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...
Silicon Valley water district files lawsuit against director
Valley Water is suing one of its directors for removing confidential documents from its district offices. The water district sued Director Rebecca Eisenberg on April 22 for removing a confidential report out of offices, which also got her censured by her colleagues on the board of directors in March. Eisenberg has 30 days to respond...
Former Silicon Valley congressional challenger faces federal complaint
The unsuccessful March primary challenger to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is facing a federal election complaint for connections to a fake newspaper that appeared on the doorsteps of South Bay residents earlier this year. A political action committee known as Defend the Vote is calling on the Federal Election Commission to investigate the South Bay Chronicle,...
The Biz Beat: San Jose’s Burger Bar is a 1950s classic
Burger Bar in San Jose might have been what musician Chuck Berry was thinking about when he rhapsodized in “Back in the U.S.A.”about a place where “hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day.” The restaurant, founded in 1953 by Albert Berger, predates the classic song by six years and was the first of...
South Bay to see more self-driving cars on the road
One driverless taxi service plans to stretch its presence into the South Bay, after years of testing its autonomous technology. Robotaxi company Waymo is expanding its coverage area down the peninsula into Sunnyvale. The self-driving San Francisco fixture will roll out in parts of San Mateo County first, causing angst for local officials that have...
South Bay Dems demand disclosure of congressional recount funders
The Santa Clara County Democratic Party has joined retiring Congresswoman Anna Eshoo in demanding transparency behind a controversial recount in the race for her seat. The party’s Central Committee on Thursday voted unanimously for a resolution demanding the identities of donors behind a shadowy super PAC paying for the Congressional District 16 recount. The recount cost...
San Jose affordable apartments a plus for senior housing crisis
More than 100 Santa Clara County seniors struggling with the cost of living will have a place to call home in downtown San Jose within the next few years. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved a roughly $15.2 million loan Tuesday for Hawthorn Senior Apartments, a 100% affordable housing development with 101 homes for...
What the demise of contentious housing law means for San Jose
A brewing battle in the California courts may lift San Jose from the mandates of a controversial law that ended exclusionary single-family zoning statewide. The prospect has local experts shrugging and questioning what effect, if any, Senate Bill 9 has had on San Jose’s housing stock. The law has underperformed in new home approvals since...
San Jose turns to AI for language translation
San Jose is expanding its language translation options in public meetings by using artificial intelligence. The city launched its partnership with Wordly, an AI-based service that offers live translation in 50 languages. Translation will be available at all San Jose City Council and council committee meetings. City officials say it’s more affordable and efficient than...