Santa Clara County has increased its commitment to the well-being of children and families. Despite a shortfall, the county bumped up its Children’s Budget by 9.1% mid-year to $1.29 billion, ensuring a focus on critically needed services. The county is contributing $260.9 million from its general fund, with federal, state and other non-county funding offsetting...
Mallon: How can we make progress on transit during another Trump presidency?
As a transit advocate and writer, I’ve been getting asked how the incoming Trump administration will impact transit. It’s natural for transit supporters to be concerned about the the future of public transit as President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. Unlike President Joe Biden, who commuted on Amtrak for decades and is often viewed as...
California law sparks VTA workplace violence prevention plan
Tragedy and a lack of workplace safety measures led one Silicon Valley lawmaker to call for tighter regulations to protect employees. Senate Bill 553, state Sen. Dave Cortese’s bill relating to occupational safety and workplace violence, took effect this summer. The bill focuses on preventing violent incidents like the 2021 VTA shooting at the hands...
Did Sunnyvale leaders reach their goals in 2024?
Each year, Sunnyvale officials prioritize certain projects. Some projects made it over the finish line this year, while others were shelved, such as a new mobile application for city services. Here’s how the list stands at the end of 2024 and what’s rolling into 2025: Homeless services The city placed a high priority on expanding...
New laws affecting Silicon Valley in 2025
A new year brings new state laws, with Gov. Gavin Newsom signing hundreds of bills addressing many of California’s pressing issues. The bills range from cracking down on crime to creating safer spaces in schools for LGBTQ+ students, all of which will affect Silicon Valley. Here’s a list of some laws that take effect in...
2024 in review: Santa Clara’s top stories
From a shakeup on the city council to an elected official’s conviction, Santa Clara had no shortage of major stories this year. Here’s a look back at what happened in 2024 in the Mission City. A councilmember’s legal woes A jury found former Vice Mayor Anthony Becker guilty of perjury and failing to uphold his...
Fight over San Jose Vietnamese museum puts future in limbo
Charges of nepotism and suspicious bank withdrawals surround a fight for control of San Jose’s Viet Museum in History Park – a crown jewel for Little Saigon. The 147-year-old farmhouse, which stores hundreds of precious artifacts, photographs and art of Vietnam War refugees, now hangs in limbo over a dispute between the museum’s visionary, Loc...
2024 in review: Little Saigon had a roller-coaster year
A courtroom battle over an alleged ‘Godfather.’ A City Hall protest against one San Jose mayoral staffer. A fight for control of a Vietnamese cultural garden. The takedown of a renowned charity organization. A common thread connected all these stories in 2024: unhealed wounds over the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese community is more dynamic and...
How Santa Clara County divvied up its housing bond dollars
A $950 million affordable housing bond has helped build thousands of affordable homes across Santa Clara County, though its efforts have focused on some parts of the region more than others. Measure A, passed by voters in 2016, has helped fund the construction of 5,135 new homes and smashed the county’s goal of 4,800 in...
2024 in review: The top 10 Biz Beat stories
It’s been an interesting culinary year for The Biz Beat, with fast-food burgers competing with Indian and Mexican food for the top spot on the Best of 2024 list. The top two restaurants, Saapaadu and Campus Burger, opened just this year, but Burger Bar, coming in fourth, has been around since 1953. All the restaurants...