Matt Moreles has a fierce desire to serve the region’s diverse community as the new head of the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. Born and raised in San Jose, Moreles, 44, attended UCLA majoring in philosophy. He embarked on his career with the county elections office in 2004, was promoted to assistant registrar in...
Residents claim San Jose homeless housing site unsafe, unhealthy
When San Jose’s first multi-story, modular housing site opened in February, it was hailed as an inexpensive, cutting-edge solution to end homelessness. But within months, cracks in the infrastructure at 1 Branham Lane began to show. Shower benches had fallen out, leading to injury, water from some apartments emitted a sewage smell, walls had water...
San Jose leaders aim to build pride in downtown
Pedestrians traversing one of San Jose’s busiest downtown corridors will discover a more inviting area. City officials and the San Jose Downtown Association unveiled a $795,000 beautification project Monday, where color and vibrancy are taking hold. The makeover includes 17 projects along Santa Clara Street between Market and Fourth streets, with new murals, re-painted building...
Paz-Cedillos: Mayfair in East San Jose is just getting started
Even on vacation—between coastal drives and indulging my 9-year-old’s joy at Disneyland—I can’t stop thinking about Mayfair. While exploring one of Santa Barbara’s gentrifying neighborhoods, a street sign caught my eye: Sal Si Puedes—Spanish for “get out if you can.” I was stunned. How could such a loaded phrase be casually embedded in the landscape?...
East San Jose school district scrambles to hire interim superintendent
After hiring and firing a second superintendent within one year, Alum Rock Union School District chose a new interim leader. In an unanimous vote during a special board of trustees meeting on Saturday, the district appointed, effective Aug. 12, Sandra Garcia, assistant superintendent of instructional services as its acting superintendent. Garcia had already assumed major...
Santa Clara County polluted creek cleanup near cement plant starts
A Santa Clara County hillside polluted for decades by a controversial cement plant and quarry is on the path to restoration. Heidelberg Materials, which owns the Lehigh Permanente Quarry and Cement Plant, detailed its restoration plans for a roughly 1.7-mile stretch of Permanente Creek at an annual community meeting Thursday. Company representatives also gave updates...
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The Biz Beat: San Jose’s Recycle Bookstore — an oasis of printed culture
Emma, the Instagram-famous Persian cat that roams Recycle Bookstore in San Jose, is “prissy, finicky, very loud and opinionated.” According to store owner Eric Johnson, there is a long tradition of cats in bookstores, dating back to the practical need of stopping mice from nibbling away at the inventory. But Emma, Johnson said, has a...
San Jose medical rehab ranks among top 10 in U.S.
Public investments in Santa Clara County’s hospital system are proving being uninsured doesn’t have to mean poor health care. The region’s poorest patients actually have access to one of the nation’s top-rated rehabilitation centers. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center is ranked seventh best in the nation, according to the 2025-26 U.S. News &...
East San Jose school district fires superintendent hired last year
The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees on Thursday voted to fire recently appointed Superintendent German Cerda. The board of trustees said in a statement it has “unilaterally” ended the employment relationship with Cerda effective in 10 days. No other explanation was given. The board and administration are focused on the successful opening...
North Sunnyvale bike path approved but lacks funds
North Sunnyvale cyclists have another protected path in their future. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday voted 6-1 to approve the installation of raised multi-use pedestrian and bicycle paths on both sides of Tasman Drive, from Fair Oaks Avenue to Vienna Drive. The roughly half-mile stretch runs between two of the state’s largest mobile home parks...