New affordable housing project near Little Portugal

Reed Community Partners is working on an eight-story affordable housing development at the corners of 24th Street and E. Santa Clara Street. This is just a few blocks away from the future BART station at Alum Rock/Five Wounds and is right on the Bus Rapid Transit line that runs between Diridon and Eastridge.

The project will have 91 homes and half are allotted for permanent supportive housing. Based on the render it appears there could be some retail on the ground floor as well, which would be a nice bonus for the area.

Source: aphelion2100 from the San Jose Development Forum, Housing Trust Silicon Valley

Scott's Seafood reopens in the middle of the COVID crisis

This is the only new restaurant opening that I'm aware of in Downtown San Jose over the past two and a half months. Scott's Seafood, one of Downtown's flagship restaurants, had to close to make way for a major multi-million SQFT development project called CityView Plaza. Thankfully, Scott's has chosen to reopen in a new location Downtown.

On May 21st, they opened for takeout at 200 S. 1st which is at the intersection of Paseo de San Antonio. This is a famous spot that has housed Casa Castillo, Asqew Grill, Zing, Ruffled Feathers Eatery, The Blackbird Tavern, and Social Policy. This corner has had so much turnover, that some believe it to be cursed. If there is one restaurant that can break the curse of Case Castillo, I think it's Scott's Seafood. They have a loyal fan base and will offer a more impressive menu and cocktail selection than any of their predecessors.

Just as exciting as this opening is Scott's plan to expand their brand and build a second restaurant in Downtown San Jose. They are looking to open a takeout soup and salad eatery called Scott's Chowder House which will feature their excellent seafood chowders. We don't have a great casual bread-bowl place in Downtown San Jose, so I can't wait! Meanwhile, please patronize Scott's and your over faves so we can keep as many of our restaurants as possible this year.

Source: SVBJ

Outdoor dining will finally be allowed again in San Jose!

After two and a half months, finally there will be some relief for struggling restaurants and foodies alike. Starting this Friday, in Santa Clara County you will be able to dine at a restaurant--albeit outside. With summer weather on the way, there are many great spots in Santana Row, Downtown San Jose, and Willow Glen where you will be able to have a stellar dining experience even with the restrictions (social distancing measures still in place). I'm looking forward to seeing which restaurants will open up first.

Also allowed this Friday will be in-store shopping with face masks, childcare for all kids in stable groups of up to 12, all manufacturing as long as social distancing measures are in place, low contact services, and all pet grooming. Small outdoor ceremonies and religious services will be allowed for groups up to 25. Finally, all outdoor recreational activities that do not involve physical contact will reopen including swimming pools, hiking, tennis, golf, camping, etc.

We are slowly heading back towards some normalcy. I personally can't wait to have a meal and a cocktail again at a nice restaurant!

Source: SVBJ, Santa Clara Public Health

Downtown San Jose's Farmer's Market opens this Friday, June 5th

One of the benefits of working from home and having more flexibility with your schedule is the opportunity to get out to places and events that normally would be constrained by your day job. There is an excellent Farmer's Market in San Pedro Square that kicks off this Friday from 10am to 2pm and continues every following week until at least November 6th December 18th [yay!].

Of course, social distancing measures will be in place. You can see the list of COVID19 restrictions over here. The Downtown San Jose Farmer's Market includes California fruits and vegetable, flowers, gourmet foods, crafts, and clothing. For more information, the full press release is below.

SAN JOSE - After a month’s delay, the Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market presented by Kaiser Permanente will return to San Pedro Street for its 28th season starting June 5.

“We made the decision to open the market in June because Farmers’ Markets are considered an essential service,” said Bree Von Faith, San Jose Downtown Association managing director.  “We will have social distancing and other tactics in place to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy.”

In San Jose’s central area, only the market in the Rose Garden district has remained open during the COVID-19 outbreak.  Many people in the central part of San Jose rely on farmers’ markets for fresh-picked California fruits and vegetables.

