La Perla Taqueria in East San Jose has for decades pushed its tables together for family meals, birthdays and even baby showers. That will all end before January. Owner José Huitron has tried to reconcile his staggering overhead costs with the restaurant’s duty as a neighborhood mainstay. The crowds aren’t as big as they used...
San Jose to ring in new year with business tax amnesty
The new year will bring with it a chance for San Jose’s 96,000 registered businesses to square their overdue tax bills with the city — without paying a late fee. Beginning Jan. 1, the city will roll out a year-long business tax amnesty program. For businesses making late payments under the program, the city will...
Silicon Valley’s wealthiest skip their own backyard
Silicon Valley’s wealthiest residents are steering billions of dollars to national and global causes instead of investing in their own backyard — a trend that’s persisted for at least five years. The region’s richest donated $1.52 billion to philanthropy this past year, according to a recent report from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. But just...
Campbell sales tax among highest in state after Measure A
Santa Clara County’s hospital lifeline sales tax increase won’t affect Silicon Valley residents equally. The temporary five-eighths-cent increase, approved by voters last month as Measure A, will bring the sales tax rate to 10% or higher in three cities where voters have already approved existing local tax measures: Milpitas, Campbell and San Jose. Los Gatos...
Silicon Valley real estate development lowest since 2013
It is the best of times and worst of times for commercial real estate and development in Silicon Valley, according to the newest quarterly report from economic think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley. The good news is Silicon Valley developers completed 5.6 million square feet of new office and industrial space in the first nine...
Where to find a free Thanksgiving meal or food box
People struggling with food insecurity will still be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal thanks to Bay Area nonprofits. High food prices and a delay in CalFresh food benefits — California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — have left an increasing number of people having to choose between paying for food, health care...
Santa Clara County nixes rezoning on horses and wineries
Santa Clara County leaders have slammed the brakes on a rezoning plan that South County farmers, winery owners and equestrians warned could threaten their businesses and the future of Silicon Valley’s iconic — but vanishing — rural vestige. After hundreds of written letters of opposition, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to order...
San Francisco steals South Bay’s Super Bowl spotlight — again
An official lineup of Super Bowl fanfare events largely snubs the South Bay in favor of San Francisco — 50 miles north of where the game will actually happen. San Jose appears just once on a list of NFL-endorsed concerts, meet-and-greets and press events announced by the Bay Area Host Committee, the region’s major sports...
Bay Area basketball star, congressman call for food donations
With an assist from Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, Congressman Sam Liccardo is rallying support for food banks helping families who have lost SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown. Jackson-Davis joined Liccardo at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Monday to urge residents to provide financial support for the food bank while funding...
Federal workers in San Jose get free meals during shutdown
A food service provider is stepping up to provide hot meals to federal workers at the San Jose airport during the government shutdown. The workers haven’t been paid since Oct. 1 and food insecurity is prevalent. During the shutdown, Martha’s Kitchen is providing more than 800 meals a week to 340 Transportation Security Administration (TSA)...