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In 2017, I called on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to retire. Specifically, I opined, “The idea of her being wheeled into the chamber and having aides make decisions on her behalf—a la Strom Thurmond—is not the best way to end an otherwise distinguished career in public service.” Unfortunately—and a reminder to my most devoted critics—sometimes I’m right....
Causey: The next District 5 supervisor should prioritize survivors
“I believe you, because, well, you’re innocent looking.” Those were the words of my Palo Alto High School administrator when I reported sexual harassment at age 15. He told me that in 10 years, no one would remember the months I spent attending class fearing for my physical safety. More than 10 years later, I...
Shaw: Don’t reallocate affordable housing funds for homeless services
Like so many others, I am against San Jose’s current Measure E budget proposal to reallocate affordable housing funds for homeless services. The reasons being: 1. Tiny homes do not offer permanent housing and are not a solution to homelessness. They are tiny shelters in a communal environment, with gates and security guards. Any place...
Dewan: Creating a future free of gun violence
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies guns as the leading cause of death for children. National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 2, a day set aside to raise awareness and promote positive change. Policymakers, community members, leaders and parents have taken steps to protect children from gun violence and keep...
Silver Taube: OSHA’s limits for toxic exposure cause preventable harm to Silicon Valley workers
Standards for exposure to toxic chemicals at work, known as permissible exposure limits or PELs, have long been and still are vastly and indefensibly weaker than standards for environmental exposure to these same toxics. This disparity puts not only workers, but also their offspring at risk—especially where women of child-bearing age are a sizable part...
Ritchie: The boom and bust cycles of Silicon Valley
I am honored to make my first contribution to San José Spotlight. My name is Mark Ritchie, I am the second-generation owner of regional commercial real estate brokerage firm Ritchie Commercial. We are the last privately owned regional commercial real estate service company in the Bay Area. I live and work in both San Jose...
Bramson: Breaking voter promises might destroy San Jose’s affordable future
When San Jose voters approved the Measure E real estate transfer tax increase in 2020, the mandate was clear. The revenue generated by the new ballot measure from the sale or purchase of property worth more than $2 million would go directly to addressing the lack of affordable housing in our community. It was a...
Op-ed: Addressing gun violence and mental health in the AAPI community
America is afraid, and so are we. In the United States, some of our most vulnerable minority groups are being targeted by politicians and public figures who crave power. This power struggle has created an environment where harmful narratives and hateful rhetoric are becoming more common. As two Asian American lawmakers, we cannot stand by...
Mallon: Public transit needs to get back to the basics
In recent years, there’s been a lot of discussion about free transit, fleet electrification, consolidating agencies, seamless fare integration, governance and regional network management. All of these things have been pushed in the name of helping riders, but what do riders really want? While opinions may vary—and geography certainly plays a role—surveys from across the...
Rodríguez: California needs to meet the demand for skilled workers
Our state is facing a shortage of more than 1 million workers with bachelor’s degrees by 2030, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Failure to meet this need for skilled workers could have dire consequences for the state’s economy, so it’s imperative that all of California’s higher education sectors work together to ensure...