Through Dec. 18, the Downtown Farmer’s Market, supported by Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association, will be open Fridays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. along San Pedro Street between Santa Clara and St. John streets.

Under the best conditions, the market includes fresh produce from California growers, fresh cut flowers, special gourmet foods and artisan booths full of clothing and crafts. 

Some modifications will occur due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.  During the shelter-in-place order, the market will be limited to agricultural products only, operate with social distancing measures; booths will be separated and hand-washing stations will be pervasive.  Customers must wear masks and keep their distance.

“The great thing about farmers’ markets at this time is that we’ve simplified the food chain,” Von Faith added.  “These are California growers selling directly to consumers.”

Artisan booths will not be added to the market until further notice.

The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA) recruits up to 20 farmers and the San Jose Downtown Association oversees the street closures. The partnership dates back to spring 1993, when the market was originally located at First and San Fernando streets.

Admission is free. And while shelter in place in order, parking in the Market-San Pedro Garage is also free.

For more information, and a complete list of market changes to keep everyone healthy and comfortable, check PCFMA.org,  pcfma.org/pcfma-coronavirus/, the @PCFMA Facebook page and sjdowntown.com

The market will continue each week into November and could be extended into December this season.

This is the tenth year that Kaiser Permanente has teamed with the Downtown Association and PCFMA to serve as presenting sponsor of the market, educating attendees on healthful and “green” living that allow each individual to thrive.

  

Follow the Downtown Farmers’ Market on Twitter (@SJ_Downtown) and Facebook (/sjdowntown and /DowntownFarmers’Market).  The market website is sjdowntown.com/farmers-market-presented-by-kaiser-permanente/

Call (408) 279-1775 for information.

About the San Jose Downtown Association:  The San Jose Downtown Association is a non-profit group of business and property owners working to improve the vitality and livability of downtown San Jose.  Established in 1986, SJDA programs more than 100 days of events each year.

2020 FACT SHEET

Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market, presented by Kaiser Permanente

Find the season's freshest fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, and gourmet treats from local certified growers and purveyors of fine food, plus unique gifts from local artisans, at the Downtown Farmers' Market, now in its 28th season.

When:  Every Friday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

         June 5 – Dec. 18, (no Market July 3)

Where:  The Downtown Farmers’ Market is located on San Pedro

          Street in San Jose, between St. John and Santa Clara streets

Admission:  The Market is free and open to the public

Attendance:  Weekly attendance in past seasons averages approximately 1,500

Audience:  While in shelter in place:  essential services workers and local residents. SIP Lifted:  Downtown office workers, out-of-town visitors, residents and possibly San Jose State University students and faculty

Event Producers:  The San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA), a local nonprofit business association, in partnership with Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA)

                                                                                              

Seasonal produce:  Starting in June, find blackberries, boysenberries, melons, apricots, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, prunes and raspberries.  Year-round produce also available.

Sponsors/partners:  Kaiser Permanente is in its 10th year as presenting sponsor.

Websites:  www.sjdowntown.com and www.pcfma.com

Phone:  (408) 279-1775

Santana Row Farmer's Market

One of the few food-related events we can still enjoy in Silicon Valley are farmer's markets. Santana Row's Farmer's Market is already running and has been has been slightly modified to ensure social distancing is in place. Face masks are required and there are limitations around samplings and how many people can visit each stall at a time. The featured items are organic produce, fruit, pasta, pastries, and jams.

If you are interested in a bit of normalcy, the market runs today--and every other Wednesday until September--from 4pm to 8pm. For additional information, click here.

BART is finally coming to San Jose!

June 13th. That's the date when BART will officially open in both San Jose (Berryessa) and Milpitas! It took 14 years since we first voted for the extension, but it is finally happening.

The first train will leave the station at 7:56am from San Jose, stop at Milpitas at 7:59am, and then head to Richmond in the North Bay.

