A significant number of Santa Clara County residents say they’re considering leaving the Bay Area, a reflection of the persistent frustration over housing costs and affordability even as population data suggests the region is not experiencing a mass exodus. Joint Venture Silicon Valley’s annual survey found 40% of respondents in Santa Clara County said they...
New brewery coming to The Pruneyard in Campbell
A new watering hole is moving into The Pruneyard six months after Rock Bottom Brewery closed. Laughing Monk Brewing will open its fifth location in Campbell, where Rock Bottom Brewery was housed for 30 years. Unlike its national chain predecessor, Laughing Monk is a local brewery with four locations in the Bay Area — Sunnyvale,...
Pruneyard Cinemas in Campbell not closing
Campbell’s Pruneyard Cinemas announced Friday that it has managed to reach an agreement with its landlord in a longstanding rent dispute, allowing the beloved theater to remain open. The news comes as a reversal in fortunes for the theater company, which told customers last week that rising costs would force it to close down permanently...
Santa Clara County prioritizes children amid budget issues
Santa Clara County is working to provide safety net programs to children and their families despite budget issues stemming from federal funding cuts. The county’s children’s budget for fiscal year 2025-26 includes $1.3 billion to support the welfare of children and youth, up 2.8% from the previous fiscal year. The budget is targeted at foster care...
Campbell Pruneyard Cinemas sues landlord in rental dispute
Pruneyard Cinemas, the beloved Campbell movie theater, is permanently closing its doors on Jan. 25 after eight years in business at The Pruneyard shopping center. The announcement comes weeks after the theater company filed a lawsuit against its landlord amid a bitter dispute over rental rates, court documents show. The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 19,...
Audit shows rebound for San Jose hospitality and tourism
The nonprofit agency tasked with promoting San Jose’s hospitality and tourism industries just aced its annual performance audit. Boosters for local business are taking the high marks as a hopeful sign for the city as it heads into a critical year of major sports events. The audit foundTeam San Jose, which also manages major city-owned...
San Jose mayor opposes billionaire tax idea
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has come out against a controversial proposal to create a “billionaire tax” in California. Backers see it as a means of filling a massive deficit facing the state’s health care system. In a nearly 300-word thread posted to X Monday, Mahan warned if passed by voters, the pending statewide ballot measure...
Silicon Valley workers struggle amid minimum wage increase
The new year brings new resolutions — and a slight increase in pay for minimum wage workers in California. Eight cities in Santa Clara County already pay workers above the hourly rate, which in 2026 is $16.90, up 40 cents from the state’s 2025 minimum wage. Business owners are bracing for an uptick in costs and...
San Jose businesses seek economic strength in numbers
San Jose’s local businesses have faced a whirlwind of economic shocks in recent years. A growing number of small business owners want to find their footing by banding together through the formation of new business improvement districts. The City Council on Dec. 16 advanced proposals for two such districts — one covering the Alum Rock-Santa...
Silicon Valley grocery prices rank as No. 1 rising cost, residents say
Supermarket sticker shock is top of mind for Bay Area residents, according to a report by think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley. It takes first place, ahead of other categories hit hard by inflation including housing costs and utility bills. In response to a survey asking, “Which of the following do you think have increased...