Surf rock echoed from the gates of Raging Waters amusement park in San Jose today, but no one was around to hear it. The water park in East San Jose has shut down after 38 years. The 23-acre theme park originally opened its doors in 1985 and housed 14 water slides and a 350,000-gallon wave...
San Jose celebrates first annual Lowrider Day
San Jose City Hall was inundated with music and fanfare today as residents and visitors celebrated lowriding, a subculture centered around the customization of cars. San Jose has long been a hub for lowriding since its initial popularity in the 1940s, with roots in the city’s substantial Latino population. A cornerstone of the lowriding culture...
San Jose officials want to expedite toxic spill cleanup
Toxins from a fuel spill eight years ago at an abandoned East San Jose building continue to pollute the soil, and city leaders are pushing to expedite cleanup efforts before another environmental disaster. Councilmember Peter Ortiz is rallying support from colleagues to form an intergovernmental committee to create a timeline for removing the contamination at...
Santa Clara County preserves affordable apartments for seniors
San Jose housing advocates are praising a deal between county and federal agencies to preserve affordable housing for low-income seniors on the east side of the city. The Santa Clara County Housing Authority purchased Girasol Apartments and Jardines Paloma Blanca last week from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for $4.15 million and...
East San Jose gets early learning center
East San Jose is primed to help its youngest residents with a new center to shape their academic future. The Cesar Chavez Early Learning Center opened its doors to the community today. The early learning center will focus on providing educational opportunities and services to children up to age 5. Alum Rock Union Elementary School...
East San Jose cultural district close to funding goal
An organization dedicated to revitalizing a segment of East San Jose is close to securing its multi-million dollar goal. The plan, dubbed La Avenida, has been in the works for a year and a half and aims to establish a cultural district next to the School of Arts and Culture. The project aims to fuel...
East San Jose free food market targets hunger crisis
Free food distribution is still essential for East San Jose residents. That’s evident by the line of people wrapped around the block of Mexican Heritage Plaza twice a month waiting to fill their wagons with produce and other food products. Even post-pandemic there’s been a noticeable uptick in the number of residents needing food, and organizers...
East San Jose lake finally receives funding for restoration
After failed attempts to restore the much-neglected Lake Cunningham, San Jose has found a way to kickstart the lake’s revival. The state budget allocated $1.5 million to improving the East San Jose lake last week, which for years has suffered under the weight of faulty infrastructure and poor water quality. San Jose Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who...
East San Jose residents demand environmental justice
Contamination clean-up efforts have been slow going at an abandoned East San Jose building that was the site of a large fuel spill in 2015. Residents and leaders gathered at the site Friday demanding the city expedite the process amid growing air quality threats. Nearly a dozen community members, including Councilmember Peter Ortiz, said the contamination situation...
The first six months: San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a San José Spotlight series examining the newest San Jose councilmembers and their first six months in office. San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz is a fighter—and has been his entire life. He beat the odds to turn his life around and now fights to keep the odds in favor...