Santa Clara needs to bolster its city budget — and public parking fees could be on the menu. Small businesses aren’t on board and worry customer traffic could drop because they won’t want to pay. Although the proposed 2025-26 city budget anticipates a $9.3 million surplus, the following five years are projecting red ink. To...
Campbell considers funding pool upgrades despite deficit
Campbell is dedicating millions of dollars to improve quality of life for residents in spite of a budget shortfall. The Campbell Planning Commission unanimously agreed Tuesday that more than $100 million in public projects aligns with the city’s goals for the next five years, including a $12 million proposal to redo the community center pool....
Santa Clara County works to save services amid federal cuts
A massive structural budget deficit is forcing Santa Clara County leaders to get creative in finding ways to avoid hits to critical social safety net services. A San José Spotlight review of County Executive James Williams’ budget recommendations for fiscal year 2025-26 shows four main takeaways about what services could be eliminated, reduced, saved and...
Cupertino Whole Foods closure opens door for nearby businesses
Rats shutting down a grocery store are never a good thing — unless regulars from that market end up boosting businesses in the surrounding area. The Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health shut down the Cupertino Whole Foods at the end of April after finding rodent droppings in the receiving bay, deli, juice bar...
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San Jose relaxes drinking rules in entertainment zones
San Jose economic officials want to allow the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks outside downtown’s most popular plazas and public streets during next year’s major sports events. With the economic impact from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl 60 in nearby Santa Clara, the San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to...
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San Jose airport has a sweet offer for small businesses —foot traffic
San Jose Mineta International Airport is creating a sense of place, with local fare greeting travelers. The airport revamped its retail program to attract hometown vendors and showcase what San Jose has to offer. Having a local site at the airport helps businesses take advantage of foot traffic, increase product awareness and boost sales. Plans...
Los Gatos considers cuts, hiring freezes to tackle budget shortfall
Some of Los Gatos’ key services could be cut as the town contends with looming multimillion-dollar shortfalls. The Los Gatos Finance Commission unanimously recommended the Town Council cut expenses and increase revenues, rather than pulling from its reserves, to address its $2 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2025-26. The commission also recommended a temporary hiring...
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San Jose shrinks budget shortfall, prioritizes temporary shelters
San Jose’s projected budget deficit has been reduced by almost half since initial estimates from earlier this year, but the city still faces a growing housing crisis and major deficit next year. The City Council previewed the proposed 2025-26 budget during a budget study session Wednesday, which drops the projected budget shortfall of $60 million to $35.6 million. The...
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Feds cut millions for San Jose community projects
The federal government has eliminated millions in potential funding meant for community projects in San Jose involving the Alum Rock business corridor, Happy Hollow Zoo and more. Sarah Zárate, director of intergovernmental relations for the city, told councilmembers Tuesday that even though Congressmembers Ro Khanna, Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren requested $5.5 million in federal...
Santa Clara isn’t spending taxpayer money on World Cup upgrades
The world’s largest sporting event — the FIFA World Cup — is coming to the United States in 2026, and Santa Clara is one of the only cities not breaking the bank to prepare, a data analysis by San José Spotlight shows. The games will be hosted across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Nearly all...