A school district in East San Jose is laying off employees as it faces a budget deficit and declining student enrollment. East Side Union High School District is giving pink slips to more than 80 workers, with layoffs taking effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. The decision follows a vote by the...
East San Jose residents watch gas prices jump from Iran war
The ongoing Iran war is driving gas prices up across the U.S., including East San Jose — where residents and small business owners are carefully weighing where to fill up. Prices observed at local gas stations along Alum Rock Road ranged from as low as $4.09 per gallon up to $5.17 for regular unleaded fuel,...
East San Jose school district adds managers to layoffs
An East San Jose school district has turned to layoffs to reduce its budget shortfall, with the most recent cuts being management and administrative positions. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees unanimously voted Thursday to lay off classified management staff for the 2026-27 school year. The positions include chief of communications and...
San Jose looks to housing vouchers to fill mostly vacant high-rise
With the launch of a new housing voucher program, San Jose intends to strike two birds with one stone: Provide below-market rate homes downtown and stabilize a financially struggling residential complex. Under the first rollout of the Lower Income Voucher and Equity Program, approved by the City Council Tuesday, San Jose will provide up to...
East San Jose school district cuts dozens of jobs to plug deficit
An East San Jose school district is laying off employees on the heels of declining enrollment, a budget deficit and school closures. Earlier this month, the Alum Rock Union School District board agreed to pink slip numerous classified employees. It appears managers could be next at the upcoming board meeting Thursday. Affected employees will receive...
Aztec mural designed to protect San Jose firefighters
An East San Jose artist is invoking an Aztec deity to keep a new fire station and its firefighters safe from harm. Artist Jesse Hernandez has created two metal murals featuring Tlaloc, the Aztec rain god, displayed on the exterior of Fire Station 8, slated to open later this year. The new 5,500 square-foot, two-story...
East San Jose community development ready to break ground
East San Jose is about to see its multimillion-dollar dream project become reality. La Placita will transform a neglected 28,000-square-foot commercial building across from Mexican Heritage Plaza. The space will be rebuilt into a cultural community hub with a theater, cafe and family wellness center operated by Gardner Health Services. The School of Arts and...
Audit shows rebound for San Jose hospitality and tourism
The nonprofit agency tasked with promoting San Jose’s hospitality and tourism industries just aced its annual performance audit. Boosters for local business are taking the high marks as a hopeful sign for the city as it heads into a critical year of major sports events. The audit foundTeam San Jose, which also manages major city-owned...
San Jose Vietnam Town management shrugs at complaints
San Jose officials are cracking down on alleged mismanagement in Vietnam Town. But the plaza’s landlords aren’t budging. City code enforcers last month ordered the managers of Little Saigon’s iconic commercial center to address multiple building violations that vexed business owners. That included the removal of a haphazard dumpster barricade that kept cars from parking...
Fed cuts force San Jose farm to reduce food aid
A federal program that brought fresh produce from farms directly to low-income families has ended, stripping local farmers of a significant revenue stream and leaving families with one less option. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) — a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative started in 2021 during the pandemic — provided $1...