Money is stacking up in San Jose’s special election to represent the City Council’s downtown seat, with constituents and special interest groups putting thousands of dollars behind their chosen candidates. Matthew Quevedo, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Matt Mahan, continues to lead the pool of candidates in fundraising, with recent campaign finance filings showing...
San Jose sets stricter rules for street vendors
San Jose police officials told city leaders they need more tools to impound the property of illicit street vendors in downtown, especially during events. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept Police Chief Paul Joseph’s proposal to create a new street peddler permit policy to streamline law enforcement powers and remove permitting barriers. Police...
Voter registration for San Jose special election ends today
Today is the last day to register to vote for one of seven candidates running for the District 3 San Jose City Council seat, with just more than two weeks left until the special election. Eligible residents in the downtown district can register online through the Secretary of State’s website to receive a vote by...
Affordable housing to replace East San Jose abandoned building
A vacant building in East San Jose will be replaced with hundreds of affordable homes. A 100% affordable housing complex was approved at 2940 Alum Rock Ave. across from James Lick High School March 12 at Planning Director hearing. The 50,900-square-foot development would construct 400 homes and demolish two vacant buildings to make way for...
San Jose film festival is a five-star economic boost
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...