The San Jose Downtown Farmers’ Market is returning after a three-year hiatus, with vendors planning to sell fresh corn, tomatoes, citrus fruit and more delights on Wednesdays near the Hammer Theatre. Paolo Obillo, manager and site operator of the Regional Farmers’ Market Association, said the original Downtown Farmers’ Market was put on pause in 2022...
Santa Clara politicians turn to ChatGPT for advice
Santa Clara officials said they’ve used ChatGPT at two public meetings, sparking concerns about the use of artificial intelligence to inform decision makers. Artificial intelligence tools have been growing in popularity as cities like San Jose use it to improve road safety or translate public meetings. But the technology is still plagued with misinformation problems,...
Post
San Jose retail growth among slowest in U.S., report says
A recent report ranks Silicon Valley among the slowest growing retail markets, though experts say there’s hope for the region’s economic future. A report compiled by banner company Printastic compared retail growth for the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas. The report lists the San Jose metropolitan area as No. 45 and found there’s been a...
Democrats accuse Trump and his allies of profiting from tariff flip
Democrats want to know whether President Donald Trump and his GOP allies financially benefited from implementing and then pausing recent tariffs — a move some said was effectively insider trading. “It happened in front of our eyes,” Sen. Ruben Gallego told NOTUS. “This hurt the economy in the end. People on Main Street are going...
Silicon Valley fast-food owners could pay for workers’ rights training
It’s been a good week for fast-food workers in Silicon Valley. Employees at local McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other fast-food franchises roared with applause Tuesday when the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved creating a training program for fast-food workers on their state-mandated labor rights. While workers support the move, store owners say it’s unnecessary...
YWCA Silicon Valley loses federal funding for rent subsidies
YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley will no longer be able to provide as much rental assistance, leaving domestic violence survivors at greater risk. Domestic violence survivors enrolled in YWCA’s rapid rehousing program received a letter March 26 informing them their rental assistance won’t be renewed after June 30. The program received money through the federal...
Federal cuts jeopardize Silicon Valley community funders
Community financial institutions are the backbone to a healthy society, providing loans for small businesses, disaster recovery, low-income families, immigrant communities and affordable housing developments. That essential service is now in danger. President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) last month put a target on these institutions and brought...
San Jose congressman talks tariffs with small businesses
President Donald Trump’s tariffs have begun to hit the economy, and one congressional lawmaker heard fear, frustration and anger from local businesses during his trip to San Jose. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who sits on the House Subcommittee on Trade, introduced legislation to ensure Congress, not the Trump administration, decides who imposes broad tariffs. In partnership...
Cupertino prioritizes growing its business community
Cupertino’s decision to draw in new businesses and support longtime merchants has the commerce community cheering. The Cupertino City Council voted 3-2 earlier this month to prioritize economic development and small business support for the next two fiscal years as part of a citywide work program. Councilmembers J.R. Fruen and Sheila Mohan supported the effort,...
Santa Clara County to increase revenue by neutering pets
Santa Clara County leaders are facing their most uncertain financial crisis since the pandemic, and they’re turning every stone for ideas on wrangling extra money. That includes, for the first time, spaying and neutering pets. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the new service Tuesday, which will open the Animal Services Center in San Martin...