The Tech Interactive — the innovative downtown San Jose museum that’s brought family-friendly STEM education to Silicon Valley since the 1980s — will soon see an innovation to its leadership. Earlier this month, the center named Katrina Stevens — the director of learning science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative — as The Tech’s new president and CEO,...
Economists cautiously optimistic about recovery while Santa Clara County employment improves
As the Bay Area takes more steps to reopen amid the pandemic, a new report is taking a cautiously optimistic approach to the ability of the region’s economy to recover from its biggest shock since the Great Recession more than a decade ago. But, according to officials with the Bay Area Council (BAC), a possible...
Racial inequity a focus for new Silicon Valley Community Foundation panel
In an effort to ensure people of color get a bigger slice of grant dollars, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation this month launched a panel of 22 community leaders to help oversee efforts to improve racial, social and economic inequities throughout the Bay Area. The new Community Advisory Council is comprised of representatives from a...
Indoor dining, church services can resume in Santa Clara County
As COVID-19 numbers in the county slowly improve, officials gave Santa Clara County businesses the green light to begin operating indoors — but with caution. Starting Oct. 14, restaurants, churches, movie theaters and other businesses can open at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. They also can host outdoor gatherings of up to...
Neighbors, planners at odds over future of Diridon Station, Google development
Neighborhood leaders argue San Jose planners continue to portray them unfairly as “anti-housing and anti-development” amid Diridon area redevelopment talks, ramping up the potential for conflict with developers down the line. All they want, say members of the Diridon Area Neighborhood Group (DANG), is for the city to pursue smart development and community engagement on...
‘I know their pain’: Study confirms toll of shutdowns in San Jose
John Zamora, owner of Zamora’s Omelette House, served the last meal at his Alum Rock Avenue restaurant at the end of August, after almost 10 years in operation. “We were trying to hold on,” Zamora said. “We felt we had to give it a try.” Zamora’s experience illustrates the results of a recent economic report...
San Jose business leaders find little to cheer about — except Google
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep people at home nearly seven months after shelter in place began, the once-bright future of San Jose’s downtown core is now overshadowed. But even amid the darkness, San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) officials say there are some points of light on the horizon. At its annual meeting Oct....
San Jose to give $5,000 grants to help restaurants survive this winter
San Jose restaurants in need of financial support during the pandemic can apply for a $5,000 grant starting Oct. 16 to help them serve customers through the winter. As the weather gets colder, business owners often have steeper heating bills to pay to keep patrons comfortable. The presence of COVID-19 also means restaurants will have...
Google unveils portrait of massive downtown San Jose campus
San Jose revealed scads of new details about Google’s plans to build a sprawling downtown campus with 7.3 million square feet of office space and 4,000 housing units spread out over more than 80 acres with improvements to public amenities, including 10 parks and the trails that will eventually connect them all. San Jose Downtown...
Santa Clara County looks to allow indoor dining as early as next week
If Santa Clara County enters the lower-risk orange tier for reopening, all businesses, including restaurants and churches, can resume indoor gatherings at 25% capacity, health officials announced Monday. “The soonest the state may allow us to move into the orange tier is Oct. 13, meaning that this new order will take effect no earlier than...