Film-lovers from across the globe have landed in San Jose for Cinequest, giving downtown a multimillion-dollar economic boost. Echoing its theme of luminate, the Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival will generate more than $9 million in revenue over the event’s two-week run. Cinequest generates 800 to 1,000 paid room nights for San Jose hotels and...
East San Jose community aims to restore youth center
An East San Jose collective has stepped in to save the Mexican American Community Services Agency youth center from demolition. The effort to repurpose the building is lead by the School of Arts and Culture and SOMOS Mayfair, representing the Si Se Puede Collective. At an Alum Rock Union School District board meeting Thursday night,...
San Jose D3 candidates talk housing, downtown vibrancy
San Jose City Council District 3 candidates shared their ideas on how they’d represent the downtown on Thursday at a forum hosted by San José Spotlight and San Jose Woman’s Club. Seven candidates are vying for the vacant seat in a special election. In a room packed with residents, the candidates — mayoral Deputy Chief...
San Jose mayor’s pick for D3 leads in fundraising
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are pouring into a special election to represent San Jose’s downtown neighborhoods on the City Council for the next two years. Campaign finance filings show Matthew Quevedo, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Matt Mahan, has raised the most money so far, with more than $200,000. Latina Coalition of Silicon...
San Jose approves hundreds of affordable homes at historic site
A 15-story multifamily affordable housing development is about to become part of downtown San Jose’s SoFA district after almost a decade of planning. San Jose Planning Director Chris Burton approved the 220-apartment development, known as Gateway Tower, at a Wednesday hearing. The complex will be 100% affordable housing, including 55 permanent supportive apartments and 165...
UPDATE: San Jose approves digital billboards to boost revenue
Digital billboards will soon be part of Downtown San Jose’s landscape. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow digital billboards to be placed in various downtown locations with advertising company Orange Barrel Media responsible for upkeep and operational costs. The city will receive 15% of the advertising time. The billboards are projected...
Downtown San Jose street becomes permanent pedestrian mall
San Jose officials have approved the permanent restriction of vehicle traffic at a popular downtown street in an effort to increase fast-growing economic vibrancy in the business district. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to permanently close Post Street to cars, which began during the pandemic when the Al Fresco dining and shopping pilot programs...
Downtown San Jose to add two-floor music venue
San Jose’s downtown core is about to get more lively with a new late-night concert venue and bar in the works. The City Council has unanimously approved permits for Pete Be Center, a more than 10,000-square-foot building located in the SoFA District at 439 South First St. with two newly-built mezzanines that can hold 1,142...
San Jose protest against President Trump draws hundreds
Hundreds of protesters from around Silicon Valley marched through downtown San Jose Monday as part of demonstrations taking place across the country over President Donald Trump and his policies. Holding signs that read “Not my President” and “Fight the Fascists,” roughly 1,500 people gathered outside the San Jose Museum of Art on Presidents Day. More...
San Jose councilmember sued for defamation
A prominent Vietnamese American businessman is suing San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan for defamation after the two sparred in court last year — painting an alleged connection between San Jose and a federal bribery scandal in Oakland. The Feb. 3 lawsuit by Le Bail Bonds owner Hai Huynh says Doan wrongly described him as a...