I walked the picket lines a few months ago speaking to VTA drivers on strike.  These proud members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 had overwhelmingly voted in favor of going on strike, but the impression I got was they were not eager to do so. They felt compelled to strike after many of...

This year, the water outlook for Santa Clara County is encouraging. After three wet winters, local and state reservoirs are in good shape and our groundwater basins are healthy. Valley Water expects to run a full groundwater recharge program this year, which means many percolation ponds will likely stay full through summer and fall. This...

The California Voting Rights Act of 2001 specifically “prohibits the use of an at-large election in a political subdivision if it would impair the ability of a protected class, as defined, to elect candidates of its choice.” Protected class is defined in the act as voters who are members of a race, color or language...

We’ve lived in the neighborhood near the Bristol Hotel for nearly a decade, raising our children and investing in our community. Like many, we watched in sadness the recent meeting where community members shared their opposition to the planned conversion of the hotel into transitional housing for women and children. What stood out most was...

Politics is a sector fraught with unsavory decisions, hypocrisy and many actors who make us all at some point say: How the hell did that person get into office? On this last point, we had a moment just recently in San Jose where a group of councilmembers and political staffers were caught venerating Tammany Hall,...

Silicon Valley has earned its reputation as the epicenter of global innovation. This region has consistently pushed boundaries and opened doors, from artificial intelligence breakthroughs to world-changing startups. As president of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, I’ve seen firsthand how access to technology and opportunity can transform lives, especially for our youth pursuing high-demand...

Californians are paying a steep price — not just in courtrooms, but at the cash register — because of a broken civil justice system that allows systemic abuse of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Small businesses, the backbone of our neighborhoods, are under siege from waves of lawsuits often filed over minor, technical violations....

Individuals who received emergency financial assistance were 81% less likely to become homeless within six months, according to a major study from the University of Notre Dame. But instead of investing in real prevention, San Jose is moving to arrest, cite and displace people for being poor — policies that hurt far more than they...

As a professional dedicated to the well-being of older adults, I am deeply troubled by the recent decision by the current federal administration to dismantle the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This move sends millions of seniors nationwide a disheartening message: you are not important. The ACL has been a cornerstone in supporting older adults...

Valley Water provides safe, clean water to homes, businesses and farms throughout Santa Clara County. A dependable water supply is something we rely on every day, even if we don’t always think about it. Safe, clean water is essential to our health, economy and the innovation that drives Silicon Valley. However, much of our water...