Dozens of uncashed checks. Expenditures that were not allowed. Tardiness in submitting quarterly performance reports. These are some of the issues found in an audit of local nonprofits providing housing assistance during the pandemic. In fiscal year 2021-22, the San Jose Housing Department received $89 million in federal and state dollars for nonprofits to distribute for...
Santa Clara County property value growth is slow
The total assessed value of all properties in Santa Clara County has increased, but revenue isn’t enough to keep up with cost of services. According to the 2024 Assessment Roll, Santa Clara County’s assessed property value is $696.8 billion and has grown by $35.6 billion, or 5.4%, from last year. That growth rate isn’t fast...
San Jose hotel workers want higher wages as industry bounces back
San Jose hotel guests looked on as hundreds of hospitality workers marched and picketed major hotel chains across downtown Tuesday — calling for higher wages, benefits and more staffing after their collective bargaining agreement recently expired. It’s been four years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and many hotels have maintained reduced staffing levels,...
Silicon Valley mayors want fair share of $20B housing bond
A group of Silicon Valley mayors want to know how funds will be divided if voters pass a measure to build and preserve affordable housing across the region. A letter signed by 12 mayors of Santa Clara County’s 15 municipalities went to the Board of Supervisors on July 5, asking the county to establish an expenditure...
San Jose Sharks remain hush over negotiations with city
The San Jose Sharks are still being tight-lipped about their closed door discussion with city officials over the team’s future at the Shark Tank. As the NHL team’s 10-year agreement at the SAP Center transitions to an annual renewal starting next year, Sharks representatives are not only eager to stay in San Jose through 2040,...
Santa Clara asks voters to pass multimillion-dollar bond
Santa Clara voters will decide in November whether to give the city roughly $400 million for various infrastructure fixes around the city. The Santa Clara City Council approved the bond measure on Tuesday 6-1, with Councilmember Kevin Park dissenting. City employees originally proposed a $598 million bond, but councilmembers could only agree on a lower...
49ers dole out millions in Santa Clara community benefits
For a decade, the 49ers have worked to help uplift the community surrounding the city the team calls home. In an effort to recognize that work, they’re celebrating Levi’s Stadium’s 10th anniversary by launching “49ers Cares About Santa Clara,” an initiative to publicly show how the 49ers Foundation, team and stadium have affected the surrounding...
San Jose spruces up downtown signs ahead of Super Bowl
San Jose is revisiting a plan to make the heart of the city more walkable and easy to navigate ahead of two major sports events. The city is working to replace outdated signs in the downtown area to highlight local landmarks, businesses and public transportation options before Super Bowl 60 and the FIFA World Cup come...
Milpitas mayor celebrates city’s 70 years of growth
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Milpitas’ incorporation, and Mayor Carmen Montano celebrated its history and future in her State of the City speech. Her message focused on the city’s history of agriculture and industry, as well as recent investments in affordable housing, public safety, transportation and economic development. Montano said looking at the...
Sunnyvale’s budget is flush with money
While most of Santa Clara County grapples with balancing budget shortfalls, one city has enough money to set aside for future resident services. Now, city officials have to decide where that money should go. Sunnyvale is putting money into a “set aside” fund, beginning with $3.5 million this fiscal year. The Sunnyvale City Council approved...