Silicon Valley voters this November will cast ballots in one of the region’s most consequential elections: From deciding who to send to Washington to a historic county supervisorial election, there is no shortage of major decisions up and down the ballot.
Los Gatos affordable housing could rise near downtown
Pricey downtown Los Gatos is being primed to become more affordable to live near. The Los Gatos Planning Commission voted 4-1 April 8 to recommend the Town Council adopt zoning changes to allow developers to build 100% affordable housing near downtown along Los Gatos Boulevard, without requiring retail space in their plans. Commissioner Susan Burnett...
San Jose Chicano community fights opposition to mural in park
Tempers flared at a recent community meeting when Latino residents in San Jose’s northside neighborhood advocated for design approval of a Chicano-themed mural. Critics of the proposed mural at Backesto Park, including the members of the 13th Street Neighborhood Advisory Committee, turned out Wednesday evening for a meeting arranged by City Hall officials, hosted by...
West Valley cities team up to consider homeless shelter
The West Valley has scarce resources for the hundreds of homeless residents living on its streets. That may change as elected leaders consider adding its first shelter. All five West Valley municipalities — Cupertino, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Campbell and Los Gatos — recently approved a homeless shelter feasibility study conducted by Good City Company. The...
San Jose District 3 special election heads to recount
Santa Clara County elections appear to be cursed — they can’t seem to avoid recounts for too-close-to-call races. The special election to replace the disgraced former District 3 San Jose councilmember Omar Torres is headed for a recount on April 24. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters will only have four days to certify...
Santa Clara County emergency housing vouchers in jeopardy
Santa Clara County officials are bracing for more cuts to their housing voucher programs, which subsidizes rent for low-income individuals. Last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) informed the county that Emergency Housing Vouchers were expiring. This pandemic-era program, which began in 2021 through a $5 billion lump sum approved by...
Silicon Valley college district first to provide free meals
Leilany Huerta-Hernandez remembers her throbbing headaches in the late afternoons because she couldn’t afford to purchase food as a West Valley College student. Her hunger was ever-present, but she felt ashamed to ask for help. Students like Huerta-Hernandez will soon be able to cross this one worry off their list. West Valley-Mission Community College District...
VTA finalizes contracts with three unions, excludes frontline workers
Three of VTA’s four unions ratified new contracts for the next four years, leaving the transit agency’s frontline workers hanging. Service Employees International Union Local 521, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1101 and Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects Local 21, which represent about 575 workers combined, reached agreements with VTA as...
Paperwork jams up Santa Clara County jail releases
Silicon Valley is known for technological innovation, but its jails are running on paper — and it’s fueling a public safety crisis. Santa Clara County is leading Bay Area counties in late-night jail releases due to an outdated paper-based processing system, according to a March report from the Sheriff’s Office. This poses myriad problems because...
Santa Clara County Office of Education appoints new superintendent
The Santa Clara County Office of Education’s embattled elected board has found a new superintendent. Board of Education Trustees appointed David M. Toston on Wednesday after five months of political instability and division following the controversial firing of former superintendent Mary Ann Dewan in October. He will begin his new role May 1. Toston was...
Long-planned Santa Clara development still in limbo
Developer Related Companies recently finished two apartment buildings in Santa Clara totaling about 5.5 acres, but its 240-acre mixed-use project designed to change the city’s landscape has been stalled for years. Officials from Related Companies and Santa Clara celebrated the opening of The Clara and Ellore last week — two high-rises that will bring 508...