San Jose officials have signed off on a ban on homemade firearms, marking the city’s latest effort to tighten local gun control. On Tuesday, councilmembers unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting residents from possessing, manufacturing, selling, assembling, receiving or distributing unserialized firearms and their parts. These homemade weapons are also known as ghost guns because they’re...
UPDATE: San Jose to release mayor’s emails about advocacy group
San Jose will release emails related to Mayor Sam Liccardo’s nonprofit advocacy group after withholding the records for a year. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to grant San José Spotlight’s appeal after Liccardo advocated for the release of the records. San Jose is also considering changing its rules to better clarify the public records...
San Jose, Vietnamese residents mourn loss of community leader
The South Bay is mourning the death of a community leader who dedicated years of his life to uplifting the Vietnamese community and revitalizing downtown San Jose. Thang Do, CEO of San Jose-based architecture firm Aedis Architects and co-founding member of the Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT), died Sunday due to health issues at the...
San Jose homeless advocates say sweeps solve nothing
San Jose says its multi-prong plan to manage homeless camps will improve the quality of life for both the unhoused population and general public. But advocates and lawyers say nothing in the plan will bring meaningful results as the city continues to displace people through sweeps. “The treatment of people living outside has always been terrible,”...
San Jose city workers must wear masks once again
With concerns about COVID-19 infections on the rise once more, San Jose city workers are required to wear masks for the next two weeks. The temporary measure is in place from Friday until May 20 and only affects workers at city facilities. The decision comes one month after the City Council voted to rescind the...
San Jose business tourism takes major hit
Business travel is down across the United States due to COVID-19, but San Jose is suffering worse than other major cities. Business leaders laid out the city’s rough situation at a news conference held at the San Jose Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. According to a report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), revenue from...
San Jose throws a lifeline to struggling small businesses
San Jose launched a new grant program this week to help small business owners with their back rent as a commercial eviction ban winds down over the summer. About $2.6 million in federal funds will be allocated to provide up to $15,000 in grants to small businesses or companies still reeling from the economic impacts...
After jail, Santa Clara County reentry program can change lives
By providing job training, college education and counseling, Santa Clara County has found a way to help people from getting caught in the revolving door of incarceration. With county departments on site and partnerships with community organizations, the Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center provides a critical service in addressing recidivism. The resource center offers...
San Jose warming center closures worry homeless advocates
With the closing of San Jose’s warming centers for homeless individuals, advocates worry about the loss of services. The two centers, which opened last December, closed over the weekend and provided hot meals and shelter along with information and resources to assist homeless people with housing. San Jose Housing Department spokesperson Jeff Scott said both...
San Jose May Day marchers upset by city’s conflicting schedule
Labor organizers upset with San Jose for scheduling an event that conflicted with a May Day celebration want guarantees from the city it won’t happen again. On Sunday, labor advocates and workers gathered in San Jose to celebrate May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day. The holiday is celebrated every May 1, and over...