Climate Change is the greatest challenge we face and an existential threat to our humanity. Growing consensus among environmental experts indicates that we are quickly nearing a critical point of no return that, if we don’t withstand, will produce catastrophic failures for our planet. This “point of no return” was the basis for the emission-reduction...
Funk: A look at charter school reform — what is needed?
At the end of former Gov. Jerry Brown’s tenure, charter school opponents sought relief in the “Charter Schools Act of 1992.” Specifically, school districts were seeking the ability to deny a charter based on financial stress to a district. Although no legislation was passed, the spark was generated. Within the first two months of Gov....
Bramson: Co-living should be for the needy, not trendy millennials
When I was in college, like virtually all other students my age, I had roommates. In fact, when money got tight in my senior year, I ended up renting a walk-in closet in a three-bedroom house with eight of my closest friends. For us it was fun, part of the collegiate experience; we didn’t think...
Staedler: Could the Sharks leave San Jose?
As San Jose prepares for its evolution into Downtown 2.0, it has to deal with the growing pains that come from such a transition. One of the biggest challenges the city faces is its ongoing relationship with the San Jose Sharks. For decades, the Sharks have been a major stimulus and economic driver for Downtown...
Roberts: Do not weaken sanctuary policy in Santa Clara County
On April 9, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to re-examine the county’s sanctuary policy. Spurred by the murder of a local citizen — a tragic crime, but one the proposed changes would not have prevented — the supervisors will now consider allowing local police to contact ICE when an undocumented immigrant...
Kline: The case for public-private mass transit
Let’s start by talking about the housing crisis. We have a housing problem because home prices are too high. Prices are high because demand is high and supply is low. We can not increase supply unless we increase density. We can not increase density without increasing traffic. Traffic can be a killer to quality of life,...
Staedler: It’s time to pivot to Affordable Housing 2.0
A lot has been written about the housing tragedy that we are experiencing in Silicon Valley. I say tragedy because the over-used and trite term “housing crisis” is no longer descriptive of what we’re facing. The housing tragedy that we are experiencing has caused displacement, tearing families apart and nothing is changing fast enough to...
Basseri: Don’t change Santa Clara County’s sanctuary policy
One of the many reasons I am proud to be a native San Josean is because there seems to be a place for everyone here, no matter where you come from. The innovation that’s made our city world-famous trickles down to me and I believe in our collective humanity and possibility. That’s why it’s essential...
Fearer: Incrementalism in traffic safety is literally killing us
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” –Traditional I’ve advocated in a number of ways for safer streets across the country for more than a decade now, both personally and professionally. None of this prepared me for April 19. On that morning nearly two weeks...
White: A strong mayor system isn’t the fix for failed leadership
I am always bemused by those pundits who think moving to a strong mayor form of government is some type of panacea. It is the loss of an independent professional voice when a city manager form (albeit a hybrid in San Jose’s case) is discarded. The appointment of department heads is already subject to City...
