A dispute between contractors has disrupted the construction of the transitional housing complex that Palo Alto and nonprofit organization LifeMoves are preparing to open on San Antonio Road, next to the Baylands Nature Preserve. The Homekey project at 1237 San Antonio Road has been in the works since fall 2023, when city and state leaders...
Bramson: 20,000 people housed — and still not enough
There’s a number that should fundamentally change how we talk about homelessness in Santa Clara County: 20,000. That’s how many people are no longer homeless — now housed — as a result of the community’s coordinated effort under the Community Plan to End Homelessness since 2020. It’s a remarkable milestone, and yet if you listen...
Is Matt Mahan’s campaign for California governor losing steam?
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s late entry into the California governor’s race met immediate fanfare in Silicon Valley two months ago. But reports of internal tension, a top strategist’s exit, a curious fundraising scheme and persistent low polling suggest his billionaire-paved road to Sacramento may turn to gravel. Since his Jan. 29 campaign announcement, Mahan...
Medi-Cal cuts create problems for Silicon Valley immigrants
Budget cuts to Medi-Cal are threatening the fabric of Silicon Valley’s health care system — and immigrants are among the hardest hit populations. Some immigrants have experienced delays in services, medication cuts, difficulties navigating the new health care landscape and uncertainties about available services. Others have dropped coverage completely for fear of having their information...
San Jose faces legal heat over mental health crisis calls
A group of civil rights organizations is ratcheting up the legal pressure on San Jose over longstanding complaints that too often mental health-related emergency calls receive a police response — rather than assistance from mental health professionals. In a recent letter to Mayor Matt Mahan, lawyers representing local police watchdog group Silicon Valley De-Bug allege...
Silicon Valley lawmaker secures millions for veteran housing
The redevelopment of a San Jose housing site for veterans has been bolstered with funding secured by a Silicon Valley lawmaker. Congressman Ro Khanna has secured a more than $3 million grant for the veterans shelter at 10 Kirk Ave. in East San Jose. The money will be used for site improvements that include a...
Mountain View could allow public drinking in downtown
Mountain View is looking to implement an “entertainment zone” in the downtown area ahead of the World Cup this summer, which would allow for the open consumption of alcohol on streets and sidewalks during city-designated events. A local ordinance creating the proposed zone — which would cover five blocks of Castro Street and portions of surrounding...
Flaherty: Veterans deserve generational healing in their own community
This year, thousands of Vietnam War veterans will cross into the 65+ population, a demographic shift that carries both honor and urgency. These men and women served our country decades ago. Today, many need us to serve them. In Mountain View, 12% of residents are age 65 and older, and more than 1,400 veterans call...
San Jose eyes reviving outdoor dining program
When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and health officials banned most indoor business activities, Doug Cookerly was among dozens of San Jose business owners who took advantage of the city’s emergency Al Fresco outdoor dining program to add outside seating. “It was a savior,” Cookerly, who owns the bar Hop & Vine located on The Alameda,...
State housing law could change Campbell’s small city vibe
Campbell could add 40,000 homes — more than tripling the city’s current population — under a new state law aimed at boosting housing near public transit stations. The City Council is working on plans to manage the huge surge in potential development being triggered by Senate Bill 79. The bill, effective July 1, could massively...