San José Spotlight asked candidates running for the San Jose City Council District 3 seat how they would tackle some of the city’s most critical challenges — from public safety to economic development and homelessness. Read all the candidates’ answers. Here are Irene Smith’s full answers: If elected, what actions and policies will you prioritize...
On the Record: San Jose District 3 Special Election candidate Adam Duran
San José Spotlight asked candidates running for the San Jose City Council District 3 seat how they would tackle some of the city’s most critical challenges — from public safety to economic development and homelessness. Read all the candidates’ answers. Here are Adam Duran’s full answers: If elected, what actions and policies will you prioritize...
On the Record: San Jose District 3 Special Election candidate Anthony Tordillos
San José Spotlight asked candidates running for the San Jose City Council District 3 seat how they would tackle some of the city’s most critical challenges — from public safety to economic development and homelessness. Read all the candidates’ answers. Here are Anthony Tordillos’ full answers: If elected, what actions and policies will you prioritize...
Mountain View starts construction on California Street to reduce lanes
Construction is now underway to add protected bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks and other safety improvements to a 1.4-mile stretch of California Street in Mountain View. The city plans to reduce driving lanes from two to one in each direction to make room for the additions. Work began last month on the roughly $6 million pilot project,...
UPDATE: Ex-Santa Clara official sentenced to 40 days community service
Former Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker has been sentenced to 40 days in a county work program run through the jail on specific days of the week. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Javier Alcala levied the sentence, four months after a jury found Becker guilty of perjury and failing to uphold his duties as...
San Jose homeless people struggle with clean water sources
Dozens of homeless residents living at Columbus Park in San Jose have struggled to get drinking water, as local sources in the park have been off and on for weeks. Residents encamped in RVs and vehicles said they used to get their drinking water from fountains in the park, but the city shut the water...
Mental health facility expands San Jose services
An upcoming mental health inpatient facility is set to treat dozens of teens and adults in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood, though nearby residents are raising concerns. The San Jose Planning Commission unanimously approved plans March 26 for the conversion of an existing office building at 913 Willow St. to a 48-bed mental health inpatient...
State orders Palo Alto to revise laws on backyard dwellings
In a city where building homes is famously costly and often onerous, accessory dwelling units offer Palo Alto’s housing advocates a small bit of promise. Bolstered by recent state laws, the backyard structures are quietly but consistently doing their part in helping the city meet its housing goals. Palo Alto had issued 125 permits for...
Los Gatos asks courts for legal clarity on proposed developments
Los Gatos wants clarity over a housing dispute with the state, and land use experts say the results of the legal spat could slow needed housing. Los Gatos requested legal clarification from the Santa Clara County Superior Court March 28 about a land use disagreement between the town and California Department of Housing and Community Development....
Silicon Valley firefighters clash over territory
Silicon Valley officials want to extinguish their feud with state firefighters over regional territory. But their vote to expand Santa Clara County Fire Department coverage threatens to fan the flames. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), a land use board comprised of elected officials from across the county, voted 6-1 Wednesday to remove Cal Fire...