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2 days ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
SamTrans adopted a two-year budget, with better-than-anticipated projections for the next fiscal year, which begins next month. Agency staff previously estimated a slight deficit for fiscal year 2026 but was able to close the gap and now projects a nearly $5 million surplus, though fiscal year 2027 — beginning July 2026 — may see a shortfall around $4 million.
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3 days ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
Water rates are expected to increase by about 5% each year — or $4 to $5 a month — for the average single-family household until fiscal year 2030, which begins in July 2029. While the council voted to allow for the multiyear maximum increases, Vice Mayor Art Kiesel and Councilmember Patrick Sullivan affirmed future councils do not have to adhere to the permitted amounts.
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4 days ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
A bill authorizing a 2026 regional transit ballot measure passed the state Senate in a 28-10 vote, with county representatives such as state Sens. Scott Wiener, who introduced the legislation, as well as Josh Becker supporting the initiative.
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4 days ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
A 44-acre commercial campus in South City’s Oyster Point is moving along, with core construction on the second phase completed earlier this year and approval secured for raising additional tax revenue. Kilroy Realty owns the site, situated north of the Genentech campus, which it plans to fully develop into a commercial area, primarily for life science and research and development purposes.
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5 days ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
Belmont continues grappling over a key revenue source dependent on state reimbursement, which is critical to closing the city’s general fund deficit. For the upcoming fiscal year that begins next month, the city anticipates a $1.4 million deficit, which it plans to close with its reserve fund if it doesn’t receive its payment from the state.
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6 days ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
It’s not always easy to incorporate certain flavors into sellable drinks, but downtown San Mateo’s Fogbird cocktail bar has the right mix of persistence and experience to craft cocktails that capitalize on trending tastes. Matcha flavors, for instance, don't appear often on cocktail menus, despite its high demand in other types of drinks. But after months of trying, the staff have finally perfected the White Lotus, a drink blending sake, coconut-washed vodka and a lemongrass-matcha-ginger syrup.
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6 days ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
Rental prices throughout San Mateo County have largely stabilized since this time last year, particularly for apartments, however, experts say the market could heat up in the near future. A steady increase in the number of newly constructed apartment buildings has helped cool the market due to the additional supply but, over the last year and a half, construction financing has dried up, stalling development projects.
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1 week ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
The sale agreement with UC Investments also includes the purchase of Water Dog Lake, which the city currently leases, with roughly 40 years remaining on its agreement. In 2021, the university announced its plans to enter into an option-to-purchase agreement with the historic Catholic university, and it had been partnering with the city on developing a special zoning district to allow for a range of uses, including 50 to 200 housing units.
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1 week ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
The sale agreement with UC Investments also includes the purchase of Water Dog Lake, which the city currently leases, with roughly 40 years remaining on its agreement. In 2021, the university announced its plans to enter into an option-to-purchase agreement with the historic Catholic university, and it had been partnering with the city on developing a special zoning district to allow for a range of uses, including 50 to 200 housing units.
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1 week ago | 
smdailyjournal.com | Alyse DiNapoli
City funding for an eight-story Belmont affordable housing project narrowly passed, though most councilmembers expressed concern over the development process. Located at 678 Ralston Ave., less than half a mile from the Caltrain station, the project proposes 65 units, all of which would be below market rate, in an eight-story building. The development has secured a mix of county funds and tax credits for the project, with the developer asking for a $1 million loan from Belmont.
