B. Sakura Cannestra - San José Spotlight

B. Sakura Cannestra (she/they) is a reporter covering politics and government in the cities of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara for San José Spotlight.

She has experience covering a variety of topics, including tech innovations and policies, Berkeley’s housing crisis, social movements and politics at the state and city levels. Previously, she reported for POLITICO California and the Daily Californian.

Cannestra obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Berkeley in 2020 and graduated from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2023. They are learning more about maintaining houseplants and have kept a bullet journal for over five years. Cannestra was hired through the California Local News Fellowship program.

Santa Clara County

Two women standing behind table at an outdoor venue with open rainbow fan, white and rainbow rubber ducks, multiple resource pamphlets and signs in multiple pride flags

June 16, 2025June 17, 2025by B. Sakura Cannestra

Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs is a lifeline

With a nationwide rise in anti-transgender sentiment and a federal government stoking the flames, local leaders say supporting the LGBTQ+ community is more necessary than ever. The federal administration has targeted the LGBTQ+ community, issuing orders against transgender athletes and gender affirming care, and suggesting same-sex marriage could be overturned. Amid the unrest, the Santa...

Economy Santa Clara

Members of a city council in the meeting chambers

June 15, 2025June 17, 2025by B. Sakura Cannestra

Santa Clara balances budget, restores rainy day funds

Santa Clara’s budget reserves are back to normal, but officials are still working to address hundreds of millions of dollars in needed infrastructure maintenance. The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $1.9 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1.4 billion for fiscal year 2026-27. The city anticipates ending it’s current...

Elections San Jose

Two City Council candidates in a side-by-side photo sitting in front of microphones at a crowded forum.

June 13, 2025June 17, 2025by B. Sakura Cannestra

Tordillos leads in fundraising for San Jose District 3 race

Money is pouring into the race to represent San Jose’s downtown District 3 on the City Council, with less than two weeks before Election Day. Planning Commission Chair Anthony Tordillos has a fundraising lead of more than $90,000 over his opponent, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley Executive Director Gabby Chavez-Lopez. Campaign finance documents filed Thursday...

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