County officials want to provide broadband internet service in underserved neighborhoods, contrary to a long-awaited report that dismisses the idea. The digital equity study, which they commissioned two years ago, warned the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors against the steep cost of building an underground fiber network and instead suggested partnering with the private...
Santa Clara one step closer to state housing approval
Santa Clara’s housing plans are still out of compliance with the state, but the city hopes its newest draft will be the final effort. The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to rezone more than 27 acres along El Camino Real for mixed-use redevelopment, opening the possibility for more housing in the area....
San Jose commissioners oppose diverting housing funds
San Jose housing commissioners had blistering words for a proposal to divert affordable housing money to shelters and sweeps. The Housing and Community Development Commission on Thursday voted 6-2 to reject two spending proposals that would divert funds meant for permanent affordable housing to clear and temporarily shelter homeless people living along city waterways. Commissioners...
Sunnyvale selects new city attorney and interim manager
Two long-tenured Sunnyvale officials are moving up the ranks of local government. The Sunnyvale City Council permanently appointed Rebecca Moon as city attorney at its Tuesday meeting. Councilmembers also appointed Finance Director Tim Kirby as interim city manager, to take over after Kent Steffens retires this summer, while searching for a permanent hire. Moon has...
Santa Clara considers bond to tackle millions in infrastructure upgrades
Santa Clara has more than half a billion dollars in needed infrastructure improvements and officials hope residents will pay to get those projects done. The city is considering a bond measure for the November ballot to help tackle a more than $624 million infrastructure deficit. Santa Clara officials may have a chance of it passing...
Former Santa Clara County sheriff candidate guilty of perjury
A former Santa Clara County sheriff candidate has been convicted for lying about her credentials during her campaign. A jury verdict has found Anh Colton — the 51-year-old former candidate from Cupertino who came in last place in the 2022 sheriff primary election — guilty of perjury. State law requires that sheriff candidates have at...
Los Gatos residents vote for school parcel tax bump
A West Valley school district is on its way to boosting teacher salaries. Voters in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District stepped up to support Measure A, a parcel tax, with 66.7% of the vote as of May 15, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters and Santa Cruz County Elections Department....
Santa Clara County closes deficit but can’t escape budget cuts
Santa Clara County officials are bridging a massive deficit through an infusion of new revenue and realigned costs to balance the upcoming fiscal year’s $12.4 billion budget. But it will still require painful cuts. The county’s May 1 budget proposal manages to close half of its $250 million gap through several tactics. One is the...
San Jose neighborhood fights to preserve its identity
After decades of residents requesting historic status, San Jose is starting the process to create a new city landmark district — the first since 2007. The San Jose City Council earlier this month voted unanimously to nominate Alameda Park/Schiele Avenue as a historic district, with Councilmember Omar Torres absent. The designation would protect homes in...
State signs off on Los Gatos housing plan
After months of contentious debate among residents and town officials, Los Gatos has received state approval to build nearly 2,000 homes more than a year past the deadline. Los Gatos received a letter from the state on Friday stating it met “statutory requirements.” This is the town’s sixth attempt at its housing element — a...