Still O.G.’s bar, with its on-tap cocktails, wood paneled walls, cubby holes packed with records, DJ booth and state of the art sound system, has a warm, inviting hipster feel. But if you’re in the know, you can slip past the back-of-the-room gatekeeper and enter Alter Ego, a spot that seems miles away from downtown...
Downtown San Jose road could close for new pedestrian mall
San Jose officials want to recreate the success of downtown gathering spaces like San Pedro Square and Paseo de San Antonio by permanently closing off vehicle traffic in a third location. The San Jose City Council voted on Nov. 5 to extend the closure of Post Street, which began during the pandemic when the Al...
Sunnyvale lacks funding for guaranteed income program
Sunnyvale is prepared to launch a guaranteed basic income program — it’s just waiting for funding. The Sunnyvale City Council approved the pilot program unanimously last week, with Councilmember Alysa Cisneros absent, and instructed city employees to look for external funding. The pilot could run for up to two years and provide at least 100...
Campbell police use cameras to combat retail theft
A West Valley police department is one of the first in Santa Clara County to target organized retail theft by monitoring businesses’ surveillance cameras — just as voters decide if thieves should receive more punishment statewide. The Campbell Police Department has launched a program that allows businesses to share their live security footage once they call...
The Biz Beat: San Jose’s Flaming Ox mixes flavors of Taiwan
San Jose’s Flaming Ox restaurant specializes in a Taiwanese menu with food truck-like simplicity, offering a small selection of expertly prepared but versatile dishes. It’s no coincidence, after founder Eric Chung worked the Asian cafeteria station at Apple’s Cupertino campus. From there he launched the first of two high-volume catering trucks that grew to serve...
Silicon Valley Latinas face the greatest wage gap disparities
Latinas in Silicon Valley have the largest pay gap of any large metropolitan area in California. Latinas had a median annual per capita income of $34,400 in 2022, compared to white males who made a median income of $102,000, according to a recent report by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). For every dollar a white male...
The Biz Beat: Paleta Planeta brings sweet treats to downtown San Jose
Paleta Planeta would not exist without the parents of Mauricio, Luis and Gabriel Salazar, who allowed their three sons to turn the family’s San Jose home into their first Mexican popsicle factory. “It is very Silicon Valley to start a company out of a garage,” Luis told San José Spotlight. “We just constantly made batches...
San Jose leaders sign off on East Side improvement plan
San Jose is moving forward with establishing its sixth business improvement district, giving East Side leaders hope for a thriving economic sector and community going into 2025. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted in favor of starting the Tully Road Eastridge Business Improvement District, a partnership between business owners and the city...
Settlement lets Cupertino keep millions in Apple sales tax revenue
Cupertino can keep millions of sales tax dollars from Apple, despite a lengthy state audit questioning the city’s tax agreement that left it with a budget shortfall. The city on Thursday announced a settlement with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, allowing Cupertino to retain sales tax revenue from Apple since the state...
UPDATE: San Jose approves tax breaks to fill empty office space
San Jose city leaders want to entice new businesses into filling empty office space in Downtown San Jose with perks that can save them money. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a policy for any new business looking for a minimum of 2,500 square feet to be exempt from paying city business taxes...