Op-ed

Op-ed

Gvatua: Protect Us

Courtrooms are overcrowded. The increasing demand for public services is skyrocketing at an astronomical rate. The situation is dire: Countless vacancies, longer processing times and avalanching workloads are being thrust onto staff, the demand for more people to physically be present at their assignments continues to rise. Enforcement for social distancing and mask wearing depends...

Gere: The case for investing in our water infrastructure

Infrastructure is rightly enjoying its spot in the national limelight these days, with the Biden Administration busily unveiling its plans. However, being well intentioned is as important as being pragmatic. After all, the warning signs have been there for all to see when it comes to lack of investment in infrastructure—impacting communities from Los Gatos...

Peralez: Santa Clara County needs Laura’s Law

In San José’s latest homeless census, over 40% of our unhoused residents reported suffering from a form of mental illness. Within that population, those with severe mental illness are often shuffled in and out of jails and hospital beds. Our most vulnerable are criminalized or left to languish on the street, sometimes causing harm to...

Bui, Schultz and Tapia: Respect Us!

At the start of the pandemic, we asked for help immediately for fear of spreading COVID-19 to our loved ones at home. People were getting sick, and management was still not supporting us. PPE (personal protective equipment) was not being offered while the department’s public health policy was unclear and changed constantly, making it difficult...

Sanchez, Krey and Oberhelman: Crisis intervention training for law enforcement

Recently, several law enforcement agencies in Santa Clara County have unveiled specialized units designed to de-escalate interactions with citizens who may be in mental health crisis. San Jose PD launched a one-year pilot program in October 2020 that links specially trained officers with clinicians from the County’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS).  BHS has been active...

Waite: Abandon the Eastridge light rail extension project

This scathing commentary on Valley Transportation Authority’s light rail system comes from the report “Inquiry into Governance of the Valley Transportation Authority,” issued by the Civil Grand Jury of Santa Clara County in June 2019: “The (Eastridge extension) project makes no financial sense and survives only because powerful political forces continue to support it. VTA...