a feature that many players say is what makes the course memorable... The post Mountain View public golf course to end affordable memberships appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Cupertino officials are set to review a proposed development that would bring more than two dozen homes to a commercial corridor off Stevens Creek Boulevard. The proposal from SummerHill Homes calls for a 27-townhome, three-story development on 1.55 acres at 10268 Bandley Drive, including five below-market-rate homes for low-income residents. The project would replace an existing... The post Townhomes planned in Cupertino off Stevens Creek Boulevard appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose residents were promised stronger public safety. Instead, they are being asked to accept fewer firefighters, fewer emergency resources and longer response times during emergencies. Today, San Jose has only about 650 sworn firefighters protecting nearly 1 million residents — far below national standards for a major city. According to the San Jose Fire... The post May: The dangerous reality behind San Jose’s ‘safest big city’ narrative appeared first on San José Spotlight .
South Bay safety net service providers facing an increased demand and decreased funding are calling for community support. The Emergency Assistance Network, a collaboration of Santa Clara County nonprofits led by United Way, is confronting a devastating lack of financial assistance due to federal and county budget cuts. The network provides coordinated support for residents... The post Increased demand strains South Bay service providers appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A commercial truck company based in San Jose has lost its bid to gain additional compensation from VTA in an eminent domain case stemming from the planned BART extension project through Silicon Valley. Monarch Truck Center executives have argued their business has been severely harmed following its forced relocation two years ago. But after a weeks-long... The post San Jose truck company loses eminent domain case appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Sunnyvale leaders want to stop new smoke shops from popping up in town, especially near schools and other youth-oriented areas. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a 45-day emergency moratorium to temporarily halt new smoke shop permits and introduced a separate policy banning nitrous oxide sales citywide. The proposed regulations come as city... The post Sunnyvale hits pause on new smoke shops appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Signing up for the San Jose Fire Department Women’s Boot Camp was one of the hottest tickets in town, filling up shortly after the Saturday event opened. Capt. Corey Condren launched the program in 2018 in an effort to increase the number of women in the SJFD. Her efforts have paid off, growing from 50... The post Interest soars in San Jose female firefighter boot camp appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The post Fact Brief: Is The Doobie Brothers rock band from San Jose? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Ambitious plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions mingled with concerns about San Jose’s daunting fiscal challenges and potential overregulation during a climate-focused election forum quizzing the candidates running for District 9’s City Council seat. The race’s five candidates spent an hour at the Cambrian Branch Library Saturday answering questions and sharing their visions for how... The post San Jose District 9 candidates ‘noncommittal’ on climate policy appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County has seen an encouraging decline in child death rates, while simultaneously being marred by repeat tragedies and scandals as a result of bad homes and youth welfare leaders bungling foster cases. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday grappled with official findings that most deaths of children under the county’s care between 2021... The post Report shows child deaths in Santa Clara County were avoidable appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose is offering a warm welcome to the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which plans to launch its latest expansion team in the city. Dozens of sports fans, elected leaders and local sports legends turned out for a Wednesday announcement event held on the rink inside SAP Center, which is set to become the yet-to-be-named... The post Professional women’s hockey team to call San Jose home appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County displayed “Happy Nurses Week” banners across the hospitals of California’s second largest public healthcare system this month. But the nurses weren’t feeling the love. Instead, they’re up in arms as county leaders — grappling with a crushing budget deficit — have asked to delay cost-of-living wage increases that nurses went on strike for... The post Santa Clara County nurses say no to pay raise delay appeared first on San José Spotlight .
More than a dozen public parking spots in downtown Mountain View are slated to be temporarily unavailable to make way for a construction project on Castro Street. The City Council unanimously approved the closure of 13 parking spots in Lot 2 at its May 12 meeting. The item was part of the council’s consent agenda,... The post Mountain View OKs temporary closure of 13 downtown parking spots appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Community health in Santa Clara County is facing its gravest challenge since the depths of the COVID pandemic. The full scale of the devastating cuts in federal health care spending contained in H.R. 1 will be felt this year in Santa Clara County and throughout the nation, and for several years after. That is why... The post Duong: Improving health while reducing costs in a federal funding desert appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A Cupertino resident is challenging the city’s approval of a multihome development in a high fire risk area, arguing officials failed to properly study the dangers. The lawsuit, filed May 1 by resident Mark Fantozzi against Cupertino and developer SummerHill Homes, alleges the Linda Vista Drive housing project violates state environmental and subdivision laws because... The post Cupertino sued over housing project in high fire risk area appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Money is flowing in two competitive Santa Clara County races less than a month before the June 2 primary election. Campaign finance filings show District 1 Supervisor Sylvia Arenas has raised more than $119,000 between this and last year and spent more than $3,600 to hold onto the agricultural South County region she won in 2022. She’s fending off a... The post Dollars flow into Santa Clara County DA, supervisor races appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Palo Alto city leaders have enthusiastically backed a housing project that would have likely been dead on arrival just two years ago: an 85-foot-tall apartment building in the Ventura neighborhood. The proposal from Vittoria Management is one of about 10 projects that the city received through the “builder’s remedy” process, which allows builders to circumvent... The post Palo Alto leaders approve 183-apartment complex appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose housing commissioners are raising concerns over how much authority the city housing director has — with some commissioners saying they’re being sidelined. Officials at the Housing and Development Commission meeting on Thursday had a disagreement over what information commissioners have the right to request from the Housing Department. Some commissioners said it’s been... The post Housing commissioners say San Jose isn’t providing data appeared first on San José Spotlight .
