Santa Clara is recognizing a piece of its history often overlooked in the city’s historic preservation efforts — the grave site of Tiburcio Vásquez, a notorious 19th-century outlaw whose legacy is intertwined with the experiences of California’s Mexican-era residents. The City Council unanimously approved the grave site’s historic designation on Oct. 20, giving new recognition...
Santa Clara ends membership fees at senior center
After years of advocacy from older adults, Santa Clara is eliminating membership fees for residents at its Senior Center, a change intended to make the facility more accessible — although questions remain about limited pool hours and staffing shortages. The City Council on Oct. 20 unanimously approved ending membership fees, which previously cost $12 for a...
Williams, Crutchlow lead Santa Clara City Council contests
Two candidates are leading in Santa Clara City Council races for Districts 2 and 3, according to early election results. As of 5 p.m. on Nov. 6, Kimberley Williams has a sizable lead in the District 2 race with 57.7% of the vote, or 1,704 votes. Yvonne Inciarte followed in second place with 42.1%, or...
Santa Clara shifts park priorities to keep $256K grant
Santa Clara resident Wesley Dudzinski walks through Maywood Park everyday as part of an hour-plus route between his home and Stevens Creek Boulevard. He said he likes the quiet, greenery and low-traffic surroundings, though he has noticed the park could use more shade during the summer. But while Dudzinski continues to use the park, a...
Santa Clara candidate faces complaint over campaign post
A Santa Clara City Council District 2 candidate is facing questions about campaign posts that feature the branding from the nonprofit she leads. It’s prompting the organization to establish new guidance for board members running for public office. Kimberley Williams, who became board president of the Santa Clara Schools Foundation in June, appeared in social...
Santa Clara wants better water, air standards for data centers
Santa Clara officials are moving forward with plans to update the city’s policies governing data center development, but have stopped short of considering a moratorium on new projects coming through the pipeline. The City Council on Oct. 6 unanimously approved a plan to prioritize new water and air quality standards for data centers and directed...
49ers-backed PAC supports Santa Clara candidate, opposes another
The San Francisco 49ers want to tilt the scales in the team’s favor on the Santa Clara City Council by pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the District 2 race. Recent campaign finance filings show a political action committee — Affordable Santa Clara Supporting Williams and Opposing Inciarte for City Council 2026, sponsored by...
Santa Clara County residents urged to mail back ballots early
Residents across Santa Clara County are receiving their mail-in ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election, and local election officials are urging them to vote early. Vote by mail packets are going out to more than 1 million active registered voters in Santa Clara County this week. To ensure all votes are counted, officials with...
Santa Clara candidate faces complaint for exceeding donation limits
A Santa Clara official wants the city attorney to review mayoral candidate Kathy Watanabe’s campaign donations, alleging violations of the city’s donor limits. Councilmember Suds Jain’s Oct. 5 complaint said Watanabe’s July campaign filings reported $500 contributions each from Paul Larson and Michael McWalter, but the contribution limits per person are $380. The filing shows...
San Francisco 49ers spending big on Santa Clara mayoral race
Special interest groups are pouring money into Santa Clara’s mayoral race, with the San Francisco 49ers funding a political action committee that’s backing one candidate and opposing two others. Recent campaign finance filings show the PAC — Affordable Santa Clara Supporting Ferraris and Opposing Watanabe and Kertes for Mayor 2026, Sponsored by Forty Niners Football...