A flagship program that employed homeless people to clean the streets of San Jose and connect them to housing is abruptly ending. Nonprofit Downtown Streets Team is ending operations Oct. 31, citing financial and political pressures that make it difficult to sustain the organization. The nonprofit formed 20 years ago in Palo Alto and expanded to 15...
Ex-San Jose councilmember sentenced to 18 years for child molestation
Disgraced former San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading ‘no contest’ to child molestation charges in April — a final turn in the shocking saga that rocked City Hall and Silicon Valley’s political scene. Torres listened, while his family looked on, as Superior Court Judge Cynthia Sevely...
High-end downtown San Jose restaurant closes
An upscale San Jose restaurant has closed less than two years after it opened, as the city grapples with attracting people to the downtown core. Rollati Ristorante, an Italian-American restaurant across from San Jose City Hall, abruptly closed Tuesday due to declining revenues. Customer foot traffic dropped 30% from last year, according to Alistair Levine,...
The Biz Beat: Downtown San Jose clothing store suitable for all occasions
For more than 105 years, Hammer & Lewis Clothiers has existed in an indefinable place in culture and time. Its two San Jose locations offer Cary Grant-worthy suits, the shiniest of dress shoes, classic flannel Pendletons and jackets flamboyant enough for Burning Man celebrants. It is de rigueur for zoot-suited pachucos and aficionados of fine...
San Jose’s newest councilmember sworn into office
San Jose’s newest elected representative took office at the City Council meeting Tuesday — marking a new chapter for District 3 whose prior leader is behind bars. Councilmember Anthony Tordillos took the oath of office — and his seat on the dais alongside his 10 colleagues — following applause from an audience celebrating the former...
San Jose mayor teams with county supervisor to improve public safety
Two Silicon Valley officials are teaming up in an effort to help homeless and drug addicted residents who they said are scaring and attacking people living in downtown San Jose. At a town hall meeting Friday, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Santa Clara County District 2 Supervisor Betty Duong, who’s district encompasses the downtown,...
San Jose leaders aim to build pride in downtown
Pedestrians traversing one of San Jose’s busiest downtown corridors will discover a more inviting area. City officials and the San Jose Downtown Association unveiled a $795,000 beautification project Monday, where color and vibrancy are taking hold. The makeover includes 17 projects along Santa Clara Street between Market and Fourth streets, with new murals, re-painted building...
San Jose parking garage construction shutters micro-retail
San Jose is continuing to beautify its downtown with more public art projects, but at the expense of small businesses. The city is installing another public art piece on the facade of the Market Street parking garage next to San Pedro Square, with construction expected during next year’s Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup games....
San Jose voter data shows how Anthony Tordillos won D3
A dark horse candidate in the San Jose District 3 special election eked out a second place finish in April. Then he trounced his opponent in the June runoff for the City Council seat. San Jose Planning Commission Chair Anthony Tordillos was able to pull voters from all of the candidates who lost in the...
Arts, entertainment revitalize San Jose neighborhood
Art installations, a beer garden, music and events are breathing life into downtown San Jose’s Creekside neighborhood, helping to revitalize the local economy. What started a couple years ago with Creekside Socials on the west side of town near Diridon Station, and the once-anticipated and now on hold future home of Google’s Downtown West mega...