For some Mexican Americans, identifying as Chicano means carrying the history of a civil rights movement that challenged war, discrimination and police brutality. For others, it is a way to reconnect with Indigenous roots, honor family histories and build solidarity with their communities. Multiple generations of San Jose residents reflected on what the identity means...
New fire station opens in downtown San Jose
One of San Jose’s busiest fire stations has a new, state-of-the-art facility in downtown that will better serve its firefighters and residents. The San Jose Fire Department, city leaders and neighborhood residents on Thursday celebrated the opening of Fire Station 8 at 601 E. Santa Clara St. The previous fire station, located a few blocks...
San Jose officials to weigh new name for downtown plaza
A name change for one of downtown San Jose’s most recognizable public gathering places is moving closer to a decision, after thousands of residents weighed in on what the plaza should be called. The Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 2 is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council on renaming Plaza de...
Downtown San Jose venue faces closure after permit denial
Representatives for a late night venue in downtown San Jose said their business may close for good, after the City Council declined to grant a permit to stay open after midnight. San Pedro Social, located on Santa Clara Street, closed its doors in June, citing financial troubles brought about by its inability to tap into...
San Jose rally to commemorate Chicano history
For more than five decades, an anti-war protest known as the Chicano Moratorium has remained a touchstone for activists who fought for greater recognition, equality and an end to discrimination against their community. This weekend, San Jose organizers will once again bring that history to the city while drawing attention to the federal detention of...
San Jose’s Circle of Palms is losing its iconic trees
Ice skating in downtown San Jose won’t be the same this holiday season, after losing its iconic namesake. Crews began removing all 32 palm trees from the Circle of Palms on Thursday, after a city arborist found none of them were healthy enough to keep. Work is expected to continue for the next several days....
East San Jose mural honors community legends
For Guadalupe Cruz, the new mural in Alum Rock is impossible to miss. She passes it nearly every day on her way through the neighborhood, just minutes from the home where she has lived for decades. The mural, unveiled Thursday, honors three figures with deep ties to East San Jose — Heisman Trophy winner and...
Removal of East San Jose murals upsets residents
Two community murals connected to San Jose youth and the city’s Indigenous community were painted over after a building was sold, sparking a dispute between the former and current owners over whether the artwork was supposed to remain. A lack of communication may have been at fault, resulting in no written agreement between the building...
San Jose mobile home residents claim park owner wants them out
San Jose Mobile Home & RV Park residents are fighting back against a landlord who they claim is retaliating against them for standing up for their rights. The residents allege property owner Monte Christo Communities has pressured them to sign new leases, written them up for small infractions and violated their personal space to take...
Affordable townhomes planned for East San Jose
A new East San Jose housing development is providing homeownership pathways for working families. For a place with a reputation as the least affordable city in the world to buy a home, AlphaX RE Capital is making housing affordable by providing below-market-rate townhomes for income-qualified households. The Kirk, an 18-home community at 125 Kirk Ave., offers interest-rate...