Cupertino officials have declined to reconsider approvals for an affordable housing development in light of an ongoing lawsuit from residents who claim the decision was rushed. The City Council on April 1 voted 4–1 against reconsidering the Mary Avenue Villas housing project, which the council previously approved in February. The lawsuit — filed March 11 against...
San Jose looks to cut homeless shelter operating costs
San Jose has doubled the number of homeless shelters it operates over the past year and a half — and with that comes staggering operational costs that will require creative cuts. The city is projecting its shelters will rack up $94 million in maintenance and operating costs in the upcoming fiscal year. This eye-popping figure...
Cupertino council approves housing in high fire risk area
A Cupertino housing development proposed in a high fire risk area is moving forward despite resident concerns about evacuation safety and traffic congestion. The Cupertino City Council on Wednesday voted 4-1 to approve a 51-townhome project on a 2.5-acre site along Linda Vista Drive, where residents say limited evacuation routes could take more than an hour...
Santa Clara businesses sue over shopping center displacement
A once-busy Santa Clara shopping center home to Asian-owned businesses is now nearly empty — and multiple tenants are taking their former landlord to court as the property moves toward redevelopment. Two businesses at the Homestead Shopping Center — Tous les Jours bakery and Fuheng Herbs — have filed separate lawsuits alleging they have been...
Controversial San Jose shelter to become permanent housing
A large South San Jose homeless shelter will be converted to permanent supportive housing following complaints from neighbors over crime and safety. The City Council on March 17 approved converting 1 Branham Lane — a 168-apartment, three story complex plagued with structural and managerial issues — from temporary shelter into permanent housing. The modular housing site...
Cupertino residents say housing project sits in risky wildfire zone
A controversial housing development in Cupertino is heading toward potential approval, as city officials weigh state housing mandates against resident concerns about wildfire risk and evacuation safety. The Planning Commission in February voted 3-2 to recommend the city move forward with a 51-townhome project on a 2.5-acre site along Linda Vista Drive — to the...
Will Matt Mahan’s solutions to homelessness work for California?
If San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan becomes California’s next governor, policy experts say some homeless solutions he has implemented in Silicon Valley’s largest city could work — but others may fall flat. Mahan has scaled up production of tiny homes, more than doubling the number of beds it operates last year to get people off...
San Jose mayor touts 15-point housing plan for California
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan aims to stand out from the crowded field of California governor candidates with a statewide policy plan to speed up housing production. Advocates say there’s plenty to like — even if certain facets of the plan could cut funding to local public services. Mahan unveiled his 15-point plan March 5...
San Jose ends homeless shelter contract amid worker drug charges
A homeless services provider has lost its contract to operate a large San Jose shelter, days after police arrested a worker who was allegedly selling drugs to residents. San Jose on Wednesday terminated its contract with nonprofit LifeMoves to run the Branham Lane temporary housing site, according to city officials. It follows the arrest and...
San Jose homeless housing site worker arrested on drug charges
A caseworker at a housing site for formerly homeless people in San Jose has been arrested for possessing drugs with an intent to sell — months after former workers repeatedly raised concerns to managers of suspected drug dealing between the caseworker and residents. Police arrested Yasmin Wright, 46, on Monday outside the Branham Lane temporary...