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Opportunity Housing is the city’s latest strategy for solving San Jose’s housing crisis — but critics fear the policy may plummet property values, increase traffic congestion and destroy single-family neighborhoods. Supporters, however, say densifying those neighborhoods will boost San Jose’s affordable housing stock — which is much-needed in a city where the median cost of a single-family home...
Rent relief on its way to Silicon Valley — eventually and for select few
San Jose and Santa Clara County are preparing to decide how to spend more than $117 million in federal rent subsidies. That’s probably not enough to cover everything tenants owe their landlords since the beginning of the pandemic. And it hasn’t been decided exactly who will be allowed to collect their fair share of the...
Homeless families get keys to new tiny houses in Santa Clara County
For most, a 100-square-foot room would be barely enough space for a closet or a knick-knack storage room. For others, it now means getting off the street. “My daughters are very excited to have their own tiny home and are grateful to be here,” said Arely in Spanish through a translator. She did not want...
Survey finds opposition to high-density zoning in San Jose but critics say poll is flawed
Roughly half of San Jose residents surveyed in a new poll oppose an initiative to boost the number of homes allowed in single-family neighborhoods. According to initial survey results, 48% of San Jose residents are opposed to Opportunity Housing, while 24% of residents support the initiative. Roughly a quarter of residents polled said they need...
Santa Clara County calls on federal government to double COVID-19 vaccine allocation
South Bay health officials are calling on the federal government to increase COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution amid a sluggish vaccine rollout that led to thousands of canceled appointments. “We’re only seeing probably less than half of the vaccine that we need at this point,” said Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara County COVID-19 testing officer, at a town hall hosted by...
San Jose poised to pay homage to Filipino farmworkers with new park
San Jose activist Daniel Lazo used to take the bus in the early 2000s to Welch Park in East San Jose. There, Filipino organizers hosted history workshops to educate young people about Philippine-born labor leaders. On his way home, Lazo would occasionally pass an empty lot on Gimelli Way. That lot, Lazo learned last month,...
Half of Santa Clara County sheriff’s employees have declined COVID-19 vaccines
Nearly half the employees at the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office have turned down a COVID-19 vaccine. According to a report presented Thursday, nearly 800 employees have refused or delayed getting vaccinated — out of 1,800 total employees. That includes both sworn and civilian staff. The reasons for turning down the vaccine include hesitancy, pregnancy...
San Jose could face a lawsuit over its rent freeze
San Jose’s recent ban on rent increases could possibly land the city in court. Douglas Dennington — a land-use attorney with Rutan & Tucker LLP, representing landlords across San Jose — submitted a letter to city leaders Feb. 1 stating that landlords adamantly oppose the rent freeze and warning the city may “wish to limit...
Why San Jose councilmembers’ Amazon stocks were not disclosed before a meeting — and why it matters
Two San Jose lawmakers’ investments in Amazon and their abrupt departure from a City Council meeting — after they discussed and nearly voted on a policy to pay grocery workers higher wages — is raising questions about why the conflict wasn’t flagged sooner. Councilmembers chalk it up to a lack of forethought. As elected leaders Tuesday debated a $3...
New policy allows seniors to get COVID-19 vaccinations anywhere in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County’s public health officials now say anyone 65 and older can get their vaccine from anywhere in the county. The county’s new “no wrong door” policy, announced Thursday morning, makes it possible for seniors to get vaccinated regardless of who their normal medical provider is. “A Kaiser patient can go to the county,...