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The future of the San Jose Flea Market is up in the air following two days of deliberation but no decision on a proposed mixed-use development that would shrink the market by two-thirds of its current size. The San Jose City Council met Tuesday to consider plans for the Berryessa BART Urban Village, but continued...
‘Bad to horrific’: Racial discrimination and wealth inequality grew under COVID-19
Inequality in Silicon Valley has gone from “bad to horrific” over the pandemic, as indicators such as hunger, homelessness, income inequality and the wealth gap have all increased since last June, new research shows. “While our community was shocked at the incredibly high levels of racial discrimination and income and wealth inequality detailed in the...
San Jose’s hotel tax revenue won’t recover until 2025
San Jose’s hotel tax revenue for 2021 is inching up from last summer’s levels, signaling a return to life. But monthly profits are still a third of what the city saw prior to the pandemic, according to city data. “(The hotel tax) has been one of the city’s hardest hit revenues from the pandemic,” San Jose Budget...
San Jose flea market vendors go on hunger strike, lawmakers to decide market’s fate
After months of negotiations, rallies and protests, the fate of the San Jose Flea Market now rests with the San Jose City Council. San Jose released Friday its final plan for the Berryessa BART Urban Village, a 3.4 million square foot project on the flea market site. The San Jose City Council is expected to approve...
Iconic San Jose watering hole to become a honky-tonk bar
A longtime downtown San Jose fixture—Dive Bar—is the latest victim of the pandemic and a shriveling nightlife in the city. But one man sees opportunity in the dusty old building near San Jose City Hall. He’s bringing a honky-tonk vibe to downtown with Cash Only, a new nightspot preparing to open this summer. It’s the...
San Jose-Google advisory group is years away
A community advisory group will oversee how to spend millions of dollars allocated to education, affordable housing and rent stabilization as part of Google’s Downtown West development. But selecting advisors will take a couple years, and distributing funds could take up to a decade. Community-centered organizations such as SOMOS Mayfair, Amigos de Guadalupe and Working Partnerships...
Another round: To-go alcoholic drinks continue in San Jose
After a year of relying on take-out sales to stay afloat, bars and restaurants in San Jose can continue selling alcoholic beverages to-go through Dec. 31 thanks to a recent extension of state rules. Five Points, a cocktail bar in downtown San Jose, closed in March 2020, but was able to resume operations two months...
San Jose aims to be friendlier to small businesses
While some tech heavyweights are leaving the region citing unfriendly taxes and business practices, small businesses in San Jose are starting to see more support. Business owners still have to deal with complicated fee structures, differing tax rates and red tape. But San Jose’s small business incubators, pro-business mayor and its proximity to wealthy tech...
Plan aims to revitalize East San Jose small businesses
Small businesses in East San Jose struggled more than most during the pandemic, but a new plan aims to invest in the community and support local merchants. Representatives of San Jose Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco’s office and small business leaders announced the East San Jose Rescue Plan Friday outside Infante Wireless, a family-owned smartphone business along Alum Rock Avenue. Carrasco...
Will Google hire San Jose workers? It might be too early to tell
Two weeks ago, San Jose approved the largest development in its existence: Downtown West, Google’s 80-acre campus near Diridon Station. Google estimates that up to 25,000 people will work at the downtown offices. Just how many of those will be local hires is still unclear. According to Google spokesperson Michael Appel, it’s too early to...