San Jose Daily Local Headlines: Shelter allegations, VTA court fight, bus upgrades, smoke scare

Here is what’s leading the conversation in San Jose today, with updates that touch homelessness services, major transit construction, and a couple of public-safety notes.

Interim housing site faces new allegations from workers

A recently opened modular interim-housing site on Branham Lane is under fresh scrutiny after multiple current and former workers described what they say are serious management and safety problems. The site has 168 apartments and provides supportive services for people coming out of homelessness.

The allegations include workplace dysfunction, inconsistent rule enforcement, and concerns raised about resident safety. City leaders and the operator have pushed back on parts of the claims, but the reporting adds pressure for clear oversight and transparency at a project frequently cited as a model for quick-build shelter.

San Jose business heads to court over VTA eminent-domain relocation

A long-running dispute tied to the BART extension is moving toward trial. A commercial truck dealership says it was forced to relocate when VTA acquired its longtime North 30th Street site through eminent domain in 2024, and the business argues the compensation offered did not reflect the real cost of moving and reconfiguring operations.

The case is set for a jury trial on March 9, and it’s a reminder that big infrastructure projects can ripple through local jobs and industrial corridors long before riders ever see new stations.

Faster bus trips reported after signal-priority expansion

On the transportation front, new data cited by city officials says buses are traveling about 20 percent faster after a traffic-signal upgrade that gives transit vehicles priority at certain intersections. The effort began as a pilot in 2023 and has expanded across the city’s bus network.

Smoke call at North Capitol apartments ends with no reported injuries

Fire crews responded to reports of heavy smoke at an apartment building on North Capitol Avenue Monday afternoon. Sprinklers activated, responders searched units, and officials later said there was no active fire and no injuries reported, though nearby streets were temporarily blocked during the response.

Sources

• https://sanjosespotlight.com/touted-san-jose-shelter-rife-with-dysfunction-workers-said/
• https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-company-takes-vta-to-court-over-eminent-domain/
• https://www.govtech.com/transportation/signal-priority-improves-the-bus-ride-in-san-jose-calif
• https://hoodline.com/2026/02/smoke-scare-on-north-capitol-as-sprinklers-drench-san-jose-apartments/