Disgraced former San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading ‘no contest’ to child molestation charges in April — a final turn in the shocking saga that rocked City Hall and Silicon Valley’s political scene. Torres listened, while his family looked on, as Superior Court Judge Cynthia Sevely...
NBC Bay Area: Fire scorches vacant MACSA building in San Jose
A three-alarm fire destroyed the vacant former MACSA youth center in San Jose early Friday. At about 1 a.m., San Jose firefighters responded to a large fire at the vacant building at 600 Sinclair Drive in the city’s Mayfair district, officials said. Fire officials told NBC Bay Area the building was fully involved when they...
High-end downtown San Jose restaurant closes
An upscale San Jose restaurant has closed less than two years after it opened, as the city grapples with attracting people to the downtown core. Rollati Ristorante, an Italian-American restaurant across from San Jose City Hall, abruptly closed Tuesday due to declining revenues. Customer foot traffic dropped 30% from last year, according to Alistair Levine,...
The Biz Beat: Downtown San Jose clothing store suitable for all occasions
For more than 105 years, Hammer & Lewis Clothiers has existed in an indefinable place in culture and time. Its two San Jose locations offer Cary Grant-worthy suits, the shiniest of dress shoes, classic flannel Pendletons and jackets flamboyant enough for Burning Man celebrants. It is de rigueur for zoot-suited pachucos and aficionados of fine...
San Jose Viet Museum remains closed amid lawsuit
San Jose’s Viet Museum has been closed for months due to a political power struggle. Now its leaders are suing each other in an attempt to settle the matter for good. The Immigrant Resettlement and Cultural Center — the nonprofit managing the old farmhouse in History Park that stores precious artifacts, photographs and art from...
San Jose group targets small businesses to uplift neighborhood
As East San Jose’s Mayfair neighborhood struggles with poverty, gentrification and divestment, one group is creating a plan to uplift people economically. Last year, workers with nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe knocked on doors in Mayfair to learn about what residents need most. Residents said they want a way to make more income and have more...
East San Jose school leader fired for looking into questionable expenses
A former East San Jose school superintendent is speaking out about his abrupt firing, saying he was let go for asking board members to reimburse questionable expenses billed to the district. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees voted July 31 to fire then-Superintendent German Cerda, less than a year after he was...
Santa Clara County leaders show support for Little Saigon Freeway
A sign telling motorists they’re entering Little Saigon in San Jose is close to being installed — with a fresh stamp of approval from local leaders. But it still needs a final sign-off from lawmakers in Sacramento. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution in support of a state...
San Jose’s newest councilmember sworn into office
San Jose’s newest elected representative took office at the City Council meeting Tuesday — marking a new chapter for District 3 whose prior leader is behind bars. Councilmember Anthony Tordillos took the oath of office — and his seat on the dais alongside his 10 colleagues — following applause from an audience celebrating the former...
San Jose mayor teams with county supervisor to improve public safety
Two Silicon Valley officials are teaming up in an effort to help homeless and drug addicted residents who they said are scaring and attacking people living in downtown San Jose. At a town hall meeting Friday, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Santa Clara County District 2 Supervisor Betty Duong, who’s district encompasses the downtown,...