Cupertino, in collaboration with VTA and Caltrans, can move forward with the Interstate 280 and Wolfe Road interchange improvement project thanks to a roughly $4 million donation from Apple to bridge the remaining funding gap. The $124-million project was nearly canceled this month due to a funding shortfall. The city and transit agency had exhausted state and federal grant opportunities. But with Apple’s contribution, Cupertino can save the project and mitigate traffic gridlock as hundreds of homes come online.

The interchange lies between Apple’s headquarters and The Rise, a housing development designed for 2,669 apartments at the former Vallco Mall site.

The project is primarily funded by VTA’s Measure B, a 30-year, half-cent sales tax increase voters passed in 2016. Planned improvements to the interchange include a new structure that carries Wolfe Road over Interstate 280, on and off ramps, sound and retaining walls and upgraded bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways at existing street intersections. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026 and is slated to finish by 2029.

Kristina Raspe, Apple vice president of global real estate and facilities, said the company is happy to back the project’s plans for an interchange adjacent to its headquarters. Some of the Apple money was originally intended for other projects, including the McClellan Road protected bikeway improvements, but the tech titan reallocated it to fund the interchange after the city deemed the previous projects no longer feasible.

“We are proud to call Cupertino home, and to support projects that strengthen this community and make it a great place to live and work,” Raspe told San José Spotlight.

The project began nearly 10 years ago. The interchange is at the end of its useful life as a product of the 1960s, according to city reports. It’s often congested with significant delays. City officials expect it will worsen as more people move into Cupertino to live in housing developments like The Rise. Developer Sand Hill Property Company has supported the interchange project since it’s been in the works.

Councilmember Sheila Mohan has been stuck in the gridlock at the interchange many times. She said the interchange improvements will help anyone who travels Cupertino’s streets.

“It’s a really win-win, not just for Apple, but for the entire community,” Mohan told San José Spotlight. “It’s, in my opinion, the best example of public, private partnership.”

VTA was unavailable for comment.

The transit agency is also working on traffic improvements to other West Valley roadways including Highway 17 near Los Gatos.

Seema Lindskog, board chair of pedestrian and bicycle safety group Walk-Bike Cupertino, is looking forward to the project because of how dangerous the existing intersections are. She often advises high schoolers walking or biking to school to avoid Wolfe Road, but said she doesn’t want that to be the case.

“It’s been kind of on the shelf for a long time, so the fact that we’re now finally able to move forward with it is really great,” Lindskog told San José Spotlight.

Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.com or follow @annalise_ellen on X.

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As soon as the playground’s gate opened on June 13, children, adults and older people rushed in to hop on the spherical spinner, scale the blue climbing tower and kick their feet on the swings. The playground is a first for Cupertino and was built for people of all ages and abilities — and is the newest addition in Santa Clara County’s quest to uplift accessibility for its more than 170,000 residents with disabilities, according to 2023 American Community Survey data.

“There are few places that everyone’s welcome, and this is one of them,” Schober told San José Spotlight.

The playground features four swing types, with some big enough for adults, wheelchair accessibility and a sign with pictures for nonverbal park-goers. It was built by MIG at a cost of $5.4 million, and is funded by roughly $1 million from the state and nearly $1.5 million from Santa Clara County, along with city funds and $25,000 from PG&E.

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As soon as Cupertino’s new, all-inclusive playground at Jollyman Park opened on June 13, children, adults and older people rushed in to hop on the spherical spinner, scale the blue climbing tower and kick their feet on the swings. The Cupertino playground was built for people of all ages and abilities — and is the newest addition in Santa Clara County’s quest to uplift accessibility for its more than 170,000 residents with disabilities, according to 2023 American Community Survey data. The playground features four swing types, with some big enough for adults, wheelchair accessibility and a sign with pictures for nonverbal park-goers. Read more at SanJoseSpotlight.com. #inclusive #playground #disability #accessibility #inclusiveplayground #cupertino #siliconvalley

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Schober first envisioned the playground in 2016 as part of a community leadership initiative. All-inclusive playgrounds weren’t as widespread in the county then, and Schober’s idea caught the attention of former District 5 Supervisor Joe Simitian. He spearheaded the grant program for all-inclusive playgrounds in 2017, which has since allocated $20 million toward the effort countywide. The county now has 24 all-inclusive playgrounds at parks and schools in cities including San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Morgan Hill, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and Campbell.

