An East San Jose school district’s redistricting plans have left some community members frustrated. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees has redrawn its boundaries, shifting from at-large trustees to trustees representing specific areas of the district. The board on May 20 voted 3-2 — with Trustees Corina Herrera-Loera and Minh Nguyen voting...
Bien Doan leads in San Jose District 7 council race
Early election night results show San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan with a commanding lead in the race for the District 7 seat on the San Jose City Council. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Doan has 48.5% of the vote or 3,580 votes, followed by Van Le, an East Side Union High School District trustee, in...
Peter Ortiz maintains lead in San Jose District 5 race
Early results show incumbent Councilmember Peter Ortiz leading the pack of candidates seeking the District 5 seat to represent East San Jose on the City Council. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Ortiz is ahead with 44% of the vote or 3,363 votes, while former state lawmaker and District 5 Councilmember Nora Campos is in second...
Burned East San Jose youth center could be rebuilt
An East San Jose youth center that burned to the ground last year has only made the community more determined to raise it from the ashes. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees on Thursday voted 4-1 to enter an exclusive negotiating agreement with SOMOS Mayfair and the School of Arts and Culture,...
East San Jose neighborhood hit by stray golf balls
For residents living next to Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in East San Jose, errant golf balls flying over the course’s catch nets and into the surrounding neighborhoods is a fact of life. “I kept the basket on my patio, so when the golf balls came through, I collected them,” Donnette, a resident living in...
District 5 San Jose candidates speak on progressive priorities
Candidates in the District 5 San Jose City Council race laid out ambitious campaign policy platforms centered on reining in the city’s affordability crisis, as they took part in a Wednesday election forum. Over the course of an hour-long online event hosted by the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits and SV@Home Action Fund, the four...
East San Jose school district changes how its leaders are elected
An East San Jose elementary school district is changing how its leaders are elected, launching the first of several public hearings that could reshape its representation. The Alum Rock Union School District is shifting from at-large to trustee-area elections, which will change how the community votes for board members in the coming years. The present formula...
East San Jose school loses charter over lack of credentialed teachers
An East San Jose charter school serving immigrant students is fighting for survival. Escuela Popular, which operates under East Side Union High School District, is staring down a looming closure after the district revoked its charter due to its teachers not being fully credentialed. The school, which provides bilingual education as well as resources and services...
East San Jose school district audit investigation passes review
An investigation into the expenditures of an East San Jose school district has trustees exhaling — after holding their breath for months. The Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) completed its audit of Alum Rock Union School District following a “comprehensive review” of all reimbursements to determine whether district funds have been used appropriately and...
Meet the candidates running for District 5 San Jose City Council
As the June primary approaches, the four contenders for District 5’s City Council seat are sharpening their political pitches to the voters of East San Jose. The district’s incumbent, Councilmember Peter Ortiz, is defending his seat against three challengers — local education leader Karen Martinez, broadcast journalist Vy Dang and Nora Campos, a former San...