For decades, residents of Santa Clara County have endured inconsistent assessments, a broken appeals process and unprocessed refunds — all from an Assessor’s Office that has refused to modernize, standing in stark contrast to Silicon Valley’s cutting-edge innovation while maintaining a laser focus on extracting higher tax revenues from the very people who elected the...

This Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will vote on how much profit PG&E will be allowed to earn over the next three years — a decision that will directly affect whether Bay Area electricity bills continue climbing or finally offer relief to struggling customers. PG&E just posted record-breaking $2.47 billion in profits in...

Public trust in government isn’t maintained through slogans or longevity or staying in an echo chamber — it depends on results. The Democratic Party can only remain strong when it listens to fearless voices — and one such voice is Rishi Kumar. Kumar — a C-suite technologist, former executive board member of the California Democratic...

Unlike the sheriff or the district attorney, people often ask me: “What exactly does the assessor do?” My answer surprises them. “The assessor is not a political position.” Their reaction is almost always the same: “But you get elected, don’t you?” Yes, the law requires election, but after the ballots are counted, there is nothing political about...

At Valley Water, we believe accountability and transparency help us better serve the public. One way we uphold these values is through our Board Audit Committee, which provides independent oversight to help strengthen our organization’s performance. The Audit Committee consists of three directors who work under a formal charter. This year, I am proud to...

Public institutions are built slowly, through decades of effort, trust and responsible stewardship. They can be weakened quickly when leadership disregards the delicate balance required to keep essential services functioning. This is especially true in Santa Clara County, where the property tax system underpins everything from public hospitals and behavioral health to schools, housing programs...

San Jose city leaders are discussing spending $2.5 million to place a measure on next year’s ballot to levy a sugar tax or a new property tax assessment for park maintenance. San Jose residents deserve assurance that the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) can be an effective custodian of current resources before being...

Great cities have thriving downtowns, where the entire community can partake in joyful and affordable cultural experiences. That is why it is so exciting that San Jose, the national Levitt Foundation and Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose have a formal partnership to bring a state-of-the-art performance venue to St. James Park. After 13 years...

Cliches exist for a reason. That they’re discouraged for lacking originality holds no bearing on their utility. We say them because they’re true. Current White House events show us he who has the gold makes the rules. Ignorance is bliss for those with the privilege of ignoring current events. And then there’s bringing a knife...

Look ahead to Dec. 30. Maybe you’re out of town visiting family, or enjoying holiday presents with your kids, or getting ready for New Year’s Eve. Does anyone have “voting in a special election runoff” on their bingo card? Yet that’s what Santa Clara County expects voters to do. Amid a budget crisis, the county...