If you ask the feds, homelessness is the worst it has ever been. In December, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released its annual homelessness assessment report to Congress. The report found that 771,480 people experienced homelessness in 2024, the highest number ever recorded in the United States. Given the continued severity of...
Silver Taube: Six new employment laws that protect workers
In an Oct. 10, 2024 San José Spotlight column, I discussed employment laws that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed to advance workers’ rights. Newsom also signed additional laws that protect workers and went into effect on Jan. 1. Driver’s license requirement prohibited in job postings Senate Bill 1100 prohibits statements in job advertisements, postings, applications and...
Paz-Cedillos: When the center cannot hold
Mental health affects us all, whether we are the ones grappling with inner turmoil or witnessing a loved one’s unraveling world. We may not realize it, but we are all just one degree away from someone enduring an invisible battle. Privilege often determines whether they can access a competent medical team, stable support network or...
Mallon: How can we make progress on transit during another Trump presidency?
As a transit advocate and writer, I’ve been getting asked how the incoming Trump administration will impact transit. It’s natural for transit supporters to be concerned about the the future of public transit as President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. Unlike President Joe Biden, who commuted on Amtrak for decades and is often viewed as...
Editorial: Santa Clara County leaders face four big problems in 2025
It’s been quite a year for Santa Clara County. Local elections dominated much of 2024, bringing new faces into government and long-term officials bidding farewell. Other than a congressional race that began with a historic three-way runoff and recount in the primaries and an onslaught of political accusations throughout the season, the outcomes ended without a...
Collins: Predictions for the 2025 housing market
With the election in the rearview mirror, speculation abounds about what next year’s housing market will look like. “We’ve seen after presidential elections — and it doesn’t matter who wins —that there’s usually a slight boost in home sales,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, said. He is predicting a 9%...
Banuelos: Accommodating urbanization needs to be greener for our health
One day on my evening walk, I noticed new signs stapled to beautifully flowering trees lining the VTA light rail. The plan? Better infrastructure and direct public transit to Eastridge Mall. The impact? The removal of eight mature trees, noise pollution and no new construction in sight. In truth, the trees were removed in the...
Santos: Valley Water takes first step to address impacts of waterway encampments
Valley Water’s mission is to provide Silicon Valley with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment and economy. To help achieve this mission, we are committed to protecting water quality and the environment from harmful activities. In recent years, there has been an increase in encampments along creeks, waterways and lands owned or managed...
Silver Taube: County leaders address working conditions in residential care facilities
Supervisor Cindy Chavez’s final referral to county staff asked for options to address working conditions at residential care facilities and to contact stakeholders regarding the possible formation of an advisory council. This recommendation aligns with the county’s 2024 legislative policies that recommend: “Reform of Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly that increase frequency of State...
Manzo: A plea to fix California’s failed school funding model
As an educator with more than three decades of experience, including 16 years as a superintendent in the Bay Area, I’m deeply concerned about the crisis in California’s public schools. Recent school closures in the Bay Area serve as a stark reminder that the state’s education funding model is outdated and inequitable. California’s local control...