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 advances plans for downtown music pavilion
San Jose’s historic St. James Park is one step closer to joining a national nonprofit’s network of outdoor music venues fashioned from neglected public spaces. The City Council unanimously authorized negotiations Tuesday for a three-party operating agreement for the future downtown concert venue between the city, the national Levitt Foundation and Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose,...
San Jose council appointment helps mayor’s agenda
The mayor of the Bay Area’s largest city may have scored a limited window to push through his agenda with the temporary appointment of District 3 Councilmember Carl Salas. Salas — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s pick during last month’s appointment process — potentially secures the business-backed mayor a six-vote majority amid the City Council’s...
San Jose council appoints temporary downtown representative
San Jose officials have chosen a temporary downtown representative while voters wait to pick a permanent replacement in a special election later this year. The City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Carl Eugene Salas, founder of engineering and technical services firm Salas O’Brien, to temporarily fill the empty District 3 seat starting Feb. 4. Salas...
Short-term San Jose council appointment down to 5 candidates
San Jose officials have narrowed down the list of candidates to temporarily fill the vacant downtown seat on the City Council from 11 to five. Councilmembers will interview Bob Staedler, Jahmal Williams, Danielle Marie Christian, Carl Eugene Salas and Baltazar Lopez on Jan. 28 before appointing one of them to fill the District 3 seat....
Short-lived downtown San Jose eatery, music venue closes
Mama Kin, known for its live music and good eats, is closing after about two years in downtown San Jose. The restaurant, which offered Cajun appetizers and entrees along with craft cocktails named for dead rock and jazz stars, announced the closure in an Instagram post on Monday. The post garnered more than 2,000 likes and...
Here’s who’s running for San Jose City Council District 3
The deadline has passed for candidates to enter the race to replace disgraced former District 3 San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres – and several notable names are on the ballot. Seven people — including past candidates, City Hall employees and well-known community organizers — have qualified to run for the open San Jose City Council...
San Jose candidate catches flak for recent move into district
One prominent community leader’s bid for the open District 3 San Jose City Council seat is raising eyebrows — and questions about her commitment to the neighborhood. Gabby Chavez-Lopez, executive director of Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, moved back into a family home in the historic downtown Hensley neighborhood on Nov. 16, just 11 days...
San Jose D3 candidates raise funds for special election
Candidates in the upcoming special election to represent San Jose’s downtown core are sharing early fundraising numbers as the deadline to apply for the race comes to a close. Matthew Quevedo, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Matt Mahan, said his campaign raised more than $121,000 by year’s end — the most cash raised by a...