The playground at Jollyman Park in Cupertino adds one to the West Valley, which only has a few. That’s significant for Schober and her adult son Nathan, who was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and struggled with sensory processing issues.

“You can be a quiet citizen pushing for good,” Schober said. “As long as you’re persistent, you can make things happen. Each one of us has the opportunity to influence, to make big things happen.”

Nathan told San José Spotlight a playground like this would have given him another way to express himself. He’s proud of his mom and said it’s a win for the disabled community.

“This is exactly what they need and exactly what they deserve,” he told San José Spotlight.

While Nathan likely won’t use the playground much as an adult, other families with adult children in the community will.

Cupertino resident Minna Xu said the playground is vital for her adult son, who is on the autism spectrum. He can use the adult-sized slides and swings to help with his sensory needs. Xu said he can get easily overstimulated without that outlet, adding it’s important for the community to know there are adults who need this. Nearly 70,000 residents in the county have a cognitive disability like Xu’s son, according to 2023 data.

“(People) didn’t tend to realize there’s such community needs,” Xu told San José Spotlight. “But this playground raised the awareness, and after that, our city decided to bring more all-inclusive elements to other parks.”

Mayor Liang Chao said the playground sends an important message: Cupertino welcomes everyone.

“We (wanted) to create something where you come and you feel you belong, not only in this playground, but also the city,” she told San José Spotlight.

Other recently finished all-inclusive projects include the playgrounds at Emma Prusch Farm Park in San Jose and Central Park in Santa Clara, which opened this spring.

Simitian said this is one of the few times he had an idea that worked out as intended during his time as supervisor. He termed out in 2024. He wants inclusivity to be a countywide movement spurred on by local nonprofits, including Magical Bridge Foundation, which specializes in creating all-inclusive playgrounds and parks.

“Each and every one of these playgrounds can be a model that communities look to and say, ‘You know, yes, we want to do that,'” Simitian told San José Spotlight.
Olenka Villarreal, Magical Bridge Foundation founder, said that message is important to keep the momentum going for residents who need accessible spaces. The nonprofit has playgrounds opening at Foothill College, Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto and the Morgan Autism Center in San Jose.

“Chances are each of us knows somebody that benefits from thoughtful design, and so when we talk about creating public spaces as important as a public playground, that sort of sets the tone how your family is welcomed into this community,” Villarreal told San José Spotlight. “For us, of course, it is all about the equity.”

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The Cupertino City Council voted 4-1 in closed session June 3 to settle with City Manager Pamela Wu, who was placed on paid leave last month. Vice Mayor Kitty Moore voted no. Wu stepped down as part of the settlement and will walk away with $311,098.53 in severance pay with some benefits, according to an agreement between Wu and the city. The agreement does not disclose the reason for Wu’s settlement, but said Cupertino must discontinue investigations into her conduct and destroy all associated documents.

Wu said her partnership with city colleagues was a cornerstone of her nearly three-year tenure.

“This has not been an easy choice, but it is the right time to start a new chapter,” she told San José Spotlight. “Serving this community has been a great honor in my professional career and I am proud of the accomplishment, from strengthening city services to guiding the council through numerous challenges.”

Councilmembers appointed Wu in 2022. She is the third permanent city manager to take the role since 2018, with three temporary managers in between, according to Transparent California. Wu previously worked as San Bruno’s community and economic development director and a senior planner for Gilroy and Santa Clara County.

Former Deputy City Manager Tina Kapoor will serve as acting city manager until councilmembers appoint someone to the position permanently. It’s unclear when that will be.

Mayor Liang Chao said she’s glad the city can move forward in its renewed commitment to serving residents.

“Leadership transitions are never easy — but at times, they are necessary to ensure that city operations remain stable, transparent and responsive to the needs of our community,” she told San José Spotlight. “I have full confidence in Acting City Manager Tina Kapoor and our dedicated staff as we continue working together to advance the city’s goals.”

Residents are split on the end of Wu’s time with the city.

