Santa Clara County is nearly two years behind on receiving state approval for its housing plans, allowing developers to push projects forward in unwanted ways. County officials submitted their fourth draft of the housing element on Nov. 1 and expect to hear back from the state Department of Housing and Community Development by Dec. 31. Lacking...
Nearly 200 homeless people died this year in Santa Clara County
Eyes welled with tears as people lit candles and spoke the names of Santa Clara County homeless residents who died this year at a Friday memorial — a reminder of the harsh reality of living on the streets and the urgency to get more people housed. From Dec. 1, 2023 to Nov. 30, 197 homeless people died...
Safety improvements planned for Silicon Valley transit corridor
Stevens Creek Boulevard is on the road to a complete renovation in the name of safety and public transit, but improvements are years away. The Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Steering Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to recommend a plan for the nearly 8-mile, heavily-trafficked thoroughfare. The plan could better the unwalkable, dangerous corridor by...
Santa Clara County assessor faces first 2026 challenger
With almost 30 years of experience, a Silicon Valley property tax collector is quite protective of his elected post — especially with cash-strapped schools and public services at risk. But that doesn’t mean his reelection can’t be challenged. Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone faces an emerging political opponent in the termed-out Saratoga Mayor Yan...
How much are Silicon Valley’s top service nonprofit leaders paid?
In Silicon Valley, top executives at the helm of multimillion-dollar nonprofits are paid well — not unusual in a region where competition is steep and the cost of living is one of the highest in the nation. Experts say compensating nonprofit workers and their executives is vital to maintaining the sector’s health, given it makes...
Santa Clara County wants tourism to save iconic farmlands
Fruit picking, wine tasting and weddings — Silicon Valley leaders want to preserve the romance of their farmlands through tourism as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” gives way to strip malls and tech campuses. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously moved forward with the idea of creating an economic development office...
Silicon Valley water district maintains hiring freeze
Silicon Valley’s main water supplier will maintain a hiring freeze in order to offset hundreds of millions of dollars in a budget shortfall. Valley Water officials instituted a hiring freeze in February for 72 job vacancies amid a $222 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending in June. The skyrocketing price tags for projects...
Santa Clara County education leader accused of malfeasance
Santa Clara County’s top educator says a series of investigations into his ousted predecessor have revealed even more issues — beyond major allegations of misspending public funds and malfeasance — and now the findings are being turned over to authorities. Former superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Dewan faces “deeply concerning” accusations of wrongdoing, according to a...
Santa Clara County concealed carry permits will cost more
Santa Clara County gun owners will have to pay more for concealed carry weapons licenses — and threats of lawsuits are already rolling in. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved Sheriff Bob Jonsen’s proposal to hike the fees for new civilian licenses from $662 to $976. The standard renewal required every two years...
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Disgraced San Jose official’s partner not under investigation
After disgraced San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres admitted to molesting a child and sending lewd texts about minors, there are questions about whether he met some of Silicon Valley’s most vulnerable youth through his romantic partner — a court-appointed child advocate. Torres’ longtime boyfriend, Nicholas Aguilar, has spent more than five years working in Santa...