San Jose is scrambling to keep up with a massive backlog of paving roads, maintaining buildings and other capital improvements, but it’s not fast enough to keep rapidly-rising costs at bay nor to keep frustrated residents appeased. In 2007, the city’s infrastructure and maintenance backlog stood at about $900 million. Since then, the backlog has ballooned to...
Santa Clara County leaders to consider eliminating more business fees
Santa Clara County lawmakers want to give 1,000 small businesses a break on more fees just a month after nixing health permit fees. The proposal, introduced by Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Susan Ellenberg, would eliminate weights and measures device registration fees for the rest of the calendar year. The plan will be considered at Tuesday’s Board...
Why has building housing in San Jose become increasingly unaffordable?
When Justin Ponzio, assistant principal at Branham High School in San Jose, acquired an $800,000 single-family home with financial help through the county, he said it was a steal. “I got pretty lucky, to be honest, because there was a slight downturn,” Ponzio said. That, plus some friendly negotiations with his realtor landed him with...
San Jose is fixing tens of thousands of curbs after accessibility lawsuit
San Jose has begun the intense work of updating tens of thousands of sidewalk curbs citywide to comply with accessibility laws after the city was sued in 2014 over its curbs. In Lashbrook vs. City of San Jose, San Jose resident Artie Lashbrook sued the city after being thrown from his wheelchair at least three...
As San Jose schools begin reopening, legislators push to help families recover
As students across the South Bay begin returning to the classroom, lawmakers and education leaders are pushing legislation to make classrooms safer, more supportive and equitable. The Santa Clara County Office of Education recently introduced its legislative package, which includes bills to increase mental health care access, guarantee additional funding for early childcare and incentivize...
San Jose homeless sweeps create a revolving door
Drivers plunge down freeway ramps until shooting past the entrance into an endless stream of vehicles, some undoubtedly pushing past speed limits. Freeway ramps were made to be launch pads for cars – but for Joe Martinez they’re a place to sleep when he’s looking for more privacy and security. He lived off Highway 87...
San Jose artists liven local businesses struggling amid COVID-19
As San Jose businesses struggle during the coronavirus pandemic, artists are finding new ways to help them survive. Safely Social San Jose, a grassroots campaign to empower businesses, is partnering with the School of Visual Philosophy on the Alameda, San Jose Jazz in the SoFA District and San Jose Taiko in Japantown to create economic recovery...
San Jose councilmembers will only have 10 minutes to speak
All night marathon San Jose City Council meetings could soon be a thing of the past. Councilmembers David Cohen and Dev Davis authored a plan to place time limits for lawmakers to speak during council meetings. The proposal, which passed on a 9-2 vote Tuesday, would give each councilmember 10 minutes to speak on an...
‘We are in a race’: South Bay health officials warn of COVID variants
Multiple variants of the coronavirus are circulating in Santa Clara County, and public health officials warn another surge of COVID-19 infections could begin if residents aren’t more careful. Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said Thursday that all residents need to remain vigilant and not let their guard down when it comes...
How will local groups help build new San Jose landmark project?
San Jose’s new landmark is the brainchild of architects halfway across the world — but local leaders say San Jose artists and designers will still be part of it. The newly-selected landmark, The Breeze of Innovation, was designed by Fernando Jerez, the director of SMAR Architecture Studio, which has offices in Australia and Spain. It...