Rhoda Fry, who’s lived in Cupertino for more than 40 years, supports the council’s decision. She said Wu’s job performance was troublesome.

“The public record (shows) that the city manager was careless with our city’s finances and confidential information,” Fry told San José Spotlight.
But other residents disagree with the call.

Jean Bedord, who’s lived in the city for more than 30 years, said the repeated shuffle of city managers is concerning. She liked Wu because of her work on the city’s housing plan and Memorial Park master plan.

“We need as many competent people as we can have, and this is going to be disruptive to the city,” Bedord told San José Spotlight.

Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.com or follow @annalise_ellen on X.

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The Cupertino City Council voted 4-1 May 20 to approve modified plans for a 136-home, mixed-use assisted living facility for older adults along Stevens Creek Boulevard. Changes include eliminating 146 underground parking spaces and reducing ground floor retail from 17,600 square feet to 4,000 square feet — a key point of contention for residents. Councilmember Sheila Mohan voted no because she wanted more retail in the project.

Related California requested the changes due to difficulty financing the project. The developer was willing to increase space for shops and restaurants by 2,500 square feet, in exchange for a refund of more than $3 million for fees paid to the city’s parkland fund —  but councilmembers did not approve the refund. It’s unclear when construction will start. The development also includes memory care homes and 12,250 square feet of public park space.

Councilmember J. R. Fruen wanted more retail space, but voted for the project because he wants housing built there after years of it being an empty lot. The city has 221 assisted living homes and needs more options for older adults who have trouble living in single-family houses.

“Being able to be in a location like what Related seeks to build at the site is important to keep you in your community. It gives you broad access to various amenities,” Fruen told San José Spotlight. “So I think that it’s a very useful public good.”

Balint Simsik, senior vice president of development for Related California, said the developer wanted to get this project off the ground for the past three years, but couldn’t with unprecedented inflation. Related California is working with Oakmont Senior Living to run services such as memory care.

“We intend to be a long-term member of this community in Cupertino,” Simsik said at the meeting.

The project is part of the larger Westport development that includes 179 apartments for older adults and 88 townhomes and rowhouses. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approving the changes to the assisted living facility last month, but asked the developer to explore adding 4,000 more square feet of retail in exchange for a refund of the park fees.
Richard Adler, chair of Age Friendly Cupertino, said he’s glad the development is moving forward because it will increase housing options for the city’s growing older population. Age Friendly Cupertino anticipates older adults will outnumber youths over the next decade in the city, a trend in line with the rest of Santa Clara County.

“The composition of the population of Cupertino is changing dramatically. Housing hasn’t really responded,” Adler, who’s in his 80s, told San José Spotlight. “They’ve got a long way to go, and this is one piece of that puzzle. It’s the first really major senior housing development in (the city in) several decades.”

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The Cupertino City Council voted 3-1 to defund the Bollinger Road corridor study last week, which would have gathered data to assess potential safety improvements. Councilmember Sheila Mohan voted no and Councilmember J.R. Fruen recused himself because he has financial interest in a property along the road. The decision was largely made over concerns about the cost and how recommendations could affect traffic, the fact the city had already conducted a similar feasibility study and a desire for a more comprehensive study of all of Cupertino’s major corridors. San Jose’s portion of the street will no longer be studied, as the 2-mile Bollinger Road spans both cities.

Cupertino planned to fund the study with a $425,600 federal grant and a $106,400 match from the city’s general fund. The federal funds still needed to be finalized and could only be used for Bollinger Road. That money could have helped Cupertino and San Jose narrow down options to protect cyclists and pedestrians on the road with two known fatalities in the past decade, according to the latest Cupertino data.

Councilmember R “Ray” Wang voted to defund the study because as a cyclist himself, he wants to prioritize safe routes in neighborhoods rather than bustling streets used by commuters. He said the study and its potential recommendations for the street would make more sense in a bigger city.

“If we were that dense, (I would) totally would agree with it,” Wang told San José Spotlight. “We’re suburban infrastructure with a declining population. The people here want to move from A to B.”

Colin Heyne, spokesperson for San Jose’s Department of Transportation, said Bollinger Road isn’t one of San Jose’s priority safety corridors.

“We are happy to work with Cupertino on this corridor if they pick it back up in the future,” Heyne told San José Spotlight.

