An East San Jose classroom reaching nearly 90 degrees—and a deafening silence from administrators to keep it in working order—is the latest example of underinvestment and inequities in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. A classroom at Renaissance Academy at Fischer Middle School, located at 1720 Hopkins Drive in San Jose, became unbearable this past...
A new high school is coming to downtown San Jose
A Los Gatos high school is expanding into downtown San Jose, breathing new life into two historic buildings. Hillbrook School, an 87-year-old private school, is leasing the Moir Building, located at 227 N. First Street, and San Jose Armory, located at 240 N. Second Street, for at least 25 years. The move allows the Junior...
San Jose’s Breeze installation may change locations
For more than a year, San Jose residents have awaited news on a proposed downtown landmark on public park land. The latest update has the location shifting to a more urban environment. In a presentation to the city’s Neighborhood Services and Education Committee last week, Nicolle Burnham, deputy director of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services,...
Omar Torres lead remains steady in San Jose District 3 race
Last updated 5 p.m. on Monday. The next update will be 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Omar Torres and Irene Smith remain ahead of the other three challengers — Joanna Rauh, Ivan Torres and Elizabeth Chien-Hale — in the open seat for District 3, replacing Councilmember Raul Peralez who terms out in December. With 94% of...
Nora Campos leads in race for East San Jose council seat
Last updated 5 p.m. on Monday. The next update will be 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Former state Assemblymember Nora Campos is leading the contested race to represent East San Jose for City Council District 5, with Santa Clara County Board of Education President Peter Ortiz following behind. Campos is leading with 31.11% of the vote or...
San Jose church faces lawsuit over fatal 2020 stabbing
Two people are suing a local church and its associated homeless shelter in downtown San Jose over a 2020 stabbing that killed two residents and injured three others. The lawsuit, filed last week in Santa Clara County Superior Court, comes from a survivor and a widow of one of the deceased. The duo, represented by San...
UPDATE: Affordable housing approved near San Jose’s Roosevelt Park
An affordable housing development near San Jose’s Roosevelt Park will finally break ground after years of delay—with financial help from the city. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept roughly $56.5 million in state grants and loans from multiple sources for First Community Housing to start construction on a 79-unit affordable apartment complex. The...
The Biz Beat: San Jose feed store caters to every anteater and zebra
With its roots anchored in agriculture and old-style customer service, Sam’s Downtown Feed & Pet Supply has served San Jose for more than 30 years. Advertised as “feeding anteaters to zebras,” the store provides livestock and chicken feed, beekeeping supplies, grain, hay and zoological feed. In addition to feeding llamas, alpacas and flamingos, it also...
San Jose residents clamor for a good night’s sleep
Silence is golden for downtown San Jose residents. Since 2018, residents, politicians and the city have worked with Union Pacific Railroad to negotiate a partial quiet zone from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. along the Warm Springs rail corridor, which passes through Japantown and the Hensley Historic District of San Jose. It finally went into...
Silicon Valley Democrats demand candidate drop misleading mailer
The Santa Clara County Democratic Party is accusing a local candidate of using misleading campaign flyers to make it appear he has the party’s endorsement—when he doesn’t. Party Chair Bill James issued a cease-and-desist letter earlier this week demanding San Jose Planning Commission Chair and District 5 City Council candidate Rolando Bonilla stop using logos...