In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law with the intention of eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities. This law is critical to provide access to those with disabilities, a law that the San Jose Downtown Association fully supports. We also support actions taken to ensure spaces currently not compliant are made...
Op-ed
Op-ed
Rawson: Now is the time to invest in Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Cities across the country are currently investing in parks and outdoor public gathering spaces as part of economic recovery strategies for their pandemic hammered downtowns. In San Jose, we have a similar opportunity that should not be wasted. The centenary birthday of Cesar Chavez, March 31, 2027, should serve as a call to action to...
Yu: Our housing problem is turning into a health care problem
Affordable housing has made local headlines in recent months—and for good reason. The statewide moratorium on evictions during the pandemic expired in June 2022, and other protectants phased out earlier this year. Despite the spike in evictions already documented, reports suggest more renters are still on the brink of losing their homes. California already has...
Khan: San Jose leaders have disregarded our democracy
Earlier this week, San Jose, the mayor, City Council and city administrators breached core democratic values of open government and freedom of speech for all people by engaging in the racist and shameful act of tarping council chamber seats to prevent people of conscience from attending a council meeting and speaking out in support of...
Thompson: Transit agencies need a reality check
Recently, the idea of consolidating Caltrain and BART has been floated as an easy way to fix Bay Area transit. In short, it’s a bad idea: the benefits, if any, are small and can be achieved in other ways while the problems are large and very real. I’ve spent a long career analyzing rail agencies...
Op-ed: Building back our economy requires child care for all
Here’s the truth: we cannot fully build back and enhance our regional economy without expanding high-quality child care for all who need it. In the ever-evolving landscape of our Bay Area economy, child care has emerged as a critical factor in shaping the workforce and overall strength of our economy. As CEOs of business associations...
Chester: Housing loopholes expose a problem and a solution
A recent San José Spotlight article explained how a state law intended to create more housing can also be used to drastically reduce home construction. The San Jose Flea Market site, an Urban Village, may have just over 25% of the original amount of homes proposed. The reporter spoke with Erik Schoennauer, who represents the...
Nguyen: Santa Clara County needs to act now on mental health crisis
Sometimes, compassion means taking action. And for many of our gravely disabled neighbors, that time is now. California’s families and communities are facing the devastating impacts of our mental health and addiction crises. Many of us see it every day—people suffering on our streets, in need of advocacy and treatment options. Fortunately, California legislators have...
Estremera: Paving the way for a more inclusive future
In the heart of Santa Clara County, where innovation thrives, Santa Clara Valley Water District is taking a bold step towards a more equitable and inclusive future. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is brought forward through our infrastructure projects, grant and partnership programs and hiring practices. Now, with the new Valley Water Next...
DeLorenzo: San Jose Water keeps lead out of drinking water
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Remember the crisis in Flint, Michigan? Or Newark, New Jersey? Old lead water service lines were the culprit. Millions of Americans turned on the faucet and wondered, “What’s in my water?” You may have been wondering, too. To be clear, there is no lead in...