When San Jose approved its $5.5 billion budget for this fiscal year, one department digging around for revenue streams tried to pull a fast one on downtown businesses and residents by doubling the hourly rate for parking meters. It almost worked because the item was buried on the City Council’s consent calendar in a pile with...
Philbrick: What is the value of investing in transit?
When you’re swerving around a pothole, waiting for a late bus or walking across a busy intersection, you’re seeing transportation funding in action whether you realize it or not. But California’s challenge isn’t simply finding enough money to maintain the roads, bridges and transit systems we rely on — it’s earning the public’s trust that...
Nelson: License plate readers are another tool for a safer, more vibrant Willow Glen
Last August, someone rode a bicycle down Lincoln Avenue and threw rocks through six shop windows and doors, mine included. It cost me $750 to replace the glass. The person responsible was never caught. Since June, downtown Willow Glen has logged roughly 30 reports of vandalism and theft, and while most haven’t resulted in major...
Op-ed: How can we trust a City Council that won’t explain its votes?
We recently ran an experiment to see whether our City Council would respond to questions from the public and explain its decisions. The result should concern anyone who cares about accountability in San Jose as they consider their choices in the upcoming election. Our group, No Digital Billboards in San Jose, is a coalition of...
Collins: Take steps to protect your home from wildfires
In California, the threat of wildfire is a constant reality. Yet most homes lost in wildfires are not destroyed by the advancing wall of flames. Instead, they are ignited by wind-driven embers that can travel miles ahead of the fire front. These fiery particles seek out the smallest vulnerabilities, lodging in gutters, slipping through attic...
Waite: Housing proposal is detrimental to our quality of life and San Jose’s fiscal future
The San Jose City Council is planning an Aug. 18 vote on high-density, by-right “missing middle” housing city-wide. The San Jose Planning Commission, which is updating the general plan, based its recommendation to do so on input from city staff. Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility believes approval of the proposal will negatively affect our quality of...
Grizzle: It’s time to end the conflicts and start building trust in Santa Clara
For more than a decade, Santa Clara has been consumed by one major controversy after another. Whether it’s been Levi’s Stadium, the convention center, the PAL BMX track, downtown redevelopment or the proposed City Hall move to Agnews, our community has spent years divided instead of united. Each issue has its own history and each...
Gutiérrez: Legal literacy in Santa Clara County should not begin in a crisis
Like many people, I grew up watching television shows about the law. For a long time, courtroom dramas were my first introduction to the justice system. Even now, I still find myself drawn to legal shows, podcasts, social media clips and YouTube videos that try to explain the law in simple ways. But after graduate...
Baker: Not all donation bins are authentic in Santa Clara County
Dropping off clothes and other items at a nearby donation bin feels like a convenient way to make a difference. But you may not realize that deceptive donation bins have become a big problem in Santa Clara County — just as they have in many communities across the United States. Sadly, it’s not a new problem. The...
Bramson: The fiscal blind spot concerning homelessness
Every year, Sacramento produces another round of homelessness legislation. This year is no different. Lawmakers have introduced bills to strengthen prevention programs, improve behavioral health services, regulate sober living environments and give local governments additional tools to respond to homelessness. Some of these proposals are thoughtful. Many deserve support. None are unreasonable. But after years...