In the early fall 2008, Gregory Johnson Jr. could be found riding around the San Jose State University campus on his longboard, going from his classes to his job as a personal trainer at Bally’s Total Fitness nearby. He was an exemplary student, excelling in his classes and on the school’s wrestling team. He aspired...
Funk: East Side schools committed to equitable access during distance learning
School districts across Santa Clara County are scrambling to put into place plans for opening school for the 2020-21 school year. Each district must apply the guidelines provided by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and meet the specific guidelines and expectations from the state budget and trailer bills supporting the return to school,...
Silicon Valley reps demand answers about government surveillance at protests
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Silicon Valley’s congressional delegation wants answers about whether the federal government unlawfully surveilled residents during the recent nationwide protests calling for police reform. Rep. Anna Eshoo of Palo Alto and Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois penned a letter last month — sent to the National Guard Bureau, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau...
San Jose residents receive fireworks warnings in error — again
As San Jose residents blasted their way through an arsenal of fireworks on July 4, Charlie Murray was frustrated. The explosions rattled his Blossom Valley home and caused his 4-year-old Golden Labrador — Brody — to cower and whimper in terror. The next morning Murray spotted a bit of chalky ash on his daughter’s car...
After years of debate, San Jose releases study on commercial development fees
For years advocates have demanded Silicon Valley charge high-tech office developers fees to fund affordable housing. And now San Jose has taken the first step by releasing its first study on commercial linkage fees. A commercial linkage fee is paid by developers of new commercial development to fund affordable housing. The fees, which are based on...
California, Santa Clara County unemployment rates improve, but uncertainty looms
California’s June unemployment rate improved from previous months amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains to be seen how recent statewide closures due to spiking cases and hospitalizations affect jobs across the state. In June, the state’s unemployment rate improved to 14.9%, with the state adding a record 558,200 jobs, according to figures released Friday...
San Jose nonprofits say city hasn’t coughed up money for free meals
As the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated hunger in San Jose, nonprofit food distributors say city leaders have stalled on reimbursing their costs to supply food to the South Bay’s most vulnerable residents. Nonprofit executives say demand for food has tripled since the pandemic shuttered businesses and slashed jobs in mid-March following Santa Clara County’s shelter-in-place order....
Silicon Valley lawmaker examines links between racism, the environment and COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a congressional committee hearing this week, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) said the coronavirus pandemic has clearly exposed systemic racism in the United States. “It didn’t create it, but it revealed the divisions,” she said. “We have an opportunity now to examine the broad scope of that and to come up...
San Jose teachers don’t feel safe returning to school, district delays in-person classes
Despite pressure from President Donald Trump to reopen schools, San Jose teachers say they’re not willing to risk their lives amid a global pandemic. One of San Jose’s largest school districts — the San Jose Unified School District — announced late Thursday classes on Aug. 12 will resume online only at least until Oct. 2....
San Jose is losing its top communications official amid the pandemic
When Rosario Neaves became the face of San Jose in 2017, the city grappled with sharp criticism and fallout from a failure to communicate amid massive flooding nine months earlier. Neaves was given an important task from her boss, City Manager Dave Sykes. “His challenge to me was to modernize our communications approach so we...