#san-jose-government

#san-jose-government

The inaugural WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America will draw approximately 10,000 attendees to San Jose, establishing it as the permanent North American home for the annual congress.

San Francisco's No. 1 industry is not tech, it's not AI - it's actually tourism, according to Mayor Daniel Lurie, highlighting the city's economic reliance on visitors.

City leaders have adjusted the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance to breathe life into dormant projects. The update shifts affordability tiers for rental units from 50, 60, and 100 percent of area median income to 60, 80, and 110 percent, easing the path for developers to move forward. This pivot aims at households caught between subsidized options and soaring market rates, fostering a broader mix of homes that reflect the city's diverse rhythms and needs.

The current issue is whether Fremont controls the road that the Alameda County Board of Supervisors ceded to Christopher George, who has now blocked access with a gate. But it is part of a longer battle that has included the board considering George's request for the land after his company donated $10,000 to Supervisor David Haubert's campaign. The board granted his request ostensibly to save maintenance costs, but at the expense of constituents who have used that section of road recreationally for decades.

San José is still way behind. It's way behind on its housing, and it's way behind on its thinking about what development should look like. We either build a lot of housing on this site, and we're actually serious about solving the housing crisis, or we have elected officials and civic leaders who continue to pay lip service to housing while doing nowhere near enough to solve the real issues.

San Jose city leaders are moving ahead with a June ballot measure to raise hotel taxes, seeking to generate millions of dollars for critical services amid budgetary woes. With the city already forced to cut previously approved services and institute a hiring freeze to rebalance this year's budget, next year promises to be even more challenging, as San Jose faces an estimated potential shortfall of $55 million to $65 million, due in part to the sluggish economy and stagnating revenue.

The City Council direction, now led by Mayor Vicki Veenker and Vice Mayor Greer Stone, marks a departure from previous agenda-setting retreats by replacing broader ideals with concrete topics. With Manhattan Beach Council member Amy Howorth serving as a facilitator for the meeting, which took place at the Mitchell Park Library, the council worked to clarify the terms "values," "priorities" and "objectives" before voting on its priorities for the year.

The past year ushered in a new age of fiscal challenges for the county as President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress passed legislation last summer that triggered unprecedented cuts to the federal Medicaid program. Known as Medi-Cal in California, the program provides health insurance to low-income and disabled individuals. As the operators of the second-largest county health and hospital system in the state, Trump's landmark tax-and-spending bill has left a giant hole in Santa Clara County's growing budget for the coming years.

I have to say - sorry to keep picking on Matt - but he just said in an interview that the thing he most admires about Gavin Newsom is his record on homelessness. You've got to be kidding, Matt," Hilton said during the forum.

The retreat is an opportunity to step away from the regular meeting agenda and focus on long-term planning, priorities and the financial health of our city. These retreats are an important part of good governance, allowing the council and city staff to look ahead thoughtfully and ensure we are aligned on the challenges and opportunities before us.