Business

Business

San Jose councilmember proposes improvement district for Alum Rock

When Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco envisions the future of Alum Rock Avenue, she sees a vibrant corridor of people enjoying the sights and sounds, visitors stopping at small businesses and families walking to and from events at Mexican Heritage Plaza. “We want people to walk, to experience the east side,” Carrasco said. “To nurture the talent...

Beloved San Jose comedy club reopens its doors post-pandemic

One of San Jose’s most beloved downtown venues is reopening after almost a year and a half. The San Jose Improv reopens today with comedians Sammy Obeid, Phil Griffiths, Sam Marcoux and Chai Sharma performing. D.L. Hughley headlining this weekend. The neighborhood staple, located at 62 South Second Street, survived earthquakes, fires and now the...

‘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...

UPDATE: San Jose flea market decision delayed another week

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...

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...

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...

Several South Bay businesses sued for lack of closed captions

One woman’s quest for plastic surgery ended in 16 lawsuits across California, including several South Bay clinics, for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. Megan Erasmus, who lives in Seattle, said she couldn’t access the businesses’ online videos because some didn’t have closed captions. That’s a problem for Erasmus, as she’s part of 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...