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...
Silicon Valley ride-share service offers free summer rides
An affordable micro-transit service just got cheaper for South Bay residents who might need an economic boost this summer. Silicon Valley Hopper — a ride-share service that provides affordable transportation in Cupertino and Santa Clara at less than $5 a ride — is offering free rides to select locations through Aug. 31. Advocates said the...
‘Very dirty’: Sunnyvale homeless shelter residents raise sanitation issues
Homeless residents at the North County Shelter in Sunnyvale say a shift in management has heightened sanitation problems and workers are unequipped to handle older adults living there. Two residents of the Santa Clara County-owned shelter told San José Spotlight there are numerous unhygienic issues, including pests such as rats and scabies — in addition...
Dozens of San Jose murals define its heritage
San Jose may be widely known as a tech hub, but it’s also a city defined by its public art. With a city of nearly 1 million people, San Jose is also home to hundreds of murals. In a multi-year effort to revitalize public spaces, beautify the city and make it more pedestrian-friendly, officials have focused arts...
Rooftop bar and restaurant envisioned for Willow Glen
Willow Glen residents are one step closer to getting a new two-story restaurant and rooftop bar in their neighborhood. A special use permit for the proposed Luke’s Rooftop Beer Garden and Restaurant was approved at a San Jose Planning Director’s hearing on Wednesday, where project representatives thanked city officials for their efforts helping move the project...
Santa Clara County records first Racial Justice Act violation
The Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office has filed more than a dozen motions over the last four years contesting racist criminal charges against people of color. Only one has been sustained in court. The county recorded its first Racial Justice Act violation last month since the landmark California law passed in 2020. The bill,...
Sunnyvale wants feedback for homeless safe parking sites
Sunnyvale is looking to offer safe parking for homeless residents living in their vehicles, and city officials are working on what that entails. Sunnyvale wants feedback on a policy that would set parameters for potential safe parking programs, which the city has had on its docket since 2020. City employees want to discuss the possibility...
Silicon Valley lawmaker running for Congress doesn’t live in his district
Assemblymember Evan Low is living outside his state legislative district in Campbell, raising questions about whether the lawmaker — and now congressional candidate — has turned his back on the people he was elected to serve. Campaign finance and voter registration records reviewed by San José Spotlight link Low to a condo on Campisi Way...
Silicon Valley evictions increase after pandemic protections expire
Santa Clara County evictions have shot up over the past year, prompting local groups and governments to find ways to support renters. The county recorded 3,180 evictions last year, the highest amount since 2014. Compare that to the less than 2,000 evictions between 2020 and 2022 during the pandemic. Key protections tenants won at the...