Our city has incredible workers and they deserve a raise. And that is exactly what we have proposed to do—provide a fair raise that helps our city workforce keep up with inflation without requiring the city to cut services, raise taxes or take on any new unfunded debts. We all know times are tough. For...
Philbrick: We must protect our transit infrastructure from cyber threats
In 2008, a teenage boy converted an old TV remote into an infrared transmitter and used it to hack his city’s tram system, tripping switches, redirecting trains, causing thousands of dollars in damage and injuring more than a dozen people. Ten years later, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) discovered 86% of 1,000 hardware devices supplied...
Yu: Community is key in limiting impacts of weather-related emergencies on older adults
In 2022, California suffered more than 20 states of emergency or major disaster declarations due to weather or natural disasters. The unprecedented series of winter storms that pummeled the state caused power outages ranging from 12 hours to two weeks for more than 7 million Californians and thousands of evacuation orders. We often think about...
Robinson: Tax the San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have a taxable possessory interest over San Jose and Santa Clara County. It’s exclusive and valuable. They’ve never paid the tax that is due. County Assessor Larry Stone should step up to the plate and send them a property tax bill as required by the state tax laws. Recently, four San...
Shaw: Santa Clara County should be proactive about treating drug addiction
I am an individual who, like many other people, has a convoluted history of mental health and physical medical conditions, and utilize medications to offset the complications associated with these conditions. In addition to being neurodivergent, I also have attention deficit disorder or ADD. This isn’t attention hyperactivity deficit disorder or ADHD, because I don’t...
Dewan: Get ready for school and get vaccinated
It is back-to-school time for most children in Santa Clara County. Families are getting school supply lists and backpacks and preparing for all that is new and exciting when a school year begins. It is important families also prepare by ensuring their children have up-to-date immunizations and vaccines. Vaccines are another important part of growing...
Chung: DA Rosen needs to clean house in his Bureau of Investigation
On July 5, NBC published an investigation revealing that the District Attorney’s Chief Investigator Moises Reyes had “made discriminatory remarks towards and about women, transgender people and Black people” in formal settings and that the Santa Clara County Equal Opportunity Division (EOD) had sustained five allegations against him. Despite these sustained findings by EOD months...
Pham: Let’s collaborate instead of taking cheap shots at our neighborhood schools
As board president of the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District, I read the May 2 Mercury News op-ed “It’s code red for six of San Jose’s school districts” by County Board of Education Trustee Joseph Di Salvo and San Jose-Evergreen Community College Trustee Karen Martinez with dismay and disappointment. After not seeing my letter...
Silver Taube: We are facing a child labor crisis
Child labor violations have been on the rise in recent years. The U.S. Department of Labor has seen a 69% increase in child labor since 2018, with more than 3,800 children impacted in the 2022 fiscal year. A report from the New York Times revealed numerous instances of child labor law violations, with children—particularly migrant...
Ritchie: The Original Joe’s Index
No, this is not about the cholesterol, but a metaphor. Although I do hope my cardiologist does not subscribe to this column. I spend each week drifting between San Jose, San Francisco and Santa Cruz for my business life, as well as community, political and social events. It’s also a great cover for a surfing...