Costco wants to grow its San Jose footprint—this time in the Westgate West shopping center off Prospect Road. But the proposal isn’t sitting well with local residents. “Nobody likes seeing empty buildings for long periods of time, so it is important to fill it in with viable businesses or dense housing. But let’s get creative,”...
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San Jose candidates criticize mental health hospital for kids
A mayoral candidate’s criticism of a planned psychiatric facility has drawn strong rebuttals from mental health advocates. The Board of Supervisors revealed a plan in February to build a 77-bed hospital building at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The proposed facility, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, would include county-run...
Redistricting is firing up small business owners in San Jose
Small businesses are riled up over proposed maps from the San Jose Redistricting Commission that they say create a divide and hamper COVID recovery efforts. Groups representing small businesses across the city say maps being considered by the redistricting commission could split their neighborhoods. That could spell trouble for many small and minority-owned businesses. By...
State lawmakers demand action following attacks on Los Gatos mayor
Two state legislators want to know what is being done to protect the Los Gatos mayor, councilmembers and their families, following reports of racially-charged “bullying, harassment and intimidation” at town meetings. Assemblymember Evan Low and Sen. Dave Cortese sent a letter to Town Manager Laurel Prevetti denouncing the disruption of government meetings and asking the town...
Major Los Gatos project promised 270 affordable apartments. Only 50 are happening.
The town of Los Gatos learned a tough lesson when it placed a big bet on the North 40 project to deliver affordable housing. One of the oldest jurisdictions in Santa Clara County, Los Gatos is made up of 71% single-family homes with a median price of $2.1 million on the current market. Construction of...
Nora Campos is back: East San Jose leader running for council
More than two dozen supporters cheered Wednesday as veteran San Jose politician Nora Campos launched a run for her former East San Jose council seat. Campos, 56, jumped back into the political fray standing in front of a small Mexican bakery against the backdrop of impending rain. She hasn’t been in elected office since leaving...
UPDATE: No fence around San Jose homeless camp — for now
Faced with the tough choice of building a giant fence to keep homeless people out of a public park, San Jose lawmakers took no action — despite an upcoming deadline to clear the encampment. The controversy centers around a 40-acre encampment at the Guadalupe River Park in downtown San Jose where nearly 200 homeless people...
What’s next for the controversial Thomas Fallon statue
The controversial Thomas Fallon statue is one step closer to removal. The city’s Arts Commission unanimously voted Monday night to recommend the City Council remove the sculpture from downtown—with an addendum. The addition allows the statue to be available to museums and places of higher education at the approval of the Public Art Committee, Arts...
San Jose could expand to 14 council districts
San Jose could expand to 14 council districts and change how councilmembers are elected. The San Jose Charter Review Commission voted Monday in favor of two recommendations: one that paves the way for four additional council districts and another to implement ranked-choice voting. Ten districts have anchored the city since it last expanded from seven...
No endorsement in contested Santa Clara County supervisorial race
The Silicon Valley Democratic Club is not endorsing a candidate in the race for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor’s District 1 seat — at least for the time being. The club held a vote for its members following a forum where the three candidates—Morgan Hill Mayor Rich Constantine, Los Gatos Vice Mayor Rob...