San Jose housing commissioners had blistering words for a proposal to divert affordable housing money to shelters and sweeps. The Housing and Community Development Commission on Thursday voted 6-2 to reject two spending proposals that would divert funds meant for permanent affordable housing to clear and temporarily shelter homeless people living along city waterways. Commissioners...
San Jose neighborhood fights to preserve its identity
After decades of residents requesting historic status, San Jose is starting the process to create a new city landmark district — the first since 2007. The San Jose City Council earlier this month voted unanimously to nominate Alameda Park/Schiele Avenue as a historic district, with Councilmember Omar Torres absent. The designation would protect homes in...
The Biz Beat: San Jose’s Burger Bar is a 1950s classic
Burger Bar in San Jose might have been what musician Chuck Berry was thinking about when he rhapsodized in “Back in the U.S.A.”about a place where “hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day.” The restaurant, founded in 1953 by Albert Berger, predates the classic song by six years and was the first of...
San Jose affordable apartments a plus for senior housing crisis
More than 100 Santa Clara County seniors struggling with the cost of living will have a place to call home in downtown San Jose within the next few years. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved a roughly $15.2 million loan Tuesday for Hawthorn Senior Apartments, a 100% affordable housing development with 101 homes for...
What the demise of contentious housing law means for San Jose
A brewing battle in the California courts may lift San Jose from the mandates of a controversial law that ended exclusionary single-family zoning statewide. The prospect has local experts shrugging and questioning what effect, if any, Senate Bill 9 has had on San Jose’s housing stock. The law has underperformed in new home approvals since...
San Jose turns to AI for language translation
San Jose is expanding its language translation options in public meetings by using artificial intelligence. The city launched its partnership with Wordly, an AI-based service that offers live translation in 50 languages. Translation will be available at all San Jose City Council and council committee meetings. City officials say it’s more affordable and efficient than...
San Jose police cruise with lowriders on Cinco de Mayo
San Jose police will take a different approach with Cinco de Mayo festivities to mend the relationship between law enforcement and residents after last year’s actions, which some deemed racist. The community has organized a 300-vehicle lowrider parade on Sunday to pay homage to the Latino roots and history of East San Jose, a hub for lowriding...
San Jose bathrooms may soon have sex trafficking signs
A local official wants to put an end to sex trafficking in San Jose. San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan wants to create a sex trafficking awareness campaign in public restrooms throughout the city. Notices would be posted by bathroom mirrors and in stalls with phone numbers for victims to call or people to report incidents....
San Jose quilt museum needs community’s help to survive
A decades old staple in San Jose’s art scene is at risk of closing, so it’s turning to the community for help. The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, located in downtown’s SoFA district, has raised enough money to survive until July. After that it’s up to donors, visitors and fans to help raise...
NAACP rebukes San Jose police over viral mayor security altercation
The region’s NAACP chapter is rebuking San Jose police for the viral incident earlier this week in which a pedestrian attacked Mayor Matt Mahan’s security detail after a verbal dispute turned physical. The Rev. Jethroe Moore, president of NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley, on Wednesday sent a critical email to acting Police Chief Paul Joseph about the incident,...