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...
Bramson: With federal support in doubt, California must step up
The Worst Case Housing Needs: 2025 Report to Congress confirms what many communities already feel on the ground: housing instability has become entrenched. In 2023, more than 8.4 million renter households nationwide were paying more than half their income for rent or living in severely inadequate housing. That figure has barely changed since the pandemic....
Mallon: 2026 sports events will test Silicon Valley’s transit system
As the Bay Area gets ready to host Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium this February, transit agencies are ramping up preparation. With tens of thousands of fans expected from across the country — and the 2026 FIFA World Cup later in the year — getting people to and from the Levi’s Stadium quickly, safely...
Urbanowski: San Jose prepares to welcome the world to our region
San Jose will welcome an unprecedented number of fans, athletes and journalists in 2026 for the world’s top sporting events and international and national competitions. The city has a unique opportunity to showcase its dynamic history and culture, draw new fans to a range of entertainment and attractions and capture the economic impact of all...
Paz-Cedillos: The legacy that patient capital makes possible
In community development, progress is rarely linear. There are moments when the spreadsheets work but the timing doesn’t. When the vision is clear, but the path forward narrows. When projects rooted in community test not just capital, but conviction. La Placita in East San Jose’s Mayfair neighborhood was one of those projects. When we acquired...
Editorial: Finding purpose in 2026
Purpose — often defined as the reason for doing something — is a powerful word that can determine one’s direction in life. Most people need purpose. It’s the mojo to start a business, raise a family, elevate a career, tilt a person toward political aspirations or public service. In government an individual’s purpose can be...
Cantrell: A genocide in slow motion
This month’s column falls on the first day of Kwanzaa, the day of Umoja — unity, which calls us to stand together to solve problems that threaten our very existence. In Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, there is no clearer example of the heightened risk to Black life than what is happening to Black...
Kumar: Rebuttal to Larry Stone’s ‘The assessor is not a political position’
For decades, residents of Santa Clara County have endured inconsistent assessments, a broken appeals process and unprocessed refunds — all from an Assessor’s Office that has refused to modernize, standing in stark contrast to Silicon Valley’s cutting-edge innovation while maintaining a laser focus on extracting higher tax revenues from the very people who elected the...
Engstrom: PG&E utility profits are out of control — here’s how to fix it
This Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will vote on how much profit PG&E will be allowed to earn over the next three years — a decision that will directly affect whether Bay Area electricity bills continue climbing or finally offer relief to struggling customers. PG&E just posted record-breaking $2.47 billion in profits in...
Kou: Rishi Kumar offers a forward-looking vision for residents
Public trust in government isn’t maintained through slogans or longevity or staying in an echo chamber — it depends on results. The Democratic Party can only remain strong when it listens to fearless voices — and one such voice is Rishi Kumar. Kumar — a C-suite technologist, former executive board member of the California Democratic...