We are pleased to share that Valley Water is making great progress on two projects aimed at reducing flood risk along Coyote Creek in San Jose. For the past several weeks, our agency has been installing flood walls along various sections of the creek. This is a key step in our efforts to help protect...
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...
Klein: Lifesaving care may not arrive in time for Sunnyvale residents
Whether it’s a robbery in progress at a local business, a home with a fire in the kitchen or a resident suffering a heart attack, seconds mean the difference between safety and harm and life and death. We care deeply about everyone we serve. The people who live, work and visit our city deserve the...
Bekele: Preparing San Jose for a future full of electric vehicles
When the San Jose City Council meets on Jan. 30, it will have the opportunity to shape green transportation in our city for decades to come. The council will be voting to update our city’s electric vehicle reach code for multi-family housing developments, which will determine the accessibility and affordability of electric vehicles (EVs) for...
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...
Op-ed: Plaza de Cesar Chavez is the heart of San Jose
At the heart of San Jose sits Plaza de Cesar Chavez, a site that for more than two centuries has come to shape the city that grew around it. But with the explosive growth downtown experienced over the past 20 years, and with new residential and commercial towers continually reshaping its skyline, we must move...
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...