The Silicon Valley Voice is dedicated to the independent community news of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Community news, public news in Santa Clara.
A new Santa Clara park is providing a tiny oasis in the heart of the neighborhood near Levi’s Stadium. The half-acre park is located in the Clara neighborhood, a 45-acre residential neighborhood near the stadium. The park opened in June, becoming the city’s 42nd park, which includes 229 improved acres and more than 80 acres … Read more
Few people begin their careers in government as early as Santa Clara City Manager Jovan Grogan. He got involved in city government in high school, and was so certain of his direction in life that when it came time for college, he looked for schools with majors in city planning. It all began when an … Read more
Cal Fire’s aerial firefighting fleet, the largest civilian force in the world, has added two modern aircraft that can fly farther, operate at night and carry more water. The delivery of the pair of Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters from Colorado-based United Rotorcraft last week marked the fulfillment of a multi-year plan to modernize and bolster … Read more
Sunnyvale’s new police chief is looking forward to fostering good working relationships with those in his department and improving public engagement. Last month, Sunnyvale hired Daniel Pistor as chief of the city’s public safety department. Following a nationwide search, the city promoted Pistor, who had been serving as the deputy chief of fire services. Ensuring … Read more
In a quick turnaround, Alamo Drafthouse has revamped the movie theater at Westfield Valley Fair, transforming it into a Kaiju and Godzilla-themed theater for movie lovers. Alamo stepped up last July, when the previous theater owners, ShowPlace Icon, suddenly closed with little to no warning. “I think our team came in pretty early on last … Read more
The Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) has undergone significant changes at the top. With three different leaders in the past three years, Dr. Damon J. Wright is just the latest leader to take the helm. Dr. Wright took over the role in June, taking over for the retiring Dr. Gary Waddell and he’s hoping … Read more
Pro bono private attorneys play an important role in the work of Santa Clara County’s Public Defenders Office (PDO), says a new county civil grand jury report, “Volunteer Justice: The Power of Pro Bono Partnerships [in the] County of Santa Clara Public Defender’s Office (PDO).” The grand jury doesn’t report the origin of the investigation, … Read more
Sunnyvale’s latest park, which honors the city’s farming heritage, is now open. Earlier this year, the Sunnyvale City Council named the park located at 1197 Lily Ave. Corn Palace Park. From 1965 until 2015, the two-acre parcel where the park is located acted as a farm stand. On June 27, the city cut the ribbon … Read more
After nearly 50 years of public service, a local political mainstay is finally throwing in the towel without a loss on his record. Larry Stone, Santa Clara County’s assessor, announced last month that he will not seek re-election in 2026. For the past 30 years, Stone has managed a department that determines the value of … Read more
We’ve all been hearing about likely PG&E power shutoffs — Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) — to reduce California wildfire risks. And in Santa Clara, we’re all asking the same question: Will shutoffs affect Santa Clara’s municipal electric company, Silicon Valley Power (SVP)? The short answer is: Unlikely. “So far the City of Santa Clara … Read more