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The Synergy Report

Palo Alto looks to rezoning to limit impacts of state bill

Palo Alto looks to rezoning to limit impacts of state bill – San José Spotlight The Big PicturePalo Alto is moving quickly to get ahead of Senate Bill 79, a state law that significantly increases allowable housing density near transit. The city is exploring a mix of rezoning and historic preservation strategies to blunt the […]

PG&E Reverses Course, Protects Coyote Valley in Power Project Shift

PG&E reverses decision environmentalists say threatened wildlife in San Jose’s Coyote Valley The Big Picture Pacific Gas and Electric Company agreed to relocate a major South Bay transmission project to land adjacent to the existing Metcalf Substation, abandoning earlier plans to build on agricultural land in Coyote Valley. The shift follows more than a year […]

Open Space Preserved as San Jose Advances Power Reliability Plan

Santa Clara Valley open space to remain intact as San Jose power reliability plan gets approved – ABC7 San Francisco The Big Picture The California Public Utilities Commission approved a revised energy infrastructure plan that preserves Coyote Valley open space while allowing critical grid upgrades to move forward. Instead of building in sensitive habitat areas, […]

Rifts emerge in San Jose budget talks

Rifts emerge in San Jose budget talks – San José Spotlight The Big Picture San Jose leaders are heading into a contentious budget cycle as they work to close a roughly $56 million deficit, with clear divisions emerging over priorities and strategy. The City Council approved Matt Mahan’s March budget message in an 8–3 vote, […]

$544,850 Caltrans Grant for Lyndale Community Resiliency Project

NEWS RELEASE: City of San José and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Awarded $544,850 Caltrans Grant for Lyndale Community Resiliency Project | News | City of San José The Big Picture The City of San José and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority have been awarded a $544,850 grant from the California Department of Transportation […]

San Jose ends homeless shelter contract amid worker drug charges

San Jose ends homeless shelter contract amid worker drug charges – San José Spotlight The Big Picture The City of San José has terminated its contract with nonprofit LifeMoves to operate the Branham Lane temporary housing site after a caseworker was arrested on drug charges. The employee was allegedly selling methamphetamine to residents at the […]

Open space tax measure to appear on June ballot in Santa Clara County

Open space tax measure to appear on June ballot in Santa Clara County – The Mercury News The Big Picture A new parcel tax measure will appear on the June ballot in Santa Clara County that would generate about $17 million per year for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. The measure would impose […]

New budget documents place San Jose’s estimated shortfall around $56 million

New budget documents place San Jose’s estimated shortfall around $56 million The Big Picture San José is facing a projected $56 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year, driven largely by declining sales tax revenue and rising employee salary and benefit costs. The deficit comes as the city begins its annual budget process and […]