San Jose Mercury News
Not So Fast- Seniors Moving to Cities
A report by the MetLife Mature Market Institute says that seniors are moving away from suburbs and to more walkable, urban areas.
San Jose Mercury News
Raided CA Transit Funding May Return
The California Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that funding for bus and train service could not be taken for other uses.
San Jose Mercury News
Sea Levels Rise, Californians Seek Dutch Expertise
The rise of sea levels is an inevitable fact. This week, designers, planners, and engineers from the Netherlands and U.S. met to strategize on how the Bay area should deal with it.
San Jose Mercury News
California Environmental Groups Hope to Save State Parks with DMV Fees
Major environmental groups hope this year's park closures, caused by the California budget crisis, will inspire support for parks at the ballot box next year.
San Jose Mercury News
Guaranteeing You Won't Get Stranded By Transit
An often cited reason for not using alternative transportation is the unpredictable: what if I need a car for something unexpected? A non-profit is now offering guaranteed rides to those who ride transit, bike, or walk, up to $100 per year.
San Jose Mercury News
Balancing Rail Passengers, Freight, and Sustainability
Caltrain, the California passenger rail train, intends to electrify its rail system by the time high-speed rail comes online. This is at odds with freight railroads, however, and may lead to an increase in trucks on the road.
San Jose Mercury News
Water Tunnel Beneath Bay to Protect San Francisco in Face of Quake
Utilities officials in the San Francisco Bay Area are hoping to secure their water resources in the face of another devastating earthquake by building a 5-mile long water tunnel beneath the Bay.
San Jose Mercury News
"Grow Smart Bay Area" Report Released
With great fanfare, the Bay Area's Greenbelt Alliance has released a new report, "Grow Smart Bay Area", the premise being that future population and job growth can be accommodated by infill and by doing so, will add to the region's sustainability.
San Jose Mercury News
Debate Over How 'Smart' Waterfront Housing Plan Can Be
Plans to build a 12,000 home waterfront development on the San Francisco Bay have some environmentalists up in arms. But the developers claim the project will exemplify "smart growth".
San Jose Mercury News
New Suburb Plans Dropped Amid Market Downturn
Due to the downturn in the housing market, plans for a new development that would essentially become a 20,000-person suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area have been abandoned.
San Jose Mercury News
Cities Get 'F' For Air Quality
The American Lung Association has failed 2/3rds of California's counties in a recent study of levels of smog and soot.
San Jose Mercury News
Should Cities Regulate Library Internet Use?
The city of San Jose decides against adding filters to public library computers to block websites with pornography.
San Jose Mercury News
My City's More Man Than Yours
It may come as little surprise to some that the tech-heavy city of San Jose has more males than females. But in other parts of the Silicon Valley, just the opposite is true.
San Jose Mercury News
Submerged Ghost Towns Re-emerge
The site of the Lexington Reservoir for the last 56 years, two ghost towns in Santa Clara County, California have re-emerged since the water level was temporarily lowered.
San Jose Mercury News
Pixar Director Building Fake Treehouse Home
Peter Docter, director of the animated film 'Monsters Inc.', has submitted plans to build a series of artificial tree houses on his land in Lafayette, CA to be his family's home. The Planning Commission is currently considering the project.
San Jose Mercury News
High-Speed Rail Ready to Go- Just Add Money
After significant debate, the Pacheco pass route has been approved for the high-speed train between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Next step: pass a $10 billion proposition on the November ballot.
San Jose Mercury News
Will Free Rides Make Firm Believers In Transit?
Transit agencies around the U.S. offered free rides on a single day, and large crowds follow. But observers aren't sure they'll stick around when they have to pay again.
San Jose Mercury News
Goats, Sheep Get City Jobs as Landscapers
Cities like San José, CA are moving away from modern methods to keep grass down and going back to traditional methods like grazing sheep and goats.
San Jose Mercury News
Bay Area's Growth Shifts To Urban Areas
The latest population and housing estimates for the San Fransisco Bay Area show that urban areas are equaling, if not exceeding, the growth of suburban communities -- with more multifamily homes being built in lieu of detached single-family homes.
San Jose Mercury News
Eminent Domain Back On The Ballot In California
Two ballot measures -- one sponsored by property owners, the other by local government groups and businesses -- seek to tighten the rules around eminent domain, and potentially end rent control in the state.
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