With more than a dozen data center projects taking shape in Santa Clara County, local leaders have offered assurances that potential environmental impacts will be thoroughly assessed before any new facility gets switched on. But when it comes to water usage, a group of Bay Area researchers is warning such environmental reviews have an alarming... The post South Bay data centers present environmental challenges appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara University is entering the medical field through a major partnership with Sutter Health aimed at training future physicians in the South Bay. University and healthcare leaders announced the launch of the Mark & Mary Stevens School of Medicine during a Friday event outside the future campus site at 2431 Mission College Blvd. in... The post Santa Clara University to open region’s first medical school in 100 years appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Tasheana Price used to sleep in the door frame of a building near the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Now, she works with homelessness nonprofit LifeMoves to manage volunteers at the organization’s drop-in service center downtown — the same place where she received case management herself about 10 years ago. During the May 14 ribbon-cutting ceremony... The post Palo Alto transitional housing site celebrates long-awaited opening appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Cupertino is the latest Bay Area city wrestling with pickleball noise concerns as the sport sparks debates over public space, neighborhood impacts and court access. A pilot program has been approved to limit free drop-in pickleball play at Memorial Park from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and prohibits pickleball on Mondays from... The post Cupertino takes steps to limit pickleball noise appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Community leaders rallied at the seat of Santa Clara County government Thursday with a flurry of signs and one promise: No federal detention center will be built near Gilroy without a fight. It comes after San José Spotlight first reported on public records indicating a real estate firm in Beverly Hills — which has been... The post Santa Clara County officials denounce proposed detention center appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Looking to cut down on pollution, Mountain View approved a citywide policy Tuesday that seeks to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. In a unanimous vote, the City Council backed major updates to a policy that requires developers to encourage sustainable forms of transportation, such as offering transit subsidies, bicycle facilities and carshare services. “I... The post Mountain View approves new rules to cut down on traffic appeared first on San José Spotlight .
From the water we drink to the flood protection projects in our neighborhoods, infrastructure quietly supports our daily lives. In Santa Clara County, many of our water systems are nearly 50 to 60 years old, making this a critical time to modernize and strengthen them. As we take time to acknowledge the upcoming National Public... The post Estremera: Investing in the future of water appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Few buildings epitomize the evolution of Silicon Valley better than the sprawling, lofty structure on Portage Avenue, which began its life as one of the nation’s largest fruit canneries and later evolved into one of Palo Alto’s major retail destinations, best known for Fry’s Electronics. On Tuesday, the 73,000-square-foot building that was once known as... The post Former Palo Alto cannery celebrates history with new chapter appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Public records suggest the federal government plans to build a detention center in Santa Clara County, just 11 miles south of an ICE field office in Morgan Hill. The potential facility would be located at 7240 Holsclaw Road, an unincorporated area right outside Gilroy’s boundaries. Federal procurement records show the General Services Administration, which handles... The post Federal detention center planned in South County appeared first on San José Spotlight .
The post Fact Brief: Is San Jose’s police force small for the city’s population? appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Driverless vehicles will soon be a more common sight in the West Valley as autonomous ride-sharing company Waymo expands into the region — leaving local officials grappling with concerns about safety and transit impacts. Waymo will begin operating in West Valley cities such as Cupertino and Campbell in the coming weeks, as well as Willow... The post Waymo driverless cars are coming to the West Valley appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose’s leaders are taking a victory lap following the release of new figures gauging the impact of two major sporting events that took place in the South Bay earlier this year — Super Bowl 60 and NCAA’s March Madness games. Across several business sectors — hotels, restaurants, retail and air travel — officials said... The post San Jose pumped over sporting events’ financial win appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose is planning to slash its funding for immigrant protection services in half amid a budget deficit, while immigrants continue to face fear of federal enforcement. The city’s proposed operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year allocates $500,000 for legal defense services and education — half of what the city allocated last year. Immigration advocates... The post Immigrant defense funds slashed in San Jose budget cuts appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Campaign signs go missing in just about every election cycle in San Jose — and accusations begin to swirl of theft and sabotage. Usually, the sign takers go to great lengths to hide their identities. But in the ongoing race for the District 9 City Council seat, the man behind a rash of sign disappearances... The post Escalating sign spat riles San Jose District 9 candidates appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Lion dancers, story time with characters, a musical performance and a bubble show were part of the festivities surrounding the long-awaited grand opening of the Campbell Library on Saturday. Librarians led hundreds of residents on tours to highlight the special features of the building. The May 9 celebration, hosted by the Santa Clara County Library... The post Campbell Library opens after two years of construction appeared first on San José Spotlight .
