San José Spotlight

Come join us January 10 at Chromatic Coffee Inc. to enjoy a cup of your favorite brew while chatting with our editor team. This is your chance to ask questions, share your ideas and get to know the faces behind the stories! ☕ RSVP here: https://hubs.la/Q0311gDy0

Happy New Year! 🎊 We’re thrilled to be kicking off 2025 with some great news. Thanks to readers like you, we’ve surpassed our #NewsMatch campaign goal and raised $104,000 to help sustain our journalism. Because of your generosity, we’re equipped and inspired to continue delivering the trustworthy reporting Silicon Valley needs. Here’s to a new year of impactful journalism for our community. Thank you again! 💛

Tragedy and a lack of workplace safety measures led one Silicon Valley lawmaker to call for tighter regulations to protect employees. State Sen. Dave Cortese’s bill, SB 553, occupational safety: workplace violence took effect this summer. The bill focuses on preventing violent incidents like the 2021 VTA shooting at the hands of an unstable transit employee. The VTA began training employees on its workplace violence prevention plan in mid-July, about a quarter of the workforce is trained. Read more:

Our end-of-year fundraising campaign ends tonight, and we’re just $2,600 shy from reaching our fundraising goal. Can we count on you to help us get across the finish line and start 2025 strong? ⌛ If Silicon Valley matters to you, then our community-rooted reporting should matter to you. Think about what it’s worth, and what you’re able to give. Whether that amount is $10 per month, a lot more, or a lot less, every single dollar truly makes a difference. And — if you give before midnight, your contribution (up to $1,000) will be matched, thanks to our local match funders. 💛 Donate today: https://hubs.la/Q030Vkwv0

Charges of nepotism and suspicious bank withdrawals surround a fight for control of San Jose’s Viet Museum in History Park – a crown jewel for Little Saigon. Read the story:

A $950 million affordable housing bond has helped build thousands of affordable homes across Santa Clara County, though its efforts have focused on some parts of the region more than others. Read more:

From a historic election recount to a San Jose councilmember’s arrest: 2024 was one for the books. As the South Bay turns a page into 2025, San José Spotlight is looking back at the pivotal moments that made this year memorable  — from scandals and protests, to historic votes and those we lost. Read here:

A San Jose police academy recruit died by suicide using a city-issued handgun in late September — quietly rattling the department and highlighting the risk of arming cadets. The unusual tragedy has also prompted questions about whether higher-ups missed any warning signs. Read more:

One of Northern California’s largest health care providers has plans to build two medical campuses, as patient overflow is straining Silicon Valley emergency rooms with long wait times and life-threatening delays. Sutter Health - Bay Area is investing $800 million to renovate two large, vacant offices in Santa Clara into non-hospital, outpatient rooms for a range of medical services across 1 million square feet. Read more:

Stevens Creek Boulevard is on the road to a complete renovation in the name of safety and public transit, but improvements are years away. Read more: