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...
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...
Santa Clara County considers sales tax to pay for health care costs
Santa Clara County officials are preparing to ask voters for higher taxes to protect their poorest public hospital patients from devastating federal revenue cuts. The Board of Supervisors is expected to hold a special meeting around Aug. 7 to consider putting a five-eighths cent sales tax increase proposal before voters, according to county officials who...
San Jose congressman wants to protect undocumented crime victims
One San Jose lawmaker wants to increase protections for undocumented immigrants who assist law enforcement in investigating crimes committed against them. Congressman Jimmy Panetta, whose district includes South San Jose, has introduced the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, which would remove a cap for U and T visas. The visas are meant to encourage...
San Jose Planned Parenthood workers laid off as other clinics close
The ripple effect of President Donald Trump’s budget bill has cascaded into Planned Parenthood closing five clinics in California and laying off staff in other locations. Although Planned Parenthood Mar Monte announced July 24 it was closing clinics in Gilroy, South San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Madera, San Jose’s four locations will remain...