San Jose’s leaders are taking a victory lap following the release of new figures gauging the impact of two major sporting events that took place in the South Bay earlier this year — Super Bowl 60 and NCAA’s March Madness games. Across several business sectors — hotels, restaurants, retail and air travel — officials said...
Proposed San Jose hotel tax critical to avoid cutting services
Faced with a punishing budget shortfall, San Jose voters are being asked to increase the city’s hotel tax by 2% on the June 2 primary election ballot. San Jose’s Measure A, which will increase the city tax levied on hotel guests from 10% to 12%, has opened up a familiar debate for the consistently cash...
San Jose restaurant to relocate after city takes away parking
A long-standing Mexican restaurant is relocating after San Jose converted the motel next door into a homeless shelter. Los Garcia’s Restaurant will move into the former Fairway Zone Sports and Bar Lounge at 1150 Murphy Ave. in North San Jose following months of declining income, due in large part to customers not being able to find...
San Jose budget proposal outlines millions in service cuts
After months of speculation about where the budget axe might land to balance a $50 million deficit, San Jose’s city manager has released a proposal for the upcoming fiscal year that includes broad cuts to city services but avoids layoffs. The $5.5 billion budget proposal submitted by City Manager Jennifer Maguire on Friday has come...
Santa Clara County budget makes steep cuts to safety net programs
Santa Clara County leaders are recommending a net reduction of 464 jobs across the region’s social safety net programs to shoulder a $787 million deficit in their nearly $15 billion budget. County Executive James Williams’ Friday recommendations mark a 7.5% spending increase to the county budget compared to last year, as expenses continue to outpace...
VTA touts spending plan for possible Bay Area sales tax increase
South Bay transportation leaders aren’t waiting for the November election to draft a wishlist of projects to make car-less commuting more bearable. But it depends entirely on voters passing a regional sales tax increase — and saving the Bay Area from transit station closures. The sales tax measure — which proposes a 0.5% increase in...
San Jose’s faulty formula zeroed out worker pay increases
An obscure wage formula used by San Jose is getting an update — bringing a pay bump to some of the city’s lowest paid workers following a year when their wages didn’t rise at all. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved changes to its “living wage” policy, a measure covering workers employed by companies...
Is struggling hotel a bellwether for downtown San Jose?
With the Signia by Hilton San Jose seemingly set to be put on the market, questions are swirling about the future of San Jose’s largest hotel — and what it will mean for downtown. BrightSpire Capital, the owner of the 541-room hotel at 170 S. Market St., signaled to investors in a recent sales call...
High gas prices gouge Silicon Valley
Surging gas prices will cut $1.1 billion from household income in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties this year and eliminate 2,600 jobs, according to estimates from a San Jose economic think tank. A recent report from Joint Venture Silicon Valley shows total economic output in the two counties will drop by $706 million if...
San Jose eyes reviving outdoor dining program
When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and health officials banned most indoor business activities, Doug Cookerly was among dozens of San Jose business owners who took advantage of the city’s emergency Al Fresco outdoor dining program to add outside seating. “It was a savior,” Cookerly, who owns the bar Hop & Vine located on The Alameda,...