Behind the colorful booths, lively music and tantalizing smells of local Mexican foods at the San Jose Flea Market are tears and heartache. Vendors greet patrons with a smile, but mask a world of pain and anxiety many are feeling regarding future development. A 2021 San Jose City Council vote allowed flea market operators to...
San Jose’s Darlene Tenes makes sure farmworkers are appreciated
While efforts were made to help essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of those core groups—farmworkers—was overlooked. One woman made it her mission to change that dynamic. San Josean Darlene Tenes wanted to support those who toil in the fields. She understood their vulnerability to COVID, pesticides and smoke from wildfires. She assembled a...
San Jose Food Club works to promote local restaurants
Jorge Gomez’s followers on Instagram already knew where to get some of the best pho, barbeque and pizza in San Jose from his mouth-watering reviews. Gomez wondered if he could take his shout outs to the next level and help local eateries. He decided to survey his 66,000 social media followers to find out. When...
San Jose Flea Market payment opens door to vendors’ future
San Jose has recently received funds from the landowner of the Berryessa Flea Market to help transition vendors following last year’s City Council vote to rezone the property for future development. The Bumb family, who owns the land, wired the first $500,000 installment of $5 million a few days before the Jan. 1 deadline to...
How did Latinos vote in the statewide recall election?
Gov. Gavin Newsom walloped opponents looking to oust him in Tuesday’s recall election, both statewide and in Santa Clara County. For Latinos, the no-recall effort still won, though not as big as other demographics. Some experts say that’s in part to a changing, younger and more diverse electorate. ‘There is a feeling they are being taken for...
Latino leaders urge San Jose residents to take part in redistricting
Latinos are now the largest ethnic minority in California according to the 2020 Census, but political districts don’t reflect that fact. A legal advocacy group wants to change that at the state and county level. Mayra Valadez, a coordinator for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, gave a presentation at a virtual meeting Monday...
‘Helping people is satisfying for me’: Gabriela Chavez-Lopez takes back the power
Gabriela Chavez-Lopez learned about the power of organizing from an early age. Born and raised in the Central Valley, the birthplace of the farmworker movement, Chavez-Lopez grew up hearing stories about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. She was inspired by their ability to mobilize the community to aid farmworkers and create policy change. “Here are these...
Santa Clara County urges youth and Latinos to get COVID vaccines
The demand for COVID-19 vaccines is dropping in Silicon Valley, and county officials are urging youth and Latino residents to get the jab. While more than two-thirds of Santa Clara County residents over the age of 16 have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, the county has seen a recent drop in...
South Bay Latinos cheer Padilla appointment to U.S. Senate
Gov. Gavin Newsom made history appointing California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ Senate seat — and South Bay Latinos acknowleged it was not by chance. Latinos throughout the state lobbied hard for the governor to appoint someone from their community, saying their time for representation was long overdue. They...
‘The time is now’: Leaders urge Newsom to appoint Latino lawmaker to Senate
Across the state, Latino leaders united in urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a Latina or Latino lawmaker to the U.S. Senate, replacing Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Seeking representation and a voice in government, politicians have banded together, speaking at news conferences in Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Jose this month. San Jose...