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In the Spotlight

A woman standing outside on a street

San Jose addiction counselor’s family struggles inspired her work

Mary Crocker Cook turned her addiction into empowering others, bringing dignity and purpose to people who’ve experienced alcohol or drug addiction. As the daughter of a military father, Crocker Cook’s family moved frequently. Stability was hard to come by and disruption was constant. It was tough for the family, including her mother, who turned to alcohol to help her cope. When Crocker Cook saw her behavior starting to mirror her mother’s, she stopped drinking in her late twenties. “I went to recovery to help her, and wound up staying to help me,” she told San José Spotlight. Crocker Cook’s personal...

Featured Column

A homeless camp near railroad tracks

​Bramson: When the market crashes, the safety net tears

The stock market’s recent volatility and the looming threat of a recession aren’t just numbers on a screen — they’re harbingers of a deeper crisis unfolding in Santa Clara County. As economic uncertainty intensifies, the fragile balance keeping thousands of families housed is tipping dangerously toward disaster.​ In 2024, more than 4,000 Santa Clara County households experienced homelessness for the first time — a staggering reminder that people are losing their homes every day. Alarmingly, for every household that found housing, nearly two others became homeless. These numbers aren’t merely statistics. It’s a reflection of the precarious state so many in...