Arvind Kumar and his husband Ashok Jethanandani spend their Saturday mornings pulling weeds and protecting plants native to California, but not in their yard at home. Instead, they’ve spent the last 20 years volunteering at Lake Cunningham Park in their East San Jose neighborhood — working to undo years of neglect and unsafe water.

Most people agree that the best way to address our area’s housing affordability issue is straightforward: build more houses. By some estimates, Silicon Valley’s housing market is at least 100,000 homes short of what is needed to arrest the inexorable housing price increases we have experienced decade after decade. Increasing availability by building more housing, not just affordable housing but also market rate and luxury housing, is imperative to improving the affordability of our city.

Artificial intelligence lives and breathes thanks to tech innovators of the 1980s and 90s who saw Silicon Valley as the landscape to develop the more than trillion-dollar computer industry. Though AI only recently entered the public vocabulary — with the search term peaking in popularity just last month since Google...

Campbell is adjusting its affordable housing policy in hopes of creating more homes and raking in more development funds, despite an official recommendation not to. The Campbell City Council voted 4-1 last week to expand its inclusionary housing policy, which would require smaller projects to convert at least 15% of homes into affordable housing or pay into the city’s housing efforts. The change applies to projects with five or more homes, lowering the existing threshold from 10 or more homes, and is expected to bring in about $237,000 annually. Campbell will implement it in about a year. Vice Mayor Sergio Lopez voted no.

A leading San Jose City Council candidate worked under a Chinese billionaire arrested on bribery and corruption charges — mainly helping the embattled CEO’s company sell off land from his failed developments in the Bay Area. San Jose Planning Commissioner George Casey, who’s locked in a heated race to replace District 10 Councilmember Arjun Batra,... The post San Jose candidate worked for controversial Chinese developer appeared first on San José Spotlight.

Two projects in Santa Clara County are receiving federal funds to renovate housing for farmworkers and homeless veterans. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren helped secure $2.6 million for the county, with $1 million going toward repairs on blighted buildings that house homeless veterans, and $1.6 million for housing and electrical upgrades for farmworkers to meet code compliance. Congressman Ro... The post Silicon Valley farmworkers, veterans receive federal help appeared first on San José Spotlight.

No, not that Joe. Where is Joe Simitian, who lost a runoff spot in Congressional District 16 by five votes and has been uncharacteristically silent on who he supports for the coveted seat. Simitian is in the enviable position of kingmaker as his voters must now choose between the two remaining candidates.

North San Jose will see a transformational change along one of its busiest transit corridors as more affordable housing, walkways and bike and bus lanes are developed — thanks to a multimillion-dollar state grant aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Affirmed Housing Group has received a $38 million grant to build 195 affordable apartments next to... The post San Jose developer nets millions to transform Berryessa corridor appeared first on San José Spotlight.

San Jose leaders have suspended discussions over supporting the federal recognition of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe — pushing it to a vote in mid-September after receiving letters from two congressional leaders critical of the proposal. Councilmembers Domingo Candelas, David Cohen, Dev Davis, Bien Doan and Peter Ortiz first requested...

A popular fast-food chain known for its crispy chicken sandwiches could get a second chance in Campbell after the City Council unanimously rejected it four years ago. Some locals see this as a plus for businesses, while others question how the project is back on the table. Campbell officials want...

“Art is not a luxury. It stands at the essence of our humanity, and it asks for no special protection except the right to exist. It accepts argument, criticism, even rejection. It does not accept violence. In the end, it outlasts those who oppress it.”. This is from Salman Rushdie’s...

San Jose schools are limiting cell phone use during classes in an effort to steer students away from the ongoing stress of screen time toward better academic performance and wellness. In response to students distracted from learning by social media, texts and notifications, local schools are stepping up cell phone...

A federal elections complaint against state Assemblymember Evan Low is intensifying Silicon Valley’s hottest congressional race and putting attention on the political role of nonprofits. A complaint filed over the weekend by former Federal Elections Commission Chair Ann Ravel alleges Low, who is running for Congressional District 16, used the email server and contact list... The post San Jose congressional candidate hit with federal complaint appeared first on San José Spotlight.

The residents of South San Jose deserve transparency, trust and respect from their government officials and agencies. Unfortunately, recent events have demonstrated that these fundamental principles have been neglected. The shocking revelation that Santa Clara County intends to transform the emergency interim housing site located at Monterey and Bernal into a jail diversion facility —... The post Batra: Jail diversion proposal is a dangerous betrayal of trust appeared first on San José Spotlight.

Over the next 18 months, San Jose may see four tiny home sites built, offering hundreds of beds to help people living on the streets transition to permanent housing. But getting there remains a challenge. Mayor Matt Mahan wants to add 784 beds between the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026 to tackle the... The post San Jose tiny homes construction faces ongoing delays appeared first on San José Spotlight.

There’s a new burger joint in downtown San Jose, with prices cheap enough to keep even the most hungry university student fed. Campus Burgers is one block from San Jose State University and will undoubtedly be a magnet for students look for a fast, affordable lunch or dinner. And the demand is there: the restaurant... The post The Biz Beat: San Jose restaurant sells burgers for $1.99 appeared first on San José Spotlight.

Campbell is slated to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars for affordable housing annually, thanks to a decision to collect developer fees from projects without housing. The Campbell City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to establish a commercial linkage fee, which is a flat rate of $9 per square foot developers must pay for all... The post Campbell to implement developer fees for affordable housing appeared first on San José Spotlight.

An invasive beetle killing a dramatic number of Southern California trees has found its way to San Jose — and it could threaten the urban forest that shades and cools Silicon Valley. Santa Clara County officials aren’t sure when or how the species, known as the shothole borer beetle,...

Sunnyvale has a unique strategy to support affordable housing development: purchasing the land for developers. Most recently, as part of a $29.5 million roundup of affordable housing expenditures, the Sunnyvale City Council unanimously approved spending $12.5 million to buy a lot at 1171 Sonora Court, to help developers MidPen Housing build 170 affordable apartments. It will be the sixth 100% affordable housing development in Sunnyvale where the city government owns the land. City officials and advocates said government land ownership helps keep the property affordable over the long term.

Santa Clara County never planned to buy Regional Medical Center in East San Jose. The Board of Supervisors wasn’t looking to take on more health care responsibilities, since they had saved three failing hospitals five years ago and already ranked as the second-largest public health and hospital system in California. But the situation was dire.