DISTRICT 3: WHO WILL IT BE?
Endorsers support District 3 candidates
By Israel Archie SENIOR STAFF WRITER
With a little over a month left until election day, San José City Council’s District 3 candidates are continuing to make efforts to sway district residents to vote for them.
This election follows the resignation of former District 3 Councilmember Omar Torres who was arrested for child molestation charges, according to a Nov. 18, 2024 article from KQED.
On Monday, Torres pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to a March 3 article from San José Spotlight.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, candidates Matthew Quevedo and Gabby Chavez-Lopez both hosted canvassing events for their District 3 campaigns at Backesto Park. Both of them were accompanied by former local politicians who expressed their support for their respective candidates.
Quevedo had support from former Milpitas Mayor Bob Livengood, who was also a former trustee on the San José Evergreen Community College District, according to a webpage from the board.
“Our job is to spend the next five weeks doing voter outreach every chance we get,” Livengood said. “This is what is going to make the difference in this campaign.”
Having prior experience
in running for a position in local politics, Livengood took the time to inform voters how crucial the last few weeks before election day can be for a candidate.
“I’m really happy to help Matthew in the final stretch of this campaign,” Livengood said. “I’ve ran a few of these before and I know that the last four or five weeks are the most important weeks for a campaign.”
Former San José Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen was also at the park on Saturday in support of Quevedo’s campaign.
Nguyen is also one of Quevedo’s endorsements, according to a webpage from his campaign website.
“We really need someone who’s experienced to lead downtown and District 3 and that’s Matthew Quevedo,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen was on the San José City Council from 2005-2014, according to her LinkedIn page.
Nguyen has worked with Quevedo when he was one of her interns when she was on the San José City Council.
“Talking about experience, more than almost 20 years ago he came to my office, interned with me (and) now he’s running, so I’m so proud to support him,” Nguyen said.
Quevedo also received an endorsement from The Mercury News, according to a March 3 editorial from their website.
In regards to Quevedo and his campaign for the seat, The Mercury News
said, “In this race, Quevedo has the most policy and political experience and the best approaches to solving San José’s problems. District 3 voters should elect him,” according to the same editorial.
Nguyen said she agreed with the publication’s decision to support Quevedo’s campaign for the council.
“I absolutely agree with The Mercury News that he is the best (and) the most
her personally, but because I’ve seen her professionally,” Peralez said. “I’ve seen her dedication to the community and I know that this is the individual that our district needs right now to be able to help us overcome this challenging time.”
Another supporter of Chavez-Lopez’s campaign is Darcie Green, executive director of Latinas Contra Cancer, who also served as a field representative for the
is passionate and to me most importantly, Gabby is hopeful.”
Green is also a member at large for Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN), according to the organization’s webpage. This organization makes it a priority to support campaigns for Democratic, progressive and pro-choice women and men, according to the same source.
“DAWN is the club within the Democratic
I’m really happy to help Matthew in the final stretch of this campaign. I’ve ran a few of these before and I know that the last four or five weeks are the most important weeks for a campaign.
Bob Livengood
president of membership for DAWN, was also at Backesto Park in support of Chavez-Lopez.
“Gabby brings the lens of a working, single mother,” Garvey said. “Balancing all the things you have to do (including) childcare, putting food on the table, paying the rent and all that just has a more holistic view of things and I think that’s what we need right now.”
District 3 candidate Anthony Tordillos also hosted a canvassing event at Backesto Park according to the Instagram page for his campaign, but did not stay long because of the Sacred Heart Community Service Forum that took place at Notre Dame High School on the same day, which can also be seen on the same Instagram account.
well-versed, qualified (and) most articulate candidate who knows public policy (and) who is going to bring great results for downtown residents,” Nguyen said.
Chavez-Lopez was supported on Saturday by San José police officer and former District 3 Councilman Raul Peralez, who is endorsing ChavezLopez according to her campaign website.
“I will say that it was very easy for me to be able to get behind and support someone like Gabby not only because I’ve known
California State Assembly from 2005-2009 according to Green’s LinkedIn page.
Latinas Contra Cancer is a non-profit organization that advocates for Latinos pertaining to the issues of cancer according to its webpage.
The organization offers programs such as health education, rental, financial assistance and many other services, according to the same source.
