Recent efforts to redirect Measure E monies meant for affordable housing in San Jose have brought to light 13 of those projects waiting for city funding to start construction. That waitlist is keeping more than 1,500 new homes off the market. Housing Department officials reviewed the affordable housing projects after inviting developers last year to submit their plans for...
San Jose spearheads nationwide AI safety group
While San Jose is getting cozy with artificial intelligence, the city is preparing safety nets for its own partnerships. The city published a set of employee guidelines on AI last July. Now, it’s nearly done with an AI policy with requirements for companies that work with San Jose. This policy was created in tandem with...
San Jose Latino leaders criticize Biden for border policy
Latino leaders across San Jose are saying President Joe Biden’s recent executive order closing the border to migrants is a step in the wrong direction for the nation’s immigration policy and immigrant communities. Those who work with asylum seekers fleeing violence such as San Jose nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe said migrants can’t wait years for...
Santa Clara temporarily waives fees for youth sports groups
Youth sports nonprofits in Santa Clara are asking the city to drop its fees to book fields, and officials are looking for a compromise. This year, Santa Clara started charging youth sports groups such as the Santa Clara Westside Little League and the Police Activities League (PAL) $14 hourly to use city fields, which brings...
Ex-San Jose mayor drops support for county candidate
A landlord interest group may be drawing battle lines across Santa Clara County’s hottest elections. Congressional candidate and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has quietly dropped his endorsement of Margaret Abe-Koga, who’s running for the District 5 seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Liccardo’s campaign hasn’t said why, but some Democratic...
Condemned San Jose home sells after multiple offers
Land is California’s new gold, and the rush for a piece of it online might raise eyebrows when browsing the real estate listings. This month, a seven-bed, two-bathroom home on a 4,000 square-foot lot is on the market for nearly $700,000 in San Jose’s Burbank Neighborhood. It may sound like a bargain, but that’s because...
Silicon Valley Latino icon Victor Garza leaves a lasting legacy
Victor Garza, founder of La Raza RoundTable and a Santa Clara County Latino community icon, died this morning, multiple community leaders confirmed to San José Spotlight. He was 86 years old according to his personal Facebook page. Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley executive director Gabriela Chavez-Lopez said she learned of Garza’s death during a Race...
Santa Clara County proposes faster approval for backyard homes
“Backyard homes” are about to get easier and faster to build for residents living in unincorporated Santa Clara County. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously signed off on providing residents within its jurisdiction two sets of pre-approved plans for building accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as granny flats or in-law units, on their...
San Jose mayor firm on reallocating affordable housing dollars
San Jose is facing its most challenging budget environment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Matt Mahan wrote in his June budget message Tuesday — with funding meant for affordable housing construction on the line. Mahan’s recent budget message updates his earlier March version, including new proposals from councilmembers for funding projects that enhance...
NBC Bay Area: Uber and Lyft drivers frequently refuse service dogs
A legally blind San Jose teacher keeps getting left at the curb when ride share drivers see her service dog and say they don’t allow “pets.”