I am always bemused by those pundits who think moving to a strong mayor form of government is some type of panacea. It is the loss of an independent professional voice when a city manager form (albeit a hybrid in San Jose’s case) is discarded. The appointment of department heads is already subject to City...

Most people are now well aware that the California Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) — or Proposition 64 — legalized recreational cannabis in 2016. But the AUMA also allows those with certain cannabis offenses to have their records reduced and/or expunged. This is one of the most critical aspects of the AUMA in that...

I was dismayed by A. Jarrod Jenkins’ op-ed about how San Jose should drop its “Capital of Silicon Valley” slogan. I don’t understand the intent of his opinion piece. especially this part: “We shouldn’t call ourselves the Capital of Silicon Valley, even if it is true. As a practical matter, greatness is something best conferred...

“San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley the way Arlington, Va., can claim to be the capital of the United States because the Pentagon is there.” – Rob Morse, “San Jose: Small Town: Big Slogan.” San Francisco Chronicle, May 22, 1996 In 1988, San Jose decided to call itself the “Capital of Silicon Valley”...

Over the past five years, our District 8 Community Round Table in Evergreen has been engaging with the San Jose Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) over its land use and lease plans for the 27 acres adjacent to Evergreen Valley College. In 2015, when the SJECCD Trustees selected Republic Urban as their development partner, the...

A few years ago I was approached by a colleague that was planning to step down from a prominent and powerful board. He told me that he would like me to take his place. Boy was that an ego boost. I was excited at the great opportunity to advance my own personal power and with...

The killing of Bambi Larson, a beloved San Jose resident, has caused an outpouring of grief. I join with people from all walks of life in offering condolences to Ms. Larson’s family and friends. In the wake of this tragedy, many of us, understandably, feel anger and some are fearful. Our elected officials must now...

After years of property taxes being imposed by well-intentioned but misleading ballot measures, the State Legislature passed – and then-Governor Brown signed – AB195 in February 2017. This law requires that municipalities inform voters of the potential tax implications of all bond measures – basically, how much taxpayers will pay, the cost-per-unit of taxable value,...

As cost of living in San Jose continues to escalate, employers are finding it more and more difficult to attract and retain qualified and highly skilled employees. The primary driver of the increased cost of living is housing, which has seen unprecedented cost increases in recent years. In order to ensure that San Jose City...

Suzanne St. John-Crane’s call for civil discourse is either remarkably naïve or else deliberately deceptive. The idea that “we all want a thriving San Jose for all” is simply not supported by the facts. Silicon Valley is torn apart every day by cruel economic predators and competing special interests. Large tech companies lobby daily for the...