California residents can expect a variety of new laws to take effect in 2024, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed hundreds of bills to tackle the state’s most pressing issues. These bills range from updates to mental health services and housing to worker protections to safe drinking water, and Silicon Valley lawmakers championed many of them....
Silicon Valley congressional candidate gets first endorsement from U.S. senator
One candidate running for an open Silicon Valley congressional seat is getting support from the national stage. U.S. Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is endorsing Palo Alto Councilmember Julie Lythcott-Haims in her campaign for California’s 16th congressional district. Booker is the first African-American senator from New Jersey and previously served as mayor of Newark from 2006...
Holiday travelers say San Jose airport is a breeze
Holiday travelers flying out of the South Bay have been treated to short security lines and few cancellations this year. While other travelers across the country have fallen victim to long check-ins, cancellations and delays amid winter weather, San Jose Mineta International Airport spokesperson Ana State said this year’s holiday travel season has been without...
2023 in review: The biggest Santa Clara stories of the year
Santa Clara had a busy year, from committing to the construction of hundreds of homes, to accusations and legal troubles among officials, to millions of dollars flowing into the city from headliner events at Levi’s Stadium. Here’s a look back at 2023 and what transpired: Thousands of homes The Santa Clara City Council took its...
Silicon Valley minimum wage bump doesn’t cover costs
The minimum wage is going up across Silicon Valley in January, but it won’t be high enough to cover the rising expenses of daily living. Although minimum wage is going up as high as $18.55 in Sunnyvale, workers and business owners say the increases aren’t enough to make a dent in the region’s expensive rent...
Lawsuit alleges harassment by former Santa Clara County sheriff
A Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office employee is suing the county, claiming former Sheriff Laurie Smith created a hostile work environment for her and others who participated in a corruption investigation targeting Smith. Lara McCabe, a management analyst in the sheriff’s office, alleges in a complaint filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court last month...
Powerful PAC supports several San Jose candidates
A political action committee that supports local pro-business candidates has announced its endorsements for next year’s San Jose City Council and mayoral elections. Silicon Valley Biz PAC is putting its weight behind incumbent Mayor Matt Mahan for another term leading the city. For the council seats, the Biz PAC is endorsing Joe Lopez, a retired sheriff’s...
Bay Area election offices advise voters with no party to take action
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News Registrar of voters offices across the Bay Area recently issued guidance to “No Party Preference” voters who will have to take action if they want to vote in the presidential primary contest in the March election. A joint statement by 11 local county registrar’s offices noted that the March 5,...
Milpitas takes note of 2023, looks ahead to 2024
This year, Milpitas banned natural gas in all new buildings, enhanced its rideshare program and looked for new ways to increase its housing. Looking ahead into the new year, the city has plans for a unique workplace housing project and an expansion to its Innovation Campus in the pipeline. Here’s what happened in 2023 and...
2023 in review: The San Jose City Council’s major decisions
San Jose policymakers marked 2023 with a myriad of major political votes and debates—many of which will have lasting effects for years to come. A newly seated San Jose City Council, which included a first-time mayor and six new councilmembers, made notable decisions to avoid what would’ve been the city’s largest worker strike, voted for...