Economy

Economy

Silicon Valley parents face highest child care costs

A national survey ranks California among the top five states with the least affordable child care. Local officials say Santa Clara County is worse. California ranked third, second and fifth for least affordable nannying, babysitting and infant day care in 2023 respectively, based on a national survey of 2,000 respondents with children under age 14...

Once a booming industry, San Jose cannabis shops face closure

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...

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....