Op-ed

Op-ed

Op-ed: San Jose leaders hide behind city policy to avoid supporting ceasefire

The gravity of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is undeniable. Since Oct. 7, 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, reported missing or wounded as a result of Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign. About half of those killed are children. A ceasefire is overdue and critical to stop the indiscriminate killing of civilians and ensuring...

Shoor: We need to upstream public policy

Every week like clockwork, the San Jose City Council needs to study and vote on a new array of policies. Meanwhile, government must quickly respond to a constant fountain of important constituent concerns and events outside its control like natural disasters. It’s no wonder government struggles to get in front of solving problems. Working in...

Mashburn: Prioritizing rights — Challenging the case for delayed ADA compliance

In a recent op-ed by San Jose Downtown Association CEO Alex Stettinski, he expressed concerns about the impact of Americans with Disabilities Act-related lawsuits on small businesses. He advocated for a “time to fix” period, as proposed in Senate Bill 585. Recognizing the challenges faced by small businesses, it is vital to check the wisdom...

Op-ed: Judge voids airport billboard contract after San Jose failed to follow its own rules

When our organization, No Digital Billboards in San Jose, called out the city for not following its own rules in approving new digital billboards along the Guadalupe River Trail on San Jose Mineta International Airport property, no one at City Hall listened. When the San Jose Airport Commission studied the plan and issued a detailed...

Maffei: San Jose homeowners should prioritize earthquake safety with seismic retrofits

California’s towering peaks and deep valleys are a part of its remarkable scenery and help define the Golden State’s identity. These same geological features, created over millennia of seismic activity, are a prominent reminder the ground can and will abruptly shift, resulting in small tremors and immense earthquakes. Much of the Bay Area is at...

Op-ed: A victory toward reclaiming Santa Clara’s downtown

On Sept. 29, 1960, the most infamous Santa Clara City Council vote in the history of the city took place. One month before, the San Jose Mercury News reported that, “Illegal closed door Council meetings were occurring without Santa Clara citizens present.” Surveys of Santa Clara business owners showed 82.7% wanted the downtown saved. Citizens...