Three prominent Cupertino government buildings are set to switch to green energy as the city warms up to the idea of solar power. The Cupertino City Council voted 3-2 Feb. 4 to install solar panels at the Quinlan Community Center, Cupertino Sports Center and Community Hall. Mayor Liang Chao and Councilmember R “Ray” Wang voted...
Cupertino app augments reality at nature preserve
Cupertino residents can now tour one of the city’s most historic nature preserves using augmented reality — a unique blend of a city known for its cutting-edge technology and agricultural roots. Cupertino recently soft-launched an augmented reality app, Cupertino McClellan Ranch, with the goal of teaching users about the 18-acre historic McClellan Ranch Preserve. The...
Cupertino council majority shifts commission appointments
The political tides in Cupertino are shifting again, exciting some residents while worrying others. The Cupertino City Council appointed more than 20 commissioners out of more than 50 applicants on Jan. 27-28, many of whom support the council’s new, less development-friendly majority. The appointments reflect a continued political shift in a city often divided on...
Cupertino city attorney resigns
One of Cupertino’s top officials is leaving the city. City Attorney Christopher Jensen submitted his resignation Thursday and said “it has been a pleasure to work with everyone at the city,” according to his resignation letter obtained by San José Spotlight. His last day is Feb. 22 after serving more than three and a half years...
Former Cupertino college trustee drops lawsuit against district
A local community college district is no longer facing legal action from a politician who used to serve on its board. Gilbert Wong, a former Foothill-De Anza Community College District trustee and Cupertino mayor, filed a motion dismissing his lawsuit with prejudice against the district, its board members and former chancellor on Jan. 13. Wong sued...
West Valley city sees big drop in crime rate
Crime is the lowest it’s been in more than a decade in one West Valley city. Cupertino had 741 reported criminal incidents in 2024, the lowest number in 12 years, according to the city’s crime dashboard. The most common crime category was identity theft, forgery and fraud with 169 instances, followed by grand theft and...
Cupertino renters may get a reprieve from losing their homes
Cupertino residents facing displacement because of rising costs and expiring contracts may find a reprieve through new city policy. The Cupertino Housing Commission unanimously recommended implementing anti-displacement policies last month to help residents living in 114 affordable homes where rents will likely skyrocket to market-rate value by 2040. The policies include a push to prioritize...
Cupertino council race recount decided by 63 votes
R “Ray” Wang has won a spot on the Cupertino City Council in a tight race that triggered a recount for one of two open seats. Wang will take the second open council seat with 7,641 votes, or 18.5% of the vote, as of Dec. 2 at 4:30 p.m. He got 63 more votes than...
Cupertino City Council race recount begins
A tight West Valley city council race is headed to a recount with fewer than 10 days until the vote must be certified. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters began a manual recount of the Cupertino City Council race Monday because of the slim margin separating candidates R “Ray” Wang and Rod Sinks. Wang...
Cupertino has millions to spend from Apple settlement
With Cupertino absolved from paying California millions of sales tax dollars it collected from Apple, city officials are strategizing how to use it. Cupertino was allowed to keep the roughly $74.5 million in Apple sales tax revenue it set aside from 2021 through August after reaching a settlement with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration...