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2023 in review: The biggest Santa Clara stories of the year

Santa Clara had a busy year, from committing to the construction of hundreds of homes, to accusations and legal troubles among officials, to millions of dollars flowing into the city from headliner events at Levi’s Stadium. Here’s a look back at 2023 and what transpired: Thousands of homes The Santa Clara City Council took its...

Lawsuit alleges harassment by former Santa Clara County sheriff

A Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office employee is suing the county, claiming former Sheriff Laurie Smith created a hostile work environment for her and others who participated in a corruption investigation targeting Smith. Lara McCabe, a management analyst in the sheriff’s office, alleges in a complaint filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court last month...

Powerful PAC supports several San Jose candidates

A political action committee that supports local pro-business candidates has announced its endorsements for next year’s San Jose City Council and mayoral elections. Silicon Valley Biz PAC is putting its weight behind incumbent Mayor Matt Mahan for another term leading the city. For the council seats, the Biz PAC is endorsing Joe Lopez, a retired sheriff’s...

Milpitas takes note of 2023, looks ahead to 2024

This year, Milpitas banned natural gas in all new buildings, enhanced its rideshare program and looked for new ways to increase its housing. Looking ahead into the new year, the city has plans for a unique workplace housing project and an expansion to its Innovation Campus in the pipeline. Here’s what happened in 2023 and...

2023 in review: The San Jose City Council’s major decisions

San Jose policymakers marked 2023 with a myriad of major political votes and debates—many of which will have lasting effects for years to come. A newly seated San Jose City Council, which included a first-time mayor and six new councilmembers, made notable decisions to avoid what would’ve been the city’s largest worker strike, voted for...

2023 in review: The top 10 Biz Beat stories

One of the great pleasures of compiling stories for The Biz Beat is meeting remarkable restaurant owners and soaking up their enthusiasm. Having the chance to stand in a corner of a kitchen and watch them prepare their dishes is a joy and an education. Their stories are diverse, from those who learned recipes by...

Major Silicon Valley developments to watch in 2024

In 2023, San Jose and Silicon Valley’s development scene faced numerous challenges, including increasing costs due to inflation and spiked interest rates making financing projects of all kinds more difficult and expensive. While development approvals continued at a rapid pace, many projects are on hold or being changed or resized to cut costs, office space...