A community-inspired mural project aims to beautify and revitalize a neighborhood in East San Jose. Artists gathered for the East Side Stories mural painting festival Saturday, complete with a DJ and lowrider cars around Tropicana Liquors on Story Road. Muralists created images of the Virgin Mary, lowriders and Mesoamerican symbols on the liquor store’s exterior walls....
East San Jose charter school at risk of closing
An East San Jose charter school serving immigrant families is at risk of closure. Escuela Popular, a bilingual and bicultural school, could close its doors after serving the community for almost 40 years due to a state law that requires all charter school teachers to be fully credentialed. The school, part of the East Side...
San Jose officials want denser housing on former golf course
East San Jose’s longtime Duino family is ready to let go of its 115-acre former golf course. But they’re caught between clashing visions over the future of the property. City leaders want more density than developers and some neighbors had in mind. A letter obtained by San José Spotlight shows city planners earlier this year...
East San Jose small businesses struggle amid VTA construction
Capitol Expressway has turned into a traffic nightmare near the light rail connector expansion — and local businesses are looking to transportation officials for relief. San Jose business owners say construction from VTA’s Eastridge to BART Regional Connector has been driving customers away, with intermittent lane closures, redirected traffic, blocked driveways and construction debris along...
East San Jose councilmember runs for reelection
District 5 San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz has officially launched his reelection campaign to hold onto the seat he first won in 2022. Ortiz is making the case that during his time in office, he has demonstrated leadership that is bringing “transformational change” to a district he argues has been poorly served by its past leaders....
Santa Clara County DA looks into alleged misuse of school funds
Parents in an East San Jose school district are calling for county officials to investigate a trustee who was reimbursed thousands of dollars by the district for college courses. Andres Quintero, board vice president of the Alum Rock Union School District, is facing criticism for a $22,700 reimbursement he received from the district for taking...
San Jose parents want school trustee to return funds or resign
Community members of an East San Jose school district are demanding a trustee repay funds or step down from serving on the board. Alum Rock Union School District parents and advocates are demanding Board Vice President Andres Quintero reimburse funds he received from the district to pay for academic courses to earn his Ph.D. —...
East San Jose school district changes how leaders are elected
An East San Jose school district is changing how and when its board members are elected. The East Side Union High School District board of trustees on Oct. 3 unanimously approved switching from at-large elections to district elections and adopted a final district map. The board also determined what years trustees would be up for...
Damaged East San Jose youth center demolished
A vacant former youth center in East San Jose has been demolished more than a month after a fire halted plans for its restoration. Excavators knocked down what remained of the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) building Saturday, breaking the hearts of community advocates who fought to save it. Trustees with the Alum Rock...
East San Jose community development nets multimillion-dollar grant
Millions of dollars will turn a mostly vacant East San Jose building into a cultural gem. Local advocates describe it as a vital investment to support neighborhoods where some of the city’s most vulnerable residents live. The School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza recently received $6 million from the Knight Foundation, a historic...