Councilmembers also unanimously defunded a $350,000 project to provide chargers for Silicon Valley Hopper’s electric cars, and asked staff to look for alternatives. The micro-transit service offers affordable rides to local destinations for less than $5. The council chose not to defund a roughly $2.35 million project installing protected bike lanes along Stevens Creek Boulevard and left more than $4.4 million for solar panels on public buildings — both of which were on the chopping block.

Cupertino’s Vision Zero plan identified Bollinger Road as a priority corridor last year. The plan aims to reduce and eliminate all serious injuries and deaths caused by car crashes. The city also studied the street in 2021 and found more than 130 car collisions between 2015 and 2019. That study introduced the controversial idea of reducing the road from two lanes in both directions to one, but staff said the city needed more data to implement changes.
Hervé Marcy, a commissioner on the city’s Bicycle Pedestrian Commission and member of neighborhood safety group Walk-Bike Cupertino, said he’s disappointed by the decision because he saw it as a starting point for improving the road’s safety. He’s never felt safe biking along Bollinger Road, which he sees as a “disaster waiting to happen.” He liked that the project was multi-jurisdictional.

“We don’t live in a Cupertino vacuum. We share a lot of infrastructure,” Marcy told San José Spotlight.

Clarrissa Cabansagan, executive director of nonprofit Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, said it’s rare to see cities defund small but critical projects like this. She said it’s a loss for public safety and doesn’t want it to be abandoned.

“I’m hoping that the city understands when they don’t fund studies to get to the necessary improvements that the community can back, you’re continuing to risk the lives of your constituents on that road,” she told San José Spotlight.

Story updated May 27 at 1:35 p.m. Original story published May 27 at 8:30 a.m.

Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.com or follow @annalise_ellen on X. 

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The city’s proposed housing plan for the next five years, which it submits to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for grant funding, reveals 26% of Cupertino’s 21,137 households are low income. At the same time, Cupertino hasn’t been building more housing to accommodate its vulnerable residents. The city only saw a 4% increase in housing stock, including affordable homes, between 2013 and 2023 — one of the lowest spikes out of Santa Clara County’s 15 municipalities. Cupertino has a population of close to 60,000.

Cupertino expects to receive approximately $1.94 million over the next five years, or $387,000 annually, from HUD for projects including home repairs for low-income families and homelessness prevention services. The Housing Commission unanimously approved the plan’s priorities Thursday, which include affordable housing, homelessness services and infrastructure and workforce investments. The City Council already approved it in April.

Housing Commission Chair Connie Cunningham said she’s not surprised by the number of low-income households because the city’s high housing costs are straining families’ budgets. She said housing has never been a city priority, but she’s optimistic about affordable housing in the pipeline, including a project on Mary Avenue.

“Things are changing in Cupertino,” Cunningham told San José Spotlight. “We are making some steps forward for housing.”

The funding Cupertino expects could be at risk under federal budget cuts — which are impacting everything from libraries to health care — but city officials said things are looking good so far. If the city receives it, the money could help create more opportunities for residents like Dianna Ferris.

Ferris has lived in one of the few affordable apartments in the city for about a year, which she can only afford because nonprofit Abode subsidizes some of her rent. The average gross rent in Cupertino increased 75% between 2013 and 2023 to $3,500, according to the housing plan. About 33% of renters are burdened by housing costs, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income toward home expenses.

Ferris wants more affordable housing for people like her who don’t make the city’s typical income. Cupertino households averaged about $231,139 a year between 2019 and 2023, according to U.S. Census data.

“Not everybody makes software engineer salaries and people need to be close to where they work,” she told San José Spotlight.

Affordable housing in Cupertino has a complicated history.

The Rise, a controversial housing project that will fill the empty lot where Vallco Mall used to be, promises 890 affordable apartments — but has been in the works for more than a decade. Nonprofit Eden Housing, along with the county, is in the process of building 250 to 300 affordable homes for educators. That project is expected to be move-in ready by 2028.

Andrea Osgood, chief of real estate development and executive vice president for Eden Housing, said the federal funding the plan could guarantee is important because that early money helps get projects off the ground.
“I would love to see continued strengthening of this program and use of it, both here in California, but really all across the country, because housing continues to be and is a growing challenge,” she told San José Spotlight.

