Economy

Economy

Cupertino spent affordable housing funds on lawsuit

Cupertino is scrambling to fix what city officials are calling an “accounting error” after discovering more than $100,000 in affordable housing dollars went to pay off fees from a housing lawsuit, drawing backlash from residents in a time of fiscal uncertainty. The city used money from its below-market-rate housing fund to pay for a lawsuit filed last year by...

San Jose leaders want budget to focus on housing, homelessness

San Jose officials have a daunting task of balancing the budget as they attempt to preserve city services with a $52.1 million shortfall. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved Mayor Matt Mahan’s March budget message on Tuesday, but not before numerous councilmembers added their own amendments around housing, homelessness and other city services. Over the next few months, councilmembers,...

San Jose Water proposed increases rankle residents

Roughly 1 million people in and around San Jose are facing significant increases to their water bills starting next year, if state regulators approve a local company’s plan. San Jose Water Company, a for-profit water retailer, is asking the California Public Utilities Commission to allow an increase of the company’s average water rates by about 22% over three...

San Jose mayor’s budget plan saddled with a shortfall

A looming multimillion-dollar deficit will force San Jose to make cuts in the next budget. Instead of detailing what will be lost, Mayor Matt Mahan has outlined his nonnegotiables. His March budget message prioritizes addressing street homelessness and blight, increasing public safety and making San Jose easier to invest in. Those may seem like the same...

San Jose police’s failure to stop cannabis robbery fuels fight over fees

San Jose cannabis entrepreneurs say police don’t care about protecting their property, and a shocking video appears to validate their frustrations. Security camera footage obtained by San José Spotlight shows three getaway cars easily maneuvering around two San Jose Police Department vehicles and escaping unscathed after suspects robbed Exotix, a South San Jose weed shop...

Bay Area business groups consider partnership to expand influence

Two major business advocacy organizations representing hundreds of the region’s biggest companies are considering joining forces to expand their influence in critical policy areas, including artificial intelligence and housing. Leaders of San Francisco-based Bay Area Council and San Jose-based Silicon Valley Leadership Group are formally exploring a partnership “to create the nation’s most influential business...

Cupertino golfers will pay more to play course

Cupertino is raising fees at one of its most beloved golf courses — and golfers say it’s on par with what the course needs. The Cupertino City Council on Tuesday discussed the plan to raise fees at the popular city-owned Blackberry Farm Golf Course. The city hopes the increase will help keep the course maintained...