“I’ve known Gabby for a long time and Gabby is qualified,” Green said. “Gabby is effective, Gabby
Party that is focused on making sure that the leadership of women is at the forefront of the party, but also that the issues that impact us and the community are also at the forefront,” Green said.
Chavez-Lopez is endorsed by DAWN, according to a webpage from the organization.
“We know Gabby is going to be a champion for women and for everyone here in the district, in the city and also in the region,” Green said.
Carol Garvey, vice
District 3 Candidate Irene Smith also attended this forum according to her campaign website. The rest of the candidates Adam Duran, Tyrone Wade and Philip Dolan did not host any events over the weekend to The Spartan Daily’s knowledge. The candidates are scheduled to participate in another forum on Thursday at the San José Woman’s Club from 6:30-8:00 p.m., according to a webpage from Eventbrite.
PHOTO BY ISRAEL ARCHIE | SPARTAN DAILY
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW QUEVEDO'S CAMPAIGN
First photo: (Left to right) San José Police Officer Raul Peralez, District 3 candidate Gabby Chavez-Lopez and Latinas Contra Cancer Executive Director Darcie Green pose for a photo on Saturday at Backesto Park with campaign materials.
Second photo: District 3 candidate Matthew Quevedo talking with former San José Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen on Saturday at Backesto Park.
Former Milpitas Mayor and former trustee on the San José Evergreen Community College District
King library cultivates literacy
By Bryan Reos & Anahi Herrera
Villanueva STAFF WRITER & CONTRIBUTOR
Read Across America is a program that brings communities together to create an environment of curiosity in the hopes of increasing literacy among youth. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is one of the many libraries that will be participating in the program this week.
Read Across America holds reading events that typically take place in the first week of March, according to an event page from San José Public Library.
Read Across San José – the San José Public Library’s local event series as a part of Read Across America – will be following “Ways to Welcome” by
I encourage my daughter to read every day ... whether that is a magazine or an article because in the end, it will help her in the long run.
CAMPUS VOICES
Linda Ashman during their storytime readings, according to another event page.
“Ways to Welcome” is a picture book that shows its readers ways to be kind and how to connect with those around through rhyming, according to Scholastic.
Jorrick Calvin, a high school coach and father of five, has been participating in this program for a couple of years now.
“I’m part of the one in Los Banos Elementary, so I'll be reading for students tomorrow,” Calvin said.
“It’s always good to read to kids, they see adults reading and we hope that it inspires kids to continue reading.”
Read Across America was created by the National Education Association in hopes of increasing reading skills and creating an international passion for reading, according to the 2024 Read Across San José page.
The National Education Association also provides resources for parents to help them gear up for Read Across America, according to the Association’s website.
Some of these resources include giving tips for parents to create a fun environment encouraging reading, resources for families learning a new language, and book suggestions to diversify the books children are
reading, according to the same website.
“I encourage my daughter to read every day and I try to make sure she reads every day whether that is a magazine or an article because in the end, it will help her in the long run,” Calvin said.
With an estimated 45 million participants across the country, another big focus of this program is also to promote cultural awareness and build a sense of community, according to a Read-A-Thon webpage.
Lupe Pompa, a Hollister police officer and a father of two, had also
participated in the Read Across America program for multiple years in a row.
“I’ve done plenty of them,” Pompa said. “I used to be a school resource officer and that's where (I) learned about these readings. I enjoy it because it allows us to show children books that have different topics that give us an insight into cultures.”
Read Across America also provides children and parents with a guideline of suggested readings, according to the 2024-2025 Read Across America Calendar.
This month, The
National Education Association recommends “Jam, Too?” by JaNay Brown-Wood and is recommended for those in middle school level reading. This book follows a fascination when they hear instruments at the beach and find a way to join in the Jam, according to the same calendar.
Mickey Moon, a stayat-home mom, hadn't heard of this program but noticed a flyer during her visit to the San José Public Library.
“This is my first time hearing about this program but it sounds like a good resource
for parents to have,” Moon said.
These book suggestions are also made to ensure books are age-appropriate and they actively oppose any limits that are being placed to not give access, according to the same calendar.
“My children love our storytime so I'm sure this is something they would enjoy,” Moon said. “I’ll be checking out their suggestions for my next storytime with my kids.”
