The for-profit company providing water for six Santa Clara County cities will walk back proposed rate hikes over three years. But watchdogs say the cuts are a sham and residents will still face higher water bills. San Jose Water Company initially proposed to hike rates by a total of 20% through 2027. A proposed settlement agreement between the...
Santa Clara County city pushes for higher sales tax
Campbell officials are asking residents to boost the city’s sales tax to the highest rate in Santa Clara County this November to provide revenue they say is necessary to maintain its quality of life. The Campbell City Council unanimously voted last week to place a 1/2-cent sales tax increase on the ballot, which could raise...
Santana Row parking no longer free
Max Shandeh has been frequenting Santana Row since it opened more than two decades ago to enjoy a cup of coffee or a delectable meal. When he came for his late afternoon run to a French-style bakery, he was surprised to find parking would no longer be free. “I’m not happy with it. We come...
Popular Willow Glen restaurant to close
A beloved New American style restaurant in the heart of Willow Glen is closing after being unable to keep up with inflation and rising food costs. Braise, located on Lincoln Avenue in San Jose, is shutting its doors on Aug. 5, despite soldiering on through COVID lockdowns and the economic downturn during the pandemic. Partner...
Sunnyvale on solid footing while neighbor strapped for cash
While one Santa Clara County city pinches pennies to make ends meet and juggles budget shortfalls, its neighbor to the west sits on a surplus that can easily cover its deficit. Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, although similar in size, couldn’t be more different in their approach to governing. Sunnyvale’s 2024-25 budget has a structural surplus for...
Silicon Valley nonprofits mismanaged federal dollars
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,...