Yvonne Thorstenson, member of pro-housing group Cupertino for All, said while the grant funding is small, it’s still significant for the stability of struggling residents.

“When we address affordability, we support school enrollment (and) small businesses with staff and customers, and reduce environmental impacts,” she told San José Spotlight.

Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.com or follow @annalise_ellen on X.

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The Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health shut down the Cupertino Whole Foods at the end of April after finding rodent droppings in the receiving bay, deli, juice bar and under the sink. The closure of the site, one of the largest Amazon-owned grocery stores in the West Valley, has increased the foot traffic at some neighboring businesses.

Sameer Shah, co-owner of Voyager Craft Coffee, said his business down the street from the Whole Foods has seen a 5% increase in customers since the closure. The local coffee shop offers signature drinks, including ube and cherry blossom flavored lattes, along with pastries.

Even with the uptick, Shah said he’d like to see the Whole Foods reopen regardless of its status as a “giant chain with a coffee program that’s a little more nameless.”

“From a selfish standpoint, it’s great,” he told San José Spotlight. “We can get more foot traffic, but I think at the end of the day, we firmly believe that (with) more options that exist in the public, our neighbors can basically make a good choice for what fits their life and their situation. We’re really all about that.”

Health inspectors closed the location at 20955 Stevens Creek Blvd. April 22 and it’s now surrounded with green fencing. The grocery giant’s goal is to “reopen as quickly as possible,” but its highest priority is to “fully address and remedy the issue” before asking for another health inspection, a spokesperson told San José Spotlight.

Tasty Pizza – Indian & Italian is across the street from the Whole Foods and is feeding more customers since Whole Foods closed. Sahil Desai, who’s worked there for about a year, said he’s seen a few more De Anza College students, who would normally grab a slice of pizza from Whole Foods, pop in for lunch. The restaurant features traditional pies alongside specialized creations, including paneer and butter chicken pizzas.

Other businesses haven’t seen much change.

Emmanuel Guerrero, who’s worked at Ike’s Love & Sandwiches for about three years, said there hasn’t been an increase in customers. The sandwich shop is next door to Tasty Pizza. He said more customers appear to be concerned about food safety and cleanliness because of the sandwich shop’s proximity to the Whole Foods. The restaurant is taking extra safety precautions.

“(Rats) gotta go somewhere, right?” Guerrero told San José Spotlight. “We set up more rat traps and … we haven’t seen anything so far.”

Other Whole Foods locations across Santa Clara County recently passed their inspections. Stores in San Jose, Sunnyvale and Campbell were inspected in the past two months and received passing grades.
Deborah Feng, CEO of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, said residents should buy from smaller businesses during the closure, such as Cupertino Market and Marina Food, and local restaurants.

“I would encourage people to, if they can, go out to eat now they can’t get groceries,” Feng told San José Spotlight. “Cupertino has a fabulous choice of international cuisine.”

Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.com or follow @annalise_ellen on X.

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The single mom and 93 other families will likely be forced to move by June 2026, so Foothill-De Anza Community College District can convert the apartments into 332 affordable student beds at 7918 McClellan Road — even though Biswas is a De Anza College student transferring in the fall.

“We moved here thinking we would complete my son’s high school, so it was a surprise and it was disappointing because then the worry set in, like what are we going to do?” she told San José Spotlight. “Where are we going to move?”

The Cupertino City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to have staff study ways to prevent the $65.6 million sale and conversion of Prometheus Real Estate Group’s property, to encourage the community college district to build affordable housing on campus or use a hotel for temporary affordable stays instead. Councilmembers Sheila Mohan and J.R. Fruen voted no. The impending July sale has ignited a dispute between Cupertino and the college district in a city with no affordable student housing and limited reasonably-priced apartments.

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Cupertino renters might lose their homes to student housing. Find out more at SanJoseSpotlight.com. #cupertino #siliconvalley #localnews #bayarea #affordablehousing

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Mayor Liang Chao is concerned about the conversion displacing approximately 60 children who live in the complex and attend or will attend Cupertino schools. She said when voters approved Measure G — an $898 million bond measure passed in 2020 to be partially used for affordable student housing — many didn’t envision displacing Cupertino residents. She added the community college district has not met the city at the table.

