WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Republicans accused Silicon Valley tech giants of censorship during a hearing Wednesday intended to examine whether a provision in the Communications Decency Act gives internet companies too much protection. Section 230 has become controversial in recent years because it provides tech companies with broad legal immunity for what their users post...
Furor builds over racist post by San Jose business group
A chorus of community leaders gathered at San Jose City Hall to express their outrage over a racist image posted on the website of The Silicon Valley Organization and demanded politicians backed by the group return campaign donations. “We stand here today to condemn the racist actions of The SVO and to call on all...
Silicon Valley Organization CEO Matt Mahood placed on leave as board members quit
Silicon Valley Organization President and CEO Matt Mahood has been placed on an administrative leave, one day after the organization came under fire for a racist image posted on its website. “A qualified third-party investigator has been engaged to conduct a top down investigation to determine how and why such an image was posted,” Madison...
Beloved San Jose museum names its first female president
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....