San Jose’s Vietnamese community sees no shortage of milestones, activism and political drama every year — 2025 was no exception.

The historic home of San Jose’s first Asian American mayor now belongs to a local church with deep roots in Japantown’s community.

It was a transformational year for Silicon Valley. As 2025 comes to a close, San José Spotlight is looking back on its definitive moments.

Many families in Santa Clara County continue to struggle with food insecurity even after food assistance, according to a recent study by Santa Clara University.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to upend federal funding for permanent housing.

At age 27, Rob Moore brings a fresh perspective to the Los Gatos Town Council as the youngest mayor in town history.

As part of a year-long effort to rein in San Jose’s problem with abandoned shopping carts, the city has been reviewing proposals to hire a company to retrieve and return carts to grocery stores.

For community leaders in San Jose’s Japantown, receiving statewide recognition as a cultural district affirms what they already know about the historic neighborhood.

Santa Clara County voters can walk into 19 different vote centers and select their next chief property taxer starting Saturday.

In a San Jose City Hall shakeup, longtime mayoral chief of staff Jim Reed announced Thursday he is leaving to lead a statewide policy initiative launched by Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social earlier this year.

The chilling effects of President Donald Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” have caused nurses to be furloughed across Santa Clara County’s hospitals.

Grab a cup of joe with San José Spotlight! ☕ Join us January 8 at Playback Coffee Co. in San Jose to hear from our editors, Nick Preciado and @morytmilo.bsky.social, and get a sneak peek into our newsroom. RSVP here: na2.hubs.ly/H02B4xf0

Willow Glen residents are expressing bitter disappointment after a proposed seven-story residential building in their neighborhood gained a permit under a state law streamlining housing development.

Editorial: "San Jose City Hall encountered a blast from the past at its doorstep Dec. 4. The moment was a reminder of how pivotal San Jose was to the nation’s music scene in the 1960s and 70s." – @morytmilo.bsky.social

Patience is wearing thin amid a battle for control of a museum honoring San Jose’s Vietnamese community — and both sides of the fight could end up losing.

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At San Jose’s Vietnam Town, struggling merchants find it hard to recognize their signature commercial center. Instead, they see a plaza that chases out visitors.

Silicon Valley’s wealthiest residents are steering billions of dollars to national and global causes instead of investing in their own backyard — a trend that’s persisted for at least five years.

As the race to become Santa Clara County assessor enters its last lap, leaders of Northern California’s largest city are all in on candidate Neysa Fligor.

A community-inspired mural project aims to beautify and revitalize a neighborhood in East San Jose.

The number of Californians who are “very concerned” about homelessness has plummeted below 30% over the last six years.

Santa Clara County’s hospital lifeline sales tax increase won’t affect Silicon Valley residents equally.

San Jose Mayor @mattmahansj.bsky.social hosted several gubernatorial candidates at a tiny home site Friday, in the hopes of showcasing the city’s approach to slash homelessness through building temporary housing — and to get their buy in.

An East San Jose charter school serving immigrant families is at risk of closure.

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Homeless residents who moved from San Jose’s largest encampment into shelters earlier this year are being asked to move again — or end up back on the streets.

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Santa Clara County assessor candidate Rishi Kumar is turning heads — and raising eyebrows — with a vow to shield older adults from property taxes. Some people are pushing back on the idea.

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Three months after trading his role as San Jose Planning Commission chairman for a seat on the City Council, Anthony Tordillos has nominated his replacement.

East San Jose’s longtime Duino family is ready to let go of its 115-acre former golf course. But they’re caught between clashing visions over the future of the property. City leaders want more density than developers and some neighbors had in mind.

A city audit is recommending the San Jose Fire Department strengthen its drug tracking and inventory security after painkiller thefts by a firefighter led to patients receiving morphine from tampered vials.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at San José Spotlight! Thank you for standing with us in our mission to keep Santa Clara County informed, engaged and connected to civic life. 💛 🦃

Santa Clara County leaders have gathered to denounce President Donald Trump’s actions to cut funding for permanent housing programs.

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In a short time, one homeless services provider operating a safe parking site has connected dozens of unhoused people to housing.

People struggling with food insecurity will still be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal thanks to Bay Area nonprofits.

San Jose leaders are delaying a vote on a plan to revamp a development program responsible for generating a significant portion of the city’s affordable housing.

A long-awaited San Jose tiny home village built on land owned by the region’s largest water supplier has opened — giving 136 homeless people a roof over their heads.

Grail Family Services and Sacred Heart Community Service are providing groceries for families, including many who rely on CalFresh, California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

there's a lot happening with BART Silicon Valley, but VTA has another project on Capitol Expressway — the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector. the new line will provide more connection to East San Jose, but construction is causing chaos @sanjosespotlight.com sanjosespotlight.com/east-san-jos...

Capitol Expressway has turned into a traffic nightmare near the light rail connector expansion — and local businesses are looking to transportation officials for relief.

With nearly all the votes counted in the race for Santa Clara County assessor, the contest is headed for a December runoff between Los Altos Vice Mayor Neysa Fligor and former Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar.

An official lineup of Super Bowl fanfare events largely snubs the South Bay in favor of San Francisco — 50 miles north of where the game will actually happen.

Santa Clara County’s homeless veterans population has hit a milestone: the numbers have dropped to their lowest level since tracking began 20 years ago.

With Veterans Day approaching, Santa Clara County is offering free health and social services to local vets this weekend.

California has overwhelmingly approved Gov. @gavinnewsom.bsky.social’s plan to gerrymander congressional seats in favor of Democrats for the next several election cycles. His most powerful allies in Silicon Valley are tempering their zeal.

A San Jose hotel converted to homeless housing is switching operators, and residents are welcoming the change.

“As the next assessor I will continue to protect tax payers dollars, I will save tax payers money. I will improve the process, including the appeal process,” Fligor told San José Spotlight.