Political news, Local politics and government news reporting in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
In the shadow of federal cutbacks, the Sunnyvale City Council will continue to fund U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs. At its most recent meeting, the council got a five-year and yearly forecast for federal money funneled into its HUD programs. That money is predominantly used for two programs: the city’s Community … Read more
Waning economic conditions have caused the Related Santa Clara development to pivot, incorporating data centers at the cost of office and retail space. At a special Santa Clara City Council study session Tuesday night, the council heard the reasoning for the largest development in the city’s history shifting its focus. While Related “remains strongly committed … Read more
The Sunnyvale City Council has a roadmap for the projects the city plans to undertake over the next two years. At its most recent meeting, the council got a slightly different look at the city’s work plan. This new perspective, City Manager Tim Kirby said, “grays” the line between council policy and city employees’ execution. … Read more
At the April 29 meeting, the Santa Clara City Council adopted a new field use fee that better serves youth sports, adjusted its municipal fee schedule and changed the city’s housing element to avoid a lawsuit. Santa Clara’s youth sports organizations will see a reduction in their field use fees. The organizations had historically enjoyed … Read more
Sports and infrastructure will be Santa Clara’s focus over the next year. At the Santa Clara City Council’s priority setting session last month, the council emphasized the need to ensure big-ticket events at Levi’s Stadium go off without a hitch and that the city spends voter-approved bond money responsibly. Super Bowl LX and FIFA World … Read more
Super Bowl preparations are coming together, with the city manager saying the final agreements will likely be complete in the next couple months. At its March 25 meeting, several city employees updated the Santa Clara City Council on progress toward the city getting all of its ducks in a row ahead of the big game. … Read more
Santa Clara’s George Haines International Swim Center (ISC) will finally get the facelift many have been waiting for since its closure early last year. At the Santa Clara City Council’s meeting Tuesday night, the council approved allocating $10 million for more comprehensive improvements to the ISC. In June last year, the council approved $1.86 million … Read more
The Sunnyvale City Council has denied a resident’s request to exempt an illegally built home office from zoning regulations. The detached home office, located at 160 S. Pastoria Ave., failed to meet the height and setback requirements set forth in the zoning code. The applicant, Scott McClennan, claimed the building, which is 112 sq. ft., … Read more
Former Santa Clara City Council Member Anthony Becker will not spend time in prison after his December 2024 conviction for felony perjury and misdemeanor violation of duty, but he will serve some form of jail time. On April 4, Judge Javier Alcala sentenced Becker to two years of probation and 40 days of work duty. … Read more
When Gov. Gavin Newsom launched his new podcast last month, he touted it as an opportunity to understand the MAGA movement’s motivations and figure out a path forward for Democrats after the party’s bruising losses in the 2024 election. But the early response has predominantly been bewilderment — from supporters, critics and the public alike … Read more