The next phase of the BART extension will be a subway that will add three more stations in the Downtown San Jose area and one in Santa Clara. Currently that is slated for completion in 2028.

Source: SVBJ

May Day for the Arts - Free Virtual Concert

The Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose are focused on building a permanent performance venue at St. James Park that will feature 50+ family-friendly concerts every year. They are already working on their goal of building community through music by hosting events even before the pavilion is ready. This Thursday will be May Day, featuring 4 hours of virtual concerts where you can interact with the performers after each session.

Below is a list of groups that will be performing:

• Children’s Musical Theater San Jose
• Los Lupeños de San José
• New Ballet
• Opera San José
• San Jose Jazz
• San Jose Taiko
• Silicon Valley Shakespeare
• Teatro Visión

The concert runs from 6-10pm and you can get your free tickets over here.

For more information, the full press release is below.

Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose to Host First Virtual Concert,
May Day for the Arts

Picnic with us in your living room, on the patio, or in your bedroom
as we join together to enjoy and support the local San Jose arts community

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 12, 2020 — With all physical venues temporarily shut down and limited local entertainment options available, the Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose (FLPSJ) are coming to the rescue to entertain your family and friends by hosting the organization’s first virtual concert, May Day for the Arts, on May 28 from 6 to 10 p.m.

This four-hour virtual Levitt Pavilion concert will feature a variety of performances by local arts groups to raise community morale and support the San Jose performing arts community, including organizations like Opera San José, San Jose Taiko and San Jose Jazz.

“The quality of local artistry in San Jose is truly exceptional, and we just couldn’t wait to showcase that talent, even if we aren’t able to gather together in person just yet. This virtual concert will foster an online community where performers can interact with fans, support other arts groups, and provide a brief break from the monotony of our daily routines,” event organizer Fil Maresca said.

Those in the audience will have the chance to participate in live Q&A sessions with the arts groups, stream pre-recorded performances, and donate directly to the groups themselves through virtual tip jars.

The Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose have had a singular mission since day one: the construction of a performance venue in historic St. James Park that will feature 50 free, family-friendly concerts each year. The addition of the Levitt Pavilion is one aspect of the City of San Jose’s long-term goals to integrate arts and culture within the City’s frequently used spaces through public and private partnerships.

“While we work toward this goal, we can begin our purpose now as a bridge between the community and local arts groups,” FLPSJ President Rick Holden said. “This virtual concert is just one example of how Levitt Pavilion San Jose will serve as a platform for arts groups ranging from local emerging talent to acclaimed performers to share their music with the local Bay Area community.”

A full list and schedule of performances, along with online channels to view the performances will be shared soon at http://levittsanjose.org/mayday-for-the-arts/. Reserve your free ticket at Eventbrite.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or sign up for our e-mail list to receive the latest info about May Day for the Arts and Levitt Pavilion San Jose!

About FLPSJ

Formed in 2016, Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose is a non-profit organization comprised of community stakeholders committed to the revitalization of St. James Park as a safe and inclusive destination for people of all ages and background. The new outdoor Pavilion will feature 50+ free concerts throughout the year along with other performances to build community through music.

About Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation

The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation is a private foundation that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. Through its support of creative placemaking, the Levitt Foundation empowers communities to transform neglected public spaces into welcoming destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together and invigorates community life. The Foundation’s primary funding areas include permanent Levitt venues and the Levitt AMP Grant Awards, an annual grants competition. The national Levitt network of permanent outdoor music venues and AMP concert sites collectively serves more than half a million people annually through 400+ free, family-friendly concerts. Learn more at http://www.levitt.org.

SoFA Saturdays

The San Jose music scene must carry on until we are back to the point where we can have concerts and music festivals again. Thankfully, the SoFA Street Fair organizers have put together a new series of weekly virtual performances called SoFA Saturdays. Every weekend there will be live concerts, podcasts, and maybe even some martial arts. The site also allows easy access to ordering food and cocktails from SoFA businesses (many of which desperately need our help to stay afloat).

