President Joe Biden has big plans to overhaul America’s immigration system, specifically undoing some of former President Donald Trump’s most egregious anti-immigrant policies. But local activists say Biden’s reform agenda doesn’t go far enough — or fast enough — and will force immigrants to remain in the shadows in Silicon Valley for years to come....
San Jose Legends: East Side matriarch Blanca Alvarado fights on for justice
Editor’s Note: San Jose Legends is a new monthly series that tells the remarkable stories of the historic and legendary people who have helped shape and transform our city. When life gives Blanca Alvarado lemons, La Madrina — the godmother — of East San Jose, zests them for cake. While harvesting lemons from her backyard...
San Jose scrambles to respond to attacks on elderly Asian Americans
San Jose lawmakers took steps this week to deter hate crimes and protect would-be victims after a string of seemingly xenophobic attacks targeting Asian American elders around the Bay Area hit close to home just before Lunar New Year. Elected officials, including members of the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and the Alameda County...
San Jose mayor renews six-figure contract with Washington PR guru
After spending $145,000 on a Washington communications consultant to boost his national profile over two years, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo extended her contract again for four months to the tune of $30,000. Stephanie Craig’s Apeiron Strategies Group was first hired by Liccardo’s office in 2018 and bills the city for placing opinion pieces in...
San Jose neighborhoods hit hardest by COVID-19 have lowest vaccine rates
In East San Jose, one of Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 hotspots, infections surged past most areas in the region. Vaccinations did not. Less than 40% of residents age 65 and over in some East Side neighborhoods with the highest COVID-19 case rates have received a vaccine, according to Santa Clara County data. In a few...
San Jose leaders push to limit council meetings that drag until midnight
After debating until midnight and cutting off public comments, San Jose lawmakers are on a mission to make City Council meetings more efficient. But they can’t always agree on next steps. City leaders on Wednesday voted 4-1 in favor of a plan forcing the San Jose City Council to contemplate its time management skills and...
San Jose mayor proposes plan to build housing on school property, gets pushback
A proposed move by San Jose to make it easier for school districts to sell and develop their land has irked some education leaders who say the city is overstepping its authority and keeping them in the dark. At stake are coveted and valuable properties that could be developed for housing, bring in cash for education and...
Levitt: Electronic billboards may work for Denver but they should not define San Jose
In 2015, city leaders seeking to define the future of San Jose went on a junket to Denver and became mesmerized by the digital signs that Rocky Mountain city decided would make its downtown Theater District more “exciting.” The bright, shiny digital billboards and seductive promise to Denver’s government of revenue from advertising started a...
In socially distant times, a downtown San Jose social venue struggles to open
Before the pandemic, two downtown San Jose bar owners joined forces with a vision for an entertainment venue in San Pedro Square. What they had in mind was a place where people would come together and socialize. It would have a bowling alley, a karaoke bar and an arcade. Co-owners David Mulvehill and Mike Messinger...