BRYAN REOS | SPARTAN DAILY
The door to the Children’s Room in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library stands open in preparation for the Read Across San José storytimes happening all over the San José Public Library system on Wednesday.
Jorrick Calvin Father of five
REVIEW
‘The Monkey’ movie wound
By Nicole DeVries STAFF WRITER
The newest Stephen King horror movie adaptation, “The Monkey,” attempts to deliver a “Final Destination” style thriller with a cursed monkey at the center of its chaos. But its struggle with comedic timing and an uneven tone keep it from reaching its full potential.
Based on King’s 1980 short story of the same name, the film directed by Osgood Perkins follows twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn, both played by Theo James.
As children, the boys discover a toy monkey and experience its horrors firsthand when their mother mysteriously dies as a result of its curse.
Twenty-five years later, the toy returns unexpectedly, bringing a trail of terror back into their lives and threatening Hal’s son Petey, played by Colin O’Brien.
movie review
:
Directed
by:
Osgood Perkins
Starring:
Theo James
Tatiana Maslany
Colin O ’ Brien
Genre: Horror
The central mechanic of the wind-up monkey involves turning its key that results in someone’s death.
This concept is introduced but never properly explored, leaving the curse feeling more like a random chance rather than a decided action.
The movie presents an interesting but familiar premise but lacks the tension and structure that made films like “Final Destination” a standout in the horror movie genre.
“Final Destination” builds suspense by following a precise chain of events –each death unfolds through a series of small, seemingly unrelated incidents that perfectly align to create an elaborate and gruesome death.
“The Monkey”, both the
film and the demonic toy within it, lack any clear set of rules that govern its power or will to kill people so violently.
The monkey kills those in a way so rare that it only happens to one in a million and when compared to the many funerals Hal and Bill Shelburn attend in their youth, the common truth is death is inevitable.
“Final Destination” works because it follows a strict pattern in which the figure of death claims its victims in a specific order, creating a sense of inevitability and dread.
This leads to an issue in films and TV known as plot armor, a term defined by the Urban Dictionary as a situation where important characters are protected
from harm in ways that strain credibility.
As Bill Shelburn repeatedly turns the monkey’s key in an attempt to kill his brother, Hal Shelburn and Petey never face any direct threats – aside from the death of their real estate agent.
Hal Shelburn and Petey are never seen to be in any real danger, even as the cursed monkey continues to take the lives of almost everyone else around them.
The deaths feel disconnected rather than designed, with each gory moment standing out more as isolated spectacles than as part of a cohesive narrative.
While the kill sequences are creative and wellexecuted, they lack the narrative weight to make them meaningful to
the audience.
Instead of building tension, the film relies on shock value, making the horror less effective over time.
Bill Shelburn’s ongoing obsession with using the monkey to kill his brother eventually backfires when the monkey turns on him.
Which feels more like a convenient end to the story than anything destined for death.
The film never fully establishes what keeps Hal Shelburn and Petey safe throughout the film, making their survival feel predictable rather than uncertain.
James’s dual performance as Hal and Bill Shelburn is initially promising but falters as the movie progresses when their characters have
bad
to have more face-to-face interactions.
Playing two roles can be challenging for any actor and while James delivers a solid individual performance, his portrayal of the brothers together lacks chemistry. Their interactions feel unnatural, especially during Bill’s death where the apparent use of a split screen left me jarred because it was clear that James had been duplicated in postproduction.
What should have been an emotionally intense scene with the death of the main character’s brother instead feels like a gimmick that pulls the audience out of the movie experience.
O’Brien’s performance as Petey was the true standout of the film and his comedy brought a much-needed break to the monotony of the story.
Petey’s witty remarks, especially when his father unhelpfully avoids explaining anything about the monkey to him, set up a few bonding moments they share.
His callouts to his dad add a genuine humor to the film that feels natural, making his character one of the most enjoyable aspects of watching.
Editor’s note: a longer version of this article is available at SJSUNews.com
“The Monkey” Rating
McClendon is paving the way for the Spartans
It’s never easy adjusting to a new town, a new environment and a new roster. But for the San José State men’s basketball team shooting guard Will McClendon, the expected culture shock has been handled as a seamless transition.
The Las Vegas native stands at 6 feet 2 inches, according to an ESPN webpage.
