As ICE and other federal agencies continue their assault on civil liberties, local leaders are stepping up to protect their communities. This includes pushing back against automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, which are tools of mass surveillance that can be weaponized against immigrants, political dissidents and other targets. In recent weeks, Mountain View, Los...

As a physician, I am often confronted with the myriad of ways in which our social safety net has become hopelessly inadequate. Every minute of every day in the Bay Area, we are all witnessing a health care crisis playing out in our streets. It is a crisis that has become an issue for public...

San Jose is preparing residents for the largest technological shift since the rise of the internet. With the launch of “AI for All,” the city signals that artificial intelligence should be accessible to everyone. But San Jose is not alone in facing this moment. Across America, two forces are shaping the next generation. One is...

Compliments to San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan for his inciteful, humane and more affordable program for meeting the homeless challenge — a great first step. But the Santa Clara County Health Department estimates that 15% to 20% of the homeless population does not have the capacity to live alone and will not stay in unsupervised...

“She was such a force of nature in her enthusiasm for making our city, county and the whole Bay Area a better place.” One of many comments shared about Roma Dawson, a dynamic activist who succumbed to cancer last December. Many knew Roma as a longtime dedicated League of Women Voters and community member for...

Santa Clara is on the verge of repeating one of the most painful mistakes in its history. For those new citizens to Santa Clara, the city has the distinction of being the only city in America to demolish its own downtown. In the 2017 Mercury News article “The worst local decisions of the last 50...

On Jan. 27, the San Jose City Council will consider a slate of housing proposals branded as “Housing Day.” If the goal is to make San Jose more affordable, the name is deeply ironic — nearly every major policy on the agenda moves the city away from affordability. This matters because San Jose residents have...

San Jose is preparing to pull a slick move with its housing policy, and if you’re Black, brown or low‑income, you’re not supposed to notice until you’re already gone. The city is revising its inclusionary housing ordinance, branding the changes as “modernization” and “workforce housing.” But beneath the language, it’s the same old story: Open...

At a time when education is evolving more rapidly than any time in history, Evergreen Valley College (EVC) turns 50, and its mission has never been more relevant. When I think of 50 years, I think of accomplishments, impact and stories EVC has written. I also consider possibilities and an opportunity to imagine the next...

Every day, we turn on the tap without thinking twice about it. Safe, clean, reliable water flows out, ready for drinking, cooking, bathing and growing the food we eat. Behind every working tap is a detailed story of planning and investment. It is the story of Valley Water, and it is one I am proud...