San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan is facing swift backlash after agreeing to speak with a local anti-LGBTQ+ parent group, despite claiming ignorance of the organization’s controversial roots. An event flier featuring Doan’s headshot circulated online by Informed Parents of Silicon Valley—an organization openly against teaching critical race theory and gender expansive education in schools—triggered shockwaves...
San Jose could extend Post Street closure
For three years, businesses and pedestrians have enjoyed the temporary closure of a downtown San Jose street to cars. City leaders are working to make that permanent. The long-term vision for Post Street, located between First Street and Lightstone Alley, is to permanently close it to traffic so it can stay a place where visitors...
San Jose mayor wants tech giants to moderate sideshow content
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is asking social media companies for help in solving the city’s growing sideshow struggle. Mahan wants big name platforms such as Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok to temporarily suspend accounts that post about local sideshow activities. He said at a news conference today that...
How a state bill could help house San Jose artists
A new state bill aims to set aside affordable housing for artists in cultural districts. Assembly Bill 812, introduced by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner and sponsored by California Arts Advocates, would require counties and cities to reserve 10% of affordable housing for artists in or near a locally or state designated cultural district. Julie Baker, CEO...
Ex-San Jose mayor and city violated the law, judge rules
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and the city violated state transparency laws by failing to prove they adequately searched his private texts and emails for public records, a judge has ruled. In response to a lawsuit from this news organization and the First Amendment Coalition, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Thomas Kuhnle wrote...
San Jose pickleball players upset over city rules
A skirmish has broken out on one of San Jose’s most popular pickleball courts between players and the city—and it can’t be settled with a score. Citywide Sports, an offshoot of the San Jose parks department that handles field reservations, is asking pickleballers at Paul Moore Park to break down their nets every day to keep...
The Biz Beat: San Jose restaurant touts Indian cuisine to-go
By applying a familiar quick-serve restaurant formula and turning it on its head, Sam & Curry in San Jose takes Indian cuisine to another level with a menu filled with burritos, tacos and rice bowls. But whether you eat your meal with your fingers or a fork, the dishes have an intensely authentic taste that...
San Jose parent gets school district to support LGBTQ rights
One person’s determination has led to a local school district pledging to stand up for LGBTQ staff and student rights. The San Jose Unified School District unanimously passed a pride resolution yesterday supporting the freedoms and equality of LGBTQ people due to the persistent efforts of Eli Dinh, a parent and former SJUSD teacher. The...
San Jose lags on low-income housing goals
San Jose is failing to meet its affordable housing goals for six years running as the city’s housing crisis worsens. City staff introduced an ever-evolving two-year plan during Tuesday’s San Jose City Council meeting to get through 130 projects listed in its housing element, the city’s blueprint for addressing housing needs through 2031. The goal:...
San Jose business group lacks identity as CEO quits
The San Jose Chamber of Commerce is searching for its third CEO in three years, and business leaders hope the move restores the once premier business advocacy group back to its glory days. The chamber is at an inflection point as it looks for a new top boss. Derrick Seaver, the chamber’s president and CEO...