A recent op-ed opposing the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) is misguided in several key aspects. The CCCA is designed to benefit small businesses, consumers and the broader economy, contrary to the claims made by Mr. Gomez. The current payments arena suffers from a suffocating lack of competition. Visa and Mastercard, which together control 80% of...
Sunnyvale on solid footing while neighbor strapped for cash
While one Santa Clara County city pinches pennies to make ends meet and juggles budget shortfalls, its neighbor to the west sits on a surplus that can easily cover its deficit. Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, although similar in size, couldn’t be more different in their approach to governing. Sunnyvale’s 2024-25 budget has a structural surplus for...
Potential Cupertino development irks residents
A potential multi-family housing project is creating a stir in a quiet Cupertino neighborhood, signaling an intolerance for large housing developments. The proposed project, which includes plans for 23 homes with a percentage of affordable housing at 20739 Scofield Drive, drew ire from the street’s residents at a Cupertino City Council meeting earlier this month. Some...
East San Jose’s Mexican Heritage Plaza has a bright future
As the Mexican Heritage Plaza celebrates its 25th anniversary, its operators continue to strive for a brighter future for East San Jose residents. The School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza and its partners are bringing health care, affordable housing and economic development to the Mayfair neighborhood — as well as creating...
Moore: Time to rethink readiness
Imagine that you have no electric power during a long and intense heat wave. You can’t run a fan and your refrigerated food is spoiling. Air conditioning (if you have it), cell phones and the internet don’t work. Now imagine elderly folks, those with medical and mobility challenges, and families with babies and young children...
Silicon Valley ride-share service offers free summer rides
An affordable micro-transit service just got cheaper for South Bay residents who might need an economic boost this summer. Silicon Valley Hopper — a ride-share service that provides affordable transportation in Cupertino and Santa Clara at less than $5 a ride — is offering free rides to select locations through Aug. 31. Advocates said the...
The Biz Beat: Tiki Pete is a tropical getaway in San Jose
Pete Be looks exactly like you’d hope Tiki Pete would look: distinctively Hawaiian, a shaved head, covered in ornate tattoos and wearing a shirt with bright, abstract designs. The downtown San Jose bar owner’s cheerful and self-confident demeanor might come from starting his first business, selling artwork, at an early age. “I was a 14-year-old...
‘Very dirty’: Sunnyvale homeless shelter residents raise sanitation issues
Homeless residents at the North County Shelter in Sunnyvale say a shift in management has heightened sanitation problems and workers are unequipped to handle older adults living there. Two residents of the Santa Clara County-owned shelter told San José Spotlight there are numerous unhygienic issues, including pests such as rats and scabies — in addition...
Dozens of San Jose murals define its heritage
San Jose may be widely known as a tech hub, but it’s also a city defined by its public art. With a city of nearly 1 million people, San Jose is also home to hundreds of murals. In a multi-year effort to revitalize public spaces, beautify the city and make it more pedestrian-friendly, officials have focused arts...
East San Jose hospital loses services while richer areas thrive
A private health company plans to reduce lifesaving care at an East San Jose hospital as it expands another hospital in a wealthier part of the city. HCA Healthcare is increasing the number of acute care beds at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose’s Cambrian neighborhood on the West Side, close to Los Gatos. Company representatives said...