As cancellations, school closures and mandatory quarantines ramp up, San Jose leaders are scrambling to help the city’s most vulnerable residents, fearing devastating economic consequences for residents and local small businesses that are losing income. Following last week’s call to place a moratorium on evictions for residents who can’t pay rent because of lost income,...
San Jose bars serve their last cocktail amid coronavirus shutdown
Like other San Jose watering holes, San Jose’s Britannia Arms in Almaden has temporarily closed its doors following the health mandate from Santa Clara County and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request. On Sunday, Newsom asked all state bars, nightclubs, wineries, and brewpubs to close in an increased effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants...
San Jose Public Libraries to close in wake of coronavirus pandemic
City officials are closing all San Jose Public Libraries beginning Tuesday after Santa Clara County and five other Bay Area counties issued a shelter in place mandate, ordering residents to stay at home as much as possible to decrease the spread of coronavirus. “We’re following the county of Santa Clara order along with several other...
Paz-Cedillos and Shieh: A rough year for the creative sector
So far, 2020 has been a rough year for the creative sector. From the ongoing repercussions of a well-intentioned, but poorly informed policy meant to protect workers (AB 5) to the cancellations of events that support hundreds of local artists due to COVID-19, our community life is reeling. At the School of Arts & Culture...
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Sam Liccardo joins California mayors to support tax break reform to tackle homelessness
Mayor Sam Liccardo is among nine mayors across California’s biggest cities to support proposed legislation that would reduce state tax breaks for homeowners, raising funding to tackle the state’s burgeoning homeless crisis. Assembly Bill 1905, introduced by San Francisco Assemblymember David Chiu, would eliminate the mortgage interest deduction (MID) for taxpayers’ second homes. It would...
San Jose: Senior care facilities take steps to protect residents from coronavirus
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb in Santa Clara County, those caring for the most vulnerable residents — senior citizens — are increasingly on edge. Senior home workers in the South Bay are wiping down commonly touched surfaces more frequently and taking inventory of items such as hand sanitizer, masks and gloves....
How is Silicon Valley helping the homeless amid coronavirus pandemic?
As Santa Clara County undergoes expansive measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, questions remain about how people experiencing homelessness will receive information and resources. With an increasing homeless population totaling more than 9,700 countywide, and close to 8,000 unsheltered per the 2019 homeless census, officials say they’re increasing outreach and resources related to COVID-19...
Coronavirus takes toll on San Jose small businesses
When Sean Yang was in college, he bussed tables at the San Jose sushi bar Kazoo. Now, some 28 years later, he owns the place. But since the coronavirus pandemic began, what he suspects is fear of the virus has caused a significant dip in business. He wonders how long his restaurant can tough it...
San Jose labor leaders question missing signatures after measure fails to qualify
A citywide measure to shift mayoral elections to presidential years and prohibit certain campaign contributions has failed to qualify for the November ballot, but labor leaders are questioning the process and claiming nearly 2,000 voter signatures went missing. Last month, labor officials delivered nearly 100,000 signatures to San Jose City Hall to qualify the initiative....
San Jose teachers’ union calls for resignation of Evergreen trustee Jim Zito
A local teachers’ union stormed a school board meeting Thursday calling for Evergreen School Board trustee Jim Zito’s resignation on claims he’s been “controlling and inappropriate” toward female colleagues and community members. More than a dozen teachers and supporters from the Evergreen Teachers Association (ETA) held a news conference before the meeting, where several women...