However, his game speaks great volumes. His impact on the Spartans has been evident since he first stepped on the floor with an SJSU uniform.
McClendon entered the transfer portal ahead of this season and decided to bring his talents to Silicon Valley. After playing during the 2022-2023 and 20232024 seasons at UCLA, the guard played in 33 games and started in a total of four, according to the SJSU Athletics website.
The guard averaged 4.1 points per game along with grabbing 3.3 rebounds per game in the 2023-2024 season with UCLA and made the leap from a role player to a key piece in the puzzle of SJSU’s offense, according to the SJSU Athletics website.
His defensive tenacity and shooting gives him the
ability to fit well into SJSU’s head coach Tim Miles’ run-and-gun system. This is when teams play at a fast pace and shoot a lot of shots.
The newly dubbed Spartan is affecting the game in multiple ways this season.
“Will McClendon brings the type of character and talent we need at San José State,” Miles said in an interview with SJSU athletics.
“He is a two-way guard that can make plays with the ball in his hand or off the ball. He has competed at a high level in high school and college.”
McClendon shot decent numbers in his last season with UCLA before opting to join SJSU.
He shot a timid 33.9% from the field and a
respectable 35.4% from beyond-the-arc, according to the same SJSU athletics web page.
It may seem odd that McClendon shot better on 3-pointers rather than inside scoring, but this was a result of his role with UCLA, where he wasn’t ball dominant and mostly was used as an on-the-ball defender or a catch-and-shoot player.
As clarification, McClendon shot a riveting percentage on 3-pointers coming from the corner and absolutely excelled at the catch-and-shoot game, according to the same source. This comes to no surprise as McClendon’s shooting fundamentals are on point.
The hot-shooting guard also has a quick, consistent release
with good lift on his jump shot and a sound follow through.
His high release point allows him to get off shots, even with a defender in his space. Unfortunately, his mid-range game needs work and at this point in his basketball education, he needs to polish his pullup jumper and become a multidimensional offensive threat.
A bright spot for McClendon that allows Miles to implement him quite seamlessly is his ability to get into a defensive stance and move his feet. McClendon has always been considered a defensive specialist, boding the physical tools and the lockdown mentality needed
in order to be a defensive factor at the collegiate level of basketball.
Josh Gershon, a National Basketball Recruiting analyst, had been scouting McClendon since his high school days.
Gershon said McClendon is a tough, physical backcourt player and has good size and wingspan. He also said McClendon has great physical tools such as big hands and his defensive versatility allows him to guard multiple positions.
McClendon’s long arms are more than just to intimidate his competition. His big hands allow him to block and grip the ball; his physicality makes him a competitive matchup and his long arms and quick feet allow him to recover onto the player he is guarding.
In case someone does penetrate, McClendon can spread his wings, slide quickly laterally and recover into a defensive position.
“Defensively, Will has the ability to guard multiple positions and adds much needed flexibility in our backcourt,” Miles said in an interview with SJSU Athletics. “We are very excited to have Will on board.”
McClendon also tallied 19 steals this season, showing his nose for the ball adding to his resume in being able to affect the game on both ends of the floor, according to an SJSU Athletics page.
Gershon said McClendon in high school made major strides working on his overall skill level, but his competitive
and physical nature is what made him a viable recruit and an alpha dog for the Spartans this season.
McClendon started all 24 games he played in for the Spartans this season and his durability and accountability make him a reliable player.
The guard’s leadership for the Spartans this season has been remarkable to witness, especially because of the different ways he can impact the game in a winning way.
McClendon ranks No. 1 in the average number of minutes played for the Spartans this season with 32.1 minutes per game, according to an SJSU Athletics statistics page.
He also ranks No. 2 in points per game for the Spartans this season, notching 12.0 points per game, trailing only star senior guard Josh Uduje, according to the same source.
The redshirt junior played at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he led his team to the program’s ninth consecutive 2020 Nevada Class 4A Championship, according to a SJSU Athletics news page.
McClendon’s scrappy, hard-hat approach to the game may not make him a franchise player or an award candidate, but it shows how well he has fit into the system and has the Spartans reminiscing on a totally different style of basketball.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS
SJSU guard Will McClendon dribbles up court at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
Navin Krishnan CONTRIBUTOR