A dilapidated theater is ready to be annexed into San Jose. How it will be used is up in the air. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to annex nearly an acre of land that’s home to the 74-year-old Burbank Theater at the intersection of South Bascom and Parkmoor avenues. The annexation enables a developer to...
Experts criticize San Jose State’s ranking as ‘affordable’
San Jose State University placed in the nation’s top 10 most affordable colleges in a recent study, but the ranking is raising eyebrows among advocates wondering how that is possible. A Credit Summit study names SJSU as the eighth most affordable college out of 25 in major U.S. college cities. Advocates said while the university may be...
San Jose says yes to controversial Buddhist temple
Controversial plans for a Buddhist temple years in the making are moving forward in San Jose’s Evergreen neighborhood. Following a three-hour discussion Tuesday, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved the development of the nearly 14,000 square-foot Wat Khmer Kampuchea Krom Temple on a 1.86-acre corner lot at the intersection of Ruby and Norwood avenues....
Family of Sunnyvale Airbnb shooting victim speaks out
It’s been more than a year and a half since 18-year-old Elias Elhania was fatally shot at a house party in Sunnyvale, but his parents still see him in their lives. “He is with us, around us all the time. We see him around when we go shopping, we see somebody who looks like him,...
Could new San Jose policy save affordable housing?
More than 100 residents stood in front of San Jose City Hall with empty moving boxes and suitcases in hand on Monday to represent the increasing displacement rates in the city, as housing and cost of living prices remain high. About 20 nonprofits, including SOMOS Mayfair and the South Bay Progressive Alliance, organized the rally...
Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna is staying put—for now
Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna will remain in the House of Representatives, announcing over the weekend that he will not run for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat, after months of weighing his options. Instead, Khanna will take on the role of campaign co-chair for longtime East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is one of three Democratic...
San Jose lags on language translation services
San Jose provides translation services for public meetings for those who ask for it, but those who don’t may find themselves relegated to a separate room. That’s what happened at last week’s San Jose City Council meeting during a budget discussion. Lucila Ortiz, political director at the advocacy nonprofit Working Partnerships USA, criticized the city...
Milpitas investigates confidential information leak
Amid a flurry of finger pointing, Milpitas officials plan to hire an outside investigator to look into who on the City Council leaked confidential information to a person threatening litigation against the city. San José Spotlight has learned City Manager Steve McHarris is at the center of the issue, and is threatening legal action against...
San Jose libraries boost security
San Jose’s libraries have boosted security in an effort to increase safety and reduce disruptive behavior that plagued the branches during the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Jose Public Library system now employs 12 security guards, a complete turnaround from the one guard during the pandemic. Prior to COVID, two full-time security guards and one part-time...
State to audit Santa Clara County public transit agency
Santa Clara County’s largest public transit agency will be audited by the state as one lawmaker looks to change up how it’s run. A state committee voted Wednesday to have the California State Auditor review the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) related to concerns about the agency’s governance structure, planning and fiscal management. Assemblymember...