Students are coming back to campus at San Jose State University this fall, and they may bring the city’s economic recovery with them. A recent study shows the university, prior to the pandemic, generated $776 million in economic output annually for San Jose and $2.4 billion for the Bay Area. That disappeared with the onset of the...
Santa Clara County fears July 4th will jumpstart fire season, toxic air
Santa Clara County officials have a simple request of residents celebrating this Fourth of July weekend: Please don’t burn the county down. “Fireworks are a greater danger in Santa Clara County than ever before,” said county Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention Hector Estrada. “They result in deaths, injuries and property damage. And unfortunately, year after year,...
San Jose Unified School District denies certification to charter schools
San Jose’s largest public school district has denied certification to two charter schools, which parents say puts student services at risk. The San Jose Unified School District chose not to certify Downtown College Prep (DCP) in good standing in October, which disqualifies the public charter school from receiving state funding through the Charter School Facility...
UPDATE: San Jose approves penalties for encouraging sideshow spectators
Posting about sideshows and street races in San Jose on social media can now cost you up to $1,000 and six months in jail. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance Tuesday that will make it illegal to encourage or promote people to show up to a sideshow event. San Jose already...
VTA to get $20 million from state after San Jose mass shooting
State lawmakers are set to give $20 million to VTA to help it recover from the deadliest shooting in Bay Area history. The funding is included in the state budget and will allow the transportation agency to provide mental health resources to employees and their families, resume light rail service and improve safety upgrades at the Guadalupe...
Silicon Valley transit agency publicizes dispute over alleged debt
Two Bay Area transit agencies disagree on whether one owes the other money—and local officials say the dispute could be handled better. “The more I read about it, this is clearly a power play,” said Eugene Bradley, founder of Silicon Valley Transit Users. “They’re going to have to work something out.” The San Mateo County...
Largest San Jose school district kicks cops from campuses
After nearly a yearlong debate, San Jose education leaders are booting police officers from San Jose Unified School District campuses—at least for the next school year. The school board Thursday considered a contract between the district and the San Jose Police Department, along with a resolution to limit police officers’ involvement in student discipline and...
San Jose school district abruptly cancels home study program
Some South Bay students are scrambling to figure out what’s next after the San Jose Unified School District abruptly ended its home study program. Home-based education allowed students to go at their own pace and excel in areas of special interest. They could be completely homeschooled or have a combination of homeschooling with school classes...
San Jose seeks help with airport connector bids
Getting to the airport in a driverless car or electric train might be one step closer to reality—if San Jose officials are ready for it. On June 29, The San Jose City Council will consider approving a $425,000 agreement with consulting firm ARUP to help progress a new type of transit system connecting Diridon Station to the Norman Y. Mineta-San...
‘A great worker’: San Jose shooter praised by VTA managers
Before Samuel Cassidy walked into work and murdered nine people, he frightened his coworkers, verbally attacked a female colleague and refused to follow company rules—yet his managers praised him and he kept his job for 20 years. At least one VTA employee described him as a loner and an outsider, who sometimes treated others “like...