La Perla Taqueria in East San Jose has for decades pushed its tables together for family meals, birthdays and even baby showers. That will all end before January. Owner José Huitron has tried to reconcile his staggering overhead costs with the restaurant’s duty as a neighborhood mainstay. The crowds aren’t as big as they used...
San Jose cracks down on Vietnam Town mismanagement
San Jose officials have long known about mismanagement concerns surrounding Little Saigon’s signature commercial center. But now they’re taking action this week after San José Spotlight’s reporting and a lawsuit by merchants showed the extent of Vietnam Town’s neglect. The city’s Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department has ordered Vietnam Town management to remove barricades...
San Jose program helps women start child day care centers
An East San Jose nonprofit is providing economic mobility for residents, as well as affordable child care for the community. A child care program started by Grail Family Services has enabled 81% of participating women to earn their child care licenses to combat a dearth of facilities in East San Jose. A total of 80...
San Jose Viet Museum’s future unclear
Patience is wearing thin amid a battle for control of a museum honoring San Jose’s Vietnamese community — and both sides of the fight could end up losing. History San Jose, a nonprofit which cares for History Park and its historic buildings and resources on Phelan Avenue, has kept the Viet Museum closed since last...
San Jose Vietnamese shops sue over alleged mismanagement
At San Jose’s Vietnam Town, struggling merchants find it hard to recognize their signature commercial center. Instead, they see a plaza that chases out visitors. It’s eerily quiet during the day. The ramps of Vietnam Town’s main parking garage have been cordoned off with dumpsters, choking out parking options for would-be customers. Security is towing...
East San Jose paints its stories on neighborhood walls
A community-inspired mural project aims to beautify and revitalize a neighborhood in East San Jose. Artists gathered for the East Side Stories mural painting festival Saturday, complete with a DJ and lowrider cars around Tropicana Liquors on Story Road. Muralists created images of the Virgin Mary, lowriders and Mesoamerican symbols on the liquor store’s exterior walls....
San Jose Viet Museum founder leaves lasting legacy
Loc Vu, the architect of San Jose’s Viet Museum and Little Saigon pioneer, died Saturday at the age of 92. After months in hospice care in Cupertino, Vu spent his final moments surrounded by family and community members whose histories were indelibly marked by the former South Vietnamese military leader-turned-refugee. The husband, father and grandfather...
East San Jose charter school at risk of closing
An East San Jose charter school serving immigrant families is at risk of closure. Escuela Popular, a bilingual and bicultural school, could close its doors after serving the community for almost 40 years due to a state law that requires all charter school teachers to be fully credentialed. The school, part of the East Side...
Longtime urban planner set for seat on San Jose Planning Commission
Three months after trading his role as San Jose Planning Commission chairman for a seat on the City Council, Anthony Tordillos has nominated his replacement. The District 3 representative has tapped Aimée Escobar, a veteran urban planner with an extensive background in housing policy, to fill the seat he vacated in August. Councilmembers will hold a...
San Jose officials want denser housing on former golf course
East San Jose’s longtime Duino family is ready to let go of its 115-acre former golf course. But they’re caught between clashing visions over the future of the property. City leaders want more density than developers and some neighbors had in mind. A letter obtained by San José Spotlight shows city planners earlier this year...