The oldest municipal park in California just celebrated its 150th birthday, and yet its upkeep doesn’t get the love and respect it deserves. Nestled amid the rugged foothills of the Diablo mountains, Alum Rock Park offers 720 acres for residents and became critical open space during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were stuck indoors. Children who...
Cesar Chavez’s San Jose home to become community center
The family home of one of San Jose’s greatest activists will be transformed into a community center, continuing his work for future generations. Nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe, with the city’s help, purchased the the family home of Cesar Chavez this week. The historical landmark at 53 Scharff Ave. in East San Jose has been in...
The Biz Beat: A sweet bounty awaits inside family’s East San Jose bakery
It’s easy to underestimate the wonders within Mexico Bakery on Alum Rock Avenue in East San Jose from its modest storefront. But stepping inside, the interior, like some magical Tardis machine, seems three or four times larger than it possibly could be as the mind struggles to take in the colors, shapes and varieties of all the...
UPDATE: San Jose school district to ask voters to fund teacher housing
A plan to provide housing for teachers is moving forward in East San Jose. The Alum Rock Union School District voted 4-1 Thursday in favor of changing the language of an existing bond to use some of its remaining funds to build affordable housing for teachers and staff. Trustee Linda Chavez voted no. Measure J,...
Crossing San Jose streets may become less dangerous
One of San Jose’s most dangerous roads will receive multi-million-dollar funding from the state to reduce accidents and fatalities. The city is receiving $10 million in state funding to install more street lights, build out bike lanes and other protective measures around Senter Road. The 4.7-mile stretch from Monterey Road to Story Road ranks sixth...
The Biz Beat: Bacalhau Grill offers Brazilian, Portuguese cuisine
With a wide selection of Portuguese and Brazilian foods and wines, the Bacalhau Grill Restaurant & Market in San Jose is a home away from home for immigrants from two continents bound by a common language. “When the restaurant started 40 years ago, it was Portuguese to the core,” Joel Netto, assistant manager, told San...
Eastside Dreams: Highlighting the history of East San Jose
Until this month, East San Jose’s history was a gaping hole in the city’s local libraries. The community, often overlooked and neglected, did not see itself at all reflected in Silicon Valley’s history books. That all changed with a single question. A San Jose State student was looking to learn more about the city’s lowriding culture and asked...
San Jose nonprofit makes offer to buy Cesar Chavez’s house
The home of one of San Jose’s greatest activists may become open to the public, depending on a pending purchase. Nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe, with the city’s help, put in an offer this week to purchase the family home of Cesar Chavez, a historical landmark in East San Jose at 53 Scharff Ave. The city...
Hot classroom sign of bigger issue in East San Jose
An East San Jose classroom reaching nearly 90 degrees—and a deafening silence from administrators to keep it in working order—is the latest example of underinvestment and inequities in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. A classroom at Renaissance Academy at Fischer Middle School, located at 1720 Hopkins Drive in San Jose, became unbearable this past...
Nora Campos leads in race for East San Jose council seat
Last updated 5 p.m. on Monday. The next update will be 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Former state Assemblymember Nora Campos is leading the contested race to represent East San Jose for City Council District 5, with Santa Clara County Board of Education President Peter Ortiz following behind. Campos is leading with 31.11% of the vote or...