Attending college is a big decision and can depend on various factors, including personal goals, career aspirations and financial considerations. Research shows higher education has driven economic mobility and well-being in California. In recent years, the state has seen increases in both college enrollment and completion rates at state public universities like the University of...
Paz-Cedillos: What’s in a name?
Every year, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sept. 15, celebrating the contributions of Latinos to the U.S., including the $3.7 trillion we add to the national GDP – with $706 billion coming from California alone. Yet, the debate over identity labels often leaves many of us conflicted. So I ask: What’s in a name?...
Bramson: Setting expectations for housing and homelessness on the 2024 ballot
This November you’re not going to see any money for affordable housing on the ballot locally. Nor will you see funding to help support people living on the streets or in deep poverty. There are a lot of reasons for why it ended up this way, but the bottom line is that your vote this...
Silver Taube: Gov. Newsom signs bills to advance workers’ rights
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed several labor and employment bills that advance workers’ rights. Senate Bill 399 prohibits retaliation for declining to attend meetings on political or religious matters. The bill defines “political matters” to include “the decision to join or support any political party or political or labor organization” including captive audience meetings that...
San Jose City Hall abuses its power by asking for confidential sources
The criminal investigation related to Councilmember Omar Torres has taken an ugly political turn — with people lining up to either defend or denounce the downtown politician. San José Spotlight knew that would happen when we broke the news Torres was being accused of child sex abuse. What we didn’t expect is San Jose City...
Horowitz: Patrick Ahrens is denying the truth on tuition hikes
The rising cost of education is one of the biggest challenges facing California families. As someone who has spent years advocating for affordable and accessible education, I know how devastating tuition hikes can be for students who are already struggling to make ends meet. That’s why I was disappointed to see Assembly District 26 candidate...
Lopez: Prop. 36 saves lives and protects communities by requiring treatment for deadly addictions
As a 35-year veteran of law enforcement I know both the healing power of substance abuse treatment and the danger of releasing those from jail or prison whose untreated addictions drive them to hurt themselves and others with alarming regularity. California once used proven drug courts to require treatment for many involved in the criminal...
Zisser: Independent oversight can show more compassion
My new year’s resolution seven years ago this week — Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and is being celebrated this week — was to approach the San Jose independent police auditor job with authenticity, to not let the inevitable politics water down my passion or commitment. I walked out of services, where something...
Philbrick: The future of pedestrian safety
On the corner, waiting at the white-lined crosswalk just a block from school, children line up to look both ways and be escorted across the busy intersection by a crossing guard. Dressed in neon yellow or orange, crossing guards were once familiar faces, but many school districts across the country struggle to hire and retain...
Urbanowski: Working together for arts education
Proposition 28, the Arts and Music in Schools Act, was passed by voters across our state in November 2022 and aims to enhance arts and music education by providing dedicated funding for related programs in K-12 public schools. As the first statewide initiative focused on this area, Proposition 28 takes a significant step toward addressing...