Columns

Columns

Khamis: Accessory dwelling units—a success story

While there is currently an intense debate about the densification of single-family home zoning to multi-unit zoning, a housing initiative called “Opportunity Housing,” densification of single-family lots with accessory dwelling units (ADUs) has been legal for many years. In 2017, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, along with the City Council, worked to simplify and reduce...

Arenas: Funding for the future of our children

On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council will face a difficult choice. With limited funds remaining, the council will consider whether to invest federal COVID-19 relief funds in children’s programs now, or to hold off on this funding for another year. For those following closely, you may remember that I have been pushing for this...

Sandoval: Creating communities at home

When a resident moves into a PATH apartment building, they are connected to more than a rental unit—they are joining a community. “Community” is one of those nebulous concepts that looks different for everyone. For some, community means enjoying the company of others with common interests—joining a faith-based fellowship, special interest club, a neighborhood association....

Alexander: A triumph of justice or video tape?

Every trial lawyer knows that a photo is worth a thousand words and a video of a key event is a royal flush. A bona fide winner. Cases in point: George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. Interesting that these celebrated videos originated from very different sources. Seventeen year-old Darnella Frazier won the Pulitzer Prize for incredible...

Op-ed: San Jose Airport Commission to City Council—say no to digital billboards

The San Jose Airport Commission, at its Nov. 8 meeting, voted resoundingly to reject the city report advocating the construction of four—not two—1,000-square-foot digital billboards on Mineta San Jose International Airport property near the Guadalupe River Trail. These billboards,  known as off-premise signs, advertise products and services not available at the location of the sign—in...

Collins: In our housing market, is it a better time to buy or sell?

The number one question asked of realtors is, “How is the market?” While I am not a realtor myself, I have access to many knowledgeable Santa Clara County Association of Realtors members to confer with. “Our housing market is showing signs of stabilizing,” says Dave Walsh, the 2021 president of the California Association of Realtors. “In...

Robinson: Gerrymandering is American apartheid

New lines are in the process of being established in California and around the nation for Congress, state legislatures, local supervisors, city councils et al. In California, an independent commission draws congressional and state legislature lines, removing one of the most contentious issues from our state. But that hasn’t always been the case and it...

Barragan: Bringing resident voices to our airport commissions

The last few months have been an interesting time for both aviation and community advocates related to aviation issues in Santa Clara County. The county Board of Supervisors has authorized work to close Reid-Hillview Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration is demanding the removal of a homeless encampment underneath the Mineta San Jose International Airport’s flight...

Shaw: South Bay homeless shelter ignores COVID mask mandates

The best ways to protect people from contracting COVID is through vaccination and mask wearing. Getting vaccinated is your personal choice and no one can make you get it, but not getting vaccinated will severely affect your life if you plan to work and live around other people. However, wearing a mask is something that...