For more details and to see each week's lineup of performers, head over here.

OUR 5 STEP GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL SoFA SATURDAY:

STEP 1 - text your pals and tell them what’s up

STEP 2 - go to FOOD & DRINK and place your orders directly with
restaurants and breweries in SoFA that really need your business right now

STEP 3 - view the SCHED above to plan your evening.
you can even make an account to create a personalized schedule

STEP 4 - get out of the house for a bit, and go pick up your freshly made food,
craft cocktails, and beer all within a few blocks of each other in SoFA

STEP 5 - find your next performance using SCHED or by clicking on the TVs above
to be taken to the current livestream that channel is playing
and enjoy music, watch martial arts, hang backstage with the bands, or just chill.

We Love San Jose Coloring Book

It's great to see people still being creative despite the lock-down. The Kirsten Reilly Silicon Valley Realty Team put together something pretty amazing--a coloring book highlighting San Jose landmarks!

They gathered ideas from San Jose residents on their favorite places and commissioned an artist to create the book. Inside you'll find City Hall, the California Theater, Five Wounds Church, the Japanese Friendship Gardens, Municipal Rose Garden, the San Pedro Square Market, Winchester Mystery House, and several others.

The coloring book is free and you can download it over here.

The San Pedro Square Market Re-Opens Today!

Bit-by-bit, more of the San Jose economy is opening up. Several vendors at the SoFA Market have continued to stay open for pickup and delivery, such as Habana Cuba, Pizzetta 408, and Umi Hand Roll. Now the San Pedro Square Market is finally opening up again.

Participating eateries include:

• Anchors
• Bread Brothers
• Gameday
• JORA Ceviche Bar
• Pizza Bocca Lupo
• Pasta Fresca
• Phonomenal
• Taco Bar
• Urban Momo
• Voyager Craft Coffee

Initially these will be open only for pickup and delivery. Given the abundance of outdoor seating at the San Pedro Square Market, I think this will be one of the first places in San Jose where you will be able to have a somewhat "normal" dining experience in the coming months since they will be able to easily conform to California guidelines.

It might be a good idea to shut down all of San Pedro Street between Santa Clara and St. John and use this area for socially distanced outdoor dining for all the San Pedro Street restaurants. It is not unprecedented as we did something similar during Super Bowl 50.

I will definitely be visiting sometime this week!

Today's Coronavirus situation in San Jose is shockingly similar to the Spanish Flu 100 years ago

San Jose Inside has an enlightening article comparing our current situation with that of 1918. The Spanish Flu killed as many as 100 million people, double that of World War I casualties. 430 people died in San Jose alone, which had a population of less than 100,000 back then.

In response to the flu 100 years ago, Santa Clara County officials closed schools, halted public gatherings including church, and asked everyone to wear face masks. Sound familiar? History tends to repeat itself, so hopefully we can break the cycle this time around with better solutions for the next pandemic.

Source: San Jose Inside

San Jose wants to allow more business outdoors

In order to maintain social distancing while slowly reopening the economy, San Jose officials would like to allow more businesses to utilize sidewalks, parking lots, and streets. This will help businesses that will have to drastically limit the number of patrons inside, especially restaurants.

Currently, over 46,000 restaurant workers have lost their jobs in Silicon Valley. The industry has been devastated and many restaurants will be closing their doors for good. It's expected that restaurants will reopen with no more than 25-50% of their previous interior capacity, so any change we can make to cushion further blows to the industry I'm sure will be greatly appreciated.

City officials are also trying to offset application costs and provide quick-build infrastructure. These include barriers and potted plants.

Hopefully some of the changes will become permanent so that we can have more al fresco dining and retail in the community when all of this is over.

Source: SVBJ, San Jose Inside

May 2020 Downtown Dimension Highlights

The latest addition of Downtown Dimension is now live. Below is a summary of the content this month.

