San José’s Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a 100-megawatt battery energy storage system
Big Picture San José’s Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit (CP24-015 / ER24-139) for a 100 MW battery energy storage facility at 6150 San Ignacio Avenue on an approximately 5.5-acre site currently used for vehicle storage. The project includes battery modules, inverters, and a collector substation, with extended construction hours including Saturdays. Staff said […]
Coyote Valley’s plan for wildlife crossings
Big picture Wildlife crossings planned for Coyote Valley are increasingly being framed not just as environmental projects, but as public safety infrastructure. According to new data cited in the Mercury News, vehicle crashes involving wildlife along Highway 101 and nearby roads in South San José and Coyote Valley have caused millions of dollars in damage, […]
San Francisco Proposes 2026 Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond
Mayor Lurie and President Mandelman Announce 2026 Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond to Modernize Infrastructure and Support Public Safety | SF.gov Big pictureSan Francisco leaders have announced plans for a major earthquake safety and emergency response bond slated for the 2026 ballot. The measure would fund seismic upgrades to critical infrastructure, emergency response facilities, […]
Santa Clara County Buys Site for Future Health Clinic
Santa Clara County buys site of future health clinic – San José Spotlight Big pictureSanta Clara County has approved the purchase of a new medical office building on South Bascom Avenue to serve as a future Valley Health Center, opting to buy the property rather than lease it. The acquisition will be financed through lease-revenue […]
San Jose weighs expanding residential parking permit zones
Big pictureThe San Jose is seeing renewed pressure from neighborhood groups to expand residential parking permit programs in areas near job centers, campuses, and major corridors. Residents argue that increased commuter parking and spillover from nearby commercial and institutional uses are making it harder for people who live there to park near their homes. City […]
San Jose police under fire for license-plate data searches
Is San Jose allowing federal authorities to access police license plate camera data? Big pictureThe San Jose Police Department is facing legal and public scrutiny after reporting revealed that officers conducted federal searches of license-plate reader data in ways that may violate California law. The issue centers on automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems, which […]
VTA Launches Coyote Valley Wildlife Crossing Project
VTA Launches Coyote Valley Wildlife Crossing Project | VTA Big PictureThe Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority board has approved the start of a multi-year effort to design and build wildlife crossing structures in Coyote Valley, a key habitat corridor between San Jose and Gilroy. Initial design and planning work is now underway, with construction on […]
Newsom’s budget proposes short-term loans for cash-strapped Bay Area transit agencies
Newsom’s budget proposes short-term loans for cash-strapped Bay Area transit agencies | Transit | dailycal.org The Big PictureCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2026-27 state budget includes a plan to offer short-term loans and financial support to Bay Area transit agencies that are running out of money and facing potential service cuts. This is a stopgap […]
California’s moving van outflow slowed in 2025
California’s moving van outflow slowed in 2025 – The Mercury News The Big PictureNew data tracking one-way moves — often using U-Haul and similar “moving van” indicators — shows that California continues to lose more residents than it gains, but the pace of that outflow slowed in calendar year 2025 compared with 2024. While the […]
Palo Alto tries to rein in Zuckerberg’s Crescent Park expansion
Palo Alto tries to rein in Zuckerberg’s Crescent Park expansion – San José Spotlight The Big PictureResidents in Palo Alto’s Crescent Park neighborhood have been raising concerns for years about changes tied to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s expansion of properties in their area. Neighbors say construction, property accumulation, and development activity have altered the character […]