For the first time in 24 years, Miguel Santiago met his family in Oaxaca, Mexico. He crossed the border to create an ethnography report on his heritage and see his grandfather before he passed away. If not for his DACA status, researching the origins of his family’s culture and customs would have never happened. “Having...
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UPDATE: San Jose commissioners approve Cambrian Park Plaza redesign
A mixed-use development five years in the making is moving forward in San Jose following a recent Planning Commission vote. On Tuesday, commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the City Council proceed with Cambrian Village, a development that will redesign a 1950s-era shopping center at Camden and Union avenues in San Jose. The parcel is being...
Will Santa Clara voters approve a headcount tax for businesses?
A business tax will reap millions for Santa Clara if residents approve a ballot measure in November. Voters will be asked whether the city should update the “headcount” tax business license fee, which has not been revised in 30 years and charges $15 to $500 annually based on the industry and number of employees. On...
San Jose State track proposed for fairgrounds
A proposed track and field at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds may return a university to former glory. Assemblymember Ash Kalra requested $25 million from the state Legislature for a San Jose State University Speed City Legacy Center and Track and Field Training Facility. The Legislature approved $4 million in the 2022-23 fiscal year budget....
From violence to homelessness: Colombian migrants’ journey to Silicon Valley
When Elbert Arias and Keila Castillo married in 2014, they envisioned raising a family in their coastal hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia. Castillo would care for the children while Arias worked. Arias, with a degree in nutritional science, had a job in the meat industry, and life was good—until the cartels came to town. Violence took...
San Jose police memorial sparks controversy
A new memorial that honors fallen police officers in San Jose is causing a stir for some who say it’s a slap in the face to families affected by police violence. The sculpture, which will sit at the police administration building, commemorates the 13 San Jose police officers killed since 1924. It is expected to go...
Santa Clara County school funding spurs disparity
In Santa Clara County, not all school districts are created equal. In affluent neighborhoods near Saratoga Union and Los Altos Elementary school districts where the median price of a home is more than $2 million, according to censusreporter.org, property taxes boost student funding and programs remain robust. The situation is not as rosy in other...
Contagious COVID variant puts Santa Clara County on alert
COVID-19 infections are on the rise in Santa Clara County again, and officials are urging residents to mask up—even in some outdoor settings. In recent days, the county has reported more than 1,000 new daily COVID infections, officials said, noting the actual tally is likely much higher due to underreported test results. The current seven-day...
How much will Santa Clara lose when Great America closes?
Santa Clara expects steep losses of more than half a million dollars in revenue each year when Great America shuts its gates within the next decade. News last week of the amusement park’s $310 million sale to San Francisco-based real estate firm Prologis shocked Silicon Valley. This comes on the heels of Santa Clara already...
Santa Clara County to spray for West Nile virus
Mosquitoes with West Nile virus have been found in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. The County of Santa Clara Vector Control District has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in ZIP codes 94085, 94086, 94087 and 95051. To reduce adult mosquito populations, Vector Control will be spraying these areas with truck-mounted equipment on Monday,...