RVs that used to be ubiquitous on San Jose’s streets have dropped by more than half since the city began upping the pressure on people living in vehicles. While officials say this has created cleaner and safer neighborhoods, those vulnerable say these policies are pushing them over the edge. Since last January when San Jose...
Silicon Valley Pride takes over in August
San Jose may celebrate Pride Month in June, but it’s not over until Silicon Valley Pride has its parade and festival in August. In today’s political climate, Silicon Valley Pride’s event on Aug. 29-30 is more important than ever, advocates said. The celebration brings a sense of community and belonging to participants, which is especially...
Mountain View scraps bond, opts for hotel tax measure
Looking to give the city an injection of new revenue, Mountain View is putting a measure on the November ballot that would increase taxes on local hotels. The City Council unanimously supported a staff recommendation on June 23 to move forward with a ballot initiative that would authorize the city to raise its existing 10% “transient...
Silicon Valley nonprofits partner to expand food aid
At a time when hunger is at a high and resources are low, two Silicon Valley nonprofits are teaming up to tackle food insecurity. Hunger at Home and Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen are working together to rescue more food and in turn produce additional meals across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Hunger at...
Rod Diridon memorial recalls Santa Clara County transit legend
Friends, family, politicians and members of the community remembered a pioneer who never gave up his dream for mass transit in Santa Clara County. Rod Diridon, Sr.’s wife Gloria Duffy said the event was a celebration of community and collaboration, because that’s who her husband was. His life was inspired by his upbringing at the...
Mountain View enters legal fight over Gilroy ICE facility
The Mountain View City Council took action on multiple fronts Tuesday to push back against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, formally opposing plans for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility near Gilroy and passing a policy banning city property from being used for civil immigration enforcement. Santa Clara County and the state of California...
Santa Clara County and state seek immediate halt to ICE facility
State and local South Bay leaders have escalated their legal campaign to block a planned ICE facility near Gilroy. California Attorney General Rob Bonta along with Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti filed a preliminary injunction in federal court Wednesday seeking to halt construction of a project that appears to be on course to create...
San Jose residents to help rename Plaza de César Chávez
As San Jose considers a new identity for one of its oldest public spaces, residents are beginning to weigh what — and who — the city’s downtown plaza should represent for generations to come. Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services officials held a Wednesday meeting to kick off plans to rename Plaza de César Chávez, inviting residents...
Downtown parking fee hike riles local businesses
San Jose has delayed a decision on whether to increase downtown parking prices after widespread pushback from local businesses and workers. The measure would have increased rates for hundreds of parking meters in the downtown core from $2 an hour to a maximum of $4 an hour, and also extended the machine’s operating hours further...
Palo Alto commission backs restoring ‘parkland’ status to Baylands site
The ribbon of land stretching along the southeast edge of Palo Alto’s wastewater plant has little to offer at first glance, but plenty on the second or third. It stretches between two critical environmental habitats, the Baylands Harbor Marsh on its northern end and the Emly Renzel Wetlands to the south. When Palo Alto voters...