San José Spotlight

State and federal lawmakers from Silicon Valley are gearing up to push back against immigration enforcement in their home districts and beyond.

With the launch of a new housing voucher program, San Jose intends to strike two birds with one stone: Provide below-market rate homes downtown and stabilize a financially struggling residential complex.

A homelessness prevention program that began in Santa Clara County is expanding across the country.

An East San Jose school district is laying off employees on the heels of declining enrollment, a budget deficit and school closures.

San Jose’s fight against immigration enforcement remains unimpeded as federal rulings try to hamper city and state efforts. Read more: sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-pus...

A San Jose development touted as the gold standard for prefabricated temporary housing has turned into a hornets’ nest fraught with problems.

After a successful push by community organizers, Santa Clara County officials have agreed to explore a reparations policy that could compensate Black residents for historic human rights violations and systemic racism.

Santa Clara County’s low-cost grocer for military families was at risk of closing, but will live on for at least another two years.

Santa Clara County Assessor Neysa Fligor’s election at the end of last year was a moment of simultaneous breakthroughs.

Over the eight-day period that culminated in Super Bowl Sunday, San Jose drew in 459,200 visitors, driving record-setting retail and restaurant sales, as well as a surge in airport travel and hotel stays, according to Mayor Matt Mahan’s office.

A routine address from Santa Clara County’s top prosecutor became a dark vision of potential injustice across Silicon Valley’s criminal landscape.

Santa Clara County homeowners and businesses will have to pay hundreds of dollars in fees to challenge how much they pay in property taxes every year.

“At his heart, he’s a neighborhood guy, born and raised in San Jose, who cares deeply about the community, especially in District 9. In fact, if I could write a campaign slogan for him it would be ‘Vote for Mike, a man who cares.”’ - California Senator Dave Cortese

Serial entrepreneur, classic car collectors, TV host, civic organizer — lifelong San Jose resident Mike Hennessy has worn a lot of hats over the years. Now, he said that wide-ranging experience has prepared him well to step into yet another role: District 9 councilmember.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked California from enacting a law that would ban federal agents from wearing masks — but a similar policy in San Jose remains intact.

Public transit ridership to and from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for #SuperbowlLX hit an all-time high with 30,000 trips — although not without a few bumps along the way.

San Jose Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social’s moderate campaign for California governor has fared well with billionaires and tech moguls. But two progressive state lawmakers in his own backyard are less enthused.

Santa Clara County leaders are looking at a $470 million deficit in the upcoming fiscal year — forcing the largest midyear budget adjustment in more than a decade as they look to close $200 million of the gap.

You're invited! Join San José Spotlight and the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara on Wednesday, March 11 for a San Jose District 9 candidate forum. Moderated by Keith Menconi, senior San Jose politics reporter. RSVP here: na2.hubs.ly/H03DKlz0

It’s a rare alignment of San Jose’s political stars: Two influential organizations on opposite sides of San Jose’s labor-business political divide have endorsed the same candidate in the District 7 City Council race.

Santa Clara County’s largest school district could close up to nine elementary schools due to declining enrollment — a game changer for the district as it redefines its future.

Did you take a @vta.org bus or light rail to Super Bowl 60 on Sunday? We want to hear from you for a story! 🏈 🚎 Fill out this form to get in touch with our newsroom: forms.gle/waYvhRAwMQzn... #journorequest #superbowl #levisstadium #vta #siliconvalley

Billionaires and tech moguls are spending mountains of cash to catapult San Jose Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social to the front of the race for California governor.

San Jose Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social has bristled at being labeled right-leaning while stressing he’s a lifelong Democrat. His hiring of a self-described conservative to run his California governor campaign could fuel fresh skepticism.

From Peter Thiel-linked tech investors to the creator of “Law & Order,” several notable people are gunning to vault San Jose Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social’s bid for California governor to frontrunner status — starting with a Super Bowl ad.

A pilot program to reconnect homeless people in San Jose to family outside the city had minimal effect in the past year.

Santa Clara County residents are breathing a collective sigh of relief as fears of federal immigration enforcement during the Super Bowl never materialized.

San Jose is easing restrictions on its local gambling industry as part of a months-long effort to lighten the regulatory burden placed on the city’s two card houses.

The first round of campaign filings for the 2026 election cycle, submitted ahead of a Monday deadline, show San Jose City Council candidates have raised tens of thousands of dollars across the five districts holding elections this year.

Santa Clara city officials have reaffirmed their support for immigrant communities ahead of Super Bowl 60 this weekend.

San Jose Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social faced his first major test as a contender for California governor Tuesday during a televised debate.

“People in our community do not like to see injustice here or anywhere. We have a long history of standing up against it, especially in Santa Clara County and California.” – Rebecca Armendariz, member of the Rapid Response Network’s steering committee and organizer for the rally

the group marched across the street, right in front of the convention center and super bowl opening night line

the message is clear, "ICE out of the Bay."

san jose councilmember Peter Ortiz was the first speaker now that theyre all set up, and he's calling for elected officials around silicon valley to take a stance against ICE "Which side are you on — the people's or the federal government's?"

we've marched over to the civic center, in front of the conventiom center, which is hosting the super bowl's opening night.

lots of folks have gathered, from different communities, unions, organizations — all calling for ICE/federal immigration agents to stay out.

hey folks! i'm at cesar chavez park in san jose, covering a rally of local leaders speaking out against ICE ahead of the super bowl for @sanjosespotlight.com check this thread for more updates. in the meantime, here's some background: sanjosespotlight.com/ices-south-b...

San Jose wants to make it easier to convert its underused office buildings into housing with new financial incentives.

The clustered racks of Natasha’s Attic were bustling with Victorian noblemen and Renaissance fairies looking for their evening gowns for the last time.

Cities across Silicon Valley may be on the cusp of cutting ties with a surveillance company linked to local police departments’ cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

As the clock ticks toward the Super Bowl, one Santa Clara County leader’s vow to arrest ICE agents may force officials across the valley to confront their own rhetoric — pitting local cops against federal ones.

BREAKING: Multiple news outlets reported Thursday morning San Jose Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social intends to join the race for California governor, putting to rest months of will-he-won’t-he speculation about his gubernatorial ambitions.

Santa Clara County leaders promised their voter-approved sales tax increase would save local public hospitals from closure. That commitment will now be tested.

For the second time in seven years, a prominent South Bay business group has found itself embroiled in a leadership dispute that has led to the sudden ouster and replacement of multiple board members sanjosespotlight.com/leadership-t...

Federal agents are anticipated to be in the South Bay ahead of the Super Bowl, as the nation grapples with increased violence related to immigration enforcement.

🎉 San José Spotlight is turning 7! 🎉 Thank you for being part of our journey. We’re grateful to have you with us as we continue growing our newsroom and our impact. Want to help us celebrate? A birthday donation helps us power the next chapter. 🎂: na2.hubs.ly/H03f-4q0

Editorial: "After about six years in local politics, @mattmahansj.bsky.social believes he has what it takes to run America’s most populous state...But the move shortchanges hundreds of thousands of San Jose residents who elected him mayor four years ago." – Ramona Giwargis, @morytmilo.bsky.social