Cupertino resident Alicia Schober got teary-eyed at the opening of a new, all-inclusive playground at Jollyman Park earlier this month. It would have provided another outlet for her son’s sensory needs if it had been available when he was growing up. As soon as the playground’s gate opened on June 13, children, adults and older...
West Valley
West Valley
Can new highway lanes end Los Gatos’ beach traffic nightmare?
A long-awaited project to alleviate Los Gatos beach traffic has received funding — but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the money needed to address bumper-to-bumper gridlock on summer weekends. The VTA board of directors has allocated $11.3 million for the State Route 17 Corridor Congestion Relief Project as part of its budgets for...
Los Gatos balances budget but projects future shortfall
Los Gatos has managed to balance its budget despite a multimillion-dollar deficit by cutting funding for programs and services, ranging from library resources to legal fees. But it might not be smooth sailing for long. The Los Gatos Town Council unanimously approved a fiscally sound budget for fiscal year 2025-26 June 3 after facing a...
Cupertino city manager steps down as part of settlement
Cupertino is in the market for a new leader after settling with its city manager. The Cupertino City Council voted 4-1 in closed session June 3 to settle with City Manager Pamela Wu, who was placed on paid leave last month. Vice Mayor Kitty Moore voted no. Wu stepped down as part of the settlement...
Los Gatos group proposes new community center
A West Valley town doesn’t have a central community hub. One local group is trying to fix that. The Los Gatos Thrives Foundation, a nonprofit focused on helping older adults, recently unveiled conceptual designs of a potential new community center. The designs signal the start of plans to build a multigenerational community center in a town that’s been...
Housing project across from Los Gatos High moves forward
A controversial Los Gatos housing project next to the town high school is moving forward, despite residents raising safety concerns. The Los Gatos Town Council voted 3-2 May 27 to approve a 30-home, mixed-use development located at 143-151 E. Main St. across from Los Gatos High School. Mayor Matthew Hudes and Councilmember Mary Badame voted...
Campbell considers funding pool upgrades despite deficit
Campbell is dedicating millions of dollars to improve quality of life for residents in spite of a budget shortfall. The Campbell Planning Commission unanimously agreed Tuesday that more than $100 million in public projects aligns with the city’s goals for the next five years, including a $12 million proposal to redo the community center pool....
Cupertino assisted living facility scales down parking, retail
Plans for a Cupertino assisted living facility are moving forward, but with significantly less retail than originally envisioned. The Cupertino City Council voted 4-1 May 20 to approve modified plans for a 136-home, mixed-use assisted living facility for older adults along Stevens Creek Boulevard. Changes include eliminating 146 underground parking spaces and reducing ground floor retail...
Cupertino pulls funding for road safety improvement study
Cupertino officials are pulling the plug on studying how to improve safety on one of the West Valley’s busiest roads. The Cupertino City Council voted 3-1 to defund the Bollinger Road corridor study last week, which would have gathered data to assess potential safety improvements. Councilmember Sheila Mohan voted no and Councilmember J.R. Fruen recused...
Cupertino slow to build housing residents can afford
Cupertino is known for its wealthy tech world. But one in four households struggles with the cost of living in a city slow to build affordable housing. The city’s proposed housing plan for the next five years, which it submits to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for grant funding, reveals 26%...