Business

Business

San Jose official’s email sparks concern over Google displacement

As Google makes plans for its downtown San Jose mega-campus and city officials eye a new vision for Diridon Station, worries over gentrification continue to mount – and now a newly-obtained email from a top city official about displacement is raising eyebrows. San Jose’s Economic Development Director Kim Walesh last year led the city’s engagement process,...

Controversy brews over Chick-fil-A at San Jose’s airport

A controversy is brewing over a plan to open a Chick-fil-A inside San Jose’s city-owned airport. The restaurant chain, which has taken positions against marriage equality and other LGBTQ+ issues, is poised to open an outlet inside the Mineta San Jose International Airport in June, reported the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The decision to allow...

Corruption allegations at Silicon Valley’s Hispanic chamber; board members ousted

Six prominent Latino leaders were kicked off the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley board of directors, a shakeup five of them say happened after they questioned the chamber’s financial standing and demanded to see its budget. In separate interviews, multiple ex-board members claim they’ve never seen the chamber’s annual budget, expenditures or other financial...

Japantown businesses feel the pinch of new development

With a new luxury, market-rate housing development coming to Japantown, local business owners are feeling the pinch of losing parking spots that they say could threaten their livelihoods. In January, developers broke ground on Facet, the upcoming 518-unit apartment complex, and Sixth and Jackson, the adjoining 19,000-square-foot retail space. The mixed-use development will feature a two-building, seven story...

The Dark Side of Luxury: State deems Capital Club’s wage policy illegal

In the wake of accusations of unfair wages stemming from a confusing pay system at the ritzy Silicon Valley Capital Club, state officials are now confirming that the club violated employment law. “Under California law, a service charge cannot be used to make up any shortfall in paying at least the minimum wage for all hours worked,” read...

Burrito Factory in San Jose settles wage theft claims for $1 million

A Mexican burrito chain that’s been part of the San Jose dining scene for more than 20 years has agreed to pay a $1 million settlement over wage theft complaints from at least 239 employees, the Department of Industrial Relations announced on Monday. The restaurant Burrito Factory has four locations across San Jose, and came under investigation by the California...

The Dark Side of Luxury: Capital Club accused of unfair wages

It’s the go-to spot for some of Silicon Valley’s elite. Politicos, executives and the area’s top movers and shakers shell out $200-plus a month just to walk through the 17th-story doors of the exclusive Silicon Valley Capital Club. But while many members drive up to the lavish business club atop the downtown San Jose KQED building in...

‘Rundown shopping center’ revamp worries business owners

Cambrian Park Plaza — the 17-acre shopping center known for its iconic carousel display — is long overdue for renovation, but many longtime business owners are worried they’ll be squeezed out. Weingarten Realty is planning a significant redevelopment that calls for a six-story hotel, town square, park,115,000 square feet of entertainment and retail space, senior...