A San Jose safe parking program on VTA property is in violation for operating without proper approvals. The city served VTA a notice after a Dec. 9 inspection found vehicles parked at the Santa Teresa station aren’t storing trash properly and that the site is operating without permits or approvals, among other violations. The site...
2025 in review: Silicon Valley’s state of housing and homelessness
This year was daunting for Silicon Valley leaders and their efforts to confront homelessness. Actions to stem the growing tide of people falling into homelessness were threatened by federal and state funding cuts, on top of a record number of people losing their housing, driven by rising costs. Santa Clara County and San Jose leaders...
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...
Developer for Los Gatos project warns of legal costs
The developer of a proposed 13-story apartment building in Los Gatos warned the Town Council last week of potential legal costs for blocking the project, even though the council says the developer’s application is moving forward. “I respectfully want to tell you the town’s multiple lawsuits (related to housing construction), including attempting to block this...
Santa Clara County homeless deaths are declining
Homeless deaths have dropped more than 20%, even though homelessness continues to rise in Santa Clara County. Approximately 155 homeless people died between Dec. 1, 2024 to Nov. 30, down from 197 the previous year, according to data provided by nonprofit HomeFirst. A majority of the deaths, 187, were male. The oldest homeless person who...
Willow Glen 7-story development moves forward
Willow Glen residents are expressing bitter disappointment after a proposed seven-story residential building in their neighborhood gained a permit under a state law streamlining housing development. The decision — made during the Dec. 3 San Jose Planning Director Hearing — clears the way for San Francisco-based Redco Development to build 126 apartments on a roughly...
More South County homeless receive health care
Local officials are reporting a sharp uptick in homeless people seeking health services in South County – a trend they credit to successful outreach. South County patient encounters with the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program — which provides mobile and fixed-site primary care, substance abuse and oral health services — have exceeded last year’s totals. As...
San Jose housing commissioners against mobile home rent increase
The San Jose Housing and Community Development Commission is recommending not to raise rents for residents living in the city’s 58 mobile home parks. A majority of commissioners on Thursday didn’t support a proposed 10% increase to space rents once a mobile home is sold. The city Housing Department proposed the increase as a way...
San Jose to study reforming historic preservation rules
San Jose has taken the first step in a likely lengthy process to revamp the city’s approach to historic preservation. Councilmembers have outlined reform proposals for city staff to study in the new year. These include measures to boost outreach to owners of historic properties, as well as reforms intended to make it easier to...
Santa Clara County joint lawsuit halts federal grant guidelines
President Donald Trump’s administration has backed off from upending federal grants to permanent housing programs — for now. A lawsuit filed by Santa Clara County and 10 other governments and nonprofits against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last week has pushed the department to revise federal grant guidelines for homeless funding...