San Jose officials have long known about mismanagement concerns surrounding Little Saigon’s signature commercial center. But now they’re taking action this week after San José Spotlight’s reporting and a lawsuit by merchants showed the extent of Vietnam Town’s neglect. The city’s Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department has ordered Vietnam Town management to remove barricades...
San Jose program helps women start child day care centers
An East San Jose nonprofit is providing economic mobility for residents, as well as affordable child care for the community. A child care program started by Grail Family Services has enabled 81% of participating women to earn their child care licenses to combat a dearth of facilities in East San Jose. A total of 80...
San Jose bike shop donates bicycles for annual toy drive
A San Jose nonprofit and bike shop are teaming up to make the holiday season a little brighter for families in need. Sacred Heart Community Service is holding its annual toy drive through Friday, and is working with Good Karma Bikes to provide hundreds of bicycles to local children, in addition to books and toys....
Engstrom: PG&E utility profits are out of control — here’s how to fix it
This Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will vote on how much profit PG&E will be allowed to earn over the next three years — a decision that will directly affect whether Bay Area electricity bills continue climbing or finally offer relief to struggling customers. PG&E just posted record-breaking $2.47 billion in profits in...
Cupertino mayor blocks ally from becoming vice mayor
Kitty Moore, Cupertino’s new mayor, blocked a City Council ally from becoming vice mayor at a recent meeting — even though both belong to the same political faction in the sharply divided city. The five-member council voted in Moore as mayor Dec. 11 and Mayor Liang Chao as vice mayor, though Councilmember R “Ray” Wang...
San Jose delays regulatory rollback for local card rooms
For the second time in as many weeks, San Jose officials have postponed voting on a proposal to loosen regulations on the city’s two casinos. Backers said the package of five rule changes marks the final step in a reform push launched in June intended to lighten the administrative burden placed on the city’s two...
Santa Clara County nurses speak out against staffing shortages
Nurses are sounding the alarm on staffing shortages at Santa Clara County hospitals that they say are causing delays in patient care. Nurses rallied at county hospitals Tuesday to protest furloughs and dangerous staffing shortages stemming from President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which slashed funding for vital services including Medi-Cal and food stamps. Dozens...
Santa Clara County education leader subject of closed door meeting
The Santa Clara County Board of Education has tried to turn a page after the dramatic firing of its former superintendent set off uproar and internal spending probes. Trouble could be brewing with its newest superintendent. On Monday, board trustees met behind closed doors for a special meeting that flagged an emerging, but unspecified issue...
Kou: Rishi Kumar offers a forward-looking vision for residents
Public trust in government isn’t maintained through slogans or longevity or staying in an echo chamber — it depends on results. The Democratic Party can only remain strong when it listens to fearless voices — and one such voice is Rishi Kumar. Kumar — a C-suite technologist, former executive board member of the California Democratic...