As community distrust of data centers grows, San Jose is considering banning councilmembers from signing confidentiality agreements that bind them from publicly discussing development projects. The Rules and Open Government Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to have the city manager create a policy to ensure transparency with developments, including data centers. The committee — comprised of five members...
The Biz Beat: San Jose market specializes in meat skewers
A few months ago, puffs of smoke began wafting from a shopping center in North San Jose. The source: Chinese barbecue meat skewers being cooked in the parking lot. One Step Food Market, a small specialized grocery store in Pacific Rim Plaza II, served up the skewers as a temporary advertisement for the shop’s February opening...
South Bay coalition wants to protect workers from tech
From artificial intelligence to algorithmic surveillance, recent tech advances are rapidly reshaping the workplace. South Bay labor leaders are alarmed — and drawing together an industry-spanning coalition intended to give workers more say in how these technologies are deployed. Dozens of workers gathered in front of San Jose City Hall on Tuesday to unveil the...
The Biz Beat: Indian bakery pop-up in Cupertino specializes in vegan pastries
On Sunday mornings at the De Anza College Farmers Market in Cupertino, a crowd forms around a stall selling Indian-inspired pastries such as mango lassi bundt cakes and chai oatmeal cookies. A display of colorful bundt cakes are infused with flavors like rose, pistachio, orange and saffron. The baked goods at Orange Elaichi are plant-forward,...
Santa Clara County home aid workers see pay increase
After years of meager wage increases, thousands of home aid workers in Santa Clara County will receive a bump in their hourly pay amid a tight budget cycle — a move advocates said is necessary but falls short to cover rapidly rising costs of living. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a new two-year...
Santa Clara County court victory keeps millions in federal funds
Millions of dollars will be preserved for Santa Clara County after an appeals court backed the county-led lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration for imposing politically motivated restrictions on federal grants. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed a lower court decision that temporarily suspended the federal government from tying conditions onto...
Downtown San Jose venue faces closure after permit denial
Representatives for a late night venue in downtown San Jose said their business may close for good, after the City Council declined to grant a permit to stay open after midnight. San Pedro Social, located on Santa Clara Street, closed its doors in June, citing financial troubles brought about by its inability to tap into...
The Biz Beat: Sunnyvale restaurant celebrates 40 years of feeding the community
For Julia Blom, being hired a year after Country Gourmet opened in Sunnyvale became the “summer job that never stopped.” Now, as owner, she is celebrating the eatery’s 40th anniversary and the customers who have loyally supported the business all these years. “I realized a long time ago that the job was more than serving...
San Jose residents push for data center moratorium
As San Jose hammers out local review standards for data center projects, some residents are calling for the city to follow the lead of other jurisdictions and enact an immediate moratorium on new developments. The proposed standards are expected to address widespread concerns that a glut of new projects working their way through the city’s...
Silicon Valley tech layoffs in 2026 close to 2025 total
Tech companies in Silicon Valley have jettisoned a noteworthy number of employees in the first half of 2026. Companies in the sector have laid off 7,295 employees in the first half 2026 — just 9% short of the number of jobs cut by tech companies during all of 2025, according to an analysis from Joint...