As a political consultant, people ask me what I believe is going to happen. Mostly, I don’t know. But when I have opined on politics it has often proven true. I’ve also been wrong in the past, but I’m more than 75% correct. For instance, I predicted Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee in...
Stettinski: Protecting San Jose’s small businesses from frivolous ADA lawsuits
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law with the intention of eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities. This law is critical to provide access to those with disabilities, a law that the San Jose Downtown Association fully supports. We also support actions taken to ensure spaces currently not compliant are made...
Rawson: Now is the time to invest in Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Cities across the country are currently investing in parks and outdoor public gathering spaces as part of economic recovery strategies for their pandemic hammered downtowns. In San Jose, we have a similar opportunity that should not be wasted. The centenary birthday of Cesar Chavez, March 31, 2027, should serve as a call to action to...
Dewan: Addressing youth homelessness in Santa Clara County schools
Children’s education and wellness are directly impacted by their access to basic needs, including having a stable home. As the colder months are upon us, it is important to draw attention to the unique needs of our unhoused youth. November was National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. On Oct. 18, the Santa Clara County Board of...
Yu: Our housing problem is turning into a health care problem
Affordable housing has made local headlines in recent months—and for good reason. The statewide moratorium on evictions during the pandemic expired in June 2022, and other protectants phased out earlier this year. Despite the spike in evictions already documented, reports suggest more renters are still on the brink of losing their homes. California already has...
Silver Taube: San Jose tackles wage theft and workplace abuses
There are two important ordinances in San Jose that will impact workers. The first, the Responsible Construction Ordinance, was passed unanimously in concept on Dec. 12 with the San Jose City Council set to return to the ordinance on Jan. 23. The council directed staff to conduct more extensive outreach to developers, contractors and lenders...
Ritchie: Will it happen again?
Starting quietly around 2010, extending wildly into 2019 and ending with a dull splat post-pandemic, there were a series of absolutely astounding flips of Bay Area commercial real estate assets that made investors unheard of returns no one expected or had seen before. Those days are entirely over for the time being, as we are...
Bramson: Putting the year behind us without closing the door
As we come to the end of 2023, I find myself thinking about Auld Lang Syne. While for many that old dirge — first penned by the Scottish poet Robert Byrnes in the 18th century — has become the anthem of our collective transition into the new year, for me it has always been tinged...
Khan: San Jose leaders have disregarded our democracy
Earlier this week, San Jose, the mayor, City Council and city administrators breached core democratic values of open government and freedom of speech for all people by engaging in the racist and shameful act of tarping council chamber seats to prevent people of conscience from attending a council meeting and speaking out in support of...
Thompson: Transit agencies need a reality check
Recently, the idea of consolidating Caltrain and BART has been floated as an easy way to fix Bay Area transit. In short, it’s a bad idea: the benefits, if any, are small and can be achieved in other ways while the problems are large and very real. I’ve spent a long career analyzing rail agencies...