The surprising news that a homeless housing project near Willow Glen that would have turned recycled shipping containers into houses has come to a screeching halt has some officials saying “I told you so.” “At $600,000 per unit, I knew this project couldn’t pencil out,” said Councilmember Johnny Khamis in an interview Tuesday. “After all,...
Tech absent in congressman-hosted chat on contractor treatment
Rep. Ro Khanna on Tuesday gathered a candid round table to discuss the treatment of contract workers in tech, but notably absent from the conversation were any of Silicon Valley’s major employers. That’s not for lack of trying, according to Khanna, the second-term Democrat whose district encompasses Silicon Valley. His office invited about 20 major...
Major retail investor buys Campbell’s Pruneyard shopping center
The retail portion of Campbell’s newly renovated Pruneyard shopping center has traded hands for $212.5 million, according to an announcement Monday by buyer Regency Centers Corp. The purchase by the Jacksonville, Florida-based retail investor and developer marks the sale of the third and final portion of the mixed-use center since the start of the year...
Despite raise, San Jose lawmakers struggle to survive
Months before a city commission voted to raise San Jose lawmakers’ salaries by tens of thousands of dollars, Councilmember Sergio Jimenez struggled to make ends meet in Silicon Valley despite serving on the council of America’s 10th largest city. He started looking for a second gig to help supplement his family’s income. Now, Jimenez works as...
Three Bay Area media outlets host regional discussion on gentrification
One East Bay housing advocate says that when dealing with gentrification and displacement, it’s time to “push back.” Housing, gentrification, tech workers, corporations, taxes and displacement — all topics discussed Sunday afternoon during a live broadcast of Connect the Bay, a quarterly live TV program produced by Northern California Public Media, in partnership with San José Spotlight...
San Jose lawmaker questions whether measures led to rise in rapes
San Jose lawmakers during a recent meeting peppered police with questions about the sharp rise in rapes citywide, but Councilmember Johnny Khamis had a request — study how a pair of controversial state measures might have contributed to the increase. Proposition 47, approved in 2014, redefined several nonviolent crimes as misdemeanors, and Proposition 57, approved...
Staedler: Let’s keep it simple when it comes to ‘granny units’
One of the most commonly discussed housing items in the Bay Area involves Accessory Dwelling Units — or ADUs — also called ‘granny units.’ If you talk to someone who’s gone through the process, particularly in San Jose, they will tell you their tales of woe. San Jose has been making piecemeal process improvements on...
Want to remove a tree in San Jose? It’ll cost you thousands.
San Jose takes pride in its trees. So much so that if a resident wants to cut down a healthy large treeton their property it could cost them more than $2,000 to do so. Compared to other large cities in California, that cost is high. San Francisco charges its residents roughly a third of that...
Evan Low talks cannabis, holding tech accountable and higher office
A rising star in California politics and a leading voice for the millennial generation, Assemblymember Evan Low has made a name for himself advocating on behalf of passing cannabis legislation and expanding the tech world’s influence to improve Silicon Valley. The 36-year-old lawmaker from California’s 28th district is currently serving his third term, but has...
San Jose police chief pushes for more trust with minorities
Nearly 100 student athletes crowded a small auditorium early Wednesday morning, half-asleep and slouched in their seats, as their coach barked at them to pay attention. A string of police officers — both in and out of uniform — stood watching in the back of the room. “Lots of times I think about the police...