Community Murals in East San Jose Painted Over by New Building Owner, Sparking Upset
Two community murals on the exterior of a building in East San Jose were painted over by the new owner, Martha's Kitchen, approximately a year after the purchase. The nonprofit ConXión, the previous owner, expressed significant disappointment, stating that the murals held historical and cultural significance, with one created in collaboration with Native American and Latino youth in an after-school program. ConXión's President and CEO, Lori Chávez, claims that during negotiations for the building's sale in 2025, Martha's Kitchen agreed to preserve the murals. However, Martha's Kitchen Executive Director Bill Lee disputes this, asserting that no such conversation occurred and that ConXión was informed in October of the intent to paint over them. Lee stated that the exterior needed painting and the murals did not align with Martha's Kitchen's mission of feeding the hungry and homeless. 
