San Jose marked its 60th vehicle fatality last month when a man crashed his car into a property on Santa Teresa Boulevard — a record high for the city. And the year isn’t over. City officials are scrambling to curb the number of traffic fatalities and plan next year to prioritize traffic safety near schools and launch...
San Jose tourism slow to recover
A recent audit of the nonprofit that manages San Jose’s arts and cultural centers shows the organization is rebounding from a devastating pandemic year—but is still a long way from regaining pre-pandemic revenues. The city’s annual audit of Team San Jose found the organization exceeded its goals of booking hotel rooms, hosting events and bringing...
San Jose warming centers open as temperatures drop
With cold temperatures and pouring rain expected to blow through the South Bay this week, local officials are urging unhoused residents to seek shelter at temporary warming centers. San Jose opened up two locations this month, restarting its annual program to help homeless people weather the cold winter. Santa Clara County is also turning a dozen...
San Jose wants $29M to expand homeless services
San Jose plans to spend millions in state funding to house and provide services to the thousands of homeless residents living on city streets. The San Jose City Council wants to fund interim housing and a service hotline for unhoused people, in addition to increasing assistance for youth experiencing homelessness. Officials unanimously approved the city’s...
San Jose approves high-rise to replace historic restaurant
A high-rise tower with hundreds of residences will spring out of the ground in downtown San Jose on a less than one-acre plot, following a green light from city leaders. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved plans Tuesday from Canadian developer Westbank for a 30-story luxury tower, including 540 residences at 409 and 425...
UPDATE: San Jose one step closer to housing homeless at transit sites
Public transit sites may be the newest place to house San Jose’s homeless residents. On Tuesday, city councilmembers unanimously voted to create temporary housing sites at two VTA locations—Cerone and Cottle—to increase the interim housing stock, as homelessness in the city continues to climb. The Cerone yard is in North San Jose’s District 4 near...
San Jose commuters left waiting as VTA fleet falls apart
San Jose resident Greg rides VTA bus route 73 to his job at a local winery. Last week, the bus never showed. “It’s frustrating when the bus doesn’t come because I have to go home to get my parents to take me to work,” Greg, who declined to share his last name, told San José Spotlight....
San Jose developer broke state law by overcharging renters
A prominent housing developer violated state law by gouging its renters living near San Jose’s Japantown. Now the company is paying it back. Swenson, one of the largest housing developers in San Jose, admitted in a letter sent to tenants this month it illegally raised the rent above the state limit. The letter came more than a...
UPDATE: San Jose nonprofit raises six figures for proposed landmark
Three years after unveiling an ambitious proposal to build a world-class landmark in Silicon Valley, organizers on Tuesday raised $170,000 to bring the plan one step closer to reality. Leaders from Urban Confluence Silicon Valley, the nonprofit behind the project, also announced this week the proposed landmark in downtown San Jose will now include a...
Former San Jose official appointed to county education board
The search to fill a Santa Clara County Board of Education seat is over after an expedited selection process. Sitting members appointed former San Jose Councilmember Donald Rocha on Monday to represent Area 3, with San Jose District 1 Councilmember-elect Rosemary Kamei vacating the seat next month. “I want to thank the Board of Education...