A property collective known as Petra, which manages three apartment complexes in Washington, D.C., has been ordered to pay $700,000 after being found liable in a housing discrimination lawsuit. The legal action accused Petra of intentionally discriminating against lower-income residents in order to boost profits, violating several District housing laws. The outcome represents a significant step in the city’s continuing efforts to ensure equal access to affordable housing and to hold landlords

The San Jose metropolitan area has topped a national ranking — but for reasons that signal growing trouble for California’s housing market. According to a recent HomeAbroad report analyzing U.S. Census Bureau data, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara region recorded the steepest drop in residential construction permits among the country’s 100 largest metro areas, with a staggering 68% decline over five years. In July 2020, the region issued 1,949 building permits. By July 2025,

A plan to build one of Cupertino’s first 100 percent affordable housing projects, designed to support some of the community’s most vulnerable residents, has stirred opposition from neighbors concerned about safety and parking. The proposed project, located along Mary Avenue, aims to create 40 affordable homes on a 0.79-acre site. Out of these, 19 homes would be reserved for adults and families with children who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, while 20 u

In East San Jose, the trauma unit at Regional Medical Center is once again alive with activity. Doctors and nurses are back to doing the work they were trained for: cutting crash victims out of their clothes, replacing blood loss from torn arteries, and holding shattered bones together while shouting urgent instructions through the chaos of an emergency room. The noise and intensity may sound alarming to an outsider, but to those who work there, it represents a vital return to function after

The Washington Commanders may return to play football in the District of Columbia by 2030, but significant hurdles remain before that becomes reality. The D.C. Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday regarding legislation that would enable a major redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site, potentially paving the way for the Commanders’ return. While city officials and proponents of the project emphasize its economic potential and promise to revitalize the area east of the Anacostia River, loca

San Jose’s Little Italy neighborhood, known for its deep cultural roots and Italian American history, is at the center of a heated dispute over a proposed street renaming. The City Council is preparing to vote on whether part of North Almaden Boulevard should be officially renamed “Little Italy Way,” but the plan has stirred frustration among property owners and confusion within the very nonprofit that has long championed the neighborhood’s heritage. The rena

It has been an eventful stretch in court for San Jose bail bondsman Hai Huynh, a figure nicknamed the “Godfather of Little Saigon” whose presence has long loomed large in the city’s Vietnamese American community. Over recent weeks, Huynh has seen momentum shift in his favor in two separate courtroom battles — one involving District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan and another with Oakland recycling executive and power broker David Duong. The overlapping cases highlight not on

As the nation continues to grapple with cuts to social safety nets, a new provision in the congressional budget bill has provided a significant boost to affordable housing efforts. The recently passed H.R. 1 includes an increase in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, which has long served as the primary federal tool for financing affordable housing projects. Starting next year, states will be able to permanently expand their tax credit allocations by 12 percent, giving developers new o

San Jose has been named the safest major city in the United States, according to a recent analysis that compared the 50 largest cities across the nation. The recognition comes from a financial technology company’s study that weighed key indicators of safety, including violent and property crime rates, traffic fatalities, drug overdose deaths and lifestyle risk factors such as excessive drinking. While the ranking places San Jose above other large metropolitan areas, city leaders and law

Portland leaders are heading overseas in hopes of finding solutions to the city’s growing housing affordability crisis. This week, around 20 people including three city councilors, their chiefs of staff, and members of the Portland Housing Bureau will travel to Vienna, Austria, to study the city’s internationally recognized social housing model. The trip is taxpayer funded and has already generated debate among residents and officials about its cost and purpose. Social h

San Jose city leaders have taken a firm stand against absentee landlords who allow properties to fall into neglect and create hazards for surrounding communities. In a unanimous decision, the City Council approved a dramatic increase in daily fines for code violations tied to blighted properties, raising the penalties from $2,500 per day to as much as $20,000 per day. The cap on cumulative fines was also lifted from $100,000 to $500,000, sending what officials

The Viet Museum in San Jose, an institution that holds deep cultural and historical value for the local Vietnamese community, has been at the center of a bitter dispute that has now escalated into a full-fledged legal battle. After being closed for months due to disagreements over leadership and governance, the future of the museum remains uncertain as lawsuits and accusations continue to mount. The conflict has pitted nonprofit leaders against one another, ra

Santa Clara County is urging support for a proposed sales tax increase that it says is critical to keeping its hospital system alive in the face of looming federal funding cuts. The measure, known as Measure A, would add a five-eighths cent sales tax and has been fast-tracked for the November 4 special election ballot. County officials warn that without additional revenue, essential public hospital services, trauma care, and safety net programs could be jeopardi

San Jose city workers started clearing a homeless encampment at Columbus Park on Monday morning, but the process took a tragic turn when a man was discovered dead inside his RV. Authorities confirmed that the body was found as crews began moving through the area. The cause of death has not yet been determined, but friends of the man believe the stress of the encampment sweep and the uncertainty of losing his shelter may have played a role.

In Linden, New Jersey, concerns are mounting over the condition and management of the Edward J. Murawski Towers, an 11-story senior housing complex on Dill Avenue that has stood since the 1970s. The building, which contains 150 units, is meant to provide safe and affordable housing for seniors, yet many of those apartments are sitting empty, some for years. City officials say at least 62 units are currently uninhabitable but could be repaired immediately if a

San Jose’s newest elected representative has officially taken office, marking a new chapter for District 3 after a period of political turbulence. Anthony Tordillos was sworn in at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, joining his colleagues on the dais to the applause of supporters and community members. The moment marked the culmination of a fast-moving political journey for Tordillos, who previously served as chair of the city’s Planning Commission

As California cities increasingly pass laws banning homeless encampments and intensify sweeps, a group of state lawmakers from the San Jose area is moving in the opposite direction. They are backing legislation aimed at protecting homeless individuals and the people who help them from criminal penalties. Senate Bill 643, co-authored by State Senator Sasha Perez and Assemblymembers Ash Kalra, Alex Lee, and Matt Haney, would prohibit cities from enacting ordinances that stop organiz

In a major move aimed at alleviating housing challenges faced by students, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District has officially taken ownership of McClellan Terrace Apartments in Cupertino. The $65.6 million acquisition was finalized on July 31 in a strategic attempt to convert the existing 94-unit apartment complex into roughly 332 affordable student beds. While the project is touted as a game-changer for student housing access, it comes at a cost: dozens of current residents will

Rising housing costs in the West Valley are pushing young civic leaders out of their communities and local government roles. This growing issue adds another layer to the region’s escalating housing crisis and is quietly reshaping the face of public service. One such example is Yuyi He, who dedicated her evenings to serving on a housing commission after her day job in the tech sector. She worked to represent renters and young residents in housing policy decisions, including a

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has positioned himself as a rising political figure, drawing attention beyond city limits with a mix of controversial proposals and bold policies. However, the future of his career depends heavily on the state of San Jose at the end of his term and whether his ambitious promises translate into tangible results. His leadership has been marked by efforts to address homelessness, improve public safety, and stimulate economic growth, yet these policies have sparked both