“The district let the time pass and failed to plan for new housing in the past five years,” Chao said at the meeting. “We are losing naturally affordable housing with this kind of conversion. The district has failed to engage the stakeholders before they make decisions.”

The community college district’s board of trustees unanimously approved pursuing the purchase on Monday, seeing it as the best option to quickly help housing-insecure students. The district will pay for existing residents’ relocation costs in collaboration with Prometheus, which a spokesperson said will incentivize “McClellan Terrace residents to consider relocation options at one of our other Cupertino properties.”

Board President Peter Landsberger said affordable student housing has taken years because the community college district had to thoroughly consider all options, including new construction. He said the district doesn’t have much land to build on and converting a hotel would be difficult because there are no kitchens in the rooms. De Anza College’s campus sits on 112 acres.

Landsberger said the district was ready to discuss the sale with the city despite not being legally obligated to, but there was miscommunication.

“We’re dealing with the division of scarce resources here, and you know, we completely understand the frustration of the current residents, particularly those who’ve been in the facility for a very long time,” he told San José Spotlight. “That’s why we’re adamant about treating them fairly and respectfully and ensuring that they’ve got ample notice.”

The council discussed imposing a temporary ban on converting existing multifamily housing into student housing within a half-mile radius of De Anza College, but took no action.

Fruen said the sale is the best-case scenario for a difficult situation with the inevitable sale. He said if the college deal falls through residents could be left without moving help. Fruen added the city’s lack of housing exacerbates the issue.

“We’ve created this problem through four to five decades of obstruction of new housing construction in the city,” he told San José Spotlight. “They’re helping to solve our problem, not the other way around.”

The issue has divided residents and students who both need affordable housing in well-heeled Cupertino. The city’s rent is approximately 92% higher than the national average at $3,550 a month compared to $1,850, according to Zillow.
Jacob Kau, a first-year De Anza College student studying data science, said his first priority when he enrolled was finding affordable housing. He doesn’t have a car, and needs housing close to campus so he can walk or bike since the area has limited public transportation. He couldn’t find affordable housing in the city and is scraping by.

“Being a full-time student and taking a part-time job is very hard, so I’m trying to juggle with work, life and sustaining myself,” Kau told San José Spotlight.

Biswas said she understands the need for affordable student housing as someone seeking a business degree. But she wants the district to find a solution that doesn’t displace her and her children, leaving them scrambling for housing after the toll of divorce.

“This is the first time that they’ve felt at home and we’ve settled in (since the divorce),” she told San José Spotlight. “I just kinda feel bad to disrupt that whole thing again because it’s been emotionally a lot for all of us.”

Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.com or follow @annalise_ellen on X.

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The Cupertino City Council voted 3-2 in closed session to put City Manager Pamela Wu on paid leave Friday so it can conduct a “fair internal review process to move forward in a constructive and focused manner,” according to a news release. Councilmembers J.R. Fruen and Sheila Mohan voted no. The city did not give a reason for the decision sending waves through the politically divided community.

The council appointed former Deputy City Manager Tina Kapoor to acting city manager until the review is completed. Kapoor doesn’t “expect residents to notice any impacts to city services” during the transition.

Wu said she’s shocked and confused, adding she wasn’t given any reason for the decision.

“At the end of the day, even though I’m on leave, I’m still here to support the city, the organization, staff and the community,” she told San José Spotlight. “I wish that whatever happens is the best for the community and council and most importantly, the staff team.”

Councilmembers began reviewing Wu’s performance last month after concerns first arose in January, officials said. Wu was appointed in 2022 as the third permanent city manager to take the role since 2018, with three temporary managers in between, according to Transparent California. Wu previously worked as San Bruno’s community and economic development director. Prior to that, she was a senior planner in Gilroy and a former senior planner for Santa Clara County, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Mayor Liang Chao has seen the high turnover since getting elected in 2018. She did not address why Wu was placed on leave, but said she wanted to publish the release to improve transparency about the decision.

“My focus remains on making sure we have the leadership capacity needed to deliver quality services, follow council direction and communicate effectively both internally and with the public,” Chao told San José Spotlight.

