Cupertino Cancels July 4th Fireworks
While many residents were preparing for their Thanksgiving holiday, the Cupertino City Council decided to axe its July 4th fireworks display. There was no community input taken to inform the City staff recommendation to eliminate the popular fireworks show enjoyed by thousands of residents for decades. The suggestion to eliminate the celebrations was also relatively […]
Cupertino Receives First Builder’s Remedy Project Application
Cupertino has been vulnerable to the “Builder’s Remedy” since it missed its January 2023 deadline for an approved Housing Element from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The “Builder’s Remedy” is a State law that allows developers to bypass local zoning laws for projects that offer affordable housing. Menlo Park developer Acclaim Properties has submitted […]
No Money, No Problem: Cupertino to Pursue Costly New City Hall, Despite Lack of Funding
On October 17th, 2023, a heavily-debated topic was presented at the Cupertino City Council meeting: whether or not the City should tear down and rebuild its City Hall. In order to fund the construction of a new City Hall, Council considered building high-density housing on City-owned properties, such as the current City Hall, Community Hall, and […]
Cupertino Anticipates Financial Deficit – Impacts Remain Unknown
Cupertino financial woes got a reality check when last-ditch efforts at the governor’s office failed to save its lucrative tax revenue sharing agreement with Apple. On October 17, 2023, staff proposed to set aside a $56.5M sales tax reserve, further worsening Cupertino’s impending budget deficit. Background Since 1998, Apple has assigned Cupertino as its point-of-sale […]
New Cupertino Boba Shop Draws Hour-Long Waits
A highly-anticipated new boba shop has made Cupertino its home: Chicha San Chen. The franchise’s Cupertino location is the first in all of Northern California. As such, it is currently drawing waits from 40 minutes to two hours, with lines stretching down the block. Fortunately, guests are supplied with umbrellas to shade them as they […]
AB 838: Cupertino to Offer New Health and Sanitation Investigation Services for Renters
Do you rent a home you suspect to have exposed lead or that may harbor other conditions that could endanger life, limb, health, property, safety, or welfare for yourself, other residents, or the public? Have complaints to your landlord about unsafe conditions in your home gone unanswered or resulted in deferred or only partial resolution? […]
The Latest Updates on Vallco – September 2023
Five years have passed since Cupertino employees approved the 2018 Vallco Town Center SB 35 project (Vallco SB 35 project, located on Stevens Creek Blvd and N. Wolfe Rd) under ministerial approval provisions of the 2017 SB 35 bill. The last project updates published on the City of Cupertino’s website and on the property owner’s […]
New Mirage Glass Sculpture at Apple Park Uses Sand from 70 Deserts Across the World
At the busy headquarters of one the world’s most iconic companies, a new oasis beckons to contemplate the diversity of our planet. Mirage is a new glass sculpture commissioned by Apple and created by artist Katie Paterson and architectural studio Zeller & Moye. It is located adjacent to the Apple Visitor Center in Cupertino. Paterson […]
2023-2031 Cupertino Housing Element Update
On July 25, 2023, the Cupertino City Council received an update on the 6th Cycle Housing Element, 2023-2031. The Housing Element (HE) is one of 8 required elements of every California city or town’s General Plan. Whereas, the General Plan is a kind of long-term roadmap for all kinds of development in a jurisdiction, the […]
Cupertino Council Majority Moves to Reduce Transparency into Lobbyist Activity
At the July 6, 2023 City Council meeting, three Councilmembers (Wei, Fruen, and Mohan) approved first round changes weakening Cupertino’s lobbyist registration ordinance. The changes include a provision that allows lobbyists who are paid less than $5,000/quarter to avoid publicly disclosing their activity. Councilmembers Moore and Chao opposed the changes. Cupertino’s Lobbyist Ordinance: A Brief […]
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