As online meetings become the new norm under shelter-in-place orders, some community leaders and advocates say meeting remotely has hampered plans to revise one of San Jose’s most critical documents: its General Plan for 2040. “(The online format) puts a lot of pressure to keep the meetings at a reasonable time,” said Jason Su, executive...
Santa Clara mayor’s company earned six-figures off teacher housing fees
It’s been 114 days since high school biology teacher Goldie Malone last saw her students. Luckily, the Santa Clara biology teacher at New Valley High School stays connected with other educators living at Casa del Maestro, an affordable housing complex dedicated solely to Santa Clara Unified School District teachers. But as rents continue to increase...
UPDATE: Santa Clara council approves Gateway Crossings hotel delay, affordable housing increase
Santa Clara elected leaders Tuesday unanimously approved delaying plans for a massive hotel and requiring more affordable housing on the Gateway Crossings project, a plan approved nearly a year ago. Located along Coleman Avenue near the city’s Caltrain station and an anticipated South Bay BART extension, construction of a 225-room hotel within the 24.4-acre mixed-use...
California approves Santa Clara County for further reopening, but who takes responsibility?
After an initial denial over the Independence Day weekend, state officials approved Santa Clara County’s request to reopen more businesses under a new health order set to take effect next Monday. As of Tuesday morning, the county’s 35-page application to verify it met certain criteria was added onto the California Department of Public Health’s list...
As masks become a new political weapon, Silicon Valley is mostly supportive
On a recent sunny, 80-degree afternoon, downtown San Jose started to regain its foot traffic. Small businesses, restaurants and coffee shops settled into new routines after months of shutdown. Their patrons, nevertheless, are getting used to a new summer accessory: A face mask. “It’s necessary,” said resident Rylee Dietz with a bandana over her face...
Divide between Santa Clara County and California grows over reopening, outdoor dining
There appears to be a growing schism between Santa Clara County and the state over plans to reopen more local businesses and even keep outdoor dining in the South Bay, particularly in light of recent actions by state agents to shutter South County restaurants over the Independence Day weekend. Santa Clara County is no longer...
San Jose: Illegal fireworks complaints more than triple amid pandemic
There was no escaping the cacophony of bangs, pops and crackles in San Jose on Saturday as cooped up residents let off steam during Independence Day by putting on their own fireworks displays. Some residents admired the amateur pyrotechnics. “East side San Jose (is) putting on a better show than professionals ever have,” one Twitter...
San Jose leader faces heat for suggestion to drop word ‘race’ from office name
San Jose Councilmember Johnny Khamis faced criticism this week for trying to remove the word “race” from the city’s new Office of Racial Equity. Khamis, who was rebuked by the City Council’s Latino members, defended his argument by saying race is a term people have used to divide each other for centuries. The dispute sparked...
Lawmakers take defunding off table, but San Jose activists and police see need for more social workers
Shifting money from San Jose’s police budget to pay for social service workers may be a fierce debate but the two sides agree on one issue. The city’s police officers respond to far too many emergencies for which they lack training such as dealing with homeless people and mental health crises. “We’ve been asking for...
July 4th in Silicon Valley takes on different meaning with COVID-19 pandemic
Patriotism has taken on a different meaning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Independence Day weekend, officials have made more forceful steps to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus as confirmed cases, hospitalizations and intensive care numbers have jumped in recent weeks in Santa Clara County. The Association of Bay Area Health Officials issued a...