Two San Jose cannabis dispensaries have temporarily closed — and the city stands to lose millions in revenue if they go out of business. MedMen and Herbs both closed their doors in the last few weeks, raising alarm across Silicon Valley’s cannabis industry. While they closed for different reasons, local cannabis lobbyists and retailers say...
Milpitas to survey residents about extending sales tax
Milpitas is hoping to hold on to a revenue stream dedicated toward city services and keep its budget from falling into the red. The Milpitas City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resident survey to gauge support for a ballot measure this November that would extend Measure F, a citywide quarter-cent sales tax which sunsets...
Santa Clara County won’t appeal 49ers tax break ruling
A yearslong debate over whether the 49ers should be allowed a multimillion-dollar property tax break for Levi’s Stadium has come to a close. Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone says he will not appeal a recent Superior Court ruling that upheld a decision to significantly reduce the tax burden associated with the stadium for the...
UPDATE: Santa Clara County caps spending for district projects
In light of looming budget challenges, Santa Clara County supervisors will cap how much money they give to various organizations in their districts. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors today voted to cap community spending per district at $1 million. They also directed county employees to come back at a future meeting with options...
South Bay boosters want bigger bump from 2026 Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is returning to the South Bay in 2026, and local movers and shakers hope to get the region more shine than it received last time around, when San Francisco drew the lion’s share of the fans and revenue. Some leaders suggest San Jose and its boosters should work to undercut and outcompete...
Silicon Valley minimum wage bump doesn’t cover costs
The minimum wage is going up across Silicon Valley in January, but it won’t be high enough to cover the rising expenses of daily living. Although minimum wage is going up as high as $18.55 in Sunnyvale, workers and business owners say the increases aren’t enough to make a dent in the region’s expensive rent...
Santa Clara reserves fall short of revenue needs
Santa Clara’s budget deficit has shrunk dramatically, but city officials warn that new tax strategies are necessary to build up long-suffering coffers. City officials told the Santa Clara City Council this month the $27 million deficit has dropped to about $9 million. But to maintain this downward trend, city employees recommended some adjustments to the...
‘Dying to stay here’: The plight of Black people in Silicon Valley
A local economist startled by the staggering disparities pushing African Americans to the margins in Santa Clara County is launching a video and podcast project hoping to bring more attention to the issue. Chuck Cantrell’s “Dying to Stay Here” video was formally released at CreaTV studios in San Jose earlier this month. The roughly nine-minute...
San Jose Flea Market vendors get two-year reprieve
San Jose Berryessa Flea Market vendors have been guaranteed another two years to stay open, thanks to an early morning deal struck between San Jose and the landowners. San Jose Councilmember David Cohen reached an agreement on Friday with the Bumb family to guarantee the flea market can stay open until at least January 2026....
San Jose Chamber of Commerce names new CEO
The San Jose Chamber of Commerce has selected Leah Toeniskoetter as its new president and CEO, the organization announced today. Toeniskoetter is the founding director of public policy think tank SPUR San Jose, as well as a senior manager at Deloitte and daughter of prolific developer Chuck Toeniskoetter. She is the third CEO for the...