As Santa Clara County leaders ask their top prosecutor to make cuts during a crushing budget deficit, District Attorney Jeff Rosen is instead questioning county spending he considers nonessential — such as summer leadership camps for county executives. Rosen and a coalition of local law enforcement union leaders on Monday called on the county to review... The post Silicon Valley DA calls out ‘nonessential’ spending amid budget cuts appeared first on San José Spotlight .
It’s been nearly six months since Palo Alto leaders celebrated the grand opening of the city’s new public safety building, a $123.5-million facility near California Avenue that took decades of planning and five years of construction. Most of the work on the three-story building at 250 Sherman Ave. was completed by the summer of 2025,... The post Months after opening, Palo Alto police headquarters is largely empty appeared first on San José Spotlight .
This year, two bills moving through the state reveal the competing visions shaping California’s response to one of its greatest humanitarian failures. One asks how we stop people from losing housing in the first place. The other focuses on managing the consequences after people have already fallen into crisis. Assembly Bill 1924 would require California... The post Bramson: Preventing homelessness is more effective than criminalizing it appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara officials are shifting decision-making over certain public right-of-way areas from elected leaders to city staff, with some residents sharing concerns about transparency and accountability. The City Council on Tuesday voted 4-3 to have the city manager approve minor public right-of-way changes, such as fences or structures near sidewalks, without needing to hold a... The post Santa Clara shifts minor public right-of-way changes to staff appeared first on San José Spotlight .
San Jose plans to decommission its only sanctioned tent homeless encampment months after it opened. The Taylor Street Navigation Hub is scheduled to close by next January as San Jose grapples with its $50 million deficit. The move comes as a shock to homeless advocates, as San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan threw his weight behind the... The post Budget cuts will close San Jose safe sleeping site appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Faced with a punishing budget shortfall, San Jose voters are being asked to increase the city’s hotel tax by 2% on the June 2 primary election ballot. San Jose’s Measure A, which will increase the city tax levied on hotel guests from 10% to 12%, has opened up a familiar debate for the consistently cash... The post Proposed San Jose hotel tax critical to avoid cutting services appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Despite Santa Clara County having the second largest public hospital system in the state, West Valley residents have never had their own county-run health clinic. That’s changing with a new center in Cupertino — and it’s running on wheels. County officials and health leaders gathered at De Anza College on Friday to launch a mobile... The post West Valley gets first mobile health clinic appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Kelley Paul on Thursday ordered the recusal of District Attorney Jeff Rosen and his entire office from retrying a Stanford felony vandalism case, citing a conflict of interest. Rosen filed felony vandalism and conspiracy charges in April 2025 against 12 Stanford University students and allies, after they allegedly broke... The post Santa Clara County DA ordered to recuse from Stanford vandalism trial appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Access to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library room housing archives of San Jose and Santa Clara County’s rich history is about to become more limited if proposed cuts to the city’s budget pass. The California Room inside the library may close its services to the public as the city looks for ways to... The post San Jose library could restrict archive access due to budget cuts appeared first on San José Spotlight .
For generations, the late Rod Dirdon has been synonymous with transit in Santa Clara County. He’s had a greater impact on transit in the area than anyone else and has touched so many of us. I first met Rod in 2019, when I was just starting to get involved in transit advocacy. I met him... The post Mallon: Best way to honor Santa Clara County transit icon — keep building appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Residents near Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale are pushing back against proposed renovations they say could limit access to the open space they use daily. The city is exploring whether to redesign the 24.3-acre park to include a multi-use sports field, potential fencing and lighting upgrades. Residents who oppose the changes said fencing the space... The post Sunnyvale residents opposed to park redesign appeared first on San José Spotlight .
Santa Clara County election officials are anticipating the highest midterm primary voter turnout in years as they mail ballots to households that will determine a slate of local races — and whether San Jose’s mayor has a shot at becoming governor. More than 1 million active registered voters in Santa Clara County can expect a... The post Early voting begins as Santa Clara County mails ballots appeared first on San José Spotlight .
A new journalism fellowship aimed at strengthening local news coverage and training the next generation of reporters is coming to the South Bay — supported by a $155,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The initiative brings together San José Spotlight, The Mercury News and San Jose State University in a... The post Knight Foundation funds first South Bay journalism fellowship appeared first on San José Spotlight .