The California Supreme Court has blocked an anti-tax ballot measure that faced fierce opposition from local officials, unions and activists in Santa Clara County. The panel’s unanimous decision on Thursday orders Secretary of State Shirley Weber not to place the measure on the November ballot, which if approved would have brought all statewide tax increases...
Santa Clara County stops budget bleed, not future woes
Santa Clara County leaders have managed to approve a $12.5 billion budget that closes a massive deficit. But their problems will only mount in the coming year. The budget — which the Board of Supervisors approved unanimously earlier this month — cuts a total of 222 vacant and filled county jobs and reduces public health...
Popular Cupertino farmers market up for grabs a second time
A popular farmers market in Cupertino is up for grabs in a battle over who can provide the West Valley city fresh tomatoes and strawberries — and it hasn’t been without growing pains. The Foothill-De Anza Community College District has reopened bidding for the Cupertino Farmers Market following community backlash this month after existing operator West Coast Farmers...
Silicon Valley remains blind to its inequalities
An annual report compiling metrics on inequity offers a dismal outlook for people trying to get by in Santa Clara County. The findings of the 2024 Silicon Valley Pain Index published by San Jose State University researchers came out today. Since producing the study five years ago, inequities throughout the Santa Clara County have only...
The Biz Beat: San Jose restaurant wants to highlight ‘California lifestyle’
There is a studied minimalism at The Club on Post that gives way to whimsy at times. Old movies and cartoons are projected on the wall. Picnic tables and umbrellas are set up down the middle of the closed-off street in front of the restaurant. A full bar runs half the length of the place,...
San Jose Xfinity stores first to offer deaf customers ASL services
Xfinity is rolling out a new service in San Jose to increase accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Xfinity, the national internet service provider for parent company Comcast, launched its in-store American Sign Language (ASL) translation services to the public this week. Xfinity will be the first in the country to...
San Jose spearheads nationwide AI safety group
While San Jose is getting cozy with artificial intelligence, the city is preparing safety nets for its own partnerships. The city published a set of employee guidelines on AI last July. Now, it’s nearly done with an AI policy with requirements for companies that work with San Jose. This policy was created in tandem with...
Santa Clara temporarily waives fees for youth sports groups
Youth sports nonprofits in Santa Clara are asking the city to drop its fees to book fields, and officials are looking for a compromise. This year, Santa Clara started charging youth sports groups such as the Santa Clara Westside Little League and the Police Activities League (PAL) $14 hourly to use city fields, which brings...
San Jose officials question feasibility, cost of airport connector
A decision is near on whether to proceed with a futuristic transit system between San Jose’s airport and train station downtown, five years after officials started soliciting partners to build it. San Jose transportation officials told the city’s Transportation and Environmental Committee Monday they are still determining whether an autonomous transit connector of electric vehicles...
San Jose mayor firm on reallocating affordable housing dollars
San Jose is facing its most challenging budget environment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Matt Mahan wrote in his June budget message Tuesday — with funding meant for affordable housing construction on the line. Mahan’s recent budget message updates his earlier March version, including new proposals from councilmembers for funding projects that enhance...