Nationwide, the United States has $1.49 trillion in unfunded liabilities from state pension plans. Of this total, San Jose has an unfunded pension liability of $3.5 billion; that works out to $3,600 which every resident owes in future taxes or fees. I raised this issue with the four candidates running for election to the District...
Scozzola: Why Joe for Congress?
There are few things I feel are more fortunate about my life than the fact that I grew up in a time where the middle class in our country was strong. This allowed for my folks to raise me with all of the comforts one might expect from the American dream. As the years went...
Op-ed: Valley Water makes progress on reducing flood risk along Coyote Creek
We are pleased to share that Valley Water is making great progress on two projects aimed at reducing flood risk along Coyote Creek in San Jose. For the past several weeks, our agency has been installing flood walls along various sections of the creek. This is a key step in our efforts to help protect...
Dewan: College and career readiness
Preparation for college and a career is important to economic prosperity. How college and career readiness in schools is defined varies across the state. The College/Career Indicator, adopted by the State Board of Education, integrates eight pathways that demonstrate a student’s preparedness for college and a career. College eligibility, such as SAT participation and A-G...
Ritchie: Orchards of the mind
I got a very cordial outreach from my friends at the San Jose Office of Economic Development recently to take a look at some marketing materials they send out to the world promoting San Jose as a location for starting and expanding a business. That office is helpful to us in the commercial real estate...
Bramson: How to place your next wagers now that the Super Bowl is over
In the past week, bettors placed an estimated $23 billion on the Super Bowl. It’s a staggering amount of money by any estimation, and with 68 million Americans participating in wagers ranging from the outcome of the game to the coin flip and the time it takes to sing the national anthem, there’s no question...
Editorial: Santa Clara County saves veterans home — but at what cost?
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors took the right action in saving an East San Jose homeless veterans complex from the wrecking ball — but the property was in total disrepair by the time it did so. The four-plus acres at 10 Kirk Ave. sits on a swatch of land that former owner, Swenson...
Silver Taube: We must remove barriers for workers with disabilities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for individuals with a disability was 7.6% in 2022, about twice as high as the rate for those without a disability. People with a disability were more likely to work in service occupations, production, transportation, material moving and sales than people without a disability. They...
Op-ed: San Jose leaders hide behind city policy to avoid supporting ceasefire
The gravity of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is undeniable. Since Oct. 7, 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, reported missing or wounded as a result of Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign. About half of those killed are children. A ceasefire is overdue and critical to stop the indiscriminate killing of civilians and ensuring...
Philbrick: How can we stop harassment on public transit?
The train car is empty, but the man sits in the seat right beside you. When you avoid eye contact, he stares too long at you. Brushes his hand against your leg. There is nowhere to go and no one to tell, and suddenly an easy ride home feels increasingly uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Many...