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When Jesús Flores first heard about the drama with SiliconSage — the upstart developer being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly defrauding investors — he said he felt dismayed. “We’re worried about what’s going to happen,” said Flores, president of Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley. “This is very sad and frustrating for...
San Jose activists say politicians wager immigrants’ lives on Biden’s reform agenda
President Joe Biden has big plans to overhaul America’s immigration system, specifically undoing some of former President Donald Trump’s most egregious anti-immigrant policies. But local activists say Biden’s reform agenda doesn’t go far enough — or fast enough — and will force immigrants to remain in the shadows in Silicon Valley for years to come....
County to reinvestigate Black student’s death, SJSU president says
San Jose State University President Mary Papazian announced this week the county coroner and district attorney will reexamine the suspicious death of student Gregory Johnson Jr., according to an email obtained by this news organization. “SJSU recognizes that for many members of our community, the circumstances surrounding Gregory’s death are emblematic of longstanding systemic racism...
South Bay bus drivers, VTA at odds over mask enforcement
In the wake of a new federal mask-wearing requirement, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority says it is going through hoops to ensure people cover up — but not to the satisfaction of drivers. “We don’t feel they have our backs out there,” said John Courtney, a former VTA bus driver and president of the...
Survey finds opposition to high-density zoning in San Jose but critics say poll is flawed
Roughly half of San Jose residents surveyed in a new poll oppose an initiative to boost the number of homes allowed in single-family neighborhoods. According to initial survey results, 48% of San Jose residents are opposed to Opportunity Housing, while 24% of residents support the initiative. Roughly a quarter of residents polled said they need...
San Jose bus drivers facing a steep rise in COVID-19 cases
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Silicon Valley’s bus drivers have spent hours each day in enclosed spaces. Each bus trip carries dozens of passengers, some of whom don’t wear masks. And the experience has been terrifying. “It’s no different than having a disruptive passenger who is on your bus, who is looking at you...
San Jose survey reignites contentious debate on planned closure of Reid-Hillview Airport
A new San Jose survey has revealed stark division among residents about the closure of Reid-Hillview Airport — just ahead of a forthcoming study on lead levels of residents who live beneath the flight path of airplanes. “Everyone tries to make data-driven decisions when possible,” said Juan Estrada, founder of the community organization District 5 United....
Google’s plan to reduce car traffic, address homelessness at center of public feedback
As the city of San Jose and Google move toward transforming the city’s downtown, residents are casting wary eyes on their plans to reduce car traffic and address homelessness in the area. Downtown Councilmember Raul Peralez, whose district encompasses downtown, hosted a community meeting for San Jose’s Diridon Station Area Plan (DSAP) and Google’s Downtown...
San Jose advocates call Biden’s immigration plan unjust
As President Joe Biden was inaugurated at the nation’s Capitol, San Jose residents gathered to demand legal status for the country’s 11 million undocumented residents. “What do we want?” they shouted. “Papers! When do we want them? Now!” Local advocates since November have pressed the Biden administration to prioritize comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to...
San Jose transit agencies to receive millions in federal COVID-19 relief
Bay Area transit officials this month will decide how to allocate $975 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to local transit agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). “In the lens of the pandemic, it allows essential workers to keep their jobs and save money,” said Daniel Huynh, a member of Silicon Valley...