Thousands of dollars are backing two longtime Sacramento insiders, who have stepped into the limelight in a race to represent Silicon Valley in the California Legislature. Patrick Ahrens and Tara Sreekrishnan are vying to represent State Assembly District 26. The candidates’ financials through June 30 show Sreekrishnan has more than $20,000 more cash on hand than...
Popular Willow Glen restaurant to close
A beloved New American style restaurant in the heart of Willow Glen is closing after being unable to keep up with inflation and rising food costs. Braise, located on Lincoln Avenue in San Jose, is shutting its doors on Aug. 5, despite soldiering on through COVID lockdowns and the economic downturn during the pandemic. Partner...
Santa Clara County candidates fill their campaign war chests
The race for Santa Clara County’s most powerful governing body has candidates pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars to represent San Jose and the West Valley on the Board of Supervisors. While District 2 candidate Madison Nguyen has raised more money than Betty Duong since February — pulling in $205,000 in contributions to Duong’s...
San Jose school bond could fund teacher housing
San Jose’s largest school district is counting on voters to approve more than $1 billion to upgrade facilities and house employees, which community advocates say is needed. The San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) board of trustees approved putting a nearly $1.2 billion general obligation bond on the Nov. 5 ballot at a special meeting...
Cupertino to upgrade bike lanes along major road
Cupertino is gearing up to give cyclists a safety boost on one of its busiest roads. De Anza Boulevard is set to receive buffered bike lanes along a roughly 2-mile stretch of the city between Bollinger and Homestead roads. The street’s existing bike lanes will be repainted and vehicle lanes will be restriped to add...
Follow the money: Silicon Valley’s 2024 general election
Candidates have raised millions of dollars across many contentious races to represent Silicon Valley, on national, state and local stages. The most anticipated race is in Congress, for who will represent Congressional District 16 following Rep. Anna Eshoo’s retirement. After a crowded March primary election, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo came out on top,...
Silicon Valley tech giants cut back diversity efforts
With a consequential presidential election less than 100 days away and the Supreme Court gutting affirmative action, Silicon Valley tech giants are reeling in diversity programs and practices meant to uplift people of color. Bay Area companies like Google, Meta and Zoom reportedly laid off workers focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies. Cost cutting...
Lack of West Valley homeless shelters prompts action
James, an unhoused Campbell resident, has a hard time trekking to the closest shelter in San Jose roughly 5 1/2 miles away. He avoids shelters, preferring to move around, but would go to a safe one if any were nearby. “I’m surviving right now, I’m surviving,” he told San José Spotlight. “(I’m) getting stuff I...
Sunnyvale on solid footing while neighbor strapped for cash
While one Santa Clara County city pinches pennies to make ends meet and juggles budget shortfalls, its neighbor to the west sits on a surplus that can easily cover its deficit. Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, although similar in size, couldn’t be more different in their approach to governing. Sunnyvale’s 2024-25 budget has a structural surplus for...
Potential Cupertino development irks residents
A potential multi-family housing project is creating a stir in a quiet Cupertino neighborhood, signaling an intolerance for large housing developments. The proposed project, which includes plans for 23 homes with a percentage of affordable housing at 20739 Scofield Drive, drew ire from the street’s residents at a Cupertino City Council meeting earlier this month. Some...