Latinas in Silicon Valley get paid 33 cents for every dollar a white man earns—and local leaders say that needs to change. Dozens of people gathered Thursday morning in Santa Clara for a joint rally in honor of Latina Equal Pay Day, hosted by the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy and Latina Coalition...
‘There’s always hope’: How Eddie Garcia fought for Latinos in Silicon Valley
Heart attack, lung failure and an induced coma weren’t the only hurdles in the life of East San Jose native Eddie Garcia. As a child of color he had to work twice as hard to succeed even before he almost died. Garcia, 58, was raised in East San Jose. His dad was a postal worker,...
10 years later, DACA recipients in San Jose fear the future
For the first time in 24 years, Miguel Santiago met his family in Oaxaca, Mexico. He crossed the border to create an ethnography report on his heritage and see his grandfather before he passed away. If not for his DACA status, researching the origins of his family’s culture and customs would have never happened. “Having...
San Jose nixes ‘blatantly racist’ policy
Growing up in San Jose, Councilmember Raul Peralez found himself sitting on a curb while police searched his car — dozens of times. His crime? Driving slowly in his forest green 1965 Impala Super Sport lowrider as a person of color. “I was often told (by officers) that because of the car I drove, the...
San Jose native opens doors for immigrant entrepreneurs
Yacanex Posadas grew up mostly on the north side of San Jose. He worked multiple jobs at a young age to help his family, who told him everyone can use a hand. “My dad always taught me about standing up for the little guy,” Posadas said. “My grandma always used to say, be the voice...
San Jose’s Measure B will increase voter turnout, supporters say
Latina leaders want one San Jose election to change its date, which they say would level the playing field for political equity and access for people of color. Local politicians and community leaders wearing Rosie the Riveter red bandanas held a rally Tuesday to urge the city’s Hispanic residents to vote “Yes” on Measure B for the...
Strict rules at San Jose Flea Market drive out vendors
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...