The MAY 2020 Downtown Dimension is now available.

In this edition:

• As part of the process for Diridon Station Area Plan planning, city transportation staff disclosed a proposal that would close the northbound off-ramp from Highway 87 onto Santa Clara Street, much to the surprise of many key stakeholders.  The purpose of the plan update is to include Google's Downtown West (DoWe) proposed development. 
• BART and VTA have decided to take one step backward to move forward on how it will dig BART tracks underground through downtown San Jose.  The big tunnel idea has been scrapped in favor of the original idea to place stacked tracks through downtown, which requires a smaller, less-costly dig.
• Business survived the second month of shelter-in-place by giving themselves a pep talk.
• SJDA plans to open its Friday Downtown Farmer's Market June 5, 10 am-2 p.m.
• Groundwerx management answers questions about cleaning and keeping downtown safe during shelter-in-place.
• Urban Community and Swenson keep buying property downtown.
• A new scooter company moves in.
• The popular From the Archives feature summarizes downtown highlights 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years ago.

Other ways to stay connected to Downtown:

The Downtowner Online continues to be sent out on Wednesdays.  This weekly email features downtown businesses including virtual events and ways to support downtown. Subscribe

SJC moves ahead with expansion despite downturn in travel

Before COVID-19, San Jose International was one of the fastest growing airports in the country. To keep up with demand, 8 temporary gates were added to Terminal B, and a major expansion plan was put into motion to create 14 new permanent gates, a 300,000 SQFT hotel with 330 room, and 5,300 new parking spaces.

As traffic was down 97% at the airport compared to last year, I think most people assumed the expansion plans would be on hold. However, the San Jose city council unanimously approved the plans.

Eventually, things will get back to normal. When they do, it is better to build in a downturn then when resources are extremely expensive. It's clear that Silicon Valley isn't going away anytime soon and our abundance of work-from-home-friendly tech jobs means we will likely recover faster than other parts of the world. The airport is a critical resource for us, and I'm glad we're still going ahead with this important long-term investment.

Source: The Merc

April 2020 Downtown Dimension Highlights

The latest addition of Downtown Dimension is now live. Below is a summary of the content this month.

The APRIL 2020 Downtown Dimension is now available.

In this edition:

• Downtown businesses cope with a pandemic as losses mount during shelter in place. This month's lead story covers the thoughts and emotions of business owners, and how businesses plan to continue serving their customers and keep their commitment to employees.
• Other stories include:
  • Groundwerx during shelter-in-place
  • SJDA's plan of action
  • San Jose State University's course of events
  • San Jose City Council action
• Downtown news not pertaining to COVID-19:
  • ADA compliance grant available
  • Bus stops removed from San Fernando Street
  • Two property acquisitions 
  • Two new businesses

Other ways to stay connected to Downtown:

The Downtowner Online continues to be sent out on Wednesdays.  This weekly email features downtown businesses including virtual events and ways to support downtown. Subscribe

3.8 million SQFT office campus proposed in North San Jose

Bay West Development has proposed a 3.8 million SQFT office project at the former Fry's Electronics headquarters in San Jose (550 E. Brokaw Road). This would be one of the largest office projects of any kind in Silicon Valley, second only to what Google is proposing in Downtown San Jose.

The configuration would be seven large buildings and two parking structures, enough for 10,000 employees. The buildings would cap out at about eight stories or 120 feet. Unfortunately it does not appear like there is any attempt to make this a mixed use project combining residential and retail, but there is plenty of that in the area already.

Source: SVBJ

San Jose Goes Virtual

Searchlight San Jose has a great post about how San Jose businesses are now providing virtual experiences. Great America has virtual rides, Happy Hollow is providing photos and Zoom backgrounds, History San Jose is posting historical artifacts (including a terrifying Chuck E. Cheese animatronic). Museums like the SJMA, The Tech, and the Winchester Mystery House are doing virtual tours.