The community has mixed feelings about the move.

Cupertino resident Nick Egan, who grew up in the city, said it raises concerns about instability in executive city management caused by changing political tides. The council majority shifted to become less development-friendly after last year’s election, with Chao, Vice Mayor Kitty Moore and Councilmember R “Ray” Wang taking three of the five seats. Chao has clashed with Wu since becoming mayor over issues such as the mayor’s state of the city event, according to city emails.

Egan said city employees such as Wu are there to keep the council in line, which it may not like.

“Pamela is just the most recent example of city staff getting kind of ignored or harassed for whatever reason,” he told San José Spotlight.
Other residents say Wu needed to be placed on leave.

Sashi Begur, who’s lived in Cupertino since 1996 and supports the newly-elected officials, said she had concerns about Wu’s leadership, including her fiscal responsibility and professionalism toward councilmembers. She said if Wu doesn’t return, she wants the next city manager to be more invested in Cupertino’s residents.

“I would like to see somebody who’s genuinely fair, who can hold their own,” Begur, who has watched Wu interact with officials on the dais, told San José Spotlight. “You’re hired by the council, but you should be able to look at something objectively and say, ‘This makes sense. This doesn’t make sense.'”

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The Cupertino Planning Commission unanimously recommended changes Tuesday to an older adult assisted living facility as part of the Westport development along Stevens Creek Boulevard. Modifications to the multistory building, requested by developer Related California, include increasing the number of homes from 123 to 136 and eliminating 146 underground parking spaces. The developer also asked to decrease ground floor retail space from 17,600 square feet to 4,000 square feet — a sticking point for the commission. Commissioners added the contingency Related California could be refunded millions of dollars for park in-lieu fees if it includes 4,000 more square feet of retail space. City Council will review the changes at a later date.

Related California representatives said the changes are largely due to difficulty financing the project in an economy with skyrocketing prices. The developer is allowed concessions by the state for projects with affordable housing. Eliminating the underground parking and reducing retail space would save the developer between $15 million to $22 million.

Balint Simsik, senior vice president of development for Related California, said the decreased parking shouldn’t cause issues because many of the future older adult residents won’t be able to drive.

“There’s probably nobody in this room more than the developer that wants to see this project move forward,” he said at the meeting. “We’ve invested tremendous amounts of money to date and it doesn’t do us any favors to let the project sit like this for three years.”

Planning Commission Vice Chair Tracy Kosolcharoen had concerns about the retail reduction because she said residents want more. The site used to be the Oaks Shopping Center, with multiple stores.

But she supported it because the vote reached a fair compromise between the developer and residents.

“Westport represents an incredible opportunity to contribute to the vibrant city center many residents desire,” Kosolcharoen told San José Spotlight. “But a thriving heart of the city doesn’t just happen — it takes proactive collaboration between the city, developers and the community.”

The facility is one of the last pieces needed to complete the 8.1-acre project, which already has 88 townhomes and rowhouses and 48 affordable apartments for adults 62 and older. Residents started moving in last year. It’s unclear when the assisted living facility will be finished, but once the project is up and running, Oakmont Senior Living will run services such as memory care.

Richard Adler, chair of Age Friendly Cupertino, said Cupertino needs more housing for older adults in a city with a growing older population. The city has 221 homes for older adults across four assisted living facilities.

Adler said the development is helping create a centralized older adult community with the senior center and more older adult homes next door.

“We haven’t really, as a society, created the institutions and the systems to support (older adults),” he told San José Spotlight. “Housing is not the only (solution), but it’s a big piece of it.”

Cupertino must build 4,588 homes by 2031 to comply with state mandates. The Westport homes count toward that number.
Dianna Ferris, who has lived in a Westport apartment for about a year, wants the building to be completed, but said parking is already an issue for the completed homes. She said even if few older adults use the facility’s planned parking, it’s not realistic to expect workers to commute using Cupertino’s lacking pubic transportation.

“In 20 or 30 years, that may be my next stop and we have a dire need for housing,” Ferris told San José Spotlight. “I just don’t like the way the law is set up (for developer concessions). I don’t think it’s useful for communities like Cupertino that don’t have the infrastructure.”

Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.com or follow @annalise_ellen on X.

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