"A day after a fire of mysterious origin destroyed large parts of the former San Jose Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) youth center, the local school board voted to take steps to demolish the site. During a rare Saturday emergency meeting-announced less than 24 hours after a fire engulfed the one-time youth center on Aug. 29-Alum Rock Union School Board trustees took the unanimous action."
"In the weeks preceding the fire, the site had garnered attention from cultural advocates and elected leaders who have sought to reopen the youth center, closed since MACSA collapsed in 2016 in the wake of scandals and fund diversions from employee pension accounts. Established advocacy organizations like Silicon Valley De-Bug and the Mexican Heritage Plaza wonder why trustees appeared more focused on demolition rather than revival-or investigating the fire's cause."
A fire of mysterious origin destroyed large parts of the former San Jose Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) youth center on Aug. 29. The Alum Rock Union School Board met in a rare Saturday emergency session within 24 hours and unanimously voted to take steps to demolish the site. Cultural advocates and elected leaders had sought to reopen the youth center, closed since MACSA collapsed in 2016 after scandals and pension fund diversions. Advocates questioned why trustees appeared more focused on demolition than revival or investigating the fire's cause. Neighbors' video showed flames within the MACSA building despite initial reports of an outside fire. Trustees said demolition would protect nearby students from toxic debris. A planned public meeting about revival was delayed.
Read at Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly
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