When it comes to shopping, SJMade has put together a very cool online storefront designed like a 16-bit video game. All of the items sold here are made by San Jose craftsmen.

Head over to Searchlight San Jose to see the full list of virtual experiences to keep you entertained for the next for weeks.

"Human" by Sunny State

As the week heads to a close, let's wrap with one of the creative ways San Jose artists are coping with social distancing. The band Sunny State recorded a special version of their song "Human" in response to the COVID-19 crisis using videoconferencing software. It's a cool song with relevant lyrics, recorded locally.

For more info and to hear more of their music, head over here. You can watch the special performance of "Human" below.

Two massive 20-story towers proposed Downtown

KT Urban has submitted plans for Woz Way Offices, another epic office project in Downtown San Jose. It consists of a whopping 1.8 million SQFT split between two towers at 280 Woz Way. One of them is a giant wall similar to Adobe's 4th tower and looks like multiple high-rises combined together.

The project architect and designer stated that the only place in Silicon Valley where a tech company can physically scale their business and have access to transit is San Jose. Hopefully the momentum can survive the current crisis as it appears that developers are finally coming around to seeing Downtown's potential.

The project would also feature an impressive 30,000 SQFT of outdoor terraces across four floors, and 6,000 SQFT of retail (a bit light for a project this size). Parking will consist of four-levels both above and below ground, enough to handle 1,215 cars.

If all goes well, the project could break ground as early as 2021.

Source: SVBJ

Supporting the Downtown SJ restaurants that are still open

There are still many great Downtown restaurants (and even some bars) that are still serving customers with curbside pick-ups, to-go orders, and partnerships with delivery services like Doordash and Uber Eats. The San Jose Downtown Association has put together a handy list of the places that are still open for business. By patronizing local restaurants in these tough times, we can help ensure they will still be around later this year. Here are a few of my favorites on the list:

• Back-A-Yard - hands down one of my favorite restaurants. They are even featured in the Michelin Guide as one of San Jose's 8 Michelin Recommended restaurants. Try the oxtail, plantains, and corn festivals
• Good Karma - vegan cafe with Good Karma and GREAT beers. This was San Jose's first real craft beer hangount. Even if you're not a vegan you'll find quality food with rare libations to wash them down with.
• Pizza Flora - same owner as Good Karma--I'm a total carnivore and was blown away at how good these pizzas were. Seriously I would have never guessed these were vegan, and again the beer selection here is phenomenal. 
• Henry's Would Famous Hi Life - I don't think this needs any elaboration, one of our staple BBQ joints.
• Terke's Germania - another Downtown staple serving up quality German eats and beers by the liter.
• Hapa Musubi - one of our most popular new additions to the food scene. I have visited this place three times and they were completely sold out of everything twice. Great musubi's that go well beyond the classic SPAM musubi (although they have that too).
• Ludwig's German Table - Downtown's newer German spot. Love the Schnitzel and Pretzels here. Looking forward to sitting in their outdoor patio again one day.
• Silicon Valley Capital Club - this is a very notable restaurant on the list as it's a private club that you normally have to be a member of to dine in. They have curbside pickup and to-go orders for both members and non-members while restaurants are locked down.
• Enoteca La Storia - one of my favorite Italian spots. Great pastas and pizzas. They are a bit light on proteins but are the ultimate spot to get your fix of delicious carbs.
• HoM Korean Kitchen - inexpensive yet super delicious Korean eats, and it's open late.
• Haberdasher SJ - not only can you get cocktails to go from my favorite bar Downtown, but they also have chicken pot pies, snacks, and the best cookies I've ever had... Honey jack bacon sugar cookies. I ended up going through the entire bag of like 16 cookies in one day.
• Cafe Stritch - American comfort food classics. You'll have to supply the Jazz music yourself at home though.
• 71 Saint Peter - high-end Mediterranean grill. Great date night option.
• Miniboss - a great bar, restaurants, and arcade. You can get cocktails and Korean fusion food to go, but will have to provide your own video games these days.
• Original Gravity - aame owners as Miniboss. San Jose's first purpose-built craft beer spot with a great selection of sausages and fries accompanies by homemade sauces.

