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Two San Jose lawmakers’ investments in Amazon and their abrupt departure from a City Council meeting — after they discussed and nearly voted on a policy to pay grocery workers higher wages — is raising questions about why the conflict wasn’t flagged sooner. Councilmembers chalk it up to a lack of forethought. As elected leaders Tuesday debated a $3...
San Jose takes first step to boost pay for grocery store workers amid COVID-19
After hours of “awkward” debate that included the vice mayor and a councilmember getting booted from a meeting due to a conflict of interest, San Jose is moving forward with giving grocery store employees a pay boost during the pandemic. The San Jose City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday to draft a measure that would require large grocery...
Neighboring states use COVID-19 to lure Silicon Valley businesses away
California’s neighboring states are seeing an influx of Silicon Valley companies and workers, and they’re more than happy to tell you about it. When stay-at-home orders went into place last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many white-collar workers went home to work remotely. This left South Bay business offices empty, and many wondering if...
Silicon Valley legislator blames social media for role in U.S. Capitol attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Finger pointing began before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol even ended. Many faulted then-President Donald Trump for riling up the mob and making baseless claims about election fraud. Some criticized security officials for failing to secure the Capitol, or accused the media of divisive reporting that pushed Trump supporters...
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...
The plight of San Jose food trucks during COVID-19 pandemic
When the pandemic first hit, San Jose’s food truck businesses took off. After all, they offered an outdoor dining experience and allowed diners to socially distance. Now, nearly a year after the county first issued stay-at-home orders in March, food trucks are joining the long list of businesses struggling to stay afloat. “It’s been a...
A San Jose tobacco shop and LGBTQ center form unlikely partnership
Seated next to each other, they look like an odd couple. But two community leaders have forged an unlikely partnership — and it’s helping LGBTQ youth in unexpected ways. When the popular Crema Coffee on The Alameda closed one of stores, most San Joseans expected the space to be filled by another cafe or restaurant....
San Jose wants to boost opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses
As minority businesses struggle to survive during the pandemic, the San Jose City Council is amplifying its efforts to ensure smaller, BIPOC, LGBTQ and women-owned businesses get a fair shot at competing for government contracts. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Jan 12. to advance a proposal from Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmember...
UPDATE: San Jose joins lobbying group to protect its casinos
San Jose has long had a love-hate relationship with its two casinos. But with those businesses threatened by new state regulations, the City Council voted 10-1 this week to join a group of other California municipalities to try to stave off the new rules. The reason comes down to simple dollars and cents — San Jose’s...
New COVID-19 relief fund dedicated to East San Jose businesses
East San Jose businesses and nonprofits struggling to survive may have gained a new lease on life through a new community COVID-19 relief fund. San Jose Planning Commissioner Rolando Bonilla said the East San Jose business community, which has experienced difficulty accessing government aid, was left out of conversations about solutions to help them weather...