Column contributed first Monday of every month
Columns
Journalists know a little bit about a lot of topics.
But we don’t know it all. And we certainly aren’t subject matter experts on some of the topics that matter most to you — education, homelessness, development, transportation, real estate, the environment and more.
That’s why we’ve called on a team of experts to write regular columns on these important issues. Our San José Spotlight columnists are prominent industry experts and leaders in their respective fields. Every week, they’ll share inside information, insights on trends and patterns and a deep understanding of the issues.
We’ll feature new columns on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as we work to expand the topic areas. Know an expert who might be a good fit to write a regular column? Email ideas and suggestions to [email protected].
Columnists
Chief Operating Officer, Destination: Home
Ray Bramson
Column contributed second Monday of every month
Interim Chancellor, San Jose – Evergreen Community College District
Raúl Rodríguez
Column contributed first Wednesday of every month
Climate Reality Leader at Climate Reality Project
Erin Zimmerman
Column contributed third Wednesday of every month
Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute
Karen E. Philbrick
Column contributed first Thursday every other month
Featuring voices of homeless residents
In Your Backyard
Column contributed third Thursday of every month
Chief Executive Officer, Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS
Neil Collins
Column contributed fourth Thursday of every month
Former columnists
Chancellor, San Jose – Evergreen Community College District
Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland
Former columnist
Opinion
Brownstein: San Jose mayor’s impossible budget plan abdicates leadership
In his first budget message, Mayor Matt Mahan claims he is approaching the city’s financial map in a new way. That’s true—but not in the way Mayor Mahan suggests. Confronting a weak tax base, Mahan states he will be an agent of change—concentrating on the basics and being disciplined in focusing resources on top priorities....
Latshaw: My fiery encounter with natural gas
I was a freshman at UCLA in 1962. I was removing my hopefully warmed meal from an old oven and suddenly flames erupted, causing me to jump away. The ancient, gas-filled oven had a non-working pilot light and combusted in my face when I opened the door. My eyebrows and arm hair would grow back,...
Ballard: Remembering the leaders who inspired urban farming to feed those in need
In the past two years, the Silicon Valley Community has lost two incredible community leaders, Thang Do and Raul Lozano, most recently with the passing of Raul. Coincidentally, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) was connected to both of them through a program, written about here in Streetsblog, that ultimately inspired SVBC’s commitment to the farm...