There are also some great cafes on the list like Academic Coffee, Paper Moon, and Voltaire Coffee House.

To see the list of the 70+ Downtown San Jose restaurants that are still serving up meals to go, head over here.

SoFA Music Festival: Shelter in Place Edition

One of San Jose's top music festivals is going on with the show this weekend. The special "SIP" edition of the SoFA Music Festival will feature 7 hours of live music across 15 different channels with over 100 bands. Instead of dancing in Downtown San Jose, you'll be dancing in your living room. At least the beer and wine will be slightly less expensive than your typical festival ;).

The SoFA Music Festival organizers aren't holding anything back. There will somehow be virtual vendors, merch tables, and a live painting stream to bring the artsy vibe of SoFA into your home. Music will range from jazz, alternative, hip hop, pop, folk, metal, punk, ska, reggae, funk, soul, blues, and mash up DJs. Check out the full set list over here. It's also a true community event built by the community (and it's free). As just about every other live music event in San Jose has been cancelled this year, let's give them our full support!

The party starts on Sunday, April 26th at 2pm and continues until 9pm. Participate over at sofamusicfestival.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sofastreetfair

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2894760980602555

Instagram: @sofastreetfair #sofastreetfair 

Day-of Schedule: https://sofamusicfest2020.sched.com

Silicon Valley rush hour in 2020

There is a new drone video floating around showing what rush hour traffic looked like in March. I can only describe it with one word... chilling.

I never thought I'd see the day where I actually miss traffic. It's a very odd time, not at all what I pictured 2020 to be like. Hopefully this will be over soon and we'll have some normalcy again this year.

Source: Gillynova from the San Jose Debelopment Forum

2020 Silicon Valley Index

The Joint Venture Silicon Valley Index has been providing insights on our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for over 20 years. It provides an honest and holistic view of life in Silicon Valley, with the obvious exception that it was published before COVID-19. It's worth reading for a reminder of where we were at the start of 2020. We can use today's events as a chance to reflect on what we can do differently when we hopefully return to normalcy sometime later this year.

You can download the 2020 Silicon Valley Index over here.

Below are a few items that stood out for me:

• We have had nine continuous years of expansion since the last recession, adding 821,000 jobs in the Bay Area.
• Over that same time period, we only permitted 173,000 new homes and have 100,000 megacommuters [Josh: hopefully the option to work remotely continues for many post-COVID].
• Labor productivity reached a record $241,000 per worker, a 53% increase from 2001.
• Unemployment hit 2.1%, a 19-year low.
• More people are leaving the region than coming in.
• Home prices declined 6% in 2019, yet median home sale prices are still the highest in the country (over $1 million).
• Income inequality hit a historic high with 13% of households holding 75% of the region's wealth.
• Internet speeds are slow compared to SF, California, and the country as a whole [Josh: this is shocking for living in the middle of Silicon Valley].
• Individual median income is $117,000 and 82% of the population is above 150% of the poverty level.
• Silicon Valley's ethnic breakdown is 35% Asian, 33% White, 25% Hispanic/Latino, 5% Multiple/Other, and 2% Black/African American.
• 24% of Silicon Valley residents have Graduate or Professional Degrees.
• 51% of families speak a language other than English at home (vs. 41% for SF, 45% for California, and 22% for the US).
• The Bay Area has by far the largest number of tech jobs and greatest % of people employed in tech out of any region in the US.
• 9% of Silicon Valley Residents lack access to adequate food and nutrition
• San Jose generates more patents than any other city in California (11% of all CA patents in fact).
• In 2019, traffic delays cost as much as $3.4 billion in lost productivity for Silicon Valley workers.