For a body historically known for paring down housing development proposals, the Palo Alto City Council this week overwhelmingly put its support behind a proposal for 72 affordable housing units on a downtown surface parking lot, an increase of 18 compared to the initial design that it had endorsed in January. The original plans from...
Santa Clara County rallies to fill looming food aid gap
South Bay nonprofit leaders and government officials are racing to surge food aid into the region, as low-income residents brace for a sudden halt to the federal food stamps program. The halt of funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California, amid a federal government shutdown has led to dire warnings...
Bay Area transit sales tax measure clears state hurdle
Advocates are gearing up for a regional outreach effort now that the door is open for a Bay Area public transit funding measure on the November 2026 ballot. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 63, also known as the Connect Bay Area Transit Act, on Oct. 13 — clearing the way for a voter initiative...
DUIs top list for most common crashes in Mountain View
Driving under the influence was the top reason for vehicle crashes in Mountain View last year, a trend the Mountain View Police Department is looking to reverse with a $75,000 state grant that will help pay police overtime for traffic and DUI enforcement efforts, training and education. In 2024, there were 336 reported collisions in Mountain...
Fed food cuts spur San Jose eatery to offer free meals
Bay Area restaurants are stepping up to provide meals to families affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown and the looming loss of food stamps. Tony & Alba’s Pizza & Pasta in San Jose is offering free meals to children and a 25% discount to parents until the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is funded....
Will Prop. 50 boost minority voter turnout in South Bay?
Throughout California, voters are casting mail-in ballots at a furious pace for next Tuesday’s statewide special election to decide whether to adopt Proposition 50, the Democrat-backed plan to counter Republican gerrymandering in other states. But local organizers in Santa Clara County say it has yet to be seen whether the statewide partisan fracas over Proposition...
San Jose council approves policies to freeze ICE out
San Jose continues to strengthen protections for its immigrant communities by prohibiting federal immigration agents from hiding their identity and advancing plans to prevent ICE from using city-owned properties for enforcement. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously for both policies on Tuesday. The city attorney created an unmasking policy that prohibits all law enforcement...
Palo Alto approves contracts to rebuild Mitchell Park fire station
Palo Alto has reached another milestone in its quest to rebuild the Mitchell Park fire station with the City Council approving a series of contracts totaling more than $13 million for a project that has long been viewed by city leaders as a key infrastructure priority. By a unanimous vote, the council approved on Oct....
Santa Clara fights for piece of Super Bowl pie
The small Bay Area city hosting the 2026 Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup wants to make an impression as the world watches. That may be difficult when it’s sandwiched between San Francisco to the north and neighboring San Jose to the south with their big budgets and competitive intentions. Santa Clara is determined not...
San Jose homeless audit highlights failed accountability
San Jose’s homeless outreach efforts have been more concerned about volume than outcomes, and there is little accountability when homeless support nonprofits did not provide adequate services. A city audit of San Jose’s homelessness services released in October found some nonprofits did not meet performance targets or reporting requirements, and the Housing Department failed to...