A critical city report highlighting deteriorating conditions at the San Jose animal shelter echoes concerns advocates and former volunteers have raised for years. San Jose’s Animal Care Center is the city-run adoption center that also serves residents in neighboring cities like Cupertino, Milpitas and Saratoga seeking dogs, cats or rabbits. But several residents with firsthand experience...
Major Santa Clara housing project clears development hurdle
Santa Clara has been bulking up housing in its northern neighborhoods and officials just approved plans for thousands more homes. The Santa Clara City Council unanimously approved an environmental impact report, rezoning and a developers agreement for a 48.6-acre mixed-use development in North Santa Clara on Nov. 19. Real estate firm Kylli Inc. has owned...
Collins: Vacant land property scams on the rise
In recent months, reports have been coming in from across the country, including locally in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, regarding an alarming rise in vacant land property scams. This crime wave has become so prevalent that the California Department of Real Estate has issued a formal warning, urging all real estate licensees to...
Historic San Jose trolley brings back holiday charm
Commuters pause and stare when the doors open along downtown San Jose’s light rail train stops. Before them isn’t the sleek white transit car they’re used to — but a time machine. VTA officials are reviving their most unique, 96-year-old holiday trolley car after a yearslong absence to run a brief stretch — free of...
San Jose holiday tradition needs the spirit of giving to stay afloat
Dozens of people crowd around hundreds of trees wearing Santa hats and reindeer antlers, hanging ornaments and laughing. San Jose’s beloved Christmas in the Park is about to enchant Plaza de Cesar Chavez. This year, the nonprofit that brings the holiday joy is asking people to pull out their wallets to fill a six-figure gap...
San Jose developer pays millions to reduce affordable housing
Plans for a San Jose urban village have shifted, after developers agreed to pay millions to offset their decision to build more affordable homes. The San Jose Planning Commission unanimously approved a downscaled plan for hundreds of apartments at the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center Nov. 20 after developers agreed to pay $13.9 million...
Santa Clara County CARE program begins mental health treatment
As the sweeping promises of a new behavioral health court take shape slower than expected across California, Santa Clara County is one of the last to roll it out. A new civil court process known as the CARE Program — or CARE Court — allows anyone from a family member to a first responder to...
Silicon Valley water district will fine people living on its property
Homeless people are barred from living along regional waterways owned by Santa Clara County’s largest water agency — and could be charged with an infraction or misdemeanor and face up to $500 fines if they’re caught camping there. The Valley Water board of directors voted 6-1 on Tuesday to enact the Water Resource Protection Zones...
Di Salvo: Retired Santa Clara County school trustee pushes for better education
In the last 16 years, I have been privileged to serve as an elected trustee on the Santa Clara County Board of Education. My last board meeting was Nov. 20. Some voters in my trustee area will cheer that declaration, particularly those who were opposed to my charter school approval votes. As a core value...
Cupertino City Council race recount begins
A tight West Valley city council race is headed to a recount with fewer than 10 days until the vote must be certified. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters began a manual recount of the Cupertino City Council race Monday because of the slim margin separating candidates R “Ray” Wang and Rod Sinks. Wang...