Milpitas is adjusting its cannabis ban on deliveries, just in time to comply with new state laws in January and establish guidelines to avoid being usurped by more lenient regulations. The Milpitas City Council voted 3-1 to amend its existing laws on how to deliver medical cannabis locally, as well as research ways to strengthen...
Former Milpitas official wants to be mayor— again
Former Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran, 38, is vying for his old office in the November 2024 election. A Milpitas native, Tran was the first mayor to be elected without holding any official city office, winning in 2016 and reelected in 2018 and 2020. He obtained a Master’s in Public Policy degree from New York University...
Milpitas’ barrier to building affordable housing is money
Milpitas needs to find ways to build more affordable housing and preserve what it already has. That’s according to housing advocates and policymakers who discussed the city’s affordable housing stock at a Thursday panel hosted by San José Spotlight. The state is requiring Milpitas to add 6,713 homes by 2031, with more than half being...
Milpitas leaders clash with property owner over proposed home
Tempers flared when Milpitas nixed a property owner’s plans to build a multi-story house on the city’s hillside. The Milpitas City Council on Tuesday voted 2-1 to deny property owner Sanjay Muppaneni’s request for an exception to the neighborhood’s zoning for 1339 Terra Vista Court, after a contentious back and forth. The property is located...
Milpitas explores commercial sites for housing
Milpitas needs to build thousands of homes in the next eight years and is eyeing old retail spaces and offices to reach its goal. The Milpitas City Council is giving input tonight on proposed zoning changes to streamline redevelopment of five identified commercial sites, referred to as Housing Opportunity Districts, which would provide more land...
Milpitas school district opens campus of the future
One Santa Clara County school district is preparing students for the future by expanding its curriculum from theoretical to a more applied learning approach. The Milpitas Unified School District Innovation Campus has opened the first phase of a project designed to provide business development and hands-on learning opportunities to students of all ages. Once completed,...
New Milpitas city manager wants to boost morale
Milpitas has a new city manager—the fourth in the past six years. The Milpitas City Council removed the word “acting” from Ned Thomas’ city manager title at Tuesday’s meeting and approved his permanent appointment through June 30, 2025, with an option to renew annually. His annual base salary is $279,000, according to his contract. Thomas previously...
Milpitas’ ride-share program is its best kept secret
Milpitas has an exclusive ride-share service much cheaper than Uber for locals to get around town—but not many people know about it. The Simple Mobile Access to Reliable Transit (SMART) program is a city ride-share service, with a fleet of six vehicles, that takes residents across the city at a maximum cost of $2.50 per...
Ousted Milpitas city manager files claim against city
Former Milpitas City Manager Steve McHarris is leveling sweeping accusations of incompetence, unethical behavior and intimidation by members of the city council, including the mayor, vice mayor, city attorney and the former mayor. McHarris filed a claim against the city for damages on May 1, just months after a split council voted not to renew McHarris’...
The Biz Beat: Mil’s Diner—an all-American classic in Milpitas
Red swivel seats look into the bustling kitchen and cozy red-upholstered booths surround the inside of Mil’s Diner, which is so perfectly timeless that no one has any real idea how long it has actually been in business. Co-owner Teri Lane spent 18 years as a waitress before she and Anthony Camacho bought the establishment...