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The city plans to transform the dilapidated flatlands at Columbus Park in North San Jose into a premier public park and plaza—complete with playgrounds, sports fields and rest areas. But the “elephant in the room” is the presence of more than 200 homeless residents. The land surrounding Columbus Park is a sanctuary for unhoused people—and a...
Fire hazards keep popping up at San Jose apartment complex
A fire-prone apartment complex in East San Jose has repeatedly received warnings about missing and defective smoke detectors and other fire hazards for years, according to city records. On numerous occasions, code enforcement officials flagged missing and non-functioning smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices at Foxdale Village Apartments, a low-income apartment complex owned by KDF Communities that’s been the...
Former San Jose theater one step closer to office conversion
Years after the Camera 12 movie theater in downtown San Jose shut its doors, the project promised to replace it is now one step closer to construction. Local development firm Urban Catalyst, which purchased the property in 2019, recently obtained a building permit for the 100,000-square-foot project. The firm also received a $56.2 million senior construction...
How did housing homeless San Jose students in Airbnbs go?
Two years after launching a landmark program to house homeless San Jose students in Airbnb rooms, nearly half the participants dropped out of the program and ended up in hotels. The program, officials say, took major blows from COVID-19 and other logistical problems. Sparky Harlan, CEO of the Bill Wilson Center that helped run the program,...
San Jose nurse is bringing COVID-19 shots to homes of elderly
Lying in a bed surrounded by her grandchildren’s stuffed animals, 82-year-old Trinh Trinh got a knock on the door she was eagerly awaiting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A nurse, armed with a COVID-19 vaccination, stood on the other side. Trinh, an East San Jose resident, is one of the countless elderly residents...
Homeless women say Apple treated them like ‘critters’
The encampment Apple swept near its property in North San Jose was home to several women — and one of them says the tech giant treated her like a “filthy little critter.” The homeless camp near Component Drive housed up to 100 people inside tents and cars for at least two years. Apple, which plans...
San Jose leaders, advocates and victims talk gun policy
In the wake of a mass shooting in San Jose that killed nine VTA workers, our exclusive panel brought together elected leaders, victims of gun violence, Second Amendment advocates and community leaders for a thoughtful discussion on gun policy and common sense solutions. The Aug. 26 discussion, which included audience questions, was moderated by San...
Tech industry’s work from home policies hurting downtown San Jose
Downtown eateries and bars took a hit during COVID-19, but now some downtown businesses are grappling with a major loss in foot traffic after many tech companies continued allowing employees to work from home. San Jose’s urban core is home to thousands of professionals at major tech corporations, including Adobe, Cisco and Zoom. But these...
‘VTA is not a family’: San Jose transit agency seeks help to fix toxic work culture
After weeks of allegations about VTA’s toxic work culture, the agency plans to hire a consultant to figure out how to improve conditions for employees. The VTA Board of Directors on Thursday moved forward with a referral to look for a consultant who can review VTA’s work culture and find ways to improve the experience...
San Jose State offers beds on campus for homeless students
After several years of grappling with student homelessness, San Jose State is finally offering beds on campus for students living outdoors or in their cars. The 12-bed pilot program launched last month, provides on-campus beds for SJSU students seeking emergency housing. The beds are located in University Housing. Students facing housing insecurity can apply for...