Imagine two public schools within a 10-mile radius. Picture the classrooms, the technology and the students. Do you envision equality? Unfortunately, in today’s public education system, equality is nonexistent. Funding disparities perpetuate this inequality in education, and these discrepancies have real consequences. Students in underfunded schools face academic struggles, limited extracurriculars and inadequate facilities. Meanwhile,...

Nationwide, the United States has $1.49 trillion in unfunded liabilities from state pension plans. Of this total, San Jose has an unfunded pension liability of $3.5 billion; that works out to $3,600 which every resident owes in future taxes or fees. I raised this issue with the four candidates running for election to the District...

There are few things I feel are more fortunate about my life than the fact that I grew up in a time where the middle class in our country was strong. This allowed for my folks to raise me with all of the comforts one might expect from the American dream. As the years went...

We are pleased to share that Valley Water is making great progress on two projects aimed at reducing flood risk along Coyote Creek in San Jose. For the past several weeks, our agency has been installing flood walls along various sections of the creek. This is a key step in our efforts to help protect...

The gravity of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is undeniable. Since Oct. 7, 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, reported missing or wounded as a result of Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign. About half of those killed are children. A ceasefire is overdue and critical to stop the indiscriminate killing of civilians and ensuring...

Whether it’s a robbery in progress at a local business, a home with a fire in the kitchen or a resident suffering a heart attack, seconds mean the difference between safety and harm and life and death. We care deeply about everyone we serve. The people who live, work and visit our city deserve the...

When the San Jose City Council meets on Jan. 30, it will have the opportunity to shape green transportation in our city for decades to come. The council will be voting to update our city’s electric vehicle reach code for multi-family housing developments, which will determine the accessibility and affordability of electric vehicles (EVs) for...

Every week like clockwork, the San Jose City Council needs to study and vote on a new array of policies. Meanwhile, government must quickly respond to a constant fountain of important constituent concerns and events outside its control like natural disasters. It’s no wonder government struggles to get in front of solving problems. Working in...

In a recent op-ed by San Jose Downtown Association CEO Alex Stettinski, he expressed concerns about the impact of Americans with Disabilities Act-related lawsuits on small businesses. He advocated for a “time to fix” period, as proposed in Senate Bill 585. Recognizing the challenges faced by small businesses, it is vital to check the wisdom...

When our organization, No Digital Billboards in San Jose, called out the city for not following its own rules in approving new digital billboards along the Guadalupe River Trail on San Jose Mineta International Airport property, no one at City Hall listened. When the San Jose Airport Commission studied the plan and issued a detailed...