B. Sakura Cannestra

Sunnyvale’s retail protection plan falls short

Published by San José Spotlight || July 6, 2025

I have been following Sunnyvale's "Village Center" plans, which was originally meant to encourage aging retail spaces to redevelop into mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods, with retail on the bottom and housing on the top. The proposed developments cut retail altogether, threatening to turn under resourced North Sunnyvale neighborhoods into food deserts.

Silicon Valley cities hit with request for residents’ emails to train AI

Published by San José Spotlight || May 19, 2025

A source told me about a company that was filing PRA requests across dozens of Bay Area cities, seeking constituent emails during the COVID-19 pandemic. I found some of these requests, including one which detailed the company's plans to train a large language model (LLM) using the messages. In this story, I detailed those requests, the company's plans, and the ethical quandries with using public data to train AI.

Santa Clara isn’t spending taxpayer money on World Cup upgrades

Published by San José Spotlight || May 3, 2025

San Jose bus and light rail service halted by strike

Published by San José Spotlight || March 10, 2025

I spearheaded much of San José Spotlight's coverage of the historic VTA workers strike, which stopped bus and light rail services across Silicon Valley for 18 days. More stories in this series are here:

‘It’s getting worse’: Silicon Valley wages lag behind cost of living

Published by San José Spotlight || January 22, 2025

Santa Clara County cities are failing to hit housing goals

Published by San José Spotlight || April 3, 2024

University of California academic workers strike over wages and benefits in largest walkout in U.S. higher education

Published by POLITICO || November 14, 2022

Kids’ online safety bill targeting platforms like TikTok goes to Newsom

Published by POLITICO || August 30, 2022

POLITICO California Playbook PM: The latest data privacy fight? California v. Congress

Published by POLITICO || Delivered August 18, 2022

Racing to patch RV roofs ahead of the rain at Richmond encampment

Published by The Richmond Confidential || October 20, 2021

‘It goes quick.’ Young kids roll up their sleeves for vaccines in Contra Costa

Published by The Richmond Confidential || November 10, 2021

‘Burden of the history’: UC Berkeley removes Boalt Hall’s name

Published by The Daily Californian || January 30, 2020

California College Media Association 2021 Best Breaking News Article (>15k)

‘Do you value higher education?’: UC students lobby in Sacramento for more state funding

Published by The Daily Californian || May 2, 2018

Student Action cuts ties with Senator Isabella Chow over anti-LGBTQ+ views

Published by The Daily Californian || November 1, 2018

Anger, uncertainty reign at UC Berkeley after Trump ends DACA

Published by The Daily Californian || September 6, 2017

Thousands of counterprotesters flood Berkeley streets after canceled ‘alt-right’ rally

Published by The Daily Californian || August 27, 2017