Campbell could add 40,000 homes — more than tripling the city’s current population — under a new state law aimed at boosting housing near public transit stations. The City Council is working on plans to manage the huge surge in potential development being triggered by Senate Bill 79. The bill, effective July 1, could massively...
Sunnyvale joins other cities in approving ICE-free zones
Another South Bay city is working to keep federal immigration agents off public property, following the lead of its neighbors. The Sunnyvale City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using city-owned property for civil enforcement. The policy directs the city to provide “know your rights” resources and...
Divided San Jose council approves police housing preference
A measure to allow San Jose Police Department personnel to jump to the front of the line in a new workforce housing effort has won approval. But the victory comes only after sharp dissent on the City Council, amid criticism the plan is unfair to other city workers. The amendment, which modifies a recently approved...
Silicon Valley lawmakers want Trump removed under 25th Amendment
President Donald Trump reneged this week on public threats to wipe out “a whole civilization” after reaching an 11th hour ceasefire with Iran. But the bell has been rung in Silicon Valley. Santa Clara County’s congressional delegation isn’t backing down from calls to start Trump’s removal proceedings under the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,...
Palo Alto prepares to go big on housing around San Antonio Road
Creating what is essentially a brand new neighborhood from scratch is no easy feat — a fact the Palo Alto City Council wrestled with Monday during a discussion of the San Antonio Road Area Plan, a roadmap for building more than 1,500 homes. The plan hopes to bring thousands of new homes, as well as retail,...
Silicon Valley farmworkers hit by federal wage cuts
A Silicon Valley lawmaker is calling for the federal government to overturn actions that will drive down wages for seasonal agricultural workers in the region. Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced a March 26 resolution to block the lowering of hourly wages for seasonal agricultural workers. The U.S. Department of Labor in October implemented new rules, before...
Santa Clara County faces state investigation for Measure A mailers
California’s election watchdog is investigating Santa Clara County leaders over the campaign for a voter-approved sales tax increase, marketed as a way to shield the region’s public hospitals from massive federal spending cuts. In a Tuesday letter, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) informed two regional anti-tax groups it would probe the county over allegations...
Cupertino council declines to reconsider housing project
Cupertino officials have declined to reconsider approvals for an affordable housing development in light of an ongoing lawsuit from residents who claim the decision was rushed. The City Council on April 1 voted 4–1 against reconsidering the Mary Avenue Villas housing project, which the council previously approved in February. The lawsuit — filed March 11 against...
San Jose District 7 candidates square off at public forum
District 7 voters got an early look at the candidates running to represent them on the San Jose City Council at a Thursday candidate forum, the first to be held in the district this election cycle. The four candidates facing off in the June 2 primary — incumbent Councilmember Bien Doan, City Hall staffer Hanh-Giao...
Rod Diridon remembered as Santa Clara County transit pioneer
If the state of California was a person, its name would be Rod Diridon Sr., who will be remembered as the “father” of Santa Clara County’s modern transit system. He died Friday at age 87. Diridon succumbed to sepsis and an underlying cancer of the thorax. He had been hospitalized for more than two weeks,...