A committee tasked with recommending which campuses in San Jose’s largest school district to close has hit the brakes on making a decision. Poised to close up to nine schools due to declining enrollment, the San Jose Unified School District Schools of Tomorrow Committee on Tuesday postponed making a decision and adjusted criteria for how...
‘Willow Glen has lost part of its soul’ with deli owner’s death
Chris Bertucelli’s warm welcome and gracious smile made every customer feel like a friend. His sudden death last week at 47 shocked the tight-knit Willow Glen neighborhood. Bertucelli, co-owner of Bertucelli’s La Villa, a gourmet Italian delicatessen famed for its ravioli and lasagna, was known for lending a hand and never saying no. Jill Maggi,...
Advocates want San Jose to divest from companies tied to ICE
San Jose officials are weighing growing calls to divest the city from companies that critics say don’t align with local values. The City Council is set to take up the controversial divestment conversation March 24 during an annual review of the city’s investment policy. A group of local advocates has long been urging the city...
San Jose to clear its largest homeless camp — again
San Jose is clearing one of its most infamous homeless camps again, in what city officials claim will be the last time. About 100 homeless people have repopulated the creek around Story Road across from Happy Hollow Park & Zoo — an area known as “the Jungle.” The city will begin clearing the area on April...
San Jose mayor’s social media use faces criticism
Just weeks after announcing his run for governor, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launched two new social media accounts on X and Instagram, each one designated as a city-backed account for official messaging. The move in February came amid City Hall grumbles about the mayor’s longstanding practice of using individual social media accounts for both...
San Jose Islamic center a hub for free medical and dental care
During Ramadan and daily prayer, the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose offers a place for spiritual reflection. It also provides a community hub, voting center and supportive services from food to health care. The center is unique in that it not only provides a food pantry and food distribution, it also offers free medical...
San Jose Quakers to make historic meeting house ADA accessible
The oldest Quaker meeting house west of Iowa is celebrating its 140th anniversary with a renewed commitment to accessibility. The historic San Jose Meeting House is raising funds to bring its landmark space into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The remodeling has turned out to be more extensive than expected due to...
State card room crackdown could cost San Jose
San Jose officials are urging California regulators to rescind new rules for the state’s card rooms, warning of dire economic fallout if restrictions take effect as planned in the coming months. In a Feb. 19 letter sent to Attorney General Rob Bonta, city officials warned the regulations, which set stricter rules for certain types of gameplay,...
San Jose pushes to retain transparency amid ICE court rulings
San Jose’s fight against immigration enforcement remains unimpeded as federal rulings try to hamper city and state efforts. California’s requirement for law enforcement to wear identification through the “No Vigilantes Act” has been temporarily paused due to a Thursday ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Judges are set to review the case March...
Touted San Jose shelter rife with dysfunction, workers said
A San Jose development touted as the gold standard for prefabricated temporary housing has turned into a hornets’ nest fraught with problems. A total of six former and current workers claim Branham Lane — a three-story site with 168 apartments operated by LifeMoves — is plagued with managerial dysfunction, unprofessionalism and alleged drug dealing between an...